Forever Flows From Friendship

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Worrying about Magnus became a permanent part of Alec's brain as time continued to pass. Alec knew Magnus was still enrolled in classes at the college, but he had no idea how many of those Magnus was actually attending. He knew Magnus was smoking and drinking, but he had no way to find out why or how much. Magnus had never been like this before, and Alec was, all of a sudden, having a hard time understanding the behaviour of his best friend. Why did their year apart have to feel so huge? Why did their school, lifestyle and home life separate them so much? Alec didn't like it. He missed the good old days when being friends had felt easy. As far as he was concerned growing up was overrated.

His sister joined him at their high school this year, though as he was in the twelfth grade and she was in eighth, they didn't see much of each other. The main difference now was that his mother made him walk home with Izzy every day so she wouldn't walk alone.

Alec heard about Magnus dropping out of school from his mother who in turn heard it from Magnus's mother at some kind of parent event-thing Alec never could remember the name of. It wasn't so much that his friend was giving up on college that bothered him, but rather that he'd heard it through the grapevine. Alec remembered a time when Magnus came to Alec to ask his advice first before making big life decisions. Not now. Now, Alec was finding out through somebody who heard it somewhere else like they were merely acquaintances or, worse, strangers.

Alec tried to text Magnus a bit, but he never knew what to say. The best he could come up with was 'I miss you.'

It took Magnus an agonizingly long time to reply to him, but when he finally got a response the answer did nothing to dispel his worry.

'Then do something about it?' was all Magnus texted back.

'I don't know how,' Alec texted back, his eyes pooling with tears. He knew what he wanted, but had no idea how to get there.

When Magnus didn't reply, Alec tried again by inviting Magnus to come hang out, but the reply was always that he was simply too busy. Alec thought of just showing up before he realized he wasn't even sure where Magnus was living anymore. Magnus wouldn't be living in dorms anymore since he quit school. Did that mean he'd moved back in with his parents? Alec didn't know what to do, and he didn't know who to ask for help.

In the end, he decided to just show up at Magnus's parents house one day after school and try his luck.

"Oh, it's just Alec," Magnus's stepfather said, answering the door.

Alec was invited in and explained he wanted to see his friend. Magnus's step father called up the stairs very loudly for Magnus to come down. Alec just stood near the door awkwardly waiting.

After what felt like hours Magnus made an appearance, but he stopped on the stairs as soon as he saw Alec.

"Hi," Alec said with a wave.

"Hey," Magnus mumbled.

Alec's worry increased as he looked at the circles under Magnus's eyes.

"You shouldn't neglect your friends to the point they just randomly show up," Magnus's stepfather began lecturing his step-son. "Now go out and don't come back till dinner."

Magnus didn't reply, but instead walked in a straight line towards Alec and the front door. They walked away from the house in silence for a while. Alec just didn't know what to say.

"You didn't have to come," Magnus spoke when they were at least three blocks away from his parents house.

"Of course I had to come," Alec replied quickly. "I'm worried about you." Magnus just shrugged. "I want to help."