Love To

Chapter 5:

My alarm clock blared some song from my iPod. I slapped at it a few times and finally sat up, awake now. It was Friday, thank God. However tonight I had agreed to going out with Jace, Isabelle, and Alec. I had been pondering over the idea for a while. Would this be a date? No, Isabelle and Alec would be there. But Simon had told me on Wednesday Isabelle had invited him, so they'd be off somewhere. So could it be a date? The only one I could tell this weird ping pong mind game to was Maia. She had told me to look for date moves.

"Date moves?" I had looked at her like she had sprouted a second head, which made her giggle.

"First date moves are usually simple to see, for example: He'll pick you up and probably comment you on how you look, next he'll buy you something to eat or get you a drink, then he'll ask to dance or go somewhere to talk, and lastly when he takes you home he'll give you the first kiss." That last part made me tense. If this was a date he would kiss me?

I tried not to think about the nights coming events but had little luck doing so. I tried to think about my Geometry quiz or today's lunch but my mind kept falling on Jace and his golden quality. I got dressed in jeans and a t-shirt slipping into my converse and tying my hair into a bun a top of my head. I pulled on a sweatshirt and ran out to the kitchen grabbing an apple and kissing my mom and Luke on the cheek. I decided to wait for Simon outside knowing my mom and Luke would make me have a discussion about what was making me so jumpy. Finally I saw Simon's car, trying to look nonchalant but failing in Simon's words "epically".

"So are you excited about tonight?" He was bouncing up and down in his seat like a hamster that drank five cans of red bull.

"Sure you could say that." I averted his gaze by looking out the window but he didn't seem to notice how uncomfortable I was at the moment which kind of made me want to slap my best friend. Lucky for me we pulled into school before he had time to notice. I ran in desperately seeking Magnus and his wise head of his, knowing he'd feel my pain and give me a good pep talk. I spotted him talking to a boy at the end of the hallway. I couldn't tell who it was at first and then realized it was Alec. I was almost there but he sauntered off before I could say hi.

"What was that about?" My thumb jabbing towards Alec who was already down the hallway.

"Alec and I uh were just discussing something."

"What kind of something?" I pressed for more information.

"Promise me you won't tell or talk about it with him?" He asked and after a nod of my head he launched into his plans for tonight and his date with Alec. I grinned at him because he was so hyper, his cat eyes glowing.

"Speaking of dates, I hear you and Jace are going on one tonight." He examined his nails before peeking up at me.

"Well I don't really know if you could call it that…" I trailed off thinking about it made my head spin.

"Details."

"Well Isabelle and Simon are going to be there and Alec I think. But he never said it was and Maia told me to look for the first date signs but I'm really nervous because what if it is a date?" I blew out in a rush, wondering if he even caught that. He just laughed his head off, keeling over with fits of laughter.

"Come on Magnus! It isn't funny!" I was getting mad, I didn't want him to laugh at my stupidity! I wanted him to sympathize, heck I wanted him to empathize with me. He finally straightened up letting out a few puffs of laughter and wiping away a few tears.

"Sorry. But darling you are putting way to much thought in this! The worse thing that could happen is that it is a date, so just act like it is one and you'll be prepared for it." I gulped so I have to think it's a date.

"Uh Magnus…what am I…uh…what am I supposed to wear on this date?"

"That my dear, I wish I could assist you in, but I'm not a virtuoso in the art of women's fashion." He put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "However, I know of someone who can help." His gaze shifted to the tall girl with long raven hair standing a few lockers away. He's kidding right?

Isabelle's room was huge. When I had asked her to help me get ready for tonight, she had squealed and hugged me tighter than I thought she could manage. After the final bell she had shoved me into the shiny silver Porsche, Jace had seemed surprised when he saw me next to Isabelle.

"Clary…what are you doing here?" He gave me an arrogant smirk. "Can't seem to get enough of me huh?"

"Har har you should become a stand-up comedian." I sarcastically stated making Alec stifle a chuckle.

"I thought about it, but someone told me not to quit my day job." Now it was my turn to stifle a giggle but I didn't do a very good job, which only made Jace's arrogant smile wider. When we pulled up to their "house" my jaw dropped. It was a huge cathedral.

"This is where you live?" I itched to paint it. The spiraling towers, the huge, gothic windows that shown warm golden lights onto the lawn. The twilight sky only gave the silhouette of the building.

"There's no place like home." Alec smiled.

"Holy CRAP!" I swore my eyes almost fell out of their sockets. I heard Jace scoff as he slid out of the car but I didn't care. Isabelle grabbed my arm running up to the front door, quickly retrieving her key and unlocking the door. We only paused for the elevator and by the time the doors opened onto the foyer Isabelle rushed me to her room, quickly shutting the door before I could make a run for it.

"Can I get something to eat?" I asked, my stomach grumbled a little.

