whooo two chapters up in the same day! ...well, I finished typing chapter 10 yesterday...well, it was actually today cause it was after midnight, but I didn't get a chance to upload it. yessss. hopefully things continue going this way. ^_^

Writerswand

Starcrossed

Chapter 11

~Dates~

Part One: Dating jace

*Maia*

So, yeah, nothing really special has really happened over the past few months. Natalie's cousin-Cammy-is living her normal everyday life, as well as Natalie, well, almost. Natalie's made us all promise to leave her baby cousin uninvolved, it's not like we were going to get a child-particularly a mundane-involved unless absolutely necessary anyways.
School had started and Simon, Clary and Natalie were there most of the time. Clary wanted to drop school all together and just train to be a Shadowhunter but after finding out Natalie went to their school she decided she probably should go to keep an eye on her. Clary was always busy on weekends too, training to be a Shadowhunter since there's no school on weekends…of course. Simon's normally with his band practicing or having "concerts" on weekends. I go sometimes, their music actually isn't half bad, and I'm not just saying that cause I like Simon.
Jace, Isabelle, and Alec are always off doing Shadowhunter stuff and only come back to Magnus's place to sleep. Magnus? How am I supposed to know? Off doing warlock stuff would be my best guess; it probably has something to do with the Shadowhunter stuff. Both I am not allowed to interfere with, being a rather "low class" downworlders.
So that basically leaves me alone in Magnus's place for most of the day, having nowhere else to really go. I guess I could go to my old werewolf pack at the abandoned police station but I've been gone from that a while now and I'll rather not listen to them treat me like shit because I left them for a while.
Don't get me wrong, Magnus's place is really cool, he IS a warlock and his place is fun to explore and stuff. Once I found a room that sprayed frozen yogurt from the walls. It was delicious. Though, even if his house really is fun I'm no introvert. So there's no way I'm going to stay anywhere alone ALL day boring myself to death. (Or close)
Sometimes I go out just being myself, sometimes I try conducting my own investigations…which always end up failing miserably…
At the moment I was on a couch in Magnus's place recuperating after running like a naïve hiker down a mountain with a rockslide coming down above them as a huge flock of demons chased me after I foolishly went to the Institute to conduct one of my fail investigations.
Anyways, it's early December, and apparently demons strive on heat, they absorb it and become more powerful, so with demons swarming more than half of New York it's probably been the coldest winter yet, and we've had some cold ones. So with the extra heat radiating from apartments the demons are pretty energized, even in winter.
So, imagine, a wolf running from a huge flock of hyped up demons? Not fun, I am exhausted. Well, I was, that was at ten in the morning, it's two in the afternoon now. So I'm pretty much well rested.
Just then the door flew open, slammed closed, and loud footfalls echoed throughout and soon enough the figure of Jace stood in the doorway from the entrance hall into this room.
I lay sprawled out on one of the sleek black couches, my head propped up against one arm rest, one ripped jeaned leg hung over the other arm rest, the other leg hung over the front of the couch, one arm was behind my head, and my other arm was hanging over the front of the couch as well. I turned my head to face Jace who took a few steps forward and stopped.
"Done already? It's ten past two," I said after looking at the grandfather clock shaped like Big Ben…
"Everything seems to be okay for now. Nothing's any different than it has been for a few months. Isabelle's…somewhere and Alec and Magnus are heading upstate to 'make sure nothing's spreading out of the city.' Which is of course what they are going to do but I think they might be going to the Finger Lakes for a little day vacation…" Jace trailed; his voice a little off from his usual cool tone.
I raised my eyebrows and gave him an awkward smile. "So you're just haggard and sweating for the heck of it?"
Jace wiped his hands on his pants. "Well, after I got rid of that flock…"
I shook my head, smiling.
"But that seemed to be just a rouge flock, I passed the Institute area earlier and they all seemed to be waiting for something. They were anxious but not doing anything," Jace explained.
I frowned. "Waiting for what?" I asked. Waiting until enough downworlders and demons are recruited? Waiting for a leader? Waiting for the perfect time?
"That's what I'm concerned about," Jace said as he walked into another hallway away from the great room I was in.

