I've been severely lacking the past couple months in the Fanfic department. Just been busy! Apologies.
Jace seized away from his mattress, panting, as his nightmare faded away. He reached beside him but remembered that Clary had slept in her own bed. In only his boxers, he padded across the hall. The bathroom light was on but he peaked in her room anyway. She wasn't there and he heard an odd sound in the bathroom. Jace pushed through the door, squinting from the sudden bright light. Clary sat hunched on the floor, her elbow and cheek resting on the toilet seat. There were dark shadows under her eyes along with the rest of her face that looked a palish green, despite the flush in her cheeks.
"Didn't you go to bed sober?" He quipped.
Clary did not even have enough energy to open her eyes and glare at him. "Go." Was the only thing she rasped. Right before her face slowly contorted. She gripped the toilet seat with both dainty hands and ducked her head into it. Jace hurried over to her, pulling back the strands of her hair, as she hurled up a grotesque concoction into the toilet.
"How is there any left?!" She groaned and then heaved again.
Jace ran his hands along her forehead. "You're burning up, Babe." He stated, as her hot skin warmed his hand.
"No, I'm cold." She informed, resting back against the toilet seat, clearly exhausted.
Clary sighed little, labored breaths as Jace prepared a cool wash cloth for her head. He grabbed one of her hair ties from the cabinet vanity and drew her curls up into a bun. Then, he took the throw blanket she had dragged in with her and draped it around her curled up frame. The fact that she didn't even have the energy to gripe about how she didn't need his help, said a lot. Plopping himself down against the tub side, Jace ran his hand soothingly up and down her back. Clary whimpered and fell against him.
She threw up three more times that night before they both finally fell asleep, conked out on the bathroom floor. Jace stirred first, startled by a nudge in his foot. He blinked, coming to and inhaling Clary's sweet and lavender scent. Her curls rolled over his arm, as his bicep propped her head up like a pillow. Her body was spooned flush against his front. Jace blinked tiredly in the dull light and spotted his father standing in the doorway with a frown.
"What's going on?" Stephan questioned curiously.
Jace's heart thrummed as he realized his hand still rested protectively around Clary's waist. "Uh... Clary got sick last night." He lamely explained and drew his hand back as discreetly as possible.
Stephan's brow furrowed as he leaned further in the doorway to get a better look at her. He nodded slowly, her pale face seeming to confirm it. "Alright, I'll call the school and let them know." He looked at Jace again. "You staying home, too?"
Jace stalled looking at Clary. "Uh... Yeah." He drawled, not knowing how to properly react at the moment.
Stephan nodded once more and patted the door frame. "Alright, call if you two need anything." He offered casually and left. Jace blew out a sigh when he heard the man descend the stairs. He should not have been surprised by Stephan's nonchalance. It was typical of him to be oblivious.
With a sigh, Jace scooped his other arm back under Clary. "Let's go, Babe." He carried her damsel style to her bed, tucking her in.
Clary woke up awhile later, she didn't open her eyes though. She laid there, still, because her head felt like the weight of a bowling ball and her stomach ached of hollowness. Funny thing about being sick, it always felt like she would never be well again. And she felt so naïve for her days of good health.
She peaked her eyes open at the sound of footsteps. It could have been Jace or her mother, she didn't have the energy to care at that moment.
"I've decided you must have contracted a bad stomach virus." Jace's always delicious voice announced. The side of her lips twitched. "But you're fever broke early this morning. So, you could probably do with some soup." It was then she smelled the fragrant broth, which caused her stomach to growl and she was again reminded of her purged to empty pit.
"Oh, thank God. I love you." Clary expressed in a beaten down grown. She gingerly scooted herself up to sitting. Jace was ominously very quiet as he placed a tray of chicken noodle soup across her lap. He slowly folded a napkin and placed a spoon across it, just as realization accompanied with horror bled into Clary's lagging conscious.
"In a specifically only because you made me soup kind of way..." She drawled quietly, fidgeting with the silverware.
Jace snorted and for the first time she met his eye. He was smirking at her. "Right. Well, ditto." He winked. Clary stared at him quietly. Her cheeks were flushed but they had been that way since her fever.
"By the way, this nurse enjoys giving a nice sponge bath. And he's very thorough." He added.
Clary chuckled and picked up her spoon. "You should probably not take any more chances. I could be contagious." She reminded and took a long slurp.
Jace shook his head confidently. "No, I don't get sick."
"Never?"
