O.K. all, here's chpt 2...
I do NOT own any of these characters, any and all references to the books belongs to the WONDERFUL and AMAZING Cassandra Clare! However the creative idea for the story is mine and any and all changes or references to it must go through me.
Chapter 2
I stood in front of the bathroom door with my arms crossed, wearing only my grey sweats. Izzy had been in there forever. How long could it take one person to get ready in the morning? She drove me insane, even more so than that red head at school. What was her name again? Oh yeah, Clarissa. I smirked to myself as I remembered her reaction when I said it. She narrowed her eyes and her lips set into a thin line. She was so easily bothered by me. Of course, it had to have something to do with the fact that I'm, well…me, but usually it's not like that. I normally have the opposite effect on girls. I shrugged it off, her loss not mine.
"IZZY!" I shouted at the door while pounding on it. "Get out already. There are other people who need to use the bathroom too. Nothing you do in there will make you look better!" Max, Alec and Izzy's little brother walked by and snickered at my comment. I love that kid!
"You are so dead," he added with a shake of his head.
"Wanna help me fend off the wicked witch?" I gestured to the door with my thumb. A smile a mile wide spread across his face and fell just as fast as it had appeared. The door swung open and there Izzy stood with her hair slicked back into a high pony-tail and a scowl on her face. She reminded me of the villain from Sleeping Beauty, minus the horns, but if she added another pony-tail she'd be a perfect match! "Run Max, run before she catches you." His eyes lit up and he giggled down the stairs.
"You're such an ass, Jace."
"Thanks."
"Uuugh," she growled and stalked down the hall in her hooker boots. The ones that are knee high with heels longer than a meter stick. My first task for the day was complete. Piss Izzy off…CHECK! I showered then dressed in a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt with a blue polo, ran my fingers through my hair and headed down for breakfast. Alec, Max and Izzy all sat at the table eating cereal while Robert and Maryse stood at the center island drinking coffee. I was greeted with smiles from everyone, except Iz, of course.
I poured myself a bowl of Honeycomb and doused it with milk, then took my place between Alec and Max. Alec is a year old than Iz and I but he can't drive yet, so we are stuck with Robert taking us to school. I sat quietly eating my breakfast when I heard Izzy clear her throat. "Jace," she said sweetly. Damn I knew she was gonna blast my shit for something.
"Iz," I replied with a mouthful.
"Would you mind telling me what exactly it is that you did to Clary to make her hate you so much? I mean, not that I blame her but, I'm curious." I looked up at her over my bowl and blinked. Everyone's eyes were on me.
"Who's Clary?" I asked taking another bite.
"Clary, the red head from your Economics class." She gave me the DUH! Look.
"Oh, Clarissa." I heard Alec chuckle beside me and Max sat with a Cheshire cat grin on his face. "I have no idea. I barely said two words to the girl." I shook my head.
"Please, Jace, tell me how you make the sweetest girl on the face of the earth hate you in only two weeks?" Alec asked.
"Sweet?" I damn near spit out my cereal. "That little girl has a mouth the size of Texas on her and I've never heard anything sweet come out of it."
"Why, because she isn't using it to stoke your ego?" Izzy chimed in.
"I like Clary," Max added.
"Quiet you," I said holding up my spoon and making a light saber noise, to which he countered with his own and we began a fight to the death with our spoons. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Izzy roll hers, Alec smiled and shook his head and Robert and Maryse deposited their coffee cups in the sink.
"Let's go guys," Robert said motioning us toward the door.
"Until we meet again, Luke Skywalker." I moved the spoon to gesture that I was holstering it then set it on the table. I stood, placed my hand atop his head and mussed up his dark tresses. "Have a good day at school, kid," I said with a wink. The ride to school was quiet and boring as it had been every other day over the last two weeks. Max was dropped off at the elementary school first and then the rest of us. I'm still not sure what to think of this place. It's not like Seattle. The other students seem nice enough, well, all but one, O.K. two if you count Izzy, but she doesn't count for anything in my book. Since Izzy brought Clarissa's hatred toward me to the forefront of my mind, I decided that today was the day to find out why. Maybe we met in a past life or it was bad girl karma coming back to haunt me…yeah; scratch that last one, that's just not possible.
