Hey, how are you lovely people doing? I hope you are doing well and I hope you enjoy this chapter because shit is about to go down.
No, I'm just kidding, hope you guys enjoy this read and if you haven't read the story in awhile (probably because i haven't been updating as often ahem ahem sorry about that) here's a quick recap:
Clarissa Morgenstern moves to Alicante under a new name Clary Fray while running from he who shall not be mentioned who killed her brother Jonathan and her childhood friend Simon, in Alicante she has made friends with illegal car racers/ underage drinkers/ gamblers whom we know and love.
Clary and Jace are doing awfully well for their new relationship.
Sebastian kissed Isabelle while she was in a relationship with Raphael whom saw this and broke up with her.
Aline kissed Maia and that did not turn out well.
The gang still has no valid theory why Seb and Iz are fighting.
Okay now back to the show.
Disclaimer: I do own the Mortal Instruments series.
Disclaimer: That was sarcasm.
Jace walked into Pandemonium with purpose, his eyes scanning the crowd through colored blinding lights and the sweaty bodies all pressed together, grinding against one another sloppily to the rhythm –if you could call it that, even- of the loud persistent music. His eyes found the mop of black hair, surprise, surprise at the stool of the bar.
He gestured for Alec behind him to follow him who nodded.
Jace patted Sebastian's back as soon as he reached him, "Come on, it's late, we're taking you home" he said.
"I can't, it's my turn –hic- soon" Sebastian said through a fit of hiccups as he squinted his eyes at the shot glass in front of him, he brought it to his lips and finished it with one gulp.
Alec sent Jace a worried look when Sebastian drank the empty glass and smiled like that was the best tequila he has ever had. Sebastian was beyond wasted.
"I think the fuck not" Raziel said before him, "You know the rules Sebastian, you drink, you're benched".
"I'm not even –hic- even –hic- what was I –hic- saying?" Sebastian squinted his eyes at Jace as if he couldn't see him clearly, which he couldn't.
"Come on, buddy, let's go" Alec said, "The night's over".
"No" Sebastian whined like a child as he pressed his head to the table, "Don't wanna". He didn't want to go back home where everything in his room reminded him of her. Her scent on his bed, her clothes thrown about in his room, her toothbrush in the cup in his bathroom.
"Yes" Alec said with a confident commanding tone, "Sebastian, the night is over, you need to get back home or we're dragging you out".
"That sounds –hic- lovely" Sebastian muttered, his face pressed to the table so his words came out more sloppily than intended.
Alec gave Jace a look, who nodded back and the two each took an arm and dragged Sebastian out as he moaned and protested the whole way out. Stopping at the door and yelling "Bye –hic- friend" waving to the man at the bar who was sitting next to him.
"Why do I feel like I drag one of you two idiots, pissed off drunk from that bar like every other week or so?" Alec wondered, more so to himself as he rolled his eyes.
"We have a lot of sorrow and brooding worthy emotions that have no solution other than getting pissed off drunk" Jace said.
"How very mundane" Alec said, "I swear I can't deal with straight people".
Jace chuckled as they got Sebastian in his car, "I got it from here, I'll ask Aline for help if need be. You go, I know you and Magnus have a date".
"I think I'm gonna throw up" Seb said and Jace only opened the car door for him.
"How's that going by the way?" Jace asked.
"Surprisingly well" Alec said.
"Did you tell him about the…?"
"No, that is why it's going so well" Alec said and Jace simply nodded. He didn't pressure Alec about his relationship, he knew everyone has a different idea of when this "talk" should be. Besides, if he knew Alec like he knows Alec, he knows he won't keep it a secret for long and will blurt it out to Magnus in the most inelegant way possible which was for Magnus infinitely romantic for some reason that was beyond Jace's understanding.
"Oh god, GET OUT OF ME" Sebastian yelled, leaning his head outside the open car door, in hopes that he would throw up.
"I'm sure it's gonna be fine whenever you decide to tell him" Jace said, hoping that would ease Alec's worries, who nodded soundlessly.
"See you tomorrow then" Alec said.
"Why, is someone not planning on coming home tonight?" Jace teased.