"I have an immune system of the Gods." He assured.
"Awe, yes." Clary licked broth from her lips. "How could I forget your endless perfections."
Jace grinned and leaned forward to kiss her forehead. "Unfortunately, though, your sponge bath will have to wait until after football practice." He informed.
"Thank you, Nurse. I think I'll manage." She quipped back.
Jace said his goodbyes and headed to the high school. He quickly changed and made it onto the field in the nick of time. Admittedly, he had spent the day doing school work and cleaning and preoccupying himself while Clary slept like the dead. As it got later, he had decided that she needed to eat and it was unlikely she would feed herself. So, he threw some soup together last minute and checked on her two more times while getting his football gear together.
"Where were you today?" Sebastian questioned, once they got back in the locker room.
Jace rinsed, naked under the shower head, letting the hot water soak his face and hair. "Had a thing." He monotoned. Shutting off the water, he grabbed his towel off the hook and wrapped it around his waist. He felt in more of a rush than usual. Clary was fine but she could have started feeling sick again or got dehydrated. Her pale, ill face from last night gave him the same feeling as those abused animal commercials.
As they got dressed, Sebastian spoke again. "And Clary?" He prompted.
Jace raised an eyebrow, unsure of what his friend was asking.
"She wasn't at school today, either."
Jace snorted. "Oh. She's sick. Threw up all over the bathroom last night. It was gross." He shrugged and quickly headed out.
When he got home, Clary had found her way to the couch. She was stretched out with a blanket wrapped around her. Her eyes were wet and swollen from tears. But Jace wasn't worried. He merely dropped his bag and rested against the doorway to stare at her. Relationships started out fun and sexy and then routine settled in and things got boring. And they had fallen into routine. But the thing was he liked it. He liked that when he got home, she was going to be there with soft lips that he could kiss. And a warm body at night that he took personal determination in marking up and engraving with his scent, form, and ownership. Poor thing would never get over him. He wanted the routine. He wanted all her smiles, all her moans, all her sighs, even her tears. And he was certain, he would never get bored of a single one.
"I see you made it down the stairs." He murmured, a small smile on his lips.
Clary, unbothered by his gawking and assuredly becoming used to it as he did it often enough, merely sniffed loudly in reply. He strolled up to her, noting the credits that rolled on the television. He dropped to a seat on the floor in front of her couch and took her fingers to his lips. "Why are you crying, Babe?" He whispered gently.
Clary finally wiped at the tears on her cheeks in attempt to collect herself. "What do you think is more heart breaking?" She uttered. "Falling in love with someone and losing them suddenly? Or meeting someone that you know you're going to lose... and falling in love with them, anyway?"
Jace thought about this for a moment, running her soft knuckles idly across his lips. Clearly, she had been binging sappy romantic movies all afternoon. "I think... it's most sad to fall in love, get to spend your whole life with someone, only to lose them in the end." He mused.
Clary frowned at him as if personally offended by the suggestion. "What are you talking about? That is practically the only real happy ending anyone can hope for." She argued.
"Well, the other scenarios are about mourning what could have been, the imagination of it all. But when you lose someone after a lifetime together, you're mourning all the happiness that has already been and know that there will never be another moment of it." Jace carefully explained. When Clary remained silent, he looked up to see her face.
Her glassy, green eyes had gone wide with despair and her bottom lip trembled. All had once she burst into a sob and yanked her hand out of his to grab the remoted. "You're right." She gasped. "We're watching The Notebook next."
Jace laughed loudly, climbing up to sit on the couch and put her feet in his lap. "No, no, no. I don't do chick flicks."
"Even for me?" She pouted.
"That depends... Have you brushed your teeth today?"
She giggled and gave him a shove with her foot as she hissed a 'Yes.'
"Well, then..." He drawled, creeping over her body. "I would do anything for you... except watch a chick flick."
Clary giggled again. "Is that so?" She whispered, before pulling his lips down to play with hers.
Jace nodded his nose against her neck, inhaling her scent. He let his hand travel up her thigh and press in between her legs. "My body is still recovering." She groaned in response.
"It's a good thing that making you feel good is on the list of things I'm willing to do for you." He nipped at her jaw. Just then the doorbell rang, making Clary's small body jump beneath him. He growled, pressing his forehead to hers. "Hold that thought."
Jace climbed off of her and stalked to the front door. He swung it open, his wide arm braced against the frame, and hung his head. "God dammit, Seb." He exhaled in defeat.
