A/N
Ok this chapter, to me, was just ridiculous at some points but I like it :3 you have been forewarned. And im Cuban so there will be some stupid ethnic bashing , by the way "mijo" is kind of like saying bro, the way it's typically used anyway. ENJOY.
The gang was huddled around a corner table near a massive window in the most incredible, refined, delectable, and praise-worthy establishment to have ever blessed the senses of mankind, Havana Harry's.
On one side of the table sat Jace, Izzy, and Magnus, respectively, and on the other sat Clary, Alec, and Simon. Isabelle and Magnus were being primadonnas, Simon was staring longingly at every lock of hair that swayed past Izzy's shoulders and back, Jace was being an ass and Alec just looked…uncomfortable. When wasn't he? Clary felt someone nudge the back of her calf, she raised her eyes suspiciously at the self-satisfied, blond smirking at her while raising a large condensed glass to his plumped, lush lips.
Damn, thought Clary, She shook the image out of her head and avoided looking at Jace, focusing her attention on the conversation of glitter and drama taking place across the table where Magnus and Isabelle sat.
"Me and Izzy went to Pandemonium the other day, even though I absolutely despise the place, but this Lil Wayne-music-video-back-up-dancer-wannabe decided she was going to waltz into the damn place and…"
"Listen, you Adam-Lambert-wannabe" Isabelle contested with narrowed eyes. And the bitch fight commenced.
Alec turned around and decided to drown out the "OH, HELL NO"s and "GUURL PLEASE"s by talking to Clary. She was stabbing her fork into the vaca frita a bit unhappily.
"Whats wrong?" he inquired, gaze directed at Clary. Clary turned her face and noticed their close
proximity. She was able to see, in detail, his depthless, blue eyes, the narrow bridge of his nose, his
glistening lips, moistened from the water he was drinking. She had to shake her head to rid her mind
of the startling sensual thoughts his image provoked.
"Nothing" she said, blushing. "I'm fine, you?"
"Good," he ended, rather lamely. A tangible silence hung in the air.
"Um, do you like your food; you want to order something else?" Alec offered, noticing her fork making fruitless rounds about her plate.
"No, its fine, I just lost a bit of my appetite." Clary answered, staring at her food again.
"How come?" Jace interrupted. "You don't like Cuban food?" he stated, stealing her attention. It earned him a subtle glare from Alec.
"I do, I just prefer those brown, mushy things…..what are they called?" Clary pondered, scrunching her eyebrows in concentration.
"OH MY GOD, PLATANITOS" Jace yelled wide-eyed. He relished at the very thought of placing one of those God-sent blessings into his mouth…..
"Yeah, those things!" declared Clary, pointing at him. "I kind of want some now."
"Cool, we'll order some." Alec said, immediately taking it upon himself to wave the inattentive and rude waiter over to the table.
"Is everything alright over here?" the waiter said, hands on hips, not bothering to hide his irritation.
"Yeah, um, we'd like to order the platanitos with the picadillo and cheese dip, and some plantain chips to go with it."
"Would that be all?"
"Yes."
"Alright, we should have it for you in ten minutes."
When the platanitos got to the table Jace, Alec, and Clary dived in and devoured every inch of delectable, spicy picadillo and enjoyed as the gooey, tart cheese stretched across their mouths whilst they delighted in every second their tongues swept over the savory meal. The plate of platanitos was looking dangerously bare, little helpless pieces spread out, dangerously alone on the plate, when finally.
There was only one left.
Jace was still in the process of foreplay with his last platanito, his tongue tracing the inside of his cheek with his eyes closed, so Alec and Clary, being unaware of the rest of the world in their enraptured state, leaned forward towards the lone platanito, and stretched out their hands.
Only to have them meet with each others.
Alec's hand lay gently atop Clary's, not sure how they got there. Clary looked at their hands, aware of how Alec's battle-callused fingers inflamed the soft skin of her hands. Alec closed his larger hand around her smaller, delicate one and entwined their fingers apprehensively, appreciating the burning blood that flooded Clary's round cheeks. He smiled at the effect he had on her.