"I need more alcohol, maybe from that –hic- German guy who sat next to –hic- me" Sebastian said mostly to himself, "Such a nice friendly man".
"It's not like that, it's just that I might be late and-" Alec started then rolled his eyes, his cheeks just the hint of red "Shut up".
Jace laughed as he closed Sebastian's door and got in his seat, "You're gonna be okay, buddy?"
Sebastian chuckled, "Buddy" he repeated in a sing song tone, "Yes".
"You're not going to throw up in my baby while I take you home?" Jace asked, as if speaking to a little child.
Sebastian just shook his head back and forth then back and forth again, then chuckled as he made himself go a little dizzy.
"And you're going to tell me if you feel like throwing up, right?" Jace asked again.
"Mmmhmm" Sebastian said and with that Jace drove him home. Turns out, he didn't need Aline's help after all, Sebastian was suddenly very eager to get to his room now, he got him in through his outside door and put him to bed, making sure a bucket was close by to him.
"Good friend" Sebastian muttered as he looked at the ceiling, a little bit dazed looking.
"No worries, man" Jace said, "Go to bed and when you have a killer hangover in the morning, call me so I can make fun of you".
"Kay, buddy" Sebastian muttered with a smile then gestured to his nightstand, "Phone?"
"No phone"
"Phone"
"No phone" Jace persisted, "You're not gonna drunk dial anyone, especially when you can't read anything, you'll end up sex-calling your aunt".
"You just –hic- worry -hic I'll sex-call –hic- your girl" Sebastian said.
"Dick" Jace muttered, "Maybe I should delete Clary's number, just in case".
"Phone"
"No phone" Jace repeated, taking the phone and putting it far away from the bed, "I'd like to see you come and get it now".
"Take back –hic- good friend" Sebastian muttered.
"You're right, I'm not just a good friend, I'm the best friend" Jace said with a smirk, "I'll see you tomorrow".
"Night" Sebastian muttered to his sheets, his eyes closing involuntarily.
"Night, man" Jace said as he got in his car, looking at the time, it was still early enough to see Clary.
Alec waited in the car tapping his fingers against the steering wheel, a nervous habit, though he wasn't nervous per say, but you try waiting outside as your boyfriend says goodbye to all of his friends from foster care and drive him and his brother to their new home and you would be, at the very least, on edge.
Magnus was getting his own apartment. Well he shares it with his brother, Raphael, but he pays for it himself. That was so very.. mature of him. Alec kept thinking of all those late nights Magnus had to work and miss dinner and Alec would bring him something to eat at work. It was all paying off for him and that made Alec happy.
He had already moved all of his stuff -which was Magnus talk for his clothes and glitter- to his new apartment a few days ago and cleaned it up, him, Magnus and Raphael all did. But tonight would be the first night he would be spending at his own home, a place of his own.
And Alec was.. nervous for Magnus, it felt like lately Magnus had been growing up, working all the time and making these big changes and he just hopes these changes wouldn't drive a wedge between them, especially with the secret Alec had been keeping.
He didn't mean to keep it a secret, it just happened, and there hasn't been a good time for him to just announce it. He'll tell him soon.
Magnus strutted out of the place with a certain glow about him as he waved goodbye and hugged people all around, some people were teary eyed, some were sobbing but Magnus was smiling a sort of sad smile as he looked at them all, Alec figured this is the equivalent of saying goodbye to your family.
When Magnus and Raphael sat in the car, a deafening silence echoed, Alec noticed Magnus looking at the only home he had ever known with emotional eyes and he delayed on starting the car and driving off for as long as possible, it still felt too soon when he eventually drove out of the parking lot and onto the main road.
"Oh I am going to miss them, not as much as they will miss me, no doubt" Magnus tried to joke as he stroked his cat's neck, purring in his lap.
"We're not there yet, and already I am sick of you" Raphael said with an eyeroll.
"You're not sick of me, you love me endlessly" Magnus said.
Raphael turned to Alec from the backseat as he raised a single unimpressed eyebrow and said "You're boyfriend has gone delusional in his old age".
