Clary glanced nervously at the clock: 5:30 p.m. 1 more day until the wedding. She thought about how beautiful Aline was, and wondered how prettier can she get. Thinking back on the day she walked in on Aline and Jace locked in a passionate embrace, she was surprised for either of them to even have been invited to Aline's wedding, to a warlock named Peter no less, considering their unpleasant reactions to the entire ordeal. But when Jace had received his invitation, he immediately called Clary up to invite her as his date. The wedding was to take place in Idris, and family friends, such as the Lightwoods, were welcome to stay at Aline's mansion a day prior to the wedding, which was to happen at the Grand Alter in Alicante. Clary hesitated the offer first, knowing how Maryse and Robert disapproved of her and Jace's heavy intense relationship with one another, and wouldn't like them staying together. Even Clary's own parents didn't like the idea of them spending the night with one another. Clary promised Jocelyn and Luke that nothing inappropriate would go on, and Isabelle came to their defense saying Aline's mansion was so large, there would be individual rooms for each of them and enough to spare. Maryse and Robert only agreed, so long as they behaved themselves. Clary was sure she could control herself, in public at least, but Jace was another story entirely.
After dinner, Jace, Alec, Robert, and Aline's father all went out to a fitting for their tuxedos for the wedding. Clary retreated to her bedroom, bored. Isabelle was talking on the phone with her boyfriend, and her date, as she always was. He was coming to the house in the late night to stay with Aline's family and Isabelle. Clary couldn't help notice how unusually warm the house had become after Jace and Alec left. Trickles of sweat fell down onto her forehead, and Clary wiped them away with the back of her hand.
After getting changed, Clary sat down on her bed lazily. Jace wasn't expected to be back from his little outfit fitting for another half hour, the thought sending waves of relentless boredom through Clary's mind. Unable to think of what else to do with the spare time, she flipped on the large ancient stone radio on the brown wooden beside table. At first look, she wasn't sure if it would even turn on anymore, with dust settling on the top. The bedside table swayed and creaked under the weight of the heavy radio as she turned the volume knob down, hoping not to disturb, or attract, anyone else staying in the house.
"Drop it likes it hot, drop it like it's hot" came the voice of Snoop Dog on the radio. The chorus of the song instantly reminded her of the commercial for Sun Kist, a citrus beverage, where a guy looking strikingly similar to Paulie Bleeker from Juno danced to the same song. Last time she had seen the commercial, she was sitting with Jace at Luke's apartment in between episodes of America's top model. Clary smiled thinking back to the day, still wondering how she convinced him to endure Tyra Banks overdramatic endings. She remembered how good his snide comments about the weight, or lack of, on all the bony models on the show felt, him knowing Clary's insecurities. Still smiling, Clary turned up the volume on the radio and started dancing. The louder music, and the memory of Jace's face in her head, inspired Clary and suddenly she was singing. Her fire red hair flipping all over the place, Clary grabbed the hairbrush from the bedside table and sang into it. She swayed her butt to the rhythm of the music, as the commercial had. Unaware anyone was watching, Clary jumped on the bed and flailed her hair and body around, using unnecessary body motions. Still singing, Clary turned around to see Jace in dark black tuxedo pants and a light blue shirt tucked in with a red bow sloppily tied around his neck. Arms crossed, Clary couldn't help notice the muscle definition of his arms. He was wearing the same goofy, and overwhelming sexy smile he always wore, making her heart skip in her chest, as usual.
