Chapter 14: 'Dead' Dad

After Magnus went home, Luke came by again to pick up Clary and Simon for a night out as promised.

They were going bowling.

Simon and Luke had already walked out.

"Have fun," Jocelyn said to Clary.

"Thanks, Mom," Clary said, turning to leave. Her hand hovered over the doorknob. She didn't know why she had the need to know this now. She turned back around. "Hey, Mom?"

"Yeah?"

"Where did my father go?" she asked.

Jocelyn's face fell. "Clary..," she began.

Clary inwardly sighed. This was going to end how it always ended when it came to the topic of her father and late brother; a melancholic mother and no real answers. She never meant to make her mother unhappy by recalling sad memories, but she deserved to know too, right?

But what Jocelyn said next surprised her. "He left."

That's something, at least. "No, I know." Clary walked to her. "I mean, where is he?"

Jocelyn's eyebrows knitted together. "You're not going to look for him, are you?"

"No, I just–"

"He left, Clary. I have no idea where he went and I don't ever intend on finding out. He left a year after your brother–" Jocelyn stopped short. Clary's chest felt tight. "He was absent during the darkest period in my life. He was barely ever home. And–and he never found out I had you."

"What?" Clary's asked, baffled.

"No," Jocelyn said strongly. And went to cup Clary's face in her hands. "You must never look for him, Clary. He's dead to us. Just like–" Jocelyn looked down into Clary's eyes. She swallowed a few times. This was taking so much out of her. "Your brother."

Her mother looked so sad, it made Clary want to promise her anything. She nodded.

Her mother smiled and kissed her on the forehead. "Go have fun."

So, Magnus was right after all.

xxXxx

They climbed into Luke's car. Clary in the front seat, Simon at the back. As Clary clicked her seatbelt into place, she heard a crackling from behind.

"Oh, God," Simon said with his eyes shut tight. "Luke! I swear, if I destroy one of your client's art again, I'll never forgive myself."

Clary peeped at the back and giggled. "Simon, silly. They're just empty plastic bottles."

Simon peeked open one eye and looked down. "Oh," he breathed, clearly relieved. He cleared his throat. "Yeah, I knew that."

"Sure you did."

xxXxx

They were typing in their name. And Simon put himself as 'Si' and Clary as 'Cl'. Luke typed 'Luke'.

"'Cl?'" Clary asked.

"Yeah," Simon said. "And I'm Si. Like the period table. Cl is chloride and Si is silicon. You know?"

"Yeah, I know," Clary replied, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. She muttered, "Nerd." under her breath.

"Hey," Simon said.

Clary laughed. "Go on, you're up first."

Simon chose a 14-pound bowling ball. He crouched, swung his arm back and front, then released. The ball curved right and straight into the gutter. He did the next one and the ball knocked down one pin.

"You bent your arm," Clary told him.

"What? Did I?"

"Yes," she slapped his arm. "You always do." Clary went ahead for her turn.

She got a spare. It showed a '/' sign on the scoreboard.

Then, it was Luke's turn. Luke picked the heaviest ball. The force he used to throw the ball made the loudest rolling sound when he released it. Then, a strike.

"Of course," Clary and Simon said begrudgingly.

The game went on like that for a couple of rounds.

After Luke's turn again, he'd gotten a turkey; which is three strikes in a row.

"Aw, no fair," Clary whined.

"What do you mean?" Luke asked, turning around, looking amused.

"You always do this, Luke. Can't you just pretend to be bad for one night?"

"Yeah, Luke," Simon seconded.

Luke grinned. "Alright. What do you guys propose?"

Simon and Clary looked at each other. "Me and Simon against you."

Luke let out a laugh. "Okay," he said. Confident, are we?

"If we win," Simon added. "You have to buy us Burger King."

"And if win?" Luke asked.

Simon looked at Clary. Clary shrugged. "I don't know," he answered lamely. "You get a hug?" Simon lifted a shoulder.

"Hmm," Luke hummed, disinterested.

"Okay, how 'bout this? Bragging rights."

"Bragging rights?"

"Yeah, you get to brag… for a week. Rub it in our faces."

"Deal."

Clary gaped at Simon. She couldn't believe he'd offered that. She was never going to hear the end of it. It was going to be a long week. Luke wasn't particularly boastful, but if given the offer, he'd completely utilise it. She made a mental memo to invite Simon over every day so she didn't have to endure it alone. It was his bright idea after all.

After that, Clary started really coaching Simon. She was right by his side whenever it was his turn. Picking his bowling ball and demonstrating how to throw and fixing his stance and everything.

Then, it was the last round. And the scores were looking pretty good for Simon and Clary. There was hope yet. They tallied up each of their scores, adding Simon and Clary's and comparing them with Luke's.

But alas, they still lost. Dissatisfied, Simon tore the paper they used to count on in two.

"Hey, kids," he opened his arms. "I win fair and square."

Clary frowned at him. "No, you did not. It's not fair because you've got like a dozen years of experience above us."

"Are you calling me old, Clary?" he asked.

"Definitely," Simon said.

"Oh yes," Clary said. "Of course."

They all laughed.

That was when Clary saw a guy with fair blonde hair at a pool table on the other side of the vast area. He was leaning over it, aiming for his shoot. She decided she was going to talk to him this time. Introduce herself, instead of dodging. A harmless act, right? What was wrong with making friends? She had a peculiar interest in Jonathan Morgenstern. Although, she couldn't say if she liked him or not.

"I'm gonna go get a soda," Clary announced. "You want anything, Simon?"

"I'll go with you," he said.

"No, it's fine. The vending machine's just there."

"O-kay," Simon said. "Coke, then."

Clary walked over to the pool area. She approached Jonathan's table. There were a couple of his friends there too, who didn't seem too friendly. Clary took a deep breath.

"Hey," she said to the back of his blonde head.

He stopped his stick from switching angles and started to stand up straight. He turned around to face Clary.

It wasn't Jonathan.

"Oh," Clary said under her breath.

Not Jonathan grinned at her. "Hey," he said. "What's up?" He propped his chin on his pool stick, looking Clary up and down.

"Uh, nevermind," Clary said. "I thought you were someone else. Sorry."

"S'okay," he said, still grinning.

Clary passed their table and went to the vending machine to get two Cokes.

Clary had to admit, she felt disappointed. Who knew when she'd see Jonathan again. She knew she should've talked to him outside the pharmacy. It was worth the embarrassment to appease this nagging feeling.

That night, Luke took them to Burger King anyway. Simon ordered a burger and onion rings. And Clary asked for their chicken nuggets.

I don't have anything to say here, really. But I like talking to you guys. So, here's a fact. I always write these with music on. Which is weird because I used to find them distracting.

How did you like this chapter? Did it make you laugh? Or smile at least? xx

Disclaimer: TMI belongs to Cassandra Clare. Come on now, you know this.