"I am not that much older than you" Magnus said from the front seat, offended by the joke to his age, he took his cat in his hands and raised so he was face to face with him as he appealed to the most rational of the group, "Did you hear that, Chairman Meow? I know, I can't believe it either".
Raphael scuffed, "Sure, whatever you say, old man".
"Hey, you know you should really respect your elders" Alec said to Raphael, looking at him through the rearview mirror, a hidden smirk tugged under his lips.
"Hey!" Magnus said, looking back at Alec, "This is supposed to be a great day and so far you both are bringing me down".
"He's right" Raphael said, suddenly sounding sincere, "We wouldn't want to upset him at such an old age".
"That's it, Alexander, turn the car around, he will not be living with me" Magnus fumed.
"I see an elephant wearing a tutu" Clary muttered.
"I think you mistake Alec for an elephant" Jace said looking up at the stars to where she was looking.
The two were laying on the grass just outside the Herondale manor and looking up at the stars, he had both his arms behind his head and Clary was resting her head on his shoulder as they both guessed the constellations in the sky.
"I don't think Alec is in the stars" Clary giggled.
"Alec is all the stars" Jace muttered dramatically as if he was offended by her statement.
"Wow, that bromance has no bounds, should I be worried?" Clary teased.
"Well I wasn't supposed to say anything but Alec and I are planning on running away together" Jace said.
"Oh my" Clary said, "I can't believe it was Alec who stole you from me, I always figured it would be some tall gorgeous model".
"I like my girls under five foot two and with anger management issues" Jace argued.
"I told you, I'm five foot four" Clary huffed.
"Sure you are" Jace said as he rolled towards her, putting his hand on the grass to hold his body up so that he was on top of her without actually crushing her.
"I am!" She said exasperated.
"Someday I'm going to get you a stadiometer" Jace said.
"And what are you going to get me when I prove to you that I am five foot four?" Clary asked with a raised eyebrow.
"How about a kiss?"
"But I already get that without being right" Clary argued.
"Hmm then I'd have to urge you to reconsider" Jace said.
"I could be persuaded to agree" Clary teased, "But I'd have to try on the product before I make a deal".
Jace looked down at her through hooded eyes, making Clary's stomach twist into knots, it twists and turns as a wave of heat took over her body, "Where do you want me to kiss you?" he asked in a lustful daze, his dark tone making her shudder with pleasure.
"My lips" she teased, he brought his lips down to meet her own and the heat that pooled in her stomach before was replaced with a fire, a heavy thundering fire, growing wilder with each stroke of his lips against her own as if his kisses were gasoline.
He bit down on her lower lip and she gasped into his mouth shuddering, "Where else?"
Clary had to focus on focusing, to remember what was the question. "My neck" she said sounding lost in the moment. Jace lowered his head to pepper soft kisses on her neck, slowly hardening his kisses until he was biting down on her most sensitive spot, just below her ear, leaving a trail of hickeys in his wake. She's gonna kill him for that later.
Clary was almost gone now, completely submitting to the feeling of Jace's lips on her skin, sending shivers where he touched her, the electrifying pull towards him making her mad as one of his hands sneaked to her hip, stroking the skin under her shirt there.
"Where else?" Jace muttered under her skin, getting drunk on her taste, his eyes wild as he looked at her, he almost couldn't believe that she was all his, all his for touching, for kissing, for tasting. If she only knew how much she effected him.
Clary couldn't bring herself to say the words, so she bit her lower lip as she showed him.
Magnus and Alec worked at the new kitchen table in the new apartment as they readied dinner, Alec had suggested they order in but Magnus insisted that the smell of homemade food will liven up the place and so Alec insisted he'd make something for him. Raphael had refused to join, simply saying that he doesn't wish to be around so much sexual energy unless it included him and it this case he really wished it wouldn't include him.
"And so then I told the customer 'No, we don't have that in orange, this is Estelle's, not that section in your local supermarket' and she did not like that but then I showed her the dress in red and she bought it anyways, I swear, some people don't know a good outfit if it hit them in the face when wrapping around their bodies" Magnus says with a roll of his eyes as he sips his cocktail, he was considering making more as the bottle was almost empty now.