Izzy booked it in the door first while Alec and I hung back and took our time. He and I didn't have to say anything to one another; we had this unspoken understanding that made conversation unnecessary. We closed in on my locker, "See ya at lunch," Alec said. I nodded but damn near tripped when I turned. In front of me stood none other than, my sharp tongued, red headed hater. She glowered at me but turned quickly on her heels and headed for class. Wow! I quickly entered the combo for my locker and pulled the door open to fetch my book.
"Jace," I heard from behind in a sing song voice. I turned to see a blonde haired girl with perfectly manicured nails, bright pink lips, and a couple life preserves attached to her chest. I smiled that smile and she took a step closer. "I'm Kealie," she introduced herself and gave me a shy smile. She was attractive, for the most part. Barbie wannabe's weren't really my type but then again, I didn't discriminate when it came to the opposite sex or anything having to do with sex. Hey, I'm a guy! Don't judge me. She ran her fake fingernail up my arm and bit her bottom lip, "We should sit together at lunch." In girl that means, 'sit by me so I can pretend we're together and piss all of the competition off.' I bobbed my head back and forth and shrugged just as the first bell rang. I winked at her quickly before closing my locker and heading to class.
'Oh, the possibilities,' I thought. I ducked into my seat just before the last bell rang and opened my book to where we left off last Friday and waited. A curtain of auburn red curls sat in front of me. I cocked my head and examined her small figure. She probably had to be the smallest, nearly full grown person I'd ever laid eyes on. It was kinda cute in a strawberry shortcake sort of way. Don't ask me how I even know who that is. Let's just say it involved some alcohol and an ex from Seattle. Mr. Peters seemed to be late for class but it gave me the perfect window of opportunity. I reached my pencil out and twisted one of her curls around it, not trying at all to hide the fact that I was doing it.
I heard an exaggerated sigh as she spun around and eyed me suspiciously. I smiled that smile and sat back. "Jonathan," she said through gritted teeth. I hated when people called me that. Yeah it's my name, but it sounds so…old. I could feel my smile drop but I tried to recover quickly before she noticed. The side of her mouth turned up just slightly in a victorious smile.
"Clarissa." I smiled wider while wrapping my tongue around her name.
"What do you want?" she snapped. Wow, she was quick and to the point. I could actually like this girl…or not.
"I get the distinct impression that, you don't like me very much."
"Gee, how'd you come up with that Sherlock?" She was about to turn back around but I responded quickly.
"Why?"
"Does it hurt your ego to know that not every girl in this school worships you?"
I laughed, "The offspring of a garden gnome and Pipi Longstocking hardly counts as a girl." She crossed her arms and her jaw set, whoops! "Anyway," I cleared my throat. "At some point we should get together to talk about this project thing."
"We've got all year."
"Yeah well, I don't wanna fail this class and as half of seventy five percent of that rides on you, I'd rather not leave it until the week before it's due."
"Fine, I'll come over after school," she snipped.
"No." I shook my head. "I'll come to your house. Izzy lives at my place of residence and since she hates me and you're her BF4L," I motioned the '4' with four fingers and made an 'L' shape after, "we won't get anything done." Her expression was one of pure horrification. Try as I might, I couldn't find any of her facial expressions unattractive. I snapped my fingers, "Hey, fix your face. It's not like I'm asking to come over and rid you of your virginity." But then again…No! Her jaw dropped and eyes went wide. Apparently this girl couldn't take a joke. Alright, it was a bad joke or maybe she wasn't a virgin. But judging by the bright pink that suddenly appeared in her cheeks…she was.
Clarissa blinked and shook her head, clearing her throat as well. "My brother will probably be there with his girl-friend." She started picking at her fingernails and her head fell.
"So." I shrugged.
Her head snapped back up. "It's not the easiest thing to concentrate to, unless you study to porn."
"That's brave, he never gets caught?"
"Mom's usually at the museum till eight or nine and dad don't get home until he closes down the book store. So, no, he doesn't.
