Chapter Two
Clary beat an erratic rhythm on her thigh as she followed Jace down the stairs. The thought of baiting Kaelie was not a wholly unwelcome one, but the image of her mother - and, more importantly, what she would say if she knew what her daughter was doing - loomed large and disapproving at the back of her mind.
"Cheer up." Jace grinned his leonine grin. "This isn't a dental exam. We're going to prank my darling girlfriend into losing her shit." The lines of his smile tightened, and he looked away.
Clary found herself suddenly wondering if all was well between Jace and Kaelie. Beyond calling her mean stabs at Clary 'spirited', he hadn't done much in the way of defending her. Rather, he seemed to know of her bitchy side and not wholly approve. Why else would he be holed up in the stuffy attic and not snogging the life out of her?
"The Lightwood family." Jace nodded to a collection of framed photographs hanging on the wall as they made their descent. "Hard faced bastards, aren't they?" He chuckled, albeit good-naturedly.
Clary personally thought the Lightwoods were a pretty bizarre family. Mom would never let me throw huge parties and wreck our house. The Lightwoods' pool parties were legendary, and even members of the cool clique were known to fight over invitations. But they'd never invite me, not in a million years.
The thought was consoling. Clary was a distinctly anti-social individual who disliked being thrust out of her comfort zone. Not, of course, that many people would be aware of that, given her tough boots and acerbic tongue.
"So, this is your punishment?"
"What?" One hand on the bannister, she paused to frown at him.
"For pouring oil onto Izzy's hair." He glanced over his shoulder and studied her face with his queer golden eyes.
Clary felt a sudden urge to turn tail and run back up to the attic, but she quelled it. "No. This is my penance for not being quite so dumb as she is."
Jace's brows rose. "Don't let her hear you saying that."
"She's welcome to hear it, if she wanted to." she replied. "Crazy Isabelle Lightwood would've dumped oil on someone's head and set it alight - like she set fire to Connor's pants in eighth grade. Sensible Clarissa Fray chose to deviate from the obvious route of arson."
Jace let out a very genuine roar of laughter. "Ah, Connor the poor lad," he said, in a faux avuncular tone, "he should've known she was out of his league. He also should've stopped sending her messages at the dead of night by tying them onto bricks and throwing them through her window."
Clary frowned. "No one would be stupid enough to do that."
Jace shrugged. "You'd be surprised." He continued to make his way down the stairs.
She trailed after him, her boots making altogether far too much noise on the wooden floor for her liking. She caught sight of her reflection in a mirror on the first floor landing and flushed. I look like a ridiculous pink cupcake. And cupcakes are seriously un-sexy.
Jace was waiting for her at the foot of the stairs. "The dining room awaits, my lady." he said, in a mock chivalrous tone. Dropping to his normal voice, he said, "There's something in your hair." Without pausing for permission, he brushed his hands through her hair, gently extracting a wobbly-legged spider.
"Oh, yuck!" Clary recoiled. "Talk about unwanted passengers."
He laughed. "Well, you've certainly spared him a long, web-taxing journey downstairs."
"He doesn't seem very grateful." The spider launched itself from the boy's hand and scuttled behind an oak cabinet.
"No." A shadow passed over Jace's face. "People aren't very grateful sometimes." Then the shadow passed and he smiled, though his smile wasn't quite at full-wattage. "Well, shall I escort you to dinner?" He offered her his arm.
Playing up, Clary twined hers through his. "Yes, milord, you may."
The Lightwoods' dining room was a large and spacious white-themed room. The floor was of bleached and sanded wood, the walls a peculiar albeit attractive pale silver-white, and the furniture cushioned with ivory material. The vibe emanating from it was one of class and wealth.
Almost humorous was the contrast between this room and Clary's own arty kitchen-cum-dining room at home. No irregular paint splodges here.
"Ah, Clarissa." If Maryse found it odd that Jace and Clary's arms were entwined, she did not let it show. But then again, she scarcely glanced in Clary's direction for more than a few seconds at a time.
Kaelie, however, narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Was that little dweeb bothering you, Jace?"
"No - on the contrary, I found her company most welcome."
Maryse left the room, her cell phone to her ear; Isabelle looked on interestedly.
"Company?" Kaelie's mouth thinned. "You're a fast worker, Clarissa - though you might look about twelve."
"I've been told that guys like it young." Clary replied. She didn't quite like the insinuations that the other girl was making against her, but she wanted to rile her. It'd make the evening more worthwhile. And besides, Mom said nothing about extending any kind of olive branch to Kaelie.
