DISCLAIMER: ALL CHARACTERS, THEMES AND SETTINGS USED IN THIS STORY BELONG TO CASSANDRA CLARE, THE TRUE CREATOR AND OWNER OF THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS AND INFERNAL DEVICES SERIES. I OWN NOTHING THAT YOU RECOGNISE.
"And then, she said "I can replace Camille, Ms. Collins". So, I was like, "Puh-lease, as if you can do what I do, bitch". But then Collins fool of a woman actually said I should "give her a chance". I wanted to claw her eyes out right there and then. Ugh! Can you believe them?!"
Silence from the other side of the room. Camille Belcourt narrowed her eyes as she stared up at the ceiling of the room. She couldn't actually see him from her place of lying on the bed but she had a sneaky suspicion that her best friend was ignoring her. "Mag," she called out tentatively. Still no answer.
"Magnus Bane! Are you listening to me at all?!" Camille sat up indignantly and glared across the room at her best friend. He was carefully embroidering a long-sleeved top with sequins while still duly ignoring her.
"Mag," Camille whined, "Come on, I need you. Put down that insanely bedazzled shirt for just a second and listen to my woes, please?"
Magnus gave a long-suffering sigh. "I am listening, hon. I've got my eyes on this top and my ears faithfully dedicated to your ongoing monologue."
"Well, could you at least act a little interested?" Camille answered snottily, as she crossed her arms and legs together on the bed. "This is my life we're talking about, you know."
Magnus rolled his eyes, "Of course, Camille. It's infinitely important to the fate of the world that Maureen the mundie doesn't steal your spot as queen bee. See, I've been listening. Honestly, couldn't we talk about something else? You know Vampire politics bore me to tears."
Camille pouted, something which she could do extremely well. "Well, I'm sorry my problems bore you so much, Magnus. I thought you wouldn't mind listening to me since we're, you know, best friends since forever and stuff. But that's fine, it's okay. I guess you'd rather hang out with your clothes than me. So I'll just go."
She got up from the bed and gingerly made her way to the door. She swung it open theatrically, but didn't step out. "I'm going now," she called back. "Goodbye, cruel one whom I once called my friend. Perhaps, when you see my lifeless body you'll repent and feel guilty for forcing me away. Don't worry. I forgive you, Magnus, because you're my one and only best friend."
Magnus closed his eyes and counted to ten in his head. Honestly, dealing with Camille made him feel like a basket case. He definitely needed a day off from her constant whining. But if he let her leave now, he'd never hear the end of it. Sighing, he decided on a plan of action to avoid that, and set the shirt he was working on out-of-the-way.
"Firstly, Camille, where do you think you're going? This is your room. Secondly, how the hell is my ignoring you going to end up with your lifeless body? And thirdly, "he paused, wrinkling his nose at her, "Why would anyone pair those shoes with that bag?"
"The shoes are cute and you know it," Camille answered, leaning against the door.
"True," Magnus conceded. "Guess we're just going to have to ditch the bag then, because babe, no way are we going for a coffee with you dressed that atrociously. "
Camille gave a loud squeal, "Yay! My Maggie's back!"
Magnus was hardly listening as Camille latched onto his arm, all the while prattling on about some heinous plot Maureen what's-her-name had started against her.
As they slid into Camille's car, she suddenly took on a new tack. "Hey, Mags, you know that party you're throwing Saturday?"
"Hmm," Magnus answered absent-mindedly as he twiddled with the dials on the radio. "What about it?"
"Well, is it true that you invited Glass Tower kids?" Camille asked, studying his face intently.
Magnus shrugged his shoulders, an act which Camille correctly guessed as an affirmative. "Are you sure that's wise?" she murmured nervously. "You know how things are between the Glass Towers and our school."
Magnus shrugged again, "It'll be fine. It's not like I invited the entire school. Just a couple of guys. And besides," he grinned wickedly, "Can you imagine the look on de Quincy's face when he sees my special guests?"
Camille gave a shrill hoot of laughter, "Oh my god, Mags, you are SO evil! I can definitely see Alexei having an apoplectic fit when he sees the kids from Glass Towers. "
"Exactly. And what can he do about it? It's MY party."
"Yeah," Camille agreed, "I can't wait to tell Alexei where to shove it."
Magnus pretended shock, "Lord, honey, that kind of language isn't fit for a lady! What kind of riff-raff have you been hanging around with, my lady Belcourt?"
Camille sniffed, "None of your business. It's your own fault anyway. Always ignoring me and spending time with Ragnor instead. Anyone would think I wasn't your best friend!"
Magnus muffled a giggle at her uppity tone, completely at odds with the earlier coarseness. "Camille, darling, Ragnor's my cousin. And I live with him. It would be kind of hard not to spend time with him, wouldn't it?"
Camille just ignored him, but her own curiosity must have gotten the better of her as she turned back almost immediately and asked, "So who are the 'couple of guys' you invited? Please tell me it isn't that insufferable prat, Jonathan Morgenstern."
"Oh no, honey, I absolutely hate that fool. He acts all arrogant just because his daddy owns Circle Industries. Really!"
Camille tapped her fingers impatiently on the steering wheel, "So? Who is it? Tell me quick!"
Magnus smiled, winking at her as he answered, "Do you remember my telling you about a certain black-haired blue-eyed wonder?"
Camille nodded, "Yes, of course, your favourite combination."
Magnus leaned back in his seat, saying nothing else.
Camille gave a loud gasp, "You can't be serious?!" When Magnus didn't answer, she started bouncing up and down in her seat, "You are! You are serious! Oh my god, Mags. All you knew was his name! How did you even manage it?!"
Magnus studied his nails interestedly, "Nothing to it. A little bribery here, a tip there, and voilĂ ! I got the invitation passed on to the guy of my dreams. And as for hardly knowing him, you can bet that's what I'll be doing at the party Saturday night."
"Mags, you're a genius!" Camille pronounced eagerly.
"I know," Magnus answered with a determined glint in his eye, "Come Saturday night, I'll definitely have my blue-eyed wonder. Get ready William Herondale, because the amazing Magnus Bane is on his way."
