The whistle blew and Jon almost cried in relief. They had been running for the past two hours. Like sprinting, not just jogging. His legs were on fire and his lungs felt like they were three seconds away from collapsing.
"Huddle up!" Coach yelled, walking to the center of the field.
Jon sighed, jogging to where coach was now kneeling, and taking his place on the ground next to Jace. Jace looked pissed off but for entirely different reason.
"Good job today." Coach said, looking at his clipboard. "I was going to have you run drills for the next forty minutes but I'm going to let you guys go early."
Jon's jaw dropped a little. They had got here August fourth and today was the first time they were getting out early, 19 days later. Normally he even held them late.
Coach continued to talk but Jon zoned him out. If practice was supposed to end at 5 and he was calling it quits forty minutes early it was probably twenty after four. They were about a two hour drive away from home and today was Clary's birthday and first game of her last season. The game started at 6:15. Jon figured he could shave a good twenty minutes off the travel time.
And maybe it would put Jace in a better mood. He leaned over and whispered, "Want to drive home?"
It was a dumb question honestly. If Jace had five hours available he would drive the two there and back just to spend an hour with her.
He nodded, a small smile spreading on his face. It was the first time Jon had seen him smile since coach had told them they had late practice today on Monday.
Everyone was standing so Jon got up from his knee and put his hand in the middle, throwing it up with a loud "Buckeyes!"
And than him and Jace were running to the locker room and jumping into the showers. One minute later they both stepped out, pulling their sweats and a t-shirt on their still wet bodies, oh the things they did for Clary. And than they were off, sprinting to the car at the other end of campus, all tiredness forgotten.
"What time is it?" Jace asked as they ran.
Jon flicked his wrist to look at the watch he had just put back on. "4:30. We've got to hurry."
Jace nodded. Jon saw his car and practically flung himself in it. "We're going to get stuck in rush hour." Jace said as Jon backed the car out.
Jon shook his head. "We should be ahead of it for most of the way."
Jace nodded, pulling out his phone.
"Are you telling her?" Jon asked.
"No, just texting her. Her present is in my dorm so the surprise will have to do for now."
Jon laughed. It had been weird at first, he's not going to lie, when they had started dating. Sure, he had seen it a mile away but it was a little weird to see your best friend date your little sister but he had grown to actually really appreciate it. They had been friends almost as long as Jon and him and he knew that Jace respected her not only as a girlfriend but as a friend and person.
It also didn't hurt that Jace loved her like he loved no one else. Not even Jon or Alec. The kid had almost went to a community college so he wouldn't have had to leave her. Luckily Clary's not an idiot and had practically packed his bags for him.
"What time do we have practice in the morning?" Jace asked.
"Lifting at 9, conditioning at 11, practice at 3." Jon rattled off.
"Can we spend the night? Drive back at 6?" Jace asked.
"Will you drive while I sleep?" Jon asked.
"Absolutely." Jace said. "I'll even cook you breakfast."
Jon laughed, knowing that he was being completely serious. "Yeah, as long as you promise to be in a good mood tomorrow, I'm sick and tired of all your moodiness."
"Sorry, I just severely underestimated how much I was going to miss her."
"Dude, you almost gave up your dream college to stay near her, how is that underestimating?"
"Because I didn't." He shrugged. "And it just really sucks because I want her to live her dream and she wants to go to New York which is so much farther than Cleveland."
"She hasn't decided anything yet, don't freak out until you have to."
"Mate, it's been less than a month without her and she's barely started school and I feel like we barely get to talk. I don't want to find out things about her through Twitter or Instagram, I want to hear about her day and if she's upset. I want to be able to watch movies with her if she needs it or take her out on fancy dates. And I can't do that when she's not with me and it makes me feel like a shitty boyfriend."
"Why, it was nothing you could control?"
"I chose to go here. I chose to leave her. One hundred percent my doing."
"You are a separate person from her, you make decisions and she makes decisions. Sometimes you make them together and sometimes they work out. Sometimes they don't."
"I think you're missing the point." Jace put his head against the window. "I love football but I love her ten times more. I knew I would be happy playing anywhere but I would be unhappy if I went anywhere she wasn't."
