Here is the next chapter of RuF. I hope you enjoy it. Please, review to let me know. Sorry for the delay, I've been sick since Tuesday.
Disclaimer: I don't own Mortal Instruments.
Chapter 4 – Explications & Complications
I hung up the phone and sighed. Isabelle was always acting spontaneously. She never stopped to think beforehand. I envied her sometimes because I was the absolute opposite most of the time.
I decided to take a walk by the river to clear my mind. It was a cloudy day but it wasn't cold. The wind was blowing softly, moving some strands of my hair. I liked days like this. Seeing kids smiling and laughing at the playground, couples walking, holding hands. It gave me hope. Hope that someday, I would get something like it too.
I needed to find a way to stay calm and talk to Jace without yelling and saying mean things I didn't mean.
He needed to trust me.
What kind of situation was he in anyway? Let's get the facts. Think, Clary.
1. Kaelie is his fiancée.
2. He doesn't seem to want her to be his fiancée.
3. He said he likes me.
4. He's gorgeous. Ok. So not an important fact right now! Think straight, Clary! So, 4. Kaelie is not here.
Racking my brain, I couldn't find a reason why he would have no choice to marry her. Even if she came from money (something that I knew nothing about), he didn't need it. He was wealthy of his own. I had heard of the opening of his own fitness center specialized in martial arts two years ago.
My list didn't help me to understand what the hell was going on. And I didn't know this girl at all. But it didn't matter. I always fought for the ones I loved. I wouldn't make an exception. I liked Jace Herondale and I would fight for my man. Yep. My man.
You're going down, bitch!
Later in the evening, I got back to the hotel after having done a little shopping. I waved at Sebastian and he smiled at me. I was about to go to the elevator when he called my name. I made my way over to him.
"Hi Sebastian."
"Bonjour Miss Fray."
"If I get to call you Sebastian, I insist you call me Clary."
He smiled and nodded.
"Clary, I need the receipts for your meals. I told you the hotel would pay for them."
"Oh, yes, that's right. I forgot about that."
I took them out of my purse and handed them to him.
"And obviously, the price of the room has been credited back to your card. Mister Herondale insisted to put the room fees on his card only."
"Oh… Thank you, Sebastian."
I nodded, taking my shopping bags and made my way to the elevator.
Unlocking the door, I entered the room and heard Jace's voice. He was talking on the phone.
"I told you I was making this trip with Simon, why the hell don't you believe me?"
I let my bags down by the bed, making my presence known.
"What? How do you even know about that?!" Jace cursed, still talking on the phone.
I was about to leave to give him some privacy, but Jace turned to me and mouthed 'don't go' so I took my sketchpad and sat down on the couch.
"Kaelie, please, don't do anything stupid. You promised!"
I didn't want to listen to his conversation anymore and I wished I could shut my ears off. I opened the sketchpad on a blank page and began to draw Jace's expression. His brows were furrowed and he wasn't smiling but I still thought he was the most beautiful human being on the planet.
"What? So you made the announcement. What the fuck? I thought we had agreed on eloping in a month in Vegas."
Man was he not happy at all.
"Whatever, Kaelie, you know you'll get your fucking big wedding anyway. Do whatever the fuck you want. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
And he hung up, throwing the phone on the bed.
"Troubles in paradise?" I asked.
"Dealing with Satah would be easier. Fuck, I hate her!"
I wished I understood. Jace came and sat beside me. I didn't have time to close my sketchpad before he saw the drawing.
"Wow. That's what I looked like talking to my fiancée. Peachy."
"Yeah…"
I turned my head and found myself staring into his mesmerizing eyes. Our faces were so closed my heart missed a beat. Jace's eyes went to my lips and then to my eyes again.
Oh my god, he's going to kiss me. He's going to kiss me!
And he did.
His lips met mines. It was soft at first. Then his tongue asked for entrance, which I granted.
Kissing Jace was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I couldn't imagine something feeling better than this at the moment. But abruptly, he pulled away.
My heart was beating so fast.
"I'm sorry, Clary. I shouldn't have done that."
I sighed.
"I know."
"I guess now is a good time to explain what the hell is happening, right?"
I gasped.