The other girl flushed violently. "You're a real bi-"
"Kay." Jace chided, mildly. "You ought to pick up a few innovative insults."
Kaelie made a jerky motion with her head. "Wait, you're on her side? Why are you on her side? I'm your girlfriend. Me." A wave of possessive angst seem to crash over the assembled crowd.
Jace sighed. "Can't I be friends with other girls?"
"Yes, if I like them."
"You aren't my keeper, Kaelie."
"We're in this together."
I don't like where this is going. Clary's intentions had been to work Kaelie up and make her a bit mad. Jace seemed to be using this bad feeling to row with his girlfriend. Whatever her feelings towards the other girl, Clary didn't want Kaelie to think of her as the one responsible for her and Jace's break-up.
"Izzy - back me up here." Kaelie's face was flaming.
Isabelle shrugged. "I'm an observer, hon. Neutral as Switzerland."
"What the bloody hell does Switzerland have to do with this?"
"Ahem." Alec cleared his throat. He'd been so subdued in the proceedings that it took a minute for the others to remember that he was there. "I'd like to point out that it seems a little silly to want to fight when there's a perfectly good meal spread out in front of us."
Kaelie stared at him, her chest heaving dramatically. She looked as if she would have liked nothing better than to have upturned all of the dishes on his head.
"Good idea." Jace gracefully took his seat. "Salad, anyone?"
Izzy snorted, pulling a dish of rice towards her. "Caesar salad and Chinese food? Only you, Jace..." She shook her head.
"I like them together." he objected. "I got Cook to make it."
Clary bit back a laugh. Wait - was I seriously going to laugh? Am I going mad in this house or what?
"So, Clarissa, how has your evening been so far?" Alec was, very obviously, trying to make polite conversation.
"Well, it hasn't been a complete waste of time."
Kaelie flushed, though she said nothing.
Jace, meanwhile, was grinning in that cat-like fashion of his. "Good to know, Clary."
Isabelle let out a giggle. "So, did either of you spot Max on the way down?"
"He's probably drooling all over that stratocaster of his." Jace replied. "You know how much he loves his American Standard. How's his band doing by the way?"
"Good. He met this guy named Simon Lewis-"
Clary choked.
"-who's been inviting him along to gigs." Isabelle took a sip of water. "They're pretty good, actually. Max says they've got a gig at the Mortal Instruments. You know - that hip club run by that guy. That fashion designer guy...what's his name now..." she bit her lip, brow furrowed.
"Magnus Bane." Alec replied. He looked awe-struck. "Wow. That is good."
Kaelie, who'd been listening to the conversation with little to no interest, suddenly perked up. "Magnus Bane? Owner of Bane? The label?"
"Yes." Isabelle rolled her eyes. "Where have you been for the past minute and a half, K?"
"He's soo hot." Kaelie ignored her, gushing profusely. "A total dreamboat. Daddy represents him. Daddy's a lawyer." She cast Clary an unashamedly superior glance.
"You've met him?" Jace's brows rose.
"Oh yes." Kaelie's eyes met his and for a brief moment the two of them exchanged unfathomable glances. Then, she said, "He's very hot. And so sweet. And rich."
"Of course." Clary muttered, under her breath. "He wouldn't be worth your while if he weren't."
"Sounds like the perfect guy." said Jace, eyes on his food.
"Oh, he is."
Isabelle's brows rose. "Umm...have you forgotten the fact that he's gay? As in, that he likes guys? I mean, I know you're a sexbomb, K, but-"
"He's bisexual." Kaelie shot back. "He likes guys and girls."
Jace pushed his empty plate away. "Excuse me, guys, I have some homework to finish." He got up and walked away, not a glance to anyone.
Kaelie watched him go, her mouth thin. "God - what's his problem?"
The look Alec gave her could have frozen water. "You don't know?"
"Ummm...should I?" She tittered.
"Seeing as you're his girlfriend, maybe."
The conversation flagged considerably after this. Although she wasn't really at fault - at least not entirely - Clary felt Kaelie's eyes on her whenever she wasn't looking in the other girl's direction. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Kaelie was nursing a grudge.
Well, let her. Stupid, arrogant, self-assured cow.After dinner, Kaelie and Isabelle went up to Isabelle's room (no doubt to discuss The Problem of Clary), Alec took some food up to Max and Clary, left to her own devices, had had a most upsetting text.
will run a bit l8 - stay @ lightwoods til i reach thrxox mom
"Dammit." Clary cursed, kicking the wooden floor.
