The DJ energetically introduces the couples as we walk into the ballroom, and I notice a few people actually cheer for Jace and I when we come out. I'm sure they were all cheering for Jace, though. I cannot imagine Simon woo-ing like that, and heaven knows no one else here cares that much about me. After the big introduction, I look for Simon and try to wander off when Jace takes my hand from his arm and starts leading me through the crowd. I am completely caught off guard, him just holding my hand nonchalantly, fingers intertwined, as if this were a normal thing. Like we did not just meet hours before and find out that we are to be related. Like I didn't keep reluctantly admiring his perfection while imagining what he looks like under that suit.
Suddenly he stops to avoid a flamboyantly dancing couple, and I try to do the same but the heels I'm wearing cause me to catapult forward. I feel a warm hand steady me at my elbow and another on my hip. I look up to see Jace with a huge smirk plastered to his face and his head is cocked sideways. "Falling for me Morgenstern?"
"You are so narcissistic," I groan as I jerk my elbow from his grasp and keep walking forward until I see Simon. Without warning him, I come up behind him and throw my arms over his shoulders, giving him a hug from behind while he is still sitting. "Oh, Si, I am so glad that is finally over. I thought it would never end!"
"Clare! You made it out alive! I can't believe it!" he jokes as he returns my hug with fake crying.
"Whenever you are done with your over dramatic reunion, I would like to introduce you to my friends, since you'll probably be seeing them more often."
"What?"
"My friends? The other people sitting at this table that your friend seems to have already become acquainted with." I stand up straight and look across the table at the two people giving me peculiar but amused looks.
"Hi, I'm Isabelle, Maryse's daughter," the black haired goddess sitting closest to Simon begins. She is stunningly beautiful in her deep v-neck red sparkly dress and she knows it. Clearly taking the statement "If you've got it, flaunt it" to heart.
"Alec, her brother," the quiet, black haired, blue eyed beauty beside Isabelle speaks as he points to Isabelle. "And that blue haired, crazy dancer out there on the dance floor is my boyfriend, Magnus. I'm sure he'll introduce himself at some point tonight."
"Nice to meet you guys," I respond anxiously. I can't say I know for sure we'll get along, but they seem pretty cool and Simon does not seem to have any problems with them. Quite the opposite, he seems pretty happy. He just keeps staring at Isabelle. I may need to ask him about this later. "Well, uh, this is Simon. My best friend."
Jace looks Simon up and down before shaking his hand with a smirk on his face. I want to hate the way Jace is acting, all big and cocky, so sure of himself and his looks. He's an ass and I shouldn't like him at all. Yet, the voice in my head whispers that I do kind of like it, and I contemplate banging my head on the wall to stop my thoughts from continuing. Even if I did like him, I can't. We're related now. I can't be attracted to him. It's wrong.
I glare hard at Jace before I grab Simon by the arm and drag him to the dance floor. I hear him shouting to Isabelle that he'll talk to her later as I stomp off. Yep, definitely going to ask him about her later.
The dance floor is not particularly busy, just a few people, mostly women, crowded around Celine as she half dances, half talks with everyone around her. Simon and I frequent the club Pandemonium, so we are pretty comfortable on the dance floor. I guess the DJ thought the floor was full enough, because "The Cha Cha Slide" begins playing in true cheesy wedding fashion. Simon and I laugh together as we perform the required dance moves, and I notice Celine seems to be enjoying herself just as much. I wish my father would partake in the excitement, but I'm sure if he did have some fun he would instigate the beginning of an apocalypse. He just does not know how to let loose and have fun. Speaking of my father, I do not see him anywhere. When the song ends, I walk off the dance floor and look around for him. I head down the main hall and quickly end up at and dead end in the west wing.
"You looking for me?" I hear from beside me. I don't even have to look to see who it is. Is it sad that I've only known him for a few hours and I already know his voice that well?
"Really, Jace? Why on earth would I be looking for you?"
"You were dancing for almost ten minutes! I figured you would be going into withdrawals by now."
I give Jace the blankest of stares. I know he is joking. He seems to be the type to flirt with anything that moves, even his new step-sister. But really? Will I ever get a moment of peace?
"You really don't know how to take a joke, huh?"
"You really don't know when to stop telling jokes, huh?"
