CHAPTER 24

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Jon woke up in his bed with Clary wrapped in his arms. He looked down at her. He loved her so much. How can I pretend that I don't need to protect you? He thought. Jon didn't want to back off, but he had to. If he wanted Clary to tell him, he would have to pretend that he didn't care. It was only for two weeks tops right?

Jon looked at the clock. I t was time to wake Clary for school. He was worried. Clary could barely handle the weekend. How was she supposed to handle a week of school? I got her back, Jon thought. Wait, no, Jace will have her back for me, he corrected himself. He looked down at Clary again. At least she has been sleeping better, he thought. He spoke too soon.

Clary began squirming and whimpering. "Please, stop. I'm done with you" she mumbled. Tears started falling down her face. It was only a matter of time before she started screaming. Jon eagerly shook her awake. She sat up, her heart beating out of her chest. After a moment, she calmed down and turned to Jon and hugged him.

"I thought they had stopped" Jon said hugging her back.

Clary sniffled. "So did I" she said. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Jon stood up. "I know you don't want to hear this, but we have to go to school. I'll drive you, go ahead and get ready" he told her.

Reluctantly, Clary got up and walked down the hall to her room. Thank god it isn't warm today, she thought. She would have to wear long sleeves and pants until her wrists and thighs were clear of bruises. She threw on jeans and a plain white t-shirt with a long sleeve leather jacket. Everything was covered. She slipped on a pair of boots and pulled her hair into a loose bun with a few curls left out to frame her face. She applied her normal coat of makeup and grabbed her bag on her way downstairs.

Jon was waiting at the counter with cereal ready for himself and Clary. They ate quickly and went outside to the car. Clary froze as she reached for the handle. There was no going back. If she got in this car, she would be on her way to school and she would definitely see Sebastian. Jon was already seated in the car and looking at Clary.

He wanted to comfort her and ask her what was wrong. I have to back off, he told himself. "Come on Clare-Bare. We are going to be late" he said.

Clary forced herself into the car and buckled her seatbelt. She clutched to her sketchbook through her bag. She just wanted to escape, but it was too late. Soon, they were pulling into the school parking lot. Clary was trembling. She thought Jon would notice, but he seemed pretty focused on parking the car. When the car stopped, Clary did not move. She sat in the car and gripped her book tighter. She closed her eyes and shut out the world around her until a hand was on her shoulder.

Her eyes flew open and she jumped. "It's okay! It's just me Clary" Clary instantly relaxed at the sound of Jace's voice. "Sorry" she said. "I guess I am still a little jumpy". Jace opened the car door and helped Clary unbuckle and get up. "Don't ever apologize to me for that. The only time I will accept an apology from you is when you don't specify how hard to kick Sebastian's ass and I hospitalize him. Then you can apologize for being unclear, but never for being jumpy. Especially not because of him" Jace said.

Clary smiled. "Are you going to lead me inside or...?" she joked. Jace laughed and held his arm out for her. "I would consider it an honor ma'am" he said sarcastically. Clary giggled and took his arm as they walked into school.

She was relieved to find that Sebastian was not waiting at her locker. Izzy and Simon were there though. "You know we got you right? All three of us. Anything you need this week Clary, I'm serious" Simon told her. "And don't forget our deadline" Izzy said. Clary thanked them and nodded. She went to first period with Jace and she had almost forgotten about Sebastian. Almost. Jace had to go to the other side of the school for his next class, so Clary walked alone to her locker.

After exchanging books, Clary shut her locker and turned around only to walk into somebody. She dropped all of her books. She bent down to start picking them up and the person she walked into helped her. She had gathered all her books and stood up. The bell had rung and she would be late to class. "Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going" Clary said adjusting her bag. "Don't worry about it babe" said a voice.

Clary didn't need to look up to know that Sebastian was right in front of her. She turned to run away when Sebastian's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. Clary yelped as the pain flared from her bruises. Sebastian pulled up her sleeve and grinned. "Was this my doing?" he asked. Clary did not answer him. She looked away and tried to pull her wrist away, but his grip was too tight. When she pulled away, he yanked her back towards him and pinned her to the lockers.

His entire body pressed against hers, trapping her against the lockers. "Answer my question babe. I would hate to punish you" he said. Clary still did not look at him. She nodded, trying to hold back her tears. Don't cry. Stay strong for Jon, she told herself. She could Sebastian grinning out of the corner of her eye.

He bent down and pressed his lips against her ear. "I like to know that I leave marks on you. I might just have to do it again sometime" he said moving his lips along her cheek. His free hand snaked up her shirt and traced her scars like he had done on the night of their date. His lips were almost against hers when Clary felt him pull away. At least she thought he pulled away.

Looking up, Clary saw Isabelle with her hand holding the back of Sebastian's shirt. "Get out of here Izzy. This is none of your concern" he spat at her. Izzy laughed. "Maybe it isn't" she said. "But I have wanted to do this for a long time anyways." She shoved him a few feet in front of her. Before he had time to move, Izzy raised her leg and kicked Sebastian where the sun doesn't shine.

Sebastian fell to the floor groaning. Izzy stalked over to him. "Stay the hell away from Clary Sebastian or I might have to put some power behind my kick next time" she said. She turned around and ushered Clary to follow her. Clary walked behind Izzy until they reached the girl's bathroom and walked inside.

The second the door shut Izzy spun around to face Clary. "Are you okay? What did he do to you? Are you hurt? Why weren't you with Jace?" Izzy bombarded Clary with questions.

When she finally stopped talking, Clary was able to answer. "I'm scared Izzy. I think I'll be okay. He just grabbed my wrist and-"

"Let me see it" Izzy interrupted. Clary held out her wrists and gasped. The wrist the Sebastian had grabbed was clearly worse. The bruise had darkened and began to face up her wrist more. Izzy gasped too. "Bastard. Where the hell was Jace when this happened?" Izzy asked.

Clary shrugged. "He has class on the other side of the school" she said.

Izzy sighed. "Well tomorrow he is going to wait with you until I meet up with you to walk you to class oaky?" Clary nodded.

"How did you know where I was Izzy?" Clary asked. Izzy shrugged.

"I didn't" she said. "I knew something bad happened when you didn't show up. You would've texted me if you were in the bathroom or anything, so I told the teacher that I had to go to the nurse and I went to look for you. You know the rest".

Clary nodded and hugged Izzy. "Thank you" she said.

Izzy hugged her back. "Anytime Clary" she said.

The two girls headed back to class. "Nice kick by the way" Clary said.