Chapter 7

"I'm not wearing that, Izzy."

Isabelle pouted, holding up an off-the-shoulder, gray shirt with hot pink design tracing the front and back. "But it's so great on you! It'll show off your shoulders, and it looks more than amazing on me." Isabelle posed, the shirt loose on her right and clinging flatteringly to her long body. Laid on the bed was the pair of black skinny jeans, in Clary's size, that Isabelle wore.

"But it's so...revealing!" Clary protested. Isabelle thrust the shirt at Clary once more, this time with a glare that could cut glass.

"Wear it. Or else I won't have a twin." At this, Isabelle brought out the sad face that melted her brother every time. "Please?"

Clary relented. You'd think after seven years I'd be immune to that. She grabbed the shirt and jeans and stalked to the bathroom to change. A few minutes later, she emerged, Isabelle's miniature, red-headed twin. Isabelle clapped her hands in excitement.

"Great! Now, let's go. I can't wait to get to school!"

"You only want to show off your clothes." Clary grabbed her bag and opened the front door, revealing Alec waiting impatiently.

"Did Izzy make you wear that?" Alec asked resignedly. Clary nodded.

Isabelle pushed past them. "Just wait. When Magnus sees you, he'll be so happy for you!" Isabelle and Magnus had similar tastes, and he would definitely approve of Clary's new foray into fashion.

I wonder if anyone else would approve. Clary stopped herself. Meaning Simon, or Sebastian, or Jordan, or Maia. Not just Jace. Yeah, right.

It had been exactly one week since Sebastian had asked Clary and Jace had asked Aline. As predicted, at least five boys had asked Isabelle in front of Clary and the rest of the group. Probably five more had asked her when she was alone. Isabelle turned them all down, explaining the group plan. But, true to form, she reminded them that there was always Winter Formal, and they left looking subdued, but hopeful.

Clary felt guilty every time she saw Sebastian, and conflicted when she saw Jace. Jace hadn't spoken to her much over the last week, with only the occasional greeting. The most he had said in seven days was on Wednesday during art class.

She had entered quietly and as inconspicuously as she could, but the moment she sat down, Jace turned to her and said, "Did you really turn Sebastian down?"

Clary had stared at him, then replied, "Yes."

His face paled a little, then he said quietly, "Oh."

"Are you mad at me?" Clary asked anxiously.

"No, why?" Jace's voice was mildly interested, as was his expression. He acted like it took effort for him to be interested in the conversation, which annoyed Clary a little.

"Well, he's your friend. Is he mad?"

"Who, Sebastian? No. He's fine. I think he's going to ask Kaelie."

Clary frowned at this. "Oh."

They had barely spoken after this.

But Homecoming Week was here, and the excitement of all her peers came over Clary and kept her from thinking too much about the awkwardness between her and Jace. Even Alec was involved, letting Magnus drag him to the junior class activities and dressing up with him. Maia and Simon were less active, and they refused to participate in the dress up days, even in the face of Isabelle's wheedling.

Simon and Maia sat at the table, obviously not participating in the themed day. Isabelle rolled her eyes as she sat, but refrained from making a comment. Clary came up behind her and sat as well.

"Nice, guys. You look pretty good." Maia nodded appreciatively. Simon's eyes flitted back and forth between Isabelle and Clary, and settled on Isabelle. Isabelle smirked.

"Have something to say, Simon?"

Simon swallowed nervously. "Well, uh, you guys, look..."

"Hot?" Clary snickered at Simon's deer-in-the-headlights expression.

"No! Well, yes, but I wasn't going to say that."

"Simon, you think I'm hot?" Isabelle smiled widely.

"Do I have to answer that?" Simon protested weakly. The bell rang.

"Ooh, saved by the bell. Well, see you later guys," Isabelle said.

Each of them rushed to their respective class. Clary received many compliments on her outfit, which she accepted graciously, all the while cursing Isabelle for putting her in the spotlight. Isabelle, on the other hand, positively glowed at the attention she received. She was gushing with Magnus about the merits of fashion when Clary reached their table during lunch.

"I'm never letting you choose my clothes again."

"Why? You look great. Better than you've ever looked, sorry darling," Magnus stated. Clary glared.

"I don't care how I look. I feel really exposed here."

"You look hot," Isabelle pointed out.

"I don't want to look hot!" Clary complained.

"Are you sure you're a girl? You sound like Alec," Magnus interjected, receiving another scathing look from Clary. "Well, that's my cue to leave. Bye, dears." He walked off.

Clary sighed. "I can't wait till this week is over."

