16Hi, sorry about the late update. Family and work stuff, all positive, but I'm exhausted.
AJ Davis, you brought up a great point. I intended for Clary to come home for summer vacation, but didn't openly say it.
Liz113 here you go :)
lostinafairytale eb (I've posted this three times, it deletes it because of the dot), purrina57, thank you so much. It means the world and you know it :)
Just a brief reminder that it is the 1950s, simply because they rocked. Chances are I screwed up either the lingo or the clothes, but I'm hoping I didn't. I tried to research it as best I could, but if you see any inconsistencies, do let me know.
Chapter 3
The train slowly pulls into the station, so I finally pull my head in. I have looked out the window the entire trip, trying to see if I remember every single detail along the way. I realize that nothing has changed, and yet, everything seems different. It's like I've never seen it before. Naturally, the houses continue to be sprawling properties, but I no longer find them that impressive.
I already miss Magnus. And croissants. And oh, pains au chocolat. I miss our morning coffee at the café around the corner of my apartment. I miss dinners at his place, and being his boyfriend's mannequin. I suppose it'll all be there when I come back in three months, after summer vacation, but I can't help miss it so.
I daintily take out my powder compact and rearrange a few strands of hair that have flown out of my elaborate chignon. I then check my make-up and correct it, making sure I still have that cat-like look in my emerald-green eyes. Finally I stand up to collect my luggage when a kind gentleman intervenes.
"Please, allow me."
"Oh, you are much too kind" I reply, surprising myself with the refinement in my voice. Magnus must have rubbed off on me.
We part ways as we alight from the train, and I thank him with a shy smile, to which he replies with a tip of his hat.
I make my way out of the station and straighten my clothes. I notice my wiggle dress has a few creases and attempt to straighten out without much success. It has, after all, been ages since I got in it. Well, at least my pantyhose have no runs. I take out my bottle of perfume, spritz a little and then check the time. I yawn, suddenly feeling extremely tired, glad that my eyes are hidden behind my sunglasses.
It's not like my mother to be late.
Am I actually worrying about my mother? Wonders never cease.
I wait another twenty minutes until I see a red convertible stop right in front of me. For a moment I think it is Luke, who's borrowed one of the cars to come and pick me up. Luke, however, would not drive so recklessly.
Alec jumps off the car with a flourish and offers me a 100-watt smile. The same one I have seen a million times.
I control the wish to sigh out loud.
"Why, it seems your boyfriend has stood you up. Such a shame. If you were my girlfriend, I would make sure I don't leave you to the wolves."
"Has my mother sent you?" I ask him, genuinely confused.
"Oh, I'm pretty sure no mother wants me near her daughter," he replies.
My mother couldn't agree more, I am sure. I, on the other hand, am thrilled to bits. Not being able to express my utter delight physically pains me.
"As it just so happens, I was on my way home when I spotted a lovely woman who looks like she needs a lift" he says, a glint in his lovely blue eyes.
I find it oddly amusing that he still hasn't recognized me and decide to string him along. It's only fair, after all.
"Why, I do believe I am stranded," I reply in the most demure and seductive way possible. The same one I have practiced in front of a mirror for months.
"Not to worry, I would gladly offer you my services as a driver."
"Oh, that would be lovely! But you don't know where I'm going, it might be out of your way."
"Now, you let me worry about that! Where do you live?"
"Not too far from the Lightwood estate. Are you familiar with it?"
His eyes widen suddenly, a look of utter shock and confusion, but a hint of banter is never far behind. He enjoys it. "But you're my neighbor! Surely I would have seen you around! Oh well, you know what they say, love thy neighbor."
He opens the car door for me, and I step in gingerly as he haphazardly drops my luggage in the backseat with a flick of his wrist. I take out my scarf and wrap it over my hair, making sure I don't repeat the disaster that occurred on the train. I must, after all, appear as lady-like as possible. It's so much work!
How do women do it?
Oh wait, I'm a woman now. But wasn't I always?
For a moment, I consider asking him to stop the car so I can climb up an apple tree. It's what I truly want to do. But I don't. It would be stupid, trying to go up a tree in my wiggle dress. I suddenly feel overwhelmed by it all.
"So, what does your family do?" I ask him as we head out of the station. Anywhere else, you'd be more likely to ask what he does for a living, but out here, you do what your family has done for generations.
"Oh, we are in the mergers and acquisitions business. Don't worry your pretty head, it's all terribly boring. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about. I keep my comments to a minimum. I'm just the pretty face they attach to business deals." He turns around and gives me his most dazzling smile possible.
"Don't you find it boring, having to sit there and pretend to be someone you aren't?"
He scoffs, a small rueful smile painting his otherwise agreeable face. "I have yet to meet someone who isn't pretending to be someone else. I'd hardly get paid for sailing in the yacht and drinking champagne."
"But is that all you want to do with your life? What do you want to do when you wake up in the morning?" I insist.
"Well, on a good day, I wake up hoping to meet someone as beautiful and entertaining as you," he replies.
I'm not swayed by his smile, and I can certainly see through his attempts to change the subject. How could be possibly know I am entertaining? He can't possibly think I'm amusing based on this conversation.
We make small talk as we drive through the winding roads, his eyes often landing on me appreciatively. It makes my heart flutter no end.
As we finally arrive at his house, he cuts the engine suddenly and turns to me. "All right, do you intend to tell me where you live, or are you going to keep playing games with me?"
"Oh, I assure you Alec, I'm done playing games. Would you be kind enough to help me with my luggage?"
"Wait, I don't remember introducing myself."
He finds the whole business rather amusing and helps me off the car, shaking his head in disbelief.
My mother's head pops out of a window in the house, waves and slams the window shut. A couple of minutes later, I see her run out the door, followed by Luke, Amatis and Kaelie.
"Clary, oh my goodness, is it really you?" Her arms fly out and gather me into an enormous motherly hug as she kisses both my cheeks. "I'm so sorry, I got delayed and had no way to let Luke know so he could pick you up!"
All eyes suddenly find Alec, followed by an uncomfortable silence. Alec stands, leaning slightly with his right hand on the car, his mouth wide open. It is the first time I fail to see any hint of amusement in his eyes.
"C-Clary?" he utters in absolute disbelief.
"Hi, Alec," I reply sheepishly.
Bingo.
OK, short chapter but surely you can see why it just had to end right there. I have no idea what I'm doing, adapting a film! It was utter lunacy :)
I need your help. I need a female character to vie for Alec's attention. Sadly, I used Kaelie before thinking it through (we love to hate Kaelie, it seems). Any thoughts? It would be creepy to use Isabelle, right?
Oh, and the "love thy neighbor" line, unfortunately, is not mine. It's taken directly from the movie. Hence its absolute genius.
