A/N: Right, so I have two questions regarding this plot.
1. Would you like some flashbacks from Clary, Jon and Jace? With this you'll see how Jocelyn's death took its toll on the Morgenstern family (though you'll see this later anyway) and how Jace and Céline were affected by Stephen going to war.
2. I'm thinking of Jon developing a crush on an OC who is basically the mockery of the whole school and is bullied loads by the populars. What do you guys think, and have you got any names for her?
I own nothing but the plot, regrettably.
Music was last lesson, so it meant more time with Clary for Jace and perhaps some goss from Simon about Isabelle.
He was sitting in the practice room in boredom making a paper aeroplane out of old sheet music when the rest of his group strolled in. Simon seemed rather fed up. "Bloody Branwell now wants every group to have a name and maybe create album art if there's time available. This is a music project!" he groaned.
Jace threw the aeroplane and watched it sail expertly through the air before it hit Simon's back. "It might be fun. Let's just focus on the songs."
"I think you and Clary need to familiarize yourselves with the lyrics," Jem suggested, setting up a stand to hold his music. "Perhaps you could go through Fireflies as we can easily adapt out instruments around that piece?"
"With the music in the background?" Clary queried, to which Jem nodded. "I have it on my phone if you need it."
"I've got it, don't worry." Clary said, pulling out her phone and scrolling through her music library until she found it. Jace retrieved the highlighted lyrics sheet from his bag and placed it between them.
(Bold is Clary, italics is Jace, bold italics is both)
You would not believe your eyes
If ten million fireflies
Lit up the world as I fell asleep
'Cause they'd fill the open air
And leave tear drops everywhere
You'd think me rude
But I would just stand and stare
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs
From ten thousand lightning bugs
As they tried to teach me how to dance
A foxtrot above my head
A sock hop beneath my bed
The disco ball is just hanging by a thread
(Thread, thread...)
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
(When I fall asleep)
Leave my door open just a crack
(Please take me away from here)
'Cause I feel like such an insomniac
(Please take me away from here)
Why do I tire of counting sheep?
(Please take me away from here)
When I'm far too tired to fall asleep
(Ha-ha)
To ten million fireflies
I'm weird 'cause I hate goodbyes
I got misty eyes as they said farewell
(Said farewell)
But I'll know where several are
If my dreams get real bizarre
'Cause I saved a few and I keep them in a jar
(Jar, jar, jar...)
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
(When I fall asleep)
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
(When I fall asleep)
I'd like to make myself believe
That planet Earth turns slowly
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep
Because my dreams are bursting at the seams
"It sounds great." Jem smiled warmly and Simon nodded. "Let's try and add the instruments in somewhere."
When the bell had gone at the end of the day, Clary had fled the building immediately to the car. Her heart rate had been rapidly increasing all day, ever since she'd gone into school and found her beloved sketchbook gone. Yes, she always kept A3 paper in her bag, but it was still horrifying to see it gone. What made it worse was that someone - likely the sketchbook thief - had sprayed obnoxious graffiti on the locker. Words like 'psycho' and 'ugly whore' and 'inbred' now covered her once pristine locker, and thinking about it made her blood boil. She would kill whoever had done this.
Sebastian had been sympathetic and had been the one to saunter up to Principal Carstairs with her. He was the reason the assembly had been called and she'd been crying in the girls bathroom while it was going on before wiping the tears away angrily. If Valentine had taught her anything, it was that crying connotes weakness. She refused to show weakness in front of her peers. Yes, she'd cried foolishly in front of Jace, but he'd provoked it by asking. He should have learnt to keep his nose out of her business by now. She wasn't going to open up to anyone, and that was final.
When Jon had found her, he drew her into his strong arms and held her for a moment. "I know. I saw the damage." he murmured softly.
"Let's just go and get Val," Clary suggested, pulling away and straightening herself out. "I don't really want a repeat of yesterday."
"Of course."
The two had strapped themselves into the car and Jon started the engine, turning up the radio. Teenagers by My Chemical Romance was just starting the final chorus, which got a grin out of Clary. "I feel Gerard here. Teenagers scare the living shit out of me too."
Jon narrowed his eyes at her. "You are one, Clare bear."
"I consider myself to be a piece of dirt." she amended sourly, pressing her head against the window and staring blankly out at the other Idris Academy students went about their business. Clary envied them all because they didn't have to go through what she did on a daily basis. It just wasn't fair in her mind, though she assumed it was her punishment for not dying on that tragic day. She was sentenced to an eternity of torture and meeting with Satan himself regularly.
Val was sitting cross legged in her usual place underneath the oak tree, cuddling Penny against her chest. Jon beeped the horn and stuck his head out. "C'mon Val!" he called brightly.
