Eighty Fifth One Shot:
Juvie
Clary POV:
Life wasn't fair by a long shot. And more often than not, I was on the shitty side of receiving life's punishments, but I guess I only have myself to blame for that. Being in foster care was tough. Especially when you're older. Everyone wants to adopt a cute little kid, but it's the older ones that are gipped out of getting a family too. That was me. I entered the foster system when I was 8 years old, and way past my peak for anyone to be interested in me. I had a friend, a good friend in the system, and I thought we'd make it through together, but when we were both 12, he actually got adopted, and as happy as I was for him, it sucked being alone.
That's when the trouble started. I would get fostered for a couple weeks but eventually I was sent back because of my terrible attitude. But who would have a good attitude in foster care? It wasn't a happy place. We were all here because our parents died, they didn't want us, or they were over all shitty people. It's hard to overcome that when you're a kid. Sure the little ones didn't know what it felt like to be abused, but I sure as hell did, and I had a chip on my shoulder about it. Who wouldn't?
When I got to high school, I really started spiraling, and when I was 15 I was sent to juvie for fighting, but in my defense the girl deserved to have her ass kicked. I was cuffed, and taking down to the precinct and arraigned. I was sent for a juvenile detention center for troubled youths. I was supposed to be there until my 21st birthday, but I was let out a couple months ago due to over crowding. Now I was just trying to navigate my life as a 19 year old with a record.
My social worker agreed to help me get a job, and than I was on my own, and her friend worked at a diner and needed some more hands, so I'm a waitress. It's not the most glamorous job, but I get money, and soon enough I'll have enough money to buy my own place and get out of that halfway house. The only problem with this diner was the kids that came in here were the kids I went to school with up until I was sent to juvie, and they all knew about it, so the stares and the whispers were constant. It was a normal day when the bell rang and in walked a face I never thought I'd see again.
"Jace, over here." The bitchy girl in the corner said, and it took everything in me to roll my eyes. Him and the two people he was with made their way over to the corner and took a seat. They always sat in my section just to poke fun at me, and I hated it, not only because they make jokes about me, but they didn't leave tips, and those were the customers I hated the most. I took a deep breath and made my over to them, wishing for the first time that I got a day off.
Jace POV:
We had just moved back to New York because Izzy, Alec and I were all attending NYU, and Maryse and Robert thought it would be nice to come back home. Ever since I was adopted by them life had been amazing. We went on vacations every summer to a different place, I was sent to the same private school that Alec and Izzy went too, and they paid for my college tuition. I couldn't have asked for a better family to adopt me, and I was one of the lucky ones that got out of the system.
We were invited to this diner by some kids were knew from college. I don't remember this place being here before, but it had been years since I've been back. I took a seat and the girls started talking about shopping or something, and the guys were talking about sports. I was looking around when I caught the sight of a redhead. But not just any redhead, the redhead that I spent time with in the foster system. A redhead that I never thought I'd see again. She made her way over to the table and put on a fake smile.
"Welcome to Taki's, my name is Clary and I'll be your server today. Can I start you off with something to drink?" She asked.
"I'll have a water with lemon." Aline said. "But make sure the lemon doesn't have any seeds in it. I nearly choked on one last time, and I'd hate for you to get fired from your low life job and have to live on the streets where you belong." She said and I was actually stunned by the way she talked to Clary. I looked at her, and she looked like she wanted to retaliate but she didn't.
"Of course." Clary said. The others ordered and than she got to me and I looked in those big green eyes, and I could tell she'd been through some shit, and that she was forever changed because of it. "And you?" She asked.
"Coke." I said and she nodded.
"Those will be out soon." She said and she walked away.
"Why were you so mean to her?" Izzy asked before I got the chance.
"She deserves it. That girl is batshit crazy." Aline said.
"How so?" Alec asked.
"Our freshman year of high school she beat up my friend and got 5 years in juvie for it." Aline said and my jaw dropped.
"You went to high school with her?" Izzy asked.
"Yea. She was crazy." Aline said. "She actually just got out a couple months ago. Her social worker had to beg the owner to give her a job."
I looked over at Clary and she was talking to another waitress and she had a smile on her face. Not the radiant smile that I was used to as a kid, but a smile nonetheless, and I was curious about why she was in juvie, and what happened to her there.
