Sorry I'm posting later than I should've. I was out all day :/
Anyway, here's chapter 11. Enjoy!
Two months later...
"I hope you packed good beach clothes," said Brooke.
"I had to buy some," said Isabelle. "But yes, I did."
"Are you excited to be going back home?" Jace asked.
Brooke nodded. "I think I'm most excited that all of you are coming, too," she smiled. "What about you, Sky? Are you excited to be going back home?"
Skylar looked like she wasn't really paying much attention.
"Sky," Brooke snapped her fingers in front of Skylar's face.
She blinked. "What?"
"Are you excited to be going back home?"
"Um..." she bit her thumb nail. "Sure..."
Brooke's smile faded. She'd forgot about her and Adrian's breakup. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I forgot..."
Sky dropped her hand and smiled. "Don't worry about it. It'll be fun."
Skylar closed her eyes, and stepped through the portal. For a brief second, she could feel Brooke very far away, but as soon as she came through the portal, she relaxed a little more.
Sky breathed in the scent of sand, and the ocean. It smelled like home.
Brooke sighed. "Wow. I missed that," she knew Brooke agreed.
They were in front of her and Brooke's house. It was exactly how she remembered it. People were wandering around the slightly sandy streets in beach clothes, and barefeet. Some people had sunburns, or surf boards. She smiled. She kinda missed this.
"... Wow..." said Isabelle. "This is..."
"Beachy," Brooke snickered.
"Skylar! Brooke!"
Sky looked over and saw their mother on the front porch, coming to greet them.
Brooke dropped her bags and ran to her. Sky had forgotten it had been over a year since she'd last seen her.
Sky picked up Brooke's bags, and took both their things up the steps.
"Skylar," her mother wrapped her arms around her.
"Hey, Mom," she smiled.
Elena released her and looked at everyone else. "Hello," she said. "I'm Elena."
Sky walked the bags inside and looked around her house. It wasn't the biggest, but it was home to her. She'd lived there her whole life. She got to the base of the stairs, then was grabbed from behind. She made a sound of surprise, and dropped the bags.
"Skylar," she realized it was Aaron, and relaxed.
"Hey," she wheezed. "You know that I need to breath, right?"
"Sorry," he let go of her, and she turned around. He was wearing swim trunks, and a sleeveless t-shirt. "You got paler," he noticed.
"You got tanner."
"Aaron," Brooke ran over and hugged him.
"Brooke," he chuckled. "You're even paler than Sky."
She pulled away and looked him up and down. "I missed you," she smiled.
"I missed you, too."
Elena walked over and picked up the bags. "I'll put these in the proper rooms," she said, walking up the stairs.
"Hey, where's Dad?" Brooke called after her.
"Idris," said Aaron. "Mom has to go, too, but she waited until you got here. She's leaving today, actually."
"Oh," Brooke looked disappointed.
Elena came back down the stairs. "Everyone give me your bags. I'll put them in the right rooms. There are only four rooms, so I moved Aaron to the couch, and Sky, you'll stay in my room with Brooke."
Brooke nodded. "Okay. Who else is sleeping where?"
"Isabelle is sleeping in your room, Alec is in Aaron's room, and Jace is in Sky's."
Skylar put on frayed shorts and an off shoulder t-shirt over her white bikini. She was looking forward to swimming again. She opened the door, and Brooke was waiting.
"Wow, you took forever," she teased, passing her. "I'll meet you downstairs."
Skylar nodded, and went downstairs. Aaron was standing around the kitchen island talking to Alec, Jace and... Adrian. Skylar stopped in her tracks.
Adrian looked over and saw her. "Hey," he said.
Skylar didn't say anything.
"... Can we talk, Sky?"
Skylar swallowed, and walked out the back sliding door. She took a few more steps, then turned around.
Adrian walked up to her, and put his hands in his pockets. "It's nice to see you again."
Skylar looked down at the sand. "Yeah, you too."
"... I'm sorry."
She looked up at him.
"I don't like the way that we left things. We ended on kind of a bad note."
Skylar looked back at the sand. "Kinda."
"I was thinking... Can we be friends?"
She looked back up at him, surprised.
"You're a really great person, Sky. I'd hate to lose you because we didn't work out."
Sky took a deep breath, considering. "Okay," she gave a small smile. "That sounds nice."