"Good thing I don't wear the same sweater everyday or you'd probably break up with me" Alec said with such sarcasm that it made Magnus almost spit out his drink, because yes in fact, Alexander did wear the same sweater everyday, Magnus wasn't sure if it was the same sweater or if he had bought thirty sweaters of the same size and color.
"Oh you must know by now I can't break up with you, Alexander" Magnus said.
"I didn't know that but it's a nice thing to know" Alec said with the hint of a smile, Magnus loved it when Alexander attempted to joke.
"Refill?" Magnus asked, gesturing to Alec's empty cup and Alec nodded while continuing to chop the onions. Magnus happily poured him another as he went off to make more cocktails.
Chairman Meow purred as he approached Alec, working at the kitchen table and strutted his way between his legs, rubbing himself all over his feet as Alec twitched uncomfortably.
"Don't worry, it means he likes you" Magnus said.
"Wonderful, I suppose" Alec said as he bent down to scratch behind his ears, "You like that don't you?" Alec said as Chairman Meow raised its head to meet Alec's hand.
"It is, I never date anyone Chairman doesn't approve of" Magnus said from over the counter.
"Put in a good word for me, buddy?" Alec whispered teasingly to the cat and Magnus chuckles over the counter, when Alec rose, he joked "I thought you said you can't break up with me?"
"I did, didn't I?" Magnus only grinned, then his phone ringed, interrupting Alec from saying another thing. Magnus picked it up and walked out to answer it.
Alec' right brow lifted up in suspicion, never before had Magnus left the room to take a call. He stepped carefully closer to the door, making sure his feet don't make a lot of noise, and leaned carefully against the hard wood, in hopes of hearing something.
He shouldn't be doing this, he knew that.
It's not right, Magnus has a right to his own privacy, he knew that.
So why couldn't he ignore this urge to listen in?
He knows it's wrong, but he was just... curious? Worried?
"Yes I would love to come by tomorrow, after five? Sure, no problem... Yes, she is a beauty... Well I don't do anything if it isn't fancy... Don't worry about the price, just make sure the car is ready... Good, I'll be there" Alec heard Magnus' words, a car? That's what Magnus was planning? Getting a car? Well why would he take the call outside if it's just about-
Alec' thoughts were interrupted when he heard Magnus talking again, "Estelle, it's me, yeah, I was wondering if I can get the morning shift tomorrow? I have somewhere to be in the afternoon.. No, I don't want a vacation day, that's fine.. Don't worry about school.. just trust me, I'll be there".
Alec' eyes widened, Magnus ditching school two days in a row? He felt... uncomfortable with that. It wasn't like he didn't skip a day or two sometimes, it's just that Magnus seemed to be taking school with an awful lot of aloofness lately. He was just worried, especially since exams were coming up, these test scores will be used to get into colleges and if he doesn't get good enough grades, he worries Magnus might not-
Alec suddenly shot up as he heard Magnus' feet shuffle and he assumed he was coming back in, he tried to hop back to his original place with big quick strides but he landed funnily on his foot halfway through and fell down, face first into the ground.
The door opened behind him and he turned to his back to see Magnus, whom raised an eyebrow, "Do I even need to ask?" Magnus joked.
"I was getting something and-"
"And gravity played a trick on you?" Magnus joked.
"You know about my sour relationship with gravity" Alec said, as if that would explain it, chuckling awkwardly to hide his discomfort at almost being caught listening in. He got to his feet, clearing his throat as he asked, "Everything okay?"
"Peachy" Magnus said with a grin, not providing any information and Alec nodded, not knowing what else to say, Magnus went on, "I might not be in school tomorrow, working the morning shift".
"That's two days in a row you'd be missing school" Alec said, deciding to voice his concern.
"I won't be missing much" Magnus grinned then as he went on, "Well except for our daily janitor closet rendezvous".
Alec' cheeks blushed slightly but he went on, "Can't you tell Estelle that you can't take the morning shift?"
"I don't mind" Magnus said.
"Shouldn't you? Mind, that is" Alec said.
Magnus stilled only slightly but his charming expression didn't even twitch as he shrugged carelessly and said, "I don't".
