Hello. So very sorry that I made you all wait for so long for this chapter. I do have my reasons, but you probably don't wait to hear them. So, I just want to thank you for sticking with me.

Unless this changed and no one told me, I don't own the mortal instruments, only the story is my own.

...

Clary ran her hands over her crinkle free dress, trying to smooth any that may have formed within the last ten seconds. She was fussing and she knew it. Her fussing being caused by the nerves that were raging through her petite frame.

The engagement party that Jace had suggested had only taken one week to fully organise. Today, one hundred and fifty of their closest friends and family would be coming to celebrate 'their love'. It had made Clary wonder if her parents had already informed these people of the happy occasion before even being mentioned to the jace and herself.

Her thoughts however weren't her only company for long, as Jace chuckled light-heartily. "A little anxious, are we?"

"I am glad that my emotions amuse you." Clary huffed, not turning to look at Jace. "We are about to try and mislead our entire families. Why aren't you more nervous? Actually," Clary corrected, having thought of a better question. "How are you so calm and collected?"

"Acting, my dear, Acting." Jace replied with a cryptic smile.

...

"Hi, I am Aline," a clearly fake blond insincerely stated. Her shirt looked about ten sizes too small as it clung to her frame. As if to further prove the suspicion that everything about her was fake, her next words took a very sinister turn. "You do know that Jace was with me the other night?" Aline having seen that her words had little effect on Clary, she continued getting even more menacing. "What night was it? Oh, that's right! It was yesterday!"

At this Clary's face fell. Jace must have invited his ex.

Jace, being the intelligent person that he is, choose this moment to appear. His arm snaking around Clary's waist to pull her closer. When Clary failed to respond, he looked down noticing her expression.

"What did you say to her?" Jace questioned accusingly.

Aline twirled her hair around her fingers as she contemplated her answer. "Just the truth. You were out with me last night and we had the best time." Aline stated with a cheeriness that can't be faked.

"Why would you do that?" Clary tensed further as Jace had neither confirmed or denied the accusation. "That is not even true and you know it!" Jace fired back his voice slightly louder than before. The increase level of sound resulting of the argument gaining the unwanted attention of those around the trio.

Clary in a desperate attempt to try and calm Jace into slightly lowering his voice, wrapped her arm around Jace. This finishing what he had to incite earlier. Only Jace mistook this as her support…

"Why is it so hard for you to just accept that we are over! We have been for ages! Our relationship barely even lasted a few weeks!" Jace had begun to seethe, he was lying about the time of the breakup and Aline knew it. The volume along with the tone that his voice had taken, gained the attention of the large remainder of the people that had been invited to the celebration.

"Clary and I are engaged and getting married! And you will just need to except it! There were only you and I, there will never be us!" Jace raked his hand through his hair trying to calm himself. Only now did he realise what he could have said instead. He could have claimed to be unable to live without Clary, in love or at the very least to be happy. He hoped that the crowd would not pick up the truth, about the engagement in his words or rather lack of. And by Clary's tight lipped smile she hoped her family and friends wouldn't either.

The crowd continued to stare, wondering and waiting for what would happen. The weight of their eyes was bared by Clary alone as Jace was still too worked up to notice. She waited for what felt like hours, but was probably only minutes or even seconds for someone to call their bluff. In this moment she decided, that to throw off any suspicions that may have formed she would have to act.

Clary turned herself fully so that she now completely faced Jace. She pressed her chest against his. It wasn't until Clary encased his neck with her arms, did Jace notice. In response to the puzzled look that was now on Jace's face as he looked now on her, Clary whispered "Just go with it."

Jace gave a slight nod as to communicate that despite that he was still extremely confused as to what the plan was.

Without giving herself time to chicken out, Clary leaned up closing the distance between her lips and Jace's. But before they had the chance to touch, Clary mumbled, "It can't just be a peck…"

Before Jace could even register what, her words meant, Clary had crushed her lips against his. It was supposed to be a tight closed lipped kiss. At least that is what Clary had intended for it to be, but the moment that contact was made, that plan flew out the window. When Jace had gasped at the sudden development, Clary found herself wanting to see how much she could affect him. Jace realised that Clary was trying to set a silent challenge and held up his end of the bargain. Jace and Clary began to forge a battle, for dominance and the knowledge of how much they affected each other. Within seconds Jace's hands were wound into Clary's once perfect hair, and Clary's hands began to roam.

A sudden shout for the two to "Get a room!" forced the war to end without a clear winner. At least this time.

Isabelle, having been the one to cause their separation gave the two a knowing smile, that turned into a giggle when she noticed how breathless her best friend and her fiancé were.

...

"So, what was all that about?" Izzy begun her que of questions. There was no menace in her voice, only a playful tone. "Why was Jace so angry? And, how was that kiss that you just shared?"

"Iz, you need to calm down and just turn down the volume slightly." Clary stated with a content smile gracing her face and a similar bubbly tone. "Am I not allowed to kiss my fiancé? Just really intense, but in a good way you know. Like always."

"That was so not good enough," Izzy sighed. "I need details Clary."

"Well that is all you are getting, so you're going to have to deal."

"What was Jace so upset about?" Izzy tried again, this time she was determined to gain an answer.

"It was really stupid but sweet at the same time. So, this woman walks up to me whilst I am on my lonesome to introduce herself. I am not even given the chance to respond and starts to inform me that Jace was with her last night," Clary took a deep breath, still slightly shaken by the events that lead to her impromptu make out session. "It was a lie, anyway Jace just made sure that she wouldn't do it again."

"Aren't you a little worried that there was some truth to her words though?" Izzy asked, trying to gage how her best friend was feeling.

Clary internally panic. She was doing it a lot lately as Izzy was and can read her, extremely well.

"Jace isn't like that." Clary defended trying to sound convincing, the only thought train that is running through her head is "What if he is? Would Jace really cheat on me? Fake relationship or not?"

"Clary, that wasn't what I was trying to say. Look, sometimes I get a frustrated because my best friend is getting married to a guy, that I didn't even know the name of until last week." Izzy started. "We really need to have a night where it is just the two of us. Like those nights that we used to have in high school."

"Yeah sounds good." Clary responded absentmindedly. "Iz, how are you and Simon going lately?" Clary decided to turn back towards the rest of the party goers, to make her friend more comfortable. But was still meet with silence.

"I feel like all we have talked about lately is talk about my engagement. What's going on with yours?" Clary tried to further prompt. When the reply wasn't immediate, she turned to find the spot that Isabelle had previously occupied to be empty.

...

Simon was having a pleasant and interesting conversation with Clary's brother when Isabelle appeared form the crowd insisting that they leave. There was only so much he could take. He was approaching his limits and fast. It was like Izzy really enjoyed angering him. Or was she just that selfish? There was only way to find out and that meant that another confrontation is in the future. The very near future.

...

So, another very Clace centred chapter. I am really trying to make it even and it probably will become Sizzy centric in the near future.

I tried to make the dialogue more everyday like. Let me know if I was able to do that, alongside what you think of the newest chapter.