"I am not wearing those," Alec said, his voice firm, as he eyed the glittery swim shorts Isabelle was holding up to him. "You sided with Satan's offspring," Isabelle said, using Clary's favourite nickname for Jace. "Given, that was a bad decision, but still, you lost."

Alec groaned, as Jace laughed. Clary came into the kitchen a moment later, holding up a pair of rainbow swim shorts, with glitter all over them. Magnus had just helped her customize them-especially for Satan's offspring. "I wouldn't laugh, if I were you," Clary said, showing off the swim shorts. Jace paled, staring at the swim shorts. "Please tell me those are for Alec," he said.

Clary gave him a sort of sympathetic look. "You wish," she said. He fell into the couch, and groaned, along with Alec. "You could have sided with us," Magnus said, as he strode into the room. "But, you chose friendship," he shrugged.

Clary and Isabelle stood in front of the boys, showing off the glittery swim shorts. "Why don't you just put them on, get it over with?" Isabelle asked, sounding bored, as she leaned against the counter. "Because," Jace started, before Alec held up a hand to silence him. "Shut up, would you? You blew this for us, and now we need to suffer. Namely you," he said, as he stood up, and took the swim shorts from Isabelle. "That is why mine are black and glittery, and why yours are rainbow and glittery."

"See," Magnus said. "Alec is being a good sport about loosing."

Jace mumbled something about how he hated all of them, and grabbed the swim shorts from Clary, and going up to his room, presumably to get changed. Next, Clary was dragged up the stairs by Isabelle, who-oddly-was grinning like she just won the lottery. "Izzy," Clary said. "Why are you grinning like that? It's creeping me out."

Isabelle shook her head slightly, and she stopped grinning, but it came back a moment later. It was like the grin would split her face open, it was so wide. "Seriously, tell me," Clary demanded, as Isabelle pushed open the bedroom door, with little effort. "Nothing-it's nothing," Isabelle said, pressing her lips together, trying not to grin again. Clary scowled at her, as she threw a bathing suit at Clary.

Clary pulled it off her head, and examined it. It was the emerald bikini she had worn only a few days ago. Isabelle pulled her ruby-coloured one, and Clary realized Isabelle may have just done that on purpose. "Well," Isabelle prompted. "Get changed."

"Oh," Clary said, as she stumbled ungracefully to the bathroom, shutting the door behind herself.

-*#*-

Isabelle still wore that dopey-yet creepy-grin as they walked to the beach. Alec and Jace were clad in their glittery swim shorts, and girls laughed, whenever they passed-some bold enough not to cover their mouths, as they laughed. "Seriously," Clary said, watching Isabelle, keeping her distance, in case she was going to snap and pull out a knife-because that's what it looked like. "Why are you grinning like that?" Clary demanded.

Isabelle just shook her head, laughing, as they laid out their towels on the beach. Magnus raised an eyebrow in question, and mouthed, why is she doing that? to Clary. She could only shrug in response. Isabelle was practically jumping out of her skin, as she tried to contain something, but Clary just couldn't figure out what it was. "Isabelle Sophia Lightwood, if you don't tell me why the hell you're grinning like that, I will wreck your whole makeup collection," Clary threatened, as Isabelle's jaw hit the sand. Jace was looking down at himself in disgust, as Alec tried to brush the glitter off his swim shorts-unfortunately for him, the glitter was water proof.

"Fine," Isabelle huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. But as soon as she started talking, her face lit up with excitement. She grabbed Clary's hands, holding them. "Don't be mad," she warned, and Clary groaned, tilting her head to look at the sky, as if asking God to save her. "But," Isabelle continued slowly, as Clary waited impatiently. "Do you remember that really hot guy you danced with last night?"

"Sebastian?" Clary asked, looking back to Isabelle, who nodded excitedly. "Oh, God, Iz, what did you do? Kidnap him, and tie him to a chair?" Isabelle glared at Alec, as he laughed. "No," she said. "He wants to go on a date with you!" Isabelle squealed. "And," she continued, as Clary smiled widely.

"I gave him my number-because I knew you'd kill me if I gave out yours-and he said he was going to meet us here," Clary couldn't help the smile that rested on her face. But when her eyes met Jace's, she froze. He looked angry one moment, and the next, he was unreadable. Almost as if she'd imagined it.

