Right off the bat, I have to say that I've read all of the flattering reviews that ya'll left in my inbox. And as much as I wanted to reply to them, FF was being a sonofabitch, and wouldn't let me. :(

And on the side note, Jace was telling Clary that a rabbit was another name for a vibrator...(Forgot who asked, so I'm just throwing it out there...)

Disclaimer: I don't own MI or Jace. Sometimes his misfortune, yes, but not his cockilicous self in general. :(


Jace

"I have to say, I am a little impressed," Isabelle remarked as she climbed gracefully into the passenger's seat of Jace's car, dressed as if she were about to go clubbing. "Stalking your sister on her very first date ever," she amended, catching his blank look. "I knew you weren't as bad as everyone says you are."

Jace rolled his eyes, stepping hard on the gas the second her door shut. "I'm not trying not to be good," he snapped, glancing panickly around before he spotted Penhallow's pickup speeding down the street. He followed the chevrolet. "Penhallow doesn't deserve Clary. She doesn't need a-an asshole who just wants to sleep with her. She needs to be taken care of."

Isabelle, who'd been reapplying her eyeliner in the car's review mirror, glanced at Jace, her expression annoyed. "And there he goes again," she announced to herself. "Makes anything involving romantic intentions into a pissing contest."

Jace made a scoffing noise. "Trying to keep Clary from making a huge mistake?" He demanded, turning to glare at his friend. "Excuse me, but since when had that ever become a bad thing?"

Isabelle shrugged, elegantly swiping silvery blue lip gloss across her lips. "You are a jerk to Clary, and while you insist you care about her, everything you've been doing is for your own gain." She tossed her makeup into her sleek metal clutch. "Crashing her date isn't going to make her like her anymore than she does already."

Jace tossed a stick of spearmint gum into his mouth, and sighed. "You don't understand," he said, quietly, "what it's like to care about someone, only to have them hate you, and have no clue what you did in the first place."

She looked over at him, unsympathetically. "You really do need to grow some balls," she told him bluntly, before turning around to face her window, not speaking to him again for the rest of the ride.


"Wow. Fancy." Isabelle tucked a strand of thick dark hair behind her ear, surveying the highly-exclusive restraunt critically. "What I wouldn't give to burn it to the ground."

Jace snorted, glancing over at her. "You can get the chance, after Clary's date is over."

Isabelle tore her gaze away from the large building, and frowned at him. "I thought they were going to a movie after this?"

Jace shook his head. "If we do this right, their date won't last through half the meal."

She raised an eyebrow. "She is so kicking your ass, when she finds out."

...

...

Clary

Sebastian smiled crookedly at her from across the table. "So," he said, taking a deep breath. "What do you think?"

Clary smiled back. "It's nice," she admitted quietly, surprising herself. Normally, she was a loud person. But something about Sebastian made her feel like she should be quiet, and hear what he had to say.

He nodded. "I knew you'd like it," he stated, looking ridiculously pleased with himself. "You look like the kind of girl who enjoys to be spoiled and pampered. Like a princess." Sebastian winked at her. "It's too cute, really."

A princess? Clary forced a small grin at him, though inwardly, she wanted to bitch slap him. Do I look, or act, like a princess to him? Then, before she could push the thought back: Jace wouldn't have said that. Probably something about me being to violent for a princess, or some crap like that. This time she grinned genuinely, remembering the time when Maia had tried to force her into playing Snow White one time on a play date when they were younger. After tackling the older girl, and screaming that she wasn't stupid enough to open the door to an old lady, Maia ended up being Snow White and Clary was the evil queen.

Sebastian cleared his throat. "Anyways," he continued. "I just wanted to apologize for upsetting your brother." He ducked his head shyly. "I did not mean to cause any grief between the two of you."

What. The. Hell? Clary gaped at him. What century did he think he was from? The nineteenth?

"And," he leaned across the table, and took her hand. "I think you look absolutely gorgeous tonight." His eyes raked over her subtly, and winked slyly at her. "Simply divine."

Clary felt herself start to blush. It doesn't hurt, she thought to herself, to have a nice coversation without wanting to punch somebody. Or fighting.

She frowned. She really should stop comparing him to Jace. They had nothing in common. Why was she even thinking about him on her date, of all places?

"So, Sebastian," she began, deciding to ask him about his sister. The one who was wrapped around Jace a few days ago.

Dammit! Must. Stop. Thinking. About. Him.

"Aline seems very swe-" Sebastian spoke over her, smoothly. "Clarissa, might I suggest you get the shrimp soup? It is delicious, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it immensly."

Clary blinked at him. O-kay...

"Actually..." She glanced down at her menu. "I was thinking about just getting a cheeseburger. And maybe some fries?"

Sebastian looked horrified. "A cheeseburger?"

Clary nodded. "Um, yeah..." She raised her eyebrows. "Why?"

He shook his head. "The calories...and carbs." Sebastian took a sip from his glass of water. "How about you get a Caesar Salad and that shrimp soup." He looked slightly more calmer. "Yes, that will be better."

Clary coughed. "I want a cheeseburger, actually, Sebast-" He looked away from her, and smiled politely at the waiter who'd just approached their table.

Why is he ignoring me? Hurt flared up in her chest, and Clary bit on her lip. What's so wrong with me that I can't even carry on a conversation without being ignored or interrupted?

She was so upset, that when Sebastian ordered her a salad and that stupid soup, she didn't bother to correct him. Somehow, she knew that he probably wouldn't listen.

