"When someone is crying, of course, the noble thing to do is to comfort them. But if someone is trying to hide their tears, it may also be noble to pretend you do not notice them."
Lemony Snicket
Chapter Two:
"Dude! Come one, Clary. Just do this favor for me." He urged. She rolled her eyes probably for the tenth time that day and it was only the afternoon.
"No. Why should I? You're being paranoid. Just go with any other girl." She answered, flicking the channel to another. There was nothing good on television on a Sunday. She sighed.
"Because I want you. I'm comfortable with you." He was eating a container of yogurt from her refrigerator. The one she bought for herself. Sometimes she wondered why he even had a house if he was with her all the time.
"Yea, sure. Shut the hell up, you liar." She was smiling, liking the fact that she finally had power over him. He tossed the square container into the garbage, took two steps towards the couch, and jumped onto it. She narrowed her eyes. Oh how she despised his size. Or better yet, hers.
"What's in it for me?" She finally asked and caught him grin in relief. He was thinking. She waited.
"Beer."
She cocked an eyebrow. "Beer? Seriously? Are you shitting me?"
His face was still satisfied. "Beer for a month, on me. Sound good Clary?"
She gave him an impressed nod and hummed in satisfaction. This wasn't the best deal but it would do for this job. Jace's expression was priceless. He placed a long kiss just below her ear and told her to get ready at seven. "Wear something pretty. I want them impressed." She grumbled something back but it was hardly coherent to begin with and he was already gone.
"I don't know why I do this stuff for him."
[]
Jace tapped his fingers against the banister. He was going to be late. He was not a patient person. "Get the fuck out, Clary. We're going to be late!" He called, pushing a strand of his hair back.
"I can take as much time as I want." She retorted but she was coming down the stairs, her mouth formed in an angry line. He smiled at her appearance. She looked amazing.
He whistled. "You look amazing." It was an extremely short dress but it suited her. Light blue. It clashed with her eyes. Her hair had never been long, reaching above her shoulders. She had her locks wrapped behind her ear. The only makeup she wore was dark red lipstick. Classic. He liked the look.
"Asshole." She muttered when he told her to hurry in the car. "Such a gentleman."
The ride was silent and the night cool. She wasn't normally this quiet. "Clare?"
It took her a moment to realize he was talking to her. "What?"
"What's up? If you don't wanna do-"
She shook her head, staring outside as the wind blew past her face. "I don't know, Jace. It's just-I don't think your parents have ever liked me."
He laughed and she whirled to face him in surprise. "Then fuck them, right? I like you. Let's have some fun."
Some weight seemed to have lifted from her shoulders and she beamed, her freckles nearly spreading across her cheeks. "Thanks J."
He released a breath. "Anytime."
[]
The restaurant was too fancy. She wrinkled her nose at the long spotless tables and the shining lights from long glass icicles. There were no teenagers there. Just adults. Rich ones. Jace's parents would fit in perfectly. Clary told herself to stay calm and follow Jace. "Come on." He whispered in her ear and led her to a table placed all the way in the back. Once they passed through the rich red curtains she found them staring at her, their features skeptical.
"Jace!" A man bellowed, his voice loud and ear piercing. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?" Jace managed a grin as his mother kissed his cheek. Clary sat down waiting for them to acknowledge her presence. They finally did after a conversation filled with many laughs.
"This is Clary. Clary, this is Maryse and Robert." Clary nodded her head as she waited for them to shake her hand. Her hand was clammy. They probably thought she was a slob.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." She finally said, peering down at her empty plate as if it held her soul.
Maryse looked much like Isabelle, Jace's sister. Her face was stern free of wrinkles and any acne. Her husband was broad shouldered and appeared nothing like Jace. His hair was gray, his eyes a blue-black color. "It's an awfully cold day for such a dress, my dear." Clary's cheeks burned. She placed her hands on her lap, tugging at the material. There was an undertone to Maryse's words. It was mortifying. To make it even worse Robert had agreed, claiming a long gown would keep her warm. She hadn't expected this. She couldn't look at Jace either. He might have thought the same.
She didn't reply and simply watched as a waiter trudged over to her, freeing her from her misery temporarily. She had never eaten at this place before so she ordered clams. She never tried clams before either. Her stomach was already radiating like the back of a pan. She didn't want to eat. Jace was talking to his parents about something involving a business. He was too caught in to notice her staring.
They hadn't even invited her into their conversation. It irritated her. Frowning, she excused herself to the bathroom. She gazed at herself from the mirror. Then snatched a few napkins from the metal box hanging above the toilets. She lay the napkins in water and wiped her lips. The crimson color was starting to fall away into the sink. She shook her hair out and pulled off her heels, holding them tightly in her hands.
Then came the most horrible part. A young waiter walked in. It was a boy. His eyes widened and his cheeks colored. "Please tell me this isn't the men's..." She said.
He smiled a little. "It's the men's."
Clary cursed under her breath. "I'm such a fucking clutz."
The man whipped his head to the door. "I can lead you to the exit if that's what you want. I think I can cover you. You're pretty small."
She ignored the last comment. She wanted to leave badly. Should she? She could care less about the beer. Oh well. "Alright."
And that's how she ended up crouching behind a slightly muscular guy around her age. His light blond hair was tousled, his orbs a deep green. His name, she found out by his name tag, was Sebastian. She managed to escape outside and realized it was most likely past ten. She would need to catch a cab. "Thank you so much." She told him.
He waved his hand in the air like it was nothing. "I was going on my shift anyway. Here." He gave her a somewhat large jacket. Black and warm. She knit her eyebrows at him.
"Don't you need it?"
"It's an extra. You should head out soon. The weather'll only get worse."
Reluctantly she took the coat and walked off. Then she remembered the hard time she had had with Jace's parents and how much of a help Sebastian gave her. So she turned back only momentarily and leaned into him, kissing him on the cheek. "Really, thank you."
He waved as she left. "Will I see you around?" He asked, his voice hopeful.
She laughed a little, her mood changing. "Yea."
[]
Jace stomped over to his parents, scowling. "You shouldn't have said that, mom." He angrily swiped his wallet ad dropped a few bills onto the table.
Maryse looked amused. "What did we say? We said nothing to offend her." Robert was quiet.
"Oh, really?" Jace was sick of these damn meetings. They were pointless and led nowhere especially when Clary wasn't there. "What about that dress thing you said? You made it sound like she was some slut?"
Maryse was patient. She stood from her seat elegantly, her woman suit in tact and void of rumples. "And you would disagree?" It was like a slap to the face. He stumbled back, his face contorting into fury. He knocked a few glasses to the ground, hearing them shatter as customers beside him yelled in alarm. He didn't care. He was ready to leave.
"Fuck you." He responded, the blood in his veins blistering. And he slammed the doors of the restaurant knowing he wouldn't be invited back again.
[a/n]: Hey guys! People have been wondering if I had a schedule for my TMI stories. I do not. I don't believe in a schedule because life is unexpected and I do not want to have a promise I would not actually keep. But hopefully, I'm updating actively.
I hope you guys review because it means a lot. Thanks.
ThatOneGoodWriter