Alec bit his tongue down and went back to chopping at the kitchen table.
Magnus sighed, "You're upset?"
"No" Alec provided shortly.
"Alexander, I know when you are upset" Magnus said with an overexaggerated sigh.
"Well if you know that, you certainly didn't learn it in school" Alec mumbled under his breath.
"What?"
Alec took a deep breath then exhaled tiredly, turning back to look at Magnus, "I just think you are focusing on your job more than school".
"I don't disagree with that statement" Magnus said with a shrug as if what Alec just said were simple facts, as if he just said the sky is dark outside, "What is the issue?"
"Don't you think you it should be the other way around?" Alec suggested, trying to sound friendly, he didn't want to seem hostile then this would turn into a fight.
"No, I don't" Magnus said, "But clearly, you do".
"I just think, seeing as it is our senior year, that we should put more focus on our future" Alec said.
"And why would you think I am disregarding my future?" Magnus asked, as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Why are you two fighting already?" Raphael said as he opened his bedroom door, heading for the kitchen, "Actually, you know what, never mind, I'll just get a glass of water and let you two fight as much as you like".
"We're not fighting" Magnus argued, "Alec was just telling me how he thinks I am ruining my future".
"I didn't say that" Alec argued, "I just said maybe your focus should be on getting good grades, so you can go to college, instead of picking outfits for strangers all day".
"So I suppose my job is too low class for you then?" Magnus raised an eyebrow, Raphael in the far corner of the kitchen was struggling to find a decent cup to drink in and escape the drama quickly, since they were still unpacking most of the utensils.
"No, that's not what I meant" Alec shook his head quickly, Raphael finally found the cup.
"Then what did you mean?" Magnus asked as he approached with wide strides, a raised eyebrow and a scowl on his face.
"I meant it would be nice if you would show some interest in your future and focus on what's important" Alec said as Raphael filled his glass with water from the sink.
"And what if what's important to me is this job and not some silly number on a stupid paper that tells nothing of my capabilities or interests?" Magnus questioned, "There is more than one was to lead a successful life, Maryse's way isn't the only way".
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Alec asked as Raphael sipped awkwardly on his glass of water and filled out another.
"It means just because your mother says something, it doesn't mean that we all have to follow like sheep what she believes in and if that is what you choose, to follow whatever she says, that doesn't mean I should do so as well" Magnus said.
"Now it's a fight" Raphael commented as he put the glass down and went to his room.
"Just because I care about grades, doesn't mean someone is manipulating me to care about them" Alec said.
"And just because you care about them, doesn't mean I have the same interest" Magnus said.
Alec just shrugged, "I think I should just go home".
"Alexander" Magnus started with a sigh.
"I'll see you tomorrow.. or whenever" Alec shrugged as he put on his coat and took his keys.
"Don't go home angry" Magnus argued.
"Staying here isn't going to calm either of us" Alec said with a sigh, he stopped at the door, looking back at Magnus, "Maybe we should talk later".
"Of course" Magnus nodded, trying not to say anything wrong because of the heat of the previous moment as he looked back at Alec closing the door behind him, a little harsher than need be and sighed deeply.
Clary strutted down the stairs in her boots, black jeans and purple shirt, ruffling her blonde wig, stopping at the mirror that is right next to the stairs to look over herself, before a loud voice came from the kitchen, "You look great, would you just come down here?"
"Coming" Clary said with a roll of her eyes at her mother's impatience, though to be fair, pot, kettle, really. Clary walked into the kitchen throwing a "Good morning" to Luke, sitting at the breakfast table and giving her mother a kiss on the cheek. "Coffee?" she asked.
"Two sugars" Clary and her mother said in unison and Miranda tugged a smile under tightly pressed lips as Clary pulled two cups of coffee and putting two tablespoons of sugar in each.
"Luke, coffee?" Clary asked.
"Sure, no sugar though" Luke said, "I brought donuts".
"Of course you did" Clary said in a whisper as she and her mother giggled.
"Oh har har, a cop eating donuts, yes very funny, you two" Luke said with a roll of his eyes which only made Clary and Miranda snigger harder.