I decided I have lounged around enough and found my way to a bathroom. I closed the door and began undressing to take a shower. I quickly take a shower and redress after drying off. After blow drying my hair I look at myself in the mirror. I sighed. My hair was extremely curly and annoying. I picked up the curling iron and began straightening my hair until it lay loosely on my shoulders.
I looked back at the mirror. My hair was no straight, the bags under my eyes were almost nonexistent, my brow was slightly creased, my jeans torn, and my black shirt read 'Shut up before you end up like her ex' in splattered red paint. I thought it was funny so I bought it… I pulled it down a bit, straitening it. I sighed and walked back into the room where I was before.
I sat down on a couch, wondering whether or not I should go back out and conduct another investigation attempt. It was after three. If I didn't go out I would have a number of leisure hours before anyone came back that would drive me slowly insane.
I didn't have much time to think because then Jace walked in from one of the numerous hallways that led to different rooms of Magnus's…residence.
I turned my head to look at him straight on. "Hey," I said.
"Hey Maia, you're still here," he said.
I raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. Why are you asking?"
Jace ran a hand through his golden hair. "I thought you may want to go out somewhere with me?"
My eyebrows skyrocketed. Jace...asking ME out? What the fuck? "Is this one of those fake dates or something? To make Clary jealous?"
Jace sighed. "Why do you act like this Maia? You may not like her very much, but act like Isabelle a little—a little. You should see how many guys do like you and not just Simon's band either. Stop degrading yourself. You're nice, cool, strong, funny…" he trailed. I sighed. "But what you really need to understand is that you ARE very pretty, and it's not just platonic…" he trailed off once more.
My eyes widened. Did Jace just…? Does he really mean…? I shook my head mentally. No, he couldn't have…could he? "Well, uh, thank you," I managed.
Jace shifted his feet a little, waiting for the answer he wanted.
"Oh! Yeah, sure, I don't mind," I said, fumbling over my words in confusion.
He nodded and I stood up.
"Are you going to get changed or something?" he asked.
I shrugged. "Every date I've been on the guy didn't care what I looked like as long as I wasn't wearing a hard-to-take-off bra," I joked, giving him a toothy smile.
Jace just raised his eyebrows, smiling a little.
I shrugged.
"So you're not even going to change your shirt?" Jace asked.
I looked down at my shirt and laughed.

Jace and I walked down a street, traffic was minimal but there were many people scurrying to get out of December weather and to where they are supposed to be. Jace wore a long black jacket over his white shirt, I didn't have a jacket, but it was fine, the cold didn't bother me too much. I WAS a werewolf.
"So where do you want to go?" Jace asked me.
"I'm hungry," I said, not really hearing him.
"You were just inside where I'm sure you ate…"
"Wolves have a big appetite," I winked, feeling like Magnus.
"So I'm guessing you want to go have a late lunch?" Jace asked.
"Or an early dinner,"
Jace nodded, he looked as if he was trying to think of a place nearby. I knew one. I took him by the sleeve of his jacket and began walking a bit faster.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked as he forcefully followed.
"I know a good food joint," I said simply.
Jace must have nodded because he didn't answer.

I took him several blocks away and through an alleyway. No, this wasn't that stereotypical alleyway you find in horror movies where a girl is running from a murderer or a rapist and then stupidly runs into an alleyway and finds herself at a dead end. This alleyway was well lit and not a dead end. Well, if it was night and not the middle of the day maybe it would become that alleyway, but I hope no one would be that stupid, and they could just run into the little diner that we came to as we exited the alleyway.
Jace stopped and refused to move. "This is a downworld-" he began.
"So?" I asked.
"Yeah, but not all downworlders are friendly, you should know. And there could be some around that don't like me so much…"
I shrugged. "If they're a werewolf, you're fine. If they're anything else, I can't guarantee it. Actually I can't guarantee it even if they are a werewolf…"
Jace sighed but gave in.
I took a good look at the diner. It was kind of run down but that's because it was old and the owner didn't have the mind to keep it upbeat, the inside was nice though. I forgot the name of it, and the sign was faded, hard to read even with my eyes.
I walked inside with Jace, a little bell jingled as the door opened and closed. Few people were scattering among booths and at the counter in the little diner. There was a pleasant, quiet air to the place that I always respected. I made my way to a booth a little ways away from the door and slid in a seat. Jace sat down opposite me after taking off his jacket and draping it over the booth behind him.
I took Jace in. He wore nice jeans and a white flannel shirt in which his black runes showed through a bit. His golden blond hair was darker because it was winter and neat, not perfectly slicked back like Alec's but fairly neat.
"Do twins work here or something?" Jace asked.
"Nope," I said. "It's all run by one person, he's a warlock of sorts, and he can clone himself. It's kind of annoying having five different young men flirt with you at separate times while you're trying to eat," I grinned.
"They're not going to do that now are they?" Jace asked.
"Looks like they won't, I think they're intimidated by you," I smirked.
Jace laughed a little.