XXX

"Clary, come jump off the dock," Isabelle said, not giving Clary much of a choice, as she pulled Clary to her feet, and into the water. It was cold, but so refreshing, after laying in the sun. "Sure, Iz," Clary said sarcastically. "I'd love to."

Isabelle rolled her eyes, and pulled Clary in deeper. The water was half way up her stomach, and they weren't even to the dock. "Iz," Clary said. Isabelle looked back at her, as they walked out further. "How did you meet Sebastian?"

Isabelle shrugged. "I ran into him-in town-while I was shopping with Magnus and Alec," Clary nodded. "He wouldn't shut up about you, either," Isabelle laughed softly, as she smiled at Clary. They were getting closer to the dock, and the water was now too deep for Clary to walk, and she swam behind Isabelle.

When they got to the dock, Magnus was sitting beside Alec, while they waited for the two girls. Isabelle's face lit up, and she grinned at them, as she floated in the water, holding tightly to the side of the dock, as was Clary. "Now what?" Alec asked the question everyone else had been trying to dance around, during the short silence. "Lets all jump off," Isabelle suggested, and Clary thought it was the strangest thing for her to be so excited about. She had to admit, it sounded fun, so she climbed up onto the dock.

Isabelle jumped off first, doing a perfectly executed backflip. Alec jumped next, doing a simple cannon ball. Magnus did a front flip off, leaving Clary standing alone on the dock, as she decided what she should do. She didn't really know how to do any flips, so she opted for doing a cannon ball, like Alec.

When she resurfaced, Clary grabbed onto the side of the dock, and pulled herself up. She sat on the edge, as her feet dangled in the water. She was reminded of the day she went swimming with Jace, and how she had done the very same thing. She felt a slight tingle on her lips, as she recalled the memory of that day. She hadn't even noticed Magnus, who was standing in the water, looking at her worriedly. "Are you alright, biscuit?" He asked, even though he knew Clary well enough to know the answer.

She nodded, snapping out of her reverie. "Yeah," she smiled.

Magnus' eyes widened, as he looked behind her. Clary cocked her head to the side, a questioning look on her face, her brows furrowed. She turned her head to look behind her, but before she could, she was pushed off the dock. She didn't even have time to scream.

She was under for a minute, before she resurfaced. She blinked the water out of her eyes, and turned to look at the dock, as she treaded water. Jace stood there, in his glittery, rainbow swim shorts, smirking down at her. "He really is Satan's off-spring," Magnus confirmed, and Isabelle laughed. Clary swam over to Magnus, and held on to him, so she wouldn't sink-or float away, whatever came first. She glared at Jace. "You're an ass," she pointed out, brushing hair off her face. "I hope you know that."

He shrugged, as he smirked down at her. "I've been called worse," he replied. Alec burst out laughing, as he pulled himself up onto the dock. Jace glared at him, but that certainly didn't keep him quiet, and soon Isabelle had joined in, laughing at Jace. Magnus ad Clary looked curiously to them, but got no reply, as they laughed together. Alec was gasping for breath, but he finally got words out. "Do you know how hilarious it is that you're glaring at me, while wearing-" he cut off, laughing. "Those," he pointed to Jace's swim shorts, and Jace looked down at himself.

He looked as if he were going to kill someone, but before he could, Magnus spoke. "You do realize you can't blame anyone but yourself for having to wear those," Jace looked annoyed, and angry. But other than that, his expression was unreadable. And not for the first time, Clary couldn't help but wonder what was going on in his head.

Clary and Magnus were walking back to the house, as Isabelle finished packing up her mass of things. Alec and Jace had left a while ago, to do God knows what. "Now do you understand why I call him that?" Clary asked, as she walked through the sand, looking up at Magnus. He nodded. "I've understood since the first time he opened his mouth to me," Magnus said, dryly.

"At least you're not going to the same college," Clary offered. "I suppose," Magnus said, his tone had the hint of sadness. He and Clary and Isabelle had always been close, even before he started dating Alec. He and Clary were closer, though. So, for him to be nineteen, and going off to college, was a sad thing, that Clary would have to accept. She sagged slightly, as they walked in silence.

