Just This Once (Magnus Chase x Alex Fierro)

Chapter 2: One week later...

Woo!!! A new day, a new chapter!!! This is set on the Monday of the week after Chapter 1, here, we get our first look at Magnus's friends and also our boi is still fanboying over Alex nonstop, as you would expect.

At lunch the next Monday, Magnus sat down at his friend's table. He didn't quite feel like eating though, and was toying with his mashed potato. He saw Alex and was probably zoning out staring at him, because TJ, his tiny friend who was dressed like he just came out of the American Civil War, was nudging him worriedly. Thomas Jefferson Jr., or as his friends called him, TJ, was a history nerd, and he had a body to match. Thin as a stalk, often called "Tiny TJ" by his friends, the African American was looking concerningly at his friend as he nudged him.

"Dude, you okay?"

"Define ok."

"Like are you feeling sick sort of ok?" Magnus pondered whether or not to tell his friends about his crush. After a minute of mulling it over, he finally replied,

"Nah, I'm not feeling sick."

"Then what is it?"

"Well..... I---, uh, nevermind."

"Come on dude. We're just trying to help, we're friends right? But in order to help, we need to know what's the problem you're facing first." TJ didn't pause from shoving his throwback civil war food into his mouth. The guy's a devout civil war fan.

"I guess." Magnus glanced at Alex, briefly, and the thought of spilling crossed his mind. The mashed potato was sitting neglected on the table.

"A crush? Is it a crush?" TJ asked after seeing Magnus's glance.

"Maybe, maybe not."

"Ooohhh, who?"

"TJ, we all know who, that green-haired boy/girl Magnus sits next to in Calculus class." Halfborn Gunderson chimed in, he'd just finished his huge bottle of protein shake and is starting on banana, his "lunch". Halfborn was a beast of a man, standing over 7 feet tall and probably about half as wide. The stud plays Linebacker for Valhalla High. Off the pitch, however, this jock could speak 12 different languages, and is acing classes for 4 of them. "What was her name again? Alice?" he asked between mouthfuls of the banana

"Alex, and he's a boy today." Magnus corrected Halfborn, face coloring, confirming his friends' suspicion.

"Well? Why don't you just go tell him/her then? Just go up and say 'I like you' problem solved." It was Mallory Keen, Halfborn's 5'5 tall blonde girlfriend. She's quiet, and never talks much, but when she does, she seems to have a way of captivating her audience. She prefers to do most of her talking through writing though, and is in the writings club. Her friends have read some of her past works, one of which got featured on the school's website. She was busy finishing her plate of broccoli.

"And get bit back by a nasty sarcastic retort? No thanks." said Magnus, because afterall, why would Alex want Magnus right? He's just Magnus Chase, a 6'2 blonde Kurt Cobain look alike, who's clumsy and shy, but likes hiking and music. Who's sarcastic and witty but you wouldn't know because he's shy, who likes English, but hates Calculus, except when he sits next to Alex.

"Wow, way to introduce me man."

What.

"Could I get some love here? Also what's with waiting so long to introduce my friends?"

Really, are we going there?

"Magnus? Who are you talking to?" TJ asked.

Oh that would be me, the author.

"The author? What do you mean the author?"

Nevermind. Anyways, Magnus, you really must stop complaining. Also please don't interrupt my narrating OK? You'll get a happy ending. Besides, I do like you. :- )

"Ok...." said Magnus.

Anyways, on with the story. Where were we? Oh right, Magnus and Alex. I'm telling you Magnus, just be patient and don't rush it.

"You advising me? To be patient?"

Well, it's for your own good, and for the sake of content I guess. Anyways, back to the story for real.

"So, Magnus, how do you plan to ask him out?"

"How do you know Alex's even going to like me?"

"Pretend."

"Well I don't know." Magnus replied in an Oh-so-smooth voice.

"Movies?"

"Oh that's so creative. And like, not cliche at all." despite his words, Magnus couldn't help but imagine how amazing it would be to cuddle in a movie theater with Alex Fierro, eating popcorn and just ignoring the world. Please, he thought Just this Once. Just let me have a lucky break. The bell rang.

Just this once.