After we ate our overpriced, quickly received food—that my growling stomach fell head over heels for, I fell in love this weekend, ha-ha—Jace and I managed to get back to Magnus's place without really knowing how. Well, I knew how, we walked, but it felt like one moment we were laughing and eating our food and then the next moment, BAM! We were on a couch.
Oh that sounded really wrong, or maybe I'm just overcomplicating things. I tend to make things awkward.
Jace lay on the couch, I lay over him, feeling the fine edges of his face, torso, arms, wondering who the carver was that carved the beautiful face, body, of his. Our lips pressed hard against each other's as his arms wrapped around my waist as we were locked in a tight, emotional, but not necessarily a meaningful embrace. Jace's fingers were clasped against my back as his tongue traced the edges of my mouth. I spread apart my lips, opening my mouth a little creating an entrance for him when suddenly Jace jumped up, letting go of me, and I fell back against the other side of the couch.
I tilted my head a little to the right. "What happened?" I asked.
"I-I don't know-"Jace cut himself off, breathless, finding it difficult to speak. He found his words and spoke again. "It just didn't feel right. I'm not really sure. It was great—but after a while I had to stop because it didn't feel as if I was holding, kissing, you anymore, Maia, it was like…" he trailed.
"You were kissing Clary," I finished for him, understanding, I wasn't happy about it of course, but I wasn't sad or mad either.
Jace nodded.
I let out a sigh I was holding back.
"Maia, I'm sorry, you really are beautiful, inside and out, don't let you get this down, I'm sure you will find someone…just not me obviously…" Jace trailed, obviously making this up on the spot.
Don't let this get you down. "I'm not, and don't be sorry," I said standing up to go brush my messy hair. I was staying here all night when there was stuff I could, should, do.

Part Two: Dating Simon!

When I got back from the bathroom Jace was gone but I hardly noticed. I started walking through the streets with sort of a goal in mind but that faded and soon enough I was wandering aimlessly through New York. Judging by the darkening sky I would place the time at around six. Though this being New York it wasn't that dark, though not many people were out at the moment, half a dozen or so. I wasn't even paying attention so a certain downworlders managed to sneak up on me.
"Boo," I heard in my ear.
Not startled-I was used to things like this-I turned around to face the dark haired, red rimmed green eyed, pale skinned vampire wearing that famous white t-shirt with 'Made in Brooklyn' written in light green on the front. "Simon? What are you doing?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Not sure really,"
"Where's Clary and Natalie?"
"Well Natalie's one of those sophomores in eleventh grade classes, I think they went to the library to work on a project,"
"They're still there?"
Simon shook his head. "Clary texted me earlier saying they were going out to get Chinese, and was wondering if I wanted to come…but I declined,"
I raised an eyebrow. "Why-oh, right, vampire,"
"No, I would go just to be with friends, eat a little and my body would force it out later, it's just that… I had plans,"
I may be brain dead tonight and not a genius but I'm not dumb. "Oh?"
Simon gave me a little awkward-but cute-smile. "I said I was going to go ask Maia if she wanted to see 'At Stranger Tides' with me,"
My eyes widened but that was my only noticeable physical reaction besides speaking. My heart was beating fast and my blood was racing. "Cool, I'd love to," I said, but I could hardly believe he asked me. Am I dreaming? I pinched my arm. Nope, I'm awake, this is real. I've been waiting for this moment since that party-formal and annoying- in Idris! So, yeah, anyone could tell I was happy at the moment.

Ironically a movie theater was only a block away. We paid to get in, bought popcorn and soda, and found our way to the 'At Stranger Tides' room, which would be starting at seven.
We both easily found our way through the dark, both being creatures of the night, and moving into a row, sitting at an end.
We began watching the last few previews and devouring our large containers of popcorn and slurping down soda. What? Downworlders have big appetites! I looked over at Simon and saw him only sipping a small soda. …Or maybe that's just me.

I reached into the popcorn container and found my fingers sliding against the buttery bottom of the container. I went to take a sip of my soda and found it empty. I licked my fingers cleaned and found myself still wanting popcorn. I slipped out of Simon's arm-which was around my shoulders- and leaned forward in my seat, stretching.
I leaned over to Simon, my lips to his ear. "I'm going to get more popcorn, be right back," I whispered in his ear.
"You'll miss the movie," he said not in a whisper which caused a series of shushes and shut ups from the people around us.
"Seriously people? One shush is enough!" I said before turning back to Simon. "It's fine, fill me in on what I missed later," I whispered, standing up and walking out.
It was around ten, more or less, and the movie was probably going to end soon anyways. I like Pirates of the Caribbean, don't get me wrong, but I'm not crazy over it.
I walked into the main room with my empty popcorn container when I heard a scream, a high pitched scream. Natalie! I dropped the popcorn container and ran outside. It was dark and the moon was new. The lights of New York dimmed the stars but it was dark in the alleyway-it wasn't a dead end- I ran into.
Clary and Natalie stood together, cornered by what looked like Jordan and another downworlders: a warlock.
I transformed into a wolf and leapt at them, I landed on Jordan, my claws sinking into his shoulders.
He roared and grabbed at Clary and Natalie.
A cloud of yellow, magical smoke burst and spread around all of us.
I lost consciousness but the last thing I heard was the maniacal laugher of my ex-boyfriend.