Seduction Games.

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Chapter twenty eight: Togetherness

Chapter Songs

Take Care ~ Beach House

Sun Models ~ ODESZA (feat. Madelyn Grant)

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out ~ The Smiths

Work It Out ~ Knox Hamilton

Flowers In Your Hair ~ The Lumineers

Cough Syrup ~ Young the Giant

17 ~ Youth Lagoon

...…...

After Jace left last night, which hadn't been for a while considering we spent time talking about everything and nothing, lying in my bed. Sometimes not saying anything as we held each other, just grateful for the others presence.

He hadn't left until early this morning, because we had both fallen asleep, me with his sweater upon my shoulders, us under my blanket though his radiating heat was enough to keep us both warm.

It was hard to say bye to him this morning, I wanted to spend the day with him, but I guess I would see him tonight.

I ran down the stairs into the kitchen where my mom was making breakfast. I took a seat where my mom was making French toast and eggs.

"Good morning beautiful, how'd you sleep?" I didn't know if it was just me, but it sounded like she knew something about my sleep or how I slept, or who accompanied me in my sleep.

"Good I guess?" I rose my eyebrows.

"Anything out of the ordinary happen? Any surprises?" She asked, definitely over the line of subtle.

"Oh you helped Jace with the prom painting!" I meant to say that in my head but ended up blurting it out due to my absent mind.

My mom smiled, "Did you like it? He came up with the idea all himself, so adorable" my mom smiled as she flipped the toast.

"Wait- aren't you shocked? Were you shocked?" I rose my eyebrows.

"Sure" my mom said sarcastically.

"How!?" My eyes widened.

"You guys haven't been the most secretive, there were little clues here and there. Plus everyone knew it was bound to happen" my mom rolled her eyes.

"Like what?" I ignored her last comment as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Who's sweater is that?" My mom rose a single eyebrow.

I looked down to see Jace's sweater swallowing my figure.

"Jon's" I blurted. They're about the same size, right?

"Jon" my mother called to Jon who came from the living room.

"Yeah?" He asked my mom.

"Is that your sweater?" My mom asked, though she already knew the answer.

Jon turned to me, eyeing the sweater.

"When did you get that sweater? I thought it was in my bag?" Jon asked confused.

"What?" I asked with bugged eyes.

My mom ignored my comment and actually looked surprised as she murmured an oh.

"Yeah" I turned to her with my surprisingly found confidence.

"That doesn't mean you guys haven't left small things here and there, the way he always finds a way to have physical contact with you whenever you're in a room together, the way you two speak to each other, like two friends who spoke like lovers, afraid to confess their love for one another, and don't get me started on the way he looks at you" My mom spoke to me.

"Whatever" I said though a shiver ran down my back at my mothers words.

"Here, eat" my mom placed food on a plate in front of me.

Jon took a seat next to me as my mom dished out food on to his plate, before she went to the backyard to go fetch Luke.

"So when did you get my sweatshirt? I didn't see you go into my room" Jon said.

"You're serious?" I asked Jon.

"Here let me check the inside of the collar" Jon started to flip over the neckline.

"This is Ja-" I started.

"See JC" he showed me the printed font on the collar.

"Well I only know two Jonathan Christophers" I rolled my eyes.

Jon rose an eyebrow.

"This is Jace'ssweater, so I'm guessing you and my boyfriend are twinzies, because I'm assuming you both have the same sweater" I informed Jon.

"Your boyfriend has good taste" Jon smirked.

"What's your deal?" I squinted.

"Jace Herondale, your best friend of what? Twelve years, give or take? The guy who pushed you into the pool on your twelfth birthday party, the guy who teased you about your height- and still does 'til this day, the guy who guarded all the boys off you in middle school, is now your boyfriend."

I let a breath of laughter out my nose, "I guess he is" I let a huge smile pass through my face.

