Warning: the end of this chapter might be a little hard to read and triggering.
CLARY'S POV
"Am I stupid?" Clary asked Simon. They were sitting in the living room of the apartment waiting for Jon to arrive. It was around nine am. "Do you know who Jace is?" Yes, she had really spent the entire night thinking about that.
"Yeah?" Simon looked warily at her. "He's Jace Lightwood the guy you're rooming with. I'm genuinely confused by this question."
"I mean, does he look like you've seen him elsewhere? I'm just asking because Seb made a comment when he saw him and then yesterday Jon said that he knew who Jace was when I introduced them and Jace immediately changed the subject." Clary ran her hands through her hair. "Maybe I'm just going crazy or imagining things, but he did look familiar when I first met him."
"Didn't you say he reminds you of Jimothy?" Simon asked and Clary hit his leg.
"That's not what I mean," she said but she was smiling. "Nevermind, forget I said anything. I really am just going crazy."
"If you say so." Simon shrugged.
There was a knock at the door and Simon leaped up from the couch before Clary could even begin to stand. He rushed over to open the door for Jon as Clary leisurely made her way to them. Jon looked all too cheery, especially since Clary knew that he wasn't exactly a morning person. She crossed her arms over her chest as she approached him.
"What's got you smiling?" Clary asked.
"Am I not allowed to smile?" Jon threw up his arms exasperated.
"These days," Simon started, "no, not without reason."
Clary whacked Simon's head. "But really, what's up?"
"I did some thinking last night."
"That can be dangerous."
"Shut up, Simon." Jon's focus was on Clary only. "But I'm not going to tell you until your birthday. It's a surprise."
"I hate surprises."
"And you'll hate this one too." Jon wrapped one arm around his little sister as the three started heading out the door for breakfast. "But I'm sure that with time you'll grow to love it."
After breakfast, the rest of the morning was spent walking around the city. They visited all their favorite places from when they were children. Eventually, the hours passed and it was nearing four pm. It had felt like no time had passed at all, but then again Jon and Clary had a lot to catch up on. Time flies when you haven't seen your sibling in months.
"So, have you talked to dad?" Jon asked as the three walked down some street of Brooklin. They'd gone all over, taking cabs to different areas.
"Not in a few days," said Clary.
"But she did send him a really passive aggressive card," Simon piped up.
Jon laughed. "Oh, I'm sure. I can imagine how misogynistic he was. He's always been an asshole." He paused then and thought. "What would you say to us egging your ex's car?"
"I would say that's illegal." Despite the multiple times that Clary had dreamt of smashing in the bastard's headlights, she knew that it was a bad idea.
"Only if we get caught, carrot." Jon grinned over at her but she rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine. Nothing illegal while I'm here, promise."
"Thank you. If you really want to get back at Sebastian then the best way would be to just ignore him. He can't stand that shit."
"I like to make my presence known," Jon rebutted, "in fact, I love grand entrances."
"I know." Clary sighed. "We all remember Simon's twelfth birthday."
"Oh." Jon made a sharp intake of breath. "Yeah, we don't talk about that."
"No, no, no," said Simon, "let's talk about how you made a little kid's birthday all about yourself. Not to mention that you were fifteen at the time too. Talk about egotistic." He spoke the last part under his breath and crossed his arms over his chest. Of course, Jon still heard him and pushed the other boy so that he teetered a little.
"I apologized immensely. There's no reason to relive the past."
"Which is why we're not attacking Sebastian's car," Clary added with a grin. "No reason to relive the past."
"Yeah, yeah." Jon waved a dismissive hand, clearly not happy that he wasn't allowed to mess with the man. Understandably so. "Anyway, we need to discuss the plans for tomorrow, Clarissa."
"Of course." Clary nodded. "Well, Simon had a thought the other day."
"What would you say to visiting Luke?" Simon chirped. "I think it would be great to get away and see him. That way Sebastian would no longer know where Clary is staying and Clary wouldn't have to be mooching off of Jace anymore."
