Clary ran. She ran from Alec's hurtful words. She ran from the feelings she didn't understand. She ran from the very idea she had so much control over Jace. She ran from everything she didn't want to face.
She had been running a while when she realized she had no idea where she was going. She stopped and got her bearings before heading off more purposely in the direction of the school campus. Clary pulled her jacket in close around her for comfort just as she remembered whose jacket it was. Suddenly the tears she had previously fought back threatened to make an appearance. It was dark, the only light guiding her came from the street lamps. Clary had tried not to think about all the things Alec said and what they meant, but she couldn't stop herself. All she had done was go up and talk to Jace a few times. That was it! Why was Alec so annoyed at her? And she hadn't even gotten the chance to really tell him everything she'd wanted to. He was, after all, dating her best friend who was finally happy because of Alec.
But the thing Alec had said that Clary just couldn't understand was that Jace loved her. How could Jace love her! They had spent so little time together and had so little knowledge of each other. Maybe that was why Clary kept finding reasons to talk to Jace.
As if the world could read her thoughts Clary spotted Jace. As she reached the dorm building she saw that familiar head of blonde hair bright against the darkness of the night. Jace wasn't facing her, but he was lit up by the light coming from a window of the dorm building and there was no mistaking that hair, but as Clary moved a step closer Jace turned a corner and disappeared around the back of the dorms. Clary wanted so badly to talk to him, even if only to tell him she hadn't meant to hurt him, so she followed him. When she turned the corner she called out to him.
"Jace." But when he turned around she didn't see the golden eyes she longed for. Green hateful eyes stared back at her.
"Wrong," Sebastian's voice cut through the night air. She could tell he was drunk, from his slurred speech and unbalanced manner of walking. Despite his level of intoxication, he still managed to move closer to her.
"Well if it isn't Jace's little obsession," Sebastian sneered. "The redheaded wench."
Clary avoided eye contact with Sebastian as she tried to turn back the way she had come, but suddenly Sebastian's arm was there to stop her. She jumped. For being so drunk he had moved surprisingly fast.
"There's nothing particularly remarkable about you," Sebastian said, his voice full of cruelty. "And yet Jace can't seem to be rid of you." Sebastian moved closer and Clary backed up until her back hit something solid. Turning, she realized her back was up against the dorm building.
"And you're wearing his jacket," Sebastian said, his words slurring slightly. "You little slut." Clary did not like his voice, his words or tone, but it was his body language that worried her most. Sebastian had each of his hands pressed against the side of the building on either side of her head, effectively trapping her in place. His body was too close. She could smell the alcohol and cigarette smoke on his breath.
"I wonder," Sebastian mused as he looked her up and down in a way that made Clary feel helpless. She thought of ducking under his arms and running for it, but sensed somehow she wouldn't be fast enough. His arm only had to move a fraction to stop her. She had a feeling this wasn't some stupid drunken screaming match like that day with the fire alarm. Sebastian wouldn't be content to call her rude names and leave her alone. She wasn't in a field full of other people this time and he was going to hit her, Clary was sure. Rather than sit back and let him beat her black and blue, Clary tried to think of a way to fight him off. She didn't have any items in her purse that would be heavy enough to do damage. She didn't have a whistle or pepper spray. She could scream, but pinned as she was against the wall there were few options available to her. She pushed with all her might against his chest, but he didn't budge.
"Oh, a fighter huh?" Sebastian mocked her.
"Back off!" Clary cried in frustration at her failed attempts to get him to move away.
"Oh how many times I told Jace to have his way with you," Sebastian said breathing on her. The scent of alcohol and cigarettes once again filling her nose. "But he didn't listen to me," Sebastian continued. "Maybe when you are my leftovers, Jace will finally be free of you." He pressed his body hard against hers, pinning her more firmly against the wall, leaving not a millimeter of space between them. "Worth a shot, don't ya think?"
And it was then, when Clary felt his arousal against her leg,that she realized what he was planning on doing. She had never been so scared in all her life. Being hit was one thing, but this was something else entirely.
Sebastian's body held her against the wall as his hands started to tear at her. He was ripping Jace's jacket off her. Clary used every opportunity to lash out at him. In trying to remove her jacket Sebastian released her a little and she kicked him while her hands clawed at him his face, digging her nails into his skin. She drew blood but it hardly phased him. Jace's jacket lay on the ground now and Clary felt like she had been stripped of her armor, but she wasn't about to give up. She kicked out with her legs again and this time she felt her foot contact with his shin, but as drunk as he was, Clary doubted he could feel much pain. It was then she started to scream for help. Or had she already been screaming? At this point Clary's mind swam with such a mixture of panic and desperation she wasn't sure. His hands were everywhere, tearing at the buttons on her shirt. Clary's nails mauled every inch of his skin she could reach, but his hands didn't relent in their attacks. Her eyes closed, she continued to scream and lash out even if it was all in vain.