"Jace." Jon sighed. "Volleyball season will be over soon enough and you know she'll come see us whenever she can. Our families are coming down to spend Christmas with us so she'll be here too. Same with Thanksgiving. It'll be different then."
"But that's not fair to her." Jace tugged at his hair. "I'm going to miss her senior homecoming and we both know she's going to be queen. I'm going to miss almost all of her games and you know they're going far. I'm going to miss everything important to her."
"So am I. She's my sister and my best friend and I won't be able to see her do anything. I won't even be able to see her. But you and I both know she'd never forgive either of us for giving up our dreams for her."
"Exactly, which is why I feel so guilty because I can't help but hope she gives up her dream to come to OSU with us."
Jon let out a breath. "Me too."
The rest of the car ride was pretty much silent until they got off the highway, only ten from the school.
"She just texted me and said she has to put her phone away now, they're starting warm ups." Jace informed him with a grin. "So the games going to start in twenty or so minutes."
"Fuck yes! Is Alec going to be there?"
"Yeah I told him we were going to be there if he wanted to meet up."
"When does he leave?"
"Sunday."
Jon whistled. "When did Clary start."
"The 21st. So Tuesday."
"Does she have any homework?"
Jace gave him a look. "Dude, it's her senior year."
Jon laughed as he pulled into the school and drove around back.
"This is weird." Jace commented. "Being back here."
"I know, imagine what it'll feel like in like twenty years."
Jon parked the car and they both climbed out. They walked as fast as they could to the gym and stopped at the ticket table outside the gym. They could see inside and all the people that were in the stands. The student section was overflowing and the home section was almost completely full.
Jon could see Alec sitting by his parents who were sitting with Jon's mom and Luke. Max was also there, to absorbed in a comic book.
"What are you guys doing here?"
Jon turned to see Simon smiling at them. Well, at Jon at least. Him and Jace had never seen quite eye to eye.
"It's Clary's birthday." Jon shrugged. "And we got let out early so we sped over here."
"She was really bummed that you two weren't here, not that she would ever say that." He gave them a grin. "Glad you guys could make it."
Jon looked at Jace who had set his jaw. They reached the front of the line before anything else could be said and paid for their tickets. They stood in the doorway and were instantly greeted by old friends and teachers. They had their eyes on Clary though who was digging balls as her team spiked them at her.
Her teammate saw them and pointed. Clary turned her head after digging a ball out and her jaw dropped. She sprinted off the floor and jumped into Jace's arms. He laughed as he held her, his arms wrapped tight around her. She kissed him and slid out of his grip, throwing her arms around Jon's middle.
"What are you doing here?"
Jace came up behind her, pulling her braids. "Happy birthday babe." She smiled up at him, her cheeks flushed.
"Are you guys staying?" She asked, walking slightly back towards the court where her unhappy coach was waiting.
"Yeah." Jace moved forward to kiss her forehead. "We'll talk later, kick ass."
She grinned at the both of them before running back to where she was before, just in time to pass a ball. They waved to Izzy who was to concentrated on volleyball to do much more than wave back on their way to where their parents were sitting together.
"Jon!" Jocelyn stood to hug her son, surprised to see him. "We've missed you."
He returned the hug before moving to hug Luke. Jace hugged the Lightwoods before hugging Jocie and Luke too.
"How was the drive?" Robert asked when Jace say in front of him, next to Jon.
"Quick." Jon answered, his eyes finding their way back to his sister. Jace's eyes were already on her, taking her in. He felt like he was going to combust, being so close but unable to touch her.
She was wearing a different color than everyone else, black to their white. Her red hair stood out against her jersey, her spandex not doing much to hide her legs. Or ass. Jace moved his eyes back to her hair, a much safer object of his affection. She was smiling as she chatted with her friends, waiting for the other team to finish serving so they could.
Her eyes found his and he grinned. As much as he wanted to watch Her play he couldn't help but wish the game was over so they could be alone. Hopefully, as long as Jon gave them some space.
