The only lights on was coming from the streetlamps. It was one of those nights where you come home from work and just want to lay down. Today it had been especially annoying at the ER. Mothers coming saying their child has a fever of ninety-eight, not broken legs, and more things that were not necessary to bring to the ER. As I walked into my walk-in apartment building I passed the cute guy who lived on the floor above me. He seemed to be returning from school. I knew he was in college. He had a large book bag thrown over his shoulder."How was school?" I asked, trying to talk to him. We always had small talk whenever we ran into each other. It was nice, but I wanted to have longer conversation a with him to get to know him. He's always busy though, or blushes and lies.
"Tiring. I can't remember my own name but I know how to tell if someone was stabbed to death by their blood. It was criminal forensics, by the way. I'm not a murder I swear." He laughed. It was cute. Anything he did was cute.
"Just so that you know, your name is Alec Lightwood."
"Thanks for reminding me what I have to sign my esasays with." I made it to my apartment, then waved at him. He went over to his.
As soon as I entered my cat greeted me. The little fall of fur that looked more like a hamster. After I fed him I changed out of my uniform and put on some more comfortable clothing. I flopped down on my couch and watched whatever I missed while I was working.
It was about midnight and I couldn't get to sleep. The bags under my eyes tomorrow will be difficult to hide. I'll figure something out. Just as my eyes started to close again I heard some sort of ruckus. It sounded like it was coming from Alec's apartment. That's odd. He doesn't seem like the type to make so much noise like that. He's always so quiet unless he drops something. That must be it. Nothing probably happened. I closed my eyes again. Silence for a second, then more loud noises. It sounded like he was having a party, and Alec doesn't. If he did I'd be extremely offended that he didn't invite me. But Alec is a very quiet person. He does his homework, watches tv, invites his siblings over, and sleeps. That's all he told me about in our little chats. I've met his younger brother once when he approached me asking if I used magic to get my hair this way. I wish. There was nothing that would be causing this much noise. Just as I was getting out of bed when there was two more loud bangs. The first louder than the second. At that I sprung out of bed to see what happened.
I banged on the door. "Alec! What's happening!" He soon answered his door. He seemed calm and collected.
"Nothing's wrong. Why would you ask?"
"There were some loud noises. I was wondering what was happening. Is someone else in there?" He was breathing heavily. What did Alec do?
"It's nothing. Do you mind if I come over for a while? We hardly ever talk, I think that should change." I was all for inviting Alec over, but there seems to be something going on. He was about to go past me when I pressed a hand to his chest. "Alec. Don't go any farther. What's happening?" He looked at the ground and bit his lip. In any other situation I would've found it cute and endearing, but right now I could tell he was holding back. He mumbled something. "Excuse me? I couldn't hear."
"Promise you won't laugh?"
"I promise."
"There's a spider and I was trying to kill it." Who knew Alec Lightwood, the guy who could kill someone with his baby finger, was afraid of spiders. Just then I had an idea. Alec must've noticed because he backed up into his apartment a bit.
"Oh, that is tragic. I say you come over until it's gone." He didn't protest. "Come in." He walked into my apartment and sat on the couch. "I don't get it," I said.
"Get what?"
"You study criminal forensics for a living, so you know all about murder. You'll probably see a few gruesome scenes in your life, yet. You're afraid of a spider."
"Magnus. You said you wouldn't laugh."
"I'm not laughing. I'm just curious."
"I just don't like them." He shrugged his shoulders. Then I had an idea. I've never had the nerve to ask him out, so here my chance.
"Seems like I don't know much about you. You should tell me more about yourself. Maybe on a date." He looked shocked, then looked around the room.
"Let's go out tonight. I'm busy all week, so let's go now." He smiled at me. His face spelled joy and I couldn't be happier.
~o~
After the whole thing was over, Alec asked to return to his apartment. I said no because I'm keeping him prisoner with me. He didn't protest because in the night he stayed over, we had an amazing date.
Original title: YA NERD
