Chapter 14

Clary's POV

"Oh Jace!" She giggled manically.

I suppressed an eye roll. I have no idea why, but this girl was ticking me off. After I finished my shower, I went downstairs to meet Sebastian's family. Only his aunt —who he grew up with— and his cousin Aline was here from France. His aunt was with Maryse —high school friends— and his cousin was in the living room with us.

It seemed like his cousin was very close with Jace. In fact she is very close to Jace. Physically.

"You're so lucky Claire, I would die to date Jace Wayland!" She gushed

"It's Clary." I corrected letting some venom seep into my voice. "And dating Jace Wayland is no walk in the park."

I don't know why I said that. I only went on one 'date' and it was okay. Who cares. I'm pissed.

"Aw Clary... cheer up. Jealousy is ugly." Jace taunted, which added more fuel to the fire inside me. Aline's piercing laugh made my blood boil. Fucking bitch.

I don't know why I thought that. I stood up and got a glass of water. The coolness helped me with my anger. I don't ever swear. Unless I'm super angry.

I stood there for a while taking deep breaths and then I sauntered outside into the living room once I made sure I was relaxed. I stood there for a second, scanning the living room.

Aline was all over Jace on one couch. Jordan is gone again. Alec is probably upstairs still. Isabelle is trying to make conversation with Meliorn and Sebastian was sitting on the couch twirling something. I joined him.

"What're you doing?" I asked feeling Jace staring at us.

"Oh, Aline dropped this small feather duster. Kinda cool if you ask me." Sebastian said playing with the object. I took a long hard look at Sebastian to gauge whether or not he's joking. He's not.

"Sebastian..." I placed a hand on his knee. "That's an eyeshadow brush."

Isabelle yanked it out of his hands. "It's my eyeshadow brush."

"No it's Aline's. Right Aline?" Sebastian asked.

Aline shifted. "I don't think so. You're imagining things."

Sebastian scowled. "I'm not-"

"Seb has always been a bit cuckoo. There's a few screws loose in his head." Jace said harshly with a glint in his eye. Aline laughed viciously.

Ugh!

"Shut up Jace." I snapped. Why does he always have to behave like a jerk?

He glared at me with raised brows. "Come again?" There was something behind his golden eyes I couldn't place. Not anger, something else.

Sebastian was sitting closer to me now and Aline was glaring at me. Isabelle had a pack of Doritos in her hands, eating and watching.

"I said 'shut up'" I replied sitting back into Sebastian's arm which was outstretched behind me. Jace's glare turned harder.

He scoffed. "And why would I do that, Claire?"

Oh that's how he wants to play?

Okay.

"Because, Jonath- oops. I mean Jace." His eyes flashed but I kept talking. "I said so."

"Well—"

"Sebastian," I turned to Sebastian purposely cutting Jace off. "You have a cellphone I could borrow?"

Sebastian smiled at me kindly. "Yeah. What happened to yours?" He handed me his iPhone.

"She broke it." Jace smiled maliciously. "Right Clary? You broke it that day because of that—oh what's his name?" He faked thinking and I felt tears prick at the back of my eyes. I ducked my head to hide my face and to dial Simons number.

He was listening to me. He lied to me. And now here he is throwing it back in my face, in front of anyone. That bastard. And he said he didn't hear anything. He lied.

"Jace, don't start." Sebastian said lowly.

Jace let out a sharp bark of laughter. "Start what? Clary and I are just chatting."

I let out a sound of disgust. "You're the most—"

"Hello?"

I shoved the phone to my ear. "Simon!"

I heard Jace loudly scoff and saw him roll his eyes. What a douche. I walked back into the kitchen closing the door behind me.

"Clary?! Now you're calling me? I've texted and called you a gazillion times! Why didn't you pick up?" He asked.

"I threw my phone and against the wall after that fight. It's broken." I sighed. "Like my heart."

Simon let out a loud laugh. "Yeah about that fight... I'm so sorry. I'm such a jerk, I never should've behaved that way. It's alright if you don't love me in the way I want you too. I knew deep down you wouldn't, I just needed some closure to be sure. Now I am, and I'm ready to be your best friend Clary. I'm so terribly sorry. If only you knew the nights I spent awake at night regretting what I said." Simon breathed loudly after his speech. "I'm over you by the way, I'm seeing someone."

"What?! You have a girlfriend?" I asked shocked.

Simon dating someone? I silently thanked the lord.

"Yeah." He answered.

