Jace was clearly not joking when he said he knew all the best spots in Paris. After visiting Louvre and seeing the Mona Lisa is all its glory, which definitely made the artist in Clary sing, Jace had decided to take her to some on the other tourist destinations in the city.
Looking around her, Clary could understand why Paris was called the city of love. The city was beautiful. The soft sounds of the Seine flowing were a constant melody. The streets were full of lovers, kissing, cuddling or just staring into each others' eyes. Clary, distantly realised, that if someone say her and Jace at that moment, walking hand in hand, they will get a picture that Clary and Jace too were happily in love.
She herself wanted to believe that. But she also knew that as soon as the trip ends, Jace will leave for Spain to fulfill his dreams. And she also knew she won't try to stop him. It will hurt so damn much, but she will never be the cause of Jace losing the chance to realise his dream, of losing the opportunity of being a famous photographer.
Currently, Jace and Clary were sitting in an out of way bistro, eating something whose Clary could never dream of pronouncing, but which was quite possibly the best thing Clary had eaten. The cheese just melted in her mouth, it was like heaven on Earth.
When she took her first bite, Clary moaned, loudly. She was relieved that they were sitting outside in the shade of a huge cherry tree alone, so no one was around to hear it. But Jace heard. And smirked.
"Don't worry. I had the same reaction when I first tasted this." Jace assured her, perhaps after seeing that she had turned as red as her hair.
He told her the story. In his first year as a photography major, he had done an internship in one of the best known newspapers in France. It was a month long. He did have a place to live but he was still a student living solely on the pocket money he got from Maryse and Robert. So, some of his friends and colleagues here showed him the best places to eat within a budget. This bistro was one of them.
"Where else have you been? Other than Paris?" Clary asked, dabbing her mouth with a napkin. She had eaten like a complete cave man but atleast she could clean her mouth like the lady she was.
"Well, the Lightwoods are quite rich. And till a few years ago, we went on vacation every summer. Max would just point at the place he wanted to see, and we would go there. Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, England, Australia, you name it, we have been there. That's how I developed a interest in photography actually. Seeing those beautiful places, I just wanted to capture them and keep them with me forever." Jace said, with a wistful smile.
"That sounds wonderful. Why did you stop?" Clary asked.
Jace just looked at her for a long moment. "Clary, did Izzy ever tell you why Maryse didn't allow Max to come with us?"
Clary just shook her head.
"A few year ago, Max was diagnosed with Stage 2 leukemia. That was why our annual trips stopped. With the chemotherapy and the medication, it just got too hard. You once asked me why we spared no expense for this trip? Because of Max. For the first few years the doctors were able to control the cancer cells, but lately the drugs have failed too. Max will have to have surgery..." Jace trailed off.
Clary put her hand on top of Jace's. "Hey, its okay, if you don't wanna tell me." Clary said, realising how hard it must be for Jace, it was his little brother after all.
Jace just shook his head and carried on.
"Max just had one wish before he went to surgery. He wanted to ski see the slopes of Switzerland and the view from the top of Eiffel Tower. So we planned this trip, for him but also for us. But at the last moment, Maryse refused to let him come. And since she is his legal guardian, we couldn't have arranged for the medical care needed without her consent. We wanted to cancel the trip, but Max is so stubborn. He won't stop until we came."
Clary didn't know what to say. She just rubbed her finger over Jace's knuckles in a comforting gesture. She could now understand everything. The long phone calls, all three siblings made home, the constant worry and asking if all was alright. She couldn't even begin to understand what they must be going through. What that poor boy, who was barely a teenager must be going through.
"I didn't even think that Robert would be that petty that he will convince Maryse to do this, just to hurt Alec." Jace went on.
He must have sensed the confusion on Clary's face as he continued.
"Ever since Alec came out, he and Robert haven't exactly seen eye to eye. Robert even went as far as to ban Alec from meeting Max. But Max loves Alec, and like I said he's stubborn, so Robert had to conced on that issue. He hasn't cut Alec off, he can't do that, Alec is still the oldest. So, he did the next best thing. He convinced Maryse to ruin our trip, making her the bad guy. Just to ensure that Alec and Max don't interact without his supervision." Jace said, finally done.
