Helloooo again! Honestly, I have no idea what to say. 17 reviews for that last chapter? And FIFTY FOLLOWS D: You people are seriously amazing. If my band ever makes it, I am actually going to dedicate a song to you all. No joke. Thank you so much to every single one of you, even if you didn't leave a review. I just cannot believe how many people are taking their time to read this. I love you all.
One more thing before you read this - I just wanted to clarify some things about the school. I am actually English so since that's the only schooling system I've ever known, I've based the fic on it. This doesn't mean the story is particularly set in England though. I like to think it could just apply anywhere, so whatever accent you're reading this in, roll with that. So basically, the band members are all in Year 13 and Clary, Simon, Isabelle, Aline etc are all in Year 12. Years 12 and 13 are the last two years in school for us, we call it Sixth Form, so if what I've inferred from other fanfics is right, that should be equivalent to Juniors and Seniors in an American High School. Tell me if I'm wrong. So everyone in Year 13 is 17-18 years old, and the Year 12s are 16-17. I hope that cleared things up. Let me know if you have more questions :) Right, that's all. Onwards...
Disclaimer: I do not own TMI or its characters, though I wish I owned Jonathan. I really do.
Chapter 3: Trying to exorcise Isabelle
I make my way to the field for lunch with Isabelle, my thoughts slipping back to this morning. As soon as English Lit was over, I had gathered my books as quickly as I could, desperate to escape both Jace and Aline. I thought I was clear when suddenly Jace yelled, 'See you tonight, girlfriend!' when I was halfway down the corridor, earning me some very curious looks from nearby students. One of these days, I am actually going to strangle that boy. Though I honestly couldn't see how it benefited him. Sure, when he insinuated we were lovers in front of Aline, it was clearly a joke, but to everyone else? Did he really get that much pleasure out of making my life a misery? I refused to believe this was just some ploy to improve my social status. Jace Herondale isn't that selfless. In fact, I doubt the word even exists in his vocabulary. His only redeeming factor is his music taste. Ok, and maybe that damn aftershave. Seriously, I'm going to have to find out where it's from. Not so I can spray it on myself and just sniff it all day long. God no. That would just be so weird.
Isabelle nudges me, snapping me out of my reverie.
"Clarissa Morgenstern, have you been listening to a word I've been saying?" She rolls her eyes before pulling me to the lunch table.
"Sure, you were talking about…erm, that new dress you bought?" I hedge, eyeing her warily. Isabelle Lightwood does not like being ignored. Though having been friends with me for so long, my occasional absent-mindedness is something she's grown to tolerate.
"Oh." This takes her off guard. "So you were listening." Get in there, Clary! I mentally fist-pump. "Anyway, as I was saying, I'm thinking of wearing it to the preliminary round of Battle of the Bands tomorrow. What do you think?"
"Hold on," I raise my hand up towards her. "Did you say, tomorrow?"
"Yeah, it's an initiation round. All the local bands that are decent enough to make it to the official contest are filtered through. Didn't Jonathan tell you? He expects everyone to be there for support."
"No, Jonathan did not tell me anything," I seethe. Simon and I were going to watch Death Note together tomorrow! "Wait, how come you know about it?"
"I ran into him earlier on the way to drama," She shrugs nonchalantly.
"Did you now…"
"Yeah," Isabelle shrugs again. There's something about the way she's avoiding my gaze that tells me there's more.
"Isabelle Lightwood, what are you hiding?" I narrow my eyes at her, waving my peanut butter sandwich threateningly.
"Nothing." She bites her lip. "Okay, fine! Why didn't you tell me Jonathan dyed his hair black?" That I was not expecting.
"Err…because I didn't think it was important?" I raise my eyebrows. Then it hits me. "Oh God, Izzy, please don't tell me you have a thing for my brother!"
"Keep it down!" She slaps her hand over my mouth. "I don't! I mean, well, I didn't. It's just…that hair. It makes him look so dangerous, like he could just burn down the whole world if he wanted to. Or like a predator, just ready to pounce on his victim, you know what I mean?" Isabelle looks at me hopefully.
"I'm about to puke up my sandwich," I mumble. "This is wrong. This is beyond wrong. This is so wrong it's…insane. Oh crap that's it, isn't it? You've finally lost it, haven't you?" I stand up and begin pacing back and forth. "It's okay, we're going to get you help. Just leave it all to me…my mother knows this woman down at the hospital. Madeleine, I think her name is. We can get you seen to immediately." I gasp dramatically. "Unless this is even more serious? Like some kind of possession? Worry not, child, we will purge this demon from you. " I place my hands on either side of Isabelle's head and begin chanting gibberish.
