"Jace, seriously, in the history of bad ideas, thins ranks near the top."

His stubborn smile didn't budge. The way his liquid gold eyes teased me from behind his messy blond, made him look like an insolent child; which is exactly what he was acting like. I stomped my foot, the stone floor of the Institute only absorbed the dramatic effects of my tantrum.

"Aw, c'mon Clary, what could be a better way to spend the night than going out to dinner with Simon and Maia?"

At least a hundred things quickly raced to my mind.

Jace had stopped scrambling around the room as he got ready. Putting on his jacket, he stepped next to me. He smelled so good, he had put something on. Were killers of monsters who bring death and destruction allowed to wear cologne? Isabelle had too eagerly taken me under her stylish wing and I was ready well before Jace. Alec had made himself comfortable on the bed, enjoying the show; actually it was probably just my torment he enjoyed.

"Simon doesn't even like to eat real food. This is such a dumb idea."

"True," Jace tried to look thoughtful, "but Simon does like to watch you eat real food."

Before I could sound disgusted at his absurd answer he added, "and I enjoy watching Simon watch you, while you eat real food."

"So, basically, you're saying that we are all getting together tonight to watch me eat?"

Wow, this just kept sounding like more and more fun.

"Yep, pretty much."

"Jace!"

He opened the heavy door leading from The Institute back into the city and held it for me. His gentlemanly behavior didn't cover his obnoxious attitude.

"Don't worry, I'm sure Maia, will be enjoying a nice raw steak or maybe just the bone from it."

"No way! You cannot act like that tonight, "I shot him a fierce warning look, "if I go through with this night of torment, you at least have to be nice to them."

He brought his right hand to his heart, "I swear that I will refrain from saying anything rude to Maia this evening."



"And?" I waited for him to include Simon in his vow.

"Sorry, Clary, that's as much as I can promise."

"Jace please no problems tonight." I was being serious.

He looked past me into the dark cloud-covered night sky, before turning on his heels and walking towards the corner.

"Hey, stop!"

His long strides were hard enough to match, but especially so when he was purposely trying to leave me behind. I broke out in a run to catch up. It would serve Isabelle right for all my make-up to be sweated off my face. I managed to catch up to him just as he stopped and raised his hand to hail a cab. The battle I had fought to convince him not to take the bike tonight, Raphael's new peace gift, had been a fierce one, but one of the few I actually insisted on winning. I stepped next to Jace, slightly out of breath. He spoke, without even turning his head to me,

"Don't worry Clary. Tonight will be, "I saw a flash of electricity flash through his already electric gold eyes, "fun!"