Chapter 20:
"Have you read all of your books yet?" Clary asked Simon as they walked down the halls to class.
"Not quite, there are still several I have yet to read. So, hopefully I don't spontaneously combust and die or something of the sort," Simon replied, grimacing.
Clary's lips twitched upwards, "hopefully," she echoed.
Simon furrowed his eyebrows, "is everything alright?"
"Yeah, everything's just peachy," Clary replied, her voice monotone.
"C'mon, I know you better than that, we're best friends. Tell me," Simon urged.
Clary heaved a sigh, "it's just that there's always so manygirls around Jace."
There was a pause, "And?..." Simon asked, rubbing his jaw, confusion evident in his voice.
Simon pushed opened the door to their classroom. When Clary and Simon looked up, girls surrounded Jace's desk, all vying for his attention.
"See?" Clary asked, looking at Simon, who was indeed staring at Jace.
"So you're insecure," Simon clarified, following Clary to their desks in the back of the classroom.
Clary scrunched up her face and shrugged. When Simon gave her a look that said quit-bullshitting-me, Clary relented, "yeah, I guess."
Finally, Jace noticed them and he immediately stood up, leaving the girls at his desk to go towards Clary.
"Even when he does that?" Simon asked, referring to Jace's actions.
Clary shrugged again, "it's hard not to be insecure when he's always…" Clary searched for the word she wanted to use, "encircled by other girls."
"Talk to him," Simon had time to mutter before Jace arrived. He took the seat in front of her and turned it so he was facing her.
"Hey Clary," Jace greeted with a grin, leaning in to kiss her lightly on the cheek.
"Nice to see you too Jace," Simon butted in.
"Always a pleasure, rat-boy," Jace responded, shooting a scowl at Simon.
"Jace," Clary scolded.
"You know how he gets on my nerves so easily," Jace whined, glaring at Simon again.
"He only said hello," Clary responded, rolling her eyes.
Jace pouted, "how come you always take his side?"
"What are you talking about?" Clary asked.
"You love him more than me," Jace cried out, clutching his chest.
Clary reached up and flicked him in the head. "Quit being an idiot."
Jace rubbed his head as he grinned at her, "so you do love me more than him."
Clary bit her lip and looked up at him, "we need to talk, after school, okay?"
Jace narrowed his eyes in suspicion, "why?" he asked slowly.
"Just think of it as a second date," Clary said cheerfully, "with more questions," she added. Just then Mr. Thompson walked into the room. Jace shot Clary another skeptical look, to which Clary grinned back at.
"Jace," Mr. Thompson snapped, "quit staring at Ms. Morgenstern and turn around."
"Oh God," Clary groaned, slamming her head on the table, "it's Fairchild," Clary moaned. Mr. Thompson ignored her, as always, and continued on with class. Simon offered a comforting pat on the back.
Classes dragged on incredibly slow. Clary couldn't stop tapping her fingers on her desk or clicking her pen over and over again until someone snapped at her. She didn't know how she felt about meeting up with Jace, she was embarrassed about how jealous and insecure she was feeling.
Finally, the bell rang, and school was over. Clary was putting her stuff back in her locker when Jace appeared next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Hey, Angel," Jace greeted softly, his breath tickling her ear. Clary immediately felt all her doubts rush away with his touch.
"Hi Jace," Clary responded, closing her locker door and turning to look at him.
"You're looking beautiful today," Jace said, pecking her on the lips.
"I look the same as I have every other day before this," Clary replied.
"Exactly," Jace stated. Clary felt a blush creep up her cheeks, and a smile grace her lips.
"You sure know how to lay on the sugar," Clary said, turning to walk down the hallway. Jace joined her in a matter of seconds and slid his hand into hers, interlacing their fingers.
"Only for my girlfriends," Jace responded with a grin. Clary looked up sharply and jerked her hand out of his grip, all her insecurities coming back. She turned and rushed away.
"Wha-… Clary?" Jace called after her. "What the fuck?" he muttered.
"You said girlfriends, idiot," Simon said, popping out from his hiding spot. I know what you're thinking…stalker. Well, Simon was just trying to look out for his friend, offer some sound advice, and make sure she was following his advice.
Jace gave him a confused look and Simon just sighed loudly. "You said, you lay on the sugar for your girlfriends. Plural. Not singular."
"Oh shit," Jace mumbled. "Thanks, rat-boy," Jace said before running off after Clary shouting, "It was a slip of the tongue. Clary! Come back!"
