Here we have the newest installment! Everyone enjoy, and know that things really heat up in the next chapter
Jace, Alec, Sebastian and Jonathan sat in the basement of the Morgenstern household watching some movie. They weren't saying anything but they were all excited for their friends and siblings who had been awarded the State title beating Glass Academy, and Aline's girlfriend for the title for the first time in a decade. They'd be back off for the national contest in less than a week.
"How are you and that Sadie girl doing?" Jonathan asked Sebastian. "You seemed close at Homecoming."
"I like her," And Jace knew that they had been talking and decided to see each other exclusively which was new for Sebastian who had been vocal against the idea of a serious relationship in high School. Jace however didn't see a problem with it, his mother always said you couldn't help who or when you fell in love with someone.
Jace and Sebastian stayed up and went to pick up the girls when they finally returned to Ash that night. Isabelle looked exhausted and Clary sported a black eye but the two of them were happy to get into the car with the boys and head home. "How'd you get the shiner Clarissa?" Sebastian asked as they drove. This brought out laughter between the two girls, Isabelle explained how Clary took a rough slide tackle that ended up in a pile up. The girls were proud of what they'd done and Isabelle was in better spirits than Jace had seen her in a while, she'd gone through a tough time and he was glad she was recovering.
It was Clary who looked a little distracted and bothered by something so Jace followed her up to her room, "Everything alright?" He asked as he watched her unpack from her bed.
She contemplated her answer for a moment, "I'm going to take a shower, but look at the messages Mitchie sent me while I was away." Clary threw her phone to Jace and went to take a quick shower. He scrolled through a conversation with Clary's friend Mitchie and he was instantly angered by what he saw. Mitchie was accusing Clary of changing and calling her names, she was saying she didn't deserve the life she had now. Jace tried to find an instigation for this assault but he couldn't figure it out. "What started this?"
"Isabelle shared a collage of the two of us with our team, before Homecoming, holding our scholarships to that recruitment camp and stuff like that. She was saying how excited she was to go to that camp with me, Mitchie asked about it and then asked me about my plans for March break. She was really upset that I wasn't going to England and she felt I shouldn't choose spending time with Valentine and Sebastian over going to England. She said I'd changed, called me a slut and I quote a stupid whore now that I've got money. She accused me of being jealous of her back then and all of what you read obviously," Jace watched as Clary braided her hair, "You can see by my messages I wasn't having any of it."
"I just don't understand why."
"Neither do I," Clary pursed her lips, "I'm glad this came out before Christmas break, I was going to invite her here but not now. While Mitch and I were close I can't help but wonder if it was because nobody else liked her. She'd ditch me in a heartbeat if someone cooler wanted to hang out with her but I didn't think much about it. She wasn't happy for me when I found out about Valentine, and when I found out I wasn't alone. She asked about who she'd sit with on the bus to tournaments. That's what she said when I was going through the process of finding my father and burying my mother."
"How did you find out about Valentine anyway? Mitchie being horrible aside, how did you even get here?"
Clary sat beside Jace and thought about it, "Well mum died the end of May, and I went to stay with her friend rather quickly. I was almost finished up school so that was nice, but I met with a Social Worker and she laid out my options. Legally I could support myself but she reminded me that my father was alive and well in America, after just two weeks of living in London, seeing the way everyone treated me like I was sick somehow. So I called Valentine, we talked on the phone for two hours and he told me he'd fly me out as soon as I wanted. I obviously had to set my mother's affairs and deal with everything at home so I did that. I didn't tell anyone I was leaving until two weeks before I left. Mitchie said I was selfish for leaving her alone in her final year of school. She was the one being selfish though. I don't think she once asked me if I was doing alright following the funeral. I felt very alone over there, before and after I lost mother I think. I'm happy here."
"Well I'm glad you're happy!"
Clary went to bed not long after, tired from her tournament and ready for the next one.
