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"I don't understand why we can't just go to Java Jones." Clary whines as they double back to her apartment to get her car.

"I told you, I get to pick since you're ditching me."

"But Taki's is all the way across town, and I'm not ditching you. Technically, you're ditching me to go have lunch with your brother."

"That's why we're going to get your car, silly. And you are more than welcome to join us."

Inserting her key in the door, Clary turns to shake her head at the invitation. She has no intention of going to lunch, no matter how much she wants to. She enters the apartment quickly, swipes her car keys off of the counter, locks back up, and leads Izzy to the back street where her car is parked.

"It's just that I really need to study Iz."

"It's just an hour or- Holy shit! Is this yours?" She's pointing at the Six Series BMW parked in front of them.

Clary nods as she unlocks it and gestures for Izzy to get in, "Yeah, a graduation present from my dear old dad." Letting out a huff, she starts the ignition and eases the car into midmorning traffic.

"Well, it's a hell of a nice gift." That's the understatement of the year. In typical fashion her father was overcompensating in every way by gifting her with a BMW.

"Valentine doesn't do anything by half."

"Valentine?"

"Yeah, that's my dad."

"You call your dad by his first name?" Izzy's tone is colored by surprise.

'Well, yeah, he's not much of a father… so, it's habit. My mom hates it." A horn sounds from the taxi behind them, and Clary waves her hand behind her head in a form of apology, before taking off from the light.

Fifteen minutes later, Clary pulls into the parking lots of Taki's, after a very uncomfortable conversation about Clary's father leaving them when she was eight years old, and the following decade of yearly visits and exorbitant gifts to make up for broken promises.

"Alright, let's go." Clary unbuckles her seat belt and moves to open her door, when she is halted by Izzy grabbing her forearm.

"Wait. Don't you want to put on some lipgloss or fluff your hair?" Izzy seems to be imploring her with her eyes. Clary squints at her, opening her mouth to protest, only to shut it when Izzy thrusts a tube of lipstick at her. "Here, I think this color will look good on you."

The color is a deep, velvety maroon, almost the same shade as her t-shirt, that compliments her fair skin and brings the focus to her lips instead of her otherwise lightly made up face.

"Happy?" Clary queries sarcastically, after she applies a light layer to her lips.

"Yes, yes I am." And with that Izzy drags her into the small restaurant, only for them to quite literally collide with Jace. Confusion blooms within Clary as she looks between Izzy and her professor.

"Izzy, you're late. Not that I'm surprised. And Clary, Izzy said you weren't sure if you could come, I'm glad you changed your mind."

"I-I- well-" Clary is dumbfounded by his admission, not to mention blindsided by Izzy's apparent scheming, but nonetheless allows Jace to lead them to a booth.

Shooting a glare at Izzy as she takes a seat beside her, she decides to deal with the situation with as much grace as she possibly can, and then, once they are done with lunch, she will strangle Izzy and throw her body into the Hudson River. Izzy smirks triumphantly when Jace passes them each a menu. Clary can't help but note that Jace has adopted a more casual look for the day: deck shoes, rolled chinos, paired with a light colored button up. Although, his hair is slicked back and tucked behind his ears, with a rogue strand falling across his brow.

Damn if he doesn't look delicious.

"Well, I was hoping to make it to the library this morning, but your darling sister had other plans. And who am I to deny her?" Clary looks into the golden pools that are Jace's eyes and pinches Izzy harshly in the side. Izzy lets out a little yelp at the contact, and Jace appears to be biting back a grin.

"She does have a mind of her ow-" He's cut of by Izzy.

"Simon," Izzy shouts, her eyes focused on a dark haired man standing at the front of the restaurant, shooting up out of her seat to climb over Clary and head in his direction. Jace and Clary watch in shock as Izzy drags Simon by the hand over towards them.

"So, Simon and I have decided that, in order to have a more private conversation, we will be sitting at the counter." Izzy winks and saunters off before anyone can respond. Simons eyes are wide, but he shrugs and follows her. Shellshocked, Clary turns to Jace, unsure of how to proceed. This situation seems to be getting quickly out of hand.

"Well, I don't know what that's about, but I'm starving. Shall we order?" Clary simply nods dumbly, glancing back to her menu, already plotting all the ways she can murder her friend.