Title: Jace and Clary Sitting in a Tree… K-I-S-S-I-N-G
Prompt from Luvmortalinstruments: A kissing booth.
Rating: K – innocent fun
"I can't believe that I agreed to do this," I complained to my best friend Simon as we were setting up the booth.
"Oh come on, Clary, it will be fine. Kiss a couple guys, make money for the school. You'll be fine." After we hung the last poster, Simon ran off to find Isabelle, his girlfriend and my other best friend.
Izzy was the reason we were doing the stupid booth anyway. She was organizing the school's annual charity fundraiser, a carnival, and had begged me to take the last open position manning a booth. Little did I know that the open position was open because it was the kissing booth. Yep, that's right – I was about to spend four hours kissing strangers and friends for money. When I found out, I tried to back out, but Izzy started crying about how she would "never find anybody else to do it this late" and all that crap. Her guilt trips are legitimately magical.
And that's how I found myself sitting on a chair behind the kissing booth, waiting for the carnival to open and wringing my hands together nervously. When the first people lined up outside the booth, I took a deep breath and began my job, trying to block out my resentment of Izzy.
Three long hours later, I decided to take a break. I put the "closed" sign on the booth and made my way to one of the food carts, purchasing a hamburger and some fries. Sitting at one of the tables, I relaxed a bit, trying to forget about the hundred or so people I'd already kissed. I layered my chapped lips with chapstick and dug into my lunch.
"Hey Clare," I heard my brother's voice greet from behind me. Turning around, I saw Jon and his best friend Jace coming to join me. "What's up?"
"Taking a break from my booth and grabbing some lunch. What are you doing here?" I was honestly surprised to see the two boys at the carnival, it wasn't really their scene.
"I got a text from my cousin, Will. He said there's a total hottie working the kissing booth. Jon and I were here for practice anyways, so we decided to get some kissing booth action of our own, see this mysterious beauty in person," Jace explained without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
Jace is the quarterback of the school's football team and has a different girl on his arm every week, the same as my brother, his right hand man and a running back on the team. The two of them are completely shameless dogs. Too bad they didn't know that they were talking about me. I'm pretty sure Jon would have gagged. I wasn't about to ruin that shocking surprise, though, so I kept my mouth closed, nodding in understanding. What I wondered was why Will, who I'd known for years, didn't tell Jon and Jace that it was me.
"Well, I gotta go. I'll see you two pretty boys later," I said, getting up and leaving the two of them behind. I couldn't help the smile that broke out on my face. After all, the tickets were non-refundable. Oh well, serves them right for being pigs.
Not that I would mind kissing Jace… he's kind of beautiful. Hey, I'm a sixteen-year-old girl, of course I noticed the hot guy that practically lives at my house and forgets to wear a shirt half the time. My hormones can't be controlled. It doesn't help that under the asshat behavior, Jace is a nice guy. I'm one of the few girls that knows the real him. I know that he's super smart, but struggles with time management. I know his dad is an asshole who is home maybe three times a month. I know that he almost lives with my family, probably because he doesn't have a real one of his own. Sometimes I see him looking at me with this glint in his eye that I can't place, and I think maybe he feels the same way I do about him. Then I remember that it's Jace Wayland, and he doesn't have feelings for any girl. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't mind having a reason to kiss him just this once.
For the next hour, my mind is on kissing Jace. Kiss after kiss with random guys becomes routine as my imagination runs away from me. Until I'm face to face with my brother. That snaps me out of whatever happy daydream I'm in. And I feel my pulse quicken as I see his anger.
"Clarissa Adele Fray, what the hell do you think you're doing? You're the hottie at the kissing booth!" He screamed, clearly about to blow a gasket. The vein in his pale forehead throbbed and he ran his hand through his pale blond, nearly white, hair repeatedly. Jace stood behind him, pale as a ghost and looking sick. That's flattering. So at least I know he definitely not interested. "You didn't tell me. I'm not into incest, Clary! And you're degrading yourself, letting guys pay to kiss you. I can't believe you'd do this. Hey assholes," he exclaimed to the line behind him, "leave, now! Let's go, we're leaving, too!" He grabbed my arm, starting to lead me away. A few people left the line, but most stayed put, watching the show.