"Lucky," I said underneath my breath, but it wasn't quiet enough and Clarissa shook her head and spun in her chair. I couldn't help it. Mr. Peters arrived shortly after and I sat or more like spaced out in class. All I could think about was how I wanted to run my fingers through her hair to see if it was as soft as it really looked. What was my problem? This girl put a great deal of effort in expressing her dislike for me, which I can't say she's my favorite person on the planet but there was something about her. When she looked at me with her big green eyes, it was like she was waiting for me to bear my soul to her and for the first time ever, with anyone, I actually wanted to.
The bell rang and everyone hopped out of their seats and skipped merrily to their lockers. Shoot me! Clarissa and I opened ours in unison and when I closed mine she was staring at me with the book to her next class clutched to her chest, chewing on her bottom lip. I don't know why, but I liked it. "So," she looked down and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "You'll have to walk home with me then…if you're coming over after school. Usually Jon gives me a ride but I don't need him hounding me about you."
My eyes brows knitted together, not understanding who she was talking about. "Who's Jon?"
"My brother, he's a tad over protective and will question you until he's blue in the face."
"Question me how?"
"About us," she gestured between us. "And as you've made it clear that you're not coming over to rid me of my virginity, those questions aren't necessary." Is that disappointment I smell? She crossed her arms and tapped her foot, NOPE it's not.
"I'll make sure to have my answers ready for him if it comes to that." I winked and walked away but caught a glimpse of her panicked expression. I heard heels following me down the hall. I was hoping somewhat that is wasn't the chick from earlier, what was her name…Kayla, Keke? I don't fucking remember. All I could see is red curls and her bottom lip between her teeth.
"Jace," a sultry voice sounded behind me. I turned halfway to find a girl with a raven colored bob. She was pretty and had big brown eyes. Her floatation devices weren't quite as large as Kandi's but still bigger than Clarissa's. Once again I thought, oh the possibilities.
"Yeah, that's me," I said.
"I'm Aline," she batted her eyes and smiled. I smiled back and nodded. "We should sit together at lunch." Urgh! Again with the lunch seating, what was it with the girls in this place? My response was the same to this one as it was the last. I bobbed my head left to right and winked before spinning on my heel and heading to my next class. The only thing that could surprise me now was if Clarissa asked me the same thing. The girls here needed to come up with new pick-up lines. At lease in Seattle they were creative. "Meet me in the janitors closet," or "The biology room is empty, wanna study anatomy with me?" Those things I could appreciate.
I was usually excited for lunch. I dreaded it now though, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't need any cat fight, however entertaining they may be. Not in my first couple weeks here at least. I spotted Clarissa sitting with Iz and some nerdy looking kid. She must be into charity to be friends with Izzy and geek boy. That was commendable. Alec sat a table over with a new guy. This one had me worried. There was more glitter attached to this person's hair and clothing than you'd find on a Spice Girls dress. I had no other choice than to sit with them because the girls from earlier weren't there yet and I wasn't resorting to Clarissa's charity club. I grabbed a salad, a plate of spaghetti, some garlic bread and a piece of apple pie and headed over with my head hung low so my hair covered my face.
"Jace!" Alec greeted me happily. "Hey, I want you to meet someone." He was nearly bouncing in his chair. Oh God, here we go. I looked up and gave a half-hearted smile. "This is Magnus." He gestured to the glitter infested boy next to him. "Magnus, this is my best friend, Jace." We nodded at one another and I shoveled my food in as fast as I could, trying to keep my mouth full at all times so I didn't have to be engaged in conversation. Luckily for me, the two of them seemed to space out on the fact that I was even there.
"Jace," someone whined behind me. I turned in my chair, Candice or Krystal or Camille or whatever the hell her name was stood behind me. She stood with her bottom lip stuck out, twirling her blonde hair around her finger, not at all attractive. "I thought you were sitting with me." Alec's head shot up and his eyes darted between us curiously. Magnus sat with a stupid grin on his face.