"You… Are you sure? I mean… Of course I want to know, but…"
"Yeah. I owe it to you. I like you, I already told you that. But I can't be with you, Clary. The situation is so fucked up. I'll tell you everything, but please, promise me… Promise me you won't say a word of it to the Lightwoods" Jace pleaded.
His face was so serious.
"Huh… Ok, but why?"
"They really can't get involved in this. I mean it, Clary. Promise."
"Ok, ok! I promise not to say anything to the Lightwoods. Happy?"
"No, but I don't have a choice."
We stayed silent for a moment. I was gathering my thoughts and Jace was probably doing the same.
He glanced at me with a sad smile.
"I wish things were different" he whispered.
He took a deep breath.
"You obviously know that Alec is running for president, right?"
I rolled my eyes.
"Of course."
"Kaelie's sister used to work for him a couple of months ago."
"Ok…?"
"She found some big dirt on him that would ruin his campaign and his chances of becoming president. Kaelie wanted me so bad that she decided to take the informations to force me into marriage. She knew I would do anything for Alec. He's always been my best friend and his campaign is so important to him…"
Jace didn't look at me when he said that.
"But… Do you know what those informations are?" I asked him.
He sighed.
"She won't tell me, but I know her. She's not lying. And I can't say anything to Alec or she'll send the informations to the press. So I have to pretend that I love her and I have to marry her next month."
It was a lot to take in. But suddenly, I knew. I knew what this was about. It was so fucking obvious. The one secret Alec was hiding from Jace.
"Jace… You can't let a bitch run your life. Why don't you have a talk with Alec? How would she know anyway?"
"She knows everything! She even knows you are here, that's why we were arguing earlier. I can't let her ruin Alec's career."
"But Jace! You and I both know Alec. He wouldn't want you to sacrifice your happiness for him."
You're so selfish, Clary…
"I know! That's why I'm doing it. He would do the same for me. You have to understand."
"I do understand" I muttered. But I didn't like it.
I cried silently. Jace held me while I cried on his shirt.
"I didn't think I would ever see you again… I… I didn't know it would be so hard to give you up, Clary."
I didn't reply and cried again. He wasn't the Jace I used to know but he was all the same.
I had to find a way to get the bitch to back down, but I couldn't break the promise I had just made to Jace.
I would have to have a chat with the one and only Magnus Bane.
"By the way, Isabelle is on her way here," I let him know even though I knew he wouldn't be happy with this situation. "It was definitely not my decision. I called her this morning and she yelled at me and said she was coming," I added. "And why doesn't Izzy know about your soon to be wedding? Had she known, she would have told me for sure."
"Yeah she would have. Kaelie wanted to keep it a secret until she thought it was time to tell. She made the announcement this morning."
We kept silent, both of us lost in our thoughts.
It was Jace who broke the silence.
"I need to relax. I'm going to swim in the pool than relax in the spa. Do you want to join me?" he asked, sounding hopeful.
I nodded.
"It gives me a reason to try on my new bathing suit."
Jace smirked.
"Gladly," he said, his eyebrow rising suggestively.
I rolled my eyes and looked for my new green bikini in one of my shopping bag and made my way to the bathroom, closing the door.
I took a couple of deep breaths as I put on my bikini. I was a little shy to show off so much skin.
Clary, don't forget that Jace doesn't even know you like him too…
When I walked out of the bathroom, Jace was already in his shorts, waiting for me. I took two towels, handing him one and covering me with the other.
I caught Jace staring.
"You're beautiful, Clary."
I smiled shyly.
"Thanks. Come on, let's go!"
We remained silent on the way to the pool, but it was a comfortable silence.
The pool was deserted. I put my towel on a chair and tentatively put my foot in the water. I smiled. It wasn't as cold as I expected it to be.
Jace went all the way in and when he emerged from the water, my breath caught in my throat and dirty thoughts invaded my mind. Jace was sex on legs.
"Like what you see, Fray?" Jace joked.
"I thought it was already established that I liked what I see…" I said boldly.
Jace didn't say anything as I saw his eyes hood with desire. He swam toward me slowly, not breaking eye contact.
I gasped as he caressed my cheek, lust overpowering me. I couldn't stand it so I kissed him with all the passion I had in me. And he kissed me back just as powerfully.
Then, there was a flash. We turned our head just in time to see a photographer taking off running.
"What the fuck was that?" I asked, really mad.
"Fuck! Kaelie…"
We were doomed.
