Chapter 7

Um wow, thanks so much you guys. Thanks to Mara fray, koryandrs, MrsTateLangdon, Rachel, ORIGINALSHADOWHUNTER, and rachaelmonster18. Happy November, lovelies!

R&R?

"How are things with lover boy?" Isabelle asked, wiggling her perfectly arched eyebrows suggestively and I laughed.

"It's all good but my art teacher turned out to be his cousin so it's a little awkward," I replied.

We were sitting at the Java Jones at the mall. It was cozy little place, with nice paintings on the wall and a natural looking color scheme. The baristas were really nice and always gave me the perfect amount of whipped creme. I haven't hung out with her in what felt like forever. It's been so longs since we've had a proper girl to girl talk without interruptions from school and other stuff.

Her eyes widened as if remembering something and then turned serious, "You know how you were trying to hide your relationship from your parents?"

"Yeah…" I nodded cautiously.

She fumbled with her iPhone for a second and pulled up a website, holding it out to me and I took it.

JACE WAYLAND'S NEW GIRL? the headline screamed and I scrolled down furiously with cold thumbs.

There was a picture of us at Taki's having lunch about a week ago and a picture of us walking at the park just yesterday. "Hottie Jace has yet to make a comment," the article finished. My eyes narrowed at the comment about Jace as a pang of jealousy shot through me but I shook it off, focusing on the picture of us at the park. We were talking about his new song that he was working on then. I was laughing when he was telling me the back story. Apparently it was about the one time Simon got left in the subway after hours and got locked in except they made it sound serious and philosophical when in actuality it was a ridiculous story. I don't think Simon was too keen on the idea but the rest of them forced him into it anyways.

But I didn't even notice anyone on that trail following us and taking pictures.

"Someone's stalking us?" I lowered the phone in disbelief.

Izzy shrugged, sipping her green tea chai and taking the phone back, "You're dating a famous person, what did you expect? You couldn't have kept it a secret forever. What's the big deal?"

"The big deal is that I'm still a minor," I whispered in a hush tone, "He could get thrown in jail!"

"You knew the consequences," she told me, "And I get that you like him, Clare-bear, but he's not good for you. You know that. That's why you're keeping a secret because you're afraid your parents will see that too. He's going to break your heart." There was a bitter undertone in her words.

"Why are you acting like this? Since when did you get so cynical?"

She shrugged, blocking me out again.

It should have occurred to me then that there was something wrong with her considering she's been so distant lately. And it should have occurred to me that I was being a bad friend. Possibly the rest of my life would be easier if I paid more attention to Izzy's problems instead of my own and actually taking her advice but I was just so greedily caught up in Jace and my own problems that I overlooked hers. I still feel guilty.

There was a sound kind of like a hose on spray for a second and then a terrifying screech that interrupted my annoyance with Isabelle's indifference. My head turned towards the sound. There was girl standing frozen about four feet away from me, having just done a spit take. She was looking straight at me, her face ashen and her hands shaking. She was spilling all her whipped cream.

"Are you that skank with Jace?" she shrieked.

"Umm," I furrowed my eyebrows, trying to figure out how to answer that as she stalked towards me, dropping her frappe on the ground.

"You're not even pretty. God, what did you do? Attack him and force him to sleep with you? You're such a desperate whore," she snarled, lip curling in disgust.

"Excuse me," Isabelle piped up, coming to my defense. Her expression was deceivingly sweet and her voice dripped with honey, "You're one to talk. Let me see, obvious push up bra three sizes too small, I can see below your ribs with that low cut on your talk top and I can practically see your thong. Also, you have a camel toe. Hid those wizard sleeves, sweetheart, please. No one needs to see that."

The girl made an offended noise before flicking her hair over her shoulder and walking away. There was a puddle on the ground where her frappe was left crushed and neglected.

I let out a loud breath. A whore… I've never been called a whore in my life.

"She's wrong," Izzy reassured me but I was already whipping out my phone and punching in a number I've memorized by heart.

"What are you doing? Don't do something drastic," she cautioned, "That was just one of Jace's crazy fan-girls. Don't let her get to you, she's not worth it."

I ignored her and focused on the sound of the dial tone. I didn't know what to think. I was a teenager going after an older guy. I've become the kind of girl I hate, the ones that flaunt their bodies at college boys like my brother and try to seduce way older men. I knew I could never have a real relationship with Jace because of our differences and the law but I did it anyways. God, I'm stupid.

"Hey, babe," Jace answered, "I was just thinking about you. What's up?"

I inhaled and exhaled deeply before blurting out, "Do you want to have dinner with me and my parents?"

