"Thank you everyone! Goodnight!" I shout as the crowd cheers and walk off the stage to greet my friends.
A pat on the shoulder from an old bud, an affectionate hug from a girl I've never met, hoping she'll get something more, a passionate kiss from another – it's all the same to me. Just a greeting, really. I get to the bar and order a drink. The bartender Alec, who also happens to be my step brother, grins and hands me a glass of pomegranate juice with ice, which people often mistake for alcohol, but that's a hell no for me. No alcohol. Ever. It does me no good at all. Both Alec and I know it.
We stay there for a bit, enjoying a comfortable silence, when his eyes dart over to the other side of the bar where an attractive asian guy is seductively licking a straw. I can see Alec's flushed cheeks over the dim light. *BARF*
"Go and have fun, brother. I'll take over." I say, since I'm not much of a party animal myself. At least one of us will enjoy the night.
"Are you being serious?" he looks at me incredulously, "Who the hell are you and what have you done to that arrogant brother of mine! No, seriously thanks bud." he strips off the apron that says "The Lightwood Bar" and rushes over to the cat eye guy. Once their lips crash, not minding the audience around them, they slip into the office. Once again .. *barf*
I tuck on Alec's apron and position myself on a stool, lazily looking around the customers in my family's bar. It's Friday, so the place is full. There's mostly university students and young people who've just gotten off work. It's a good place to hang out, I'll give it that. I usually perform something with my friends Jordan and Simon once a week. I met these guys during my lit classes and we've become close since then. Simon's drooling over my sister Izzy, but I'm sure she can handle him without my help. Izzy's tough.
I grab a book from in-between the bottles of vodka and dive right into it, totally ignoring my surroundings. I don't feel like socialising today.
A small hand appears on my book and as I lift my eyes off the story of Dorian Grey, my eyes witness the greatest beauty ever seen. Fiery red hair, enormous green emerald eyes, freckles spread all over beautiful pale, soft skin and a smile. Oh, that smile. I'm utterly speechless, which is quite unusual of me. No, let me paraphrase this. Jace Lightwood is never speechless. Never. And yet here I am, making a fool out of myself as the fairy in front of me begins to wonder what the hell is going on. So do I.
I clear my throat, " Oh, excuse me. How can I help you? I mean, uh, is there anything I can get for you?"
She chuckles, that husky chuckle you would never have expected would come from a petite creature like her. Such sex appeal. I have to calm myself. Immediately.
" Yes, indeed I do. Are you sure I'm not interrupting something. I could go elsewhere." She even has dimples. You're kidding, right. Right?!
"I would love to help a lady in need. Not even my favourite book can stop me from doing that." I'm so lame. Jace is NEVER lame.
"Then I'll have whatever you decide, dear gentleman." she's flirting. Right? She must like me? Right? GAIN SOME SELF CONTROL YOU MORON!