I was flopped on the bed, my legs sprawled at a weird but somehow comfortable angle. My head was buried in A Court of Thorns and Roses, and propped against me was a plush pillow. Mmm.

The door clicked open, and Ember stumbled in, her face slick with sweat, mascara slightly smudged.

"Where have you been?" I asked without looking up.

"Running errands," she said, still panting, her breathing ragged, but didn't elaborate.

Seeing that I didn't press, she sighed audibly. In relief perhaps? I sketched a brow, and she added:

"You want to grab a drink with us?"

"Uh-no, sorry, I need to revise.." I muttered.

"The hell? School haven't started yet, and you're revising?" She said, her tone incredulous.

"Preparing is always good," I stated.

"And you've prepared for like, what? Eight times?"

"Nine," I said, smiling sheepishly.

"Point proved," she wiggled her brows.

I threw my hands into the air:

"Ugh, fine, I give up." I relented.

"Yay," she said, squealing like a toddler getting candies. I couldn't help but giggle at her childish behavior.

"How about party at midnight on Wednesday?"

"I-" I was about to refuse when the door opened, Azriel casually leaning against the door, and the blonde boy...Alaric panting, out of breath.

"Of course she's not," Azriel said, his lips curling in disdain.

What's wrong with him?

"Count me in," I said, then bit my tongue, regretting my rash decision just because of my stabbed pride.

"You'll never regret this," Ember squealed, either ignoring or oblivious to Azriel's sour face.

I hope not.

"Alaric, hi, by the way," I said.

"Hey, Raelyn," Alaric said, smiling shyly.

"You guys know each other?" Ember asked, surprise written all over her features.

"We bumped into each other when she went to the office,"

"No introductions needed then, we all know each other," Ember said cheerily.

Azriel had an air of disinterest as he played with a strand of Ember's hair. He ran a hand through his dark curls in one fluid motion, his corded muscles rippling.

"Like what you're looking?" he said, and I braced myself for another damming retort. None came.

"Nothing worthy to look at," I said nonchalantly, but the flush of crimson etched on my face gave away. Ugh, thanks a million.

"And this is what you call roomate bonding, Ember?" Azriel snapped snarkily, and Ember had the grace to be very interested in her shoelaces.

"Well, from this roomate bonding we learnt that Azriel is a bitch," Alaric announced dramatically, seeming to notice the thick tension clinging in the air and attempting to ease it away.

"Agreed," I said, and he chuckled. Ember looked merely amused. Azriel did his signature scowl.

"Can we just go? I'm famished," Azriel said, pointing his slender finger at me:

"She's not going, right?" Talk about rude, man.

"Oh yes she is," Both Ember and Alaric defended me in chorus. I felt a surge of gratitude towards them.

Snorting obnoxiously in defeat, Azriel opened his car door and we clambered in.

"Having Skylar in my car is such a disgrace to me.. Gods above, we are not going to a church" he muttered, "Holy Mary, grant me thy holy water to wash mine eyes!"

I didn't know what I should feel: insulted or amused. I went with amused. Ember's lips curved upwards, clearly fighting off a smile, and Alaric was chuckling and shaking his head. Not wanting to indulge in such utter foolishness, I flipped open my novel and saw Azriel mouth nerd
in the rearview mirror. Ember frowned, and I gave her the most reassuring smile I could possibly muster.

"Let's play I spy with my little eye!"

"Uhm Ember, We are seventeen," I said dubiously, concerned about Ember's mental health.

"We are young at hearts!" She said, rolling her eyes, with a tone that implied duh.

"I spy with my little eye, something starts with... B!" Ember said.

"What colour is it?" Alaric asked.

"Black,"

"Azriel's heart," Alaric and I said in unison. Ember snorted in a very unladylike manner.

"Excuse me," Azriel said, " My heart is maeve," he announced in a way so hilarious that a loud Hah escaped from Alaric's lips.

Azriel, meanwhile, looked unfazed.

The car jolted to an abrupt halt, and we hopped off.

There was a tinkling sound when we opened the door of Starbucks.

"What'd you guys want?" Ember asked.

"Mocha," Alaric said.

"Chocolate chip cream for me,"

"Whatever," Azriel grumbled, and Ember's eyes lit up instantly in mischief that had the air of danger, beware.
~~~

"Here," Ember said, handing us our drinks, her hands shaking with laughter.

In front of us was a hot pink drink. Nobody moved.

"It's yours, Fade," Ember cooed.

"I am a man," he told her, "and men do not consume pink beverages. Get thee gone, woman, and bring me something brown. "

"Brown?" Ember made a face.

"Brown is a manly color," said Azriel. "In fact, look-Alar is wearing it. "

"It was black, but then it faded," I blurted out without thinking.

"You know City of glass?" he asked, a look of surprise flashed across his face.

"Yea," I said, nodding.

"Are you guys speaking in pig latin?" Ember questioned, confused.

"Let them communicate civilly without each other biting the other's heads off," Alaric said.

"We are done," Azriel told them haughtily, his head whirling around back to them. I glared at the back of his head. Ember was barely concealing her giggles at our odd exchange.

"So what subject are you having here?" Alaric asked. At last a normal person without the need to go to an asylum. I mentally made note to thank him afterwards for saving me from embarrassment.

"Literature and arts,"

"Ooh," Ember said, "You're in the same class with Az,"

I mentally face palmed myself for my luck.

"No offence, but I didn't ask for it either," Azriel reminded me.

I sipped my drink noisily to avoid speaking to him the whole ride. I have no wish to be stuck in a conversation (if you call it one) with him.

𝓐𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻'𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓮
Anyone reads shadowhunters? If you know the lines referenced from tmi and the clockwork prince an extra hug for you :)