Clary
I had stopped talking and looked down at Jace with my bright red eyes. I was still sniffling but the tears had stopped. I was surprised to find that his golden eyes had darkened and a scary look was plastered on his angelic face. "Jace, you promised…" I said while taking a step back. I couldn't handle him not believing me too. A look of confusion swept across his face before finally settling on realization.
"No, Clary! I believe you. Of course, I believe you. I'm just so mad about what that bastard did to you. I could kill him" I had already begun shaking my head before he even finished speaking
"Jace, he cannot know that I told you any of this. He has already made my life at school hell but I know he can make it much worse. Everyone already thinks he broke up with me because I'm a whore. I don't need him spreading any more rumors. Everyone worships him and they're always going to take his side against mine. I'm alone in this Jace. I don't need him finding out that I've aired his dirty laundry"
"If you think you're getting rid of me that easy, you're wrong. We're friends now, Clare, and nothing is going to change that. Especially not some prick and his idiotic group of friends. I won't do anything, but I am going to be there for you. We can walk to and from school together and eat lunch together and sit next to each other in class. I won't let him near you, Clary. Okay?" Seeing his face I could tell how serious he was about this and it scared me. I haven't had someone care like this. Ever. I'm starting to trust him more but telling him about my family is still going to take some time.
"Okay, I'd like that" I shifted my feet and looked out the window. It was already starting to get dark and I hadn't done anything at home. My mom was going to kill me if she saw that I still hadn't come home. "I'll see you first thing tomorrow. Goldilocks. I've got to get going or I'll be in huge shit"
"Bye, little mermaid" Shooting a glare over my shoulder I raced out of the house and over to mine. Looking up I saw Jace watching me from his window and giving a thumbs up when I pushed open the front door. After a slight wave I pulled myself through the doorway and clicked the door shut behind me. The living room was cold and dark but the house was quiet. Hopefully a good sign that my mother was still asleep and hadn't noticed my absence. Luck was not on my side when I took in a deep breath and had to bite my cheek to prevent from screaming. Jocelyn was hunched over in the chair in the corner of the room holding a bottle of vodka in her hand.
"Nice of you to come home, Clarissa" I flinched at the use of my full name. I was in serious trouble.
"Hello, Mother. I was just catching up on some work. I didn't think you'd care. Or notice for that matter. I'm here now" I took a shaky step forward and reached to clear the dishes that accumulated on the coffee table. I heard my mother rise from her chair at the same time I straightened up and we made eye contact. My eyes meeting her dull bloodshot ones. "Why don't you lay down and I'll start dinner?" I suggest. She steps closer and rears her hand back faster than I can't comprehend. Suddenly a stinging sensation runs across my cheek and my eyes begin to water. I notice that I have dropped all the plates I was holding and rush to pick them up.
"You're a good for nothing, lazy, terrible excuse of a daughter. Do you realize what you've done to my life? Ruined it. I used to be happy. Valentine used to love me and want to spend time with me until you came along. I was a good artist. People bought my paintings. And now I'm nothing because of YOU!" I placed the dishes in the sink and started to walk towards my room. My dad's voice echoing though my head, "Walk away when she starts to yell" I'm finally at my door but she has followed me and her voice has gotten louder. "YOU'RE NOTHING CLARY. YOU RUIN EVERYTHING" I'm finally seated on my bed but she has taken the liberty of striding right into my room and getting in my face. "EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE NEAR FALLS APART BECAUSE YOU'RE PATHETIC. YOU, CLARISSA ADELE MORGENSTERN, ARE USELESS" I nod slowly, knowing that everything she has said is true. I think it's over until she takes another step forward and gets in one more slap before walking away mumbling, "I wish I never had you"
I can feel the heat radiating from my red cheek and assume there will be a bruise tomorrow. At least it's nothing like what I had to hide when I was still with Sebastian. I used to go through so much foundation. I don't even notice I'm crying until something wet hits my leg. I reach up to find tears streaming down my face. She's right. How pathetic? She says a few nasty words and I'm crying? A noise interrupts my thoughts, looking up I see a paperclip fly through my open window and land on the floor next to my desk. I reach the window and see Jace sitting in his. I don't know what he has heard but I keep my battered cheek hidden in the shadows of my room. I can only imagine what he'd think. Probably that I'm a weak little girl who deserves everything I get. I wave and pull down the shade before he gets a chance to talk. I'm still not ready for him to know.