No One Else

Chapter Three

"Simon, right?" a familiar voice said behind Simon as he stepped out of his last class. He turned and saw Sebastian.

"Oh, hi." He said, smiling. "Yes, it's Simon. I didn't think I'd be seeing you again."

"Is that so?" Sebastian smiled, and Simon fought the urge to step back. He turned to leave. "I have to be somewhere. Nice seeing you...again."

"Can I at least buy you a drink sometime?" Sebastian asked, grabbing his elbow. "Or dinner?"

"Uh..." Simon didn't want to be rude, "I don't think my, uh, boyfriend would like that."

"Oh." Sebastian raised his eyebrows. "Boyfriend?"

"Yes." Simon pulled away. "Thanks for the offer though." Then he practically ran off.

"So I saw Sebastian today." Simon said, when he and Jace were at his apartment, playing video games. Or rather, Simon was playing video games and Jace was reading with Simon's legs on his lap. Simon felt Jace tense but he didn't look at him.

"Oh?" Jace asked, softly. "You said..."

"He sort of ambushed me after class." Simon interrupted. "He asked me out for drinks or dinner."

Jace pushed Simon's legs off his lap and stood up. Simon paused his game and looked at Jace, who was staring at him at him angrily.

"What?" Simon asked. "I told him my boyfriend wouldn't like that."

Jace blinked and relaxed a little. "Oh."

Simon started playing again. "Yeah, oh." He said; his gaze back on the TV screen. "I told you that you need to trust me."

"I trust you." Jace said, falling next to Simon. "It's him I don't trust."

"I can take care of myself, Jace." Simon said. "Besides, it's not like you can do anything in public, if anything happens. That would be suspicious."

"I-Don't be stupid, Lewis." Jace snapped. "I would always have your back. No matter what."

"OK, bro." Simon said. Jace sighed loudly and took the controller from Simon. "Jace, I'm in the middle of...give that back."

"Come and get it." Jace hopped off the couch. "Or I could play..."

"Don't you dare!" Simon stood up and chased Jace. "At least pause the damn thing. If I lose points, I swear I'll...no blowjobs till further notice."

"Damn Lewis, let's not go overboard." Jace said, grumbling and handing Simon the controller. Simon laughed. "It's just a game."

"Just a..." Simon gaped. He rubbed his forehead. "Oh Jace, you naïve idiot..."

"What?" Jace smirked. "It is."

Simon saved his progress and threw the controller aside. "Let me tell you..."

***

"So how is...Sebastian, is it?" Maia asked when they were all having lunch together. "Did you call him?"

Simon didn't look at Jace or Magnus. "I didn't call him. He was too..."

"Too?" Clary asked.

"Exactly." Simon waved his hands. "He'd eat me alive. I'm not ready for that commitment."

"I'm just waiting for you to tell us who you're sleeping with." Magnus said, dryly. Simon choked, Alec hit him on the back. "Easy."

"Me?" Simon squeaked. "Sleeping with...What? Who says I'm sleeping...?"

"The only way you'd turn someone that hot down is only if you are already with someone else." Magnus said, pointedly.

"Oh, and not because he's not my type?" Simon asked. "Maybe I don't like him, huh?"

"Oh please Simon, blonds are so your type." Izzy said, laughing. "Remember when Simon met Jace for the first time? I thought he was going to have an aneurysm."

"Ha ha." Simon mocked. "I'm glad I amuse you still. Even if blonds were my type, does it mean I have to date every one of them I see? I mean, look at Jace, why don't you ask me to date him?"

Jace choked. "What? Why are you bringing me into this?"

"Jace is straight." Izzy said, "I would have totally set you guys up a long time ago."

Simon felt hysterical laughter build up in his chest and coughed to cover it up. He still wasn't looking at Jace.

"Simon, could I talk to you?" Magnus asked, dragging Simon up and out of earshot before Simon could reply.

"What are you doing?" Magnus hissed.

"Uh..."

"Someone is going to get hurt." Magnus said.

"Then someone gets hurt." Simon said, wearily. "I can't out him, Magnus. You know that."

"Then talk to him or I swear I will." Magnus said. "He's taking advantage of you at this point."

"I knew what I was getting into when I started." Simon said, "It's fine, Magnus. I promise."

"Simon...I know you." Magnus said. "I know this is hard on you."

"Life is not easy, Magnus." Simon looked over to their table at Jace.

"I hope he's worth it." Magnus said, going back.

"Yeah, me too."

***

"We have to stop meeting like this." Sebastian said again behind him. Simon sighed.

"Are you following me?" Simon asked. He was hungry and Jace was making dinner and all he wanted to do was fall into bed and snuggle.

"Well," Sebastian said, tapping his chin. "Maybe, but you can't blame me. I enjoyed our little chat that night at the club. I want to get to know you more."

"Like I told you before, I have a boyfriend." Simon said. "He's really possessive. He wouldn't like...like that."

"He doesn't have to know." Sebastian said, stepping closer. "OK, let's have one drink. Then you can..."

Simon's phone rang. It was Jace.

"Hey babe," Simon said brightly. Too brightly. "I'm on my way. Right now."

"Simon? Are you OK?" Jace asked, immediately suspicious. Simon never called him 'babe'.

"Oh, I'm fine." Simon said, "Hold on." To Sebastian he said. "It was nice meeting you, but I really have to go." He sucked in a breath when Sebastian's face tightened in anger for a second, then he smiled. "Of course, see you around, Simon." He said and left.

"Simon?" Jace said loudly. "Who was that? Are you OK?"

"Jace?" Simon said, shakily. "I think I fucked up."

*

"He's following you now?" Jace said.

"Well, I seem to have that effect on all the boys." Simon said, weakly.

He wasn't sure but suddenly he was scared. "He didn't like that I said no."

"I know the type." Jace said, darkly. He sighed. "Are you hungry?"

"I was." Simon's stomach growled. "I am. I'm just jittery."

"Well, you have a stalker." Jace said, pulling him close and kissing his head. "That would freak anyone out."