Jace agreed and I was filled with both relief and trepidation. Isabelle looked horrified.

"It's so nice that you're bringing your boyfriend home to meet us," Mom said cheerily, washing the good dishes for tonight. She was bubbling with happiness ever since I told her. I think she's been waiting for this since Jace and I's first date two months ago.

I'm pretty sure Dad was polishing up his old hunting rifles downstairs. He was happy too, in his own way, that he would be meeting Jace. But also I think he was as nervous as I was but in a different way. I think he was bracing himself to make a possible douche bag into a target for practice.

It was an impulsive, stupid thing to do and Isabelle was yelling at me as soon as I hung up on Jace. I regretted it as soon as I got home and told my parents. I was trying to retain the little hope that everything would go right.

But it didn't.

Jace arrived in his best suit at six o' clock sharp. It was still light out so I was trying to calm myself by thinking that Dad wouldn't murder someone in broad daylight.

He greeted us with a handshake with my dad, a compliment to my mother, and a peck on my forehead. It started off alright, Mom was charmed.

My brother Jonathan showed up at 6:15 from a friend's house and made a remark like, "you look really old to be in high school."

Jace chuckled nervously and I steered the conversation towards the football game on TV. The three guys watched football and Mom dragged me to converse in the kitchen.

"He's cute, honey," she giggled as she arranged the chicken, "Pass the sauce, will you? So, where did you meet him?"

"Oh, at a concert," I murmured vaguely.

There was a loud collective groan from the living room and my dad cursed. I guess they missed another pass or something.

"Don't swear in front of the kids, honey," Mom called.

"I'm not a child," I protested, "I know what that word means."

"I know. But since I failed with Jonathan, I'm just trying to keep at least one of my kids innocent," she replied like always since I was 12. I rolled my eyes but I secretly liked that she held me above Jonathan in one way. Jonathan was almost like the golden child besides his wild years.

"Dinner time, boys," she yelled as we finished setting the table.

Walking into the kitchen, my dad, brother and boyfriend looked like old chums, all depressed over the loss of the game or quarter or something. I've never understood football but it seemed to bring guys together emotionally. Dad patted Jace on the back, "You're all right, kid."

Dinner conversation was tame until Mom brought up professions.

"So, do you work yet Jace?" she asked.

"Yes, I'm a keyboardist for a band," he replied cordially.

"That's not a real job is it?" Jonathan remarked snidely, shoving a piece of chicken sloppily in his mouth. Ever since he went to college his table manners got worse and worse.

Jace forced a laugh, "Um, it pays rent, I guess."

"So you don't live with your parents, son?" Dad asked, "Independent. I like it."

"How old are you anyways?" Jonathan asked.

"I'm 22."

And cue the storm.

There was an audible silence as my family froze. Then my mother started coughing, pounding her chest.

"Are you alright ma'am?" Jace asked, trying to help her. She moved a little away from him, waving as if to say she was alright.

"Could you-could you repeat that? I'm sorry," Dad said, "Did you say you were 22?"

Jace nodded, looking like a deer in headlights. I felt like crawling into a corner and curling up and hiding.

"Get out," Dad said in a low but firm voice.

"Dad," I protested, pleading, "Please, just listen."

"Get out of my house!" he repeated and Jace stood awkwardly.

"Sir, I truly care for your daughter-," Jace was cut off.

"You stay the hell away from her," Dad's face was turning purple again, that one vein on his forehead standing out. It was almost comical except for the heavy mood.

"Dad, please," I tried again.

"You will never see this man again," he turned to me, "We'll talk about this later."

Jace shuffled with embarrassment towards the door and whispered an apology in my ear.

"It's not your fault," I told him.

Jonathan stood up, his hands slammed on the table. "The fuck you think you're doing with my baby sister," he snarled. His fists were clenched. Oh boy, he was going to want to fight him. It wasn't that I didn't have faith in Jace or Jonathan. It was just I didn't want either of them to get hurt. Especially not over this.

Only my mom remained seated and she was shaking, almost in tears.

"Jace, just go, I'll call you okay?" I begged, turning to face my family. He sighed and walked out of my house, leaving an empty feeling behind. What if I never see him again?

I heard the engine of his car roar to life and he pulled out of my drive.

"Dad," I started.

"No," he cut me off, "Go to your room now. You are hereby grounded."

Unable to stop the tears, I ran to my room, slamming the door behind me. I texted Isabelle a plea for help but she didn't text back. There was yelling going on downstairs and then a silence. I heard the faint sound of a dialing phone.

"Hello, officer?" my mom started.

My eyes widened. What? NO!