"Hey - that's expensive to maintain."
Clary let her breath out in a whoosh. "That's the second time you've snuck up on me today, Jace."
"Really?" His eyes were mildly amused. "I've been told it's sexy to show persistance when pursuing a girl."
Clary's eyes flew open. Her heartbeat thudded...then died down... She glared at him. "Stop messing with me."
"What do you mean?" He took a step towards her. Then another. "I don't lie, Clary Fray." Another.
"Good for you." Clary took a few steps away from him. "May I remind you that you have a girlfriend?"
"Kaelie?" Jace's eyes affixed themselves to a point far overhead. "What about her?"
"Well...you can't be a cheater."
He laughed sourly. "Everyone's a cheater, Clary. The world's run out of good people."
Clary turned away from him.
"Where are you going?"
"Away from you." It wasn't the smartest of responses, but she was tired. And fed up. She wanted the evening to end and be back home with Luke and her mom, preferably watching a silly comedy on TV.
"No." He reached out and grabbed her arm. "Listen - please. You're the first person, outside of my adoptive family, whom I've been able to speak to so - so easily. I'm not on pins whenever I speak to you."
Clary snatched her arm away. "And what am I supposed to say to that?"
"I don't know."
"What do you expect me to say?"
"Nothing." And he looked at her, and he was sort of bouncing on his feet, as if mentally preparing himself for something. Then-
He kissed her.
It wasn't sexy. It wasn't hot. It wasn't even particularly dramatic. Just the linking of lips with the barest whisper of promise.
Clary stumbled back. Her face was flame, her breath hitched in her throat. My first kiss. I didn't expect it to be with-
Jace's eyes were surprisingly bright. They gleamed like cat's eyes in the murky light of the hallway; large and golden. "Clary." he said.
What did I just do?A wave of panic suddenly coursed through her. Yes, she wanted to get back at Kaelie for being a mean cow, but there was no way she wanted to be the - the - the third wheel in anybody's relationship. Mom would murder me.
"I'm sorry, Jace, but that was an...invasion of my private space."
He raised a brow. "You weren't fighting me off."
Her face flamed harder. "It took me by surprise."
Jace's expression suddenly darkened. "All right. I'm sorry. I misread things. I thought you wanted it."
"Why would you think that?"
He shrugged, feigning nonchalance though there was an unsettled air to his movements. "Well, you always seemed to be...around. At school. I thought-"
"We go to the same school. Of course I'd be around." Some small part of her wanted to cry. What the hell? Am I getting my period or what?
"Woah." he backed away. "Where's all this aggression come from? It was a kiss. Just a kiss. It's not like I, uh, violated you in any way. It's a kiss - everyone kisses."
That was my first kiss! I wanted my first kiss to be special But out loud, she said, "Just because everyone kisses doesn't mean you ought to kiss everyone."
His eyes flew open in surprise. "What? I don't kiss everyone. I don't kiss the geeky chicks, do I?"
"No," she replied, suddenly seething, "you only kiss the bitches." Crack! Her hand flew across his face.
Jace stumbled, his hand cradling the side of his face.
"I hope that hurt." Clary's voice was wobbly, and she hated it.
-
"How did the evening go?" Jocelyn wore optimism like perfume. "Is everything all right now?"
"No, Mom." Clary glowered in the back seat. "Everything is not all right now."
Luke, behind the wheel, let out a sigh. "Clary, you have to give a little to get a little. You can't expect to build bridges when you surround yourself with thorns."
"I don't want to build bridges. I just want to be left alone. Is that too much to ask?"
"Yes." Her stepfather frowned. "You aren't the only person in the world, you know. Sooner or later you're going to need to know how to interact with people, either at university or at work or later on in your life. Learning how to do that must start now."
Clary heaved a sigh. "I don't need a lecture now, Luke. I need a warm shower, a cup of cocoa and my bed."
"Alright." Luke nodded. "But, please, Clary, give this...bad feeling between yourself and your classmates some deeper thought. Think of it as a trial, of sorts - that, if you pass, will help you on your journey to adult life."
"And remember," Jocelyn cut in, "whatever your decision, whatever you do or don't do, we love you. And that won't change."
-
Eh, mushy mushy. Well, howzat? I'd love feedback, even if you just said you'd read it.
The next chappie will feature Jace and Clary's complex, developing relationship at school and how Kaelie reacts to it! There will be drama with a capital D, cause I'm bringing out Magnus. Yay!