"Sure! Just ask Church to show the way. I'll pick out something for you to wear…"

"Who's Church?" I didn't remember seeing anyone in the halls.

"He's big, poufy, and white…very hard to miss." She smiled walking into her closet. I turned back to the door, stepping into the hallway. I turned my head left and white. A big fuzz ball trotted up to me, sitting at my feet and just stared at me. He reminded me of Magnus which kind of made me hate him thinking as how he got me into this situation.

"Church, I presume. Can you show me to the kitchen please?" The cat turned strutting down the hallway, me following behind.

The kitchen didn't match the big antique building. It had shiny instruments that weren't in my kitchen. A little boy with crooked glasses, and dark curls was eating apple slices and peanut butter out of the jar. He was bent over a comic book, no it was manga. I sat next to him and he looked up a bit surprised but his little eyes scanned over my 5 feet body.

"Are you another one of Jace's friends?" He asked his eyes squinting. That sent a pang of anger through me. He brought other girls here? How many other girls?

"Sure, well more Alec and Isabelle's I guess. I'm Clary." He nodded. "I'm Max." He gave me a very serious look that made me crack a smile.

"What are you reading there?" I looked down at the book.

"I'm not sure I can't really read it." He shrugged.

"The trick is to read it backwards, and clockwise. You know what clockwise is don't you?"

"Duh." His voice was a little sarcastic but he beamed down at the magazine thankful for that advice.

"This is number 9. I probably should get the other ones but I don't know when I'll be going back to the airport with Mom and Dad." He pushed the plate of apple slices to me and I generously took one, dipping it in the peanut butter.

"I could take you to Forbidden Planet and we could get them." I offered.

"I'd like that. How old are you?"

"How old do I look?" I rested my chin on my palm.

"Fourteen." I shook my head.

"I'm actually sixteen. I just look young because I'm small."

"Same with me I'm ten but everyone thinks I'm younger." He sighed.

"I think you look ten." I smiled. "So when do you want to go to Forbidden Planet?" I looked over at him seeing his toothy grin grow a bit wider.

"Can we go tomorrow morning?" He asked brightly.

"Sure as long as it's okay with your parents."

"My mom's on a mission and my dad stayed in Idris so Alec, Jace, and Izzy are watching me."

"Wait… they're leaving you here alone tonight?" I was shocked. They were not leaving him by himself.

"Yeah they usually lock me in my room." He frowned at the table. I'd have to give Maia a call to see if she'd babysit. I wouldn't allow them to leave this poor thing.

"I won't let them do that tonight. You could go over to my friend Maia's house? She'll play Halo with you." I smiled grabbing my phone and sending her a quick text.

"I'd rather do that then stay in my room all night." He smiled.

"Okay! I'll have them drop you off on our way. I better go before your sister thinks I got lost." I gave him a hug, liking this little thing already. He stood up, walking me down the hall. Jace came out of a room as we approached.

"Jace! Jace! Clary said she'd take me to Forbidden Planet tomorrow! She also said I could go hang out with her friend Maia while you go out instead of locking me in my room." He grinned up at a red faced Jace.

"You suggested he spend the night with a werewolf? And go to a forbidden…what was that again?"

"Planet." I finished his sentence holding my finger up before he could get even angrier.

"Forbidden Planet is a comic book store, and if it worries you that much you can come along. Maia is a trusted friend, and the only one I know who's not going out tonight. She'll play with him, he needs a babysitter not child abuse." I gave Jace a stern look. He threw his hands in the air and pushed passed. Max gave me a quick hug and skipped along behind an angered Jace. Now to Isabelle.

"So are you planning to be bait with me or hunter like the boys?" She looked up from pinning her hair.

"What's the difference?" I asked sitting down on the bed flipping through a copy of Teen Vogue.

"You should be bait it's more fun." A smile quirked at her mouth.

"Whatever, I don't care." I sighed falling back onto her pillows. "I've got a date tomorrow with your brother." I smiled at the thought of little Max.

"Oh Jace finally asked you out?! I thought he'd hold it off for a while but I guess not." I sat up immediately gawking at her. "What?" She finally asked.

"I was talking about Max. What do you mean, does Jace want to ask me out?" My head was racing, this is so not happening.

"Oh uh, well…oops. Okay well since you technically know then I suppose I should tell you…"

"You think?" I scoffed.

"Well isn't it obvious? Jace likes you and I knew it even before he asked me if I would ask you if you like him. Which I wanted to know, do you like him?" My mouth fell open. Jace had practically admitted to Isabelle that he liked me.

"Uh I guess." That was all I could manage as my mind was going over it my heart was beating out of my chest. I only snapped out of it when Isabelle stood me up to help me with the dress.

WELL my dears what did you think? Please don't be shy to post a review. I'm working on the next chapter…DATE NIGHT! Would you like to hear about Malec's and Sizzy's date? Let me know PM or review ;) thank ya- Emma