A/N: A new one; let me know what you think, whether this is something worth continuing. I have so many ideas at the minute, so many unfinished ones, but some new ones I just need to get out. Please review and enjoy.
Big love.
Clary Fray had the perfect life; ask anyone. Her best friend Izzy was her co-captain of the cheer squad, the most popular girl to exist, and she was gorgeous beyond belief. She lived in a nice house in a nice neighbourhood, she had a job that she loved at the local bookstore, and her grades were straight A. It was well known that she had a perfect life.
And that's exactly what she wanted them to think.
"Okay, one more time ladies!" Isabelle shouted at the team, hand on her skirt-clad hip. It was the day before the biggest game of the season; if the Alicante High players won this match they would be state champions. And that was enough to get everyone worked up; especially the hot-headed Isabelle. Clary groaned from her position atop the pyramid, letting Maia catch her as she slipped down.
"She needs a drink." Maia mumbled, helping Clary neaten out her uniform. Clary laughed.
"She's just stressed- you know what this means to her." Clary replied sweetly, watching Isabelle yell at the sloppiest spotter on their squad, Seelie. She bit her lip and approached Isabelle.
"Hey." She said, walking up to her friend, giving Seelie her signature 'get lost' look. "They're gonna mutiny if you keep the hard-ass act up." Clary laughed, and Isabelle shot her a dirty look.
"It's not my fault half these dumbasses can't throw- you're the flyer babe, I'm just looking after your safety." She shot, and Clary rolled her eyes, turning to the team.
"We're done for the day, girls- hit the showers." Clary yelled, watching the relief on her teammates' faces, and she ignored the indignance on Isabelle's. The team trailed out of the gymnasium, their muttered gossip chirping after them, and as they left Clary was glad that Isabelle wasn't putting up a fight.
"Okay, now you." Clary said, turning back to Isabelle. She had taken a seat on the bleachers, and there was a tired look on her face. "Why are you so worried?" She asked, and Isabelle frowned.
"This game is important, Clary. We need to support the team." She said, and Clary raised an eyebrow. "Okay, fine! Mel is being a serious diva about the whole thing, and I honestly think if they lose then I will never hear the end of it."
Clary frowned.
"What the hell does losing the game have to do with us, though?" Clary asked, and Isabelle slumped down on the bleachers, flicking her long hair back.
"He likes to blame everyone other than himself. He'll make it my fault…"
She looked down at her hands, and Clary tried not to fume at the thought. Izzy had to put a front on for the rest of the world; in reality, she wasn't all that put together. She was still grieving for a brother she lost nearly eight years ago, was struggling with her absent parents, and was constantly trying to keep herself on top of the social food chain. She was exhausted.
"Well… screw him. We have bigger things to worry about- like Nationals- and he'll get over it. He's a big boy, Iz."
Isabelle smiled tightly and flicked her hair again, standing up to tower over Clary.
"You're right, short stuff. Let's go shower- you're staying with me tonight, right?"
Clary grinned, picking up her water bottle.
"Of course. We have to get your house party ready for tomorrow-" she grinned at Izzy's sharp look "Even if we win or lose, we need to get drunk!"
Izzy smiled back, and the two left the gym arm in arm, both ready for what was to come.
…
Clary smiled like she had never smiled before; eyes wide, teeth bared, chest puffed. The crowd was roaring before her, around her, and her cheer squad were all identical beside her. Isabelle was at the front of their formation, hands on her slender hips, and as the icy wind chilled her bare legs Clary couldn't help but feel alive. The Alicante high team were in the lead, and before the half time show had begun Sebastian, the quarterback, had shot a wink at her triumphantly in front of the cheering crowd. And now it was their turn to impress.
Music boomed in her ears, and she could feel the blood rushing through her veins; the air was fizzing with electricity as they started, and she could feel the thousands of eyes on them.
"Ready? Okay!"