"Oh my god, Clary! Stop!" She swats my hands away as I stifle a giggle. "You're messing up my hair! Geez, it's only a little crush. As soon as his hair goes back to normal, I'll probably grow out of it. And besides, you've fancied Alec for years and I've put up with it."
"I do not fancy Alec! As an artist, I merely appreciate his combination of hair and eye tones…and his features. That is all." I sit back down as Isabelle looks at me sceptically. "Okay fine, can we both just agree not to mention this again?"
"Yes, thank you." Isabelle sighs. We both finish off our sandwiches, an awkward silence between us. I decide to believe Isabelle when she says it's just a passing thing; the thought of her with my brother is just too sickening to comprehend. On the one hand, she'd be my sister-in-law, which would be brilliant. On the other hand, it's Jonathan. I could never agree to subjecting one of my best friends to a lifetime with him. Of course, there's also the small matter of Simon being completely in love with her. Isabelle is beautiful, smart and independent, but she's also the most oblivious person I know. How daft must you be to not notice that someone, who you spend so much time with, worships you as if you were a goddess on earth? He follows her everywhere with those puppy dog eyes and hangs on every word she says, yet all that's on her mind is who she could date this week to annoy her parents. Perhaps I should tell Simon to dye his hair black? Just as I'm conjuring the mental image of a black-haired Simon, the man himself walks over to join us. His eyes light up as he catches sight of Isabelle, but then harden as he turns to face me. I drop my hand mid-wave.
"What's up, Simon?" I ask brightly, hoping to better his mood.
"Why don't you ask someone else?" He snaps, stopping a few feet away from us. "I wouldn't know. I'm always the last to know."
I can't help but think he actually looks pretty adorable when he's angry. His eyebrows pull together in the middle and his lower lip is trembling slightly. Come on, Isabelle! I try to send her mental vibes. You have feelings for Simon. They may be deep down, like, really deep, but you do. Just look at his face. Don't look at your nails. His face is way more interesting than your nails, I promise.
"Last to know what?" Isabelle says, raising her head. Hell yeah, my vibes worked.
"Ask Clary," He huffs, refusing to look at me. Huh? I thought he was only yelling at me because he couldn't bring himself to yell at Isabelle. I didn't realise I was actually the source of his anger.
"What's he talking about?" She looks at me questioningly.
"I honestly have no idea…" I rack my brain to try to find something I may have done to annoy Simon. "Unless you already know about Battle of the Bands? Sorry Simon, I know we were meant to have our Death Note marathon tomorrow. I'll still do whatever I can to try to get out of it."
"You're not coming round tomorrow?" Simon gasps, a betrayed look on his reddening face. Damn, I'm guessing that wasn't it then. "And for him as well. I should have guessed."
"Well, he is my ride home. If I piss him off, he won't give me a lift until he gets over it." Which knowing Jonathan, would be a while. That boy can hold a grudge.
"He's driving you home too?" Simon's eyes widen.
"He's been doing that for a while…" I say, slightly confused now.
"HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON!?" He suddenly shouts, arms flailing.
"Jeez, calm down Simon," Isabelle intervenes. His shoulders relax a little at her voice but he doesn't stop glaring at me.
"I don't know," I shrug, a bit frantic. Before he was adorable, now he's actually starting to worry me. I haven't seen Simon this incensed since the Star Wars prequels came out. Oh, how he hated them. "Since he passed his driving test? What's your problem, Simon?"
"What's my problem?" He asks, incredulous. "What's my problem?"
"That is what she asked," Isabelle murmurs.
"Yes, what's your problem?" I reiterate, a little annoyed now. "He's my brother."
Simon's jaw drops.
"HE'S YOUR BRO- wait." He steps back. "Who are you talking about?"
"My brother, Jonathan Christopher Morgenstern." I speak slowly, as if I were talking to a child. Or the Hulk. "I believe you've met him. Many times."
"Oh." He snaps his mouth shut.
"Wait, who were you talking about?" I raise my eyebrows at him.
"Jace," He mumbles.
"Jace?" I turn to Isabelle who just gives me an 'I don't know what's he's talking about, he's clearly missed his meds this week, perhaps we should move away' look. Yes, her looks are pretty descriptive.
"Yes, Jace." Simon straightens up, some of his anger returning. "Your boyfriend. Which, by the way, I only found out about because I overheard Kaelie talking about it in the canteen. Why didn't you tell me Clary? I thought you hated him."
"Jace is your boyfriend?" Isabelle splutters, spitting out the gulp of water she'd just taken.
"NO!" I exclaim, horrified. "No, he's not my boyfriend. I do still hate him."
"Then what gave Kaelie the impression that you were going out?"
