Sleeping beside Jace had been wonderful. Clary couldn't believe she'd been able to fall asleep so fast next to someone she hadn't known for years. Usually she couldn't sleep in front of anyone but Gran and Simon. It took a level of trust that was hard to earn.
Even when she'd asked Jace to stay with her, Clary hadn't really believed she would sleep. She just figured if she was awake she couldn't dream. No dreams meant no nightmares, and Clary really needed a night with no nightmares. Instead of being kept awake, she'd actually been able to sleep through the night without any disturbing dreams.
Truthfully, she'd had some wonderful dreams. Jace was so warm. Clary couldn't remember ever being so irritated to hear her alarm. She hadn't realized immediately why that was. All she knew was that she was warm and comfortable and didn't want to change a thing.
Having her alarm turned off brought her back to reality really quickly. Not only was there someone else in the bed with her, but she was practically laying on top of him. When she fell asleep only one of her hands had been touching any part of Jace, but when she'd woken up every part of her was touching him. The front of her was all either against his side or on top of him, and his arm was wrapped around the back of her. She hopped off the cot, completely embarrassed.
Poor Jace. Clary knew about the state most men woke up in. She knew it was just as likely Jace would have woken up exactly the same way even if he had slept alone. She'd kind of snapped at him when he told her it wasn't for any reason. She already knew he was just her friend. He didn't need to keep reminding her. The fact that he felt the need to, made her think of the position they woke up in. She had been all over him. If anyone needed to be embarrassed it was her.
She couldn't even look at him when he got up to leave. There was something familiar about the kiss he left on her forehead on his way out though. It felt like deja vu. Maybe that had happened in one of her dreams. Clary couldn't quite remember them clearly. They were like ghosts of memories running through the edges of her consciousness, but not quite sticking around long enough to become clear.
The next shift tapping on the door pulled Clary back to the present moment. She was going to have to get herself in gear if she wanted to get Gran set up for the day and get to the office on time.
Camille was in rare form. She was absolutely livid with Clary because Jace had put her in her place. She said, "I may not have the authority to fire you anymore, but you're going to wish I had!"
It honestly felt like Camille had nothing better to do for the entire day than make Clary miserable. She had Clary running here and there all day and was constantly yelling for her even when she'd just sent her away to do something. Clary caught several of the other staff sending pitying looks her way.
'One more week' she kept reminding herself. Hopefully her replacement wouldn't be someone worse. Clary didn't know if she'd be able to take it.
Magnus had been trying to convince Clary for a while to work full time for him. The bar was a restaurant during the day and he was tired of having to be there all the time. He said he needed an assistant manager he could trust so he could know the place was taken care of when he wasn't there.
Clary kept turning him down. Even though he assured her the new position would have a nice salary increase, she knew it wouldn't be enough to replace all three jobs, and he would need her to be available much more than she could with another job. Plus, as she kept reminding him, she had no management experience and surely he could find someone more qualified.
Days like this sure made his offer tempting. If she didn't have so many medical bills for Gran she probably would have taken his offer immediately. Now she was going to have even more bills.
She'd forgotten to ask Jace what he needed to tell her about Anne. Probably that the bills were getting out of hand and she would be paying on them forever if she didn't increase her payments. How embarrassing. She really wished Anne hadn't talked to Jace about her business. Oh well. Too late to worry about that now.
Clary let out a huge sigh of relief as the clock finally showed quitting time. Clary heard her text message alert on her way home, but she refused to check it while she was driving. When she was finally safely parked at her apartment she saw that the message was from Jace.
Tomorrow's my 30th birthday. Want to go to the bar and celebrate me becoming an old man? - Jace
Clary started to type that she couldn't, but stopped herself. Magnus had actually tried to get her to take Friday off. He'd said it when she asked for a table for Simon and his friends. She'd told him she couldn't afford it. That was technically still true, but the thought of going out with Jace was so tempting.
She started typing again, this time meaning to tell him she'd love to and set up a time. Again she erased the text without sending. How could she not work when Simon and his friends would be at her bar? They would know she took the time off and still chose not to spend it with them.
Clary was still trying to figure out how to go out with Jace without hurting her friend's feelings when another text came in.
There's a group of us going, so it wouldn't be a date or anything. Just as friends. - Jace
That settled it for Clary. If she wasn't going to miss work to hang out with her best friend, Simon, she wasn't going to miss it to hang out with other friends either. A date would have been different, but Clary was reminded, yet again, that they were just friends.
Thanks for the invite, but I shouldn't. - Clary
Clary waited several minutes for a reply, but none ever came. Finally, she sent him another.
I hope you have a really good birthday though! You totally deserve it. ? - Clary
When Jace didn't answer the second text either, Clary decided he must have gotten busy. She headed into the apartment to check on Gran and did her best to put Jace out of her mind.
Thursday night at the bar was slower than usual. Magnus told her it was probably because everybody would be going out the next week while classes were out. He said again that tomorrow would probably be slow too and she might as well take it off and enjoy it with her friends. Clary finally compromised with coming to work, but agreeing to stop working early and join her friends if the bar turned out to be as empty as it was tonight. As it was, Magnus sent her home a little before midnight.
