Chapter Four

Clary POV:

The week had flown by and I had to say that getting to know the Lightwoods was actually really nice. Izzy was a really great girl, and our shopping trip had been an adventure. Today I was meeting with Jace at a coffee shop called Java Jones. I was nervous. I never really knew Jace, just that every girl would talk about him. I walked up to the coffee shop in full uniform. I had a meeting with my commander today and just got out. I looked through the window to see Jace sitting at a table in full suit. He looked good. I walked in and joined him.

"Hey Clary, how are you?"

"I'm good. Thank you. How are you?" I asked as a waitress came and took my order.

"I've been better. That last case I worked on was a tough one."

"Is that where you were all week?"

"Yea. A friend of mine called and said her girlfriend was in trouble, and wanted me to be her lawyer."

"That was very nice of you."

"How was Iraq?"

"You know, sandy and full of terrorists trying to blow us up."

"I couldn't even imagine being in the military. I was talking to Izzy and she said she never pegged you as the type to enlist."

"I didn't think of myself that way either. But after my brother was killed I had a conversation with my dad. The army has been trying to recruit me as an intelligence analyst since high school. They wanted me for my brains. And I've always loved helping people, and after being over there for a couple months I fell in love with my job. I was helping people, and I was protecting people." I smiled and he smiled back. "I never really understood the appeal of the army. I grew up in it, and I never understood why someone would want to move all the time, or leave their family for months on end, never having a stable environment. But being in the army now, I see it completely different way. It's really amazing. Fighting or patrolling, or intersecting messages along your brothers and sisters, really makes you feel like you're doing something good for the world."

"You sound like you really love it."

"I do. I really do. What about you? How is it being a lawyer?"

"It's cool. I love defending people. Makes me feel like I'm worthy of something. Makes me feel needed."

"What made you decide to become a lawyer?"

"My parents were lawyers before they died. And I remember this one case I went to with my dad, and I saw him in action and just wanted to be like him." He looked down, almost like he was remembering something. "They were killed when I was 10, and the man who did it was set free. I was so pissed, and it just fueled my fire to become a lawyer. At first I wanted to make sure those who deserved to be put away were put away, but after awhile I wanted to make sure that those who were falsely accused were given the justice that they deserved. Turns out I like defending people more than I liked putting people away."

"Wow. That sounds terrible. I'm sorry you went through that."

"Thanks. It was hard, but the Lightwoods adopted me, and they've been absolutely amazing to me." I smiled. "So you said the army wanted you for your brain?" I nod. "Are you like a genius or something?"

"Actually I am. My father wanted my IQ tested when I was in high school. It's around 180."

"Damn. That's insane."

"Yea, and the army definitely loves me for it." There was a comfortable silence between us until he spoke again.

"So, the day you found out about your brother you had an anxiety attack." I looked down at my coffee and nodded my head.

"Yea, I'm sorry you had to see that."

"It's okay, but that guy, Luke, said they've been happening for awhile."

"Yea, since I was 15. Bad experiences caused severe anxiety attacks."

"You don't remember anything about them?" I shake my head. "That must be annoying."

"Yea, it does get annoying, but they normally don't happen in front of anyone, so whatever I said, I'm really sorry."

"You spoke a different language."

"I did?" He nods. "It was probably Italian."

"You said something about being born there."

"Wow. I told you a lot."

"Were you really born there?"

"Yea, my dad was stationed at Camp Darby. We spent 8 years there. La mia prima lingua è in italiano."

"What does that mean?"

"It means 'my first language is Italian'."

"That's so cool. I wish I picked up a language."

"Maybe I can give you some lessons." I smile and he smirks at me.

"I would love that."

"Sarà il mio piacere." He smirks at me again and I can see why every girl in high school was into him.

"What does that mean?"

"It means, 'it'll be my pleasure'."

We sit there and talk for a couple more hours until the sun goes down. We walk out of the coffee shop and I don't want to leave. We both linger for a little before he talks again.

"I had a great time today Clary, and I'd love to do this again."

"I would like that a lot."

"How about I take you out to dinner tomorrow night."

"Sounds perfect."

"Text me your address, and I'll pick you up at 7." He leans down and kisses me on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow Clary."

"Ci vediamo domani Jace." He looks at me and it's my turn to smirk before getting into my car and driving back to base. I get home, get out of my fatigues and realize that I have a date with Jace tomorrow night and I haven't dated since Mark. I pull out my phone and text Izzy.

Clary- Hey Iz, I have a date tomorrow and I don't know what to wear.

Izzy- That's so exciting! Is it a fellow Army stud?

Clary- No, it's actually with Jace.

Izzy- My brother Jace?! That's so exciting!

Clary- Have any suggestions?

Izzy- Knowing Jace, he won't take you anywhere fancy, so I would just go with a pair of leggings and a cute top. I can come over now if you want!

Clary- Okay. Just tell the guard at the entrance of the base who you're here to see.

Izzy- See you in 10 minutes!

I put my phone down and head to the kitchen to make some dinner. Sure enough 10 minutes later Izzy knocks on my front door. I open it and she walks in talking about the guard at the gate being cute.

"Who was on duty again?" I ask as I make two plates of food for us.

"Private First Class Simon Lewis. Talk about a hottie." We eat our food while making small talk. I grab our dishes and put them in the sink when Izzy makes her way to my closet. "Okay, so I haven't talked to Jace, but he isn't a very romantic guy, so he won't take you to some high class place, he'll keep it causal at first, although he hasn't been on a date in years."

"Really?"

"Really. After high school he threw himself into school to get his degree. It worked too. He is one of the top lawyers at his firm. He might have been a fuck up in high school but he got his shit together for college, and law school."

"That's impressive."

"Yea. So wear leggings and this shirt." She holds up an emerald green fitted shirt that matched with my eyes perfectly. "And curl your hair. It'll look super cute."

"Thanks Izzy. To be honest, I never really thought we'd ever be friends."

"Me either. But I'm glad we are. To bad we didn't realize that senior year of high school."

"Yea. I was a different person back than. Very sick, very antisocial, paranoid, and just in a very dark place. It took me awhile to find myself."

"What happened?"

"That's a story for a different day."

"Okay, well I hope you have fun on your date tomorrow night Clary. And if Jace starts acting like a jerk, text me and I'll personally kick him in the balls." We hugged and he left. About 15 minutes later I get a text from her.

Izzy- Got Private First Class Hotties number. You might be seeing me a lot more around this base.

Clary- Proud of you!

I lay in bed thinking about tomorrow night and how if I continue this relationship with Jace, or whatever this is, he's going to find out about my past, and about my issues, and I can't help but feel anxious about someone as perfect as Jace learning about my demons.

Translation:

Ci vediamo domani- See you tomorrow