I spent the rest of the day hanging out with my family, they helped me study for all my finals, though Jon wasn't keen on staying on task, we spent most of the day like that, having fun, goofing around and what not, until the clock struck five, and there was a demanding knock on my front door.

I ran up to the door with Jon hot on my trail, but I reached the door before him.

Once I opened the door the two figures were already moving through the door.

"Come on, no time to lose. We're already an hour behind schedule, so chop chop, up the stairs Morgenstern, not you Jon, but it's a pleasure as always" Izzy sent my brother a quick smirk as he smirked back.

Both Magnus and Izzy were both carrying two suitcases of what I could only imagine was filled up to the brim with accessories and make up.

"What are you guys talking about!? Prom isn't even until eight o'clock!" I informed.

"And there's a lot of work to get done, so let's get to it" Magnus said.

"Oh thank you, that just boosts my ego system so high, be careful, if you continue like that I might exceed Jace's level" I rolled my eyes.

"Darling, you know you're beautiful, we just want to enhance your looks" Magnus started up the stairs.

"Thanks" I said sarcastically, though I knew he was joking.

We started up the stairs as Izzy was telling us to pickup the pace as she already had reached my room.

Once I was up the stairs, Izzy threw two fresh towels at my face.

"Shower up, Morgenstern. You've got twenty minutes even to get your red curls out of that shower, and if you're not out, don't think I won't drag you out by the hair, even if you still have conditioner" Izzy threatened.
"Like you would let me leave conditioner in my hair" I rolled my eyes as I picked up the towels.

"You're right. I will get in that shower, right along with you and rinse those red locks until they're free of conditioner, you got it?" Izzy looked me dead in the eyes.

"Yes mother" I skipped along into my bathroom.

Once I took my brisk shower, in fear Izzy could follow through on her threat.

"Oooh, look at our Clary, saving time" Magnus signaled to my quick shower.

"Put this on and take your hair out of that towel" Izzy threw me a robe and I did a loop back into the bathroom.
Izzy had a chair waiting for me at my desk, which was now filled with every possible makeup container ever made.

I plopped down in the seat as Izzy started to run a brush and blow dryer through my hair. As soon as my hair dried, Magnus got the straightener ready to tame my red curls. When Magnus was through with my hair, Izzy demanded I put on my dress so she could curl my hair.

It went on like that for an hour or so, them telling me not to move an inch while they did my make up, but in the end, it was all worth it.

My shoes complimented my dress- not that you could see them, due to my lack in height, so the dress hid my feet.

I followed my feet up to the neckline, I memorized the way the dress spilled over under my waist, dropping down in velvet and tool ruffles. I noted how the lighter green velvet clung to most of my upper half, pronouncing my curves.

I noticed how my shoulders were left bare, because of the strapless dress, how the necklace I was wearing added a nice contrast between my skin and red curls, which were gracefully grouped together with one another, that looked more elegant then the wild curls I normally had stacked upon my head. The front two strands of my hair were wrapped around my head tying into a discreet twist in the back of my head, with the rest of my delicately curled hair.

Lastly, I focused in on my face. I saw how my green eyes matched my dress, how the light greens and fair complexion connected me to the dress.

I had light green eye shadow, a light layer of blush on my cheeks, mascara thickening my eyelashes and adding length.

I looked like a different person, yet the same Clary. I looked more mature, instead of that slight baby face. Magnus was right, the light greens of eye shadow made my eyes pop, and my face looked beautiful. All the colors blended together and made my face enchanting, without overdoing the make up.

Magnus and Izzy were fighting over the bathroom mirror as they were getting ready.
"Magnus, if you don't stay on your half of the mirror I will kick your sparkly a-"

"Language Izzy!" I yelled from my room as I was putting on Jace's ring.

"So, Miss Morgenstern, who will be accompanying you to this lovely dance, this splendid evening?" Magnus asked once he had eyeliner on both eyes and just enough sparkles on his attire and face.

"You know, with how much you're obsessed with glitter, you could be a young girl in fourth grade, stuck in a teenage boy's body" I offered Magnus.

