Hi Everyone! Thank you for reading my story, as I am sure many of you are now aware that this is my first fanfiction. Thus, I ask you to please stick with me as I continue to develop skills, not only with my writing, but also with the correct format of the fanfiction itself.

Sadly, I alike many others do not own The Mortal Instruments or the characters involved.

…

Clary reluctantly sat down at the seat that was left at the table, still slightly confused as to what she herself was up to. Let alone Jace. Jace from before they meet, was an arrogant, self-centred, egocentric jerk who only had major concern for himself. His parents seemed to have little effect or even a slight change to this attitude.

Speaking of the devil, Jace brought Clary out of her turmoiled thoughts by pulling her closer and once again, wrapping his arm around her. Clary driven by some unknown instinct brought her outside hand up to intertwine her fingers with his.

"So, Clary why haven't I heard about your mystery man fiancé?" Izzy drilled. "Well I guess I know who he is now, so not such a mystery anymore. But why haven't I heard details about this Jace was it?" She looked at Jace for some conformation, which she received in a short nod, before continuing her tirade. "I mean last time I checked you were single. And that was yesterday!"

"Iz, chill." Clary interrupted Isabelle's rant. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," She took a deep breath, trying to sound sincere, but also to buy some time to think. "I just wanted to keep Jace to myself for a little while. You know, why we figured out if we were serious or not. And by the time that I knew, without an ounce of doubt, there was too much to tell. And then he proposed. I'm getting married Izzy. I'm sorry for not introducing you sooner." Clary had a way that would rid her best friend of the anger that Izzy held for herself. "There is something really important I have to ask you. Will you be my maid-of-honour?"

"Aww, babe. You had doubts, from the moment I saw you," Jace tried to top Clary's cheesiness. "I knew that you were the one for me."

A slight blush rose to Clary's cheeks. There was something she knew, had to be done. If she was playing the role of the loved-up bride-to-be, she would have to up her game. Therefore, she turned to face the man that had just said the candied but fake words, and kissed him sweetly and softly on the cheek. Clary hoped that this small gesture made Izzy buy the previously spoken lie.

"So, Iz I need an answer, will you be my maid-of-honour?" Clary repeated her earlier question, hoping to avoid any sudden awkwardness that was sure to be there.

"Is that even really a question?" Izzy asked, a tad insulted by the question. "Of course!"

"So, we don't actually have a date yet. And Jace is yet to decide on a best man!" Clary nudged Jace, to Jace it felt like Clary was one again trying to outdo her fiancé. "Anyway, enough wedding talk let us all get to know each other a little better. Simon what are your interests?" Clary asked trying to lessen the attention on herself and Jace.

Simon looked up from the worn menu that he was playing with. "Comic books, Magna and Anime. So basically, anything that involves fantasy." Simon finished a little unsure of what he said through his nerves and discomfort.

"You are such a nerd." Izzy said under her breath but in the silence, that had set over the table, it was heard clearly by everyone.

"Okay, that's cool." Clary replied to Simon whilst glaring at her best friend. Did Izzy have to make her distaste so obvious? There was something bothering Clary at this moment though. Or rather confused her. "Izzy and Simon, I realise that this might be an awkward question for you to answer, but I am going to ask it anyway. How is it that this engagement happened if you both seem so against it? Iz, I have known you for most of my life. And Simon you have said like ten words total. That cannot be your normal."

"Okay, Clary. I will answer your question." Izzy replied, her agenda hidden slightly. "If you tell me how you and Jace met?"

Clary internally panicked. She couldn't distract her with another question. And Izzy would clearly see if she was lying. But that didn't mean she couldn't tell the truth. Well half of it anyway. "You remember yesterday? When we were having lunch? And I told you about the gorgeous guy? The one that made me forget how to breathe?" Izzy finally nodded, remembering the story. "Well that most mortifying moment of my life was how I met my fiancé. Only it was a while ago."

"Really, babe." Jace added his thoughts in. "Did she tell you that I retaught her? We couldn't have the love of my life dying on me now. Can we?" Jace kissed Clary's forehead. Whatever game he was playing, he knew it well.

