Disclaimer: Cassandra Clare owns The Mortal Instruments series and all of its characters, not my characters in the least bit.
This chapter's songs (or the songs that played in the club):
Sleepwalking - Bring Me the Horizon
Feel - Sleeping with Sirens
Clary sat at the bar of Pandemonium with a drink in front of her but not drinking it. Clary wasn't much of a big drinker, she never has been. Especially since Simon was so strict about it; was so strict about it. She laughed at herself; it wasn't even alcohol that sat in front of her. Its coke that was a bit too expensive despite the fact that it was served to her in a tall, dirty glass and half full.
She's glad they even let her in. She's only been in Pandemonium once, which was five months ago with Simon for her late eighteenth birthday. Both Simon and Clary were surprised to find this club being open to all ages. Against her mother's wishes, Clary had gone out that night which she mistakenly had done. And in the process of defying her mother, she had dragged Simon into the mess.
Simon's mother insisted that nothing that happened that night was Clary's fault but she knew as well as her own mother did that if it weren't for Clary, Simon would still be here. Simon would still be his witty self and make inappropriate jokes at the wrong times. He would be sitting next to her right now, comforting her for whatever reason she was sad for. He wouldn't push for the reason she was upset, he would just comfort, and Clary knew that. Clary missed that; missed him.
Clary was pulled out of her thoughts by a perky girl - around her age, maybe older - sat at the bar, calling the bartender over; if you could even call him a bartender. He only served to the people he thought were attractive. Clary only knows that from the last time she had come here. She winced a bit, finally grabbing hold of her drink and gulping it down, savoring the last drop that fell from the rim of the glass.
"Wow, that was quite a chug," a voice remarked, awestricken and teasing. Clary jumped, setting down the glass cup with a thud and looking towards the girl who had sat only a few stools from her.
Clary smiled weakly, shrugging inwardly. The girl scooted down a few stools, only one stool away from invading Clary's personal space. The girl whipped her long, black hair over her shoulders and smiles. Clary looked at how fair she was her skin a milky white but a big contrast from her ruby-red lips and dark eyes. She's slender, not petite though, but she can tell by the way the girl's legs dangled from the stool like Clary's, she was not very tall.
"Are you checking me out?" the girl asked, staring into Clary's gaze. Clary's mouth dropped open and her cheeks reddened with embarrassment.
"Sorry," she mumbled, wanting to smack her forehead with the palm of her sweaty hands, "I was just thinking." Smooth excuse, she thought.
The girl laughed, shaking her head as if to excuse the apology Clary had given. "I was only teasing," she said, reaching out her open hand, "I'm Isabelle." Clary glanced at her outstretched hand and back to the smiling girl. The girl laughed. "Don't worry; I'm not contagious, just friendly."
Clary laughed uncomfortably back, reaching her hand out and grasping Isabelle's hand. Clary suddenly forgot how sweaty her hands were and she pulled them back immediately. Isabelle's smile faltered only slightly, most likely confused as to what just happened, but she shrugged it off.
There's a silence and Clary wasn't sure what to say. Then, it hit her that Isabelle had introduced herself and Clary had not.
"I'm Clary, by the way," she greeted, stuttering on every other syllable. She sighed. She disliked talking to strangers. Simon usually shooed them off, especially when she wasn't in the mood.
Isabelle giggled once more, and it seemingly echoed in the loud club pounding with music. "Well, Clary, I need to get back to my dipstick brothers with these," she shook her hands that held three drinks, "so it was a pleasure meeting you."
Isabelle jumped off the stool, almost spilling the three half full glasses onto her lovely, bright dress. Clary sighed, sliding off the stool as well and asking, "Do you need some help? I mean, I'm sure it's difficult to carry three glasses with only two hands."
Isabelle smiled gently, handing Clary a glass and relaxing her posture. "Thanks, I have really small hands that aren't made to even hold one glass." Clary reciprocated the smile and nodded, not saying any more.
Isabelle started maneuvering through the crowd, elbowing and bumping into people that were in her way. Clary, tried to avoid everyone who flung back like a rubber band after being shoved by Isabelle. She almost panicked, thinking she had lost Isabelle in the massive crowd. Sudden relief rushed through her when she spotted Isabelle nearing two guys, most likely her brothers, against the wall. Clary observed the three.
The two boys were having a conversation, but only a one-way conversation. The dark-haired boy jabbered on and on to the light, blond haired boy who seemed to not really care. Clary only transfixed her eyes onto the blond haired boy though. They were both equally as attractive, but the blond really did stand out, not only because he dressed as if he wanted to stand out but because he had a look that seemed to say "I'm better than all of you". Then Isabelle approached and handed the dark haired boy his glass and sipped the drink that was left in her hand.
Clary had forgotten that she most likely had the blond haired boy's drink. She walks quickly towards them and Isabelle sighs contently. "Jeez, Clary, almost thought I lost you out there," Isabelle said teasingly. She glanced at the glass in Clary's hand and she jumped up a little. "Right, you have Jace's glass," she realized, gesturing over to Jace who's staring at Clary.
"Yeah," she mumbled, walking over to who she could only think was Jace and cringing at the height difference, "here you go." She offered him the glass but he shook his head no and pushed the glass gently away. Clary furrowed her eyebrows, taking a quick look at Isabelle.
Isabelle sighed, she sounds extremely tired for someone so young. "Just take the damn glass, Jace, and stop being such a moody ass." Clary looked at Isabelle in shock, wondering what irritated her enough to call one of her brothers an "ass".
