Chapter 4

Clary POV

Music was blaring in my ears from my iPod. I liked it on full blast, not hearing anything around me except for my music. It didn't work really good, the streets of New York where way too loud, but it worked to a certain point and that was enough for me.

I just came from “Paints Paints Paints” buying some new supplies and I decided to get a coffee on my way home. There was a little coffee shop just around the corner of the street I lived in. It came into view and I went in, the little bell over the door clinging softly. The boy behind the counter looked up and smiled brightly when his eyes landed on me.

“Clary”, he laughed.

He jumped over the counter, not bothering with the other customers waiting in line and came at me, hugging me like we haven't seen each other for months. Some of the customers shouted for him to come back, but luckily one of his colleagues took his place and winked at me. I smiled a thanks in return and he just nodded.

“God, I've missed you”, he gushed in my hair.

“I've seen you less than a week ago”, I laughed and looked at him.

“So?”, he asked grinning and shrugged.

He took my hand and pulled me into a little booth in the corner of the room. I looked at him and smiled again. He always looked different, it was just who he was. Today he wore bright pants, one leg was neon green, the other with white and black stripes. His shirt was purple and it should have looked ridiculous with the dark blue apron over it, but he kind of pulled it of somehow. And of course his eyes, his eyes not the ones of a human, but the ones of a cat. In one word, he looked: Magnus.

“How have you been?”, he asked me.

“Good, good”, I waved him off. “And you my sparkly friend?”

Magnus chuckled and shook his head lightly.

“Amazing actually. Today you're going to meet m-”

“I'm finally going to meet your boyfriend?!”, I shouted excited and jumped out of my seat and up him down, clapping my hands.

Normally I would never do such a girly gesture, but Magnus just brought this out in me. I'm betting my eyes shone excitement and my smile must have been the size of Australia.

“Oh my gosh I'm so excited!”, I squealed.

Magnus chuckled again and asked me to sit down again, pointing at the people around us. They all looked disapprovingly and annoyed in our direction, some even glared at me. I didn't really care, but I still felt my cheeks heating up.

“Please don't do this when he comes here”, Magnus asked and chuckled again.

“I'll try”, I said shrugging.

Magnus and I did light conversation about his last few days and my last few days. There hasn't been much going on by either of us, but we still had something to tell each other every time we met. And then, the moment came! I saw Magnus eyes unfocussed and then focus again on something behind me. So he was here! A smile stretched out on Magnus face and he stood up, greeting his boyfriend. The moment I turned around I saw Magnus hugging a black haired boy, whose face I couldn't see, but when I did my eyes bugged out of my head.

“Alec?!”, I shrieked.

“Clary”, he replied as shocked as me.

“You two know each other?”, Magnus asked smiling and kissing Alec on the cheek.

Alec looked shocked at me, then at Magnus and took a step back from him. I saw Magnus frown and then looking hurt. I couldn't help but feel bad for Magnus. I wanted to punch Alec in this moment and that alone said something. I wasn't a violent person, I've never really been but right now, I wanted to hurt Alec.

But then a look of determination crossed Alec's face and he stepped forward, taking Magnus' face in his hands and kissing him full on the lips.

Instantly a smile came onto my face and I giggled when I saw Magnus shocked expression at first and then kissing Alec back passionately.
Oh my gosh they were so cute together!, I gushed in my head.

Alec broke the kiss and looked Magnus into his eyes.

“I'm sorry”, he said. “I'm still not used to this but I'm done with pretending I don't love you, because I do.”

Magnus grinned from ear to ear and kissed Alec again full force.

“If you two keep on kissing like this, the shop will be empty in a matter of seconds”, I commented.

They broke apart and looked at me. Alec a little sheepish, Magnus frowning. They both looked around them and from the 20 people before were only 6 customers left, including me.

“Oh”, Magnus mumbled.

We three went to sit down on the same table Magnus and I occupied before. Alec and Magnus were holding hands and smiling at each other.

