CHAPTER EDITED 11/2/13
A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for the wait. You have no idea how hard it was to find a chapter song for this.
I REPLACED THE AUTHOR'S NOTE WITH CHAPTER THREE SO READ THAT FIRST!
I do not own "Fire and Ice" by Robert Frost or "The Outside" by Taylor Swift
here it is, guys. Enjoy ;)
"I didn't know what I would find
When I went looking for a reason, I know
I didn't read between the lines
And, baby, I've got nowhere to go
I tried to take the road less traveled by
But nothing seems to work the first few times
-The Outside,Taylor Swift
Chapter 4: The Outside
"Hey, this is Jonathan Morgenstern. Please leave a message."
Clary sighed as she the tone beeped once again in her ear. Her brother hadn't called for a while.
Jonathan Morgenstern was Clary's twenty-four-year-old brother. When their parents divorced, he went to live with their father. But when Valentine died, he went to live with their aunt. After college, Jonathan became a semi-successful lawyer three years back. Since then, Clary hadn't seen him, but he usually called once a month.
She hung up when Maia Roberts ran up to her. Her eyes were shining with excitement and disbelief. "Clary, Clary, Clary, Clary!"
"Maia, Maia, Maia, Maia!" Clary imitated her. Maia scowled before continuing. "Guess who asked me to the dance?"
"Barney...?" Clary guessed.
"Jordan Kyle!" Maia squealed. Clary winced and clutched her ear.
"Ouch, Mai. My ears."
"Oh, shut up," she said half-heartedly. "We need to go dress shopping!"
"Since when do you wear dresses?" Clary smirked. Maia hit Clary on the back of her head.
"Ow!"
"You deserved that." Isabelle sauntered up to them.
"Hey, guys! 'Sup?"
Clary said: "Nothing much." While Maia said: "Jordan Kyle asked me to the dance!"
Isabelle and Maia squealed. Clary winced again. "What is with you two and squealing today?"
Isabelle looked at the other girl. "Why aren't you squealing?"
"Because I am not going, therefore not excited." Isabelle's jaw visibly dropped.
"Why?"
Clary shrugged. "I'm not that social, in case you haven't noticed."
Isabelle opened her mouth to say something but Maia cut her off. "Don't," she said. "I've tried for three years. But she is going dress shopping with me."
Clary froze. "Wait, what?"
Isabelle clapped her hands excitedly. "Ooh. Can I come?"
"Sure." The shrill noise of the bell echoed throughout the almost empty hallways. "I'll see you later," Clary said as she scooped up her books.
The two girls nodded and went their separate ways.
"How's this?" Isabelle twirled around in a blood red dress. It had spaghetti straps and fell around her mid-thigh. The fabric was flush against her skin and flowed out from her hips. Clary looked at her calculatingly. "It looks nice," she said sincerely.
Isabelle studied herself in the mirror. "I like it," she decided.
Clary sighed somewhat frustratedly and resumed her texting conversation with Simon.
God, Izzy and Maia are driving me up the wall.
Better you than me, my midget friend. ;)
*rolls eyes* thaaaanks. Love you too, Simon. Speaking of homecoming, are you going with your band or are you asking someone.
I'm thinking of asking someone.
*GASP*
Aw, shaddup, Fray.
Who's the lucky girl?
I'm not telling you. ;)
Yyyyyy?
Cuz you'll laugh.
Probably. Spill, Lewis.
Fine. It's Isabelle.
Clary looked up from her phone and stared wide-eyed at Isabelle, who was still gazing at her reflection, tugging on the red fabric of her dress. "What?" she asked when she saw Clary staring at her
"Nothing," Clary said quickly.
Fray, you still there?
Yeah, sorry. I dropped the phone cuz I was laughing so hard. XD
Oh, haha. Funny. Gtg. Band practice is starting up. L8tr.
Clary flicked her cell phone shut and stuffed it in her pockets while smiling smugly. Maia stepped out of the dressing room. "How's this?" She spun around.
The silk, orange dress clung to her curvy figure. It highlighted the brown in her eyes and her caramel-colored skin. "I love it," said Isabelle.
Clary nodded in agreement. She stood up, pulling her messenger bag with her. "So are we going or what?"
"Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire,
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for the destruction,
Ice is also great,
And would suffice."
Clary tapped her pencil against her chin subconsciously. Her classmates were out getting drunk at homecoming, she was doing English homework. She would be laughing tomorrow as Isabelle, Maia, and Simon struggled to finish their homework while having a hangover.
She put her pencil to the paper and started writing.
In the poem, the poet is trying to convey—
She threw the pencil down in frustration, earning a disapproving look from the librarian. The elderly woman glared at her before continuing to stack her books. She could sense someone pulling out a chair and taking a seat next to her. "Well, that's no way to treat a pencil."
Clary didn't need to turn around to know who it was. "Jace Lightwood. What are you doing here?"
He held his book up to her. It was a collection of Robert Frost poems. "Doing my English homework, for one."
Clary stuck her paper into her book. "Why aren't you at the dance?"
Jace shrugged. "Not really my scene."
"What is?"
"My room."
Clary rolled her eyes. "Profound."
Jace nodded to her paper. "What's wrong?"
She sighed. "The poem. It's impossible." She made a crude gesture. "How am I supposed to know what the damn poet is saying?" She looked back down at the paper.
"Frankly, I don't see what's there to misunderstand," said Jace.
"Thanks for making me feel stupider than I already am." She stood up to leave but Jace caught her hand. She looked away from his eyes.
"He's saying that the world's going to end eventually." Clary looked up at Jace in surprise. "He doesn't care whether it'll end with fire or ice. I think he wrote the poem because he wanted his readers to realize this."
Clary nodded and attempted to pull her hand out of his. "Where are you going?" he asked
"Home," she said. "It's late."
Jace laughed. "Fireball, it's only eight."
She yanked her hand away and slipped on her coat. "Could you stop with the redhead jokes?They're getting old."
Jace ignored her and continued to speak. "The night is still young." He stood up. "Come on. Let's go."
"Yes, I was planning to," said Clary.
He chucked softly. "I meant, come with me."
She scoffed. "Yeah, that's going to happen." She watched in amusement as Jace ran a hand through his unruly gold curls. "Why are you so reluctant to come with me?" he asked frustratedly.
"Why are you so hell-bent on getting me to come with you?" Clary pointed out.
"Maybe because you hang around my house 24/7 and I have no idea who you are," he said. "I'll even pay."
"Fine," she said, defeated. "I'll come with you."
A smiled tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I knew you would, Fireball."
A/N: Thanks for reading! Reviews are appreciated!