Jace watched Adrian follow Skylar outside. He didn't like Adrian. He'd decided that a long time ago. He was pretty sure he was going to ask Skylar to get back together. The thought made Jace grind his teeth together.
"Hey," Brooke walked up to the island in a red one piece that suited her.
"Hey," Jace smiled at her.
"What were you guys talking about?"
"Surfing," said Aaron. Whether he was telling the truth or not, Jace couldn't tell. He hadn't been paying much attention.
"Brooke! You're back!"
Brooke turned around. "Thea!"
Thea was small, Jace noticed. She was shorter than Skylar, and much skinnier, too. She had long, straight black hair that matched Adrian's, the same golden-bronze skin, and the same gray eyes.
"It's so good to see you," said Brooke, pulling away.
"Yeah, I..." Thea trailed off when she laid eyes on Jace. She looked him up and down with wide eyes, obviously finding him attractive. "Whoa," she said aloud.
Jace smirked.
"Thea, this is my boyfriend, Jace," said Brooke. "Jace, this is Thea."
Thea whispered something to Brooke, and she blushed.
"Hey," Thea said to him.
Jace nodded at her. "Hey."
The sliding glass door opened, and in came Skylar and Adrian. Skylar looked... Relieved. Jace locked his jaw.
"Hey Adrian," said Brooke.
He waved at her. "Hey."
"Well," Thea walked into the center of the room. "I'm going swimming," she stripped off her striped tank top and denim skirt, then walked out the back door, leaving it open.
"I'll join her," said Brooke. She glanced at Jace. "Do you want to come?"
"Sure. I'll meet you there."
Brooke smiled, then went out the door.
Aaron went after her, then Adrian. Skylar paused at the door, then looked back at him for a split second before leaving.
"I'm going to change," said Isabelle, going up the stairs.
"Me too," said Alec, following her.
Jace went upstairs, too. On one of the doors, there was a post-it note that said 'Jas' on it. He chuckled, took it off, and went in. The room was definitely a girl's room. It was decorated with posters, and the full sized bed was pushed up against the window, and the sheets were light green with a white comforter. The posters weren't with posters at all, he noticed, but drawings. Lots and lots of drawings.
Jace swallowed. The drawing style was like Clary's. There were drawings of a number of things; the sunset, a mug of coffee, Adrian, Brooke, Thea, Aaron, runes, a warlock, the Angel Raziel, the mortal cup...
There was also a calendar on the wall. The days were crossed off until the day Sky came to the Institute, and Jace gasped as he looked at the handwriting. A spidery, cursive scrawl, like Clary's. This must be Skylar's room.
"Did you and Adrian work things out?" Brooke asked Skylar.
"Yeah," she said, smiling slightly. "We did."
"So are you guys back together then?"
"No," Sky said quickly. "No, were just friends now."
Brooke smiled. "That's nice. I'm glad."
Sky nodded, then looked out at the beach. "I've missed this place."
"Me too," said Brooke, then took off towards the water.
Sky giggled, shading her eyes from the sun with her hand. Skylar took off her t-shirt and shorts. She was now in her white, string-sided bikini, showing off her belly button piercing.
"I may try surfing," said a voice from behind her.
Sky turned and instantly regretted it. Jace was standing there, shirtless. She tried to pry her eyes off of his exposed chest, but failed.
Jace chuckled, and she blushed. "Are you going swimming?"
She was finally able to pry her eyes off his chest and look at his face. "Yeah. Are you?"
He smiled slightly. "I'll race you."
A smile broke across Sky's face. She turned and began running, but Jace was ahead of her in a matter of seconds. They ran into the water, and Skylar fell under. She came up and laughed.
Jace was chuckling at her. She glanced at him. He was staring at her. "Never seen a girl in a bikini before, Lightwood?"
He smirked. "Who do you think you're talking to? I've seen far more than a swimsuit."
Sky bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing, and blushed.
Jace chuckled again.
"Hey Sky!" Aaron called. "Do you want to try surfing?"
"Hell no!" she shouted back.
"I'll try," said Jace.
Sky raised her eyebrows at him. "Are you sure you want to do that?"
"I like to live on the edge."
Skylar looked at the pink, purple, and orange lights decorate the sky and water. It was a beautiful sight that she was used to, and she often liked to draw. She walked across the beach and picked up her discarded clothes.
