Chapter 10:

Enjoy the first double-digit chapter!

"Looks like we're in for a bludge," Isabelle remarked. "Stupid film reviewing stuff. I hate English."

"Still a bludge, though," Clary said. "Hopefully time to study for French after lunch."

"True, true," Isabelle agreed. "So, what film are we watching again?"

"Isabelle! We've been watching this film and studying it since the beginning of school," Clary scolded. "How could you forget?"

"I didn't forget," Isabelle defend herself. "I just... had a really, really long mental black."

"Right."

"Hey, Clary," Jace smiled warmly down at them, and sat down in front of Clary. "Miss me?"

"No, not really," Clary remarked. "After all, who would miss such a conceited and cocky asshole?"

"And who would miss a short tempered, or shall I just say, short annoying redhead?"

"Shut it, you two," Isabelle scowled. Alex's plan was never going to work if Jace and Clary kept arguing and insulting each other. It had been a few days since Jace had seriously tried to ask Clary out. The first few days in between was mostly small talk between the two, but now they had become closer – if you could call it that – by squabbling and annoying each other.

"Haha, pick on the short girl," Clary retorted sarcastically.

"No problem," Jace said. The pair continued bickering, only half serious, until the teacher came in.

"Mr Wayland! Miss Fray!" The stern teacher glared at them. "Must you continue to disrupt my class?"

Clary frowned – she hated getting in trouble. Jace only looked amused. "Sure, why not?"

"No, Miss," Clary immediately apologised.

"I expect better from both of you, as a new student and as a star pupil."

"Yes, Miss," Clary said.

"Sure thing," said Jace. He winked at the teacher, who simply glared back.

"Now, during the exam, you will watch..." The teacher resumed droning about film techniques, and Clary laid her head on the desk, half-listening and half-asleep. Jace rocked on his chair, leaning back to annoy Clary. Isabelle examined her nails.

"Wake up, Cl-"

"Shut up, Jace." Clary cut him off. The rest of the lesson continued as such.

Somewhere in the middle of Clary's timeless daydreaming and doodling, the bell rang. "Yay," she muttered half-heartedly, standing up to poke Isabelle's shoulder.

"Yes, I'm coming," came the mumbled reply. They entered the sea of students, gently pushed and shoved, surrounded by a cacophony of voices.

"Fray, wait up!" The shout came from Jace, shoving his blank book into his bag.

"Oh no, it's you," Clary feigned disgust and pretended to run. He glared, and pulled her to the side of the hallway.

"I'm waiting."

"Do you wanna go out tonight?"

"Sorry?"

"You will be," Jace muttered. "I said, do you want to go out tonight?"

Clary made a noncommittal noise, her eyes scanning the school for Isabelle, Alex or Aline. She couldn't find them.

"An answer would be nice, Fray," Jace prompted. "A yes would be better."

"Maybe," Clary said, trying to delay her actual answer. If I say no, he might not ask again, and then the plan would be screwed. But what if this is too soon? What if I should wait for him to ask me again? What if –

"Clary!" said Jace impatiently. "Yes or no?"

"Well, maybe…I'm not ... Um…" Clary trailed off into a confused and uncertain silence, until –

"Uh, yes?" Her voice sounded small and tentative.

"Finally," Jace said, a true smile lighting up his face. "So, I'll pick you up at 7. Okay?"

"Ok."

"See ya at lunch, then," he said, and ran off.

"Bye," Clary said to his retreating back.

At Clary's house…

"Thanks, Mrs Fray," Isabelle smiled at Jocelyn.

"The dinner was really good, Mr Garroway," Alex added.

"It's good to know Clary's making friends here," Jocelyn remarked to them. "And please, call me Jocelyn."

"And if you're going to call her Jocelyn, call me Luke," Luke added.

"Let's go," Clary rolled her eyes.

"Bye!" Aline called as the four headed to Clary's room.

"So, Clary," Alex began. "Anything interesting happen today?"

"No, not really," Clary said casually.

"Did he ask you out?" Isabelle asked.

"Yeah."

"What did you say?"

Clary hesitated, then admitted, "I said yes." There was silence from the girls.

"Told you so!" Aline gloated. "I knew it!"

"Stalker much? Clary asked, relieved.

"Well, usually Jace brags about his 'dates' with his teammates at lunch," Aline explained. "If it had been someone not you, Clary, he would have bragged in front of us. But since it was you, he kept quiet. I think he really likes you."

