APOLOGIES OR LIES?

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TMI belongs to Sassy Cassie

Jace

"What?" I stepped back, putting as much space between Clary and I as the lobby would permit.

"What did you expect, you'd come home at God knows what time, looking all crazy and expect me to give myself up to you?" Clary folded her arms across her chest.

"Basically, yes" I answered, still stunned.

"Well," Clary walked away from me, widening the gap between us further, making her way to the lounge. "You were wrong, Jace"

"Clary, wait-" I began, helplessly, still wanting her, still pining. I followed her, the distance between us maddening and confusing all at once.

"Look, forget all about...whatever this was-" she gestured with her hands "-tomorrow, when you're sober and can't remember a thing, it'll all go back to normal. To how it was"

"'Back to how it was'? Are you blind, Clary? This-" I made the same gesture she made before "Has always been like this. I have always been like this"

"No you haven't Jace. You're drunk, you don't know what you're saying" Clary's voice was icy and calm.

"Good night Jace. I'll see you in the morning." And with that she was gone, back in her bedroom, and I was left alone trying to understand what had just happened.

I'm not 'drunk'. Jace Herondale can hold his liquor, and he never gets drunk.

"Dude," the laughter was muffled by the quality of the call, but I could hear it nonetheless, "She turned you down?"

"It's just a matter of time. You'll see, she won't be able to resist my charm for long" I answered, not feeling nearly as smug or confident as I sounded.

Jace Herondale is not an idiot. He knows when he wants something, that's a given, but he also knows when a woman wants him. Now, it's clear to Jace that Jace wants Clary, and Clary wants Jace but Clary doesn't seem to see it that way.

"She's hiding her feelings" I said, voicing my inner monologue that really meant I should be locked up somewhere. First, it's talking about yourself in the third person, the next thing you know; you're a murderous machine with killer good looks, tearing up towns, one beautiful woman at a time. Of course they'd all be willing, I mean...I'm Jace Herondale, why wouldn't they want a little action?

"Or she just isn't into you dude" Alec retorted

"Please, Alec. When hasn't a woman been into me?" I asked, rolling onto my side. My bedside clock read 7:43 am and I could already smell Clary's concoction of the morning.

"In fact," I got out of my bed and threw on a plain white tee over my grey boxer shorts, "-When has any human being, male or female, not been into me?"

"Isabelle finds you vile-"

"Isabelle is an anomaly and you know it" I snapped. Maybe my ego was still a little wounded from last night.

"I've gotta go, I want to catch Clary before she runs away" I half-joked.

"Wait, Jace" Alec started, sounding uncertain, "Just...make sure you know what you're doing, if she leaves, your dad will castrate you"

And just like that, all my plans to get Clary crumbled around me. Last night I'd forgotten why I'd been trying so hard to not want Clary, but there was no way of forgetting what I'd just been reminded of.

"I don't need a lecture off you, Alec. I can deal with this alone" I was sure he could hear the bullshit in my voice.

"Right, whatever man, I'm just trying to help you out" Alec said, sounding offended.

"Sorry, I'm still a little on edge, shit...I nearly forgot to tell you. Raiyerra came to see me last night."

"Where? What did she want? Christ, Jace. What the hell have you done now? I swear if you say you're involved again I'll come over there and castrate you myself." Alec roared into the phone, all worry and nerves.

"Calm the fuck down, shit, I think you just bust one of my ear drums. You're paying for that. And no, I'm not 'involved', it's not me this time. It's the velle ferbet." I said while I pulled the small, wrapped box out of the pocket of the dress pants I'd been wearing yesterday.

There was a moment of awed silence.

Then, finally, "The velle ferbet? Here? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Well, actually, I wouldn't put it past Raiyerra to lie." I answered

"I have to tell Magnus, I'll call you later"

"Yes, you must inform oh great and powerful Magnus at once, young peasant!" I laughed as Alec mumbled out a curse word and hung up on me.

I clutched the small box in my hand behind my back as I made my way to the lounge, where Clary sat.

She wore a close fitting but classy white dress that ended mid thigh beneath a white, long-lined blazer and a long gold necklace. Her auburn hair had been combed in tresses over one shoulder. She looked gorgeous, and it was cruel. How am I supposed to cope knowing she'd turned me down when she looks like that the day after?!

"Mornin'" I grumbled, leaning against the door frame of the lounge door.

Clary looked up and smiled awkwardly, "Morning. Your breakfast's on the table" she gestured towards the small, four-seated dining table.

"Thanks," I said, without taking my eyes off her. Alec's warning echoed in my mind.

"Clary, I'm sorry about last night. It was a mistake. It wasn't supposed to happen" The words tasted awful in my mouth, but I did what I had to do. Why was this so hard?

Clary showed no signs of hurt or shock, "I get it, you were drunk, whatever, we all make mistakes" she brushed my apology off.

"Exactly." I murmured. "Where are you off?" I asked as I grabbed a piece of toast, I'd agreed to meet Alec and Magnus this morning, so unfourtunately, the fried eggs, bacon, beans and toast Clary had made would have to go in the trash.

"I've got that interview today, there's a cup of coffee there for you" Clary pointed at the work top behind me and then got up, grabbed a purse and slipped on a pair of white shoes.

"Bye, Jace." she called as she left.

Clary

"What would you consider your biggest fault, Ms. Fray?" the man interviewing me, Daniel, asked.

We were sitting in his office, a horrible, gray room that had no artistic aspects at all.

"My biggest fault? Well, I guess it's my inability to time keep for a project. I put so much work and effort into painting and sculpting that I forget to stick with the time scale I gave myself to complete them by and instead let the progress dictate when I'm finished" I answered coolly.

"Okay. Ms Fray, there are staff clothing guidelines. Our staff are permitted to wear whatever they want, so long as they're clothing is smart and mainly black. We don't like to take away from the art work, so...would you be willing to dye your hair?"

"My hair?" I asked, horrified.

"Relax, he's messing with you." a familiar voice drawled from behind me. I turned around.

"Lawrence? Hi..." I smiled, thoroughly confused

"We meet again, Clary" Lawrence smiled.

Lawrence again...hmmmmm...

I'm not sure I like that guy...

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-Clary Fray Mockingjay over and out xx