Thanks for the reviews and follows! As you know this is my first story, and I'm really enjoying writing it so far, and I have a few chapters already completed, minus editing. I know the prologue was pretty short, but the chapters should all be quite a bit longer. I'm not promising much with this story since it's my first time, but I have a set plan for each chapter and hope to update regularly.
Also, I guess I totally forgot to do a disclaimer, so in case you weren't sure I am not Cassandra Clare and I do not own The Mortal Instruments or any of the characters, although like most of you I would love to own Jace, but honestly, I'd settle for any Herondale… seriously.
Chapter 1
4 years later
"No, Seb. I can't tonight, I have one more piece I'm working on for my graduation exhibit and you know I won't be able to rest until it's completed." Clary said to her boyfriend of two years, Sebastian Verlac.
"Okay, Clare. Just don't work too hard babe. Call me when you are done." Sebastian said.
"Okay, I will. Have fun."
"K, love you Clare."
"Bye, Seb." Clary said as she hung up the phone with a sigh. She knows she can't put off the inevitable with Sebastian forever, she just doesn't know how to break his heart gently.
For the past four years, Clary has been excelling at the Alicante Academy of Art while living with her dad and brother across the country from where she grew up in Idris. While Clary is grateful for the time away from Idris, she misses her mom and best friends terribly. Once her mom told her that they were adding a cafe, art studio, and art classroom to the bookstore that Clary's mom, Jocelyn, owns with her husband, Luke, it was really a no-brainer for Clary to move back to start her career after graduation. The decision was the easy part, the hard part would be telling everyone.
5 hours later, Clary is finishing up her final piece in her collection for her graduation exhibit when she hears her Dad's voice at the door to her studio in his house.
"Clarissa, come take a break... Jon and I brought Chinese." Valentine Morgenstern says from the doorway.
"Okay, Dad. I'm almost done anyway, and I really need to talk to you guys."
After putting the finishing touch on her piece, Clary cleans up her studio and heads to the kitchen to eat with her Dad and brother. Jon is leaning on the counter, eating his Chinese right from the carton and it makes Clary smile how comfortable they have all become over the past few years.
"Hey, Jon. Saving some for anyone else?" Clary teased.
"Ah, she is alive!" Jon teased back. "I had text you like 6 times to see what you wanted to eat. Seb said you may have worked yourself into the ground with this final piece. Did you finish?"
"Yep! I think I'm officially done with my graduation pieces! I heard they are turning the exhibit into a silent auction for the twenty best pieces, so technically in two weeks someone other than my family may own my artwork!" Clary beamed.
"Clarissa, that is unacceptable. If any of your pieces are up for auction, I must purchase them myself. We cannot let anyone else get their hands on your precious work!" Valentine exclaimed.
"Dad, you know that's kind of the point of being an artist, right? People other than you will end up buying my stuff, eventually." Clary said, as she rolled her eyes at her Dad.
"Anyway, Clare, I heard some interesting news today." Jon said as he leveled Clary with his bright emerald eyes, which matched Clary's and their mother's eyes perfectly.
Clary and Valentine just leveled him with a look that clearly stated he should get to the point.
"Aline and Helen were over this afternoon and they told Seb and I some interesting news." Aline is Sebastian's cousin and Helen her long-time girlfriend. Helen is actually from Idris, originally, and when she moved to Alicante Jon introduced her to his roommate, Seb, and his cousin. Her and Aline have been inseparable ever since and are some of Clary's best friends in Alicante.
"Apparently, Helen's brother, Julian, is an aspiring artist and he just got a new job at none other than Garroway Books. Helen said mom and Luke bought the building next to the bookstore and are adding on a cafe and art studio where Julian will be teaching painting classes." Jon continued while leveling Clary with a pointed gaze. "What I'm trying to figure out is why mom wouldn't have shared this news with us yet... unless one of us already knew..."
Fuck. Clary thought as she sighed. "Dad, Jon, listen, I was planning on talking to you guys about it tonight-"
"Talking to us, Clarissa, or telling us. Were you even planning on consulting us before making the decision to leave?!" Valentine shouted.
"You guys are jumping to conclusions, I never said anything about leaving!" Clary defended.
"Well, aren't you?" Jon stated.
Clary sighed, "Yes, I'm moving back. I've been thinking about moving back after graduation for a while now, but when mom and Luke asked me about running the new art studio, I knew I couldn't turn that down." Clary turned her big emerald eyes on her family as she willed them to understand. "You both know this is a dream opportunity for me. How could I turn it down?"