"Nonsense, I'm not into unicorns" Magnus put his arms through the sleeves of his suit jacket, "But I see the question has been avoided"

"Is it because a certain blond might be taking you to this dance?" Izzy perched an eyebrow.

"Yes, Jace is taking me- as friends and nothing more" I lied.

"Mhmm, because the sexual tension that's tripled between the two of you, has to do with being just 'friends'" Izzy air quoted.

"Seeing as I didn't see the sexual tension from the beginning, I don't possibly know how it could've tripled" I picked up my bag and Izzy came out of the bathroom.

And wow.

"Izzy you're gorgeous" I announced.

"Oh, you're one to talk darling, you're stunning" Izzy smiled.

"Darlings, try not to faint as I enter the room, because my looks are deadly" Magnus entered through my bedroom door- though I can't recall him leaving.

"Magnus, that was the worst thing I've ever heard" I shook my head, cringing.

"You're just upset that you didn't think of it first" Magnus smirked.

"Sure" I said sarcastically as Izzy was putting her ear rings on.

"You girls look lovely. We did quite a good job on this one, didn't we?" Magnus rose an eyebrow to Izzy while staring me down.

"We sure did" Izzy said as she slung an arm around Magnus's lean shoulders, and squinted at me playfully.

The doorbell rung at least twenty times in half a second.

I heard the door open, and a few words from Jon, then about five other voices.

"That's our cue" Izzy smirked as I took one final look in the mirror.

I finally clicked the beauty with a familiar face, my mothers. I resembled her very much, with my tamed red curls, to my sparkling green eyes. I shared the same beauty as my mother, a beauty that had shone elegance and ferocity.

In my make up and fancy dress, all the works of my appearance, I felt like a princess, all that was missing was my tiara, I laughed to myself.

We all casually- well as casual as I could be tripping in forty inch heels- to the front door. I wasn't going to lie, walking down the stairs was a difficulty.

"Jordan, Maya, get together right there" I heard my mothers voice then a click of a camera.

"Okay, Simon, Jace, and Alec, get your arms around each other and stand right over- no to the right- perfect, perfect. Don't move an inch" this time I didn't hear a click, my mom paused "Guys, pretend like you actually like each other, and you aren't going to kill each other in your sleep" I could practically hear my mom roll her eyes.

"I can't make any promises" Jace said under his breath as we were making the final entrance, and it was my turn to roll my eyes.

Once we were at the bottom of the stairs, every one turned to us.

Gasps erupted throughout the room followed by a silence of admiration?

"Clary, Isabelle. You both look so beautiful" My mother was the first to break the silence with a hand over her chest with Luke by her side, his hand on her shoulder.

"You look quite charming yourself, Magnus" my mother said, after clearing his throat making it a priority to be noticed.

"Okay we have not a second to lose" My mom started, "Everyone get in pairs"

We all scrambled to get with our "dates", due to my mothers threatening tone.

Everyone smiled as I sauntered over towards Jace and he took my waist.

"Be touchy later- but be safe- every one take positions!" My mom started at us as our friends started laughing.

We all struck a pose, being the divas we were.

"Okay, I think the cameras broken- there's a white oval like shape at the side of the picture" my mom squinted at the screen.

"It's because you have your finger in front of the lens mom" My brother reappeared.

"Oh" my mom moved her finger.

"Positions! Positions!" My mother started again as Jace grabbed my waist and we all made model like faces.

And after that we took a few silly ones, that made us all laugh, and serious ones.

"Jon, come here" I motioned for him to come this direction with my finger.

"What?" He said as he stood next to my mom.

"Get in the picture!" Izzy told him as the others agreed, though I knew Izzy had a thing for my brother when we were in middle school…

Jon came next to me opposite of Jace, next to Simon, and we took a series of other pictures, singles, doubles, like our own little photo shoot.