The two teams switched and they spent the remainder two minutes of the clock serving the balls over at each other. She rotated between passing the balls and serving herself. Not much has changed since the last time he had seen her play, meaning she was as flawless as usual.
The buzzer went off and they quickly rounded up the balls before meeting to break.
"Angels on three. One. Two. Three." Izzy's voice carried through the gym.
"Angels." Their hands going through the air as the team made their way to the end line to be introduced.
He couldn't help but notice that the student section was particularly loud when Izzy and her names were called. They cheered loudly as well.
And than they were running to the net to high five the other team. They rounded up in their last huddle before finding their positions. And than the game was off.
The other team served, hitting a quick ball straight to Clary who passed it effortlessly to their setter. Their setter back set it to Izzy who jumped high and swung fast. The ball smacked the ground feet in front of the nearest player.
And the game kept a similar rhythm the whole way through. They beat them soundly in three sets, ending the game with a back row hit from Clary to the corner. She could get up for such a little girl, and had some serious power.
They shook hands before walking off the court. Or the seniors at least. The underclassmen hurried to take down the net as the seniors met their families in the stands. Or the students in the student section.
Clary was making her way to them, climbing up the bleachers and past the other parents until she reached them. He held his hand out for her, pulling her towards his body. His head resting on her chest as she talked her mom and Luke, playing with his hair.
"Hey." She pushed his head back. "You okay?"
He nodded. "Perfect." He let her go, holding on to her hand instead as she talked to everyone.
Jon and her were laughing about something and he squeezed her hand tighter, trying to contain his affection for her. She only squeezed back, knowing, as always, exactly what he needed.
"We're going out after the game." Jocie, put her hand on Jace's shoulder. "Go home and change into something nicer."
Jace nodded, not wanting to let go of Clary's hand quite yet. He stood up nonetheless, and kissed her on the head as he and Jon made their way down the bleachers.
"I don't even know what clothes I have here." Jace commented as he climbed into the car.
Jon nodded. "Me neither man, but it's only olive garden so it's not like we have to dress up dress up."
"I'm just glad we're here to go to it." Jace commented.
Jon made a noise of agreement before turning up the music to fill the silence. They passed his street and turned down Jace's, pulling in his driveway. They shared a backyard, which was nice because their families were so close.
"I'll walk over when I'm done." Jace told Jon, climbing out of the car.
Jon nodded, backing out of the car. Jace carried his bag into the house, climbing up the stairs to his room. He hadn't left a whole lot, some pictures and some clothes. He supposed that was because he didn't have a whole lot to begin with.
Their were framed photos of Clary everywhere. And unframed. Some Polaroid ones. Drawings. And he lost track of time as he looked at them. He had brought his favorites to college but looking at them now he found that he had more favorites.
He had left a lot of the ones with the both of them in the picture in his room because he had always preferred the ones of just her. Looking at them now he decided that he had the wrong idea. He liked looking at the together. It just looked right.
He shook his head, deciding he'd look at them later and went to his closet. He found a pair of jeans and a black v-neck shirt. He had left much of his extensive shoe collection here so he picked out a random pair he wouldn't mind getting a little messy as he walked through their backyard.
As he was leaving Izzy came through the door, rushing upstairs. She yelled a hey to him as she went, not stopping for a hug. The shower water turned on from upstairs and he could hear her rushing to get ready for Clary's dinner.
As he was walking out the door his phone buzzed. It was his coach. Lifting was moved back a couple hours and conditioning was bumped until the next day. That meant they wouldn't have to leave until around 9 which meant longer time with Clary.
He pushed open their back door and made his way to the kitchen. He could hear the water running and he could only assume that Clary was showering. Jon was sitting at the island, scrolling on his phone.
"Did they all go there?" Jace asked, leaning against the granite.
Jon nodded. "The four of us are going to meet them there, they just wanted to make reservations."
Jace nodded, again hating the fact that he was so close to Clary but couldn't touch her. The water turned off and he waited a minute before making his way to the stairs.
"We have to leave soon." Jon reminded him. "And I'm right here."
Jace laughed, climbing the stairs two at a time. "Noted."