Clary suddenly realised why Alec had been that distant and melancholy in high school. He must have known how his dad would react after all. Clary felt a need to go and give Alec a big hug, and maybe give Robert Lightwood a piece of mind. Max needed all the support he could get, trying to keep Alec away was just cruel.
"Okay. Thats enough. The mood has turned quite depressing. Are you done?" Jace asked, trying to smile.
At Clary's nod, he signaled for the bill. Afterwards, Jace took her to see Notre Dame. The Gothic facade had always intrigued Clary. And looking aroung the cathedral, arm in arm with Jace was just the therapy Clary needed after the things she had learnt. She just hoped that it was enough to sooth Jace to atleast for a little while.
"So, you are going to Spain after this trip? According to Alec, its for an opportunity you can't miss?" Clary asked as they sat on a bench, tired.
"Well, it's actually an offer to be the photograoher/camera person for a travel show. To capture all the beautiful things I see and allow other people to relish in them as well. I know I am leaving the others in a lurch, I almost refused the offer. But Alec and Izzy jist won't allow it, nor would Max. They all know it's a golden chance to achieve what I have only dreamed of." Jace said playing with the ring on his finger.
Sitting there, with the setting sun in the background, highlighting his blond hair, Clary felt that he looked like an angel and had an inexplicable urge to just draw him and immortalise that very scene forever.
"So, what about you. Plans for the future?" Jace asked looking at her.
"I will most probably join my mother at her studio. But I don't know. I love painting but on my time, as per my wishes. Painting for someone else isn't really my piece of cake. But well, I still have a year left, maybe I will figure something out." Clary said looking at the setting sun.
"I am sure whatever you do decide you pursue, you will be amazing. I have seen your sketches, Clary they are absolutely brilliant." Jace said in such a sincere voice that even Clary believed him for a second.
"I really wanted today to be light, fun day. But it looks like we are not very good at this whole light vibe." Jace said cracking a grin.
Clary decided to stop worry. Whatever happened in the future, will happen. For now she just wanted to enjoy Jace's company, for however long she had it.
"Light? Thats no fun. I like it when boys tell me deep things." Clary said jokingly.
"Deep? Like what?" Jace asked her.
"Like, whats your favorite color?" Clary asked as she realized no matter how much in love with Jace she was, she didn't know anything about him.
"Favorite color? Now you have crossed the limit." Jace said, accusingly.
"No seriously, what is it?"
"Well I don't really have a favorite color. But one color I like looking at the most? Green." Jace said staring into her eyes.
"Green? Olive green? Emerald green? It has so many shades." Clary told him.
Jace just shook his head and muttered something which sounded vaguely like artists, before leaning forward, so that his breath fanned her face and answering "Green like your eyes."
Hearing that, Clary closed the distance between them. Right there on the bench, they made out for atleast an hour like two horny teenagers going at it for the first time.
When they finally did break apart, the sun had set fully and there was a beautiful full moon in the sky.
For a long moment, the lovers just rested their foreheads together trying to catch their breath.
"We should go home. They will be wondering where we are." Jace said as he looked at his watch.
Clary just nodded and stood up, extending her hand to help Jace up as well.
Together they made their way to the Lightwoods' penthouse. Clary was shocked as soon as they entered. The entire living room was full of bags. Magnus and Izzy were looking through them one by one, triumphant grins on their faces. Alec was looking at the bags like he was going to be sick any second.
"Well, thats a shopping spree for you." Jace whispered in Clary's ear, before going to seat next to Alec. Clary made a move to follow but was stopped by Magnus' voice.
"Biscuit, we got you things."
"Yup. Clary, we got you dresses and shoes. You must look fabulous when we go to the opera or for dinner. We have an image to maintain after all." Izzy supplied from where she was hidden by atleast half a dozen bags.
Jace just sniggered from his seat on the sofa, as Clary resigned herself to her fate for the night.
It was nearly midnight, before Izzy and Magnus were done and satisfied, when the 5 of them finally ordered dinner.
Clary already tired from strolling the streets, all day felt as if she had tried on a million dresses and and her feet hurt from balacing on the obnoxiously high heels Izzy had gotten for her.
But as she sat for dinner, and saw Alec and Izzy argue about one thing or another, Jace and Magnus were on the other side talking about new ideas for the decoration of Alec and Magnus' new flat, Clary felt as if she was home.