Jon was worried about Jace. After seeing Clary for her birthday he had been fine for a couple weeks. Their parents and Max had come down to watch them play but her and Izzy had a game added to their schedule that they couldn't miss so had not gotten to see her like he thought he would. He wasn't Clary happy but he was happy for him, the guys saw his smile for the first time and genuinely got to know him.
But than she had gone to homecoming and it had torn Jace apart. She was homecoming queen, as expected, and had gone with her homecoming partner to the dance. Well, they were in a giant group but it had drove Jace mad.
He trusted Clary, one hundred percent no questions asked, it was more of the fact that the kid had been able to go. That Jace could not have been there for her. He was a mess when she had texted him the night of. They were on their way back from a game in Oklahoma and despite the fact that Jace had scored his first touchdown as a college athlete, he had been so upset.
She had been rather quiet the whole day and night, preparing for homecoming and spending time with friends and Jace had been really worried that she was upset or mad at him. Jon was just thankful she called him to wish him luck like she normally did before games because he honestly didn't think Jace would have been okay enough to play.
Granted, the call had been short but it proved that she wasn't mad at him, just busy, not that either one of them really believed that. The two had found out later that the call had been so short because she had been about to cry and she didn't want Jace to hear that. Jace had spent five hours with her on FaceTime when they got back to the dorm instead of going out with everyone, which he had begun to do.
She had sent him pictures of her in her dress and with the crown and receiving the crown at the previous day's football game. And Jace had been really happy during the call, getting to listen to her talk even if he hadn't been able to experience it himself. After she hung up had been when his mood had gone down and had not come back up.
Missing something that was so important to her had wrecked him. Being the reason for her tears and not being able to comfort her had wrecked him. Everything about not being with her had hit him in the face that night and the good mood he had for the month or so since they had gotten to see her had vanished.
And it had only gotten worse when her team had lost the state semis. She had called him when they had made it back to their locker room, very close to sobbing. Their moms had been keeping them up with the game which was good because she was crying so hard you couldn't even understand her. Jace had wanted nothing more than to drive the two hours to hold her. It was already ten at night and they had a six am practice the next day. It had still took a lot of convincing on Jon's part to stop him from going after she had hung up saying she'd call them when she got home.
When she had called them later she was no longer crying, even laughed a little, and Jace seemed a little more happy at that. But when she had fallen asleep on them only fifteen minutes after the call Jace became a little more worried. Anytime Clary cried a lot she always went to bed quickly and to Jace that meant that after she had hung up with him the first time she had cried a lot more and he had not been there to comfort her. Yet another thing he had missed.
All their friends were worried. He was not eating properly or sleeping properly, the only times Jon saw him smile were with him and when he was talking to Clary. Sometimes it was easy to forget that they were best friends, him and Jace, even now and especially now that he was dating Clary.
It had been a long time since Jace had chose to hang with Jon over Clary, but it had been along time since him and Jace had been apart and Jon knew that if it were the other way around, although significantly less, Jace would miss him too. And Jon would miss him, he couldn't imagine not being with Jace constantly. even though he was moody and an asshole sometimes, he was family. And family didn't let family hurt the way he was hurting now.
"Jace!" He called through the dorm room, Clary trailing behind him. There was no answer. He peeked his head around the wall to see him passed out on his pillow, his school work surrounding him, his phone clutched in his hand, waiting for Clary's call.
He grinned, letting Clary wake him up. It was Thanksgiving break for her starting the next day and she had convinced mom to come down and see them before she went home to celebrate Thanksgiving. And had wanted to surprise Jace.
Jace felt hands on his chest, pushing lightly at him. The hands were small and familiar. They were Clary's. And the smell that reached his nose was hers too. It smelled like roses and vanilla and home. It smelled of happiness and smiles and love.
He didn't want to wake up. It had been so long since he had been able to smell her so distinctly. It had been so long since she had touched him and he had touched her. It had been too long since he had felt at home.