And than he was pushing her door open. She was standing in front of her closet in her underwear. He groaned, walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. She hummed, content.
Her hair was wet and smelled strongly of her. He ran his fingers through the curls, brushing them out. She always loved when he did it because they would be so much more controllable at a nice wave.
She turned around, lifting up on her toes to kiss him. He met her half way, one of his hands coming to cup her face. He couldn't let it get to our of control or he'd never be able to leave.
She pulled back, turning back around. "What should I wear?"
Jace rested his head on top of hers as he surveyed her closet. His eyes settled on his favorite romper. It was short and floral with a cut out in the back. He reached out grab it.
"I knew you would pick that one." She laughed as she took it from him.
He kissed her cheek, pulling back she could make her way into it. He groaned mentally at the sight of her putting her clothes on instead of taking them off.
But she looked beautiful with her hair hanging down her back. She leaned forward in front of the mirror to brush her eyelashes with mascara. She did something else to her eyes with a black marker and a gold brush before coating her lips in gloss.
Than she was slipping in to a pair sandals and grabbing a necklace from her dresser. It was a heart necklace. Given by yours truly that she rarely took off.
She walked towards to where he was sitting on her bed, handing him the necklace. They were almost the same height and he barely had to reach up to clasp the necklace.
"You look beautiful." He told her when he dropped her hair back down, kissing her shoulder. And his favorite freckle. "And I've really missed you." He rested his forehead against the freckle. "I love you."
She turned in his arms to wrap her around him, pushing him back on the bed. He let her, his arms wrapped tight around her. They lay there for a minute before they heard the door open and Izzy's heals hit the floor.
Clary sighed, kissing him one last time and rolling off him. He kept her hand in his, not letting her get very far.
"Come on Jace." She laughed. "Sooner we leave the sooner we get back. And the sooner we get back the sooner you can help me out of my dress."
He smiled, letting her drag him out of her room and back to the kitchen. Izzy was standing by Jon, her makeup done up again. She hugged Jace when she saw him, greeting him for the first time.
"Ready?" Jon asked, standing up from the island.
They all nodded and Jon wrapped his arm around Clary's shoulder as they went, hugging her to him as they talked. Izzy climbed into the front with Jon and Clary going Jace in the back. He laid across the seat with his head in her lap. She ran her finger through his hair, looking out the window as they went.
Jon pulled into the place ten minutes later and they all climbed out. They found their parents and Alec at a table near the front, looking over their menus.
"Perfect." Maryse announced smiling as she saw them. "We just sat down."
Izzy slid in next to Alec. Jace and Jon sitting on either side of Clary. The adults were on the other side with Max.
"How's the team looking?" Luke asked the boys once they were settled.
Jon shrugged, shuffling through the menu.
"I don't want to promise anything." Jace began. "Or make ourselves seem better then we are but I think it'll be a good year for us."
"As a team? Or you specifically?" Questioned Robert.
"Both." Jon answered, flipping the page. "Coach loves Jace and he knows my name so there's a start."
Jace rolled his eyes. "He doesn't love me. And he knows more than just your name." He turned back to Luke and Robert. "I'm sure you'll see quite a bit of us in the screen."
"And in person." Jocie cut in. "We'll be at your first home game."
That was in two weeks and Jace couldn't help but be excited that he'd get to spend another day with Clary.
"We're sure you guys will do great." Maryse smiled at the two and that was the last football was mentioned.
"And cute guys?" Izzy asked the boys.
Jace shrugged, looking at the menu. "All our friends are a bunch of athletes because that's all who is on campus so far."
"So yes?" Clary clarified.
"Not that it would matter to you one way or another." He looked at her. "But I guess."
She grabbed his hand under the table from where it was resting on her leg to intertwine their fingers.
"You've got to find me a guy." Izzy slumped back in Her seat. "High school boys are so immature."
Jon snorted. "College boys are even worse because they're supposed to be mature and they're not."
"Jace is mature. Alec is mature." She pointed out.
"Well Jace has Clary and Alec had always been that way." Jon shrugged.
"What does that mean, he has Clary?" She rolled her eyes.