“You know I could leave?”, I laughed.

“No”, Magnus said instantly. “I wanted you to meet my boyfriend. I wanted you to get to know each other, because you both are the most important persons in my life.”

I smiled at him and tears were prickling in my eyes.

“Love you Maggie”, I whispered, trying not to cry.

“Aww, please don't cry”, Magnus begged and took my hand in his.

“Sorry”, I said and tried to smile.

“We both love you”, Alec said with confidence. “Never forget that.”

We all smiled at each other, mostly at Magnus and just savored the moment for a while.

“So you know each other?”, Magnus asked. “How?”

I let Alec tell the story. He told Magnus how Izzy dragged him and Jace to Taki's about to meet her new boyfriend and how I and Sebastian were just there too. Apparently Izzy hadn't mentioned the fact that Simon wouldn't be the only one there. Then Alec mentioned that we went to the same school now, but weren't in any classes together and that was already the end of it.

“So you don't really know know each other?”, Magnus asked for confirmation.

“Not really, no”, I replied.

“Thank God”, Magnus sighed in relief. “I had the whole deal planned out how you two would get to know each other. You would have ruined everything by already knowing the other one!”

I giggled and Alec chuckled rolling his eyes.

“So what did you have in store for us?”, Alec asked still chuckling.

“Nah, later”, Magnus waved him of. “How are your siblings doing?”

Alec sighed and looked down.

“The usual. Izzy is as hyper as she can be and Jace” He glanced at me. “Usual.”

“Did you tell them?”, Magnus asked.

Alec shook his head and looked apologetic at Magnus.

“I'm sorry. I wanted you to be there when I tell them.”

Alec, Magnus and I stayed for another hour, just talking and joking around. Alec and I listened very closely to what Magnus had in store for us the next day. If we did one thing wrong he would explode and we both didn't want to see that coming!

-o-o-o- Staying Silent -o-o-o-

Next day; close to 8pm

“I swear to God, Magnus Bane, you are so going to be dead by the end of the night for doing this to me”, I mumbled angrily and pulled on my top.

Magnus forced me into an outfit that barely covered anything. Dark blue Jeans Hot Pants and a dark green top with way too much sparkly … things on it. And I didn't even know why I had to dress up like this, I just knew I was meeting up with Magnus and Alec.

So here I was standing in front of Alec's house and knocking. I heard shuffling and muffled voices, then door opened and Jace stood before me.

His eyes went wide and he clearly was checking me out. His eyes roamed my body and he gulped.

Wow, I thought. Did Jace seriously think I looked good?

I never thought someone like him would even glance in my direction. Too small, too thin, too childish, that's what every one else saw in me, but the way he looked at me now, it made me feel giddy all over. And in the pit of my stomach was this feeling I couldn't really describe. It was just … there.

“Finished?”, I asked laughing and looking at Jace.

His eyes snapped up to mine and he blushed a little, but shook it off pretty fast. Jace rolled his eyes and raised an eyebrow.

“I'm here to see Alec.”

Jace furrowed his eyebrows, asking what I had to do with Alec.

“Just let me in”, I dismissed and just went in to the house.

The living room was big. There were two big couches and two big plush armchairs. On one couch were sitting Izzy and Simon curled up together.

“Clary?”, Simon asked seeing me. Then he glanced at my clothes and his eyes went huge. “What the hell are you wearing?!”

I rolled my eyes and didn't bother to answer him, as soon as Magnus was here, he would understand.

“New bestestes buddy in the world?!”, I shouted into the house

“What?”, Izzy asked confused.

She, Simon and Jace were all looking at me like I lost my mind, but I didn't care, better them looking like that at me than facing Magnus wrath!

I heard loud footsteps and Alec came running from the garden into the living room with a big grin stretching across his face. Amusement sparkled in his eyes, but he still opened his arms wide. We both ran at each other laughing like maniacs. I threw myself at him, putting my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist. He pulled his arms around my middle and we turned and turned for about three or four times.