Then suddenly, Sebastian was gone, lifted off her in an instant. Clary kept her eyes shut tight, her breathing erratic. Her hands flew to her belt as she felt for the clasp of her jeans. The button was undone, the zipper half down but Sebastian had gotten no farther. Her blouse she knew was in pieces but Clary didn't care at the moment. She opened her eyes. Sebastian was on the ground in a heap a meter away and Jace stood a foot from her, breathing hard. It was as if Jace had flung Sebastian off her in one forceful motion. Though Sebastian lay on the ground with angry red lines left by her nails on his hands and face and his dark jeans hanging around his knees, he was still smirking. Jace on the other hand was standing protectively between Clary and Sebastian. Clary could only see the side of his face but Jace looked livid.
"Would you like to join us?" Sebastian sneered as he stumbled getting up. "Surely you want her more than I do. How rude of me to start before you arrived."
Jace didn't speak but he didn't take his eyes off Sebastian either. The look of rage on his face was like nothing else. Through Jace's furious expression, Clary also saw understanding. It was as if Jace was suddenly seeing who Sebastian really was. But when Jace turned to her, his face changed completely. There was a softness to his expression that made Clary suddenly feel like she could breathe, like everything was going to be okay. Jace looked at her and she wasn't scared anymore.
"Are you alright?" Jace asked her.
"Yes," Clary replied.
Jace turned back to Sebastian, the rage returning to his eyes.
"I have always forgiven you," Jace said with sadness, his voice full of disdain and disappointment. "No matter what you did or who you hurt, I was always by your side." Suddenly all the hurt in Jace's voice vanished, replaced with pure rage as he added. "But I cannot forgive this! I will never forgive his."
"Whatever," Sebastian said with a shrug as finally got his pants back on properly and tried to get up. "Fine I didn't want her anyway." He didn't do a very good job of standing up and fell down again wincing.
"Bitch did a number on my leg," Sebastian complained as he finally stood up. "See ya." He made to turn around, but Jace's voice stopped him cold.
"I mean it," Jace's voice was like nothing she had heard before. Not only did Jace look so enraged it was like he had fire is his veins, but Clary could also hear the pain at being betrayed by his closest friend in his voice. "We are through."
For the first time, Clary saw fear on Sebastian's face, but it was only there for a moment as Sebastian quickly composed his expression.
"We'll talk about this tomorrow," Sebastian said as he walked off, swaying from side to side as he vanished into the darkness.
And then she was in Jace's arms. Clary couldn't resist the comfort and pressed herself tighter against Jace, her breathing becoming easier every second he held her.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Jace asked, anxiety clearly apparent in his voice. Clary didn't reply, but breathed in the smell of Jace. She knew now why she had worn his jacket: she loved to have Jace's scent wrapped around her. His arms held her tight to his chest and she let herself embrace the moment. Her pulse slowly returned to normal in the safety of Jace's arms.
"I'm okay," Clary finally answered him.
"Alec texted me that he'd upset you and I have been looking for you for the last half hour," Jace confessed. "But then I heard you scream and…"
"You saved me," Clary told him smiling.
"What do you want me to do Clary," Jace asked gently.
"About?" Clary asked.
"Sebastian," Jace replied. "Do you want to go to the police?"
Clary wasn't sure what she wanted to do, aside from forget the whole thing. Technically, the worst he'd done was pin her against the wall, but if Jace hadn't stepped in…
"Do you think he will do that to someone else?" Clary asked. "Someone who wouldn't have you to save them?"
"I don't know," Jace replied. "I realized tonight I don't know Sebastian at all."
"Let's worry about that tomorrow," Clary decided.
Jace stood up, with Clary in his arms. She rested her head on Jace's shoulder, eyes closed, as he carried her inside. Jace laid her down on her bed, but she didn't open her eyes. Clary kicked off her shoes before Jace pulled the covers up over her, tucking her in. Clary heard his footsteps walking away and her eyes snapped open.
"Stay," Clary pleaded. She didn't want to be alone and there was no one she felt safer with.
"You sure?" Jace said, turning to face her. "After-" he broke off unable to put into words what had almost happened. "I wouldn't blame you if you never wanted to talk to me again." The grief and shame Jace managed to pack into that one sentence touched Clary's heart.
"You are nothing like him," Clary told Jace firmly. "And I don't want you to leave."
"Alright," Jace whispered. He moved her desk chair over and placed it at the head of her bed. Jace turned the lights out and then sat down. Clary closed her eyes and focused on Jace's even breathing beside her. Falling asleep, knowing Jace was watching over her, made Clary feel surrounded in the safety and comfort of a warm cocoon.
Wow this chapter was short but it felt like it needed to end there. Also please don't hate me! I have never written a scene like this before and though I have been planning it for quite a few chapters now... I am kinda not sure how you guys will react...
Sneak peek of chapter 28:
"Words Alexander!" Magnus barked. He didn't mean to be harsh at Alec but the atmosphere of the room had him on edge. There seemed to be a tension in the air.
"Clary tried to lecture me about not hurting you and I kinda flipped it on her and reminder her that she is hurting Jace," Alec said very fast. "I'm sorry. I think I upset her. I didn't mean to be so rude I just snapped." Alec paused a moment from breath then continued. Magnus had never heard Alec talk so fast before. "But I texted Jace to go find her and make sure she's okay."
"Has Jace replied?" Magnus inquired.