"Well he doesn't want to fuck it up now does he?" He teased.
Jace shook his head. "No he does not."
Clary sighed, leaning into his shoulder. He leaned his head on hers.
"You okay?" He whispered.
She nodded. "Just miss you."
"I'm right here." He stroked her hand.
"Yeah." She snuggled further into his arm. "Too far away."
He laughed, pushing her hair out of her face. She had never been the affectionate one of the two and he enjoyed it.
"I love you, baby." He kissed her head.
"I love you." She mumbled back before lifting her head when the waitress arrived.
They all ordered and carried on a bunch of mini conversations through our the table. Jace's phone was buzzing in his pocket and he was to scared to look at it. They weren't allowed to leave campus without permission and if coach had found out there would be a price to pay.
He finally got it out to see that it was just another dude from the team. He answered it, excusing himself from the table.
"Hello?" He asked.
"Jace, Bat and I are outside yours and Jon's, where are you?"
Jace hesitated, looking back at everyone. "We're not there right now, we'll see you tomorrow?"
"Dude, there's the party tonight."
Jace rolled his eyes. "It's a Wednesday night. We already told you we weren't going."
"You never go anyways, you're always to busy moping."
Jace sighed. "We'll see ya tomorrow dude, okay?"
"Okay man, let us know when you change your mind."
"Alright." And than Jace hung up, sliding back into his seat.
"It was Jordan." He told Jon's questioning eyes. "Party tonight."
Jon rolled his eyes. "It's Wednesday. And up until an hour ago we though we had early practice."
"I didn't tell him where we are though, I wouldn't be surprised if he called you sooner or later."
"I guess I just won't answer."
Jace grinned over at him before turning back to Clary who was talking to Max from across the table. Max was grinning really goofy at her as she laughed. Jace could not help but grin himself, their relationship was something he would never understand but it made him happy anyways. She always took him to by manga and to the book store down the road from their house. They went to all the Marvel movies with Simon together and he knew that Max had quiet the crush on her. He was the only one Jace would let get away with it.
The waitress came back with their appetizers, setting the mozzarella sticks and onion rings in the middle of the table for refilling the bread-sticks. Clary reached right across the table to snag a mozzarella stick. They were her favorite thing and everyone knew not to get in the way of them. He grabbed a couple onion rings and his right hand found purchase on Clary's thigh. He could not sit this close to her and not touch her, it just was not possible.
"How's practice been?" She asked him, taking a bite out of her mozzarella stick.
"It's okay." He shrugged. "It distracts me from missing you so I don't mind all that much."
She rolled her eyes.
"What about your teammates, have you met a lot of people?"
He shrugged again, if he was being honest the only reason he had met people on the team was with Jon. He was always to busy with his aching heart and his brooding face to make friends himself.
Jon cut through the conversation. "He has, but only because of me. Jace misses you too much to smile most days, everyone is to intimidated by him."
Jace sent him a glare over her head. Clary only rolled her eyes, her hand coming to rest on top of his as she talked to Jon. He ate his last onion ring, his heart starting to ache again at the prospect of leaving tomorrow. He had half a mind to just drop out and spend the rest of his days trailing Clary like the love-sick puppy he knew he was. But she deserved more than that so he would suffer through the pain of missing her and reap the rewards later in life.
Jon's next question grabbed his attention and cut through his revive. "Figure out where you are going next year yet?"
Jace grabbed his water, hoping to stay casual. It was a question he always stayed clear of. She had let him make the decision for himself and he would be damned if he did not do the same in return.
"Cleveland Institute of Art is definitely out now." She squeezed his hand. "So it's between OSU and NYU now."
"Leaning one way or another?" Jon asked, his curiosity getting the best of him.
"No, they both have their perks." She shrugged. "I'm not really worried, if I'm being honest. I've been accepted to both, have about equal scholarships to both, and a potential roommate for both. It is purely what I want at this point."
Jon nodded and Jace let out a breath. He had never been to fond of the idea of her going to CIA, they wold be in this exact position the next year. Obviously he wanted her with him at OSU, but he knew she would be very happy at NYU. It is probably where she would be happiest.