Once I was alone, Jace got me to the foot of the staircase, a decent distance away from our crazy friends making silly faces like they were four years old again- including my brother, in college might I add.

"Did I tell you how beautiful you look on this extraordinary evening?" Jace smirked down at me, but I saw the way his golden eyes looked upon me, following my dress from the tightening top to the loose bottom, drinking me up while his breath was slowing.

His eyes held a darkening glaze of desire, and tenderness. The most prominent emotion in his golden orbs, was a caring look.

"No actually, you haven't" I tried to trap my smile in a smirk.

"Oh, no? Well I guess it makes up with your lack of acknowledging how charming, and quite handsome I look in this tux" Jace made a smoldering face.

He was right, I didn't get to get the full view of the tux- until now and, might I say, he wore that tux well.

"Cockiness eats away the looks" I shrugged my shoulders sorrowfully.

"On the contrary, seeing as you still stand by my side" Jace countered.

"Hmm, maybe there's something I could change about that" I made it look as if I were lost in thought.

"You're absolutely beautiful Clare" Jace finally smiled, a real smile.

"As are you- handsome, that is" I smiled as I took a second look at how the tux fitted hugged his muscular chest and abdomen- but it didn't look uncomfortably tight- I saw the way the jacket buffed at the swell of his bicep. His pants didn't fit so bad either.

A part of his hair was combed back, another section combed back but slightly to the side. His complexion engagingly captivating as always.

Jace place a hand under my chin, sending shocks of reassuring warmth throughout my body.

"I have something for you" Jace tugged me a bit closer.

"Oh do you?" I barely had to tilt my neck, due to the heels and close proximity…

"Indeed I do" Jace pulled a plastic container from the side of him.

Inside the transparent container was a corsage, filled with white lilies and smaller green flowers.

A small gasp escaped my lips.

"Jace this is- it's-" I started.

"Do you not like it? I can steal Izzy's though-"

"It's perfect" I smiled at him.

Jace returned the smile, clearly relieved as he removed the flowered bracelet from its case.

"It matches perfectly. How did you know?" I gazed at him.

"A little bird told me"

"Izzy" I smiled because she's the only one that knew anything about my dress.

"May I have your right hand?" Jace held out his left.

"I'm afraid not, I still have use for my right hand, and considering I write with this hand, it only makes it more valuable, but my left- that could be up for a bargain" I twirled my hair.

"Oh look, it makes jokes" Jace spoke sarcastically.

I held out my right hand as Jace placed the corsage on my wrist, and a flash blinded me for a few seconds.

"Mom!" I turned to her holding the camera, slowly backing away.

"Mom!" I called again but she was already gone, I rolled my eyes as Jace let out a laugh, then Jace scooped me up in his arms as he struck a pose, and my arms automatically locked behind his neck in fear of falling.

My mom took at least forty pictures.

"Thanks Jace" my mom smiled as Jace dropped me down.

"What in the world was that!?" My eyes bugged out.

"You have to please the audience" Jace had a mischievous smile as he smiled down at me.

"I hate you" I rolled my eyes as I started to walk away.

"Wait- Clary, Jace! Do you mind posing-"

"Mom, you have enough pictures to last you more than like forty lifetimes"

"But-"

My mom got cut off by a light honk from outside.

It was the first time I noticed the sparkling purple limo parked outside the front of my house.

I heard a shriek from behind me. I turned to the one and only Magnus Bane.

"Izzy I love you, I love you, I love you! You actually did it, I can't believe it!" Magnus squeezed Izzy in a side hug as he pecked her cheek, with Alec awkwardly standing by his side.

"This night is going to be perfect" Magnus grinned toothily, as he lovingly put his arm around Alec as I saw a red blush blossom on pale skin, underneath Alec's blue eyes.

Once we arrived at school, after our sparkly purple ride, which was filled with sparkling apple cider, or "kids champagne" as Jace and I called it when we were little, pretending to get a little on the crazier side when we drank too much, or how cool we thought we were when we were drinking it without our parents knowledge.

