Disclaimer... I do not own The Mortal Instruments or any of the characters.
"I can't believe you didn't ask me to be your bridesmaid" Simon grumbled, lying on his back on the carpet. Clary snickered, nudging him with her toe. "Well, you can if you like but I thought Izzy would look better in the dress" she grabbed a swatch of gold gauze and held it to his face, frowning pensively. "I thought you'd be better off as my best man" she told him.
"You're having a best man?" Simon rolled over and snatched at the fabric. "Bella Swan did, why can't I?"
"You read Twilight?" Simon gasped, an expression of horror on his face as if she had confessed to kicking puppies.
"It wasn't that bad" Clary picked up her pillow and wrapped her arms around it defensively.
"Clary. The vampires glittered. And the werewolves were all topless"
"So you have read it" Clary gloated.
"I didn't say that!" Simon protested "but I've- heard things"
Clary rolled her eyes "It's not like I'm gonna judge you Simon"
Simon snatched the pillow from her childishly "so, best man, hey?" he quickly changed the subject, looking shifty. "Simon. Would you do me the very great honour of being my best man?" Clary asked dramatically.
Simon grinned "of course my dear" he returned, before a vaguely panicked look crossed his face "Will I have to wear a suit?" he groaned. Clary smirked "Yep".
Isabelle burst in, tottering slightly on her high heels. Even by usual Izzy standards, she was dressed up. Black leather ankle boots were paired with a mid-thigh length pencil skirt and a sleek navy blazer. Simon hastily pulled himself into a seated position, gazing at her in awe. Clary smiled involuntarily. They were so gross and gooey together, but it was cute all the same. "Did you ask him? Oh, he and Jace and Alec have to go pick suits together! And Clary we have to find you a wedding dress!"
"Izzy, you're in such a tizzy!" Simon said, smiling faintly. She rolled her eyes at him while Clary groaned. "I can't wear gold. It looks awful with my hair"
Isabelle snorted. "Clary, you're a redhead. Gold will look fantastic on you. Besides, it's tradition. I have to wear it too, and it's not really my colour"
Clary raised an eyebrow as she stood. "Izzy. Everything is your colour"
Isabelle wore a musing expression, "Yes, I suppose so. But I made an appointment at the boutique today, and the wedding's only three months away so get up and get dressed!"
Clary regarded her calmly. "I am dressed"
Isabelle looked exasperated and hopeless "you can't wear that to a dress shop! You look about fourteen" she indicated Simon with an imperious finger, and showed him the door. He left hastily, with a quick kiss on the cheek for Izzy and a wave at Clary.
Clary felt the empathy in the wave, and gave a long suffering sigh as she hauled herself out of bed. "Is Jace looking at suits?" she asked, restraining a flutter of excitement. Isabelle shook her dark head.
"No, they can do that closer to the wedding". Isabelle crossed to the closet and perused through Clary's clothes before shaking her head sadly, "I'm taking you shopping before the honeymoon. And for today, you'll just have to borrow some of my clothes"
Clary was dragged to Izzy's room, passing Alec who looked slightly hunted. The reason was revealed a few minutes later as they passed Magnus who was eagerly poring over fabric swatches. "Clary! Izzy! Are you two going to the boutique?" Clary nodded sadly.
"Cheer up biscuit! You want to look fantastic on your special day, don't you? I'd love to come with you, Alec's fed up with looking at bouquets and he's stormed off somewhere" the glittery warlock said all this very fast.
Clary blinked, but Isabelle was already talking. "That's a fantastic idea Magnus! It'd be great if you could come. I'm just going to get Clary cleaned up, but we'll be ready to leave in ten minutes".
Magnus beamed, and went back to the flower arrangements.
Ten minutes later, Clary had been crammed into a slim poison green dress with a deep V neck and her crimson hair was twisted up in an elegant French twist. Isabelle coerced her into high black stilettos, and then handed her an actual stiletto, engraved with runes.