"You weren't here." I shrugged and tried to act disappointed, "Maybe tomorrow." Her pout turned into a smile as she nodded excitedly. I spotted the brunette behind her, burning holes into Clair's back. SHIT! She started in my direction and I quickly smiled back at the blonde in front of me. "See you then."
"O.K," she said and bounced away. The girls locked on one another as they crossed paths. And cue Alice.
"Jace, you were supposed to sit with me." She didn't whine but it was still annoying. Alec cocked his head and narrowed his eyes on Allie. Magnus choked on his diet Coke.
"Was I? It must have slipped my mind. I'm sorry; we'll have to make it up tomorrow."
She smiled and licked her lips, "sounds good." And she too, happily skipped away.
"What in the actual Hell, Jace? They are on you like white on rice," Alec said.
"I can't help it." I shrugged. "It must be the Apollo in me." One of Magnus' eye brows rose and Alec stared blankly. "Never mind, you had to be there." I shook my head.
"Watch out with those two," Magnus warned. "They'll eat you alive."
"I can only hope," I said with a smirk. Magnus paused briefly but it was enough for me to notice and then he frowned. Did he not like chicks? Did he not get my innuendo? Whatever, I wasn't going to waste my time trying to fill him in. For a sixteen your old dude, he was far too clueless. I found myself bored in all my classes. I did however, come up with some good responses if Clarissa's brother wanted to play fifty questions. She'd kill me but, it would be too hard to resist and I knew I wouldn't be able to help myself.
Finally the last bell rang for the day and I met Clarissa at our lockers. I was none too pleased that the geek and the witch were there. Izzy kept giving me the death glare and the other kid kept looking between Clarissa and I as if we were from a different world. I was about to say something to him when she grabbed my arm and pushed me toward the door. "Why are you ushering me out the door?"
"I'm saving you from your mouth," she hissed.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning, you have a terrible tongue and were about to lash Simon with it. You pick on Simon and I have to murder you. I'm already tired of trying to come up with new ways to insult you so I guess I'm saving myself more than you."
"Awe, for a minute there I thought you were trying to be friends." I smiled and she stopped, staring at me blankly, then she burst out laughing. "I don't find that funny," I said un-amused. She held one hand up while the other clutched her chest. I placed one hand firmly on my hip and sighed.
"I'm s-s," another burst of giggles and a deep breath. "Sorry," she wiped a tear from her eye, "I've just never heard anything that funny before."
"Way to drag someone's ego through the mud, you're very good at it."
"One must care of another's opinion for such a travesty to happen," she replied. I shrugged, she was right. I don't care…do I? "Come on, it's only a couple blocks." Clarissa pushed forward. For someone so short, she walked damn fast. A couple blocks turned into a half hour walk, what the fuck? Clarissa pushed through the metal fence of a light blue house with white shutters on the windows and unlocked the front door. It opened into a descent sized living room with hardwood floors and beige furniture. The dining room was just beyond that with a large oak table. There were steps off the living room and I assumed that all of the bedrooms were up there.
"Do you want something to drink or eat?" Clarissa asked, throwing her school bag on the couch.
"Sure," I shrugged. I'm a teenager and a guy, absolutely I will eat. She drifted off into the kitchen while I searched the room. Pictures of another red haired woman, a scruffy man, Clarissa and who I assumed was her brother littered the room. She looked like her mom, not a bad thing because her mother was attractive for someone a little over twice my age. I heard voices outside and felt a spark shoot through my body. A deep voice first and annoying giggles followed. It was her brother. I smirked and took a seat on the couch, just waiting for it.
The door burst open and a tall blonde boy came through with his arm draped over some girl with light brown hair. All of the talking and giggling ceased as soon as his eyes met mine. "Who the hell are you?" Just then Clarissa came back and froze just outside the living room with a couple cans of pop and a bag of chips. "Who is this, Clary?"
She cleared her throat and sighed, "This is Jonathan or as he prefers to be called, Jace. He and I were partnered up for an Economics assignment and he's here to work on it."
"You left him alone?" She came to stand beside me and handed me the soda while rolling her eyes.