We were such dorks, I laughed to myself.

"Kids champagne?" Jace offered when we were in the limo.

"I'm afraid I will get too tipsy, and I would rather like to remember this night" I smiled at Jace as he let out a small laugh.

We made our way into the school gymnasium, where it was now filled with dazzling lights, cool colored balloons spread across the big room. A table filled with multiple bowls of punch, placed on a lavender table sheet.

There was shimmering blue and purple curtains hung on what would normally be the gym walls. There was the iconic disco ball that you had to have at every prom hanging from the center of the ceiling.

Everything was perfect, all my friends were with me, everything looked beautiful, and I was with Jace.

"Let's dance!" Izzy shouted as an upbeat song took place on the speakers and we all started dancing, Simon and I awkwardly jumping around as we laughed. Jace and Izzy clearly the more advanced dancers of the group, the rest of them just dancing crazily with their hands in the air.

Izzy and I danced around together, along with Maya, with the fun, playful song.

We all grabbed hands, all eight of us. Jace and Izzy on either side of me, with both their hands in my grasp, we started dancing, swinging our arms in the air, laughing and jumping.

When the songs got slower, we all settled down.

"It would be an honor to share this dance with you, Miss Morgenstern"

I turned to a brown mop of hair, and matching brown eyes behind a pair of glasses.

"Shouldn't you be dancing with your beautiful date?" I inquired of Simon.

"Bros before-"

"Want to finish that sentence?" Izzy waltzed around us with her arms around her brother.

I slowly put my arms around Simon's neck and his looping around my waist lightly.

In the beginning of the song, we tottered around in our awkward little circle, with the music playing softly in the background.

"So Izzy?" I started.

"So Jace?" Simon rose an eyebrow, asking me if I really wanted to play that game.

"Whatever," I said as we made small steps in a circle rotation, "Prom doesn't seem as cheesy as we thought it'd be as kids" I smiled.

"Indeed it isn't," Simon said with a small laugh, "Let's just hope the punch doesn't taste like watered down fruit loops, like we thought"

I laughed at the young twelve year olds who thought that prom was overrated, and was a just bunch of nonsense.

"Do you think our young selves would be disappointed?" Simon questioned jokingly.

"I think they would understand" I squinted jokingly.

"I don't know, we weren't the understanding people back then as we are today"

"You make a valid point, but they'll grow up one day" and with that, the first slow song came to an end.

"It was a pleasure dancing with you Mr. Lewis" I curtsied melodramatically.

"As with you, Miss. Morgenstern" Simon kissed my hand and we laughed.

I spun a half circles gazing for a certain blond, who shouldn't be that hard to find-

I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder.

I turned to Jace as he smiled down towards me.

"May I have this dance?" He smiled at me as he held out his hand, and the next slow song started.

"If I have to" I said grudgingly, but had one of the biggest smiles place upon my lips.

Jace pulled my waist to his torso, as I squeezed my arms around his neck, as his grip tightened around my waist, pulling us tighter together.

"Would it be corny to tell you I've dreamt of this moment nearly everyday?" Jace smiled.

"You don't even need an answer" I rolled my eyes.

"Did I tell you, that you look stunning?" Jace smiled largely.

"Only a hundred times, but it doesn't get old" I said a bit immodestly but I felt my cheeks heat with surprise and delight, as Jace let out a soft laugh.

"You remember, when we were first graders, our mothers through that charity party and we were trying to act as sophisticated as the grown ups?" Jace started, "I remember dancing- what we must've thought had been the show of everyone's life, but really I think it consisted of me bear hugging you so you wouldn't trip on my feet- or your own as much, as we spun in a circle."

I laughed, not worrying how loud my voice sounded, because the music melded the balance.

"How could I forget?" I laughed a bit more, "But if I do say, I believe we should've received an award"

We both laughed a bit more, knowing that was anything but the truth.

