I DO NOT own the song Speak Now by Taylor Swift, or any of the characters from the Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. Just wanted to clear that up!

At any rate, enjoy!

I was practically shaking with nerves.

Doing something like this was something that was so far out of my comfort zone, so bizarre, that if you had told me that I was going to be doing this a month ago, I would have laughed in your face.

Because a month ago, Jace had come back.

He and I had been childhood best friends, and for awhile, we'd dated in our later teen years. Later, we'd broken it off when he left to go to college, and I hadn't spoken to him since.

I'd thought that I'd forgotten how it felt to feel those little butterflies in my stomach when he smiled at me, or the way he'd always find some way to make a witty quip at a moment's notice, no matter what the situation.

But the minute I laid eyes on him, it all came rushing back, and suddenly I was seventeen years old again.

But then I found out that he was coming back to get married.

His fiancee was physically flawless; clear, glowing skin, bright blue eyes, and a huge smile that exposed white, perfect teeth. She was, by all accounts, gorgeous. The perfect match to Jace's own looks.

Not that he needed to be reminded of that fact.

I thought that I could handle it for sure, even if it hurt to see him link hands with her and whisper things in her ear that made her giggle. I knew my jealously was irrational, but I couldn't help it.

As for Jace and I, we hopped right back into our friendship with ease. He still came to see me at the little coffee shop where I worked to talk, and he was still as charming and sarcastic as ever.

"She's great, really she is," he said, shoving a hand through his hair. "But there are times when I feel like. . .like I'm doing something wrong."

I silently listened to him, even though I knew what Kaelie could be like when it was just her and I in a room.

The minute she found out that I was Jace's ex, she hunted me down one afternoon to give me the 411 on their relationship.

A relationship that I was going to, quote on quote 'not screw up.'

Just the thought of it had my gritting my teeth.

But all that was before Jace kissed me last night.

I could still see the panic on his face as he'd yanked himself away from me, repeatedly muttering curses under his breath. "I've got to go," he kept saying over and over. "I. . .I'm sorry, Clary."

At first, all I could do was stare after him with an open mouth, willing my limbs to move.

But that wasn't happening.

I wanted to catch him this morning to talk, but he was already gone by the time I woke up.

On today of all days; the day of the wedding.

I took a deep breath as I walked into the church, my heartbeat drumming in my ears.

I barely managed to sneak past Kaelie's family members and slipped into a room off to the side, carefully shutting the door behind me.

"Clary?"

I whirled around, sagging against the door when I saw Alec, Jordan, Sebastian, even Jonathan, standing there, staring at me with wide eyes.

"Hey," I said, trying to appear casual. "What's. . .um. . .up?"

My brother walked up to me. "What are you doing here, Clary?" He hissed. "You're not supposed to-"

Jon was cut off by a loud shriek from the other room.

I ducked around the corner, resisting the urge to wrinkle my face in irritation as I noticed Kaelie standing there, waving her bouquet around like a madwomen as she scolded a bridesmaid in a soft pink dress.

"I've told you a million times!" She shrieked. "Roses do not go with carnations!"

I bit back a laugh when the hoop of the dress bounced around, looking remarkably like a cupcake.

Jon yanked me back. "Seriously," he said, placing his hands on my shoulders. "You really shouldn't be here, Clary."

I folded my arms across my chest. "And why not? You're here after all; after that I'd imagine that they'd let anyone in!"

Jon's eyes narrowed. "Because I'm the best man!"

"Yeah, well, I'm his best friend!"

Jon shook his head, running an agitated hand through his hair. "This was a bad idea, Clary." He moaned. "If she finds out that your here-"

"She won't," I said, slipping through the door again. "I know how not to get caught."

. . .

As it was, I managed to find a seat somewhere in the middle of the church so that Kaelie couldn't easily spot me and throw a temper tantrum.

Guests were still standing up, exchanging pleasant remarks before all taking their seats, ready to enjoy a wedding.

Jace took his place up front, and I felt my heart give a little tug when I noticed how tired he was looking, the gold in his eyes anxious as he tapped his foot on the floor.

It was then that the music started.

'Here Comes the Bride' was, at least in my book, one of the worst things to walk down the aisle to, but this prompted the doors in the back to open, and all of Kaelie's bridesmaids filed out, followed by the pageant queen herself.

I almost expected her to wave her hand like a true beauty guru, but unfortunately, she did no such thing.

I clamped my lips shut to keep from jumping on the pew and yelling at Jace to run, that if he went through with this now, there really wouldn't be any going back.

And I wouldn't have to do what I was about to.

I watched as Kaelie's father handed her away to Jace, and she giggled as his fingers closed around her's. Inwardly, I rolled my eyes as they ascended the steps up to the preacher.

I tapped my foot on the ground, waiting for my cue. Part of me wanted the vows to go on forever so that I would never get to stand up, but another part of me, a much bigger part, was dying to stand up and say what was on my mind before I could back down.

"If there are any objections to this marriage," the preacher's voice boomed throughout the church. "Speak now, or forever hold your peace."

Cue dramatic music.

He was about to go on when I stood up, my hands shaking. But when I spoke, my voice came out clear.

"I object."

Horrified gasps and looks reverberated throughout the room, and I was fairly sure that my brother shot me a dirty look from where he was standing on the altar next to Jace, but my eyes were focused on the blonde haired boy.

Some part of me expected him to scowl and shake his head, but he wasn't doing that at all.

In fact, the corners of his mouth were twitching into a small smile.

Kaelie, on the other hand, looked near murderous. "You," she said, pointing a finger at me, practically seething. "I knew you were going to mess it up."

I could tell that she had more words, a whole torrent of them, but she was stopped when Jace grabbed her arm.

"Kaelie," he said, his tone serious. "Can we talk?"

"NO!" She screamed, her voice echoing throughout the church. "No, I know where this is going! Are you meaning to tell me that you don't want to marry me at all?! Why propose then?!"

Jace shrugged, his gaze level. "My father made me."

This, of course, earned another shriek of protest, but by this time, Jace was already walking back down the aisle to where I was sitting.

He held out a hand, and I took it, allowing him to pull me outside into the fresh summer day, Kaelie's protesting dying out once we shut the door.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled once we were outside, taking my face in his hands. The gold in them had softened to the most vulnerable shade that I had ever seen them, and he looked nervous.

I shrugged. "That was actually kind of fun."

He chuckled. "No, I'm sorry about last night. I should have. . .I should have ended it with her then, but I was scared. I wasn't sure of anything, and I spent all night thinking about what to do, and then I just decided that this would be the easiest way, for me at least."

"You don't have to marry someone that you don't want to, Jace."

He laughed. "I know. But just so you know, I thought we were going to have World War III on our hands in there with the way she was shouting at you." Jace shook his head, his eyes glowing. "I should have figured you were going to do something like this. I'm really glad that you were around for that last part."

I grinned as he kissed my forehead. "Honestly? So am I."