"Oh, come on Clary, have some spirit! This is our first homecoming ever. And we have to have fun! Promise you'll have fun at the dance at least. And you better cheer at the football game, or else."

"Fine! I promise to have fun at the dance. Do I have to do the rest of these dress up days too?"

"Yes."

"Izzy, you are the most demanding person I have ever met."

"You know it," Isabelle said calmly.

Friday came with a whirl of excitement, Isabelle frantically putting the finishing touches on arrangements to have all of her friends come over before the football game, Alec calmly in the background, listening to Isabelle give him permission to invite his own friends.

Tuxedo and Dress Day was met with varying levels of acceptance, but Isabelle forced the rest of their group to participate, so Clary, Isabelle, and Maia arrived at school in dresses. Clary and Maia refused to wear anything bright or flowery, so Isabelle resigned herself to their plain navy blue and gray dresses with subdued patterns. She compensated by wearing a brown and pink sundress that stood out wherever she was. All the guys wore their tuxes. However, Magnus spruced his up with a swirly teal and green tie that looked like the ocean, while Alec looked uncomfortable in his plain black jacket with white button up. Despite the efforts of both his sister and Magnus, there was no tie.

"Jordan and Maia are so cute together!" Isabelle sighed, looking dreamily at the couple.

"Mhm," Clary agreed distractedly. She was busy trying to surreptitiously put on more comfortable shoes.

"And Sebastian and Jace are perfect in their tuxes. I can't believe you turned him down, Clary. Most girls would kill to go with him."

"There's more than just looks in a guy, Izzy. Besides, he's going with Kaelie now." Clary had successfully put on one shoe.

"I know that! I'm just saying, you're really lucky." Isabelle glanced at Clary, and her eyes narrowed. "Don't you dare try to change those shoes. Sneakers and a dress? I don't think so."

"Izzy! How did you know?" Clary tried to stall, and continued to slip off the other shoe. Isabelle's hand came down on her arm.

"Clary, you're my best friend. I'm not going to subject you to ridicule because you can't handle wearing flats for a day."

"As my best friend, don't you think you should let me do what I want?"

"No. Best friends do what's best for each other, not what they want."

"Fine. I'll wear the stupid shoes."

"Good. By the way, Kaelie isn't going with Sebastian. Mel asked her yesterday and she said yes."

"What? Who's Mel?"

"Well, his name is Meliorn, but he's embarrassed by it, so he changed it in fifth grade. Do you remember him?"

"Nope. Never heard of him."

"Well, he went to school with us."

"Wait, was he that guy you were crushing on in seventh grade?"

"Was he? I guess I did have a crush on him. He's pretty cute. Well, anyway, do you want me to ask Sebastian to join our group?"

"No, it's okay, Izzy. I don't want to ruin your plan."

"He's going to end up with us anyway."

"Fine, then. You can ask him." Clary wondered if this counted as being Sebastian's date.

"I can't believe Kaelie turned him down. Didn't you say that he asked her?"

"That's what Jace told me."

"Oh, well maybe he didn't. He seems like the loyal type."

"Loyal?"

"You know, wouldn't ask another girl when his heart's love rejects him."

"Izzy! I'm not his heart's love!"

Isabelle laughed. "You should have seen the expression on your face. Priceless."

"Oh, shut up."

Sebastian accepted Isabelle's invitation, looking at Clary as he did so. Isabelle noted this and waggled her eyebrows at Clary, who ignored her. After school, Clary pulled Sebastian aside.

"Hey," Sebastian said, smiling handsomely at her.

"Hey," Clary replied quietly.

"What's up?"

"Did you ask Kaelie to the dance?" Clary blurted, and mentally slapped herself for being so blunt.

Sebastian looked shocked. "No, of course not. Why would I?"

"I heard that you did."

"From who?"

"Jace."

"I don't tell Jace everything. Just because he's my friend doesn't mean he knows everything about me." For a second Sebastian's eyes were dark, and Clary felt a little frightened.

"Hey, don't be mad at him. I just wondered because you wouldn't come with us if you already had a date."

"I wanted a date, but she turned me down. Now I get to spend time with her anyway." Sebastian's face was open, with an expression of intense happiness. Clary felt overwhelmed by the moment, and pulled away slightly.

"Yes, you do." Clary laughed lightly to dispel the tension. "And you'd better enjoy it."

"Oh, I will."

A/N: I can't believe this. I actually wrote another chapter. and the day's not even over yet! Here you are, wonderful readers.

thanks to Jessabells for the suggestion for this chapter. It worked out really well. I may be able to write another chapter because i feel the ideas coming.

thank you for reading and please review!

~Sami