Valentine sighed and was clearly resigned to let his daughter follow her heart. "We know, Clare-Bear, we are just going to miss you so much. The past four years have been the best of my life having you living with me and Jon so close. It's just going to be hard."
"I know, Daddy, I'm so sorry." Clary stated as she hugged her father. She then turned her gaze on Jon who reluctantly stepped forward to accept a hug, as well.
"What about Seb?" Jon pulls away and asks. "He's going to be the most annoying, broody, asshole of a roommate with his girlfriend across the country."
"Actually, about that..." Clary looked at Jon sheepishly. "I'm going to break things off when I tell him."
"Fuck, Clary! Really?!" Jon almost yells. "He's going to be devastated! This is why I never wanted you guys dating in the first place! I knew you weren't as serious about him as he was about you. Dammit, Clary!"
"Jonathan! Leave your sister alone. She's far too young for such a serious relationship, anyway!"
"Thank you, Daddy. I know he's going to be heart broken, Jon... but you know I never felt like he was the one. We just didn't have that deep connection and pull that I've been looking for." Clary replied as she turned her gaze on her brother imploringly. Willing him to see her side of things.
Jon sighs and rubs his hand down his face to quell his frustration at his only sister. "I sure as hell hope Seb knows this, Clary... cus I'm pretty sure he thinks you are the one. Actually, I know for sure the only reason he hasn't proposed yet is because he knows Dad would never give his blessing while you are still in school."
"Yeah, well, Dad's not the only one he would need to convince to say yes." Clary mumbled as she looked at the ground. "Cmon guys, let's eat. Then I need to call and tell Magnus the news. Hopefully, with his connections in the city he can help me find a roommate or a good deal on a place. At least I know he'll be thrilled about this."
Later that evening...
"Biscuit!" Magnus yelled into the phone in greeting.
"Hey, Mags! Are you busy?! I know it's late there, hopefully I'm not interrupting anything." Clary said.
"Oh no, Izzy and I are just finishing up some final designs for our Fall line." Izzy and Magnus were co-owners of Warlock's Boutique in Alicante and they were long-term roommates. They had both worked at the boutique through high school and college, and when the owner retired two years ago, they jumped on the opportunity to buy it. They have since turned the boutique into their own fashion line and offer their designs up to A-list celebrities and local stars. To say the business venture has been a success would be an understatement.
"Awesome! Can't wait to see them! I was actually calling with some news."
"Oh you finally dumped old Seb, huh?! I knew you guys were never meant to be!"
"Huh?! Magnus, no! Well, I mean I am going to break up with him, but I haven't yet and that's not what I'm calling about!"
"Sorry, Biscuit. I mean, not sorry about the breakup but sorry for making assumptions."
Clary rolled her eyes and said "Anyway, I was calling to tell you that mom and Luke are adding a cafe and art studio onto the bookstore! And none other than yours truly will be running the studio!"
"Wait, you are moving back?!" Magnus shouted. "When?!"
"Yep! Graduation is in a couple of weeks and then I want to take a month to pack up and find a place, so thinking within the next two months I'll be back for good." Clary beamed. She knew she could count on Magnus to be happy about her news. "I was actually calling to see if you had any ideas for a roommate or anyone renting an apartment or condo for those of us on an artist's budget?"
"Okay, first of all, that is amazing news! Izzy and I are already planning your Welcome Back party and you haven't even met her yet. But don't think I don't know about your multi-million dollar trust fund that you haven't touched yet, Miss Artist's Budget."
"Yeah, yeah... I knew I never should have told you about that" Clary laughed.
"But, as far as a place to live, my dear biscuit you are in luck! Alec and I are moving in together and my dearest Isabelle is in want of a new roommate." Alec is Izzy's older brother and has been Magnus' serious boyfriend for over three years. They had some issues with family acceptance in the beginning, but they have been solid as a rock ever since.
"Seriously?! Magnus, that's amazing news! Congrats!"
"Thanks, Biscuit. Honestly, between me and you - well, and Izzy - I think he is going to propose soon!"
"Of course he is, Mags! You and Alec are total end-game! I'm so happy for you, and I can't wait to get to know him better. Especially, if I'll be living with his sister... would Izzy really be down with that?" Clary asked hopefully.
"Hell yes she would!" Clary heard Izzy yell from Magnus' phone.
Clary laughed and couldn't help but think how perfectly things were falling into place. After ironing out the details of her return with Mags and Izzy she began to remember that the hardest part was yet to come. Telling Sebastian. Ugh, breakups suck, Clary thought with a sigh.