"Stop, I think you both are going to make me sick." Izzy teased, before up holding her end of the bargain. "So, yesterday after I left you, I walked through the door to be met by Mum, Dad Alec and Max in the foyer. I wasn't even able to get changed before we had to leave for some unknown reservations that someone had made. I am already tense from mum and dad being at the same place at the same time." Izzy takes a shaky breath, trying to control her emotions. She refuses to cry in front of Clary, let alone Jace and Simon. "Then, the stupid waiter leads us to a table that is half full. Mum says as if it is the happiest moment of her life and mine, 'Your fiancé is here'" Isabelle finished, a few stray tears falling.

Isabelle is met by the embrace of Clary before she can wipe her own tears. This embrace causes the flood gates to open. Before long the dark-haired girl is shaking with sobs in her best friend's arms. There is little sign of her stopping.

If Clary wasn't so worried about the shell of a girl that she now holds in her arms, she is sure that she would have come clean in that very moment. The words that Maryse had spoken had been identical to the ones her own mother had spoken. The words that had also had the same effect on herself. As it was Clary was sure that she paled. She also noticed two things, that Jace also paled and Simon noticed the change in the couple's complexations.

Simon knew something wasn't right but couldn't pin point it for sure.

…

Jace and Clary sat in the car, not long after Izzy had calmed down. Before they left Clary made sure to see Iz later in the week, to check on how she was dealing.

A silence had settled over everything, leaving the both the occupants of the car to analyse and scrutinise not only their own actions but also each other's. Before long there was one question on the forefront of Clary's mind.

"What were you doing?" Clary questioned, accusingly.

"I could ask you the same thing." Jace replied cryptically.

"Iz, she is my best friend." Clary started to explain. "Her engagement, hell any engagement was the furthest thing from her from her mind yesterday." Clary took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Now we are both engaged to strangers. No offence, but I get it. Our parents made the biggest decision of our lives for us. We weren't even able to object at all. It all seems so final." Clary as if remembering the point to her speech, continued. "So, I could see that she is hurting. Well maybe not hurting but is certainly pissed. So, if I can lessen her burden in anyway, I will. Even if that means that I am lying to her about my own engagement." Clary thought for a minute before adding, "Izzy would do the same for me."

"Okay, I get it." Jace stated still trying to avoid the question he was asked.

"Why did you play along with it though?" Clary asked again.

"Look, you may think that I am a jerk. But I am not a total jerk. You were just trying to comfort your friend, and I think some part of me saw that." Jace started. "I guess that part of me also wanted to see you squirm. I was also curious to see how far you would go if I played along, to see what you were planning."

"That makes sense. You know what is kind of funny?"

"What? That we both actually have hearts?"

"No, well that is sort of funny too. But what I meant was that this is the first real conversation that we have ever had. And we are not screaming at each other."

A silence had settled over the car once more, but this time the silence wasn't awkward or tense. This kind of silence was filled with the occupants thinking about what was said and what was still left to say.

"Do you think that our parents know what they are doing?" Clary asked.

"Possibly. But I never have heard of the Morgenstern family."

"Well, I haven't exactly heard of the Herondales either."

"I didn't want to start a fight, I just meant to say that if our parents are old friends, they aren't so much anymore."

"Yeah, I get it. So, are just going to pretend around Izzy or like everyone?"

Jace raked a hand over his face before he answered Clary's question. "I don't know. What if we do pretend around everyone? Will our lives become a lie? I know that we really don't have a choice about the marriage, so maybe we can pretend in public and work on it in private? That way we are not really living a lie."

"That might actually work. This situation is a little embarrassing, so it would be nice if no one really knows. Our parents still making major decisions for us and we're adults."

"I guess that settles it than. You are right `about how this is all embarrassing."

…

What do you all think about Jace and Clary pretending to be in love? This can only end in disaster, or at least a lot of extra pressure on the couple? Also, should they pretend around the parents also? I have one final question, who do you think both Clary and Izzy will fall for?

I promise that this is the last thing, please read "They did what?". You won't regret it.