The rain pounded around them but there was no stopping game, just a few minutes to go in a goalless game, they couldn't allow that so the Ash girls started to get aggressive and desperate. Isabelle snuck past the defense and dropped the ball back to Clary rather than Aline who the defense line had expected and Clary drilled the ball as hard as she could towards the net, a last ditch try to bring this game to them and despite the wild angle of the shot and the rain and the exhaustion that was setting in the ball hit the net and the Ash girls just held on for three more minutes before they crashed together in celebration.
The game was hard fought but when each girl had a gold metal around their neck it was worth it. The bruises they sported and the colds they'd probably all have from the rain made it worth it. None of them were awake when their bus started to drive back to Ash, the forward unit of Isabelle, Clary and Aline hadn't had a line change all game, so they were out before the bus pulled away from the hotel. They left Thursday evening, arrived Friday at 2am and played five games before their final on Sunday. They were set to arrive early Monday morning, to bring the banner and trophy back to Ash.
Jace and Sebastian sat in the school parking lot with the rest of the soccer player's families waiting for the girls. They waited for thirty minuites, an hour, and finally two hours. Anxiety was running high and a large group of them all stood out in the rain when Sebastian got a call from Valentine. "Jonathan your sister is in the Hospital, the bus went off the overpass, the parents should be getting calls now. It's not good."
"Is Clarissa okay?" Sebastian demanded as he pulled Jace to the car, "Is Isabelle?"
"They're alive, I need to go." Valentine never called him Jonathan, so he knew it was dire. The other parents were getting phone calls and they all rushed to the hospital. The waiting room was soon filled with worried parents, and of course Jace and Sebastian. A lot of the girls were in emergency surgery and no one got word about if everyone made it. Apparently it was a rough crash. After the death of Jordan Kyle this would rock the school for a second time.
When Clary opened her eyes she was surprised to see Sebastian asleep with his head on the foot of her bed and Jace asleep in another chair. The clock on the wall said it was 10am, but she didn't know much of what was going on, she was confused and everything hurt, especially her chest. The next thing she registered was a tube in her throat and gagged. Sebastian was awake in a second and fanatically pressed the nurse button. It was Celine Herondale who made her way into the room to look over Clary and remove the tube. "How are you feeling Clary?" She asked softly.
"My chest and head hurt. Is everyone okay?"
"Everyone is alive and settling into stable condition. You're due for more medication soon, but you've got a concussion and you punctured a lung, your ribs are bruised. I'll be back in a little bit for rounds to check on you, unless you need something now?"
"I'm okay."
Sebastian sat beside his sister and took her hand looking rough, he was unshaven and exhausted looking. "You're the last to wake up, Iz was discharged yesterday. Elizabeth walked away. Aline broke her leg in three places. Kaelie broke six ribs and had a skull fracture. You're all so lucky to be alive."
"The bus hit a corner too fast, it was too wet. How long was I out for?"
"Three days, you had emergency surgery. You know it was hard finding someone to perform all the surgeries since half the doctors have children on the team. Valentine had to preform emergency spinal surgery on Claire. We were so worried about you Clary. Jace and I haven't left."
"I can tell," Clary smiled a bit, "You look worse than I feel." Sebastian just smiled, happy she was okay.
Jace went home to shower and then he had to practically force Sebastian out the door, he didn't want to leave Clary. When she woke up Jace was sitting in the seat Sebastian had vacated. "I finally forced Seb home," Jace pulled in closer to her, "He didn't want you to be alone so I promised I'd be here. Half the school has been at this hospital." Jace gestured to her table which was overflowing with flowers. "Congrats on winning."
"Thanks," Clary sat up a little, "So everyone is okay?"
"Claire is finally out of the ICU, Valentine literally saved her life. He had her in for a 10-hour surgery in the middle of the night to save her. It was an upper spinal injury I believe. Aline has a full length cast from hip to toes and boy is she pissed. Sadie has a broken hand and she had a nasty piece of glass almost stuck in her eye."
"I'm just glad everyone is okay."
"So are we."
