Chapter 2

Really?. . . . Are you serious?

If you let me I could I'll show you how to build your fences set restrictions
Separate from the world a constant battle that you hate to fight
Just blame the limelight
Don't look up just let them think there's no place else you'd rather be
And now you can't turn back cause this road is all you'll ever have.

-Paramore (Fences)

All week I've felt like shit. All day Monday I've felt like shit. Today is Tuesday, two days before Thanksgiving. Can you guess how I fell? If you guessed like shit, then 'Ding Ding Ding! WE HAVE A WINNER!'

So, right now I'm sitting in my Senior English class not paying attention to Canterbury Tales, like I probably should. I can't help it. For some reason, Jace keeps popping back into my mind. But. . . It doesn't make sense for me to feel this way because he wants Iz and not me. Damn, that hurts more than it should. Sigh, I don't know. I'll hide my feelings and everything like usual. Riiiiiiiing!

I picked up my books and purse, and said my 'See you later!' to my friends. Two steps out the door and who do I see when I look up. . . No other than Jace Christopher Wayland!

"J.C.!" I yell as he looks my way as a simile breaks out across his face.

"Clarissa!" He yells back as he gave me his usual bone crushing hug. After he put me down he said, "What's up?"

"Nothing much. Same old, same old. You allllready know!"

After we laughed, I noticed that this kid named Ed, who was one of Jace's friends, was standing there. Jace, who had left his arm around my waist from the hug, (Hum. . . Maybe that's why I was feeling warm?) had said "Hey" to Ed. Ed said "Hey who is this?" Before I could introduce myself Jace said, "This is my new girlfriend," as he said that, not only did he give me another bone crushing hug again, but even though it felt nice when he said that I was shocked and slightly hurt. It was all a joke to him and that wasn't fair to me. So, me being me, I got defensive. So, before I could stop myself I said, "Um, no 'cause you like my best friend 'member?"

I walked away going right in between the boys. As I walked away I felt bad for being rude. So, I did the best hair flip and breath-taking simile I could manage over my left shoulder, and saw he was talking to Ed, but giving me side glances as I walked away. Well, at least I got some type of reaction out of him.

For the rest of the day, Jace was the main thing, person, everything on my mind. Every class after, and during matter of fact, English, he was my objective. Business, psychology, statistics, lunch, more statistics and wind ensemble band! He was at the front of my mind.

After band, I walked out with Maryse, and waited for Simon to come out of his art class. When we got to the main hallway to wait on Iz, she and Jace came up to me yelling at each other talking about how the other had hit them. I roll my eyes and give a slight simile at are everyday routine. "Stop yelling! Iz, what happened?"

"JACE HIT ME ON MY ARM AND IT HU-"

"NO I DI-" I stopped him with my 'Keep talking and see what the snuck happens next!' look. "You guys are so stupid," I walked away laughing while everybody went to their locker.

That night I was cleaning the kitchen, like always, listening to my playlist I made online. I heard my cell phone ring, singing loudly Church by T-Pain, telling me that I had a call. Seeing it was Iz I answered, "Hello?"

Everybody made fun of the way I answered the phone because I sounded like a 'proper white girl' when I answered a phone, a stranger, when I was being shy, or when I was talking to someone much older than me.

"Clarissa?"

"Yeah Iz, what's up?"

"I got a question about Canterbury Tales."

"Shoot for it."

After we talked about that gosh awful story, I got a text message. Can you guess from who? Anybody? Anybody? Wait. Wait. Did someone just say Jace? 'Cause if you did. . . Your correct! TEN POINTS FOR TEAM EDWARD! (What? I'm not a fan of Harry Potter and I'm Team Edward; Just because Jacob is effin' sexy doesn't mean I like book Jacob. EW!)

Asking Iz to hold on a sec, I looked back at the message which had only said, "Hey". I sent him a message saying, "Hey what's up?.."

"Nm thinkin"

"Whatcha thinkin bout?.."

"U"

As soon as I saw that I yelled, "Iz!"

"Yeah, what?"

"Is it weird that Jace said he was thinking of me?"

"Sorta, I guess. I don't know."

Just realizing I had never replied back to him I said, "Wat bout me?.."

"That I lyk u"

Since I was in utter shock with that confession, I almost yelled at Iz saying, "Iz. . . Jace just said he likes me."

"Wait, who?"

"Jace, Iz, Jace!"

"Well. . . Do you like him?"

"One sec." I ran back to my room, grabbed my headset, and told Iz, "OK, I'm back."

"So?"

"So, what?"

I ignored her to prolong the moment, and replied to Jace, "Really?.."

"Wait, what Iz?"

"Are you gonna answer my question?"

"Yea I do"

"What question?"

"Oh.. Ok then.."

"Do. You. Like. Him. Clarissa?"

"So im just sayin I think u and me should go out"

"IZ HE JUST ASKED ME OUT!"

"Jace?"

"Yes dum-dum! Who else would I be talking about?," As I went back to washing dishes to try and distract myself. Iz asked, "What are you gonna say?" I already knew my answer, "No."

"We can't.."

"No you don't know, or you're saying no?" Rolling my eyes, "I'm saying no. He broke up with one of my best friends a little over a week ago. . . What else could I do?"

"Why". "U broke up wit Tess a wk ago.."

"You know. . . What she doesn't know won't hurt her."

"Iz, either way I can't be like her. It hurts to know your best friend betrayed you to get laid by your once love. Though In more than one way I wouldn't be like her." Sebastian Verlac and Celine Herondale. The two biggest people on my hit list. Seb. Sigh. The boy was suppose to love ME. . . NOT my so called best friend Cece. It still hurts like all hell to know they lied to me about their relationship. Like SERIOUSLY! I told her if she wanted to dat- never mine. I don't want to think about that right now.

"It's OK Clari. Don't worry about that. Just I think you should go out with him."

"I totally 4got bout that I got u" "Thanks.."

"Why do you think that? I mean, you don't think it would be weird?" This was the first time Iz ever told me to go after I guy. With my first boyfriend, Magus Bane, she thought he was really sweet. Which don't get me wrong, he is. Too sweet if you ask me. That's why it didn't work out with us, I'm not mean (OK, so I can be a totally bitch at times if you catch me at the wrong time and place, whatever!) but Magus couldn't stand up for himself nine times out of ten. Really, how the hell am I suppose to work with that? But she never said "I think you should go out with Magus." Ne-ver!

Anyway, back on topic. "I want u :(" "Im sorry.." After that he never texted back and I didn't stress over it. . . Or I didn't let him think that anyway.

"No. I don't know why, I just think that you two should go out." Well then. After that, her mother said that she had to go. We said are goodbyes and got off the phone.

I really didn't know what I should do. Plus about this happening today is that I don't have to face him. I knew if I had to see him tomorrow morning it would be ten times worse for both of us. Him thinking I don't want him, and me knowing that I really did want him on the inside. Just that nobody could know because he dated Tess. 'What she doesn't know won't her.' Damn it Iz. I'm going to kill her. She is really making me rethink his offer. And I can't do that. I'll ask Simon.

"Hey bro guess wat!.."

"Wat?"

"Jace just asked me out!.."

"So u guys r going out now?"

"No.."

"Y nt".

"Cause he just broke up with Tess lyk last wk?.. I cnt do tht 2 her!.."

"Shyt… Who said she hd 2 kno". What the hell is up with him and Iz? It's like they're twins; always thinking the same even though they aren't even close to each other.

"So.. U think I should go wit him 2?.."

"Yea I do".

Well. . . Looks like I have some thinking to do over the thanksgiving break. . .