"I don't…." Then it hits me. "Oh, crap. Well, he did shout something down the corridor this morning, which people may have inferred that from. You know, if they decided to read between the lines."
"What did he say?" Simon says a little more evenly, though I can tell he's still ruffled.
"See you tonight, girlfriend," I mumble, avoiding both of their gazes on me.
"Really? Well, I have no idea how they could have linked that to you two going out at all! Some people, eh? Always jumping to conclusions." Simon rolls his eyes. "And why exactly did Blondie say this to you?"
"He was just being an irritating prat, that's all." I gesture for Simon to come sit by us. "Trying to rile me up as usual."
"Promise?"
"Yes Simon, I promise there is nothing going on between Jace and I. Now will you please come sit down with us and eat?"
"Not yet. Do you also promise that if there ever were anything going on with you, no matter who else is involved, you would tell Isabelle and I first so we don't have to hear it from Kaelie or some other randomer?"
"I promise," I nod.
"Good," He says, pulling out a chair. "Because I'm starving."
The end of the day comes much too soon and before I know it, I'm making my way back to Jonathan's car. He's leaning against the bonnet, waiting for his bandmates. Ha! And he thought I'd be the one lagging behind…
"Have you seen Jace?" He says as I approach, fractionally tilting his head in my direction.
"My first day back at school was fine, thank you for asking. It's nice to know my big brother is so concerned about me."
"How was your day, Clary?" Jonathan sighs.
"Fine," I grin. "I just told you. How was yours?"
"Average," he shrugs. "Hey, you know your friend, Alec's sister?"
"I do know my friend Isabelle, yes."
"That's it, Isabelle. Is she single?"
"Erm…yeeeees," I mumble. Oh God, the unthinkable is happening.
"Interesting…" He smiles to himself.
"I mean, no!" I interject.
"What?"
"No, she's not single."
"But you just-"
"I lied." Isabelle is going to kill me for this. It's for her own good, I tell myself. Their kids would be beautiful but also self-centred and vain beyond belief. Isabelle needs Simon's genetics.
"You're a strange child, Clarissa." He looks at me curiously.
"It's in the genes, Jonathan." He opens his mouth to reply but is cut off by Jordan's booming voice as the other members of the band finally join us.
"What took you guys so long?" He says instead.
"Sebastian's back cycle tyre was flat, so we had to pump it up," Jace rolls his eyes. He seems completely oblivious to the evils I'm giving him. It belatedly occurs to me that the rumour he sparked must not have gotten round to Jonathan yet, or I doubt they'd be so civil right now. Unless, he has heard but he just doesn't care. I honestly don't know which I'd prefer.
"And that took all three of you?"
"It was really flat."
"Yeah, like, seriously flat." Jordan nods.
"But-" Alec begins, looking at the other two confusedly.
"It was really flat." Jace repeats, cutting him off.
"Whatever," Jonathan shakes his head as the three boys glance at each other. "Just get in the car, we're late enough as it is."
Jordan takes the front passenger seat, leaving me the misfortune of being wedged in between Jace and Alec at the back. I shift uncomfortably in the middle seat as the other two climb in, Jace to my right. Suddenly, I freeze as Jace's hand lightly brushes my leg. I whip my head round to face him.
"What are you doing?"
"Seatbelt," He whispers, indicating that his hand is near the belt clip. I glare at him for a few more seconds before turning back to face the front. I don't know why I'm so hyperaware of everything he does all of a sudden. "You're being awfully jumpy today," He smirks. "Anything the matter?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" I retort. Yes, I am aware I have the maturity of a six year-old.
"Yes, I would actually." He turns to face me.
"You would what?" Jonathan asks, eyeing us from the rearview mirror. I decide to take advantage of Jace's momentary pause.
"I asked Jace if he would go gay for you." I smile angelically as Jace's mouth falls open.
Silence.
More silence. Then-
"EYES ON THE ROAD, DUDE!" Jordan suddenly screams, grabbing hold of the steering wheel as the car swerves towards the edge of the lane. Jonathan collects himself immediately, regaining control of the wheel.
"Sorry," he mumbles, eyes occasionally flicking back to us in the mirror. "I just…what?"
"It's a sensitive topic," I say, as Jace still stares at me dumbstruck. "Let's not discuss it right now."
"I agree," Alec grins. Since he's sitting right next to me, I'm guessing he heard the real conversation. "Let's leave this for later, when we can all look at it in detail."
"I think that's for the best," Jonathan nods. The rest of the journey home is relatively uneventful.