"I have to say getting a text saying that the three people I'm closest two are in the hospital was horrific," Simon said as he and Isabelle studied for their math test, "Glad you're all okay."
Isabelle sprawled out onto her bed, "Me too, Clary has been out for a few days but she had one of the most serious head injuries. Sebastian was a mess until she woke up."
"Well I can see why, he finally get's his sister back and he almost lost her."
Isabelle just shrugged, "This has been the month from hell," She looked worn out and exhausted, "He's got a bail hearing this week."
"Since the other three girls came forward he won't get bail," Simon sounded almost sure, "I hope not. He doesn't deserve freedom anymore."
"Come on, let's go get some ice cream I don't want to study right now," Isabelle jumped up and pulled Simon from her bed without giving him much chance to protest. The two of them went to get ice cream and for a drive in Isabelle's car, they parked facing the water and watched what looked like a rain storm making its way towards the mainland. "I'm really happy to have you in my life Simon," Isabelle said suddenly.
"I'm really happy to be in your life," Simon told her. Simon was just grinning at the beautiful woman at his side when she leaned over and kissed him. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't thought about making out with Isabelle Lightwood, and he was not let down by reality. She was always so in control and her affections were no different but Simon liked the way she took charge and kissed him so fiercely.
"You know, I meant it when I said you were too good for me," Isabelle told him when she pulled away, "I was drunk but I wasn't lying."
"You aren't too good for me," Simon told her honestly, "I think you're amazing, don't let anyone tell you any different."
"I'll try not to," Isabelle grinned at him in a way that made his heart flutter, "Let's head back to my house and watch a movie or something."
Simon quickly became a feature in the Lightwood household but Mayrse seemed to like him and Robert was so rarely around that it didn't matter much.
"Alexander and I are seeing one another," Magnus told his adoptive parents Abigail and Joseph. The glance they shared did not go unnoticed by Alec who snorted and Magnus who huffed, "You two knew didn't you?"
"Magnus, darling," Abigail patted her sons face, "You couldn't have been any more obvious. You spend more time together than James and Sadie do." Alec was almost confused by the use of their real names, for as long as he could remember he'd heard them referred to as Church and Chairman. "Well if it's our approval you two want you have it. Now like I was saying, we're gone for the weekend for my conference."
"You're more than welcome to keep Magnus company, Alec," Joseph teased.
Alec was fully intending to spend the night with Magnus for the first time, usually he'd drive home or have Church give him a ride but Church and Chairman were at her house for the night and with Magnus' adoptive parents gone for the night the two boys were totally alone for the first time. They ordered pizza an did nothing out of the ordinary for the first while of their night.
"Where do your parents think you are?" Magnus asked.
"I told them I was here," Alec bit his bottom lip, "With you, I didn't specify anything but I said I was hanging out with you for the night."
The two continued to talk for some time, about nothing of importance until Alec asked how long Magnus had lived with his adoptive parents. "It's been a year and a half."
"Why were you adopted, if you don't mind me asking."
"My birth mother and step father were from a rural town but my mother cheated on my stepfather and I was conceived. They knew I wasn't my stepfathers' son because I looked Asian and they were both white. So my Stepfather hated me as a sign of his wife's infidelity, he became insufferable and abusive. My mother tried to kill me once, by drowning me in the river but when I got away she killed herself. My Stepfather kept me around for a little while longer as a punching bag before he kicked me out, I lived on the streets before I was picked up and put into foster care, that was another shit show on its own. I was in foster care for two years, I managed to get into Glass on a full academic scholarship and because of my art but as you know I had a hard time there. Abby and Joseph adopted me because Abby is my aunt but I'd never met her. Abigail was estranged from the family, they were never close but nonetheless she heard about her sisters' death and knew who my stepfather was and searched round for me. They found me and started filing the papers to adopt me. I've been with them for almost two years and officially adopted for two years, since Sophomore year. Although I'd have to say this year has been my best year in a long time, maybe ever."
Magnus spoke so calmly about his past but Alec looked a little horrified, he wanted to wrap Magnus up and hide him away from the world. "Don't look at me like that, I'm happy now."