Her youthful face lit up immediately and she scrambled to her feet ungracefully, skipping over to the car and pulling open the car door. "Hi!" she squealed. "I got top marks on my Math test!"
"You're such a clever girl, Val!" Clary cooed, turning her head to face her little sister. "I bet Mrs Redtree was very happy!"
"She was!" Valentina seemed like nothing would ever bring her down. If Jon was like this Clary would have got irritated easily, but when Val gloated over something so trivial in comparison to the work her siblings were doing it was adorable and made Clary's heart melt. Val had a magical way with words and she was loved for it.
She was now talking to Penny about having a picnic with her other plushies which set Clary on edge. She was too young and innocent to know about Valentine's vindictive nature so Clary and Jon kept her shielded away from him as much as possible. They couldn't let him get his filthy hands on their little sister.
Once they'd gotten home Jon opened the back door and picked Val up easily, putting her on his shoulders. "Daddy's probably sleeping, so you need to be quiet as a mouse. Got it?"
"Okay!" She was still on cloud nine from her Math test so it didn't really bother her.
"Go round the back. I'll meet him at the front." Clary ordered.
Jon looked sceptical as always but he couldn't fight back. Clary was stubborn as a mule.
When she was certain Valentine wouldn't hear Jon and Val, she unlocked the door and threw her bag down. "Hey, Dad," she called out with a slight trace of anxiety. "I'm home."
"C'mere Clarissa," a slurred voice replied from the living room. "I have a question for you."
Clary slipped her shoes off quickly and softly padded in, ignoring the stench of alcohol and sweat in the room. "What is it?"
Her father was sitting upright on the sofa for a change with the TV off, his black gaze eating her up hungrily. "I heard Valentina mention a Jace this morning. Who is he?"
Shit. Clary thought he'd passed out. "I have to work with him on an English project and we're in the same group for Music."
"She mentioned Céline too. I'm guessing he's her boy?" Valentine guessed lazily. "Must be Stephen's too. Is he still around?"
For once the drunken oaf had actually raised a good question. Where was Stephen Herondale? Jace was clearly the only guy in the house, so what happened to his dad?
"I don't know." she said simply.
"Interesting." Valentine had rose now and was approaching Clary slowly, making her nervous. "Are you acquainted with the Herondales?"
"Stephen was a school friend. He and Luke were my closest friends," Valentine explained, now getting close enough to pin Clary up against the wall by her wrists. He lowered his head so he whispered the next part into her ear, the alcohol on his breath making her squirm internally. "Céline was your mother's friend. Pretty thing, very innocent and vulnerable. Came from an abusive family. She loved Stephen with all her heart and never doubted him. Shame those who love most in life lose it."
Clary had nothing to say as Valentine pressed his body up against hers, a wicked grin playing on his lips as his hands trailed down to the hem of her tank top, fingering it thoughtfully. "You're quite boring now. I might consider fresh meat. Any ideas?"
"If you even look at her funny I'll rip your eyes out!" Clary snapped through gritted teeth.
Wrong move.
Valentine had fury in his eyes as he pushed Clary roughly to the ground, picking up a broken beer bottle and scraping it down her left arm, making her cry out in agony. "Shut it, you little bitch. Don't you dare backchat me again unless you want this to come again."
She slowly got up clutching her bleeding arm and nodded, making him smile. "Excellent. Now, I have some lads coming over and I want you and Jonathan to make yourselves useful and be on refreshment duty."
"Okay." This just meant a night of creepy guys hitting on her because Valentine insisted she wore slutty clothes. Nothing she wasn't used to.
"Go along and tell your brother. First lot are arriving at six."
"You'll get a headache from all that thinking, Jacey-poo," Céline teased, leaning against his door frame. "What's the problem?"
Jace was sprawled out across his bed, his eyes on the ceiling. "It's nothing you'd understand, Mom."
She sat gingerly on his bed. "I was your age once. Try me."
"You'll hate me." Jace grumbled in protest.
"Hate's a strong word. I'm sure it can't be that bad."
Jace knew he'd regret it, but Céline wouldn't leave him alone otherwise. "So there's some mystery shrouding the Morgenstern family and I've been attempting to make friends with Clary to see if I can help. Some twats in school have set up a bet to try and have sex with her and I joined it purely so I wouldn't be questioned for my motives. Sebastian's made a move on her and doing well, so I'm trying to steer her away from him because he'll destroy her."
Céline seemed stunned. "Well, I'm proud of you for trying to help, but why go so far for this girl who you only met a few days ago?"
"She's a sort-of friend who's just so susceptible to torment. I can't sit back and let that douche break her heart for fifty dollars."
"Okay, but why don't you just tell her?"