"I love your smile" Jace said as the next song got more intense then the previous, and he had took my hand and spun me in a circle as my dress bellowed out when I twirled right back into Jace's arms.

I laughed in shock and in relish of the moment.

"And don't get me started on that laugh of yours" Jace looking at me with large golden orbs filled with love and care.

"Where is all this coming from?" Suddenly curious.

"I don't know. I had some of the punch-"

"Shut up" I smiled as our dancing got more serious, and I had to focus on not tripping in the heels, though Jace was taking the lead, and he was well aware of my two left feet, and how they were capable of stepping on anything in a quick second.

"It's because I'm truly, a hundred and ten percent in love with you Clarrissa Morgenstern" he said as he dipped me, our faces centimeters away when I felt something warm float throughout my chest, and my pulse beating sporadically.

Jace pulled me up slowly, and I could feel my chest tighten with every moment.

Jace's head tilted down until his lips were almost touching but not quite.

"But Jace, everyone…" I said in a breathless whisper, and I, myself couldn't find it in me to care.

"I don't care if you don't" his breath swooned around my face, and with that I pressed my lips to his.

When I felt warmth swallow my entire body, I let my defenses fall. Whatever problem I had with Jace being by best friend, whoever would see me differently by dating Jace fell away, and I knew I loved him in a way I had never another person, the strongest love I've felt for another person in this way- even my celebrity crushes.

I felt his lips respond as they move against mine as I grabbed his face and his hands clutched my waist, pulling me closer, as if we were magnets that needed to be attached.

The warmth of the kiss running crazily through my body, and the heat strengthening and build wherever Jace was.

The kiss deepened as our mouth opened and our lips were battling for dominance, superiority in a heat and love.

"And Jace" I pulled away, "I love you a hundred and eleven percent" I smiled as his lips press back to mine as I heard to squeaks that belonged to no other than Magnus Bane, and Isabelle Lightwood.

As prom was nearing an end we all decided to leave as we ran out into the sparkling purple limo as we laughed.

"Back home?" The driver asked through the small opening in the front once we all got settled.

"Actually, there's one more place I'd like to stop at" Izzy announced as she read off directions to the driver who followed.

We ended up at Takis diner, where we all got out the car and flaunted inside the restaurant and a server had us seated at a booth where we all started yapping in conversation, Izzy and Magnus going on about our spontaneous kiss, while Jace clasped my hand underneath the table as we smiled making our relationship the most official as it could be at this stage.

We ordered food- enough to feed a village as we all started eating and at some point a fry was tossed at Izzy (my best bet is Simon) - and all hell broke out as Izzy grabbed a handful of fries and tossed it to the opposite side and then it was a full on food fight as if we were five years old again.

We were all laughing as we picked up food in front of us tossing it every where but in our own direction.

Once I made eye contact with the cake, I took a bit handful and smeared it on Jace's face.

"You didn't just do that Morgenstern" as he had a pertinacious smile on his mouth, ready to kick start revenge.

In this moment- this moment that will follow us forever- never forgetting the fun we had, how recklessness runs in our young blood as the waiters sent us deadly stares.

We will remember this moment for a group of friends who found love within the group, and how much we loved each other and much we cared for one another.

A group of friends who would never forget each other.

...

Omg guys it's over.

I used the songs above in previous chapters, but it fits.

I hope this was a good ending and I really hoped you guys liked this. It means so much for any of you guys to be reading this, and you guys have been great (fans? Readers?) lol. But I will miss writing Seduction Games for you guys but I have another story! If you guys still want to talk to me or anything you can dm me, or anything.

I love you guys so much, and thank you for sticking with the story 'til the finish line(?). This is my story public so you guys are my first readers! Okay this isn't going anywhere.

It's my birthday this Thursday.

Read my other story Just Roommates if you didn't like totally hate this one, even if you did it would mean the world.

But it means the world you guys read this so thank you for all the support, and everything.

I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH, THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!

Tessa or Wessa?

Kisses.