….
Clary stared at Jace over her coffee mug. He was fidgeting in place, still trying to explain that she was the only girl for him, and he didn't mean to say 'girlfriends' instead of 'girlfriend'.
Clary sighed and put her coffee cup down. They were at a cozy local café with come of the best coffee Clary had ever had.
She leaned forward, "how many girls have you been with?" Clary asked bluntly.
"Uh…can you be more specific?" Jace responded, shifting uncomfortably.
"How many girlfriends have you had? How many have you kissed? How many have you slept with, as in sex?"
"Er…" Jace hesitated.
"I'd really like to know, please," Clary pleaded.
"Hm…I think it'd be like um…17, 26, 14," Jace answered, rubbing the back of his head.
"Shit," Clary muttered in wonder under her breath.
"Is that okay? Do you still want to go out with me?" Jace asked, reaching out to grab her hands.
"Why?" Clary mumbled.
"Why do I want to go out with you?" Jace inquired.
"No, why did you sleep with all those girls?" Clary clarified, looking up, her green eyes wide and innocent.
"Uh," Jace was reluctant to answer. But he yielded when he saw the look his girlfriend was giving him. "After my parents were murdered, I went into the foster system for a while before the Lightwoods adopted me. But, watching as your parents are shot and bleed to death right before your eyes is not something that is easily coped with. I tried to take my mind off of everything with alcohol and drugs. Sometimes sex was a temporary solstice from the pain. Eventually the Lightwoods sent me to a therapist, and we worked through some of the trauma. I stopped drinking excessively and I quit the drugs. But sometimes I get nightmares or something triggers an onslaught of memories and it's too much to handle, so I go to relieve my pain with girls."
They sat in a brief silence while Clary stared into her coffee mug, trying to process this new information.
"Of course, not that you're my girlfriend I can just go to you, right?" Jace asked, shooting her a grin.
Clary just smiled back weakly, still trying to comprehend the copious amounts of girls he's been with. "That's a lot of girls," Clary stated her thoughts.
"It was a lot to handle. You're the first girl that's ever really meant anything to me," Jace said.
Clary could understand, Clary could relate. Her way to channel her pain and anger was by fighting and drawing, his was by having sex. If she didn't get into all those fights, or draw, she would have killed herself.
"I understand," Clary said, allowing his past to remain in the past.
"What about you?" Jace asked, breaking the tension filled quiet.
"I've kissed several people. No sex though," Clary responded quietly, smiling slightly.
"The whole story Clary. It's only fair seeing as I gave you mine."
"Hey! I already told you my whole life story. I only kissed a couple of guys after Valentine and Sofie were arrested." Clary said.
Jace growled. "I hate to imagine someone else kissing you. It make we want to knock those guys out."
Clary giggled, "So you get jealous easily? I'll keep that in mind."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, nothing," Clary slid out of her booth seat and walked around the table to sit next to Jace. He wrapped an arm around her as she leaned her head against his shoulder. They stayed like that for a while, just enjoying each other's company. "Hey," Clary began, "I just realized I never did give your brother that manga." Clary groaned and buried her face in Jace's chest. "Oh shoot, I feel so bad. Tell him I'll give him my old one's and bring him to the store to buy some new ones as soon as possible."
Jace grinned and held her tighter. "I love how you're nice to him."
"Well of course, he's your brother and he seems like a sweet kid," Clary answered, looking up at him. Jace just smiled wider and leaned down to press his lips against hers in a sweet gesture.
"How's your art doing?" Jace asked. Clary's eyes lit up at the mention of her passion.
"Oh, it's great. You know that picture I drew of you? Well, the art teacher loved it and she's going to show that and a lot of my other work to other artists and art teachers to get their opinions and critiques. But, she says I'm the best artist she's seen in the program," Clary said enthusiastically. "What about you? How's football?"
"It's really good actually. Coach says I'm the greatest quarterback he's seen in a long time," Jace replied, grinning proudly.
"I'm sure you are. I'll have to come to your next game," Clary said.
"Of course," Jace exclaimed, "you have to wear my jersey and everything since you're my girlfriend."
"Whatever you want," Clary smiled and leaned up to kiss him again.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in the same manner. Filled with conversation and kisses. The two of them wrapped up in their own world.
So I want to thank the reviewers, you help give me ideas for what to write.
I apologize for taking so long to write this chapter. I had family visiting and so on.
Review and tell me what you think