"She'll probably think I'm jealous and if she finds out I'm in on the bet there's no way we could possibly remain friends. If I mention either Sebastian or the bet to her she'll maybe tell Sebastian and he'll tell her about my involvement."
His mother had sympathy dancing in her chestnut brown eyes. "You shouldn't have accepted the bet with your friendship with her at risk. You can't gamble with friends like money."
Jace sighed in frustration, not allowing his gaze to linger from the ceiling. "I know."
"My only advice is that you keep at your friendship. Don't flirt with her. Remain the person you have been until she will trust your word over Sebastian's. Clary seems like the kind of girl that once you earn her trust, she'll trust you forever. Break that trust and she'll want nothing to do with you," Céline told him. "You need to tell her about the bet and Sebastian, including your involvement but your sole intentions. I know it's a risk, but if you want to protect her from him it's your only option."
She was right. Oh so right. But time was cruel. Jace only had a matter of days before the party at Pandemonium where Sebastian would try to complete the bet. He had a little more time to warn her about Sebastian's player status, but by then Clary would have strayed into his trap.
What had he gotten himself into?
"Okay. Thanks Mom." he said.
She got up to leave, but just before she left she told him "Be careful, Jace. Don't hurt her more than she is."
Jace was about to ask what she meant by that, but she'd returned downstairs and therefore out of earshot. He improvised by repeating what she'd said to him over and over in his head.
You can't gamble with friends like money.
Clary seems like the kind of girl that once you earn her trust, she'll trust you forever. Break that trust and she'll want nothing to do with you.
Don't hurt her more than she already is.
Why did his mom seem to have a better grasp on the situation than he did, despite only meeting Clary once for a few hours?
He was getting more questions flying into his head when he heard the distinctive sound of a text message being received on a phone. Thing was, it was a high pitched beep rather than a vibration. Jace's phone didn't have a sound for text messages aside from vibrating, so why did something beep? Had he accidentally picked up someone's phone?
He flew from his bed over to his bag, rummaging through it until he picked up an iPhone with a familiar My Chemical Romance case...
Clary. I must have got it in Music thinking it was mine... does she have her address somewhere on here?
Clicking the phone onto the lock screen, he nearly passed out in relief when he discovered there wasn't a password on it. He was exploring through her notes until he hit one that said "If found please return to Clary Morgenstern at 29 Alicante Boulevard."
He knew where that was, so he shrugged on a jacket and picked up his car keys.
Clary scowled in disgust as she actually looked at herself in the mirror for the first time since changing. Valentine had demanded that she wore a tight strapless black dress that only came two or three inches past her butt and nothing else. She couldn't even throw a jacket or a pair of tights on to make her feel less naked. She didn't understand why she had to do it, but Valentine had said something about 'having something nice to look at'.
She was a junior in high school, not a bloody cocktail waitress!
Jon came in quietly and gave her hair a gentle ruffle. "You look fine." he assured her softly.
"Don't lie to make me feel better." she hissed.
Her brother had to smarten up too, though he only had to wear a white shirt and black trousers. He got lucky.
The luckiest was Val, because she was asleep and never had to involve herself in these monstrous affairs.
"They want more beers downstairs by the way. Valentine won't let me serve it so you've got to do it," Jon explained, his voice taking an icy edge. "Be careful. Mr Cartwright can't keep his hands to himself tonight."
"I'll be fine." Clary promised him, leaving the room and heading downstairs to the kitchen to get a pack of beer from the fridge. She removed the packaging and placed it on a tray, thanking silently that they were cans. She'd bandaged up her arm easily, but now she'd have to wear long sleeves to school tomorrow to avoid people seeing the bandage. It was supposed to be another hot day too, even if it was November.
She came into the living room carrying the tray with her good arm, placing it onto the coffee table which was littered with empty cans already. "Here." she grumbled.
"Thank you, Clarissa," Valentine replied, his voice almost like a purr. "Though I think Adam would like his given to him."
Adam Whitelaw was bad news. He was the youngest at twenty and the hardest to control, with Jon having to intervene one time when he followed Clary into her bedroom with no good intentions.
Reluctantly Clary picked up a can and handed to Adam - who took a moment to check her out before taking it with a wink - before leaving the room herself to the kitchen. She rested the palms of her hands on the worktop and took a moment to breathe. God, it was hard to keep this up.
She was taken aback when there was a knock on the door. Looked like one of Valentine's drunk buddies had gotten lost and was only just arriving.
With great reluctance Clary straightened up and made her way to the door, opening it. "He's through there if-"
Her heart dropped when she actually looked at the person. He definitely wasn't here for the drinking round. He was here for her undoubtedly.
Jace.
Bad timing! Major problems go down next chapter...