Clary looked up, and spotted a familiar, dark haired boy walking towards her. He was smiling widely at her, and the smile was infectious. "Clary," he greeted, standing in front of her. "Sebastian," she said. "I was just leaving," she added, and she wasn't sure why. He looked slightly disappointed, but shrugged, as he continued smiling at her. "That's alright."

Clary nodded, as a girl came up and stood beside him. She had dark hair, and pale skin. She was fairly pretty. She gave Clary a soft smile. "I'm Aline," she greeted. "Sebastian's cousin." Clary returned her smile. "I'm Clary, and this is Magnus," she gestured to the tall, glittery man standing beside her. He tugged on her wrist, pulling her away slightly. "I'm sorry," Clary said. "I need to get going," Aline nodded, and began walking away, but Sebastian stood still for a moment, something flickering in his dark eyes. He leaned over to Clary, and pecked her on the cheek, and turned away from her, following Aline down the beach. Clary couldn't help the heat that rose to her cheeks, as she brought her hand to cradle the spot where he'd just kissed her.

Magnus rolled his eyes, and tugged her along, urging her to walk. But Clary just couldn't get over the small kiss on the cheek, that left her cheeks warm, and feeling slightly flustered. But she couldn't help but think of how it was nothing like when she kissed Jace.

Clary sat in the grass, pencil in hand, as she tried to finish her drawing of the flowers, before it got dark outside. She bit her lip, resting the end of the pencil against her chin, as she studied the flowers.

She was thankful for the quiet, especially after Isabelle nearly making her ears bleed, from her high-pitched squealing. She had completely freaked out when Clary had told her about the small kiss on the cheek. In hindsight, maybe she shouldn't have told Isabelle, but it was done now.

She felt someone else sit down beside her, but she ignored their presence almost completely. They could have been screaming bloody murder, and Clary wouldn't have paid them any attention. She was too focused on her drawing for anyone else, at the moment. "I told you they'd still be here," someone said, their breath stirring the hair on her back, and shoulder, as she looked back to see golden eyes. Her heart might have flat lined for a minute, before she took another breath. She tried to calm her pounding heart, as she coloured a flower.

There was silence after that, but Clary didn't mind at all. The sky was darkening, and you could hear all the noises still emanating from the beach; laughter, and yelling, and splashing water. She had finished her drawing, and looked down at it, satisfied with her work. Clary had completely forgotten Jace' presence, and thought that maybe he'd went back inside. But when she turned her head, she was still met with those golden eyes, that had melted the heart of almost any girl who saw them. But not Clary. She had seen through him, the moment her eyes had spotted him in ninth grade-of course he had been in tenth grade, but still.

Neither of them said anything, they just sat, and watched the other. Finally, though, he spoke, "he stood you up," Jace said, and Clary furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Who?" He shrugged. "Serena, or something?" Clary fought the urge to laugh. "Sebastian-and no, he didn't stand me up." This caught Jace's attention, as he turned his head, to look at her again. His expression was expectant, but she was in no mood to tell him anything. "If you're so desperate to know, ask Isabelle. She won't shut up bout it," Clary muttered the last part. His eyebrows shot up, almost meeting his hairline.

"You kissed him," Jace said, shock evident in his expression, and tone. Clary shrugged again, her expression bored and indifferent. "Maybe I did," Clary said. "I don't see how it's your business."

Anger flashed in his eyes, but he didn't say anything. He just sat, as a slight flush rose to turn his cheekbones a light pink colour. Clary got tired of sitting, while he stared at her like a painting in a museum, and stood up, closing her sketch book. She began walking to the stairs, but she got in maybe two steps before Jace was standing in front of her, holding her arms, as he searched her eyes with his. She stood, annoyance bubbling in her chest. Take a picture, she wanted to say, but she bit her tongue.

"You didn't kiss him," Jace said, and before Clary knew what was happening, he brought his lips down to hers.

Oh my good Lord. Help me. Some big things are about to go down, and the next chapter should be up tomorrow! *Squeal!*

You guys are going to love the new drama that should start playing out in the next chapter, it'll only get more, hmm, what's a good word? Exciting? Dramatic? Painful? I don't know, but probably all of those. It will definitely make fore some good entertainment.

And believe it or not, I already know how the story is going to end-and you probably won't like it.

Until tomorrow:)