Chapter 1- Trip of the Shutter
"Smile Miss. Lightwood!" The voice called out. Isabelle's face broke out into her rehearsed smile and she turned herself in a slow, smooth circle, purposefully turning her head to glance behind at the camera, letting her hair spill over her shoulder like an overturned ink bottle. The camera flashing was a regular thing for Isabelle, her brother, and best friend. "Get Jace in here, please!" The photographer called as their manager pointed to Jace. Jace smiled automatically and walked over to Isabelle. On camera, they were dating. Off camera, they were just best friends. As Jace came over he fixed his hair and glanced to the photographer in a smooth motion that caused a flurry of pictures to be taken. He had is graceful half smile on his lips and his head was tilted downward slightly so his eyes caught the light and glowed brighter than the flashes.
"Where do you want me, Dani?" Jace asked the photographer who swallowed and blushed just hearing Jace speak her name. Jace had that effect on most people, herself excluded, Isabelle thought.
"Uhh… umm… well… uhh…" Dani sputtered and her blush deepened as Jace smiled with teeth. He didn't do it purposefully, but he did it when he was bored. Made the photographers flustered that is. He always could. Jace cocked an eyebrow as poor Dani kept trying to string words together.
"Daniella, we don't have all day. Get along with it!" Tristan Caz, our manager, called out, his face shifting to his usual scowl with hard lines along his cheeks and forehead.
"Yes sir! I'm sorry. Jace, can you…" she bites her lip and looks back in the camera deep in thought. "Behind Isabelle and wrap one arm around her midriff, your hand resting on her hip bone, please put your thumb into the waistband of her jean shorts, your other fingers can just rest there. Isabelle, lean back on him and reach an arm up to touch his jaw. Jace, with your other hand, cup her breast. Good! Isabelle just relax and with your free other hand you can put it in your front pocket. Good.. good… perfect! Neither of you move!" Dani ordered and her camera started flashing again. Isabelle felt Jace pull her closer and rub her hip with his thumb. She relaxed and plastered the look of love on her face. After a couple minutes of that, Dani nodded happily. "One more guys, then I'm done with you for the day!" She smiles and Isabelle and Jace untangle themselves.
"Now where to, Dani?" Isabelle asked. Dani smiled and moved to get her other camera, her travel, on-the-go, camera.
"Well, outside on 5th Avenue first. Jace you're going to hold her piggyback style. I'll explain more when we step out onto 5th." Dani smiled and motioned for Isabelle to get on Jace's back and go outside with her.
"Come on, Iz." Jace said gently and turned so she could hop up. She wrapped herself around him.
"We always get swamped out there," Isabelle sighed, pouting to herself. Jace squeezed her legs lightly and nodded.
"Yeah, but you know Dani loves the publicity. I'll keep 'em back," Jace replied gently, making his way out of the building to 5th Avenue. Dani smiled when they got there.
"Good! Okay, so, Isabelle go up higher so you can bend over his shoulder and kiss him, Jace turn your head so you can kiss her. Cool?" Dani described the scene and Isabelle nodded, climbing up Jace slightly to bend over his shoulder as he turned his head. They were a hair away when Isabelle whispered.
"This looks so staged. No ones kissing like this," she smiled wickedly and Jace laughed. His laugh was warm and full and they pressed their lips together to hear the flurry of camera clicks and see through closed eyes, the flashes of the camera.
"Great! That's a wrap for today!" Dani cheerily remarked, smiling brightly as Isabelle and Jace broke apart and the three re-entered the building.
"Hey, Iz, do you have anymore shoots today? Interviews? Anymore anything?" Jace asked her as she gathered her things and made her way to the dressing room to change back into her normal attire. She paused, hand resting on the door and Jace watched her face change in thought. Finally, she shook her head.
"I don't think I have anything for the rest of today, but," she pushed open the door to her dressing room, letting it click closed behind her as she vanishes from view. "I am booked tomorrow. Brooklyn Academy of Art is paying me a pretty penny to have a girl body paint me."
"Brooklyn Academy of Art? That's a bit below you. Why are they paying you so much?" Jace called through the closed door, leaning himself against the outer wall. Isabelle began the process of changing back to normal.
"Because Tristan's brother just got married to this professor at BOA named Skylar and she apparently has this super gifted student who can do just about anything but needs to push herself out of her comfort zone. So Skylar was telling her husband, Jake, a few nights ago about this girl and how she's in need of a model for body painting, and Jake called Tristan. Tristan said he could give Skylar "the best model in the City" so long as the gig paid well. Jake told Skylar who accepted and now I'm going in tomorrow for full body body painting. It's been a while since I've been a nude body painting model." Isabelle said through the door. Finishing her look by tying up her hair in ha messy bun. She pulled open the door, dressed in a revealing and low top with short shorts and a pair of heels. "Good?"
"As always, Iz. Anyway, back to BAoA, you're comfortable modeling nude to be painted on, right?" Jace asked as they exited to studio. Isabelle put aviator glasses on her face and nodded.