Magnus came into the house after Alec and smiled happily at us. Alec put me down and grinned at me.

“Hey bestestes buddy in the world”, he repeated my earlier words.

I giggled and he chuckled again, then we both looked at Magnus.

“You're happy?”, I asked.

“I'm fabulous, thanks my dear”, he grinned right back.

“Someone please explain this to me”, Izzy demanded warily, probably still confused.

Simon and Jace nodded along with her. Alec explained to them that this evening Alec and I had to do pretty much everything Magnus asked us to do, because apparently it was 'his night' and we had to please him, because it was all about him. Izzy and Simon laughed at Alec and me, but we didn't care, we both loved Magnus and did this for him.

“So Maggie”, I began. “What exactly are we doing tonight?”

“Cuddle Party!”, he exclaimed excited and clapped his hands grinning.

“Oh my gosh can we come?!”, Izzy squealed.

“What?”, Simon asked outraged.

“You'll love it”, Izzy told him.

“Doubt it”, Simon replied with furrowed eyebrows.

“What the hell is a cuddle party?”, I asked.

Magnus and Izzy gasped looking at me. Seriously, did I need to know what a cuddle party is? Because I never heard of it before!

“You – You don't know- Know what-?”, Izzy stuttered.

“How is that even possible?”, Magnus exclaimed outraged. “How long have we been friends and you don't know what a cuddle party is?!”

“No?”

“Ehm, Magnus”, Alec interrupted. “We guys don't know it either.”

Again he and Izzy gasped. Isabelle pointed a long manicured finger at her brother.

“Alexander Lightwood you just told me yesterday you were gay and now you are telling me you don't know what the hell a cuddle party is?!”, she fumed.

“No, so what?”, Alec said shrugging.

“So what?!”, Izzy shrieked.

After a lot more shrieking from Isabelle, gasps from Magnus and confused faces from Alec, Simon, Jace or me, the two 'cuddler' in the room explained what a cuddle party was.

Apparently it was a party only for couples or friends (you just had to be two, that's all – which made sense because cuddling yourself was strange). At this party you and your partner sat on a mattress or some pillows, there was a person who told you how to start cuddling, whatever that meant. And for the next hour you apparently 'learned' how to cuddle 'right'. I didn't even know that you could cuddle wrong...

“And I thought this way you and Alec could grow closer”, Magnus finished beaming with excitement.

“You want your boyfriend to grope your best friend?”, Simon asked sceptically.

“What? No”, Magnus replied.

“Simon, cuddle party's are about cuddling, there is nothing sexual involved”, Izzy explained.

Jace snorted like saying 'Yeah, right' and I couldn't agree more, it pretty much sounded like groping the other one and covering it with saying it was 'cuddling'.

“Wait, when Alec is going to 'cuddle'” I made air quotes. “with me, who are you going to cuddle with?”, I asked.

“Jace”, he shrugged.

Jace choked on his own spit and looked with big eyes at Magnus, he looked mortified, like a deer caught in the lights. I felt a little sorry for him, but couldn't help but feel offended for Magnus. Jace wasn't this type of person who treated gay people differently, I was sure of that, but his reaction was still really bold.

He seemed to try to thing of a thing to get himself out of this, because he began shaking his head furiously.

“Why not?”, Isabelle asked grinning mischievously.

Jace glared at her, but she didn't seem to be fazed by his death glare, she just kept grinning.

“I'm against this, too”, Alec said.

Jace sighed in relief and shot Alec a grateful look.

“Why?”, Magnus asked.

“Jace may not be gay, but he sure does attract gay men like you and I don't want your hands on my brother. Plus, I know Jace would be more than uncomfortable cuddling with you, so you're gonna have to cuddle with me.”

Alec winked at him – I think just so Magnus won't be mad at him – and grinned. Magnus seemed to buy it and smiled back at him.