A bouquet of flowers in hand, his friend quickly ducked under his arm. "Gotta get brownie points while I can." Sebastian explained and clapped Jace on the back.
Jace followed him back into the living room and grumbled under his breath. "You're pathetic."
"Clary, Babe, you look terrible!" Sebastian exclaimed, striding over to her.
"Gee, thanks." She mumbled back sarcastically.
"Oh, you know what I mean. Jace said you were sick so I thought I would come check up on you and see if you needed anything. Lord knows this jackass is useless." He nodded to Jace lingering in the hall doorway once more.
Clary gave Sebastian a small smile. "The flowers are pretty, thanks."
Sebastian glanced at the television. "The Notebook? That's a good one, mind if I watch?"
"You like chick flicks?" Clary questioned, but her eyes landed on Jace with a smirk.
"Sure, this is a classic. And I just want to keep you company." Sebastian insisted as he plopped down on the couch and placed Clary's feet in his lap. Just as Jace had done moments before. "If that's alright, I mean?" He added. However, his eyes gestured at Jace to beat it.
Jace shoved his hands into his pockets and gnashed the back of his teeth. "I can't seem to think of a good reason why not." He conceded. "I'll be in my room." Jace stalked up the stairs. Nothing pissed him off more than knowing Clary was his... until she wasn't.
Friday was the football championship. The game was held on neutral ground, a larger college arena. There was a list of Scouts reported to attend, especially the one that Jace needed most. His whole season, his whole football career, was riding on this game. Winning this game guaranteed him the goal he had been working toward since his childhood. His escape. His fresh start... And just before halftime, aching in his ribs, cramping in his calves, with ice on his shoulder... He sat in the infirmary tent.
"You going to be able to get back out there?" Someone asked. One of their many coaches. Jace merely stared into space, his jaw clenching. He reached for the water bottle next to him, the plastic crackling in his fist as he chucked it at the tent opening. The coach dodged and staggered out. An athletic trainer came to check his shoulder.
"I'm fine." He grunted, pulling at the wrapping, and tearing the ice off.
Jace rolled out his shoulder, and fought the wince. His heartrate wouldn't slow, despite his resting. From rage or terror, he couldn't know. But he could not deny the panic seeping in. The pressure mounting and threatening to collapse him.
Texas A&M was there. They had made it clear that their full-ride scholarship offer was rare. And though they were entirely impressed with Jace's skill, the season's outcome would be the determining factor of his fate. Jace had other options, plenty of them. But this had been the plan. The one he had scribbled out fiercely in pen late one night, at just eight years old. It took one football practice to realize what his talent could do for him. And like an epiphany, he decided his best and more importantly farthest option.
A rustling sounded at the tent side. Jace blinked, noticing the athletic trainer had stepped out. A stick was poking and shifting under the tarp siding. Frowning, Jace eased himself off the makeshift exam table, knowing full well there was a fence on the other side. He ripped back the siding at the corner to see Clary maneuvering a long branch through one of the fence holes.
She immediately abandoned it at his presence. "Jace! Are you okay?!" She gushed, apparently unabashed by her odd intrusion attempt.
"Fine, babe." Jace monotoned in reply. In truth, Clary was the last person he wanted to see that moment. He needed to wipe her from his brain if he was going to salvage the game.
She scurried in front of him, fingers curling in the fence wire. "Oh, good." She sighed.
"You're not supposed to be back here."
Clary snorted. "I had a dire a question. Why the hell are you losing?" She asked simply.
Jace crossed his arms, patience wearing thin. "I don't expect you to know anything about football. But game's not over yet." He grounded out.
"But you're already giving up." She stated firmly.
"I'm not giving up shit. And since when do you care?" He spat back. Who the hell was she to start with him right now? She didn't know anything about sports or how he played or what he wanted.
Her mouth fell open, eyes blinking in shock. "When do I care?!" She gasped.
Jace cut her off. "Look, I can do everything, and sometimes it's just not enough. Sometimes I am not enough!" He boiled over, slapping the fence in frustration. He paced back to the tent side, breathing deeply and trying to calm himself.
Clary licked her lips, and looked away while her eyes watered. She was quiet for a thoughtful moment before she spoke. "Interesting that you finally admit it..." She started. "I've only been saying that from the beginning, right? Not good enough to win and not good enough for me..."
