CHAPTER 28
Jon dropped Jace off at home and Clary moved to the front seat of Jon's car. The ride home was quiet, but Clary swore that Jon was staring at her the entire time. When they got home, Clary went inside and sat down on the couch. Jon sat down next to her.
"Clary, can I ask you something?" Jon said.
Oh no, Clary thought. She nodded hesitantly.
"I've been trying to give you some space to work things out, but I feel like everybody knows something that I don't. Do you remember what you told me that day in thee nurse's office after the fight closet situation with Jace?" he said.
Clary thought hard. After everything she had been through she could barely remember what she had for breakfast this morning. She shook her head.
Jon sighed. "Well you told me that you owe me your life and I told you never to say that. I said that I was the one who owed you everything and that I would only ever ask for one thing in return. You promised me that you would let me help you when I could. I know I can help you Clary even though you don't agree. I could beat somebody up or just be here to hold you or gossip or whatever you need me to do. Just please don't shut me out Clary. Let me help you. I'll never be able to live with myself if you don't" he said.
Clary could feel the burning sensation of tears in her eyes. He was right. He could help her, but he could get himself into a lot of trouble in the process. Still, she had promised him that she would let him help her and she owed everything to Jon, including the truth. Well maybe a shorter version of the truth.
"I'm sorry Jon. I know you want to help me and I know that you probably could. You have always been great at making me feel better. It's just hard to talk about and I hate when you blame yourself for my weakness. I never wanted to shut you out. You're my brother and you're my best friend. I love you so much" she said letting a tear fall.
Jon wiped her tears away and pulled out his phone. His background was a picture of him and Clary. It was taken after Jon's football game a few months ago. He held the football in the air with one hand. The other hand was wrapped around Clary's shoulder and he was kissing her head. Clary thought it was the best picture she had ever seen. They both looked so happy.
"This girl is my sister Clary. She is beautiful and sweet and smart and the strongest person I have ever met. I love her with all my heart. I just wish she would realize that she can tell me anything and I will do whatever she says to help her. She is my best friend." He said.
Clary smiled. "Clary I know that it can be hard to talk about, but you can tell me. At least give me something to let me know that you're alright because I can't live another day hearing people tell me that you need to be kept away from Sebastian. I know something happened Clary. I'm not stupid" he said.
Clary thought about it. I'll tell him what I can, she thought. "I just had a really bad breakup with Sebastian. He is an asshole and I don't want anything to do with him anymore, but he doesn't seem to get the message. He won't leave me alone so I have people follow me around all day to make sure that he stays away. I wanted to tell you, but I thought you would blame yourself for letting him date me. It isn't your fault Jon. They aren't all good guys." She said.
"Why'd you break up with him? What'd he do?" Jon asked.
Clary stayed silent. She wasn't ready for this. She had two weeks to tell him right?
"Did he hit you? Did he force you into anything? You know that I'll kill him if he did" Jon said.
That was exactly was Clary was afraid of. Jon wasn't ready to hear this. Who knows what he would do. Don't lie, she told herself.
"No, nothing like that. He just didn't treat me like he should have. He didn't care about me" she said. Good job liar. Clary wanted to strangle that voice in her head.
"Well he is an idiot. I'll tell him to back off. Are you okay with him being here on Friday for the party? I guess I could cancel it if you want." Jon said.
"No, you don't have to tell him. I think he is finally getting it. Jace kind of messed up his face today. I don't care where he is on Friday, but I want somebody sober to stay with me that night. I won't be alone with a drunken Sebastian. That would end poorly" she lied. She didn't want Sebastian anywhere near her house. It wasn't fair for her to ask Jon to cancel plans with his friends. She owed so much to him.
Jon laughed. "Yea, next time I think I'll mess up his face though. I can't let Jace have all the fun" he said standing up from the couch. Clary stood up too. Jon gave her a really tight hug. "I love you Clare-Bare" he said.
She buried her head against his chest. "I love you too" she said.
The rest of the night flew by. Before she knew it, Clary was in Jon's room sleeping in his arms. She felt dead when she woke up the next morning. She did her best to look presentable before riding to school with Jon.
Jace met her at the car and walked her inside and to art. Her protection program was stable. She had not been left alone nor had she came in contact with Sebastian all day. By time last period rolled around, Clary felt jumpy. She had to wait for football practice to end again. She wasn't sure what happened yesterday, but Jace was there when she fell asleep and he was there when she woke up.
Clary pulled out her phone and sent a text to Jace.
Hey, meet me at my locker? I don't want to walk to the football fields alone. ~Clary
Her reply came almost instantly.
Of course. You know I would never leave you alone ~Jace.
Clary smiled. Jace was waiting at her locker when she got there. She thanked Simon for walking with her and gave him a hug goodbye.
"Hi" Clary said. Jace looked up at her. "Hey" he said. They were walking to the locker rooms when Jace stopped. Clary looked at him. He was staring at her. Clary turned around thinking that somebody might be behind her, but the hallway was completely empty. "Jace, what-"
She was cut off when Jace's lips touched hers. He was soft and gentle. Clary went on her tippy toes to run her hand through his hair. Jace loosely wrapped his arms around her waist. Clary could feel Jace's tongue asking for entrance which she happily allowed. After a few minutes, they broke apart for air.
Jace was breathing heavily. "I have wanted to do that for a long time" he said pushing a curl away from her face. Clary smiled. "Me too" she said.
Jace smiled back. He took her hand as they walked towards the locker rooms. Jon agreed to wait with Clary while Jace got changed. Afterwards, Jace walked her outside and over to the bleachers. "Are you going to be okay up here? Sebastian will be down there and I will be watching" Jace said.
Clary nodded. "Even he isn't stupid enough to try something out here with you and Jon watching" she said. Jace turned around to make sure nobody was looking. When he was sure they weren't, he gave Clary a quick kiss.
"I'll see you after practice" he told her.
She smiled. "Go kick some ass" she said. Jace grinned before walking away.
After practice, Clary went home and hung out with Jon. Her routine didn't change for the next few days. Jon would wake her up and take her to school where she would be watched like a hawk. She would stay for practice and then come home with Jon. The week went by smoothly and Clary hadn't talked to Sebastian once. He had even stopped texting her. Maybe he has finally moved on, she thought.
She had never been more wrong.
I'll elaborate on Sebastian's phone call and who was on the other end in the next chapter.
