Clary
Isabelle untwists my hair from the bun I stuck it in earlier, humming as she runs her hands through my curls. "Ow!" I protest as she snags a knot on her finger. She clucks her tongue at me and meets my eyes in the mirror.
"So what's Magnus like?" she asks, tilting her head to the side. She's straightened her hair, and it hangs in a glossy curtain down her back.
I grin. "You'll love him, Iz. He's dramatic and fashionable and lovely."
She sighs. "I just wish you would have told me you were friends with someone famous sooner," she says with a smirk. "Especially someone as media-splashing as Magnus Bane."
I roll my eyes. "Oh, come on, Isabelle. He's not that famous. He's just a director and producer."
"Of some of the best franchises in movie history!" She lets my hair fall back down to my shoulders. "Can I straighten your hair?" she says, sounding almost as if she's thinking out loud. "We can match."
"Izzy, no," I groan at her. "We don't have time for this."
She pouts at my reflection. "I promise you can pick your own outfit and do your own makeup if you let me. Please?" She drags out the last word until I smack her.
"Fine," I sigh, resigned. Isabelle claps her hands together excitedly.
"You're going to look so pretty," she whispers, and begins her work.
Jon, Isabelle, Simon, Sebastian and I stand in the hallway outside Magnus' door. Sebastian looks a bit nervous, and keeps twisting his hands behind his back. I grab one of them to still them, and he gives me a strange smile. I turn to Jon. "Where's your date?" I ask him.
"Couldn't find one," he says, and knocks on the door.
I lift an eyebrow at him. I doubt that. When we were growing up, girls were always obsessed with Jon - raving over his silvery hair and strong jawline. Enough things to make me want to puke for days.
Magnus opens the door to reveal a party already in full swing in his loft. My mouth drops open. "I thought we were coming for dinner!" I gasp.
He rolls his eyes, the blue glitter on his eyelids catching the light. "I figured we could all use some festivities," he replies, then breaks into an easy grin. "Come here, Biscuit." He pulls me in for a hug that smells strongly of sandalwood.
"Now," he says, releasing me, "the party starts." He claps Jon on the back as he enters, gives Simon an easy smile, and seems to click instantly with Isabelle. When he sees Sebastian, he pauses. "Who's this?"
I clear my throat. "This is my...ah, boyfriend. Sebastian Verlac."
Sebastian holds out his hand to Magnus. "Nice to meet you."
Magnus lifts an eyebrow and sweeps back into his loft without another word, ignoring Sebastian's outstretched hand. I give Sebastian a helpless look. "Come on," I tell him, and we enter the party, letting the door swing shut behind us.
His loft is decked magnificently in hanging silks of royal purple and silver, and the floor to ceiling windows are open and letting in fresh air. The balcony is stuffed with people and decorated with what appears to be an elaborate ice statue lit by twinkling bulbs. A DJ plays music from the corner, and a bar has been set up on one side of the room, handing out brightly colored drinks. Magnus really knows how to throw a party.
"Do you want a drink?" asks Sebastian. I nod, and he disappears into the crowd to get me one. And that is the precise moment I know that I'm going to murder Magnus.
Jace stands to one side of the room with his arm set around the waist of a tall blonde girl wearing a tight black dress. He's talking to Alec and a group of girls that seem to be clinging to his every word. The blonde girl wears a smug smirk and keeps reaching over to brush his hair from his eyes. He looks over and catches my eye - his mouth opens slightly and he pauses mid sentence. It's a surprised look. I guess he didn't know I was coming either. I immediately feel underdressed in my worn jeans and plain white t-shirt, nothing compared to a lacy black dress.
His expression quickly knits back into a casually stony one, and he leans over to press his lips to the girl's. She kisses him back with sickening enthusiasm, reaching her hands around his shoulders and lifting her leg up to balance against his. I can feel the blood pounding in my ears and am vaguely aware that my hands have curled into tight fists at my sides.
"Clary!" I whip around to see Sebastian holding two pink-and-orange drinks, looking a bit annoyed. "I've been calling your name."
"Sorry," I tell him, accepting the drink he hands me. I lift it to my mouth and take a sip. It is so sweet that I almost spit it out - the mixed taste of orange, strawberry, and vodka.
Sebastian doesn't meet my eyes. "It was the least exotic thing they had," he says, almost apologetically.
My eyes drift back over to Jace. He's got the girl pushed up against the wall, and his hand is playing with the hem of her dress. The sight makes me feel sick and dizzy. I turn quickly back to Sebastian. "Do you want to dance?" I hate dancing. I am a terrible dancer. But perhaps it will get my mind off of Jace.
A glint lights his black eyes. "Of course." We set our drinks on a crowded end table and head to the writhing throng of dancers in the center of the loft. Sebastian holds me close as we move to the fast music. But even then, nothing can stop my eyes from drifting to the bright blonde hair in my periphery, and nothing can stop the growing coldness in my chest.