"Baby." A hand caressed his face. And Jace found that he suddenly didn't want it to be a dream after all, not when the real thing could be in front of him. He was to scared to open his eyes, he didn't want the room to be empty.
"Wake up." Her voice prompted him, her fingers running through his hair.
He felt himself subconsciously lean into them, willing them to actually be there. His mouth was able to open before his eyes could.
"Please tell me this isn't a dream." He muttered, willing it to be real.
He heard her laugh clearly above him, her other hand coming up to run her thumb across his cheek.
"Jace, open your eyes."
"But what if you're not here?"
He felt her lips on his, soft and fleeting. "Only one way to find out." Her voice was just as soft.
His eyes fluttered open after that, taking in her smiling face above him. Her fingers were still tangled in his hair, her other hand moving to grab his hand. He didn't let her, instead wrapping both his arms around her body and hugging her as close to his body as he could.
"Clary." He breathed out, his brain finally catching up to his heart and body.
She bunched a corner of his sweatshirt in her hand, hugging him just as tight. Jace wondered briefly if Jon was still in there but than decided he didn't care. She felt perfect in his arms, just as soft and lovely as the last time.
"Clary." He breathed again before rolling a little so he could look at her face. "What are you doing here?"
"Happy Thanksgiving." She shrugged, leaning up to kiss him again. He met her this time, his hand cupping the back of her neck. She felt so good. He felt so good.
He didn't have as much time as would have liked with her in his arms like that as she turned them to Jon who was looking at his phone, a headphone in his ear. Jace picked up the nearest pillow and chucked it at him.
He jerked up when it hit him, pulling the bud out. "What was that for?" He cried incredulously.
"A little warning next time." He said, motioning to the state of his bed. His homework was every where, on the ground and shoved to the side.
Jon glared, putting the ear bud back in his ear. Jace turned back to an amused Clary who was resting her head on his shoulder.
"Tired?" He asked her, kissing her head.
She nodded. "Long drive."
"Go to sleep." He shifted them so they would be more comfortable. "We'll talk when you wake up."
She nodded, her head becoming heavier on him as she drifted slowly, becoming completely at his mercy. He watched her for some time, taking in her eye bags and pale skin. She looked exhausted. He didn't need to wake her up or move for sometime. Jon and him had finished practice for the day and got to sleep in the next day as it was Wednesday.
It also meant that the guys were planning on getting drunk tonight. He hadn't really been planning on it but he knew Clary would probably enjoy it. And he really wanted his friends to meet her, they were constantly teasing him that she didn't actually exist as no girl could be as perfect as he described. He was ready to prove them wrong.
Jace looked over at Jon who had his own eyes closed, his chest rising and falling every so often. He couldn't help but feel thankful for the guy, not only did he put up with all of Jace's sadness and shit but he did something about it. Clary was laying in his arms now and Jace couldn't think of a better was to spend his time. His best friend and his girlfriend.
His own eyes were getting heavy and beginning to stay closed for longer as he blinked. Clary shifted in her sleep, her leg coming to rest in between his. He felt so peaceful and warm wrapped up with her that it didn't take long for him to completely drift off.
Jace's eyes flew open. Clary was still passed out on him, their legs and fingers intertwined. Jon was making his way to the door so that he would hopefully punch the person who was pounding on their door. Jace let out a great of relief when he realized that's why he woken up, not because anything bad was happening. Clary was still sleeping soundly like she hadn't even heard the knocking.
"Shut up." Jon's voice reached his ears from the door, there was no real bite to his words. "My sister's sleeping."
"She's here?" Came a confused voice that Jace couldn't quite place. He was still trying to wake up.
"Yeah, she got here a couple hours ago."
A couple hours? How long had they been asleep for. He looked towards the microwave to make out the time. It was 6:20. She had gotten here around 4:30.
"Is she joining us tonight? Are you coming tonight?"
"Probably." Jace could practically hear his shrug. "We haven't asked her yet but she's normally down."
"Alright, Bat's getting the alcohol now, what do you guys want?"
Jon lead him Jordan in the room, walking to his bed to grab their money. Jace nodded to him when Jordan caught sight of him.
