clace jealousy

41. The Unintentional Proposal

"Does it really matter how I propose? Do you think she'd really care how I proposed when she sees the size of the ring I got her?" Simon asked. He and Clary had been sitting in his and Izzy's room trying to come up with a romantic way to propose for the past hour.

"The ring is pretty big," Clary acknowledged.

"But I think you should at least put some effort into the proposal," Clary said.

"I have put a lot of effort into it!" Simon exclaimed. "Three months of effort!"

"Don't worry, I'm sure something will come to us," Clary said.

"Is there somewhere special for you guys? Do you have a place? Like where you first met or something?" Clary remembered how Jace proposed to her. The greenhouse was sort of their place so it made it extra romantic.

"We met in the Institute kitchen," Simon said. "That doesn't exactly scream 'Will you marry me?'"

"Especially since she's given me food poisoning there," Simon added, shuddering at the memory.

"Oh, yeah." Clary bit her lip, thinking. "Okay, you know what? I'll have a girls day with Izzy and I'll try to subtly ask her how she would like to be proposed to."

"How are you going to subtly ask her that?" Simon asked.

"Um. . . oh I know! I'll get her drunk!" Clary exclaimed happily like it was the best plan ever.

"Okay, might as well give it a shot." Simon shrugged. He was willing to try anything at this point.

"Yes, we'll do shots."

-

"Clary?" Izzy asked.

Clary froze. She had just finished talking with Simon and was worried Izzy had heard something. "Yes?"

"Are you and Simon up to something?"

"What?" she asked, her voice an octave higher than normal. Now she was really scared that Izzy knew.

"You two have been talking in private and leaving the room together a lot recently and whenever I ask Simon he just freaks out and avoids my question. What are you two up to?" Izzy asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Okay, Simon and I have been talking a lot recently and you're going to find out why really soon, but I can't tell you why just yet. I'm sorry," Clary said awkwardly. Smooth Clary. Real smooth.

"I knew it," Izzy said, looking both sad and angry at the same time. "I can't believe it!"

"What?" Clary asked, confused.

"And you're married to my brother!"

"What?" Clary asked again, not getting what Izzy was going on about.

"Simon's still in love with you, isn't he?"

Clary was not expecting that. "What?!"

"I know, it was silly of me to think that he was over you. I wanted to think that he was because now he had me, but I guess you never really get over your first love," Izzy sniffled.

"Oh, no, no, no-" Clary was about to tell Izzy that she had it all wrong, but Izzy just continued.

"I mean, I kind of guessed because you guys had been so secretive lately and hanging out all the time, but I didn't think anything would actually happen because you know Simon, it took him years to finally admit that he liked you and plus what with Maia I didn't think he would do that to me again, but here you are, exiting our room after being in there with him for so long, I-" Izzy would have continued to ramble on, but Clary cut her off.