"Clary, tell Jace he's welcome to come in" Miranda said.
"Jace isn't here yet" Clary said but was immediately cut off by the sound of a horn outside, "How did you do that?" Clary asked her mother.
"By the magic of sight and this very conveniently located window" her mother said, sarcasm dripping from her tone.
"Oh, right" Clary said as she ran out to call Jace in.
"Does your mother plan on killing me?" Jace asked when Clary told him to come in for breakfast.
"She didn't mention it but I am sure she is planning something" Clary joked then rolled her eyes, "Stop being a baby and come on in".
"I'm confident enough in masculinity to say that I fear for my life from the hands of your mother" Jace joked.
"If she's being nice, don't question it, take it while you can" Clary said, then sing sang "We have donuts".
"You know what? On second thought, I have never had much regard for my life before" Jace said as he killed the engine and came out of the car, stopping next to her to rest an arm over her shoulder and bringing her closer for a kiss.
"Good morning" she said cheekily when they pulled away.
"A very good morning" Jace commented as they headed up the stairs to enter her house.
"It is, isn't it?" Luke commented, having heard Jace's comment from outside due to his wolf hearing.
Clary blushed as Jace just nodded, not knowing what else to say except for, "Good morning, Luke, Mrs. Fray".
"Hey, Jace, why don't you sit down, I'll get you a cup of coffee" Miranda said, "How do you take it?"
"Half a spoon" Jace said, clear panic in his eyes as he looked at Clary with a look that said 'Are you sure this won't be poisonous?'
'Pretty sure' Clary gave back a look as the two sat down at the table, Luke put his newspaper down to focus all his attention on Jace, "So kids, how is school?"
"Seriously, Luke?" Clary said with a roll of her eyes as she took a donut out of the box and split it in half, to give Jace the other half of it.
"What? I'm curious" Luke asked, "I hope you guys aren't getting into too much trouble".
"Us? Trouble?" Clary said with a roll of her eyes, "All we do is sit on a couch and watch movies with Isabelle, Alec and the rest".
Also get into illegal car races, gambling, betting, underage drinking, also we were arrested a few days ago but it's practically the same thing, Clary thought but she just smiled as she sipped her coffee.
Miranda gave Jace a cup of coffee, "Thank you" he nodded, giving one last look to Clary that meant I'm trusting you that this isn't poison.
She smiled as she sent a look back that said Stop being a baby and drink already.
"And how are those test scores coming in, Jace?" Miranda asked.
Clary glared as she resisted the urge to growl, she should have known they would give him the third degree, how could she not see the intent behind the kind gesture?
"Jace is an A+ student in all classes, even in freaking gym" Clary said, a bit of her tone sounded as a warning to her mother, the other was very much envy, she could admit.
"Is that so?" Luke sounded impressed and Clary stopped herself from scuffing I know you did a background check on him, Luke.
"Well, I don't fake modesty" Jace said with a chuckle as he bit into his half of the donut and sipped the surprisingly delicious coffee.
Clary rolled her eyes, "It doesn't suit you either".
Miranda and Luke gave each other a look while the kids were mooning over each other too much to pay attention and they had both agreed. These two are becoming very sappy.
"Well Jace" Luke started as he looked back at the two teenagers, "Have you ever considered going into law enforcement as a career?"
"You mean as a cop?" Jace asked.
Luke coughed before he answered, "Of that sort, I was thinking on a more national or international level, we are always looking for brave young men with great potential on the force".
"What are you saying?" Clary jumped in, she hadn't heard talk of this 'potential' from Luke before.
"Yeah, what are you saying?" Miranda asked again with the same look Clary had.
"Just something for Jace to think about, no pressure" Luke said.
Clary wanted to say something, to ask something, she wasn't sure where this sudden 'Join us, please' phase has come from and she wasn't sure how she felt about it, but before she could say anything, Jace leaned forward and asked, "Tell me more about this".
Isabelle stood outside the school in the little corner behind the bushes, sighing as she took out her last puff of smoke for the day.. or at least that was her goal though she often broke her promise. She inhaled, letting the crappy taste fill her mouth, she didn't even like the taste of it, but the warmth that filled her lungs with each deep inhale was enough to make her bite down on the taste.