Like a fucking match. It struck him like always. His nostrils flared as his wide eyes stared her down. "Really?" He said in disbelief. He couldn't even begin to grasp why she would say such a thing. Too shocked that it came out her mouth at all. "This is the most important moment of my life and you want to do this right now?" He spoke quietly building to a crescendo. "I don't have time to play fucking games with you tonight, and pacify you're excuses. Again. There is no out of this for you. Fucking accept it and stop only thinking about yourself." Spit and sweat splattered off of him as he marched up to shout in her face. But she glared back at him through the fence, unwavering.
"Why? Because you won't take no for answer?" She countered.
"Exactly."
"And you don't lose."
Jace was about to bark out 'Damn straight,' but came up short. He looked at her confident features and the air left him in a woosh. He shook his head pathetically at her, a smile regrettably touching his lips. Somewhere in the distance the halftime buzzer sounded.
"Is this your idea of a clever pep talk?" He ventured. "An attempt at reverse psychology?"
Clary had a wry smile for him. "You also said you're not a liar." Her fingers slipped from the fence as she slowly backed away. "So, don't disappoint me. Because I know where you live." She winked at him.
Someone pulled the tarp back behind him. "Herondale! Let's go! Coach says you're starting again next quarter. Get to the locker room!"
Jace headed to the locker room. His calves still burned, his ribs were still bruised, and his shoulder throbbed, but the panic was gone. The boiling frustration had dissipated. Texas had left his mind and all he could see was that smirk of hers. All that remained was that eerie determination to prove her smartass wrong. And she knew that. He couldn't decide to bless her or damn her. But when it came to Clary, he didn't lose. That he would make sure of.
Cheers still lingered around them in the parking lot. Clary couldn't wipe the grin from her face. The game was close but St. Xavior had won by a last-minute touchdown. Curtesy of Jace running the ball himself. Talk about an All- Star.
"I said fork it over, crazy lady!" Isabelle shouted in the distance. She came strutting around a car with a frustrated grumble and tossed Jace's wrinkled jersey at Clary. Isabelle counted the wad of cash in her hand. "Trophy wife wanted to keep it." She snorted. "Do me a favor and put that on before someone tries to steal it."
Clary looked down at the large, adorned number in her hands. She had never worn Jace's jersey. Not that he hadn't asked but... it felt like a statement she was afraid to face. But Jace deserved it and there was no denying how proud she was of him. She slipped on the royal blue jersey that draped down to her jean clad knees.
Voices got louder as a crowd entered the other end of the parking lot. Football players corralled each other and students bounced up and down around them. Sebastian hung on Jace's back declaring his undying love, while a cheerleader took the opportunity to plant one right on Jace's lips. Students chorused in approval. Clary followed Isabelle as they went up to hug and congratulate Alec and Will. They stood around in the mob, chatting. After a few minutes, Clary wondered back to Isabelle's SUV to grab her jacket.
She reached in the backseat and slammed the door behind her, only to be pinned to the side of the car. Jace's devilish grin hovered in her vision, his palms on either side of her head. "Let's go home." He murmured.
Clary laughed, ignoring him. "You did amazing, Jace. Good job." Though she kept her hands to herself. Hiding or not, they were in public.
Jace, however, twisted his fist in the material of her jersey. "I know. Now let's go." He insisted.
"But you need to make an after-party appearance. We should celebrate." She countered with a grin.
Jace pushed away from the car to make a point of ogling her. "Oh, I'll celebrate while I'm balls deep fucking you in that jersey." He said gleefully.
"Maybe later." She sang.
Jace pouted, jutting out his bottom lip. He sauntered close to her and gripped her chin. "Thank you. By the way." He leaned down to give her a quick peck. Clary blushed and added in some distance, checking around them.
Isabelle, Sebastian, and Alec headed toward the vehicle, laughing with each other. Peering over the car hood, Sebastian spotted Clary and jogged around to scoop her up in hug. She kissed his cheek and said congratulations. In the car, she ended up sandwiched between Sebastian and Jace in the back seat. They talked animatedly across her about the game highlights. Jace tucked his hand behind her neck, tickly her baby hairs, while Sebastian rested his hand firmly on her knee. Clary narrowed her eyes at both of them in annoyance.
Alec and Isabelle were muttering to each other in the front seat. Clary couldn't hear them well over the music but she caught Alec bark, "Just drop it."
When they finally pulled up to the party, it didn't take long for everyone to part ways in the crowd and end up drinking and talking with other teenagers. No one was even sure whose house they were in but, it was damn huge and students filled most of the rooms. Clary stood by the staircase, talking to some sophomore. He was a bit taller than her, pale, blond, a little awkward. But friendly. He had struck up a conversation with her about a piece he saw in art class, which eventually led to polite weather conversation and now her drink was empty.