"Okay." Jon bit his lip. "Looks like half of my surprise for tomorrow is going to ruined now." He clapped his hands together and looked back and forth between the two. "I called Luke last night. He hadn't canceled his plane ticket yet so I talked him into getting it moved up and he's flying in tomorrow. I offered to cover the cost, of course."
"Oh, Jon!" Clary hugged her brother. "Thank you, that actually means a lot. It'll be nice to spend a birthday with him."
Jon smiled. "Yeah, and anyway it would've been stupid of all three of us to fly up there. I mean, buying plane tickets the day before? We'd have to be either insanely stupid or insanely rich to do something like that."
"True." Clary laughed.
"Alright, well since the Luke business is settled, let's discuss what else," said Simon. "Obviously the traditional dinner at Clary's favorite restaurant."
"Obviously," Jon continued. "And I was thinking we could go on a boat ride out to the island."
"No." Clary shook her head. "Too many tourists."
"Facts." Simon cleared his throat. "We could go out of the city? Start the day super early and go on a little road trip. Jon, what time is Luke's flight coming in?"
"Like four am. The plan was for him to come straight to my hotel and stay with me for a few hours before we surprised Clare."
"Perfect, after Luke gets here we can go."
"Where to?" Clary asked and Simon only shrugged.
"We can figure it out along the way."
"Just as long as we're back in time for your traditional dinner and visit to mom."
Clary smiled happy to be surrounded by the two people that knew her best and cared for her the most. "That sounds awesome. Thank you guys."
Jon rubbed his fist on Clary's head giving her an unwelcomed noogie. "Anytime, little sis. Now, what do you guys say we go see a movie and then head to dinner?"
It was midnight when Clary woke. She hadn't set an alarm, but somehow every year on her birthday her body would wake her up at exactly midnight. Sometimes it was a gift, but it was usually a curse. No, it was really always a curse. Nonetheless, the redhead sat up in bed and figured that she would start her day now as she usually did on her birthdays. And per usual, her first thought was to take out the box with the 18 drawings from her mother.
Clary got out of bed and walked to her closet. With her hand on the handle, she froze. She had no recollection of placing it in the closet. In fact, she couldn't remember having placed it anywhere after moving in. Trying to calm her rapid heartbeat, Clary still opened the closet and checked all of her things. When she didn't find it, she checked her dresser and her desk and her suitcase. It was absolutely nowhere.
If it wasn't here then she knew there was only one place it could be. In her rush to get out of that horrid house, Clary had forgotten some things. Of course, she had, it wasn't exactly a focused time of her life. She just wouldn't have thought that she would have ever forgotten something so important.
Putting on some clothes, Clary left the apartment. From the lack of shoes by the front door, she knew that Jace wasn't home yet. At least he wouldn't hear her leave. Hopefully, he wouldn't hear her when she came back in either.
Clary got on her motorcycle and drove back to her old house. To Sebastian's current house. She paused in front of it, not wanting to have to knock. But of course, she had already given him back her key. She did that when she threw his car keys into the ocean. Mustering up all of her courage, Clary did manage to get off her bike and walk the steps up the tiny house. She brought her hand up to ring the doorbell but found it hard to do. Then, before she could change her mind, she brought her hand down and listened to the sharp sound of the sadly familiar bell.
After a moment, a light came on upstairs. Then, there were footsteps. Then, the door opened. And before her stood Sebastian. His black hair was mused from sleep and his dark eyes lit up with curiosity and excitement at the sight of his ex-fiance. The corner of Sebastian's lips raised as he leaned against the doorframe and took in the scene before him: Clary with wide, determined eyes and wild hair. She knew she didn't look her best, she had just woken up as well and she hadn't exactly put thought into the clothes she wore. It didn't matter though and she didn't care. She just needed that box back.
"Well, well, well. What have we here?" said Sebastian. "Bored with your new little boy-toy already? Crawling back to your one and only?"