"Yeah. It's for another girl and you know I'm bi. Kinda hoping she's hot so I can have a sexy art student paint me." Isabelle responded, smirking teasingly and linking arms with Jace in a friend like manner.
"Well, in that case, we should go out to dinner tonight to celebrate. You know, big checks equal big parties! Alec's free for the night, right?" Jace smiled and pulled out his phone with the arm not linked in Isabelle's.
"Yup, but he's also booked tomorrow. You'll never believe what gig he landed! Well," she pauses, "more like who he landed it with."
"Hmmm… is it a photo shoot?" Jace inquired and Isabelle gave a movement of her head, meaning maybe.
"Sorta. Can I tell you? Please!" Isabelle was smiling brightly, ignoring the people on the street that pointed and gasped and took pictures of her and Jace.
"Go on. This better be good because you're very excited," Jace remarked and cast a smile at one of the passerby. Isabelle sighed, joining Jace by smiling and waving at some people.
"It is." The two of them got into their limo and closed the door behind them. Isabelle tossed her legs up on Jace's lap and he smiled. "So, Tristan texted him last night when I was with him and told him he'd gotten him a legitimate modeling job for tomorrow. Apparently a designer needed a model and he called Tristan and said he would only accept Alec as his model and he's paying Alec pretty nicely. Magnus Bane was the designer." Isabelle said and Jace's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Are you serious? Wow! That's great for him!" Jace exclaimed, a smile lining his face in joy. Isabelle nodded and smiled back. "I'm actually wearing a Bane jacket right now." Jace remarked, pointing to his jacket and pulling on it, smiling.
"It's great for all of us. The publicity and any of us being typed to the name Magnus Bane ties all of us to the name Magnus Bane. And that can't hurt us at all." Isabelle concluded and Jace nodded. "And you? What do you have on the schedule for later? Any interviews? Modelling? Photoshoots?"
"Actually, yeah. There's this new band, apparently it's doing really good in the world of music. They had a few songs on the radio and I've been tuning in because I have a magazine shoot with them." Jace spoke matter-a-factly. Isabelle smiled, nodding and tilting her head.
"What band?" Isabelle had heard of so many new and upcoming bands that she was curious to see whether she knew of this one or not. Jace rested his hand on her knee absently as he spoke.
"The Mortal Instruments. Their three big ones are, "Michelangelo", "Fragile World", and "Royal Blue". They aren't the worst out there so if you haven't heard them, I'd actually give em a whirl." Jace said as Isabelle smiled noting how he'd done his research as always.
"I heard "Royal Blue" the other day. It was a good song. And that's a high compliment. Coming from us." A smile graced Isabelle's face followed by laughter of acknowledgement from Jace as they pulled to rest outside of the most high end building in Manhattan.
"Thanks, Harry," Jace said as he handed their limo driver a 20. Harry didn't do much other then drive them everywhere and endure traffic, but they had enough money to spare. Entering The Northern Plaza, they waved to the man behind the desk and took the elevator to the penthouse. Isabelle unlocked the door and pushed it open calling ahead of them.
"We're home!" As her voice echoed in the chic modern space that was their living establishment, another voice replied from a bedroom.
"How was it?" Alec had the smoothest and calmest voice of anyone that had ever spoken ever. He walked out of his room and high fives Jace then wrapped Isabelle in a hug.
"It was good, Big Brother," Isabelle was wrapped in his arms for another second before stepping back and smiling up at her brother, "How was your day?"
"Eh, fine. Nothing crazy. I had to sit for a painting and then practice runway walking for Magnus Bane tomorrow. Then I came home and started cleaning. I vacuumed, the kitchens clean and so is the bathroom and living room. I'm not touching any bedroom but my own though." Alec remarked as he padded into their living space, falling gracefully onto the couch. If they'd learned anything from their modeling careers, it was grace and patience. And the ability to hold one pose so long you feel like you'll never move again, but that's beside the point.
"Did you hear Iz has to go in to BAoA tomorrow?" Jace remarked, walking to the kitchen to get himself something to eat. Alec made a hum of acknowledgement and flipped his head backwards over the couch to see Isabelle.
"Jace, can you grab me a Dr. Pepper? Thanks. What for, Izzy?" Alec asked. Isabelle smiled and walked to the living room, sitting across from Alec so he could right himself.
"Can you get me a Cherry Vanilla Coke J? Thanks! And I'm going to be a model. A nude model for a full body body painting. It's for an excessively talented student who just needs to be pushed out of her comfort zone. Her professor is Tristan's sister-in-law. BAoA is paying me a pretty penny for this though, so I'm not complaining. And you know I love being naked, I love my body. Thanks J." Isabelle concluded as Jace handed her and Alec their drinks. Alec made a thank you noise and nodded to Isabelle.
"That's great. All the best. If you need anything though I'll come right there to take you out of there if anyone tries anything." Alec remarked both warningly and protectively.