"I'm glad you're at the very least happy now."
"You help with that you know, you convinced me to come to ash and now I'm with Chairman and I've met Clary and all of your other friends who have accepted me so graciously. You just make me happy, you know. You make me smile."
"You deserve to be happy." Alec pulled Magnus to his side and kissed him with more passion than he ever had, Alec never knew it was possible to feel like that to feel as alive as he did when he was under Magnus' touch.
Jace and Clary laid on Jace's bed, Jace had pulled Clary close to his side and was playing with her fingers. "You know that Sebastian talked to me about you just before homecoming," Clary told him, "He warned me about your past girlfriends."
"Or lack there of," Jace grumbled, "I can't be mad at him for that, you are his sister."
"He just said that you're really aloof when it comes to girls and Aline said you just aren't one to open up and be affectionate."
"Have you found this to be true?"
Clary shook her head, "Not at all."
"Maybe you're just special."
Clary pushed herself up on her elbow so she could kiss Jace, he cupped her face in his hand and Clary had never been kissed like she was by Jace. Like a burning fire running its course through her veins, she knew the fire was reflected on her skin with a burning flush wherever Jace touched but she couldn't be bothered to care. Clary let her hand trace across Jace's collar bones and down his bicep, feeling around the muscles built up from years of sports and hard work. Jace was strong and powerful and so sure of himself, every move exuded confidence. She felt gentle fingers tangle into her hair as their tongues clashed, she felt his other hand tracing down her spine, running along the ticklish spots on her ribs making her squirm. He was careful not to touch the sensitive areas still bruised and battered from the accident, his hand dipped below her waist and he gave a gentle squeeze which caused Clary to grin against his lips. She could have spent hours kissing Jace but he pulled away, "We need to study," He sounded breathless and almost unwilling to say the words, "We have a midterm tomorrow."
"I thought I was supposed to be the responsible one," Clary pouted.
"Yes but your responsibility has taken a break so I've got to fill in," Jace leaned down to kiss Clary again and he nipped at her bottom lip gently, "You've got a GPA to uphold." Clary was still flushed but she pushed herself up much to the displeasure of her still sore ribs and reached for her school things. "When are we off for Christmas holiday?"
"Our last day is December nineteenth and we go back January tenth. But our exams start December twelfth." Clary pulled a face at the thought of exams.
"I should drop out of school," Jace grumbled when they all reached the lunch table, "If I keep this up I'll be kicked out."
"You'll be fine, we studied all day yesterday," Clary reassured him. "Not all day," Jace said with a wink and a quick kiss.
"Disgusting," Sebastian pretended to throw up, "Absolutely disgusting." Sadie elbowed him and told him to get over it. Jace was surprised to see him grin at her. Sadie was good for Sebastian and seemed to make him happy.
Jace looked over at Alec who had the edge of a red mark on his neck peaking out from his shirt collar. He didn't say anything but he locked eyes with one of his best friends and gave him a silent warning. Alec adjusted his collar subtly and went a brilliant shade of red Jace had only seen matched by Clary.
"Hey Clary," Sebastian said, "When exams are over we're having a party. Dad will be away for the weekend and we need to celebrate the end of exams."
"Warning me now?"
"Giving you time to mentally prepare, and I just thought of it."
Clary was glad to have her art class to escape the stress of midterms and studying and she was able to escape into her art and creations. It was her last class of the day but Mr. Michaels called her back. "Hey Clary can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Of course," She threw her bag over her shoulder and waited for the class to clear out. "What's up?"
"We'd like to have a mural put up in the lobby on the blank wall across from the doors. The school asked me to have one of my students come up with something and I wanted to ask you if you would design it? It'll go up in January and you'd get extra credit for it."
"I'd be honored, what would you like it to be?"
"That's up to you." Clary nodded and started to think about everything it could be. When she got home she decided to text her friends and ask them what they felt represented Ash Academy and used that to help her start her sketches.