“Fine with me. You okay with cuddling with Clary?”

Wow, wait - what?! With me? Why with -, oh wait okay, we were the only ones left, but it was still weird. Looks like it wasn't for Jace, because he just shrugged.

“Great, than it's settled. You and you go change and then we can leave”, Magnus said.

“What's wrong with what I'm wearing?”, Simon asked.

“Are you seriously asking me that?”, Magnus replied glaring at Simon.

Simon wore a nerd shirt, like usual and light blue jeans. He was the stereotype of a nerd, it's true that without his glasses he actually looked kind of cute, maybe even hot, but his clothes just were the ones of a nerd.

“Come on Simon”, Izzy just said, grabbing his arm and bringing him to her room.

I didn't even want to know why he had spare clothes in her room, so I didn't dare ask or voice my thoughts.

“Blondie, stop checking the red head out and get going”, Magnus said and made a 'Shu' gesture towards Jace.

I turned around and saw Jace rolling his eyes again. He was checking me out, really? I felt a blush rise to my cheeks, just thinking about it.

“Oh and Blondie”, Magnus called Jace back.

Jace stopped in the middle of the staircase and looked at Magnus expecting an answer with a raised eyebrow.

“Text me what you're going to wear so I can approve”, Magnus demanded.

Jace shook his head stubbornly.

“Seriously, this would make this easier, otherwise you would have to come down here and up there again until we have the perfect outfit. You really want that?”, Magnus replied raising his own eyebrow.

“Jace doesn't text”, Alec interrupted.

“Why?”, I asked. “Everybody sends texts.”

“Not Jace”, Alec simply answered.

“Why?”, I asked again.

Jace came down the steps, looking disgusted and fishing his phone out of his pocket. He did some things and then hold it out to me. Frowning I took the phone and glanced wearily at Jace. He just nodded at the phone, so I read the open messages.

Hey Jace, we're alone tonight. Wanna bang?

What? No, Izzy you're my sister!!!

So? Doesn't mean we can't bang

What the hell is wrong with you?!?!?!

Come on Jace, please! :(

No, this is just … WRONG!

Don't be mean! Please, let's just bang

This conversation is over, Isabelle. You're sick!

:(

OH MY GOSH!!! JACE!!! I meant HANG, seriously!!! Oh my gosh, this is so embarrassing!!!

I hate Auto correct -.-”!!! I'm never gonna send texts ever again!!!

I burst out laughing reading the texts. Oh my gosh, this was hilarious! But Jace didn't seem to agree with me, because he made a disgusted face. Magnus, wanting to know what was so funny, grabbed the phone out of my hands and read the texts for himself, bursting out laughing like me.

You just had to laugh about something like this. Jace rolled his eyes, grabbed his phone and went upstairs again. He came back before Izzy and Simon could. He changed into a white shirt, dark blue jeans and a leather jacket. He looked hot! I had to admit that, he looked like a bad boy, but still angel-like with his halo of golden hair.

Suddenly Simon and Izzy came around the corner. Simon now wore a black shirt and normal jeans. Izzy had changed, too. She now wore a tiny piece of red fabric, probably meant to be a dress. But she still pulled it off somehow, not looking slutty at all, just … like a model.

“So Isabelle”, Magnus drawled out.

“Hmm?”

“Wanna bang?”, Magnus grinned.

He, Alec and I burst out laughing again. I laughed so hard I had to clutch my sides and a few tears even escaped my eyes. Izzy's face turned bright red and she looked like a tomato.
Jace just looked uncomfortable and scared for his life.

“What?!”, Simon growled.

“Chill, Simon”, I tried to calm him giggling. “He's gay, remember? And I'm sure he meant h- h- hang.”

And the laughter started all over again. Jace opened the door, stomping his foot, telling us to get moving.

“Who's ready to cuddle?”, Magnus exclaimed happily and put an arm around Alec's shoulders.

Right … Cuddling … With Jace …