She usually preferred bourbon to wash the taste down but she was still at school so she figured against that idea.
And just like always with each puff of the cigarette she let out, she could feel the headache slip away, the uncomfortable swallowing in the pit of her stomach was hushed and a sort of peacefulness washed over her body, as if she was on fire and someone was extinguishing it, slowly but surely.
The bell rang, signaling the quarter hour before the start of class, she sighed as she flicked the cigarette to the ground and stepped on it. She took out her perfume bottle from her backpack, masking the scent of smoke, and then she took out a gum and started chewing. There's no point in letting Jace know she's smoking again.
She only rarely does it. Like very rarely.
When she is upset is considered rarely.
She tugged her hands into her jacket's pockets as she headed inside, but when she turned around, she saw Sebastian walking into school, he hadn't noticed her yet as he was talking with Aline and she thanked the angel for that. She ignored the little flutter her heart made when she saw him, and she definitely ignored the sinking feeling of her stomach as she waited for them to go inside and then walked back to school, on her way she met up with Maia who seemed surprisingly quiet and on edge, she figured it had to do with whatever Jordan/Aline nonsense they were fighting about before that day.
"Hey Iz" Maia only said with a nod.
"Who died this morning?" Isabelle asked.
"No one yet, but my will to live is on the edges so here's hoping" Maia said with sarcasm and a roll of her eyes, "I'm just kidding".
"I figured" Isabelle said as the two walked up the stairs at the same pace, "Everything okay?"
Maia growled, "Do I seem okay?"
Isabelle raised an unimpressed eyebrow as she commented, "Put the claws and the teeth away, wolfie".
Maia sighed, "Sorry, just, on edge".
"Aline thing?" Isabelle asked and Maia turned back to her with wide eyed.
"What? Did she say something to you?" Maia asked.
"No, I just thought.." Isabelle let her words die out as she looked back at Maia, "Do you want to talk about it?"
"I- " Maia started then cut herself off, shaking her head, "I can't, it's not something I can talk about".
"I already know you illegally race cars, what more could you possibly know about a person?" Isabelle joked but Maia didn't laugh.
"It's just... not my thing to share.. Aline should tell you if she wants" Maia said, though it was obvious it was eating Maia up not being able to talk about it.
"Well look, you don't have to tell me what the fight was about but I can listen to vague clipped answers if it makes you feel better" Isabelle tried to comfort, "Or find a complete stranger to confide in... I mean a therapist or a specialist, please don't go home with any strange men to tell them about your problems, okay?"
"Stranger danger, got it" Maia rolled her eyes, "Well I'll see you later, I'm off to leave my seventeenth voice message to Aline".
"Well seventeenth time's the charm" Iz joked.
"Here's hoping" Maia said as she picked up her phone and walked towards another direction that Isabelle wasn't going towards, she avoided Clary who was kicking her locker after it not opening when she tried punching the code and Jace shooing her off so he can open it for her. She rolled her eyes, that girl has got to learn to open that damn locker.
She avoided those two because she didn't want to be around sappy people, so early in the morning, besides, she'll see them at first period anyways. While avoiding looking at them directly and simultaneously turning the corner, she bumped into someone and was thrown off a little.
"I'm sorry" they both said before she looked up and saw it was Sebastian, she tugged her lips into a tight line as she went to walk away.
"How was that morning cigarette?" she heard the voice behind her, she froze as he said it but by the time she turned around to meet his eyes, she had already put up the bored façade.
"Excuse me?" Isabelle said, sounding bored.
"You only chew gum when you have had a cigarette" Sebastian said, "So how was it?"
She rolled her eyes theatrically, "If you're trying to score points on how much you know me, I'm not impressed".
"It's cute you think I don't know how impressive I am to you" Sebastian said with a wolfish grin as he leaned over some poor bastard's locker.
"It's cute you think that I think anything of you" she countered as she put one foot forward, trying to seem more intimidating.
"And here I thought the word asshole comes to mind" Sebastian joked but his tone was humorless.