Jace
God, she's here. Magnus invited her - he had to have. And he knew about us - he did this on purpose. I scowl. "Baby, what's wrong?" asks Kaelie. I school my expression back to neutral.
"Nothing," I reply easily. I quickly down the rest of my drink.
She grins at me and lays her head down on my chest. "I'm so glad you decided to bring me here tonight," she sighs. "This is where I belong." I don't bother replying. I stopped giving out fruitless compliments to girls years ago.
"Herondale," says a smooth voice behind me. I turn around to see Magnus Bane sporting what could only be described as a robe, long purple velvet that drapes the floor. The front is open, and he wears only a pair of silky gold boxer shorts underneath. His chest is covered in colored body glitter.
I nod at him. "Magnus Bane."
He gives me an amused look, his green eyes catching the light. "Do you know where that Alec ran off to?" he asks, a hopeful tone entering his voice.
I grin. "I have no idea. But I'm sure he's found a dark corner to stew in." Kaelie laughs at my words, too loudly, not sincere at all. Magnus lifts an eyebrow.
"In that case," he says, sounding a bit disappointed, "I need to talk to you. Alone," he adds, with a sideways look at Kaelie. She pouts but says nothing. I twist a lock of her hair around my finger and release her into the crowd.
Magnus draws me away, to a less populated corner of the party. "Biscuit!" he calls. Clary walks over to us, her expression guarded. Her hair is straight, so unlike her usual wild curls. I decide instantly I like it better the way it naturally is. Did she straighten it to impress that asshole boyfriend she's got? The thought makes my jaw clench. "What do you need?" asks Clary, ignoring me.
"I've just cast Herondale in my new movie," says Magnus in a silky voice. "I need a favor."
Clary sighs. "Why does everyone need a favor from me recently? But of course, Magnus. Anything."
"I need you and Herondale to pretend to date again," he says.
And if I expected him to say anything at all, it wasn't that. She finally turns to meet my eyes, and hers are green and wide and pained, somehow - a look that makes me feel as if my heart is being ripped into two. For maybe the millionth time, the memory of her lips on mine crosses my mind. I swallow. "What?" I ask, and I sound a little bit breathless.
"It was great for your image," explains Magnus. "And it would do the press leading up to the movie some good as well. Plus," says Magnus with a small grin, "unlike whatever happened before, I'll pay you, Biscuit."
Clary chokes. "Pay me? Magnus, you don't have to do anything for me, when you've already done so much. I'll do it for free." Her voice quiets at the end and is almost stolen away by the music and voices in the room.
"Nonsense," says Magnus in a breezy voice. "So I suggest doing something together tomorrow - you haven't been seen together in quite a while. Now, excuse me, I think I've caught a glimpse of Alexander." He drops a wink in my direction before sweeping away.
She looks at her feet. She's wearing old, paint splattered Converse. It's comfortingly Clary. "So...maybe lunch tomorrow, then?" I say, still disbelieving that she even agreed to do this at all.
"Alright," she says curtly. "You can come by and get me tomorrow." Before I can say anything else, she turns and walks back into the crowd. I follow her coppery hair through the party until she reaches a tall, dark haired boy - her boyfriend. He leans down and presses a firm kiss to her cheek before looking up to give me a murderous glare. I'm sure I'm returning the favor - the sight of him casually touching Clary like that has me on edge. At least with Simon, it was clear he really cared for her. With him, it seems like he wants to own her.
I cross my arms over my chest and look for Alec. I finally spot him talking to Magnus at the far side of the party - he looks flustered and keeps tugging on the sleeves of his stretched out sweater. Magnus is grinning his catlike grin, and keeps reaching over to straighten out Alec's hair. Despite myself, I feel a smirk of my own coming on. It's all ruined when someone taps my shoulder.
"Jacey," says Kaelie. "What did Magnus Bane want?"
I toss her a look. "Nothing," I lie easily. "Just work stuff."
"Okay," she replies easily, and reaches up to kiss me. Her lips close in on mine and she shoves her body flush against mine, wrapping her hands around my waist and running her nails over my shirt. And suddenly, it feels sick to touch her and kiss her when I don't feel anything for her.
Which is not necessarily something I've felt before.
I push her gently back. "What?" she says. "Just let me kiss you." Her eyes dart around the crowd. Whatever she says, she doesn't care for me either - I'm famous, and that's what's attractive to her.
"Sorry," I tell her. "I can't see you anymore."
"What?" Kaelie shrieks, turning a few heads. "I look so good next to you! I'll go to all of your premieres and support you until the end."
"No," I say, getting annoyed. "I just can't do this anymore." I turn away from her before she can talk again. I don't want to be at this party anymore, in the same room as Kaelie and Magnus Bane and Clary's bastard boyfriend.
Anyways, I have a lunch date to plan.
Hey guys! I know these chapters are coming less frequently but I'm pretty busy right now. Anyways, there's some major stuff that's going down in the next few chapters, so stay tuned. I love you all, and thanks so much for reading!