"Clary could you polish the mirror in the guest bedrooms please. And be quick about it we need to go to collect the Lightwoods from the airport soon their-"
"Plane lands at 3 and it is now 2 o'clock and it is a 30 minute drive from here to the airport. Yes I know. I have already polished the mirrors, about 3 times actually, I don't think I've ever seen the house this clean before." I cut my mother off before she goes on another rant about how the house needs to be spotless for the Lightwoods coming. Let me explain. Last year my twin brother Jon went to America on a student thingy, I honestly don't know why, but what I do know is that the family he stayed with (the Lightwoods) had three other kids about our age and he became good friends with them. Apparently they stayed in touch and now the three kids (I don't know their names) are coming to stay with us for a year or so.
"Oh, OK, that's good." My mother, Jocelyn, replies.
"Why do I even need to go with you, can't you and Jon go? They don't even know me and I don't know them." I complain to her.
"Yes you do. Someone needs to be here in case you hurt yourself and that is very likely the way you go about. Since there is nobody else here you will have to come with us. Now stop acting like a little child and go check the counters to make sure there is nothing dirty on it." She told me sternly "And no wandering off!" she yelled while running up the stairs, probably to check the mirrors. Again.
I groan and head to the kitchen to check to counters or mother dearest might just have my head. I look around and notice that the counters are so clean they sparkle but then I see a spot of something on one of the higher cupboards. With a huff I grab a sponge and try to reach it, of course due to my small stature of 5 foot 1 and a half (very proud of that half) inches, I can't reach it. I let out a big breath of air making a lock of red hair rise then flutter back onto my face and tickling my nose. I jump up to it. And miss. Growling, I trudge into the dining room next door, grab a chair and place it near enough to the offending mark. I then proceed to climb onto the chair and reach for the spot of dirt. This time I succeed in reaching it and I smile victoriously. The next problem is that the spot is being very stubborn and refuses to come off, this being said I decide to scrub harder thus making the chair wobble and eventually tip over. With me on it. I guess I see what my mother means, very accident prone. I fall with a big clatter and a thud and my mother comes thundering down the stairs.
"For goodness sake Clarissa, why?" she asks exasperatedly when she sees me sprawled across the floor and the fallen chair beside me.
"There was a mark on the cupboard and I was trying to get it but I was too short so I got a chair and it fell over." I answer sheepishly.
She just sighs and walks away clearly having been in similar situations before.
"What?! Are you not going to check if you beloved daughter is OK?!" I yell after her- still on the floor.
"Just get up Clary we need to get going. And go get your brother please."
I get up and check myself for serious damage. None, only a few bruises scattering my pale skin, some new some old and from previous incidents.
"JON! COME ON WE HAVE TO GO GET YOUR FRIENDS FROM THE AIRPORT!" I holler up the stairs.
"COMING!" he yelled while running down the stairs. I had to look up when he reached the bottom because lucky him he got fathers genes- big, strong build, well defined jawline, dark brown almost black eyes and platinum blonde hair- basically a carbon copy of dad. I however am the complete opposite with my deep red, untameable curls, forest green eyes, petite form, delicate features and plenty of freckles splattered across my face. I was an exact copy of my mum.
We filed in the car and set off for the airport and made it there 5 minutes early so we chose to battle the crowds and wait inside for them. Jon held up a sign with their name on it. After a while, Jon yelled something to someone and was waving frantically. I guess they're here. Jon started walking forward and mum and I followed. They were tall. That was my first observation. Second, they were ridiculously good looking. There were two with inky black hair, one was a girl and one was a boy. The girl had dark chocolate eyes and was wearing designer clothes and ridiculously high heels. The boy had striking, electric blue eyes, wore dark clothes and was clearly trying not to get noticed. The third though was completely different, he was golden, literally golden. Gold skin, gold hair even gold eyes- who has gold eyes?! Him apparently. After Jon and the Lightwoods had all hugged and got re-acquainted Jon introduced us.
