On a scale of dancing apes to teenagers left unsupervised, Jace Herondale ranks family dinners as disasters on a special places he always reserves..mallard ducks gone loose.
Coming from a guy who's known for troublemaking—aside from his 'angelic gorgeousness', you'd think his reason for the said ranking will be the mom and dad are separating, screw it clićhe. But no, ( well there was a separation to be honest, only that he was the one who got separated ) apparently the accumulated clash of personality of his adoptive family is too overwhelming to deal with.
Shouting matches and threats that eventually lead to a crossfire between mashed potatoes and pies are usual events bound to happen when Lightwoods get together.
He will normally just come up with some excuse or take a page from cousin Will's book of tricks but when Alec Lightwood, all jittery and nervous, came into his room last Friday afternoon, he knew he'll just have to suck it up.
"So what do want to talk about?" He finally said inbetween the gunfires from Call of Duty.
It took a while to get an answer. "I'm talking, you're talking. What's the issue with that?" The muttered last part gave him away.
"Hey I was playing!" Alec protested when the controller was grabbed from him.
"You're acting like a trapped mosquito at the perfume department. You're nervous about something."
"What in the hell would a mosquito be doing there and why does it has to be the freaking perfume department?"
"Ask him." Jace shrugged. "But first, you talk." He grabbed a basketball and started turning it around.
Alec fidgeted. "Well, do you still remember that parabatai ritual thing we did and part of the agreement was the no judge, even when you eat Isabelle's spaghetti ala sludge?"
The basketball twirls on his hands."We were eight. I'm not gonna do that and play make believe with you again just so we're clear. But yeah, I remember."
He open his mouth and closed it as if he's gonna say something else only to change his mind after. "Well this about the family dinner tomorrow."
He mocked surprise and pretended to drop the ball. "My Alexander! You'll finally join the dark side and ditch with me! I wonder what made you feel so mighty rebellious tonight!"
"Actually it is the exact opposite of that." He was met by a confused gaze.
"I'm bringing a girl home with me."
This time, the ball dropped on the floor for real.
"Stupid mosquitoes." He muttered as he watched one got stuck at the bus window.
He caught a whiff of the strong perfume the pudgy woman beside him wore. How funny. He thought.
Yesterday's conversation proceeded into negotiations. In the end, he got the right to be late for a good half of the dinner for picking up the cake. Apparently, Alec wants him present to meet the girl and also to help keep the Lightwoods at bay.
The girl.
She remains to be called that up until today. He can't understand why Alec wouldn't tell him her name.
Actually, he can't understand a lot of things.
He lay awake all night, trying to figure out why did he missed it. Alec must've been dating her for a while to risk her life by inviting her to family dinner..a LIGHTWOOD FAMILY DINNER. Is he really that self-absorbed not to notice?
Well yes. Yes you are. Shut up stupid subconscious.
He must have said it outloud cause the pudgy woman gave him a questioning stare.
Great. Now I'm self-absorbed and mental. He got off his stop and trudged towards the Lightwood's more of a mansion kind of house.
He skidded to a halt in front. A quiet house during a Lightwood family dinner is enough to send you into suspicion.
Maybe they already burned her alive. One less thing to worry about. He hurried inside in excitement to see what's causing the peace.
Voices were heard at the dining room. He kicked the door open.
Startled pairs of eyes darted in his direction. A quick survey of the room told him that the absence of Benedict Lightwood and his sons were a huge hint about what caused the miracle of a silence. But what he didn't get, is Robert and Maryse Lightwood's civil manner to each other. A huge leap from throwing plates around at the sign of presence.
Then he remembered why. His eyes zeroed in at the person sitting beside Alec.
She looked up and the greenest eyes he had ever seen met his gaze.