Jem sighed in frustration as he wrenched at the violin strings, desperately trying to loosen the strings. Since he had forgotten to take his violin out of the room he and Will were in the night before, the heat from the fireplace had put it awfully out of tune. He plucked one of the strings, wincing as a garbled note came out, not quite a D, but not quite a C.
He had never been so reckless with his possessions. His violin was one of the few things he had kept from China, and he had left it in the room. I'm such a fool! I shuld have just gotten it when I remembered! Jem scolded himself as he gave the strings more slack. His face was pinched in exasperation as he mentally bashed himself for his carelessness.
"Jem?" A voice came from the door.
"What?" Jem snapped, still focused on the violin.
"Aren't you going to come train?"
"I'll be there Will." Jem tossed the violin on his bed before stalking outside of his room. He walked quietly to the training room, his hands stuffed in his pocket. Will was already in the middle of the room, a dagger in his hand. Pulling back his arm, he threw the dagger, which landed on the very outside ring.
"You are still throwing it wrong!" Jem muttered under his breath, crossing his arms. He sat down on the wood floors, running his fingers across the cracks and small worn away patches where generation after generation of Shadowhunters had stood. "You would think that about a year of teaching you would finally get into your mind."
"It's not easy, especially for someone like me. I wasn't raised like you, okay?" Will said, his eyes blazing with annoyance.
"I'm sick, and I don't have any problems." Jem countered, raising his voice.
"You always told me that being sick didn't make you any different. Why should it be now?"
"Just throw the dagger." Jem's tone was firm and clipped. "You'll never learn if you don't try."
Will drew his arm back and threw with all his might, his anger sending the dagger into the wood of the institute walls. It stuck, quivering slightly, before falling to the ground with a clang. He kicked the wall angrily, his face drawn in a deep scowl.
"You always act superior to everyone. Is that because you are sick and feel like you deserve special attention?"
"I don't wallow in my sorrow for my health. In fact, you're the one who always lies for attention. You're hiding something, William. I can feel it."
"So?" Will shrugged. "Everyone hides things."
"But you're different. You treat everyone terribly, except for me. I don't want your pity!" Jem said, his silver eyes slits.
"So what if I'm rude. I don't care." Will slammed a dagger into the wall, pushing it as hard in as he could. "You don't know what I've been through!"
"I know that you are mean to Charlotte, you constantly lie, and you left your family!" Jem tried to stop himself, but the anger that was pent up inside of him broke, like a dam overflowing with water.
"My sister died!" Will shouted before blinking in surprise. He looked around, his shoulders hunched. "I didn't mean to say that."
"My parents were murdered, William." Jem breathed, anger still sharpening his voice. "We really aren't that different." If you could just tell-
"No." Will interrupted, his voice harsh. "I cannot tell you anything."
Jem sprang up, his feet set firmly on the ground. His hands were balled up into fists, his thin shoulders angular with rage. "That's because you are a lying coward who's-"
Jem yelped in pain, holding the side of his head. Will widened his eyes, his arm still in the air. Instantly, he regretted throwing the dagger. He was so sure he would miss... Blood dripped from a long gash that ran right above Jem's ear. His silver hair was matted with blood as it welled up on the wound. Hissing in pain, Jem stood up, clutching the side of his head.
"James! I'm sorry! I-" Will cut off his sentence, looking guiltily at Jem's wound. When Jem looked up, to Will's surprise, there was no anger. In fact, he was smiling.
"That was a good throw." Jem smiled, wincing slightly. He turned around, pulling the knife out the wall. He flicked his wrist and the dagger soared through the air, landing in the center of the target.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get so angry." Will bit his lip in shame for slicing the side of Jem's head. Any normal person would be angry, would fight back or punish him...but then again, Jem wasn't just any normal person.
"That's okay. I'm not usually that temperamental."
"I know." Will walked up to Jem, looking at the gash on the side of his head.
"It was a pretty good throw. If it was just a little bit to the left, my brains would be on this dagger right now." Jem laughed, wiping blood off the dagger.
"James?" Will swallowed hard, his insides churning with anxiety.
Jem looked at him with worry, forgetting about the pain. "William? Is everything alright?"
"Be my parabatai."