Figured I would update again just so people have a better idea of what this story is. Hope you enjoy! Drop a review. Love y'all!
Simon stood in the office with his guitar in its case beside him. He had been waiting for about half an hour now and was practically jumping out of his skin. He had told Isabelle the news the night before and she was positively giddy. It had taken everything in him to keep his wife from coming with him to the meeting today. She had work anyway. Now, though, Simon kind of wished she was here to calm his nerves.
The door opened then and a girl walked in. Red hair was piled on her head in a bun. Green eyes scanned the room until they landed on Simon's. Her face broke out into the biggest grin and both people rushed towards each other for a hug. When they finally pulled apart, Simon really took a look at Clary. The years had done nothing to her. She was the exact same girl he'd known when they were teenagers. Only now, she was successful and just a tad-bit famous.
"You look good, Si," Clary said genuinely as she scanned him up and down. "And lord have I missed you. Talking on the phone just isn't the same." She pulled him in for another, quicker hug.
"So do you, Clare. And I've missed you too. Everyone has." At his words, Clary broke eye contact. Simon fixed it by adding on. "Isabelle and Magnus and Alec, we've all really missed you."
She met his eye again with a small smirk on her face. "Well, it's too bad only Izzy knows I'm in town or else I would've loved to see them all."
"Why can't you?" Simon asked. Clary shrugged and walked over to the desk that was to be hers for the next couple of months. Really, the entire place was for her use. The sound booth a room over was more meant for Simon and his band. "Just tell them you're here and we can all get together and go out for dinner."
"You know why I can't do that." She took some things from her bag and started setting up. Her back specifically turned to Simon. For a moment, Simon thought she was finally going to confess. Instead, he was left disappointed. "Jace."
"You broke his heart like nine years ago," Simon sighed. "I'm sure he's over it by now."
"Have you asked him if he's over it?"
"No, because we're not allowed to mention you in front... of him." He slowed his words towards the end of the sentence when he realized that he was proving Clary's point. She looked back at him with raised eyebrows saying I told you. "Whatever, ignore Jace. Think of Alec and Magnus. They want to know what's been going on in your life."
"No." Clary shook her head. "I just can't handle that. Seeing anyone but you or Isabelle would bring back memories. Painful, crappy memories. I've tried to move on from my past and from Jace. And honestly, I can't say that I'm truly over all of it."
"Fine, then why don't you come over to my place tonight and see Isabelle? You can meet our son and we can have dinner. Just the three of us and Nate."
Clary thought for a moment, then nodded. "That'd be nice."
"Great." Simon smiled but still felt disappointed. "Now, let's discuss this movie."
Clary nodded and removed some papers from a folder. She turned to Simon holding the stack close to her chest. "Obviously, it's another animated film. My writers have already started a bit on the script and I'll be meeting with them throughout my visit here as well." She handed him the papers as she continued. "It's about this girl who lived this whole ordinary life. Then, one day, she sees these people that no one else can see and they kill this guy. She freaks out about it and the people see her. She's then thrust into this whole world full of magical beings and learns that she's one of them and must help them save their world."
"Interesting." Simon scanned the more in-depth description that was on the paper. "I like it."
"Thanks. I'm excited to animate it." She pulled a couple more things from the folder and started sorting through them. "I'm also excited for your band to be creating all the music for it. I just can't believe I never went to you for any of my past movies."
Simon shrugged with a smirk. "You're still drawing that tv show, right? Just add us in there."
"I might have to take you up on that." Clary laughed. "These two months are going to be so much fun working with you, Si. I can't wait."
Simon's mind went to a million different places then. He thought of Jace and Magnus and Alec. Their old lives in high school. When Clary had gotten into the most prestigious drawing school in the world... and it was in a different country. The fact that she only told Simon and just left all the others. She'd had her reasons and he knew she still felt bad about it, but he still wished that things had gone differently. Then, just maybe, Jace's little girl would have a mom too.
"Yeah," Simon said, trying to push down all his thoughts, "me too."
"You're a mess." Jace shook his head.
Anna turned back to him with a scowl. She put her hands on her hips and attempted to level her gaze with his. Since she was several feet shorter than him, it didn't really work.
"Pardon me?" She asked and Jace nearly laughed. He had taught her that phrase in its sassy manner when she was just five and it was his favorite phrase of hers because she said it all the time.
"You heard me. Your room is a mess. Your hair is a mess. And you've been wearing those same pajamas for nearly a week."
Anna looked herself up and down. She then tugged at a piece of her hair and glanced back at her father. "My hair looks like yours!"
Jace gaped. "It does not! My hair is styled messy, yours is like bed-head. And not the good kind." He stuck his tongue at her.
"It's not like I have anyone to see," she pointed out. Jace loved talking with her because she spoke like an adult but she still had the voice of a child. "It's movie night, remember!" Anna bounced up and down a bit excitedly.
"Of course, I remember." He picked her up despite her protests and carried her back to the living room. Every Saturday night the two watched a movie. This week, Anna got to choose. "You pick the movie and I'll get the ice cream."
"And popcorn!" She called as he walked to the kitchen.
"And popcorn!" Jace collected the food and grabbed some water bottles. When he returned to the couch, Anna was waiting with the remote in her hand. Jace looked up at the movie she chose and was surprised.
"You know how you tell me the story of 'how I came to be' every year on my birthday?" Anna asked and Jace nodded. "Well, I mentioned that book you were reading, To Kill a Mockingbird, to my teacher this week and she told me there was a movie. I want to watch it."
"I don't know how appropriate this movie is for you." Jace scratched the back of his neck.
"The main character is like the same age as me!" Anna protested and her lower lip puckered out. Jace was a little worried she was going to throw a fit if he said no.
"Okay," he sighed. "Let's watch it. But you can't blame me if you don't like it."
She immediately tucked in her lip and smiled wide instead. She hit play and it didn't take two minutes before she spoke. "Where's the color?"
"It's in black and white, there is no color."
"Why?"
"It was a creative decision."
"Why?"
"The director thought it would look cool."
"Why?"
"Well... don't you think it looks cool?"
Anna opened her mouth but promptly closed it. She narrowed her eyes at the screen and pursed her lips. "I'll be quiet now."
Jace chuckled and rubbed the top of the girl's head messing up her already tangled hair. The rest of the movie went by and, to Jace's surprise, Anna seemed to be enjoying it. In the last few minutes, the girl started to doze off as she always did during their movie nights. Jace turned off the tv when the credits started to roll. He picked Anna up gently and carried her into her room. Setting her down on her bed, he pulled the covers up to her chin.
He closed the door softly behind him and went into his own room. Jace sighed as he sat back in his bed. He couldn't stop thinking about Clary. He kept on imagining stupid scenarios in which they would run into each other randomly somehow. Instead, it had been nearly a week and he hadn't seen her. He didn't know what he expected though. She was probably trying to avoid him. He wondered if Alec or Magnus knew she was back. Probably not, Alec couldn't keep a secret to save his life. Jace wanted to confront Simon about it but knew that was a bad idea. So, he just sat with his thoughts imagining scenarios that would never in a million years happen.