"So this is Clary." He was grinning down at Jace.
Jace nodded. "Yeah, now be quiet."
Jordan shook his head, walking closer to Jon.
"I want two four Lokos. Frost. Jace?"
"Just half a case of beer."
"What does Clary want?" Jordan asked, typing it out in his phone.
Jon looked towards Jace, he knew her drink order better than him.
"Parrot Bay." Jace shrugged. "I don't know, just get her a mango Parrot Bay and than she can share with us."
Jordan nodded. "Wait." Jon stopped him. "Just get her two strawberry lemonade Mike harders. I don't feel like mixing anything."
Jace only nodded, she liked them about the same. Jon handed Jordan a 20, enough to cover the drinks and as a thanks to whoever was taking Bat to get the drinks since everyone was under 21.
Clary moved in his arms, her head rolling a little. Jace watched her, torn between wanting to talk to her and wanting her to rest. As her eyes began to move under her eyelids he decided he wanted to talk to her, he did not have a whole lot of time with her.
"Hey sleepyhead." He kissed her cheek, prompting her eyes to open fully and her emerald eyes to focus on him. Her face broke into a grin and she leaned up to kiss him.
"Hi." She pulled back, making to sit up.
He squeezed her tighter, not wanting her to go.
"Babe, I gotta pee." She laughed, trying to slip out of his arms.
He sighed, pulling her down for another kiss before he let her go. As she climbed out of bed she caught sight of Jordan who was looking at her with a grin. She gave him a small smile back and opened the door to their bathroom and slipping inside.
"She's cute."
Jace threw a pillow at him, burying his face in the pillow her head had been resting on and breathing in the scent she had left. He hoped it would stay after she left, but than again he think he would go mad if he could smell her in his sleep and than wake up and her not be there.
"She's also mine." Jace mumbled back at him, his voice muffled by the pillow.
"What?" Jordan laughed.
Jace moved his head so he could hear his voice. "She's also mine."
Jordan laughed. "Doesn't mean she's any less cute."
Jace glared at him. "Don't you have to go give Bat our money."
Jordan shrugged, a one sided smile now on his face. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. You coming Jon? Leave the lovebirds alone."
Jon made a face at that but nodded anyways. "Sure, I'm sure I'd see something I don't want to if I stay much longer."
Clary stepped out of the bathroom, oblivious to the three boys, as she washed her hands. Jordan was making crude hand signals at the two, Jon torn between amusement and disgust. Jace chucked another pillow at him, climbing out of bed fully to clean up all the homework that remained on his bed and that had fallen off.
"We'll see ya later. Nice to meet you Clary." Jordan said as the two left the room.
"You too." She gave him another smile as she dried her hands. "Bye Jonny."
Jordan stopped as he opened the door, turning with a large grin to Jon.
"Shut up." Jon shoved him out the door. "Bye Clare-bear." He called back over his shoulder.
Jace shook his head, putting the work back in his backpack and remaking his bed as Clary walked around the room. Their beds were at opposite ends of the room, their head boards on opposite walls so that they could still see each other. Their desks were at the ends of their bed, the back of them leaning against the foot boards. jon's side was rather messy, his clothes draped across his desk and on the floor around his bad. His clear containers filled with food and other things stacked next to his bed, a picture of the three of them framed on top. It was his only picture.
Jace's side was pristine as always as he sat on his now made bed. His white sheets were crisp and clean, his pillows back at the top. His clothes all in the hamper in the closet and his desk practically empty. His containers were all pushed in and organized inside. Unlike Jon he had several pictures as he liked to look at them when he missed Clary. There were two on top of his containers that she picked up. One was just her, a picture he had taken as she wore his practice jersey over one of his hoodies, a pair of his two big sweatpants rolled up her legs. She was sitting cross legged on his bed, a huge grin on her face, smiling up at him, her arms in her lap. Her head was almost completely back as he was standing almost directly over her. Her hair hung messily around her shoulders and she looked so fucking adorable and cuddly in the picture that it made his stomach hurt.