A boom resounded behind her as Jace leapt over the staircase and appeared out of nowhere. He braced his arm over Clary's head, pressing his front into her back.
The boy straightened to attention. Apparently shocked that Jace had approached them. "Jace! Amazing game, man!" He beamed.
"Thank you. And you are?"
"Uh, it's me, Mark. I'm on the JV team." Mark said with an awkward chuckle. "And this is Clary Morgenstern. You two have met, right?" He added quickly.
Jace furrowed his brow and made a patronizing face. "I'm well aware, of whom my step sister is, yes."
"Not. Not his step-sister." Clary chirped robotically. God, why did every interaction between males, feel like a pissing contest. Again, she tipped her solo cup back and met empty disappointment.
"Oh, wow, I didn't—"
"Pretty isn't she?" Jace cut him off, twining a strand of curl around his finger.
Clary elbowed him. "Can you please excuse us?" She said to Mark with a mocked grin, before turning her back to him and shuffling Jace away.
"We are in public." She reminded.
"But I just won." Jace beamed, tickling her waistband. Clary calmly, brushed his hand away once more.
"You're drunker than usual."
"I'm celebrating."
Clary nodded in agreement. "And you are entitled to. I'll get you home safe, Handsome."
"But what if I want my prize before then?" Jace's hand reached out for her again but she batted it away with a chuckle.
"Women are not prizes, Jace." She playfully scolded.
"But you are my prize every day." He objected.
"God, you're a sappy drunk." She sighed. "I'll need at least one more beer to tolerate you."
Jace suddenly stooped over, slinging her onto his back. "Well, let's fix that!" He piggybacked her into the kitchen where people hollered in excitement at his arrival. He turned his back to the countertop, releasing Clary to sit atop it, and then poured her a fresh beer and passed it over.
Girls giggled and whipped out their phones, begging for a picture with the superstar. He happily obliged leaning over and letting them press close to him, even wrapping his hand on one's waist. However, his other arm had remained stretched back, a secure but reassuring hold on Clary's ankle.
Clary stared over the rim of her cup, but nobody else in the crowded kitchen seemed to notice the small gesture or at least, nobody cared and she was content with that. Isabelle found her and for a while, they all remained there talking. Eventually, Jace was pulled away and shot Clary a wink.
The party slowly died down, dragging in numbers as teenagers headed out. Clary passed Isabelle, waiting for the bathroom. "I'm going to find Jace and get a cab home." She informed. "You coming?"
Isabelle rolled her eyes. "Alec already left, but Seb passed out on the couch. I'm gonna make these guys drag him to my car." She replied.
Clary smirked, and waved goodbye. Usually, the girls were the ones who needed taking care of but, the night was about the boys. And hers in particular had been MIA for at least an hour. She circled up the large staircase glancing into the large rooms. In the end, she came to cracked door and could hear soft music playing. The tune rhythmically repeating. She softly pushed open the door and saw Jace sat at the bench of a grand piano. His back was to her but she could see his fingers dancing slowly over keys. Whatever he was playing, was no classical piece she had heard.
"This is a closed concert." A voice snided. Followed by snickers. Three girls sat on a chaise lounge, watching Jace play his music.
"I'm his step-sister." Clary murmured.
Jace's hand swiftly flew down and octave to bang on the keys, playing Beethoven's classic sound of dramatic effect. 'Dun Dun Dun Dunnnnnn!'
Clary snorted, and approached the piano, ignoring the other girls. Jace went back to playing his piece, his face full of concentration. His fingers would touch a note, pause, and go back to try a new one.
"You wrote this?" Clary uttered in surprise.
Emboldened, one of the girls popped up off the chaise lounge and stood behind Jace. Her hands caressed and kneaded into his shoulder. Clary had to bite back her flare of jealousy. "Talented on the field and off, I see. This song is so pretty." She prattled.
"Thank you. I wrote it for her." He declared.
"Your mom?" Clary whispered.
Jace's eyes chased up to meet Clary's. "No." He said simply.
Clary watched him with understanding. There could be only one other girl that he spoke about. And from the way he played, Clary could tell that Jace hadn't come up with the melody on the spot. "When did you write this?" She questioned in perplexed awe.
