Wow guys…first of all I AM SO SORRY. I never meant for this chapter to take as long as it did and I could list a whole bunch of excuses, but that's annoying so I'm just going to say I'm sorry. I am currently writing the next chapter so it should definitely not take very long.
"Okay, since we haven't spent much time discussing this, can anyone tell me anything about the presidents of the United States?" I asked the students that were still awake. None of them seemed to have heard me, but I didn't want to talk to myself for an entire hour.
I see one hand come up from the back of the room. It's Aline, a senior girl whose favorite hobby is to make my life more complicated than it already is. A couple of days ago, Mr. Lightwood left the room for a few minutes and she raised her hand just to tell me how stupid I am. I've learned from overhearing her conversations that she takes really low blows when she insults people. It makes me wonder just what her life is like and why she acts like such a bitch. The entire class stared at her, but, weirdly enough, no one laughed to encourage her. I knew that she would only behave this overly sweet way as long as Jace was here, but I decided to treat her as I would treat any of the students.
"Yes, Aline, what fun facts do you know about the presidents?" I asked her in my best teacher voice with a great, big fake smile.
"Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth president of the United States," she smiled like she held the entire world in her hands, and all I wanted in that moment was to see her world crushed.
I laughed under my breath and said, "Thank you for that, but that's not the kind of facts I was looking for." She glared at me in response.
"Well, maybe you should have specified, Ms. Fray. How were we supposed to know what you meant? Mr. Lightwood always expl–"
"I think what Ms. Fray asked for was a pretty simple answer. You guys are seniors; you should know what order the presidents are in. Knowing one of them isn't anything special. Aline, can I see you out in the hallway for a minute?" Jace stood up as he was speaking, then she followed him outside the room. She gave me a defiant stare as I watched her leave the room.
"Now that we have taken care of that, I want you all to know fun things about the presidents. Did any of you know that one of the presidents got stuck in a white house bathtub? They had to break the tub to help get him out," I explained. The class laughed and one of the boys, who had been sleeping previously, raised his hand.
"Is that really true?" he asked in the most shocked voice, I couldn't help but laugh.
"Well I am not one hundred percent positive, but President Taft was the 27th President and he is the reason the tubs in the White House are gigantic." The class laughed in response, and I decided to use my useless information to bring this class back to life.
"Okay, I'm going to start with a couple and I want all of you to come to class tomorrow with a fact from each of the presidents I assign you. Feel free to be creative, but let's keep it non-sexual please. Mr. Herondale may be young, but I don't want him to have a heart attack just yet." I put my finger to my chin in dramatic thought. "Okay, since I told you all to keep it non-sexual, I'll get those out of the way. John Quincy Adams enjoyed skinny-dipping daily in the Potomac River. Reagan won a contest where he got to stand in front of an art class almost nude, so that he could model for them, I'm very thankful it wasn't one of mine. Taylor had the nickname, 'Old Rough and Ready', and I'm sure that he got along just great with the ladies because of it. Coolidge had a morning ritual where someone would rub Vaseline on his head while he ate breakfast in bed, that one doesn't deserve a comment. And President Johnson would have his guests follow him to the bathroom so that they could carry on their conversations. Let me just tell you that is disgusting " The class chuckled and after I said the one about President Coolidge they just about died laughing. I smiled wide as I watched because it felt good to see them enjoy class like this.
"I think you're forgetting about the president that married his teacher," Jace said as he came back into the room. He winked at me, and I was pretty sure he was doing it only to make me quiver, which I didn't do. What he said didn't really have anything to do with the facts I said, so it just sounded stupid to me. I decided just to smile a little, but I suspected he could tell my true feelings on the subject. It sounded pretty pedophilish if you think about it meaning he is a teacher and he is attractive. His students probably have deep dark fantasies about him and here he is egging them on by suggesting such a thought.
Back at our high school there were a couple of teachers whom had sex with quite a few of their students. I had not been one of them, just to clarify, but I was almost positive there were a few rumors about Jace with one of his English teachers. Thinking about it, I remember there being rumors about Jace's sister with one of her teachers as well. I hadn't really checked on Izzy since that horrible day. Simon hadn't really been around much, but I have been afraid of what his answers would be if I questioned him about that night.