Before anything else could be said among them, food was being place in front of them. Jace stared at his plate of pasta, not as hungry as he had been before.
"Baby." Clary was looking at him as he spun a piece around on his fork. "Are you okay?"
He nodded, taking a bite. He still had her for a couple more hours and he wanted to make the most of it.
"Yeah." He leaned over to kiss her temple. "Happy birthday baby."
She smiled at him before leaning over to join the conversation again. He did too, chiming in when necessary but mostly counting down the time till they could leave.
After she ate the cake they brought out for her they were on their way, the kids heading to the Fray's, and the parents plus Max to the Lightwood's for drinks and bed.
Jace kept a firm hold of Clary's hand on the way, catching up with Alec as they went.
"Are you ready to be back?" Jace asked him. He was going for his third year at Columbia University.
"So ready." Alec nodded. "Ever since you guys went back and the girls started school I've been so bored. And it's a lot harder not to miss Magnus when there's no one to distract me."
Jace nodded, he felt what Alec was feeling everyday. "I know man. Long distance is the worst thing ever."
Alec nodded. "And it gets worse to man."
Jace arched an eyebrow.
"Just wait until you need her for something. It's one thing to want her, it's another thing to need her. And than when she needs you and you can't be there, it's even worse."
Jace groaned, running his hand through his hair. "I can barely stand it now, I think if it got any worse my heart would just split."
Alec nodded, knowing the exact feeling that Jace was referring to. Luckily he didn't have to say anything as they pulled into the familiar driveway.
"Want to go for a swim?" Izzy asked them, a smile on her face. Night swims were their thing, since they all snuck out when they were kids to the night before Alec left the first time and than when the boys left.
It was probably the first time Jace didn't actually want to night swim. All he wanted was Clary and some space. But she seemed excited and he remembered how selfish he was being, Jon missed her too, and Clary missed him in turn. Izzy probably missed them as well, Alec too. He'd just have to wait a little while longer.
So instead they change into the suits they had lying around, so much of their stuff was at with at either house. Jace could probably live at least a week there before he had to go home, Izzy probably longer.
The boys made it out first, jumping into the pool. The water was heated and soothed Jace's muscles. Tense from football and holding back these past couple of hours.
Her laughter reached his ears and he turned on instinct. The water did little to tense his muscles now. She was wearing his favorite bikini, complimented by his favorite smile. It was blue and stringy, doing little to hide the curves he hasn't seen in a month. The clover tattoo her and her brother shared was prominent on her hip. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail. His hands ached to pull the band out.
She walked down the stairs in the shallow end and swam to where they were wading in the water.
His arms reached out instinctively for her. He could barely touch and keep his head a float, there'd be no way she could. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her arms around his shoulders. She felt so good pressed against him.
"Hey." He whispered, smiling, happy to have her in his arms.
She smiled back. "Hi." And than she was kissing him. He held her tighter, letting her take the lead. She was always hesitant to do stuff around Jon, knowing she wouldn't like it if he made out with her best friend in front of him.
She pulled away after a few seconds, choosing instead to run her fingers through his hair as she smiled down at him. He buried his head in the crook of her shoulder, breathing in her familiar scent. He was so content in the moment, his girl back in his arms, his two best friends around him, and his sister wading around them.
"You seriously don't have a single cute friend?" Izzy was asking, exasperatedly. Jace shifted his head so he could see her.
Jon rolled his eyes. "They're all assholes. They're playing football at the biggest D1 college in the state, their egos need some taming."
Clary looked down at him, he, of course, was already looking up at her. "Does your ego need taming?"
He shook his head. "It got tamed a long time ago." His hands ran up and down her back, keeping her as close as he could.
"Good." She smiled down at him. "I would hate to have to find a new boyfriend."
"Me too." He ran his thumb across her cheek. "I think I would die."
She hummed, learning into his hand. "I love you."
He leaned into kiss her softly. "I love you more."
She grinned into his mouth, tightening her arms. "I love you most."
He only shook his head. "Not possible, I am afraid."
"I guess we're just going to have to agree to disagree." She nudged his nose with her own.