"Isabelle. Where exactly am I supposed to put this?" Clary waved the dagger at the other girl. With an impatient sigh, Isabelle grabbed the dagger and stuffed in in Clary's rather non-existent cleavage. "Honestly" Izzy huffed, handing Clary a short black jacket and ushering her out the door.
Magnus sat glumly in a chair outside Isabelle's bedroom. Once the girls arrived, he immediately perked up, grinning at them.
"Have you thought about what sort of style you want for your bridesmaid dress, Isabelle?" he asked seriously as they left the Institute. "I was thinking a floor length silk sheath" she replied, hailing a cab quickly.
"That would look great on you" Clary said lamely as she crawled into the cab. Somehow she just wasn't feeling the wedding dress excitement yet. She was sure when she actually got to try on some dresses, that it would feel more real.
"What about you, Clary?" Isabelle asked.
Clary was rather alarmed at being asked her opinion on anything wedding related. "Me? Uh- I don't know… something not poufy?" she said.
Isabelle nodded. "Not poufy. I can work with that"
The boutique was expansive and light filled, and the whole place smelt like roses. Gold dresses glittered on every rack and an elegant woman in a pantsuit greeted them with a smile. Clary could see black Marks peeking out from under the collar of her thin white dress shirt. To Clary's dismay, she noticed quite a few poufy dresses languishing on the racks. "So who's the bride?" the woman asked brightly. She raised an eyebrow at Magnus, who shook his spiky head and pointed at Clary.
"Oh! Yes, I think we have some things that'll do very nicely". Clary nodded speechlessly as the woman led them further into the shop. "We're also looking for a bridesmaid dress" Clary finally managed to say faintly.
"I'm Isabelle Lightwood" Isabelle stuck out her hand, and the woman looked slightly surprised. "Lightwood… That means you're Clary Fairchild? I was a few years above Jocelyn at school, but my goodness you look like her. I'm surprised I didn't recognize you, but congratulations! Jace Herondale, right?"
Clary nodded awkwardly and shook the proffered hand. The woman darted away into the racks, returning with- the only word Clary could think to describe it was 'monstrosity'. A giant gold fluffy skirt exploded out from a sequined bodice, and short shiny sleeves capped it off. Clary's eyes widened slightly in horror, but Magnus looked quite impressed by the woman's taste. Isabelle noted Clary's expression and intervened hastily. "I don't think that's quite what we're looking for… Maybe we'll just browse around?"
The lady returned the dress, and explained where the bridal dresses were and where the bridesmaid one's were.
"Oh god" Clary gasped as she saw herself "I look like a washed up soap opera star turned serial killer hooker".
"That's one way of describing it" Magnus said mildly. Isabelle bit her lip. She of course, had found the perfect gown ten minutes in. A light champagne gold silk sheath that hugged her slim figure and had a mid-thigh slit up the side. Clary was having more trouble.
The dress she had on currently was just truly frightening, and she wasted no time in wiggling out of it. "Try this one" Isabelle suggested. The dress was covered by a cloth garment and Clary eyed it curiously as Isabelle ushered her back into the changing room.
"Close your eyes" Isabelle ordered, as she dropped the dress over her head and Clary was enveloped in soft fabric. She gasped again as she saw it, but for an entirely different reason.
The bodice gave her an hour glass figure, and slimmed her waist away to nothing. The skirt wasn't poufy at all, but fell to the floor in elegant, graceful waves of silk and tulle. The off the shoulder sleeves emphasised her collar bones and the low neckline made her neck look swan like. She felt like a princess.
"What do you think? Izzy asked nervously. Speechless, all Clary could do was nod. Izzy grinned and towed her out the door to display her to Magnus, who whistled.
"That looks gorgeous, cupcake. I think you've found it"
Clary grinned, finally feeling the excitement. "I think so too"
Hope you liked the first chapter! Please review