"Yeah, right," Clary snorted.

"And," Aline continued. "You were unusually quiet today at lunch, and you kept blushing a lot when Jace looked at you. Which he does a lot, actually."

"Wow, you really are a stalker," Alex commented.

"So you're not angry?" Clary asked hesitantly.

"Not really," said Isabelle. "We figured it was time for you to be a little... independent, I suppose, and make the decision yourself. It was also a chance to see if you were immune to Jace's charms, which you aren't."

"But if I'm not immune," Clary began. "How am I going to break his heart?"

"You're smart, Clary," Alex said. "We'll find a way."

"But what if I stuff up tonight?"

"Clary, no girl is immune to Jace's charms. Heck, I grew up with him and I find him ridiculously attractive," Isabelle said. "You're the best we're gonna get in this school. Besides, it will make your flirting and liking him more real."

"Tonight?" Aline repeated. "Your date's tonight?"

"Oh, crap," Clary said.

"What time?" Alex demanded.

"Seven."

Aline began planning. "Okay. We have to do outfit, makeup, hair and personality," she announced.

"Dibs on outfit!" Isabelle yelled, running over to Clary's closet. She slid open the mirrored doors, examining the clothes within. "Geez, Clary, your clothes kinda suck."

"Hey!" Clary protested.

Isabelle turned her attention to Clary. "seriously. All you have is jeans and boring shirts. No dresses?"

"I don't usually go on dates," retorted Clary, rolling her eyes.

"Stand up." Clary obeyed, and the three girls circled her.

"I think we're going to have to go casual," Isabelle decided. "We don't know what you're doing for your first date – it could be the movies, or the beach or anything!"

"Casual it is," Aline agreed.

"Let's get to work, ladies," Alex declared.

30 minutes later...

"Are you done?" Aline asked curiously from the other side of the door.

"Yeah."

"Well, come out then!" Isabelle commanded. The bathroom door swung open, revealing the short redhead.

"Is it okay?" Clary whispered.

"It's perfect," said Isabelle. Alex had done a perfect job with her makeup, using only a tiny bit to bring out Clary's natural beauty. Isabelle had chosen her outfit well, selecting a simple white dress and black skinny jeans, and Aline had brushed and smoothed and curled Clary's hair to perfection, creating a cloud of red and orange curls that brushed a bit below Clary's shoulders.

"Thank goodness at least your mom has some fashion sense," Isabelle commented, breaking the spellbound silence.

"So, how am I supposed to act when I'm on the date?" Clary asked. Isabelle frowned at this – she had been so focused on how Clary had looked that she had forgotten all about how she should act.

"Act casual," Aline advised. "We know you can't keep the flirty act the whole time, and then it would be kind of slutty. Jace has to like you for who you are, not how flirty you are or just because you rejected him twice."

"You stole my words!" Alex accused.

"I have that talent," Aline shrugged.

"Is that why you're so smart?" Isabelle wondered.

"Clary! Someone's at the door!" Jocelyn shouted.

"Oh, CRAP!" Clary stood up and attempted to run to the front door. Unfortunately, she tripped over the small steps connecting the corridor to the rest of the house, and landed – completely undignified - on her denim clad butt in front of Jace. Who happened to look extremely hot in simple jeans and a leather jacket. Blank canvas, blank canvas...

He laughed, not unkindly. "Hello, Fray."

"Wayland."

"Clary!" Jocelyn admonished. "Don't speak to your boyfriend that way."

"He's not my boyfriend!"

"You're going on a date, aren't you?" Jocelyn asked smugly. "Now, shoo! Go enjoy yourselves!"

"Bye, Mom," Clary said, deliberately looking from her mother to Luke.

"Coming, Clarissa?" Jace asked from the doorway.

"It's Clary," she heard herself saying.

"Let's go, then."

I've been thinking about this... and when I read JWMD, it seemed that Jace had no personality. This is, of course, my own degrading opinion, and I would really love for some honest criticism. People who review saying that they love this story are awesome, but it still doesn't give me much of an idea of what's wrong with the story.

Review?

Stories that are pretty awesome:

Maximum Ride: She's the Man

Amazing Cliches, a Maximum Ride fanfic (by Rainbowstrike)

At your Assistance, A MI fanfic

All's Fair when Love is War, a MI fanfic

Part of the Hunt, a Percy Jackson fanfic

If you're looking for any good stories, feel free to check out my favourites – be warned, there are a lot.

Thanks for reading,

Smileysgoboing