Cakes

Clary knocked softly on Isabelle’s door, the map on her backpocket heavy. The girl hoped Izzy was inside; otherwise, she’d have to go for Alec, and Clary really wasn’t looking forward to that.

Luckily for her, Isabelle told her to come in, and Clary obeyed, finding the black-haired girl sprawled on her bed, passing her eyes through magazines, feet clad in high heels in the air, like a princess from a fairy tale that only wore black.

“Hey, what’s up?”, Izzy asked, not rising her dark eyes to face Clary. Good, it would make her request easier to voice. Clary fidgeted with her jacket sleeve for a second before speaking, gathering her words.

“Can we pretend to be fake engaged to get free cake samples?”, she asked, and then Isabelle looked at her, one eyebrow raised. “Listen, some bakeries make wedding cakes, okay? And they offer samples to couples, for free, before they buy it. I’m really craving cake right now, and since Jace is out with Simon, I’m torn between asking you or Alec to go with me there, and I really don’t want Alec to be uncomfortable.”

Isabelle rose up, brushing her hair with her fingers, and smiling at Clary, approaching her with slow steps.

“As much as I’d love to watch you and Alec pretending to be engaged, the offer of cake is a pretty sweet deal. Where are we going, honey?”

Clary was pretty sure she was blushing, as Isabelle held hands with her. Clary got the map she had, opening it in from of them, holding it with her free hand.

“The crossed ones were the ones I already went, and circled ones are the ones we can go and get away scotch free.”, she pointed, and Izzy looked at her with laughter in her eyes. “Hey, I take my cake business very seriously.”

“I can see.”, Isabelle laughed, a smile taking her lips, and Clary could feel the blush in her cheeks growing, Clary’s gay crush showing. Isabelle pointed to a bakery near the Institute.“Maybe this one?”

“Sounds good to me.”, Clary answered, considering it. “I guess we can walk to it. Wanna go now?”

Izzy nodded and pulled Clary along as she threw the map on Izzy’s bed, making a mental note to pick it up later, the two of them sneaking away from the Institute and laughing together when they were able to evade Maryse after a risky maneuver involving pretending to be really realistic statues.

“I can’t believe your mom bought that!”, Clary laughed, as Izzy twirled her in the surprisingly empty street. “I mean, come on!”

Isabelle smiled, and kept holding her hand. Clary avoided the hope of having her feelings returned.

“My mom buys a surprisingly number of things when she’s distracted.”, Isabelle answered, offering a wink to her. “Now let’s be all sappy and shit, we got cake to get, right?”

Clary nodded, entwining her fingers with Izzy’s as they walked down the street to get to the bakery, a small shop that she had passed millions of times while going to the Institute.

“Anyway, how did this start? I mean, you had a map . A detailed one, at that. This isn’t a one time thing.”, Isabelle asked, curiosity sparkling in her eyes, and Clary faked a sigh.

“It all started when I wanted cake, but didn’t have eggs on the fridge, so instead Simon took me to a bakery. Someone thought we were there for cake samples, and things went downhill from there, I guess.”

Isabelle smiled softly, heels clacking on the concret beneath them.

“Wow, that’s amazingly simple. And here I was expecting more explosions and burnt food.”

Clary shrugged.

“Not everything has to explode or burn, y’know.”, she answered, and Isabelle laughed.

“I’m sure our marriage will, honeybuns.”, Izzy winked, and it was Clary’s turn to laugh, fingers playing softly with Isabelle’s.

“Of course, dear.”

Izzy twirled her again.

“This engagement thing is going to be a piece of cake.”, she said, and Clary burst laughing again.