She liked the weight of his hand in hers, the gentleness of hands that usually shed blood, the overwhelming warmth caused by the simple interaction. A small smile curved his moistened lips and there was a twinkle in his eye that had not been there previously. His happiness encouraged her own and she felt her own lips curve into a smile. As her heart pounded pleasantly in her chest, she saw his mouth open to speak."
"What the hell are you doing?" Jace calmly stated, venomously.
"Is there something wrong, Jace?" Alec challenged, tightening his grip on Clary. Confused, Clary's eyes darted between the two boys wondering just how bad taking Alec's hand was for the situation.
"Alec." Jace threatened, almost pleaded. They stared each other down for what seemed like an eternity.
Alec turned his head around calming his expression, eyes light again and forcing a smile, Alec whispered in Clary's ear.
"Hey, uh, do you mind if me and Jace step out a sec?,"
"But..."
"I promise nothing's wrong; we just need to discuss something." Alec reassured. She looked at him warningly, and then let go of his hand. Alec stood up.
"Jace, can we talk for a moment?"
The blonde stared angrily at his friend and without saying a word, stole a glance at Clary, and stood up, pushing his chair back in with too much force. They made their way out the restaurant through the back, and faced each other in the dark, chill night. They walked into the middle of the black road and Jace swerved around to face Alec.
"Alec, what the hell are you doing?"
"What do you mean?"
"YOU KNOW WHAT I FUCKING MEAN, ALEC!" Jace yelled, making Alec step back.
"You know I like her." Jace accused.
"Well, you're not doing a good job showing it." Alec said matter-of-factly.
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!" Jace yelled, exasperated. "I didn't even know you liked her! Why didn't you tell me? Why the FUCK would you openly flirt with her, much less hold her hand in front of me?"
"We weren't flirting, first of all." Alec said, defending himself.
"Bullshit, I saw the way you were looking at her," Jace sighed, tired of the confrontation.
"What the fuck Alec, do you like her or not?" Jace barked.
Alec looked down at the damp gravel and pondered on whether or not answering Jace would be a good idea.
"Yeah, I do." He replied quietly. "And you never said anything about me not being able to."
"Well, SHIT, ALEC I KIND OF ASSUMED THAT WHEN YOUR BEST FRIEND, YOUR FUCKING PARABATAI, LIKED SOMEONE ENOUGH THEY WOULD RESPECT THAT AND KEEP THEIR INTERESTS ELSWHERE!"
"You know what Jace, if you really liked her enough maybe you would have said something to her by now instead of leading her on the way you have, she's just confused Jace, and I'm sorry if during that time I couldn't help but develop feelings for her as well." Alec refuted, indignantly.
"Well, shit Alec I didn't expect you to like her."
"Why, Jace?" Alec narrowed his eyes at his fuming parabatai.
"I don't know .I thought you'd respect me."
"Or you thought I wouldn't have the balls to even think of liking her while the Mighty Jace liked her, it was a sure loss wasn't it?" Alec challenged.
"What the fuck are you talking about Alec?"
"Screw it Jace, you have never bothered to consider me before, why the hell would you do it now?" Alec said, mostly to himself. "And you're a little too late, I already like her and you can't change that." Alec turned abruptly and made his way back to the back door into the restaurant, leaving his incredulous brother behind.
Jace stood staring at Alec's retreating figure until he walked through the doors; then he followed suite stopping in front of the huge, putrid dumpster and proceeded to lift up his left leg…and rammed it into the center of the dumpster's frail wall, leaving a gaping dent and an echoing vibration.
A string of continuous profanities polluted the air as Reynaldo walked through the back to throw out the trash. He heard the sound of feet shuffling along wet gravel.
"FUCK, FUCK, SHIT, GAAAHHH!"
"Oye….OYE!" Reynaldo called out, "Pelicrespo!"
Jace stopped bouncing on one foot and whipped his head around; one of the waiters was staring at him.
"Consorte, que tu haces en lado de un tanque de basura? Huele a mierda de gato." Reynaldo said, making exaggerated gesticulations with his hands at each inflection. Jace gave him a blank expression.
"Que?" he answered. Reynaldo, from hearing his accent, switched to English.
"Watt arre ju duin?" Reynaldo turned his head, saw the large dent on the side of the tank, and clicked his tongue.
