Crash! Boom! Bang!

Gala

"Is that glitter in your hair?" Izzy was scrutinizing Alec, leaning in a little closer in the already closed space of the fitting room. She ran her hands through his hair. "It is!" she giggled. "Care to share?"

Alec felt his cheeks turning a bit pink. "No. It's just work," he continued as Izzy tilted her head to the side with an unimpressed raised eyebrow. Shopping with Izzy was always somewhat exhausting but Alec feared today might be worse than usual. After he got the tickets for the gala, he had called Izzy for some help with shopping, mostly because he knew she loved to help him out. Now, two stores and ten different tuxedos later, his patience was already running low without his sister sticking her nose where it didn't belong. Alec wished he could say he was surprised she noticed, but he really wasn't. He had been convinced that after five days, the sparkly glitter would have been gone, but no. It was no longer only at his workspace, it had sneaked into his apartment, into his bed. He had done everything he could to glitter-sanitize his apartment and until now, he thought he was rid of it.

"Work? Alec, you're blushing. Come on," Izzy changed her tactics and now pleaded with her puppy eyes. "You know I'll just ask Jace," she said and pulled out her phone.

"Izzy, drop it, please," Alec asked. Izzy narrowed her eyes, frowned, and searched his eyes. Maybe she saw true desperation in there, but whatever she saw, she sighed and waved her hands in defeat.

"Fine," she declared. "But don't think I'll forget about it. Now, try this on." Izzy handed him a navy blue tuxedo with black lapels and a white dress shirt. It was too tight in Alec's opinion, but Izzy just squealed and clapped her hands."Alec, our work here is done. You look amazing! You know who would absolutely love to see you in this? My boss Ma-"

Alec cut her off, as always when she was playing matchmaker, "Izzy, stop it, you know I'm not interested in dating. But that does remind me, I never asked about your internship. You started already?"

"Yes, this week. Very short notice, but it's amazing. It's one of the biggest corporations in the city, Asmo Corp."

"I've heard of that. The CEO was found murdered a few weeks ago. Wasn't my case, but the murder of such a high profile person draws attention."

"Yes, his son took over. He was the head of the fashion department. He's got quite the reputation..." Izzy continued talking, but Alec stopped hearing her clearly. She became blurry as if he was underwater. She thought he might like her boss, a man. Alec's mind went blank; his breath got exaggerated. This was the first time she approached the subject at all and she did it so naturally, with an ease that told Alec it wasn't a big deal for her. Yet the knowledge that his secret was out there, in the open, was a bit overwhelming.

"Alec," Izzy said, shaking his arm lightly. "Are you listening?"

"Sorry sis, my mind went somewhere else. I'm very glad we could do this today, but I really need to get back to work now." The words rushed out of his mouth as he started to undress.

Izzy watched him tentatively, worrying her lip. Alec felt a bit guilty. Maybe the purpose of bringing it up had been that she wanted him to know she knew. Maybe she wanted him to react, maybe she wanted him to talk about it. "Of course, me too. You know shopping with and for you, is one of my favorite things to do. But Alec," Izzy now looked at him with an intense and concerned look in her eyes. "You know I just want you to have someone to share your stories with, to yell at, to spoil, to love?"

His chest tightened, and there was a shortness of breath. Albeit, the loving, caring gaze she gave him made him feel at ease. She's okay, he's okay, everything's okay. "I know, Izzy," he said and gave her a loving, tender smile. "It's just not going to happen. It's not for me."