The other was the two of them during a vacation their two families had taken together. Izzy had taken it. Clary was in her bikini, her hair soaking wet and curly, sitting between his two bent legs. Her back was against his chest, his arms wrapped tight around her, elbows on his knees, as the smiled widely at the camera. She looked so good in his arms that he couldn't help it as he grabbed her before she could look at the other pictures he had and sat her between his legs. She set the picture of her back on the containers but kept the one of the two in her hands.
"I love you." He leaned against the wall, tightening his arms around her.
"I love you, too." She sniffed, a pang going through his heart.
"Why are you crying?" He buried his face in her hair, squeezing her even tighter.
She hugged his arms with hers, tilting her head so his head fell further down.
"You just make me really happy." She set the picture down. "And you're just the sweetest."
He kissed her neck, his lips lingering. "I like to see your face first when I wake up."
She turned in his arms, sitting on her knees as she looked at him. Tears were running down her face now. He wiped them away with his hands as she leaned down to kiss him. He held her face as she kissed him softly, her arms winding around his neck.
His body relaxed as she kissed him, fitting her body tightly against him as she slanted her lips. His hand slipped underneath her sweatshirt and instead of meeting her skin like he normally did his hand met her t-shirt. He made to slide his hand under that too but she pulled back suddenly, a large grin on her face as she climbed off the bed.
"Babe?" He sat up, no longer leaning against the wall.
She pulled the hoodie over her head, keeping her t-shirt on still. It was an OSU t-shirt that read class of 2022. A t-shirt that future OSU students get.
"Please tell me this is what I think it means." He practically begged her, sliding off the bed.
"You're looking at a future Buckeye."
And than he was wrapping his arms around her and picking her off the ground. Somewhere deep deep deep down he felt a little guilty that she had passed on going to her dream school for him but mostly he just felt excitement. She was laughing as he spun her, her arms and legs wrapping tightly around him.
"Thank God." He looked up at her smiling face. "Thank God."
This meant that he would be seeing his girlfriend everyday. And that he would get to fall asleep next to her. And than his junior year he would get to live with her and Jon in an apartment. And that he would never have to go without her again. And that he would get to see her actual face when he woke up and not just her picture.
"I like NYU." She said as she looked down at him. "But I am in love with you. And don't think I can ever do this again. OSU is exactly where I'm supposed to be."
"I love you." He leaned up to kiss her, much harder than their previous kisses had been. "I love you." He set her back down on the bed. "I love you so much."
She pushed his hair out of his face with her fingers, running her hand down the side of his face. His eyes closed, leaning into her touch.
His lips met her once again, kissing her with everything in him. Her hand tugged at the bottom of his curls as he raked his teeth against her bottom lip. He went to lift her shirt off, too, wanting to touch every inch of her but her hands stopped him. "Babe, I'm on my period."
He groaned, his head dropping to kiss her neck, his hand grabbing hers instead and intertwining their fingers. "I just love you so much."
"I know, I love you too." Her hand ran through his hair. "It's my last day, though. I'm all yours tomorrow."
That brought his head back up, his finger going to trace her cheek. "How long are you stay till?"
"I have to back for Thanksgiving dinner at 6. So like noon probably, I have to help get ready."
He kissed her quickly, sliding off of her. His pants were already uncomfortably tight and he didn't want to make it worse. She stopped him, her hand slipping under his shirt to rest on his stomach, pushing him on to his back.
"I'm on my period, not you." She said as she kissed him.
He shook his head, groaning as her hand slipped past the elastic on pants.
"That's not fair-" He gasped as she made contact. "Not fair to you."
She smiled against his lips. "I love you."
And than her lips left his to replace the hand she removed. One of his hands wound their way through her hair, the other griped the sheets next to him. His underwear were pulled past his hips as her lips met the most sensitive part of him.
"Clary." He moaned, his head falling back on the pillow behind his head, his eyes staying on hers. She looked up him with her gorgeous eyes as she moved her head up and down. It didn't take long for his release, his eyes slamming shut as his body exploded almost painfully. And than she was fixing his underwear and getting off from the bed. His head was spinning and he couldn't think straight.