"Watt hapein?" Reynaldo asked.
Jace considered the tan waiter for a moment, what the hell, why not, he thought.
"My bestfriend and brother decided he was going to like the same girl as me and didn't even tell me about it."
Reynaldo, smirking to himself with understanding eyes, stretched out his arms to Jace, eyes closed, smug look, walked towards him and put his arm around Jace's shoulders.
'Brrooodee, Oye, mira, no es nada, esa mierda siempre me pasa ." he turned to look at the distraught young man before him. "Luke, all ju haft tu du, iz ask hair out first." He adviced. Jace turned his head towards his unlikely company,
"You're right. I should…I SHOULD!" he exclaimed to his friend. "Hey, thanks so much. That was some sound advice, my friend."
"No problem, mijo." Jace smiled and shook hands with Reynaldo. He walked back towards the back doors.
Clary saw Alec walking sulkily back to his seat beside her. When he sat down she put her hand on his shoulder and whispered to him.
"Are you okay?"
He looked back at her and smiled, lightly putting his hand over hers.
"Yeah, I'm fine, Jace was just being himself." He said, rolling his eyes.
"What was all that about?" asked Clary.
"It was nothing, don't worry about it." He dismissed.
Jace walked in a while after, and upon seeing their hands together was again plunged into a seething anger that threatened to overcome him. Refusing to speak for the rest of the dinner, he glared every time Clary and Alec spoke, or laughed.
Clary and Alec spoke quietly among themselves, trying to avoid the fury emanating from Jace's eyes and body.
I'll just talk to Clary later tonight, and tell her everything. Jace thought to himself. It's not like Alec is going to ask her out tonight.
Isabelle was going to sleep over at Magnus's for a "girl's night", and Simon was going to take a cab home. That left Jace and Alec with Clary squished between them in one cab, and one really uncomfortable silence. The tension was so heavy and oppressive, Clary felt she was going to drown and suffocate in it, until they reached the institute.
She lied down in her bed, flipping through her sketchbook, when a light knock sounded at her door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me." Alec replied quietly, as if trying to not give away his location to anyone else in the house. The lock clicked.
"What are you doing here?" Clary asked, she didn't want another scene like the one at Havana Harry's.
"Just came by to say goodnight." Alec stated, scratching the back of his head nervously. He was freshly showered and smelled of strong musk, God I've always loved that smell, Clary thought. She sat down on her bed and patted the seat next to her. Alec made his way hurriedly to her side and sank down on her sheets.
"Kind of awkward today wasn't it?" he asked with a light chuckle, that was, itself, awkward.
"Yeah, it was, what was going on between you and Jace anyway?" she asked for the second time that night.
"It was just a misunderstanding, he's still pretty mad though." He said looking down at her bed.
"He was just peachy tonight, for sure." She answered. Alec laughed.
"Hey, I wanted to ask you something." He said. Clary stiffened.
"What is it?" she asked, a little nervous. She thought Jace had something for her, and no doubt Alec does after the whole platanito incident, but she still wasn't sure about Alec…..
"Do you want to go out tomorrow night? I was thinking we can watch that new Harry Potter movie…"
"OH MY GOD YES." Clary replied without thinking. She immediately regretted it, DAMMIT HARRY POTTER WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME? She began to berate herself for accepting Alec's offer so readily and eagerly, he probably got the wrong idea….
"Really?" Alec asked, eyes shining and excitement evident in his voice. How can she say no now?
"Yeah, that's be awesome, I love Harry Potter." Damn.
"Cool, we'll go see it tomorrow then, around….seven?" he asked.
"Sure."
"Alright." He took her hand. "Can't wait."
She almost gasped at the sudden contact, almost had a mini heart attack when she saw him lift her hand near his lips. He kissed it gently and lingered a second longer.
"Goodnight." He said and walked back towards her door. Alec closed the door behind him and looked up only to see a certain blonde a few feet away down the hall making his way towards him.
TO BE CONTINUED!
A/N
The next chapter might or not be a Sebastian chapter I can't decide yet, REVIEW :D
Thanks Jessica for my comma dilemma and making the platanito scene even more dramatic.
^my beta