Clary scoffed. "It's come to my attention that I left something here and I want it back. So, if you would excuse me-"
But Sebastian didn't excuse her. Instead, as she tried to pass by, he grabbed her wrist with probably as much force as he meant. At this proximity, Clary could smell alcohol on him. Tequila, specifically. He'd probably had a long day of drinking before going to bed early without a shower. Typical.
"Oh no, there's no way I'm just letting you into my house. Not after everything you've put me through."
"Everything I've put you through? Sorry to break it to you, but I think you're remembering the facts wrong." Clary tried to pull her arm back, but his grasp tightened. Now it hurt.
"I loved you, Clary, and you just left me like I was nothing," Sebastian sneered. "Moved on without a moment's hesitation. Threw me to the dirt."
"You cheated on me, Seb! You moved on before there was anything to move on from!" Clary winced when he twisted. This would definitely leave a mark.
Sebastian rolled his eyes like what she was saying was wrong or misinterpreted. There was nothing to misinterpret. "I'm a man of affection, Clarissa. Pardon me if one woman didn't satisfy my needs." Clary almost wanted to laugh. He was aware of what he was saying, right? "But even so, I've seen where I went wrong and I promise that if you come back to me today I will never hurt you again." There was some strange genuineness in his eyes. And something else, something Clary might've recognized as lust.
"Sebastian-"
"Don't you remember all our plans Clary? For the wedding? Our honeymoon? Our children?" His grip loosened and his voice softened. "For today? Your birthday, my darling. Happy birthday."
"I remember," Clary said trying to keep him in this calmer state. "But things change, Sebastian and at some point, we both have to accept that."
"Accept?" Sebastian blurted out and he released her with a push. Clary stumbled backward and held her wrist. She was right, there was a mark. "I refuse to accept that I've lost you. You still love me, Clary. Even though you returned the ring, I know you do. Why else would you be here in the middle of the night?"
"I need my things." Clary's voice remained low. Sebastian was getting loud and she was sure that the neighbors were going to hear.
"You need me."
"Sebastian-" Clary tried taking a step forward again. This time, instead of grabbing her wrist, he grabbed her shoulder and throat. He pushed her inside the house, probably without meaning to.
"Crap." Immediately, he released her and spoke. She held a hand over where he'd touched her coughing. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
Clary didn't say anything, she just glared at him and made her way to the stairs. Once she reached her old bedroom, she went straight for the closet where her box was safely tucked away. Thankfully, it was there. Clary cradled it to her chest but when she turned back around she saw that Sebastian had followed her up.
"Just stay." There was desperation in his voice now, but instead of feeling sorry, Clary only thought it pathetic.
"I'd rather have my eyes plucked out," Clary said and she fought back a smile as she remembered her conversation with Jace about the Disney princesses. Cinderella...
"God damn it!" Sebastian put his fist through the wall and Clary jumped. He was breathing heavily as he drew his arm back to him and then gently reached out to Clary. "Please, baby, please." Clearly, from these mood swings, he was still drunk.
"Let me leave, Sebastian."
"Why? So you can run back to that pretty boy? I bet you aren't even actually dating him. You couldn't move on from me that fast." He took a step forward and Clary took a step back. She was met with a wall.
"I am and I did. After what you did, I could never come back to you." Clary knew she had disgust in her eyes and she was pretty sure that Sebastian could see that too because his face suddenly went slack with anger.
"Lies."
"Seb..."
"It's all lies." He took slow steps forward until he was inches from her. Sebastian grabbed her jaw with one of his hands and forced her face to look up at him. He pressed his lips to hers in a forced kiss. Clary grimaced until she managed to bring her foot down hard on his and break away from him. The moment he released her in pain, she ran down the stairs and out the door. She was on her motorcycle before he could move.
So, yeah. That's the bad. It's about to get really good though. And then bad again. Hehe. Hope y'all liked this chapter! Please, please comment your thoughts and I'll try to update soon.
