Alec shook his head. Letting those memories out right now were sure to cause an ache later but they were a comfort now. Alec wouldn't have described that time in his life as simple, only different.

He'd been different. Scared. Angry. Uncertain.

"I was...attracted but I thought I was in love with someone else," he said, lips pursing. He hadn't really thought about his crush on Jace in awhile too. The feelings had dissipated with distance and with his feelings for Magnus being as they were. "He flirted with me and I didn't really know how to deal with it so I didn't."

He'd glared and stuttered and tried to sneak subtle looks when he thought Magnus wasn't looking. "I didn't really believe he liked me. Not like that, at least."