Okay, one more chapter for today, this'll be it until after Christmas.
Jace's body felt heavy as Aline made eye contact with him across the room. His mouth became dry and his skin became cold. He had forgotten where he was until he felt hot fingers on his cheek defrost him. Clary, looking in his eyes with worry. Jace had already downed two drinks in the last hour as he tried to distract himself from the ghost that haunted him. He looked at her, his body melting when he remembered who he was, where he was, who she was.
"Jace, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost?"
Jace and Clary had pulled over to sit at the table with the rest of the crew, standing as his restless legs couldn't get him to stay seated. The high stool made Clary the same height as him as her worried eyes gleamed at him.
He smiled a tight smiled and kissed her hand, "Yeah I'm fine."
Clary's face said she didn't believe him, but his hard smile made her not question him.
He was feeling better knowing that Clary was with him, helping him remembered how she made him feel even at his worst.
That's when his skin iced again.
"Oh my God, Isabelle, Alec, Jace! It is you guys!" A voice yelled over the music behind him. Jace's hands were holding onto Clary's chair as he leaned over her, his hands on either sides of her legs trapping her in. He was thankful he had something to hold onto, he'd thought he'd faint right then and there.
He swallowed and turned his head, Clary watching his fear stricken face.
Aline stood, in the most revealing but classy of dresses. It's dark purple complimenting her pale skin and the low cut of the neck exposing her cleavage. The back of her dress dipped all the way down showing the line of her spine. Her tied heels wound up her calves and tiny slits on either side of her flowey dress made her legs look sinful.
"Aline?" Isabelle spoke for them all, her voice cracking as she remembered how much she had hurt Jace. "What are you doing here? In New York of all places?"
Aline stepped up to the table, Jace watching her as her body was close to his but not trying to hang over him, just happened to be how they were standing. His stomach knotted and his forehead began a cold sweat.
"Oh, I go to school at NYU! So I've got my own place here and all that! What are you guys doing here?" Aline sounded sincere, but Jace's heart had dropped to his stomach and his throat burned as bile settled just there.
Alec now spoke over the music, shifting his eyes between Izzy and Jace, "New York is where we moved to during High School."
Aline waved her hand, "Oh, gosh, that's right! I totally forgot!" Jace wasn't sure if Aline actually forgot or if she was just trying to make it a coincidence.
Izzy scooted closer, analyzing the girl, "Why NYU?" She asked, a double meaning in her question.
Aline smiled, "Oh, I got a free ride for graphic design. Can't pass up free schooling, amiright?"
Jace still didn't feel convinced, instead, he actually felt sick. He hadn't said a word and his only movement was his head moving to look at her as she spoke. His hands were white on the seat and he could feel Clary's hand touch his forearm in reassurance. It helped.
"Anyways, I'll let you guys go with your loved ones." Aline's words hung, "It was nice seeing you all, we'll all have to get coffee sometime. Izzy, Alec," She nodded her head at them, Aline looking to Jace then, unphased at his sickly look. "Jace." His name on her mouth made his blood in his veins feel frostbitten.
They watched her turn on her heels and saunter into the crowd, disappearing from the others but still in Jace's line of vision.
The group was silent, all eyes on Jace. Clary hadn't said anything or moved besides her hand resting on his arm. Once her other hand touched his hand tight around the seat of her chair, he looked at her. Eyes full of worry and a little "V" set in between her brows. Jace swallowed and pulled away, his hands hurting from gripping the chair so hard, lines in his palms from the edge of the seat being pressed into his flesh.
"I need a drink, does anyone want anything? Clary?" Jace spoke quickly, everyone shaking their heads just before he looked at Clary.
"I'm alright, thank you. Do you want me to come with?" She asked, touching his hand again.
He shook his head quick and touched his lips to her jaw before disappearing into the crowd, the warmth her hand gave him leaving him feeling like ice.
Jace knew he shouldn't treat her as coldly as he did, but he felt as cold as he treated her. Bile stinging the back of his throat hadn't left, his stomach tying knot after knot, his lunds collapsing and making it hard for him to breathe. He stood at the bar and asked for a whiskey shot, the dirtiest whiskies they owned. He needed something harsh to warm his blood and loosen his stomach.
"It's been awhile Jace." Aline's voice was next to him, sitting in one of the bar stools. Jesus, he thought.
He didn't look at her, afraid that if he did that his knees would give out. It really did feel like he had seen a ghost, a demon really.
"A long while." Was all he could muster.
"I hope you've been well?" She asked. He looked at her then, a colored drink was in her hand, her legs crossed inching up the end up her dress and her eyes glossy but still focused.
"I've been phenomenal." He said. It was true. After moving, he had gained new friends, had a job working at Roberts buisness as an I.T. guy, was close with his famliy, and had Clary in his life.
Aline smiled, "That's good to hear."
"Yeah." Jace mumbled as he looked back at the bar. It was busy, people had been pressed against him and hands tapped at the bar table to get the bartenders attentions.
"I've missed you." Aline said again before taking a sip of her drink. Jace gulped.
"I doubt that very much." His voice was harsh.
He saw her shrug in the corner of his eye, "I know you do. But it's the truth. I hope that little red head treats you right."
He turned to her sharply then, anger rising in his chest but he pressed it down as best as he could.
"She treats me better than you." His words were cold, but he didn't care.
Aline cocked her head, "I'm glad."
Her words caught Jace's tongue, unsure of what she said was real or not.
"I was a kid then, Jace. We both were. I know I ended things rather... immaturely, but I was young. I've grown up, and you have too. You look great. I mean, you've always looked great, but you've reallly grown into a man, you know." Vomit touched Jace's throat again as Aline hit on him. "I just don't want bad blood between us, you know."
Jace stared, the bartender slipping his glass of whiskey in his hand was what pulled him back. He breathed and knocked his head back as he tossed the drink down his throat.
"No bad blood, Aline. I'm just trying to move on in life with Clary." Jace nodded his head at Aline.
He left her then, weaving in and out of the crowd, Clary's face the only thing in his mind as his breathing began to pick up. Anxiety rising in his chest and shaking his hands as he tried to find her.
There she was, in the burst of the crowd, her hair like fire and her skin like snow. His anxiety gone and his chest expanding as he saw her. Aline's name on his tongue made him sick, but Clary's name on his lips was the antidote for his illness.
He came to her and grabbed her face, her eyes wide from surprise as he pressed his lips hard against hers. Even in front of Alec and Izzy, Simon and Magnus, he kissed her with every part of his being. Her hand touched his sides and held his shirt. Her lips tasted like strawberry fruit juice and her skin in his hands felt like Egyptian cotton. She was his breath that he sucked in after being underwater for too long, she was the parachute to stop him from free falling into the ground.
He pulled away and ignored everyones stares as he looked only at Clary.
CUTE
It's not over yeeeeetttt. But there's that for you. I gotta do some stuff, so if I don't update and it's after 3 ish my time, then I won't be posting the rest of the day most likely. But Happy Holiday's and don't worry, I will not make you guys wait too long. I would never. ILY ILY ILY