It was exactly 12 when Clary pulled into the apartment, so she decided to send Jace a birthday text.
Hey birthday boy. Wanted to be the first to wish you a great 30th. Remember, age is just a number. ? - Clary
The text back was almost instant.
What are you doing up so late on your night off? Don't you work tomorrow? Is Gran okay? - Jace
Clary wasn't sure what to say. She could tell him about her third job, but he already seemed to worry about her a lot. She didn't want to give him more reasons. He did remind her she should get inside to check on Gran though. She walked inside as she was texting.
Night off? What's that? ? I hope I didn't wake you. I figured you'd just see it when you woke up and know I was thinking about you. - Clary
You didn't wake me. I was hanging out with my family and just got back to my room. I was thinking of you too. We had Chinese. I will always think of you when I order wantons now. ? Wish you could join us tomorrow. Are you here tonight ? - Jace
No. I just got home. I might be able to swing by for a little while tomorrow. I'll text you when I can and see if you're still out. - Clary
? ﾟﾏﾻ? ﾟﾏﾻI hope you can make it. Seeing you is my birthday wish. - Jace
It's bad luck to tell your wish, silly. Besides, I'm sure you'll think of something better by the time you blow out your candles. - Clary
No such thing. - Jace
Clary wasn't sure how to respond to that. It almost seemed like Jace was flirting, but she couldn't be sure. Clary caught herself yawning and decided sleep was more important than trying to figure it out.
Goodnight, Jace. - Clary
Goodnight, Clary. Sweet dreams. ? - Jace
Friday at work went much the same as Thursday had. Camille still seemed intent on punishing Clary, and Clary didn't dare ask for time off to take Gran to her morning follow up appointment. Thankfully, Simon was off on Fridays and had happily agreed to spend some time with Gran. He kept Clary in the loop by text and let her know that Gran's levels were much better and she didn't appear to be having any problems absorbing the potassium they had added to her diet.
By the time Clary left the office her feet were aching and the thought of being on them all night serving made her groan. It was tempting to wear flats to work for comfort, but she always seemed to make more tips when she went with heels, and she definitely needed more tips. At least she'd see Simon at work and finally meet Izzy. That would be a nice distraction. Simon had come by on quite a few Friday nights, but Izzy had never been able to join him. She'd had a group project this term worth half her semester grade in that class and the team insisted Friday night was the only time they were all available. The project had just been turned in and Izzy finally had her Friday nights back. That was a reason to celebrate for sure!
As Clary kissed Gran goodbye and drove to work she was back in her usual cheerful mood. She knew thinking about her feet wouldn't make them hurt any less, so she decided not to think about them. She even hummed as she rolled silverware with Magnus. She was grateful that he chose to close between dinner service and bar hours to give them this time to prep. Sometimes a table would be seated shortly before closing time and they would have to work around them, but it was still better than having a full restaurant. Especially since some of the tables got moved to the back to make a small dance floor.
Magnus again assured Clary that he had enough servers coming in if she wanted an evening with her friends. "I know it's been a long time since I've been as young as you are," Magnus teased, "but I seem to remember drinking with friends being an important thing at that age."
"At this age?" Clary teased back. "Didn't you just tell me how much you need an assistant manager so you could have a night out to find someone hot to drink with?"
"I said I'm not as young as you," Magnus shot back. "Not that I have one foot in the grave."
Clary's phone chimed with a text.
We're out back whenever you're ready - Simon
"They're here," she told Magnus. "We're pretty much ready, aren't we?" She asked, looking around the transformed room.
"Yes biscuit, go get your friends," Magnus said teasingly, patting Clary on the head as she hopped off her barstool.
When Clary opened the back door, she launched herself into her best friend's arms, like usual. "Si!" she said happily as he spun her around.
"Hey, Clary!" he said cheerfully, setting her down.
On Simon's left, Clary saw the most beautiful woman she'd ever laid eyes on. She was everything Clary was not. While Clary's skin was covered with freckles, Izzy's was perfectly smooth and absolutely flawless. While Clary's hair was all frizzy red curls, Izzy's was sleek, silky black and hung perfectly straight almost to her waste. While Clary didn't have a tiny chest, it certainly wasn't the perfectly full set of breasts Izzy classily displayed in the sapphire blue strapless dress she was wearing. While Clary had small hips and stubby little legs that barely took her above 5 feet without heels, Izzy had the hourglass figure that was perfectly showcased in the mermaid style dress she wore and perfect shapely legs that went on for days. With her black open toed stilettos she was the ideal height for Simon, who'd always towered over Clary. Even the bright red polish that adorned the tips of the toes you could see matched perfectly with the manicured nails on her hands. Clary self consciously realized her nails lay bare as she hadn't taken the time to put polish on them this week.
Clary made all these observations in the two seconds it took Izzy to pull her into a hug. "You must be Clary," Izzy said fondly. "It's so nice to finally actually meet you."
"Clary, this is Izzy," Simon said needlessly beside them. As the girls released from their hug Simon stepped back to reveal two men slightly taller than Izzy. "And these are her brothers, Alec and -"
"Jace?!" Clary squeaked, clasping her chest in surprise.