Her lips met his again, tasting like the mouthwash at the sink, and his eyes slowly opened. She was hovering over him, her hair like a curtain around the two.
"I love you." He held the back of her head as he kissed her, his voice rather breathless. "And I'm going to make you feel so good tomorrow."
She smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Looking forward to it."
And than she was pulling away and grabbing the picture of the two of them that was still sitting on the bed. She placed it back where it belonged.
"Look at my desk." He told her, sitting up and grabbing her hand. "Those two are just my favorites."
She smiled, letting him lead her around his bed. There were several pictures taped in the corner of the back, all of her. She really liked taking pictures of him and somewhere along the way he had found that he loved doing the same. There were several of her across the table at restaurants, and sleeping in his bed in his clothes, and some of her in her blue beanie that he loved so much, and her peeking out of the pool with her arms crossed on the ledge, and of her drawing or painting. On top of the overhang part of the desk was one more picture frame with two pictures. In the first picture was selfie he had taken when they were watching movies in bed one day, laughing at something. The other one was a picture of him dipping her at Prom and kissing her, well him kissing her smile he should say.
"You're such a sap." She wrapped her arm around him. "I didn't even know you had these." She pointed at the pictures of her drawing.
"You always look so gorgeous when you paint." He shrugged, wrapping his arm around her. "Or draw, or sketch, or talk, or eat, or breath, or anything really. I just can't resist."
She picked up her phone from where it was sitting on his desk next to her bag, leading him back to the bed. He sat on the bed, pulling her to him. Instead of cuddling with him like he thought she had wanted, she sat so her knees were between his legs. He looked up at her confused.
"Smile." She smiled down at her as she raised her phone up. "I want a snapchat of my cute boy."
He rolled his eyes but did as he was told. His hands grabbed her waist and he smiled up at her. She reached out to fix his hoodie and than sat down on her feet to look at the picture. She added some hearts and a caption that read, missed my cute boy, and she put it on her story. Than she was laying on his chest, looking up at him.
"You're not going to let me take one of you?" He asked, grabbing his own phone.
"Jace, I look like shit." She looked down at her t-shirt and leggings.
"And I don't?" He motioned to his hoodie and sweats.
She rolled her eyes. "You're quite possibly the most gorgeous being on this planet."
He smiled up at her. "Not possible, I'm afraid. Second, maybe, to you."
She shook her head but was smiling.
"It's not for snapchat, it's just for me." He begged, sticking out his lower lip.
She conceded resting her head on her arm, tilting it to the side, and smiling. He smiled as he took several picture, his hand coming to tangle in her curls in some.
"You're really fucking adorable." He put his phone down, leaning to kiss her nose. "Did you know that?'
"And you're really sweet." She grabbed his hand with the one she wasn't leaning on.
"How was your day?" He asked her, brushing through her curls with her fingers.
"Good, senioritis is real though."
He nodded, he had experienced it too. The only reason he didn't miss too many days was because he knew she couldn't. Junior year sucked and he wanted to make it as easy as possible for her.
"You're like a quarter of the way there."
"I know." She nodded. "And you've got like a month left of football and than guess who will be visiting like every weekend."
"You." He smiled at her. "But I can't let you do that. I have to pull my own weight too."
Her eyebrows furrowed. "I thought you still had workouts and stuff."
He shrugged. "Not every weekend, and it's all flexible. I can do more during the week so I can have more of my weekends."
She shook her head but she was still smiling. "I want to see you every other weekend when I can. I just miss you a lot."
"Trust me babe, if I had it my way I would be seeing you every single day."
"Me too." She tilted her head again so it laid down on her arm, her eyes closing.
"At least I have you for the next few days." He lifted their intertwined hands to kiss hers.
"Happy Thanksgiving." She squeezed his hand, her eyes still closed.
"When will I be seeing you next?" He asked her, placing their hands over his heart.