His heart ached with his love for her in that moment. Her in her barely there bikini, wrapped around him, her skin pressed deliciously against him. Her heart beating against her chest. He felt happy for the first time since the last time he had seen her.
"Clary?" Izzy's voice prompted Clary to turn away from him, some of her skin lifting from against his. He felt a coldness in the warm water, not wanting to be apart from her any more than he had to. "Can you come here?" She was grinning about something.
She nodded, making to let go of him.
"No." He whined, bringing her closer. "It's cold."
She laughed, kissing him. "I'll be back in a minute, you big baby."
He scowled, not at the name, but at her leaving him. His skin instantly became cold, getting worse the further she swam from him.
"You sicken me." Jon rolled his eyes at him. Jace arched an eyebrow. "She's literally going to be right back."
Jace glared at him. "You just wait, man. And than I'm going to laugh at your pain."
"Honestly, I don't think I will ever love someone the way you love her." Jon lifted a shoulder. "I don't think it is possible."
Jace let his head fall back on the pool ledge. "Sometime I wonder if it would be easier if I had never met her in the first place but the thought scares me to much to dive much deeper into it."
"How do you mean?" Alec asked, his eyebrow crooked on his forehead.
"I mean, I know what it feels like to be with her and it is ten times any other feeling, and I never want to give it up. Loving her is the best thing to ever happen to me, besides her loving me back."
Jon let out a groan. "Gag with me a spoon."
Jace lept at him, his arm wrapping around his neck as he tried to dunk him. Jon fought back, not wanting to get dunked. Their laughter was loud as Alec joined in to help Jon fight off Jace. And than suddenly there were two people forcing Jace's head under the water. Repeatedly. Until he was able to throw one off and launch himself at the other, tackling him under the water.
Small hands pushed on him. Hands that he recognized and let push him under after her brother. She climbed onto his back, holding him under as he was forced to release Jon.
He came back up, his arm bending behind him to grab her. "What was that?" He asked, a smile on his face. "You're supposed to be on my side."
She only grinned at him, reaching around to fist bump Jon. "Bros before Hoes."
His mouth dropped open, slinging her around so she was again resting on his chest. "Did you just call me a hoe?"
She laughed as his hands found her sides, trying her hardest to get away from him. Her laughter was loud in the air, her hands pushing as hard as they could at his shoulders.
"Jon. Jon!" She yelled, trying to get away. "Help!"
But Jon only grinned, his hands finding her too, until she was able to land a kick to his stomach and break away, making a mad dash to the shallow end of the pool. Jace reached for her ankle and missed, forcing him to have to swim after her.
She was laughing as she swam, trying to keep her feet out of their reach. Jace caught one, standing and pulling her back to him. She turned on to her back as he dragged her back, pulling her up in his arms. He kissed her, apologizing for tickling her. She let him kiss her, her hand coming to tangle in his now wet hair. He pulled her hair out of the ponytail, it was already wet, and tangled his own fingers in it.
Their kiss lasted longer than a few seconds, she was to caught up in him to care that her brother was a couple feet away, having a splash fight with Izzy and Alec. Her arms tightened around his neck as he began walking towards the stairs. He sat down on one, leaning back and letting her kiss him. His mind went numb, his heart beat fast and his brain turned to mush. All his thoughts evaporated as she moved over him, her stomach pressed against him. Her mouth left his and he used it an excuse to trail his kisses down her neck, stopping to kiss her underneath her ear where he knew she loved to be kissed.
Her sighs and gasps were music to his ears. He had missed them since he left. Her nails lightly scratching at his scalp made his heart beat quicken painfully. His trunks were getting tighter and tighter against him until he could not take it any more, all of her pressed up against all of him.
"Babe." He moved up from her neck and to her ear, his voice breathless. "I need you."
She kissed his lips once more before siding off of him and stepping out of the pool. The other three were sitting on the edge of the pool, talking. Izzy grinned at them as they dried off.
"Have fun!" She called, winking at the two.
Clary showed her her middle finger, though there was a grin on her face.
"And keep quiet." Jon yelled, his voice serious.