As soon as their waiter left, Sebastian turned to smile sweetly at her. "So, Clarissa," he said. "How do you feel about tennis tomorrow? My father has a membership at the country club, so we can go and do whatever."

I hate tennis.

In fact, I suck at tennis.

Clary new that if she said that, he'd just find a way of getting her to go, anyway.

She nodded, smiling weakly. "Sure. Sounds great."


Jace

He frowned from where he and Isabelle sat at a small table, a few yards away from Clary and Penhallow. "The hell?" He demanded, snapping his menu shut.

Isabelle looked up from where she'd been clinking her fork against her glass wine glass, looking bored. "What?"

Jace felt his hands tighten around his menu, and gritted his teeth. "That bastard just ordered for her."

Isabelle took a bite from their appetizer rolls, and shrugged. "That's kinda corny. And romantic."

He shook his head. "Clary hates shrimp."

Isabelle groaned, and rolled her eyes. "Then why would she let him order shrimp for her? Honestly, Jace, don't you know her? Like, at all?"

Jace ran an irratible hand through his hair. "I did. I mean, I do. It's just..." He shook his head. "She doesn't let me."

Isabelle nodded. "So, then why are you hiding behind your menu?"

He stared at her. "What do you mean?"

She sighed, looking exasperated. "Why the hell are you hiding from her, if you want to know her better, and want her to notice you? I mean, come on." She gave him a look. "Not even you are that stupid."

Jace scowled at her. "Thanks. I appreciate your support."

Isabelle shrugged. "I'm here to help."

He sighed, and glanced back over to Clary's table, and stiffened. "How about helping me now?"

She looked up; Her expression puzzled. "Already?"

Jace didn't look at her, his gaze still trained on Clary and Penhallow's table.

Isabelle looked over, and inwardly groaned. Poor dude, she thought sympathetically.

Clary was staring back at Jace, looking well and thoroughly pissed.


Clary

She didn't talk, hardly.

Sebastian spoke to her about his plans for the future, how he planned to go to college, have a wife, and have three kids.

When he started on what the kids' names were going to be, Clary let her mind wander. What was she doing here? Sebastian didn't treat her like she wanted, and she couldn't even talk to him as an equal.

And she missed Jace.

Clary didn't even bother pushing away that thought. She did miss him. If he were here, he'd be making fun of the way Sebastian talked and dressed, and would rip him a new one if he found out Sebastian was treating her like she was some sort of...Lower person.

And he would be able to cheer her up.

Clary sighed, and took a spoonful of the soup.

Oh, God. She made a face, and it took remembering all the table manners Amatis had taught her, to keep her from spitting the foul crap out. It tastes...Inhuman. Gro-ss.

Sebastian, luckily, didn't notice her disgusted face. Otherwise, knowing him, he'd probably try to give her a lecture on proper eating techniques and manners. Doucheface.

Clary felt an uncomfortable tickling sensation on her skin, like thousands of ants crawling across her arm hairs. The same feeling she always got when she was being watched.

Frowning in confusion, she slowly turned her head to her left, and felt her stomach drop.

Anger clawed and roared in her chest.

Unbelievable.

Jace and Isabelle were sitting across from eachother, both staring at her with "hands caught in the cookie jar" expression.

Clary cut Sebastian off, not even bothering to hear him protest. "I'll be right back."

She stood up, her hands clenched into tight fists, as she stomped over to where Jace looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him up. Just wait till I'm through with him, she thought malicously.

Clary stopped right in front of their table, a large and incredibly fake smile on her face. "Hey!"

Isabelle shot Jace a "told ya so" look, while he just looked guilty.

"Hi, Clary," Isabelle replied airily, wagging her slender fingers at the other girl. "Nice catch." She nodded at Sebastian, and grinned wickedly. "Let me know when your finished with him, and I might have a turn."

If she hadn't been so pissed at Jace, Clary would've laughed. It was so like Isabelle to try to break the tension with a comment like that.

"So, Jace." She turned to give him one of her cheesy grins. "Having fun?"

He swallowed, and smirked back. Oh, Jace, she thought. Cockiness will only get you so far in life. "I am, actually," he said in that obnoxious way of his, that made most girls hearts melt, but made Clary fight the urge to punch him. "I find incredibly entertaining to watch that prick order you around like some dog, and how you let him walk all over you."

He's supposed to take my side; Not Sebastian's!

Clary closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "Jace," she said. "Please tell me why the hell you're following me on my date."

Jace exhaled heavily through his nose, and looked at her. "Because I don't trust you, Clary," he said between clenched teeth. "I don't trust you to make a smart choice, so I followed you."

She stared at him, her breathing quickening.

He didn't just say that.

Clary felt her fists fall loosely to her sides; Both him and Sebastian thought she was some immature little girl who couldn't take care of herself.

Screw this. I'm out of here.

"Fine." She pulled a leaf out of Jace's book, and made sure to keep her expression carefully blank. "You win, Jace." She nodded at Isabelle. "You too, Izzy."

She glanced over her shoulder, over to where Sebastian was watching her. She looked back at Jace. "You just couldn't let me go on one stupid date," she said lowly, her voice unsteady.

Jace's eyes widened, having caught the slight wobble in her tone, and stood up. "Clary-"

Clary shook her head, and backed away. "Don't."

Then she turned and ran out of the restraunt. The sound of Isabelle slapping Jace upside the head and telling him out he'd screwed up wasn't even enough to make her stop.


...Eh.

Review...Please? *pouts*