"You know I'm heavily body guarded. But don't worry, if anything happens I'll call you or Jace." Isabelle reassured Alec who seemed content with her answer and turned to Jace.
"And you? What's on your schedule for tomorrow?" Alec remarked gently and stretched his arms above his head with a yawn.
"Meh, nothing much. Some sleeping, eating, breathing. You know, the usual," Jace replied in a teasing way, causing Alec to roll his eyes.
"Tristan's "Master Calendar" in the kitchen has all three of us with an "X" so that means we're all busy," Alec reaches his long limbs and kicks Jace teasingly to which Jace responded to with a mock gasp.
"You wound me!" Jace exclaimed and Alec rolled his eyes, motioning for Jace to continue. "Okay, fine. You caught me. I have a photoshoot for a magazine tomorrow and an interview for some talk show."
"Tell him who's going to be at said magazine shoot!" Isabelle gushed excitedly and sipped on her drink and her black eyes glow like the night sky.
"Well? Do tell. If you've got Izzy excited, it must be good," Alec looked to Jace who had a smile growing on his face.
"Some new band. No one big right now but Tristan has his money that they're going to explode in a year or two, so he met with their manager and got me to go take a photoshoot with them. When the band becomes huge we'll already have pictures in with them, meaning higher publicity and more money. And seeing me in a photoshoot with them will increase their publicity, possibly shrinking the year or two gap to maybe one at most. They're called "The Mortal Instruments"." Jace concluded and took the final bite of his sandwich, getting up to go wash the plate. Alec watched him go, then flipped his head back to look at Isabelle.
"That's good. How was your photoshoot today?" Alec inquired, sipping his drink again and settling into the couch with a content sigh.
"Good. We had to take pictures on 5th, and you know I hate that. But Dani said they'd be posted to her Insta and she'd send them to Ford Models' Insta to see if they'd sponsor me. You know, nothing new. Dani's excited about these ones though," Isabelle remarked thoughtfully.
"You looked great out there today, Iz. She has a lot to be proud of when working with you," Jace remarked and Isabelle blushed, glancing behind at him.
"You flatter me." Isabelle smiled and got up, stretching high above her head. She was one of the shorter models in the job, most were around 5'6" while she only stood at 5'3", 5'4".
"He's not wrong. Dani is lucky to have you as her main client. Don't cut yourself short," Alec responded, also getting up and heading to the door. "We should go out to dinner. Eleven Madison Park?" Alec suggested and a smile grew on Isabelle's lips.
"Yes! I love it there," Isabelle joyously spoke, Jace glanced over his shoulder from finishing putting things away in the kitchen and he grabbed Isabelle from behind, wrapping his arms around her fondly, face in her neck.
"Quick, Alec, take a picture!" Jace spoke, his face buried in Isabelle's neck. Isabelle turned her head slightly, giggling and clasped her hands over where he had his hands. Alec took some pictures with his phone before Isabelle wormed out of Jace's arms and hopped up on his back. Jace laughed warmly and Alec texted the pictures to their group chat.
"Yay! I'll post them to Insta. Maybe Snap?" Isabelle pulled her phone out of her pocket and opened the pictures, smiling at how adorable the two of them looked together. Jace also pulled out his phone, but to text Harry to pick them up and bring them to Eleven Madison Park and to make reservations for 3.
"Alec, come here. Let's post a Snap while we wait for Harry," Jace said as Alec walked over and stood by Jace. Isabelle was on Jace's back and swung her head between the two boys, smiling brightly as Jace took the picture.
The thing about Eleven Madison Park was that they always spent way too much money. No matter when they went, they always over indulged. And then left a tip. They'd just finished and were climbing back into the car with Harry, when Isabelle's phone vibrated. It was from Dani. She screamed happily as she read it. Alec swung around in full alert but Isabelle just shoved her phone at him to show him the message.
"Please don't scare me like that, Izzy-" Alec began his usual lecture, taking the phone from Isabelle but not reading the message yet.
"Read it! Please!" Isabelle begged and Alec sighed, his sister could always get her way with him, he loved her too much to say no to her. As he read it, his face lit and he smiled brightly.
"Congratulations, Izzy!" Alec exclaimed and Jace coughed.
"What does it say?" Jace asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's a text from Dani, it says, 'Hello Miss. Lightwood! Good news! Mrs. Sherry Hartford from Ford Models just called me and said that Ford Models has agreed to sponsor you! Here's her number, text her when you can and then please tell Mr. Caz!' Izzy, this is great!" Alec was smiling ear to ear. Jace laughed happily and both of them wrapped Izzy in a hug as she texted the number.
"Tristan will be happy, he's been praying for Ford to sponsor me," Isabelle noted as she texted him too.
"It's really big, Iz. Seriously. Now," Jace started as the three of them got out of the car and headed up to their penthouse. "We all have busy days tomorrow. Sleep will do us all well. Good night guys." He smiles as they all break away for their separate rooms wishing each other good nights respectively. The joy and anticipation high in the atmosphere.