"No promises." Jace called back before closing the door as they walked into the house. Their skin instantly prickled as they met the cool AC.
"Jace." She hit his stomach. "Don't be gross."
He grabbed her hand, bringing it up to his lips. "If you were anyone else he would have been cheering too."
Her eyebrows rose. "Anyone else, huh?"
He grinned, leaning down to kiss her. "Guess he'll just have to learn to deal with it I guess."
"He better." She broke the kiss to lead him up the stairs and to her room. "Because you're mine."
"I'm yours." He connected their lips again, lifting her up, as he walked into her room and kicked the door shut. Than locking it.
He laid her underneath him on her bed. "All of me is yours. My heart. My mind. My thoughts. My body. All of it."
She smiled up at him, pulling him on top of him, silencing him.
"And all of me is yours." She whispered against him. "My love. My soul. My body. My everything."
"God I've missed you." His hands crept down her familiar curves. "Have you missed me?"
She let out a moan as his hands found the stings to her tops. "Yes, so much."
"God, I love you." His hands slid lower, tugging at her bottoms. "Do you love me?"
A noise was ripped from her mouth. "Yes."
"Say it." He breathed. His hand taking place of the bottoms he had untied.
"I love you." She gasped out, her back arching, giving him more access to her neck
A noise was ripped out of his own throat as a hand grabbed the back of his hair, pulling.
"Clary." He breathed, the only thought left in his head. "Clary."
His lips met hers again, their hips doing the same.
Her eyes were closed, her mouth open. Her feet dragged his bottoms down, allowing him to feel all of her. He groaned, his head dropping once again to her neck. She wrapped herself around him, gasping as he moved against her. She felt so good underneath him, around him.
His name fell from her lips, prompting him to move faster. Her name dropped from his own lips, the only noises in the room. The only thoughts in his mind. Until with one last movement his muscles and body released for the first time in a month. He felt like he was home finally, with her now laying on top of him, his hands in her hair, her hand over his heart.
"Come on." She made to sit up. "Shower with me before they get back."
He sighed, following her. As he watched her cross her room to the bathroom that connected her and Jon's room he did not find it very hard to get up. When they were both clean and happy, she pulled on one of his t-shirt he had stolen and climbed back in bed. He unlocked the door, not wanting her parents to get suspicious. They had been having sleepovers since they were ten. He flicked the light off, the fan on, before slipping in next to Clary, a clean pair of boxers adorning his lower half.
His arms circled her body, pulling her against him.
"When are you leaving tomorrow?" She asked, pulling up her alarm app on her phone.
"Around 9." He grabbed his own phone from her night stand. There were a couple missed calls from some of the guys, as well as some texts, but he could not find it in himself to care to much. Luckily he had lost all his streaks when he went to college, besides the one with Clary because he snapchatted her everyday anyways, so he did not have to worry about sending them.
Clary still had hers, all thirty of them, which was just too much if you asked him. She opened the app, taking a picture of the two of them to send. His lips were attached to her cheek, though they were smiling. She sent them to all her streaks, opening theirs in turn before putting her phone away.
"When do you have to get up in the morning?" He asked, resting his cheek on hers.
"I set my alarm for 8, we can eat breakfast before you go."
"Babe, you have school at 7:30."
"I'll leave when you leave." She held his hands with her own.
"Okay." He breathed out. "I love you."
She turned to kiss him on the cheek, holding her lips on his cheek. "I love you."
And then her breathing evened out, her heart beat slow and steady against his chest. His soon followed, a smile on his face as he did. When her parents came home twenty minutes later they could not even find it within themselves to kick him out, it was a school night after all. They had seen how miserable she had been when she woke up in the morning to a text from Jace and not the real thing. And when Jon called her to wish her a happy birthday instead of jumping on her bed like he normally did. But she was lying peacefully in his arms now, a smile on both of their faces. A smile that prompted Jocelyn to close the door instead of wake him up and climb into bed with her own love. Her daughter was happy for the first time in three weeks and that was enough for her.
xoxo- i'm back lol. it didn't take me the full year, just almost! let me know what you think!