She shrugged. "Probably Christmas break, so in a couple weeks. Depends how far you guys go. We're planning on coming to the championship if you guys make it."
He raised an eyebrow. "In Georgia?"
She nodded. "They figure that they're saving so much money with not paying for your guys' tuition that they can splurge a little. And Jon got all of us free tickets so all we have to pay for is the plane ticket and the hotel."
"How did I not know this was being talked about?"
"You don't call your family a whole lot. And I normally talk to Jon about serious stuff when you're not there because you are to distracting." She leaned in for another kiss as if to prove her point.
Before either one of them could say anything else there was a knock on the door, followed by the sound of the nob turning.
"You guys decent?" Came Jon's voice from the doorway, not willing to walk anymore into the room.
"Yeah." Clary yelled, sitting up.
Jace stayed where he was propped up on the pillows, their hands still intertwined.
"They've already started whenever you're ready to join them."
"Join them for what?" Clary asked, climbing out of the bed.
"We're drinking with some friends tonight." Jon answered, swapping his hoodie for a t-shirt. "And we got you some Mike Harders if you want to come."
She nodded. "Yeah sounds fun, I want to meet everybody."
Jon smiled at her. "Good, we're ready whenever you want to come over."
She nodded, watching as he walked out of the room.
"You ready?" Jace asked, sitting up.
"Yeah, just let me fix my hair and makeup."
He rolled his eyes as he watched her brush her fingers through her hair and wiping at the bottom of her eyes. She already looked perfect. She walked to her bag and put some chapstick on her lips before grabbing a sweater out of her bad. It was black and hung off her shoulders, revealing the thick straps of her blue lacy bralette that she changed into. It was one of his favorite sweaters of hers because it was soft and he loved hugging her even more when she wore it. She was wearing fuzzy socks that covered the bottoms of her leggings and she slipped her feet into a pair of white crocs. She was obsessed with her crocs and wore them every chance she got.
"You're so cute." He wrapped his arms around her when she was ready, her sweater soft against him.
She kissed him once more before walking to the door. He slid his feet into his slides before grabbing her hand and leading him down the hall to Jordan and Bat's room. Music was playing from the inside, louder than normal. Almost everyone had already gone home for break, the athletes still stuck here for their big game.
He knocked, smiling over at Clary. He was so ready to introduce her to everybody. "I love you." She smiled back at him, squeezing his hand.
The door opened to reveal a smiling Jordan. "Jace, Clary! How nice of you to join us."
Jace smiled, following him into the room. Their beds were lofted, their desks and dressers shoved under them. There was a futon and some bean bags, all with large football players sitting on. Jordan sat back down on his desk chair as Jace went to the desk where all their alcohol was laid out. He opened the fridge and piled some of his beer and Clary's other Mikes in it so that they would be colder. Clary opened his beer for him as well as her Mikes.
"Are you going to introduce us?" Bat asked from the futon. Jace turned, his beer halfway to his lips to see all his friends looking at the two of them.
"Yeah." Came Sebastian's voice. "We only hear about her everyday."
Jace rolled his eyes, grabbing Clary's hand to guide her to the open seat on the futon. He sat down next to Will, Clary sitting on his lap. Everyone was still staring at them as Jace took a drink from his beer.
"This is my girlfriend Clary." "And my sister" Jon cut in helpfully from where he sat on the floor. "Clary, this is the team."
She smiled at them all, taking a drink from her lemonade.
"It's nice to meet you Clary." Will said from where he saw next to Jace. "You're all this dude talks about."
She wrapped her arm around his neck, turning slightly so she could look at him. "That's what everyone keeps saying."
"Well it's true." Will said with a shrug, taking a swig from his own beer. "We were so surprised when he heard a girlfriend at first because he always so fucking moody and we were like how does a dude like this have a girl."
She laughed, taking another drink. "I guess it's hard for me to believe that he is always so moody because he's always good with me."
Jem cut in from Will's other side. "When he came back from seeing you for your birthday was the first time we saw him smile since we met him and we all about died of shock."