"Yes, I did. At least I left him in the living room and not my bedroom." One of her brother's eyes twitched and he inhaled. "Go do your business and leave us alone." She waived him off. "Hi, by the way. I'm Clary, Jon's sister." She introduced herself to the girl on his left.
"Hi, I'm Kerry," she girl responded with a smile. She kept looking at me and it was starting to creep me out. She wasn't ugly, but not attractive either. Jon huffed and pulled Kerry up the steps, mumbling on his way.
"He's pleasant," I chided.
"Very," she nodded. "Come on." She lifted her bag over her shoulder and headed for the stairs. Why the stairs? Was it not suitable working conditions down here?
"To your room?" My eye brows lifted to my hair line incredulously. This was an unexpected turn of events.
"Yes," she said slowly.
"I'm not going to be suffocated by pink flowers and unicorns am I?" I stood at the bottom step holding the railing with my bag in my free hand.
"No," she laughed, "you aren't." She continued up the steps and I followed. I'd been in girls bedrooms before, but never to do…homework. She pushed through the door and held it for me. Her room was small but fit a full size bed and a desk. Her bedding was striped green and yellow. The furniture was white and the walls were covered in sketches. There were some of Izzy and others of Simon. Her parents and brother frequented a few as well. What caught my eye was one that appeared to be of…me? Clarissa threw some books on her desk, not paying attention to me at all, so I sauntered over to the far wall and studied the portrait.
It was good, very detailed and realistic. I'd almost forgotten how good looking I was, almost. I heard a gasp behind me and spun to find Clarissa with wide eyes and panic written all over her face. "What are you doing?" My eyes darted back and forth around the room.
"Looking at your drawings?" I answered slowly. Her jaw fell and I pointed a finger at the picture of me on the wall. "It's me!" I smirked.
"You weren't supposed to see that." She hurried over and pulled it from the wall, her arm brushing mine in the process. It made my skin prick, in a good way.
"Sorry," I said, holding my hands up in surrender. "But, why are you drawing me?" She turned on me quickly and stormed across the room, shoving it in her desk.
"I was…" she started. I linked my hands behind my back and smiled that smile, taking a step toward her. She fidgeted and bit her bottom lip. It was cute seeing her squirm.
"You were what?" And with perfect timing, we heard loud banging against the wall and noises that could only be described as annoying as hell. Let's just say, Kerry was a moaner. Clarissa flushed from her cheeks to her chest and let her head fall into her hands. I couldn't help but laugh. It seemed to lighten her mood when I did, so she followed suit.
"I warned you," she said, gesturing toward the wall.
"You did," I nodded.
"Sit," she ordered and pulled out the desk chair. "What are we going to do this project on?" She padded toward the bed and sat cross legged atop her comforter.
"I don't know, something that will drown out the sound of my brother and his girlfriend?"
"And just how do you propose we market that to the class?" I sat down and asked sarcastically.
"For anyone with a sex crazed big brother it will be easy!"
I scratched my head, "Yeah, um…no! Try again."
"I don't hear you spitting out ideas."
Needless to say, every suggestion offered was shot down by one of us. This left us both moody and irritated with the other. I left around six, a little grateful that her brother didn't break out fifty questions. What was I supposed to say to him? He was already pissed that I was there and why? I think a 'tad' over protective is an understatement. When I arrived home, Izzy was locked in her bedroom, probably on the phone with Clarissa asking what happened while I was there and if I behaved. Alec was sitting on the living room sofa with his ear attached to the phone. I wonder who he was talking to. And Max, my little buddy, was reading a comic book while munching on some Rolo's. I decided to hole up in my room and listen to some music.
Getting Clarissa out of my head was harder than I thought. Somehow, the girl got under my skin and I had a difficult time deciding if it was a good thing or not. Considering she hated my guts, for whatever reason, I figured that it wasn't. Even the Red Hot Chili Peppers couldn't pull my mind away, and that was odd. I kept thinking to myself, I'm so Screwed!
There it be! Let me know what you guys think. I wanna wish everyone a safe and Happy Halloween!
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You'll get quite a bit more from Jace's point of view in this story than from Don't Cry or Last Words! I hope you guys like that!