Quick author's note: When I said K, I meant K-plus, but my keyboard didn't allow me to use the "plus" sign. Thank you!
Cassandra Clare owns the Mortal Instruments series.
"Gabriel?" Laney asked her brother on their way to school.
"Yeah?"
"Um... Don't pick me up after school or anything, okay? I have softball practice."
Thankfully, Gabriel was one of the most clueless people she knew.
"Okay Laney. Can you get a ride home?"
"Definitely.
"You like her."
Will stiffened. Dorothy smiled a little, and shook her head. "That's dangerous."
Will looked at his father across the room, bent over some papers. People told Will he looked just like his father, same hair, skin, eyes. Will had been told that there was a time when his father smiled. And told jokes, and was normal and happy and carefree. This must have been a long time ago. Now he was cold. Cold and in charge of the Angel Movement, which was the name the seraphically allied shadowhunters and downworlders took. It wasn't that his father would disagree, Laney was not only beautiful, but intelligent and calm. She would pick up on everything quickly. His father would love her. He just didn't want his father to think he was distracted. People told him there was a time his father was distracted by a girl. Will's mother, Clary. But he still hoped he wasn't too obvious.
"Don't worry," Dorothy said, "I won't say anything."
Dorothy was incredibly perceptive, and often caught things others didn't. Will hoped this was one of them. But he couldn't deny that something about Laney drove him crazy... in a good way... like when she was around he had the strange urge to touch her hand. Just as he was thinking this, James walked over to him.
"Told Laney where to go to get in."
Will nodded, and went back to his book.
Laney took all her boring classes well, taking notes and asking questions. She reached into her backpack and felt something that was becoming increasingly familiar. She pulled out the envelope and ripped it open at her locker. She took a moment to wonder how they were getting these notes to her without her noticing, but decided to ask later.
Laney-
Please come as soon as you can to train. You can reach the Base by taking your stele and drawing an OPEN rune on the far side of the last bookshelf in the library. There's some graffiti there that will let you know you've found it. It says "The Angel Survives."
If you can't draw the open rune, let us know with the summoning rune we taught you.
Sincerely,
James Herondale
PS Will would like to know if you can train after school. A good excuse is sports practice...
There was also a picture of the summoning rune in case she forgot, but she didn't. And she didn't forget the OPEN rune either, though she was considering using the summoning rune anyways. but she wouldn't, because she needed to look strong if they were ever going to trust her, and she didn't like relying on people. She had already told Gabriel she had softball, so she was fine. Laney wondered... she knew where James's locker was, and she hastily scribbled out her own note.
James-
How are you getting these notes to me without my noticing? How can I get notes to you efficiently? Tell Will that yes, I can train today after school, and I told my brother I have softball practice. I remember all the runes, thank you very much. And last night I saw my mother decoding something by flipping through a book. Is that what you meant when you said I would need the book? Because I still have it with me. Will you teach that to me?
With Trust,
Laney Lewis
P.S.
Will-
If you are training me to defend myself, when will I EVER need the summoning rune? And how come it goes to you and James. I'm so confused.
Laney quietly slipped the note into James's locker. She hurried to her next class, and was surprised to see Will there. He took the seat next to her and passed her a note.
Do You Trust Me?
-Will
Laney was quick to respond.
Of course I trust you.
-Laney
What had possessed her to write that? four days ago the name Will Herondale made Laney think of awkward family dinners in which her brothers and the twins butting heads while she sat there wondering why. But... she did trust him now. More than she knew. Laney looked over at Will. He smiled and wrote something back hastily. His handwriting always looked rushed, as if he just couldn't get his ideas on paper fast enough.
Then why did you give James the note and not me?
I saw, and was wondering. Also, lockers are not a good method.
What did the note say?
-Will
Laney was surprised. Will was good. He must be the most observant person in the world, she thought forlornly. The truth was that she did trust Will. She just wasn't sure she could always go to him.
First of all, just because I trust James does not mean that I don't trust you as well. How did you see? You must be the most observant person ever! If lockers aren't a good method, could you explain a better one to me? WHY all this? Should I NOT trust James? Why do you doubt my trust? Have I said or done something suspicious? Also, the note read as follows:
James-
How are you getting these notes to me without my noticing? How can I get notes to you efficiently? Tell Will that yes, I can train today after school, and I told my brother I have softball practice. I remember all the runes, thank you very much. And last night I saw my mother decoding something by flipping through a book. Is that what you meant when you said I would need the book? Because I still have it with me. Will you teach that to me?
With Trust,
Laney Lewis
P.S.
Will-
If you are training me to defend myself, when will I EVER need the summoning rune? And how come it goes to you and James. I'm so confused.
Honestly, I'm sure you can answer these questions just as well as your brother, but if I'm going to trust you absolutely, then I need to know that you won't laugh at me, won't laugh at what I say. Promise?
-Laney Lewis
Will read the note at lightning speed, and was quick with a response.
Laney-
I saw you through the window of the Chemistry classroom. The fact that you checked behind you before delivering the note let me know that you didn't want to be seen. Yes, I am very observant. But so are you. Trust me, if my father notices your ability, you'll be able to do something worthwhile quickly. So be AMAZING... be YOURSELF.
As for not trusting James, I want you to know that I never intended that. But you need to make your own decisions about who you trust. Especially now that you know. Don't ask me, ask yourself. You've never done anything to earn my distrust, and I find you to be very trustworthy and honorable, if not a bit curious. :)
James and I are getting the notes to you with Magic. Don't scoff, it's not the strangest thing you've heard. You can just pass me notes whenever you see me. Which will be often. James will also teach you other methods. I'm glad you told your brother you have softball, because we have some work to do, and what you saw your mother decoding was, in fact, from my father. The two of them are very close, and often write randomly to each other in code, just to keep it up. It was probably nothing. Yes, you'll need the book, so good job for keeping it. Sometimes even if you are trained, you need support in a fight. Laney, people WILL confront you. I just want you to know that you can ALWAYS call me. It goes to me and James because we want it to. We have some powerful and friendly warlocks on our side. Laney- you can trust me. I would NEVER Laugh at you or something you thought was important. I promise. Oh, and you can also trust James for the record. I trust him with my life, and I'm still alive.
Yours Truly,
Will Herondale
Will laughed as he wrote the last part. She had no idea. He handed her the note, and she read it and smiled. She looked at him with her big brown eyes, and he could almost hear the last puzzle piece click. And just like that, he knew she trusted him. And he was pleased. She pulled out a purple pen.
Will-
I trust you. Also, tell me how the code works now. And, I respect you for urging me to make my own decisions. I just wanted you to know.
-Laney Lewis :)
When Will read the note he was pleased, to say the least. The way she said she respected him... it was amazing. Will respected Laney. Respected her strength, her intelligence, her acceptance of the real world. There was a quote that Will's dad loved, "Then you'll see the world as it is- infinite."
Laney was built for the world that was infinite. Not the closed off, normal world. It wasn't where she belonged. Will was glad that he would be able to train her. he quickly pulled out his pen.
Laney-
You should know that I trust you too. And I respect you. You are strong, and your acceptance of the real world is beyond admirable. I'm lucky to be able to train you, and I hope we can be friends. You were meant for this.
Yours Truly,
Will Herondale