Chapter 3

"Earth to Simon; a little help here?" I ask.

"Oh, yeah! I'm sorry" He laughs and takes nearly all of the boxes out of my hands and sets them on the front counter. "I was just thinking" he mutters as he takes the remaining boxes from my hands and sets them in their appointed spots on the shelves.

"About what?" I ask as I fix my uniform hat. Yes, I said uniform. I just so happen to work in a place called "The Pecan Pin". And that's exactly what my blue hat says in gold letters. Yes, it does kind of suck working here, but it isn't too terrible, and I have a great boss who lets Simon hang out here as long as we are not very busy. I smooth down my green tee shirt and dust the dirt off of my jeans and look back at Simon, waiting on his answer.

"Well, don't take this the wrong way, Clary, but-" he starts, but I cut him off.

"Oh, that always says this is going to make me feel good" I say rolling my eyes.

"Sorry," he says flatly, but continues, "but I mean, what would the most popular guy in the entire school want with you, anyways?"

"How lovely that you think so lowly of me, Simon" I say with sarcasm and feign my feelings being hurt.

"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, though I don't think that I did, but you know I've got a point" he returns while walking over to the sample shelves and pulling out a few pralines, his favorite.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I understand what you are saying" I tell him as I make my way back to the front counter. Since we don't have a customer in the store right now, I turn to the stereo and turn the volume up just a bit. When I did, I tripped slightly over my own feet and somehow my fingers tangled the lights that were hanging in the garland and all of them went off. How this happened, one may ask, but would never get an answer. That's seriously just how clumsy I can be. I look back at Simon who is concealing his laughter and turns around to make it seem like he didn't see anything, but I know better. I go behind the shelves because that's where the plugs to the lights are, and hunt for the plug that I apparently undid. It takes me a few minutes, but I finally find it and plug it in to the nearest plugin. When I make my way back out, an elderly man makes his way in the store.

"Ma'am, do you work here?" he asks. No, I just where this stupid hat because I think it looks good on me. I think to myself.

"Yes sir, I do. What can I help you with?" I ask in my 'professional' voice. Here comes the fun part, well, at least for Simon. He loves hearing the questions people come in with that have to do with nuts. Of course he would, he is a guy. Is it like some rule that all guys have to have a dirty mind? I am just not sure about that, but I believe so.

"Well, I actually have a question about your pecans" he informs me, but I don't hear what he says because all of my focus has gone to the blonde male who just walked through the doors. Jace came in and walked around the store, as if he were actually interested in buying pecans. Can this day get any worse?

Earlier that day-

"What has got you moping around?" Isabelle asks Jace while she applies a heavy black line on her lower lash line at the kitchen counter.

"This girl. She keeps blowing me off." Jace replies, silently asking for his adoptive sister's help. Isabelle smiles widely at him.

"I like her already" she laughs. She turns to Jace after she finished applying the eyeliner on both eyes. "Jace, I know this may be hard for a bitch magnet such as yourself to comprehend, but maybe you could throw in a little effort?"

"What do you mean?" the blonde asks, genuinely confused.

"I mean instead of just staring at her like you stare down bacon as mom cooks it, talk to her. Instead of just giving her a flashing smile and a flip of your hair, find out what her interests are, what she likes to do, where she hangs out, where she works, maybe?" She slides down the kitchen bar stool and smooths her skirt down with one hand and grabs her bag with the other. Jace reaches around her to grab a bright red apple out of the fruit bowl that sits on the counter.

"Yeah, thanks, that might work" he says rubbing the apple against his shirt, then taking a bite out of it. Isabelle slides past him walking towards the back door.

"I gotta go! Jen's brother just got back from military school. He's so cute!" she yells running out the door.

"Stalking is illegal in all fifty states" I inform him.

"Hey, can we talk?" Jace asks me, but I completely ignore him, bringing my attention back to my customer.

"Yes sir, what question did you have?" I ask as politely as I can. I see Simon pick up a water bottle and start drinking out of it.

"Yes, are ya'lls nuts well rounded?" well so much for a clean floor, because Simon just spit every drop of his water on it. My eyes then land on Jace, who is also laughing.

"Um, don't you have a break coming up?" Jace asks me. He is really starting to get on my nerves, so I decide to indulge him for a few minutes.

"One moment, sir" I hold out my hand and show him the number one with it. I then walk over to Jace and grab his shirt, dragging him towards the door with me.

"What do you want?" I ask through gritted teeth.

"Relax, Fray. I wanted to talk to you. It'll only take five minutes."

"Miss?" the customer asks for me.

"More like thirty seconds. What about?" I ask him. He looks sort of nervous, but I know he cannot possibly be nervous just from talking to me.

"I wanted to talk to you about," he looks down at his shoes, "art."

I look at him confused. "Art? You don't take art."

"How do you know?" he challenges.

"How come I don't see you in any of my classes?" I challenge back.

"They let me take one of those, um, those…"

"Independent studies?" I ask, since that's clearly what he is trying to think of.

"Yes! Independent studies."

"Okay, well maybe some time" I say dismissively, but suddenly, Simon decides to be a part of this conversation.

"How about tonight? Java Jones is having a poetry meeting. You can have my ticket." I glance up to see Jace smiling and nodding, then turn around pushing Simon towards the front desk.

"Are you out of your mind?! Look, I kicked your ass in third grade, I could kick it again! What the hell is wrong with you?" I ask angrily.

"Okay, 1. I was sick that day. And 2. The hottest guy in school wants to go out with you and you are not the least bit curious? Come on, Clary, give it a chance."

"Ugh, fine" I give in and turn back to Jace who has hopeful eyes. "It starts at seven, parking can be a problem, so meet me there at six thirty." I say and turn on my heel to get back to work.

"Hey, and maybe afterwards, we can go grab something to eat?" Jace asks as I turn behind the desk. I stand on my tip toes and lean my body over to face him.

"No" I nearly shout, but he just grins and walks out the door. "I apologize, sir, has your question been answered by him," I point at Simon, "and a decision been made?" I ask.

"Yes" he replies flatly. "Two regular flavored boxes of the 'Big Nuts'." There goes Simon's water again.

If you want excuses of why it has taken me so long to post this chapter, message me and I'll tell you, because I really just hate to give you all excuses when I know yall don't care, haha! Happy New Year's guys! I am very sorry this came so late, and I will try to update soon! I hope that 2014 is as fabulous as 2013 was! Please review this chapter and follow me on instagram claceinstruments xoxo