"Simon! I'm so happy! What's her name." I asked while bouncing on my heels.

"Maureen. She, uh, came to a couple of my gigs. One thing led to another… and now we're together." Simon said.

"Wow." That was all I can say.

Simon coughed on the other end. "So you forgive me, right?"

"I forgive you Simon. And I miss you so much. I feel so lonely here." I said. It's true. I feel lonely yet I'm not alone. I think I spent too much time sulking about Simon.

"Clary... it can't be that bad." Simon answered.

"It is! Kinda..." I said.

"How's your celeb crush?" Simon asked.

I gagged. "Si, don't ever say that again. Jace is a total pain in the ass. He has one of his sidechicks on the couch right now groping him. Disgusting."

"I told you, I prefer dirty or even nasty." A cold voice rang out. I gasped and dropped the phone on the counter.

Jace was lazily leaning on the door frame.

"What're you doing here?" I asked scowling.

He returned the scowl. "It's my kitchen."

I picked the phone back up. "Hey Simon, I have to go. I'll call you tomorrow. Love you." I hastily ended the call without listening to what Simon had said.

"Cinderella and her pet rat back together now?" Jace smirked meanly.

"Eavesdropping on another one of my private conversations now?" I countered. His smirk dropped.

"If it was private then why're you in here?"

I shrugged. "No difference. You would've still listened in and then swear you didn't hear anything."

He clenched his fists angrily. "Why are you acting like this?"

My temper flared. "Like what? You and I are 'just chatting'" I quoted the words he used earlier on.

He ran his hand through his beautiful locks. I couldn't help how beautiful he looked when he's angry. His eyes were brighter, cheeks flushed, jawline more prominent.

"I've never called you a 'total pain in the ass'. What's your deal Clary?" Jace asked deadly quiet. "I thought we were good."

I looked away from the questioning in his eyes.

"I- I don't know." I whispered.

Jace sighed. "What's bothering you?" He stepped closer.

I didn't answer him.

"If you feel lonely I can... I can try to convince Maryse to let the geek come over."

My head shot up and My eyes searched his.

"Are you serious?" I asked slightly narrowing my eyes. I realized he didn't like Simon. I have no idea why.

We stared into each other's eyes. I felt a small little tingle of regret. It's always me messing up, but I would never admit that. I have too much pride.

He closed the space between us and tucked my hair behind my ear.

"Yes." He breathed into my ear.

My heart beat frantically and I'm sure my hands are shaking. I let out a staggering breath. "You would do that for me?"

"Mhmmm..." His nose brushed my jaw.

"You promise?"

"I promise." His fingers skim my waist.

I shut my eyes. He makes me feel so- so...

I jolted away from him.

"Were you trying to- to seduce me?" I stammered incredulously. I shook my head to clear it.

Jace was staring at me with wide eyes. "No! I didn't mean to..." he trailed off, a flicker of embarrassment and unsureness passed through his eyes. He caught himself and leaned against the counter smiling lazily and wiping the emotion off his face.

Another facade. Typical.

"If I were seducing you, you wouldn't react that way." Jace said coolly, but I caught on to the waver of his voice when he said 'seducing'.

"How would I react then? Like Aline?" I laughed bitterly.

He glared at me. "Don't talk about my girl like that Clary." Jace said stonily.

My blood froze. So it's true. But why do I feel disappointment. Why did I feel like he was different. How foolish of me to think that. He is a celebrity. We're not even friends.

Jace started laughing.

I furrowed my brow. "What's so funny?"

"You should've seen... your face." Jace wheezed. "Aline is not my side chick. Just a friend."

I kicked myself mentally for feeling relieved. "Is that how you treat all your friends?"

Jace looked taken aback. "Well... not all."

Our eyes locked. I felt like he was trying to communicate something to me. Something relating to his last statement. I didn't like the feeling I had in my heart. It was something I shouldn't feel for Jace Wayland.

"Give this to Sebastian for and tell him I said goodnight. Please." I blurted and —successfully— breaking the tension between us. I slipped him the phone without touching him because I knew what would happen.

His glanced down at the phone. When he looked back up, his face was blank. Nothing like how he looked a second ago.

He nodded curtly and stiffly walked out the kitchen.

I stared at the door for a few seconds. I'm starting to think I'm the pain in the ass, not him.

A/N: Hey guys! Who do you guys like better, Seb or Jordan? Review and tell me! And don't forget to give feedback! Thanks love you all! Oh and I'm posting chaps more often now so remember to turn on those notifs!!! I love you all!