"Hey," said Adrian.
"Hey," she was glad she and Adrian could be friends- though it felt a little weird.
"Dinner," he held up his phone. "How does pizza sound?"
"Good," she nodded.
"And, since all of our parents aren't home..." a grin crept across his face.
"Let me guess," said Sky. "You want me to go pick up drinks?"
He chuckled. "You don't have to drink any if you don't want to. I know you don't typically drink."
Sky shrugged. "Okay, I'll go, but I'm not going alone."
"Do you want me to go?"
Sky shook her head. "You have to sign for the pizza."
He looked at her for a long few seconds. "Fine. I'll pay."
"Yes," she giggled. It almost felt like they were still together, but with no complications. It was nice. "I'll get someone to go with me, and I'll see you in half an hour."
Adrian nodded. "Deal."
"Hey, wait up!" Brooke called, trotting down the front porch steps and catching up with her sister.
Sky looked over her shoulder. "Hey," she smiled.
Brooke caught up to her, and they started walking. "Adrian said you wanted company. I thought maybe we could talk."
Sky shrugged. "Sure."
Sky took a deep breath before the words came out. "I told Jace that I loved him."
Sky looked at her with wide eyes. "... What did he say?"
"Well... Nothing. I told him by accident the night I was poisoned a couple months ago."
"... Oh," she squeaked.
Brooke frowned. "Are you okay?"
Sky looked at the sidewalk. "I'm fine. Continue."
"So... I don't think he loves me back, because... He hasn't said anything about it since- and I dont want to push him," she added quickly.
"Uh..." Skylar looked ahead. "I think you should-"
"Hey, Sky!" Brooke looked over. Sky's ex-boyfriend, Tyler, was walking on the sidewalk across the street in the opposite direction with some of his friends.
"Hey," Sky called.
"You still going out with Foxwright?"
"Yeah! Sorry to disappoint. See you around, Tyler," Skylar looked back ahead and rolled her eyes. "Douche."
Brooke laughed.
"That guy only leaves me alone if I have a different boyfriend. That's why I lied. Anyway, you were saying?"
"Um... I think I'm gonna give him more space. I know Clary meant a lot to him..." she looked down.
Sky put her hand on Brooke's shoulder. "Don't worry," she said. "The time will come."
William Thyme walked up the beach toward the Ravenwalkers.
"Edwin!" Thea called. "Come meet the Lightwoods!"
William walked up to them. He recognized all of them from Clary's memories. Isabelle was in a red bikini, Alec was dry, and in a t-shirt, and Jace was carrying a surfboard. "Pleased to meet you."
Aaron introduced each of them, and William greeted them each individually.
"Where are Skylar and Brooke?" he asked.
"Uh..." Aaron looked around nervously.
"The convenience store," said Adrian. "Getting chips."
William smirked. "Don't worry, I won't tell your parents," he chuckled. "Just be careful, got it?"
"Can do," said Thea, grinning.
"Not you," said Adrian. "You're going to stay home."
Thea turned to face him. "Come on, that's so not fair!"
"Tell you what," said Aaron. "You can have one drink with us, then you go home, okay?"
Thea grinned. "Yes! Thank you."
Adrian raised his eyebrow. "You don't even like alcohol."
Thea stuck her tongue out at him.
William chuckled.
The sliding glass door opened, and out stepped... William's eyes went wide.
"Alec!" said Magnus. "I came to surprise..." he trailed off when he saw William. He swallowed. "Thyme," he snarled.
"Bye," he turned around, and started to run.
Alec blinked once they had gone out of sight. "What was that about?"
Aaron shrugged. "Edwin's got some skeletons in the closet. They tend to stay there."
Jace looked at Aaron with his brow furrowed. "... Did he just say 'Thyme'?"
Adrian frowned. "I guess he did."
Thea looked around between them. "What are you guys talking about?"
Jace's jaw locked. "I'll be right back," he went into the house and up to Skylar's room. He looked at the drawing of the warlock on the wall. It was the same warlock they'd just seen. Who was he?
What did you think?
Any requests while they're in Redondo beach, California? The help would be excellent!
Quick note, I've never been to Redondo. I made up a place in my head, and I assigned it to a place which looked like it could fit best.
Post again tomorrow :)
Wisterian Princess