U is for ultion (revenge)

.

.

.

A dark cloud hung around the normally-bright Cassidee. Jace walked into the library and stopped short when he saw the ill humor she was in. An open book sat on her lap, abandoned. Her brown-gold irises were veiled with thought and a certain degree of irritation. She was chewing ruminatively on her lower lip, seemingly unaware of his presence. He approached her slowly, putting a hand on her shoulder and shaking her a bit. In a snap, her eyes cleared and she smiled.

"Hi," She said, almost shyly. Jace kissed her nose.

"Hey. You looked like you were in a trance or something. What were you thinking about?"

"Just planning something." Mysterious. Very mysterious. And suspicious…

"Anything I can help with?" Jace asked. Cassidee opened her lips to say 'no', but after a moment of thought, she nodded. Jace couldn't help but see the spark of impish determination that lit in her eyes.

"We need to go to the store."

.

Two hours later, Cassidee was climbing a tree outside of the Institute, laying flat on her stomach and scooting along a branch that touched the wall just below Jace's window. She threw down one end of a rope, allowing her boyfriend to tie all their shopping bags to it. Slowly, she pulled up the supplies. Jace watched her intently, confident about her abilities but anxious about how high up she was. When the bags were resting in front of her, she moved from a laying position to a sitting position, then pushed herself up onto her knees, tossing the bags into the window. Jace's heart stopped for a moment when she got to her feet and walked along the branch, pausing to grin at him before leaping into the window. Jace shook his head and went up to his room.

.

Cassidee was unpacking the bags when Jace entered, shutting the door behind him. He observed their haul with curiosity: cans of silly string, toilet paper, window markers, confetti, black trash bags, superglue, and chalk.

"Exactly what are we doing with all this?" Jace asked. Cassidee looked up at him sincerely.

"We're trashing Isabelle's room." Jace chuckled, but the laughter faded as he realized that his girlfriend wasn't kidding in the least.

"Why would you want to risk your life—and mine, at that—just to trash her room?"

"Well, it all started yesterday. We went out shopping, and we found the cutest dress. It was in both our sizes, so we both put one on. Isabelle said that she'd look better in the dress, so naturally I said that I'd look better. There was a very handsome group of three guys standing nearby. Isabelle and I walked out and talked to them, and Izzy asked which of us looked better. Two of them said Isabelle, one said me. Then Izzy teased me about it for the rest of the day. I want revenge." Jace nodded, excitement at their plan taking hold of his brain. He loved to tease Isabelle; this would be the ultimate prank.

"She's gone out for the afternoon, and won't be back until about midnight. We could do it now," Jace said, earning a wickedly gleeful grin from his girlfriend.

.

Near eleven-thirty, Jace and Cassidee stole back up to Jace's room, grinning with pride at their work. Jace fell onto his bed, throwing an arm over his eyes as he laughed. Cassidee went digging through the last bag, revealing a two-liter bottle of Cheerwine. She twisted the cap and held it up in the air.

"Here's to sweet, savory revenge," She said, taking a long swallow of the soda before passing it to Jace, who proceeded to do the same thing. Soon, they heard the Institute door close, and Isabelle's cheery voice talking to Alec. Cassidee listened closely, one hand on Jace's thigh as they sat on his bed, waiting. Soon, they heard high heels clacking around the tile floors, followed by a moment of silence… then a high, piercing scream as Isabelle saw her room. Cassidee laughed heartily, rolling on the bed and clutching her sides. Jace pressed a hand to her mouth, stifling the noise quickly, before the victim of their prank could hear it. Cassidee sat up straight, wiped the tears from her eyes, and slapped Jace a high-five. The two of them leaned back against Jace's headboard, feeling highly satisfied with themselves as they took turns sipping the Cheerwine.

Minutes later, they erupted into laughter again as Isabelle's voice screamed "JACE!"