"Nothing actually comes to mind" Isabelle said, "Nothing".
He didn't flinch this time at her words, he only grinned wider, "How is Raphael?"
"Oh bite me" Isabelle hissed.
"Gladly" Sebastian answered back immediately, "Come here".
"Keep talking, all it's doing is lowering my already low opinion of you more and more" Isabelle said.
"That's not all it's doing" he grinned as he knew, he just knew she was just a little bit tempted to walk over to him and kiss him. But she wouldn't, not after everything, not again.
"Why don't you find someone else to ruin their life?" Isabelle said, "Oh that's right, no one's stupid enough to trust you anyways".
"Except you apparently" Sebastian countered.
Her right brow twitched, ever so slightly, "Are you calling me stupid?"
"I didn't say that, you said that" Sebastian said.
"You know what?"
"What?" Sebastian jumped up, cutting her off.
"It's not worth it" Isabelle said, "I was so stupid to ever think.." she cut herself off as she shook her head, she turned around and walked away.
"Isabelle, you're not being fair" she heard him say behind her back as a hand clasped around her elbow, tight enough to hold her in place but not tight enough to leave a bruise, "I keep waiting for you to give me a chance to explain. You know I didn't... when I did that it wasn't to hurt you or ruin your life.. I just.."
"But you did" she said it in a whisper, even though the hallway was empty now, everyone running to their classes, it was just the two of them but she couldn't find the strength to say it louder, "I used to think of myself as someone who would never ever cheat, hurt someone like that, but being with you... you turned me into the exact thing I despise most, you turned me into someone I don't recognize, someone who could hurt someone like Raphael and you knew, you goddamn knew why I couldn't..."
She let her words die out because yes, he knew, he was one of the few people who knew that her father cheated on her mother, she found out long ago and it was only her for so long but she confided in him, she told him her worst fear was to become someone like her father, a cheater, he knew and he didn't care.
"Isabelle, I made a mistake" Sebastian said, his tone pleading now.
She closed her eyes, counting to ten, before she finally said, "Yes, you did and I did too". She walked away then and this time he didn't stop her as she headed for the girls' bathroom, she let her nails dig into her skin as she repeated to herself 'You're not gonna cry, you're not gonna cry'.
Deep breaths calmed her down and she washed away her face, just in case. She looked herself in the mirror for a second before looking away, she needed a cigarette. She gave up on the idea of going to class now, there was no way.
She waited a few minutes more alone in the bathroom, to be sure Sebastian would have left before she headed out, she needed a distraction. She thought as she walked out and looked around for anything that could be considered a distraction.
A distraction.
Hello, distraction! Isabelle thought as she saw a guy alone in the hall, looking through his gruffy glasses at a piece of paper then back at the lockers. This would do.
"Do you need help finding your locker?" Isabelle asked.
"If that's a euphemism for you are going to put me in my locker..." the guy started as he turned around to meet her, he suddenly froze, his eyes widening and his jaw stood in place, hanging down, as he looked her over from head to toe then back up, "Uuumm, yes".
"You're giving me permission to put you through your locker?" Isabelle joked.
"Uuumm, I guess so, yeah, that's what I said" the guy said.
"Number?" Isabelle asked.
"What?"
"Number, what locker number is yours?" Isabelle asked, the guy stared at her further, unmoving and she snatched the paper from his hands, looking at it, she nodded and started walking the other direction, she turned back to see him still standing at the same spot, "Come on, I still have to put you through your locker".
That seemed to wake him up as he nodded and walked after her, "Sorry, you're just..."
"Your prettiest bully yet?" Isabelle said with a cheeky grin.
"Is it that obvious?" he asked sheepishly.
"Only to a true bully" Isabelle said. Yes, a good distraction indeed, "I'm Isabelle Lightwood".
"I'm Lewis. Simon Lewis" the guy, Simon, said.
"Well Simon Lewis, welcome to Alicante" Isabelle welcomed.
Dun
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Dun
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Duuuuuuuun
A/N: But we thought Simon was- ? Yes, so did we all.
Tell me what you guys think of this chapter, I would love to hear from you and I will see you in the next one.