"Mum, Clary this is Isabelle" Jon says pointing at the black haired girl "Alec" black haired boy "and Jace." the golden boy. "Guys, this is my mum, Jocelyn, and my sister, Clary." They say their variations of "hi" and "hey" and me and mum reply with the same.
"Right, let's get to the car before Clary gets squished." Jon says to everyone.
"Hey!" I shout indignantly.
"What?! It's true you are very small." He says defensively. I just put on a puppy dog face and cross my arms. "That is not fair don't do that face!" He yells and covers his eyes. Once he uncovers them his face visibly softens and quickly apologises. I smile evilly back, glad that he is still not immune to my persuasive techniques even though I have been using them for years.
We get the car, load everyone's luggage in and set off for home. I got seated between Alec and Jace and the silence got a little awkward so me being the helpful person I am decided to try to start a conversation.
I turn to Alec and say "I like your eyes." Yes, very well done Clary. I like your eyes, wow.
"Sorry, but I'm gay." He replies while looking at me a little funny.
"And that changes your eye colour?" I ask him sarcastically. "I wasn't hitting on you or anything, jeez I don't even think I know how to, I was just saying you have nice eyes." His pale cheeks flushed red. This earned a chuckle throughout the car.
"Well…Erm…Thanks, I suppose." He stuttered out.
"How does that feel Jace, not being the one complimented or hit on within 30 seconds?" Isabelle asks him while trying (and failing) to hold in her giggles.
He just scoffed and looked out of the window seemingly fascinated with the trees.
"Have you never seen trees before or something?" I ask Jace curiously.
"Of course I have seen trees. Just not so many of them in one place. We live in the city so it is mainly just concrete and glass." He replied. I chuckle at his awe at some simple trees.
"Well there are plenty of the where we live so you can gaze at them all day if you wish." Jon says from the seats behind us.
"Any why would I do that when I could just look in a mirror all day." Jace quickly retorts.
"Because that is mirror cruelty." Jon jokes.
"Yes it is very cruel to show the mirror something so tempting and it knowing it can never have a piece of my glory." Jace fires back dramatically. This is how the rest of the drive goes, just Jace and Jon bantering lamely back and forth.
When we finally got home there was a collective sigh of relief and everyone scrambled to get out of the car and stretch their legs, of course I tripped and fell straight onto the ground. I just stayed on the floor breathing deeply in frustration. Jon let out a bark of laughter and I turned to glare at him. He shut up instantly.
"Really Clare? Are you even capable of standing on your own two feet for more than 2 minutes?"
"Yes. Of course I can." I huffed and pushed myself up. "Just not very well." This earned another round of laugher.
"Alright. Everyone time to get sorted. Jon, you can show Alec and Jace to their rooms and Clary, you can show Isabell to hers. I'll start on dinner. Off you go." My mother ordered and shooed us away.
"Sir yes sir!" I saluted. "Follow me foreign Americans!" They all looked at me strangely and I laughed. I started walking hoping that they would follow. They were. I helped Isabell with her suit cases up the stairs and opened her door for her.
"There you go Isabell. I'll leave you to unpack and get settled in."
"Thanks Clary! Please call me Izzy or Iz. I'm not bothered which but Isabell sounds like I'm about to get told off by my parents." We both laughed and I headed for the door.
"I'll be off then, got places to be." I ran out of the door, down the stairs- without falling might I add- and out the door. Next was a trip to the shed to get my trusty steed, or my bike as some people call it. I then headed off to my secret haven just about a mile away. Nobody knew about it. Not Jon and certainly not my mother.
I finally got there and gazed up at the beauty. My amazing tree house. It was huge, you could live in it, it had running water, bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, electricity, even Wi-Fi. And it. Cost. Millions. Not my money of course but an old friends, well he was more like my brother. Unfortunately, he died of cancer a couple of years ago, I was destroyed. We had plans, huge plans, he left me billions in his will to carry out those plans. He could afford it, so he did. If Simon could see it now he would probably be bouncing around like a mad man. I sighed wistfully and carried on up the stair case, yes stair case- not ladder. Mum is probably going to have a huge bitch fit if I'm not home for dinner but I couldn't care less, I was used to it by now.