Jace sighed, snatching the glass from Clary's hand, surprising Clary. She whipped her head to face Jace once more who had his lips on the rim of the glass, tipping it upwards to get a swig. How rude, Clary thought to herself.
As if Jace read her mind, he parts the glass from his lips and stares at Clary. He gave her a grin and laid back against the wall, his drink perspired in his hand. Isabelle stared at the two and scoffed. She took another swig of her drink and bumped her elbow into Alec's side. Alec groaned, looking up at Isabelle from his phone. She pointed to Jace and Clary, who were currently staring at each other. Alec raised his arms and shrugs, as if to ask "Why the hell would you bother me because of two idiots staring at each other?" but didn't say so. He just glued his eyes back to his phone and dismissed Isabelle thereon.
Isabelle narrowed her eyes at her brother and turned toward the two idiots staring at each other. She walked over, tapping Jace on the shoulder with her two fingers and clearing her throat. Jace, looking more annoyed than usual, turned to face Isabelle.
"Yes, Isabelle?" Isabelle scoffed at Jace's sarcastic tone. Nonetheless, she grabbed hold of his arm and dragged him a few feet away, not afraid of Clary hearing them because of the blaring music inside the club. Jace looked at her in surprise, wondering what she could possibly want when she dragged him away.
"Jace, no flirting," she scolds and Jace scoffs, "She's off limits." He glances over his shoulder to see Clary confused and frozen as she noticed Jace was no longer in front of her.
"I wasn't flirting," he replied coolly, "she started it, anyways."
"Stop being such a child," Isabelle chided, smacking Jace's arm. She took a sip of what was left of her drink before she talked once more. "She's nice, Jace, can't you just take a moment and let that in?" Jace stared at Isabelle. "She could be my friend! I haven't even had friends since Alec and I moved in to your apartment."
Jace snickered at Isabelle's childish self and nodded his head. He puts his arms up in surrender. "I'll be a good boy tonight." He smirked and strode back to where he previously was. He slid back in against the wall where Clary still stood, but out of her state of shock and staring at Jace once more.
"You know," Jace started, shoving his hands in his most likely dirty jeans, "I think Isabelle over there is jealous." Jace used a teasing tone but Clary didn't notice. She genuinely was confused. Jace laughed, smiling a crooked smile as he leaned in. "Of us," he added, glancing over at Isabelle who looks more than irritated with him.
Clary noticed the close proximity of Jace and she took a step back and laughed nervously. "Jealous?" Her own voice sounded unfamiliar to her. "Aren't you guys' brother and sister?"
Jace looked momentarily confused until he realized what Clary meant. He laughed at the thought of Isabelle being related to him. "No, of course not," Jace quickly dismissed, "we're really close, is all." He took one more look at Isabelle who was now against the wall next to Alec, looking tired and mad.
Clary nodded, understanding what he meant. She and Simon were close friends, extremely close friends. Clary thought of Simon as the brother she never had. She smiled at the thought, remembering how she said she would hate having a brother to her mom when she was younger; before she met Simon.
"Clary?" Jace's voice snapped her from her thoughts. "Clary, you okay?" he asked, concerned as he noticed Clary's eyes well up with tears.
Clary gasped a little, wiping the tears from her eyes before they slid down her cheeks. She blushed and groaned. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I always do this, it's embarrassing," she apologized multiple times, frantically moving her arms in the air as she did so.
Jace looked at Clary. "It's fine," he replied smoothly, "I have a tendency to make girls cry. For many reasons, that is. Although, I don't remember doing anything to you that was worth crying over, yet."
Clary glared at Jace. "If that's your way of flirting, it sucks," she spat, scoffing and rolling her eyes. Jace was taken aback, not expecting her to mouth off to him.
He cleared his throat and pounded at his chest. "Who ever said I was flirting with you?"
Clary blushed a deep red once more. She found a sudden interest in her worn-out Converse and twiddling thumbs. "I'm sorry," she said again, groaning as she did.
Jace grinned, raising his hand and dismissing it. "It's fine," he muttered, shrugging it off. He took his eyes off of Clary and scoped the club of sweaty, dancing people. He looked back at Clary. "Want to dance?"
Clary seemed to be surprised by Jace's request. Her mouth hung open for a while before she gave a slight nod. Jace smiled, offering his hand to Clary. She took his hand, giving him a slight red from her cheeks. He smiled, leading her onto the dance floor. No slow song seemed to be playing but Jace pulled Clary close and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
He swayed her to the steady beat of the song and cleared his throat before saying, "You're blushing quite a lot." Clary bows her head, fluttering her eyelashes.
"Maybe if you weren't so damn charming, I wouldn't blush as much," she quipped, but she couldn't help but laugh a bit. She looked up and grinned widely.
Jace laughed along with her, still keeping a steady sway of Clary's hips even as the songs played in the club changed and changed. And Clary, at that one moment, forgot about the grief she felt about Simon, her mom, Simon's mom, and just every grief she had.
I apologize for any mistakes, I was in a bit of a rush; maybe just excited to post this chapter. The few reviews I received were all I needed to go on. I promise I won't take as long with the third chapter and it will be much better written than this old one. My computer had a nervous breakdown and I had no idea what to do with it. I ended up having to pay quite a lot to just find out it was overheated then paid once more to get it fixed.