CHAPTER 5

Jace stared at Clary with amusement. She was munching down a huge size of burger and was seemingly enjoying the fact of taking in extra calories. And that was not to mention the milkshake and large fries she ordered—just for herself.

"What?" Clary asked as she was about to take another bite from the burger.

"Incredible." Was all Jace was able to say while shaking his head disbelievingly.

"Funny you haven't even taken a bite."

Jace ignored her. "So this is the place you say 'the best' mundane fast-food in New York?"

"Well, it's not the best. But it's typically... so American." She shrugged.

Jace really didn't get what was so great about the fast food. It was noisy, there were children everywhere; some spilling sodas or sundaes; some were running around and ignoring their parents' pleas; some just wanted the toy inside a boxed meal. And there were lots of neon colored lights and posters of smiling cartoon sketches plastered on the walls that blinded him.

"Why don't you try to eat and quit staring at other people?" Jace heard Clary say.

She was half way down her milkshake and was almost finished with her burger. But Jace hesitated. What was the difference between the food on this restaurant and at Taki's? They look exactly alike except for the fact that the size of the burger in front of him doubled the size of Taki's. But Clary was intently gazing at him, waiting for him to take a bite. She nodded and urged him to go on.

Jace knew he had no choice. It was his idea to eat somewhere else anyway. And this was the perfect step to prove to Clary that he could be normal for her, even just for a day. And after clearing his throat, he unwrapped the burger, scrunched up his nose a little because of the disgusting sight of drooping ketchup and mustard, and finally, took a bite. After chewing a mouthful, he looked back at Clary and saw her flashing a silly grin.

"How was it?" She asked.

Jace contemplated. But he knew there was only one word for it. "Greasy."

Clary giggled and bit down the last of her burger.

"But I'll say it's still better than Isabelle's cooking." Jace continued.

"You're mean."

"Oh well." Jace shrugged. "Don't tell her anyway."

"So," Clary changed the subject as she crumpled her napkin and placed it back on the table. "Why the mundane fast food?"

"What do you mean?" Jace pretended not to know.

"Oh, you know what I mean, mister! Mundane food over Taki's? Sounds a bit odd for me."

"It's not odd, Clary." Jace shook his head.

"If this is still about what happened at Pandemonium..."

"Just relax, Clary. I know what I'm doing."

"Do you really?"

"Don't you want this, Clary?" Jace asked.

"Want what?"

"This!" Jace motioned his hands around the place. "Normal food, normal people—although I can't quite help but say, boring people." He shrugged.

"I've had this for 16 years, Jace. I just said I was missing it."

"There! You said it. You miss it, Clary."

"I know, I know. We all have our little guilty pleasures, haven't we? But it's not enough to say that I really want it back!"

"Not enough to actually make you make me jealous?" Jace raised an eyebrow.

Clary sighed.

"Okay. So I know what I did was stupid and I'm sorry." Clary explained.

Jace looked at her thoughtfully and then grinned. "I really wouldn't say that."

"What?"

"I had fun." Jace said as he took another bite from his burger.

"You had fun?" Clary looked at him disbelievingly but can't quite help the small smile from her face.

Jace nodded. "You never looked so sexy. Although I'll like it better if you'll wear something with more lace."

Now Clary gave him the eyebrow.

"Okay, okay. You know I like it better if you were just in your shirt and baggy pants and when your hair is pulled back... But I loved the challenge of resisting the urge to clobber your men. It made me... want you more." Jace looked at Clary with such intensity that he her cheeks actually reddened. He felt that tingling of wanting to hug and kiss her again.

Clary giggled. "Okay, that's enough sweet talk, Lightwood. I think the grease got to your brains."

Jace nodded. "Yeah, I think so too."

Jace spent the rest of the day watching Clary do her homework—sans Simon who was still out with Isabelle—at her room. He rested on the bed, played with her art materials, and admired himself in front of the mirror which made Clary laugh.

"You're always so full of yourself aren't you?"

"Yes. And I know that you like it as much." Jace said, flexing his arms.

Clary rolled her eyes.

Jace went back to the bed to scan through her sketch pad again. Mostly he saw the fields of Alicante, the horizon of the city, sketches of himself—sometimes with Isabelle and Alec, and a page each for Simon, Luke and Jocelyn...But there was a new sketch just dated last Friday.

In the picture, there was him and Clary dancing inside Pandemonium; her hands on his neck while he had his on her waist. Jace thought about it.

So this is what me and the blonde girl may have looked like.

He looked back at Clary who was now frowning over some chemistry homework. Jace had to admit that the picture looked so good and so pure and so... real. It struck him so much that he felt another pang of guilt (even though Clary had mentioned time and again that he has nothing to feel guilty about.)

"Hey, Clary." Jace said softly as he stood up and walked towards her.

"Hmm?" She replied without looking back, still focused on finishing her paper. But Jace pulled her up from her seat and into the middle of the room.

"Jace, wha-!"

"Shh." He murmured to her ear as he gently placed his right hand on her waist and took her right hand on his left. Jace started swaying and humming a slow and unfamiliar tune.

"Jace, what are we doing?" Clary whispered. And in the corner of her eye she saw her sketch pad laid open on her bed. Clary groaned.

"You're not supposed to see that picture." She mumbled.

"And you're not supposed to give more attention to your homework than to me." Jace chuckled lightly.

"Jace..."

"Shh, Clary." Jace continued before he kissed her forehead. "This is our first dance."

Clary thought her heart flipped ten times over. Jace might've wanted this day to be normal but with his humming, and his effort to eat in a mundane fast food and this ridiculously yet romantic idea to slow dance inside a cramped room, her day—Clary knew—was nowhere near normal and ordinary.

She would give him an extra peck on the cheek tonight.

Sorry it took me so long! I've got school already! XD

Reviews are very much appreciated!