"Nature is pleased with simplicity. And nature is no dummy."

Isaac Newton

Clary groaned, placing an arm over her burning forehead. The air smelled like beer. Beer and sex. She wrinkled her nose. Licking her lips, she willed her eyelids to open and instantly winced at the light flashing from her window. Her skull ached like hell. Damn him for making her drink so much. What was it today? Thursday? She shook her head wearily. Her eyes widened and she scrambled into a sitting position, grabbing at her phone. Fuck. "Shit. Shit. Shit." She mumbled kicking her feet from out of the bed sheets and darting to the bathroom, not before throwing the pillow at the boy who had slept with her.

"Get the hell up, Jace. We're thirty minutes late for work!" She heard him say something but ducked in front of the mirror and smacked toothpaste onto her brush. He came behind her looking furious. His hair was a mess. His eyes were narrowed. He wasn't wearing a shirt. She rolled her eyes.

"I told you to put the alarm on, Fray."

Clary spit water out into the sink and gargled before answering him, her voice knowing. "Well having sex and drinking a ton of alcohol is gonna stop that from happening." She wiped her face with the towel he held in his hand. Giving his muscled chest a light smack, she reminded him that his uniform was in her drawers. He barely gave a nod and returned to grabbing his tooth brush.

Moments passed until he searched through her belongings for his attire. He finally found them in her underwear box. He scoffed. "Put them in a better place next time, will ya?"

She was pulling a shirt over her bra. "Keep telling me what to do and I'll make sure there isn't a next time." Jace laughed and peeled off his pants to change.

It took them about ten minutes to put on their uniforms while throwing insults at each other along the way. "My keys!" Clary called, pushing her door open. He glanced around until he found them on the counter and launched them at her. She caught them effortlessly.

He decided to drive this time even though it was her car. She liked to complain. "Have you seen my hair band?" She asked, checking the compartment her face worried.

He sighed. "Just leave your hair down today. It looks better like that anyway." She heaved a heavy frustrated breath but listened, placing an Alicante hat atop her head.

"I don't know what we're going to tell Luke this time." He started, tapping his fingers on the wheel. She shrugged her shoulders.

"Like I care. The same thing as always." He didn't respond and pressed a button for the radio to start on. He liked rock. Sometimes alternative rock. Clary liked the same genres too. The car ride was short considering she lived close to the buzzing restaurant.

Jace flipped his own cap on and jogged with her to the main entrance greeting the aroma of fries, hamburgers, and smelly grease. "You're late!" A man boomed, stomping over to them. He heard Clary snort.

"We won't do it again, Luke."

Luke gave them a ginger smile. "Sure." His tone was sarcastic. "Get in front of the register. You're lucky Santiago took over. Next time, you won't be here."

Jace faked a gasp and dodged a punch from the older man. Chuckling, he headed to his station and grasped the paper Clary handed him. "Alright. I'm going to need two hamburgers, no tomatoes and a large fries. It's in." He told the cooks, crumbling the order.

It was quite busy today, customers arriving early to grab a bite to eat. There were kids hollering and teenagers touching one another. The noise level was high. He couldn't even listen to the classical music playing if he wanted to. It didn't bother him though. He liked the racket. "Have a great day." Clary said to a customer, giving the teenager a small grin.

His cheeks colored. "You have a great smile, y'know." Jace wanted to cough awkwardly at his flirting skills.

"Thanks." Her response was good natured and she winked at him before heading into the kitchens.

The teenager slid something across the table and onto the register. Probably his number. Smooth. Jace reached his fingers under the money mechanism and tugged the note when the man left. He read it, a lazy smile planted on his face.

Before he could yell it out and laugh about it with Raphael, it was snatched by the little leprechaun herself. She frowned at him and scanned over the scribbled words. "Typical." She muttered but placed it into her back pocket.

The day was quick and Jace waited for Clary to bring her belongings. "Have you seen my phone?" She asked and he wondered if there was ever a time she didn't lose something. He opened a few lockers and found nothing. He saw her searching through her jacket and told her if it was in her backpack.

"Why would it be there?" She protested. He snatched her bag and rummaged inside finding the missing object. Her expression brightened upon seeing it and she pressed a kiss to his cheek. He followed her out the doors, not forgetting to lock up.

She drove him to his house and he waved goodbye before she headed home herself. "Fuck!" Clary cursed and stomped her foot against the door of her condo. She dialed Jace's number, temper rising.

He answered, laughing. "Did you forget something?"

"You have my damn key. Give it to me, asshat."

"Alright. Be there in five."

And the normal routine began.

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