I gave the students their presidents to look up and the bell finally rang. I got a few "Have a great day, Ms. Fray" so I figured the students were starting to like me better. Though I definitely checked to see if there was something taped to my back.
"You know, Jace, I remember in high school there was a rumor going around about you and a certain English teacher," I had a smirk on my face. I wasn't sure if it was true or anything but I meant to be playful.
"Ah Ms. Meyers, what a woman."
"Holy shit, so it's true?" but I thought about it for a second more and finished with, "Wait, I don't believe you."
"Well I'm glad that you have at least a little faith in me. Of course it's not true. I said that senior year because my friends wouldn't get off my ass for being single. I had my eye on someone that entire year," he explained with a big smile, I knew he was hinting at his apparent "love" for me.
"Hmm, and I had always thought the great Jace Lightwood was famous for his many conquests," I quoted my brother because I had asked him a few days ago what Jace was all about. The confusion I have been feeling lately came again as I thought about the possibility of this gorgeous man in front of me pursuing me. I know the rose he gave me must have been a really sweet gesture in his mind, but the only thing I think about when I get flowers is death. Not just because every inch of a funeral is covered in flowers but also because all flowers do is die. Even if you keep them for years in a garden, they will eventually die. Trees are much more beautiful because they have a probability of actually living a long fulfilling life.
I had almost forgotten the words Jace had said to me a few weeks ago, but my intoxication level wasn't high enough when he said it so I woke up with that unforgettable memory planted in my mind.
"Oh you wound me, Clary." We started packing up our things and we did it in silence because it seemed like both of us had a lot of things on our minds. I wanted to find the best way to say that he shouldn't buy me any more flowers, or anything for that matter. We weren't in a relationship, nor did I believe we ever would be. Sure I had attempted to comfort him, but that was because I was the only one around. Either way you look at it, it was fucked up. There I was comforting a man who had gotten into an argument with his girlfriend or what he had explained as his "fuckbuddy" when I asked a few days later.
"Jace, can I tell you something in confidence?" I asked as we were about ready to leave the room.
He made a small noise of annoyance, but then quickly said, "You should know by now anything you say is safe to my ears alone."
That was all the reassurance I needed to tell him the truth, "Please don't buy me flowers anymore. They only make me sad."
Jace stopped dead in his tracks and turned his full attention towards me. He had been in the process of locking the door so his key, with his very predictable Nike lanyard, was hanging from the door. Gold met emerald as he searched my face in silence. His face turned into one of sympathy while mine responded by turning into one of disgust.
I turned away from Jace as I noticed his face start to go back to his normal blank look. It's like I could hear his smirk appear. Either amazing or disturbing I somehow had recognized that trait of his. "Can I at least ask why?"
Not answering right away might have let him know that it wasn't such a simple answer, for example: "I don't want flowers from you. I want flowers from Jessie down the hall". I guess it would be reassuring to a guy that wants to get you in the sack. We were walking down the hall during last period when Aline made another appearance.
Only God would know what she had been up to, her blouse buttons were all wrong and her skirt was sideways. She seemed to have no clue about her appearance, "Well hello Jace, isn't it just a bea-u-ti-ful day?"
"Aline, I thought I told you to go see the dean?" disapproval was all over his tone. "C'mon Jace, we both know that was all just for show," she then brought her eyes across me, though I have no idea how she didn't notice me before, "Oh God I didn't realize she was with you."
It was then that Jace became unrecognizable, pure rage Jace got right into Aline's face. "How many times do I have to remind you that I am your teacher, you will refer to me only as Mr. Lightwood. I have gotten so tired of your attitude, Ms. Penhallow, especially to Ms. Fray here, who has been nothing but kind to all of my students since she arrived."
Oh great, the teacher stereotype. The scolding sounded so familiar that it brought a bad twist to my stomach. Aline didn't see it this way and tears started forming in her eyes, the sweet schoolgirl act was quickly coming to a close and I saw Jace's anger start fading much to my disappointment.
While I could stick around until Aline was dealt with, I decided to opt out of that awkward conversation and just leave now. "Well this has been quite the afternoon, I'll see you both tomorrow," I started walking away, but I remembered something, "Oh and Aline? Your president is Abraham Lincoln." I started walking again right away so I didn't have to hear her sarcastic answer. I bet I was going to hear a lot of crap about this tomorrow.