"I was happy for weeks too. Do you guys have girlfriends?"
"Jace and Will are the only ones out of us who have an actual girlfriend." Jem answered.
"Actual?" Clary raised her eyebrows.
"They all either consistently cheat on their girlfriends or just have a friend with benefits." Jace answered for Jem, running his hand up and down her back.
"Sounds terrible." She raised her drink back up to her lips.
Jem nodded. "Yeah, the ones who cheat are all real dicks." He pointed to Sebastian who was already pretty shit faced where he was sitting on a chair. "He lasted about three days before he fucked the first girl that offered, meanwhile your boyfriend gets propositions from at least five girls a day and has never even entertained the idea."
"You get hit on a lot?" She asked him.
He shrugged. "I mean I guess. I don't pay all that attention to them if I'm being honest."
Will laughed out loud, causing the two of them to look at him. "Don't pay attention, you hardly notice. He's laughed in like three faces, told like five of them all about you, and just said the word no to like twenty girls. And some of these girls are some good looking girls, it's kind of how we figured out he had a girlfriend, it was either that or he was gay."
"I am definitely not gay." Jace finished his can. "Just very much in love."
Clary ran her fingers across his scalp.
"Jon was right." Will was grinning at him as finished his own drink. "You are a fucking sap."
Jace only shrugged, honestly not wanting to drink anymore. People normally drank for two reasons, because they were happy or because they were unhappy. But he only drank when was unhappy and he was most certainly not unhappy at the moment.
Clary offered to grab him another beer but he only shook his head. "When you get your next drink can you grab me two more?"
She nodded. "Of course."
"So Clary, any dirt on the boys?" Will asked.
Clary laughed. "I mean I have lots, but I'm sure they wouldn't appreciate me sharing them."
Jordan cut in from his seat. "She calls Jon, Jonny."
She glared at him with no real bite. "Unless you've known him as long as me, you can't call him that."
"Can you Jace?" Jordan asked. "Or do you go by Jacey too."
He shook his head. "I've known him only half as long as her, I don't count. And no, Jace is already a nickname."
Clary said, "So is Jon." At the same time one of the guys asked, "for what?"
"My real name is Jonathan, too." He shrugged.
"Where'd Jace come from?" Jen asked.
"My middle name is Christopher. J. C. And than this one." He motioned to Clary. "Started slurring them together and than everyone started calling me Jace."
Clary climbed off his lap, already done with her first drink. He watched her she placed the now empty bottles on the desk before opening the fridge. She came back over with two new beers and her other can of Mike Harders. Her face was a little flushed now and he knew she was feeling her drink a little.
And he honestly loved it when she was tipsy. He was the affectionate of the two normally, but she could never stop touching him when she was drunk. She sat back in his lap, placing one of his beers on the floor and handing him the other.
He opened his beer, chugging it quickly. He drank the other one slower, not wanting to get too drunk. He had only gotten 12 cans so it wasn't enough to get plastered but if he wasn't careful he could definitely start to feel it. He had her to get drunk around the guys, normally he just got a little buzzed enough where he didn't get annoyed being around a bunch of drunk football players.
And he did not really want to get drunk in front of Clary again, the last time he had been drunk with her had involved a lot of tears on his part. He was glad that it had happened because God knows he can not always get his feelings out when he is sober but he knew it should have been done while he was was thinking straight.
Clary was getting tired, her head falling back on his shoulder as she talked to Will and Jem. Some people got loud and touchy with everyone, she got tired and cuddly, at least with Jace. Her Mikes was almost empty and her giggles were getting louder and cuter the more she talked. Will and Jem were laughing with her, obviously enjoying her company and he honestly just wanted to leave. And lay under the covers with her and talk. Instead he asked Jon to toss him a couple more beers and tried to get a little less there.
After he finished his eighth beer he was starting to feel it a little. Clary was done with her two drinks and sipping on one of his beers, her eyes bright and her face a little red. She was only slightly tipsy but it was enough for her to keep kissing him every so often. He wouldn't complain, she normally did not like to be that kind of affectionate in public. She would rather hold his hand than kiss him.