Jace shrugged the girl's hands off his shoulders. "I've been writing it for a while." He offered. "Just hadn't had a chance to play it, yet." He turned his head, "Can I get some privacy, ladies?" He voiced over his shoulder. There were some incoherent grumbles but the girls filed out like the good little groupies they were.
Clary rounded the piano. "Tired of your fan club?" She asked.
Jace gave her a knowing smile. "It's all pretending, you know. They pretend to know me just as I pretend to notice them. People are leeches. They cling to looks and wealth and success and pretend like they had some part in it."
His bitter words seeped into her. And she noticed that as he spoke, the notes he played had grown dark and somber. Clary sat on the bench beside him and gingerly placed her hand on top of his, stilling his movement. "You, however... always keeping me on my toes." He finished.
Clary's smile was wistful. "You think in music." She murmured in delight. "I didn't know..." For some reason, she found this beautiful. Like she had found his deepest layer. Her own heart drew pictures and Jace's played lovely tunes. And when he thought of her, he heard this special melody. Clary looked up at Jace, who watched her carefully. His eyes were heavy with sleep and alcohol. It made sense that Jace didn't drink often, it was harder for him to hold the imposable mask. Under the influence, that mask slipped away and Jace looked more like that lost and lonely boy.
"Let's go home." She softly echoed his plea from earlier.
At home, once they reached the top of the stairs, Jace sighed and rested almost all his weight into Clary. He whined that he was tired. Clary chuckled, practically dragging him to his bed. Drunk men, were like pitiful babies.
She heaved him onto the mattress. Jace had gone completely slack, purposely making it hard for her. But she played along, amused by his pathetic innocence. Clary rolled Jace onto his back and struggled to shimmy down his jeans.
"Buy me dinner first, Honey." He hiccupped.
Clary scoffed and pulled the comforter up to tuck in around him. She smoothed back his messed hair. "If I didn't say it earlier... I'm really proud of you. I know how bad you wanted this." She murmured.
Jace opened his eyes to gaze at her. He took her hand from his head and brought it to his lips to kiss. He looked closely at her fingers, fidgeting with each one. "You know, I... love Alec." He announced.
Clary snorted loudly unable to hold it back. "That's an interesting turn of events." She drawled, humorously.
Jace pressed on, unswayed by her outburst. "He's the oldest and closest thing I've had to a brother. And Izzy too, I guess. I love her too... If something happened to them... I'd be an embarrassing sobbing mess at the funeral." He admitted earnestly. All Clary could do was listen patiently while she wondered where he was going with this. "But you..." He finally met her eyes once more. "I wouldn't even go to the funeral." He uttered, looking at her like his words held a deep meaning. And maybe they did but it was completely lost on Clary.
"Okay," She soothed him. "That's okay." She kissed his forehead and then got up to get ready for bed, still wondering what his drunk words could possibly mean. Because honestly... It sounded insulting as hell. Yet, he had said it in the way of a compliment? Clary shook her head in indifference, as she brushed her teeth and then went back to his room.
She stripped down completely nude before climbing into bed beside him. Her bare flesh curled against his warm body with gracious comfort. Even in his unconscious state, Jace immediately turned, crushing her further into him while he inhaled deeply. And like most nights, the two slept soundly bound in the illusion created for just the two of them.
I'm going to identify what I think are my own strengths in this chapter and leave myself a nice review lol:
So I tried to draw parallels in this chapter of them taking care of each other to demonstrate the relationship arc from back when it was all about them using each other instead. Also brought up some other romantic allusions to compare or even, dare I say, foreshadow their particular love story. And though they seem so invested in each other at this point, I continue with the theme of this being a fragile and finite state by bringing in the little reminders for them. I also appreciate that though this has been an erotic slow burn, I feel like I've so far achieved in portraying the so many little building blocks that make up a believable enemies to lovers arc for them. Where we can all look back a be like 'Okay these epic feelings didn't come out of nowhere.' AND YET, like a house of cards that takes patience and time, its so fragile and unstable and capable of easy collapse... ILOVEIT!
Negative: I was not pleased with all my transitions with this chapter. Sometimes I just don't feel like they flow welllllll. Also, reading back Clary's pep talk moment, it didn't necessarily have all the 'umph!' that wanted to express. So I think I missed the mark there... And I don't think I necessarily captured why this college thing means so much to Jace but I didn't want to put too much in because more on that is going to be revealed later.
Please your own review! As always thank you for your continuous reading and your investment in reaching the end of this story just as myself! lol