"Where's the fun in that? If I can't bring a little amusement to your life then why am I here?"
I narrow my eyes at him. I wish I could tell him that it might be amusing if he were someone like Simon. Someone I'm completely not interested in. Someone who doesn't make my heart skip a beat everytime I see his face or hear his voice. Someone who isn't so damn gorgeous that I can't help but look at inappropriately despite our newly acquired relation.
I open my mouth to respond but I stop when I see my father coming out of a room down the hallway that I had walked past, shoving his phone back in his pocket while attempting to slip out casually. Shouldn't he be with his wife, celebrating his recent marriage surrounded by friends and family? Of course not, not Valentine. He leaves her alone on her wedding day to "take care of business." I start to go after him when I feel Jace's hand lightly surround my upper arm. I look up at him to find him staring at me with genuine concern. His gold eyes are big and caring, making me feel like I'm melting faster than ice cream on a hot day.
"Whoa, slow down there. Are you okay? You looked like you were about to murder someone."
Before I know what I'm doing, the words I'm thinking tumble out of my mouth. "How much do you care about your mom?"
Jace looks taken aback. The question caught him off guard. He seems to lose himself in his thoughts for a few seconds before looking at me with a sad look that quickly hardens. The guarded mask returns. "She isn't the best mother, but she tries despite all she has been through. I want her to be happy, and she's my mother, so I care about her a lot." I can see there is a lot more to him than I originally assumed. His relationship with his mother is much better than mine with my father, but it isn't the perfect relationship I have always desired either. "How much do you care about your father?"
Crap, I didn't expect him to spin that one back at me. Do I tell him? Do I warn him of what could happen to his mother, what happened to mine? As if he knew I needed saving, I feel Simon slip his arm around my waist as he stands beside me, hip to hip.
"Why did you leave? They started playing the "Cupid Shuffle" and you know me! I was dancing so hard I didn't even see you go!"
"Sorry Si. I was looking for someone. But now that you're here, we should go back to my room real quick," I say as I add a suggestive wink to let him know what I mean.
A horrified look takes over Jace's face and he looks and points between us. "Do you... Are you really screwing him?"
"What? No!" I scream too loudly. Several people in the hallway right outside the ballroom turn to see what the commotion was and my face flares in embarrassment. Much more quietly, I grumble, "We are not together, and we are not having sex. There is wine in my room you idiot." I spin on my heel and head quickly to my room without another word. I walk in and head immediately to the wine, pop the cork, and start chugging. I manage to drink half the bottle before the boys walk in the room. Simon comes up beside me and lowers the bottom of the bottle, effectively stopping me.
"Clare, we talked about this," he says quietly enough for only me to hear. Jace raises an eyebrow when he sees our private conversation and I release my hold on the bottle.
"Fine then party pooper. Pour me a glass, and I will drink like a proper lady," I enunciate each syllable and curtsy mockingly.
"One." He eyes me warily.
"Okay Dad," I huff. When Simon only pulls out two glasses, I sigh. "Aw, come on, Simon. Pour three glasses! There's plenty to go around, and we all deserve to drink if we have to do this shit!"
"Actually two glasses is enough. I don't drink," Jace confidently interrupts. My jaw drops in utter surprise. Yet again he dupes my assumptions. I feel like a jerk for assuming I knew who he would be based on his looks. Well, the looks and the attitude.
"Before you think I'm some wuss, I don't drink because alcohol was involved in my father's death, and I've sworn it off ever since." He looks down as he finishes, his eyes getting very serious and sad. I feel for him. While I still have both of my parents, I lost my brother at a young age so I know how it feels to lose a family member.
"Oh, I'm so sorry."
"I don't understand why people apologize for things that aren't their fault. I've accepted it and I'm okay but the last thing I want is your pity." He looks at me fiercely as he finishes.
"I don't pity you. I'm sorry you are in pain. I lost my brother when I was young and I know what it's like to hurt because you've lost someone you care about."
Jace's eyes soften and seem to take on a surprised look. I am unaware of the silence until Simon clears his throat, clearly irritated. "Are you going to take this glass or not?"