All was going fine until Sebastian tried to stand for the first time. He had went through a half a case of beer himself on top of a four loko and could not say a sentence without laughing. As soon as he was on his feet he fell on to his face. They were always careful when they drank, if they got hurt coach would have their heads on a platter. They never drank between Wednesday and Saturday morning, he would spring random breathalyzers on them to make sure they were staying sober before the game. At the same time he wasn't stupid or unreasonable, so as long as they did it smartly, secretively, and it did not affect their playing he wouldn't say anything.
Jace had never seen Sebastian so bad. Looking back to where he was sitting he also noticed two small bottles of fireball and it made sense. That stuff was strong and he knew that even that would get through Sebastian's strong drinking tolerance when combined with everything else. He was not moving and Jace knew that the fucker had knocked himself out.
His roommate and Will helped him up, knowing that they needed to get him in bed so he could sleep it off. Thankfully his roommate would be there to get him up the next morning or Jace was sure he would not be able to get up. Clary was watching, still sipping on her beer in his lap.
"You okay?" He asked her, running his hand along her arm.
She nodded. "Yeah, you?"
He nodded too, dropping his lips to the back of her neck. "Yeah, I'm just ready for bed to be honest."
Clary nodded in agreement, drinking the last of her beer. "Alcohol makes me tired."
"I know babe." He kissed her neck again. "I know everything about you." That sparked a thought in his head. "Hey, does Jon know you're coming to OSU next year?"
She shook her head. "No, I wanted you to be the first to know."
He kissed her lips this time as she leaned back, enjoying the feel of her against him. "I love you."
"I love you, too." She climbed off his lap and sat down in front of Jon.
Jace watched as he finished his last can, ready to go back to their room and sleep. He could not hear what they were saying over the music and the boys but he saw Jon as he launched himself at a laughing Clary, hugging her tight. He smiled, standing up and joining the two on the floor.
"This is incredible." Jon was saying to a very giddy Clary. "Does that mean you are going to room with Iz?"
Jace had not even thought of that. All he thought about was himself and he could not help but feel guilty. Jon would get to spend time with his favorite person in the world. Her and Iz would get to live together, something they always dreamed about. Simon was going to Capitol which was close to OSU and everything would work out best for her.
"I am so excited." Jon hugged her again. "And I am really proud of you for making the decision on your own."
She smiled, hugging him back. "Me too, I knew that if I made the decision either way for anyone other than myself I would have a lot of resentment."
She pulled back, leaning against Jace. He extended his arm behind her, basking in the comfort of her. He felt a lightness in his chest that had not been there before she had told him his decision. He could get through this year if it meant that he would never to it again.
As Clary's weight began to get heavier against him he turned to look down at her. "Ready for bed?"
She nodded, her eyes closed. Jon smiled at him as Jace stood up with Clary. She was leaning pretty heavily on him and he just picked her up in his arms, allowing her arms to wind around his neck, her head resting on his shoulder. He made sure he had both of their phones and than he was carrying her out of the room. Everyone said goodbye to two, told them to have fun which Jace rolled his eyes at. They did not care about much else at the moment other then football and sex which was so not where his head was at.
He managed to slide the key through the lock without putting Clary down until he was safely at his bed. She was practically asleep now, the tiredness hitting her quickly. He grabbed a make up wipe of hers and one of his big t-shirts. He wiped of the little make up she had on before taking off her leggings, sweater and bra. He pulled the shirt on before picking her back up and lifting the covers up and tucking her in under them.
Jace stripped out of his own shirt before brushing his teeth quickly. He turned the fan on in the corner before he was climbing in next to her. She was more than half asleep as he wrapped his arms around her. He could not remember a time where his bed had felt more comfortable as their feet intertwined and her back pressed against his chest. He got to wake up next to her and not her picture the next day. And he would not have to say goodbye right away, she would be there for the entire day. A smile spread across his face as he followed her into the land of dreams, holding her in his arms. God, he could not wait for next year already.