Clary's cheeks flushed in embarrassment, turning rosy pink, resembling the highlights of her hair. In the moment, Clary stretched her arms to the ceiling and used the palm of her right hand to cover her mouth. She gave a great yawn, and jumped off the end of the bed. "Wow I'm tired. And thirsty, yea I'm just gunna go downstairs and get some water." A smile hiding on her face, Clary twisted her body so it was parallel with Jace's and tried to squish her way through the small gap he left in the doorway. Clary turned in the hallway, and Jace laughed from behind her. He grabbed her hand by her side as she started walking away and pulled her into the bedroom, catching her by surprise. She giggled softly as he closed the door and pinned her against the wall by the dresser. "What are you doing? Your parents are right down the hall." she half giggled, half whispered, even though it was evident neither of them cared much at all. His hands found their way from her shoulders down to her waist, and laughing, between breaths he whispered into her ear "You're adorable". If his face wasn't already planting kisses on her neck and jaw line, he would have seen Clary turn a bright pink and smile. His lips found their way to the corners of her mouth until theirs were on top of each others, locking in a powerful embrace. Clary wrapped her hands around his biceps and continued upward until they were around his neck, clasped together, pulling Jace closer to her. His hands grabbed at the small of her back between the place where her tank top ended and the top of the waistband of her shorts. The two kissed passionately for a few minutes, before a familiar voice filled the room.
"Hey Clary, do you have an extra pair of- oh EWW you guys. I'd say get a room but-" Isabelle's annoyed voice rang out. Clary quickly planted her hands on Jace's pecks and pushed him away. Jace let go of her waist, and turning to Isabelle said "Jeez Izzy! Knock first; you're making Clary all nervous. What if we were-"
"Oh GROSS Jace. Stop. Just stop." Jace's seductive half-smile came on his face, and Clary wished nothing more than for Isabelle just to leave. "I just came to ask if Clary had an extra pair of socks. But- oh God Clary, what in the world are you wearing." She looked Clary up and down with disgust.
"What do u mean-" Clary started, looking down at her exposed body. Her spaghetti strap tank top /night shirt was crinkled from where Jace's hands fondled her torso, and her black Soffe shorts left a long strip on her midriff bare. Looking at her legs, she realized how little the shorts covered, barely reaching past the necessities. Embarrassed, Clary put out her hands in a waving motion. "No no Izzy, I was-"
"Isabelle, come on. It's like 90 degrees in her!" Jace added to her defense.
"I was just feeling a little warm, but all I brought were my long flannel pajamas and these Soffe shorts."
"It's not a problem Clary." Jace said to her assuringly.
"Yea Jace, we all know you won't have a problem with it. But come on Clary, if Mayrse or Robert saw you like that, well you know what they'd think." Clary thought about how strict Mayrse was, and how hesitant she was on Clary even staying with them in the first place. Of course she should have thought more.
"Here, no worries. Lemme just see what I might have for you in my suitcase." Knowing Izzy, shed have flannel, cotton, hell, a whole suitcase for lingerie too.
"Yea that'd be great. Thanks."
Jace emerged from behind Clary and started walking to the doorway where Izzy stood, his gaze dropping from Clary's hair to her small Soffe shorts. " For the record though, I'm all in favor she keeps the shorts." Jace smacked Clary's butt playfully, biting his lip and swaggering out the doorway, without giving the 2 of them another look, but Clary could tell he was fighting back laughter. Why did he have to do that to her? She was sure was she was blushing again, and fought the urge to look into Izzy's disgusted face. Rolling her eyes, Isabelle turned into the hallway to her room, with a "stay here, I'll be right back" thrown in Clary's general direction. Clary waited for a moment before walking out of the doorway into the hall. Isabelle came out of her room a few seconds later holding some pink and white striped cotton pajamas that reached half past her knees. Clary grimaced at them, knowing how long they would end up being on her small figure. She took the pants from Isabelle's hands as Jace came out from his parents' room behind Isabelle's. The red tie had come undone entirely from his neck as he staggered past Clary. As he passed her, he catcalled a seductive whistle, his eyes staring down at Clary's butt. His eyes sparkled, and Clary's cheeks flushed, but she couldn't hide her smile. Isabelle didn't say anything, but Clary could have sworn she heard a laugh come from her as she walked away. Clary turned back into her room, and changed into the as expected ankle length pajama pants Isabelle gave her. Isabelle also seemed to have forgotten about the excessive heat. Jace wasn't kidding when he said it was like 90 degrees. Thinking of how he quickly defended her as a snap reaction made her smile again. She seemed to be doing that a lot more frequently.