HeartBLOOD

Chapter three

"Are you good to go?", Alec asked. "Almost!", Magnus replied. Quickly, he fidgeted for his phone. As usual he found a text from Asmodeus whishing him good morning and sometimes adding some business information. Asmodeus and him have become quite close even on a personal level over summer break. At this point he was not only a manager, he was something like a friend. "Who are you texting?", Alec asked while putting on his sneakers. It was a fair question, usually Magnus was barely on his phone. "Asmodeus.", he replied truthfully. In this second a message popped up on his screen, asking if he was free this afternoon- apparently it was serious. "He's got an offer?", Alec asked and Magnus shrugged:" I don't know, he asked to meet tonight, apparently it is important." "Well then you should go.", he advised him and pushed open the door, "And if we don't get going now we will be late for our first ever class together." With a grin Magnus sent a quick 'ok' and hurried out of their room. For the past years they had been in different groups but due to Magnus repeating his third year, him and Alec now had all of their lessons together. It was definitely special and neither of them really knew what it was going to be like.

"How did you manage the fees in the end?", Magnus asked on their way down. Last year Alec's parents cut him off for this year which meant he had to figure out how to pay for his education. It has been an issue through the whole of last year and over summer break, both Magnus and him did a few jobs to get some money in. It has been hard for Alec to accept Magnus' help but after realizing it was the only way, they did all that they could and got enough money to pay for the first quartal. "The first quartal is safe, but from there on I'll have to cut into my savings. We'll figure something out though, I'm positive.", Alec sighed. It has been obvious that the financial situation has been hard on him, but as always he tried to hold his head high. "And if everything comes crashing down I'll have to fight Jonathan for his scholarship after midterms.", he joked in addition. "Sounds like a plan.", Magnus smiled weakly. "Hey!", Alec said and grabbed Magnus by his arm, turning his face towards his own, "Don't worry, okay? I'll be fine. I have plenty of possibilities, I have my savings, I can get a job, if the walls come tumbling down Izzy and Jace can help me out. I'm safe, Magnus." "Okay.", Magnus sighed, "But promise me you'll ask for help if you need it." "Pinkie promise.", Alec chuckled and sealed his words with a slight kiss on the cheek.

"Good morning dancers!", Valentine proclaimed and drew all the attention in the room towards him, "Now you guys are the seniors which means I expect the very best from every single one of you! For Magnus and Camille this is nothing new but the rest of you has to get it together and start working harder than you ever have." "Yay, torture.", Maia whispered sarcastically. Luckily Luke stepped up instead of Valentine to continue the speech in a bit of a more positive way. "What Valentine is also trying to say is that this year is a blank page and it's your job to fill it with a story of your success. Be the dancer you have worked towards being, but never forget yourself as a human. Be a nice person, be a loyal friend and a trustworthy partner. Dance is the main part of your life but it's not all you are. You may be the most fantastic dancer the world has ever seen but if you are a bad person and a weak teammate you are not going to get booked. The dance world is competitive but never forget to be appealing as a person- with all the new students it's your chance to show some heart and help the ones who need it.", He explained and earned himself a round of applause. "You now are the seniors which carries a great responsibility- be a role model for the younger students, be present and be prepared.", Miss Blackthorn stepped up, "And you know that this year we will send you to auditions and you will get to go outside of NYABM to gain some real dance experience, so apply everything Mister Garroway said in those auditions- they are not only looking for dancers, they're looking for humans and you need to be able to be both, so put that as your goal this year."

"I love how you can tell the coaches priorities through their speeches at the beginning of every season.", Maia laughed after Miss Blackthorn, Luke and Valentine had left. "True.", Alec sighed as Valentine came back into the room with a reproachful look:" I don't see anyone stretching! I'll be back in ten and everyone better be warmed up until then because training will start right away. Summer break is over." "What a sunshine.", Simon said sarcastically and like everyone else got to what was asked of them.

After the lesson Alec, Magnus and Maia left the training room to get some new water. Despite it being September already it still was unbearably hot outside and their clothes were soaked in sweat. "Valentine really did not go easy on us.", Magnus sighed, massaging his neck. "At least he stays authentic.", Maia sighed, as always trying to see the positive in everything. Out of nowhere Alec felt and Elbow in his back. "Oh my god I'm so sorry!", an oddly familiar voice said from behind. As Alec looked around he saw Alyssa and her friend who kept on apologizing. "Whoa, it's fine!", He laughed, "It happens! You're okay, Alyssa?" "You know each other?", Magnus asked s bit startled. "Oh yes, I'm okay.", Alyssa replied and then introduced herself, "I'm Alyssa and that's my friend Piper. Alec helped us out yesterday.", she explained. Alec just grinned:" While you, Magnus, were stocking up on that sleep, I was out there, like Luke would say, showing heart and de-coding those girls' timetables." "Awh.", Magnus grinned, "I am Magnus by the way." "Maia.", Maia introduced herself and gave them one of her warmest smiles, "Good luck! The first days are rough." "Thank you.", Piper sighed, "My feet hurt already and I have only had one class." "You'll get used to that.", She laughed, "Have you chosen dance partners yet?" "No.", Alyssa replied, "but we did this crazy lift exercise where the guys in our class needed to pick us up from the floor and then hold up in a flat lift for a minute or something, it was insane." Immediately, Alec and Maia laughed out loud. "Oh I remember that exercise more vividly then I wish I would- my shoulders have been sore for days.", He laughed and Maia smiled:" Anyways, don't be late for class and chose your dance partner wisely like I did." "We will!", Piper and Alyssa said and got back to their studio. "Aren't they cute?", Magnus asked and Alec and Maia had no choice but to agree. Somehow this year's new students seemed a lot nicer then the ones they had to tutor last year. Luckily.