"No, Jon. You're such a hypocrite. I mean, when it was any other hottie you were totally into it. But if other people think I'm a hottie and are paying to kiss me, you're against it. And I didn't tell you because I knew how you'd react, fyi. So leave." With that, I returned to my seat, where I found Jace frozen in place, still staring at the chair. Jon stomped away unhappily, probably to report to Mom what I was doing. Too bad I'd already told her and she was fine with it.
"Jace, you're blocking the line," I said, trying to snap him out of whatever weird stupor he was in.
"I…I…I'm in line," he murmured, so quietly that I could barely hear him. And Jace Wayland doesn't stutter, at least not that I've ever seen and I've known him since I was in pre-school.
"What?" To say I was shocked was an understatement.
"I bought a ticket, I'm in line," he said, finally lifting his head to look me in the eyes. Then he moved closer, making me gasp. And before I knew what was happening, he leaned forward and put his hands on my cheeks, cupping my face gently. Then, he moved forward and his lips brushed against mine. I swear, I stopped breathing. I felt lightheaded as his breath comingled with mine. His lips met mine more forcefully and mine tingled at the sensation. My mouth opened slightly and Jace's tongue slipped in, making me let out a quiet moan.
"Hey! We all paid our money, dude! Get moving!" Some guy was shouting from the back of the line. Jace pulled away, groaning. His cheeks were pink, too. The Jace Wayland was blushing.
"I'm going to stick around for a while, try to find your brother… I have to talk to him about something. Text me and I'll drive you home, okay?" he asked. There he was, the sweet Jace that I was privileged to know. With a nod of my head, he left, smiling at me over his shoulder one last time before he left.
To say I was even more distracted during the last hour or so of the booth was an understatement. All I could think about was the feeling of Jace's lips on mine. About how real the kiss felt and the feelings that the kiss sparked. By the time the hour was up, I was literally aching to find Jace.
After wandering for maybe five minutes, Izzy texted me that the group was at a picnic table by the exit. When I made my way over there, I saw Izzy, Jace, Jon, Simon, Will, and his friends Tessa and Jem. Making my way over to them, my palms got sweaty with nerves, especially when I saw Jace's eyes light up at my arrival. I sat next to my brother, who wrapped his arm around me.
"I'm sorry, Clary. You were right. Izzy slapped some sense into me." I smiled, proud of my best friend.
"You're an idiot, but I love you," I told him.
He leaned in to whisper in my ear. "You need to talk to Jace." Then he got up, saying he had to get home. Will and his friends left next, claiming to have plans. Izzy and Simon left to do the final tally on the money raised and talk to the adult fundraising committee members and the principal. That left me and Jace, sitting alone on a random bench. It was awkward as hell, which upset me because it was never, ever awkward with us.
"So, apparently the whole thing was a setup…"
"What?" I asked, shocked.
"Izzy and Will and Simon were all in on it. Apparently, Jon's been spilling about my little crush so Izzy got this whole idea in her mind to…" I interrupted him.
"Wait, wait a second. 'Little crush?'" I laughed as the blush crept up his cheeks for the second time that day. Seeing Jace blush was oddly satisfying. But I knew that I was blushing just as bad. He took a deep breath, bracing himself for the conversation.
"Well, I've had this… thing… for you, for a while. And I never should have told Jon or Izzy."
"Or maybe you could have just told me, cause I could have told you that I like you, too."
"Really, now?" I leaned in a bit, so that our lips were only maybe an inch apart, and nodded. "Well, in that case, will you go out with me?" My eyes widened.
"Only if you promise I'm not some flavor of the week…" His eyes momentarily darkened.
"Clary Fray, you could never be a flavor of the week. You're permanent – always have been. I'm sorry you'd ever feel otherwise. So what do you say?"
"Yes," I replied before leaning closer and meeting his lips with mine. He tasted like cotton candy and Jace and it was perfect.
"Clary and Jace, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" I heard Izzy shout as she, Simon, and Jon meandered over. I shot her a questioning look. "Yep, we stuck around to watch magic happen. You're welcome, by the way!" I separated from Jace and ran over to tackle my best friend into a bear hug, thanking her. "Okay, time to go partay!" Izzy announced, dragging us all to her house for a barbeque. Jace took my hand, squeezing it gently.