When we finally get home, I go straight to my room, ready to work on the new art assignment I was set today. I know, homework on the first day back. My school is without mercy. The assignment is part of a larger project based on our influences, with this section focussing on drawing the kinds of things that inspire us. I decide to sketch some of the artwork from album covers I've collected over the years, turning the volume on my IPod as high as I can to block out the noises coming from below. If I'm lucky, the band won't make it through the first round tomorrow, so I won't have to put up with this racket for the next four months. Though by the sounds of how their practice is going so far, I would be more surprised if they did get in.
Let me try to explain it to you. Just imagine a donkey on heat, noticing a really hot female donkey. I don't know, maybe she's a darker shade of grey. Whatever gets male donkeys hot under the proverbial collar. Now picture that this male donkey has been tied up for years, deprived of all donkey interaction, and now he's suddenly let loose to run to her. Just imagine his cry of elation, and then put the whole scene in the middle of a busy motorway. Perhaps in India. This is how Mallard Massacre sounds. I shit you not.
Unless they're actually trying to emulate what a massacre of mallards would sound like. Because in that case, they'd be the best band in the world. It's perfect.
After a couple of hours, I notice the music coming through my headphones is all I can hear. The boys have finally gone home, so I decide to go downstairs for dinner. Dad is already home, sitting at the dining table with the daily newspaper as my mother finishes plating up the food.
"Ah, Clarissa!" Dad looks up as I walk in. "There's my obedient child! How was school?"
"Not too bad, thanks." I smile at him, taking the seat opposite. "My new art teacher, Mrs Branwell, is really cool. She's letting us focus our coursework on whatever we want."
"Oh, that's just fantastic!" Mum pipes up. "I love that they're trying to nurture your inner artiste with that kind of freedom. It's just what I'm trying to do for Jonathan! It's a shame your father and I can't make it for his gig tomorrow. Make sure you take the video camera with you, won't you dear?"
"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. I had already made plans…"
"Nothing is more important than your brother's gig, Clary," Mum interjects. "It's the first time his band will ever be performing in front of a live audience. It's a make or break moment for his self-esteem. Tell her, Valentine."
"Yes, yes," Dad says, seemingly more interested in the latest neighbourhood scandals. "Listen to your mother."
"But I have homework…" I say, desperate now.
"I'm sure you can spare a few hours," Mum insists. "For your brother's artistic debut."
"But it's this art assignment I was just telling you about…"
"Maybe the gig will inspire you."
"But it's about things that already inspire me!" Then I pause, as a different route occurs to me. "I was going to include Switzerland."
"Switzerland?" Dad drops his newspaper.
"Yes," I nod eagerly. It worked! "The project wants us to draw on things that have influenced our lives, and I was going to focus on Switzerland as one of my topics. You know, since it is such an important part of my heritage. It means a lot to me."
"It does?" Dad's eyes light up, voice cracking a little.
"Of course it does! I may not have the white-blonde hair of the Morgensterns, but the same Swiss blood runs through these veins." I say as seriously as I can manage.
"Well in that case, you do not have to go anywhere!" Dad sets his jaw, placing his hand on mine.
"Valentine!" Mum protests. "But what about Jonathan?"
"She can support him some other time. Some things are more important, Jocelyn."
"Homework is more important than our son!?"
"Switzerland," Dad corrects her. "Switzerland is more important than our son."
I smile to myself as Mum shakes her head in disbelief. I love my father.
Ehehe, ah Valentine. And no, she's not going to get out of it that easily! The next chapter is the first round of the Battle of the Bands so if Clary's not there, we won't be either. It's just a small matter of deception...
I hope you enjoyed that! Don't worry, Sizzy will make an appearance at some point, it's just going to take some time because I'm evil like that. Also, I know there wasn't much of Jace himself in this chapter, but the next chapter will definitely make up for that.
As for the donkey thing, don't even ask. It was 3am. 3am is not an ideal writing time, unless you dig that kind of thing so, in that case, I suppose it is. Though I'd be extremely worried for you. Ah well, this is T-rated for a reason, kids ;)
Finally, the majority of you were in agreement with adding TID characters, so it shall be done! For any of you who haven't read TID (shame on you though, seriously), I promise I won't give anything of the plot away, but they won't be making an appearance in the next few chapters either way so you still have time -hint hint-
Once again, thank you all for reading. I've decided I'm going to try to update every Sunday and every Wednesday to make it a little more regular for you, especially for those of you who don't have an account so aren't following this. I know it can get annoying having to check through all the new stories to find updates so that is what I'll try to do. Occasionally I do tend to get over-excited though and post one early, so sorry in advance if that happens :P Especially since things are really starting to heat up now, so it pains me not to share it with you. Right, that's me done! Let me know what you thought so I know what to give you in the future. Tell me what you loved, tell me what you hated and meanwhile I'll be working hard to get the rest of the story out to you.
CHEERS M'LOVES! -smim out-