With Izzy's command they were off; Clary held her pose, flipped her hair, stepped every beat perfectly. She held her body rigid as she was flung into the air by Seelie and Magnus, holding her breath as she was lifted to the top of the pyramid. She could feel the excitement of her teammates as they landed their first basket toss, then the next. She could feel every muscle in her body aching, but as it came to the final stunt, as she was thrown in the air the final time, she felt as though she was flying.
The crowd cheered early as loudly for them as they did when the Alicante team scored the winning goal, leading them to the role of state champions.
"Did you see Seb? I mean, he was practically flying across that pitch, Never seen anything like it." Raphael said from his position at the bar; they were at Taki's, the prime post game spot, and Clary was stood in between Sebastian's legs as they downed sugary milkshakes, everyone high on their win. Isabelle was by her side, the rest of the team sat in the booths around them, and Clary could feel the excitement.
"I couldn't have done it without you, bro." Sebastian said and Clary laughed at him; she was glad they had won, and she was even happier for Isabelle. Their routine had gone perfectly, and Meliorn was currently laughing with Jordan and Maia. Happy Mel meant a happy Izzy.
She felt Sebastian's warm hand on her thigh, and she turned to whisper to him when Raphael turned his attention to Isabelle.
Sebastian was everything to her. Before becoming friends with Izzy, he was the guy she dreamed about as a shy, nerdy freshman. And now that she was where she was, popular, co-captain of the cheer squad, he couldn't get enough of her. She liked it like that. Feeling wanted.
"Seb." She said quietly into his ear, and he trailed his hand further up her thigh. She shuddered gently, then placed a hand on his, stopping him. "Not here." She smiled, looking at him, and he groaned.
"I just can't help myself, Clare. That skirt is all kinds of inviting…" he said softly into her hair, and she felt herself blush red.
"When we get to Izzy's." She said under a giggle and laughed when he sprung up out of his seat, turning to the team.
"Okay, I'm ready to get fucked; who's in?" He said, grabbing Clary's had in his one, large, warm palms pulling her. Everyone cheered and made their way out of the diner, and Clary turned to Izzy- she winked at her and grinned as her best friend was lead to Sebastian's car.
"Slow down!" Clary laughed as Seb practically carried her to his car; everyone else was already pulling out, enticed by the promise of free booze. Izzy's parties were legendary. He opened the door for her and Clary climbed, turning up the music the second Seb turned on the engine. He grinned at her, and spent the whole journey with one hand on her thigh.
She knew that, if she just gave him the time of day, they would be a couple. She knew he liked her, Meliorn and Raphael had told her, but she had been nervous. Not anymore.
By the time they arrived Izzy had already sped inside and turned up the music, and her seemingly mansion of a house shook with the beat. Clary jumped out of the car before Sebastian could react and hurried inside, looking for Isabelle. No matter what guy she was with, making sure Izzy was okay was top priority. Seb followed her eagerly and they made their way through the- surprisingly- thick crowd, making it to the kitchen.
Isabelle had already lined up a row of shots, and half of the squad were about to throw them back.
"Wait for me!" Clary squealed, picking up the shot of vodka and linking her arm with Isabelle's. They knocked back the shot wedding style, and then she did one with Sebastian. And then another with Maia.
It was an hour later before she realised quite how drunk she was.
Sebastian had already wandered off to find his teammates; he would find Clary later, as he always did at parties, and they would make out in one of the spare rooms. That's how it always ended. But right now she was dancing badly with Maia, swaying her hips as some of the squad played Kings with the football team, and Clary looked around through hazy eyes at the newcomers. Their classmates had joined the teams for the party, and considering the size of Izzy's house there had to be at least a hundred people now at house. The thought made Clary a little anxious, but Izabelle was nowhere in sight. The numbers began to make her feel claustrophobic, and excusing herself by signing a drinking motion to Maia she made her way out the front of the house, knowing the back yard would be full with people getting high or getting off. She laughed out loud at the thought.