Jace and I finally break eye contact and I look at the glass. I contemplate not taking it after what I just heard, but I don't want Jace to think I'm doing so because I feel bad for him. I take the glass and mutter a thank you. I guess he figured I had enough to drink already because the glass I'm holding is less than half full while his full to the brim. I down mine quickly and set it on the counter before heading back to the party.
I stop in a doorway to the ballroom and watch everyone dancing. More people are dancing than before and everyone seems to be really enjoying themselves. Even my father is smiling as he shakes the hands of several men, engaging them in conversation. I can't tell if he knows them as family or only for business, but considering my father treats them both the same I won't even try to guess.
"You know, I don't think I've seen you really smile once tonight. I mean, you were kind of chuckling when you were dancing with that skinny kid-"
"Simon," I correct.
"Yeah, him. But that furrowed brow has been the predominant look you've sported all night. I know I'm not happy to see my mother remarry but I'm not bent about it. You wanna talk about it?" He draws out the "you" as if he's hesitant to ask the question but felt like he needed to.
I realize that I do want to talk about it. To tell him everything that has happened so he knows what he's walking into. But I choke on the words and wind up shaking my head unconvincingly. Thankfully he takes the hint and lets it go. In an effort to get away from any more potential questions, I attempt to walk towards the dance floor, but the alcohol hits me hard and I momentarily lose control of my legs in these stupid heels. Jace immediately grabs my elbow and I am grateful for the help balancing... again. Had he not caught me I'm pretty sure I would have gracelessly face-planted.
"Well you've clearly had enough to drink," Jace mutters. "You probably shouldn't go in there like that. Come with me." Jace grabs my hand as he did before, intertwining our fingers like he's used to this. Does it affect him even a fraction it does me? Because all I know is I cannot think of anything except my fingers between his. Warmth and strength surrounds my hand until it ends abruptly and I realize I'm somewhere completely different.
Jace has lead me onto the roof, and my breath catches when I see the small but beautiful garden surrounded by strings of lights. While he is no longer holding my hand, I can feel his hand lightly hovering behind my back, likely there in fear that I might try to fall again. I find his presence oddly comforting.
"I found this while exploring today." Jace hangs back and watches as I step into the garden and take in all the beauty around me. An arbor entangled in vines and small lights covers the whole garden. A small concrete fountain sits in the middle with intricate iron benches on either side of it. White and lavender lisianthuses sit in each corner surrounded by white roses and white orchids with pink centers. In smaller pots around the base of the fountain I spot lilacs and hydrangeas. While I love and appreciate all the flowers, I am drawn to the lisianthuses because I don't see them as often and the lavender ones are stunning. I bend over and take a big sniff. The heavenly smell is multiplied by my intoxication. I take another sniff and I'm in sweet floral heaven.
I sigh loudly, completely forgetting that I'm not alone. "See, that is a real smile," I hear behind me. I turn around after stealing one more whiff, and Jace is standing a mere step away. I gasp in surprise and Jace immediately looks worried.
"Dammit Jace. You can't just sneak up behind me and stand so close!"
"How am I too close?"
"I can smell your cologne and feel your hot breath on my face. You're my step brother, but you are way too hot to be all up in my face." Oh shit, that has to be the alcohol talking.
"Ok, either you are more drunk than I thought and making stuff up or you just admitted that I'm attractive," he says with a smirk and a wink.
"Definitely the too drunk one. If I didn't have beer goggles on you would probably just look like an Average Joe," I try to recover.
"Oh I'm sure you don't think that. I mean look at me. Come on. When you're sober, take another look at me and I dare you to tell me you're not attracted to this flawless body." I shake my head and he takes a half step further. Now he is definitely way too close. My breath hitches and I can't stop looking at his unbelievably gold eyes. He lightly hooks his finger under my chin and gets close to my face when he says, "If you're half as attracted to me sober as I can tell you are now, you won't honestly be able to tell me no." His smirk is smirkier than ever. Dammit I'm so drunk I'm making up words now.
Thankfully Jace removes his hold on me and walks away. He disappears in the shadows and I assume he has returned to the party. Still feeling a little too intoxicated to go try to pretend I'm sober, I collapse onto the bench and watch the fountain.
I don't know how long I sit there like that, but the constant sound of the water is so soothing I can't muster the energy to move. Slowly my eyes start drooping and I accidentally drift off to sleep.