Izzy's drive was empty, and she walked to the end of the drive, digging a half-crumpled packet of cigarettes from her pocket. She stuck one in her mouth and flicked the lighter, groaning frustratedly when it just spat sparks. It was so dark, and quiet out of the house, she could hear the empty thing sizzle.
"You can borrow mine."
Clary jumped out of her skin and turned around, shocked; she knew that voice.
"Herondale." She said quietly. The guy in front of her laughed, arm outstretched, offering her a heavy metal lighter. In her hazy state she didn't know how to react, just reaching out and taking it silently, lighting up and taking a deep drag. She could feel him watching her. He always did.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, handing back the lighter. She tried to ignore the electricity between them when their fingers touched, but his smirk let her know that he hadn't. He always did this.
"Aren't you happy to see me?" He said, taking a step closer. Clary took two back, her skin brushing against the bush behind her. She was trapped.
"Izzy wouldn't like you being here." She spat, and he grinned wider.
"What lady muck doesn't know won't hurt her. I'm just here to drop off." He said, and Clary laughed sharply, understanding. He wasn't here to see her- he never was.
"Who's buying tonight then, Herondale? Actually, don't tell me. I know most of the skunk here came from you." She took another drag, but choked as he stepped forward, closer to her, nearly pressing against her. He leant down, lips close to her ear and inhaled deeply.
"Don't pretend you don't love it." He whispered carefully, and she exhaled softly, shuddering. "I know exactly what you're like… don't you remember…" He trailed his fingers along her collarbone, pressing his lips gently against he neck.
And then Clary pushed him off. She hadn't forgotten yet.
"Stay the hell away from me." She said harshly, dropping the cigarette to the ground and stomping it out. He frowned, grasping her wrist firmly and pulling her hand to his chest. "Stop." She whispered.
"Why do you always do this?" He asked, and Clary pulled at her wrist. "Why do you always fight me?"
"Have you ever considered that I want nothing to do with you?" She asked, looking up into his eyes. She couldn't read him, couldn't see what he was thinking, but before she could move he had leant down, capturing her lips in a kiss. She melted into him, not wanting to, but his tongue was on hers, his mouth hot and heavy, and she couldn't help it. Then she pulled away, pushing him off for good and pushing past him.
"Stay away from me, okay?" She slurred into the night. She didn't bother to check if he had left. She knew he had.
She made her way back into the party, the music louder than before, pulsing around her. Or maybe she was just drunker. People were swaying to the music in the living room, Isabelle screaming out lyrics while Meliorn smoked something that wasn't a cigarette on the couch. Sebastian was in the kitchen laughing with someone Clary didn't recognise, and she sidled up beside him. His eyelids drooped heavily, and Clary grinned at him; she wanted to forget what Jace tasted like, forget what it felt like to be so confused. She grabbed a hold of Seb's hand and lead him out of the room, pulling him up the stair past groups of drunken teens, snatching a bottle of something out of a partygoers hand as she led him to the room she knew was empty and out of the way.
Sebastian pressed against her, urging her forwards, and practically pushed her through the door she directed him toward.
The second it was closed Clary felt herself being pushed back against the door, and Sebastian leant down to capture her lips in his. It wasn't as hard as Jace had been, it wasn't as hot or fast or wet. But it was desperate. His hands trailed down her back, holding her against him, and she pushed herself against the wall so that she could wrap her legs around Sebastian's waist, clinging to him. He groaned against her throat and trailed kisses down her neck, and Clary leant her head against the door, signing.
Sebastian moved them, carrying her over to the bed and laying her down, still pressed against her. He whispered in her ear as she ran her hands up his chest.
"Go out with me. Be mine." He slurred, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth, moving his hands up her skirt.
"Yes." Clary hissed, moaning softly as his fingers climbed higher.
She wasn't sure what she was saying yes to, in that moment. All she knew was that, as they tangled together, kisses heated and eager, writihing against each other, it wasn't Sebastian she was thinking of.