She came back over and handed us out drinks. When she put mine down I looked up at her and smiled, and she smiled back, but I wasn't sure if it was politely, or because she knew who I was.
"Are all ready to order?" She asked.
"Can we just get an order of fries for the table?" Aline asked. "And this time, make sure they aren't burnt."
"I will do my best." Clary said as she walked away. It took everything in me not to walk up to the counter and talk to Clary, but I didn't want to scare her, and I didn't know what to say.
When she walked back over she put the fries down on the table. Aline gave her a bitchy smile and Clary walked away and took car of other customers she had. We were there for about an hour and a half before everyone was finished. Aline snapped her fingers in the air and Clary made her way over to us.
"What can I get for you?" Clary asked.
"The check." Aline said. Clary reached in her apron and pulled out the book and handed the check to Aline. "And don't expect a tip."
"You never give me one Aline." Clary said. "I didn't expect that to change." Clary said and she walked away.
"Why not give her a tip?" I said. "She got you everything you wanted, even down to the stupid seedless lemon."
"You don't get it. She doesn't deserve my hard earned money." Aline said as she signed the check.
"You mean daddy's hard earned money?" I asked and she looked at me shocked.
"You better watch how you talk to me." Aline said. "I can make you the laughing stock of NYU in a second." She said.
"I've never been one to care about my reputation." I said. She scoffed and stood up followed by her posse. Alec and Izzy stayed behind as we watched them go. Clary made her way back to the table. This was my chance.
"It's good to see you again Clary." I said and she looked at me.
"You remember me." She said a little surprised.
"How could I forget my little leprechaun?" I asked and she laughed.
"I've grown since my 8th birthday." She said.
"But you're still short." I said and she smiled.
"How have you been?" She asked as she started to clean up the table.
"I've been great." I said honestly. "You?"
"I'm sure Aline told you all about me." She said with a humorless laugh.
"She told us the basics." I said. "Juvie?" I questioned.
"Yea. Not my proudest moment, although my father would be thrilled. In jail at 15. I broke his record." She said with a laugh.
"Clary." I said and she looked at me. "Don't go there."
"I'm over it." She said but I knew she wasn't. "Anyway, I have to get back to work. It was good seeing you again Jace."
"You too Clary." I said and she walked away. I looked back towards Izzy and Alec and their jaws were dropped. "What?"
"You know her?" Izzy asked.
"We were in foster care together." I said. "We showed up around the same time. We bonded because we were close in age, and most of the kids there were way older, or way younger." I said and they nodded. We got up and Alec and Izzy started walking away when I looked at the table. I took out my wallet and out a 20 down, and walked away. When I got to my car, I looked in the window and saw Clary make her way back over to the table we were sitting at. She picked up the bill and smiled and looked out the window. Out eyes locked and I smiled before getting in. Clary has always been a puzzle, but I was going to finally figure her out.
Time Jump – One Week Later
Clary POV:
I was cleaning up the counters for like the 8th time today. It had been a slow day for me, which sucked because that meant very little tips, and that was basically a bust for me. Without tips, I barely made anything, and I needed those tips. Most of the people in this place right now were just waiting out the rain and working on their 5th cup of coffee. It had been down pouring for a sold two hours now, and I didn't blame them for not wanting to leave.
When the bell rang I was surprised. It had the been the first time that bell rang since the rain started, and when I looked up, there stood Jace, drenched and smiling at me. He made his way over to the counter and took as seat right in front of me.
"What can I get for you?" I asked automatically.
"Do you happen to have an extra towel?" He asked and I laughed. I reached under the counted and pulled out a clean one. "Thanks." He said once I handed it to him.
"Are you insane?" I asked. "It's pouring outside."
"I am well aware of that." He said as he gestured towards himself.
"What are you doing out in this weather?" I asked.
"I got caught." He said. "I could barely see the road, and I decided to just pull into the next parking lot, and it happened to be this one. I figured I might as well get something to drink while I wait out the storm." He explained.
"What will it be?" I asked.
"Coffee please." He said and I grabbed a mug and the pot at poured him a cup. "Thanks." He said and I nodded. I went to go top the others off and when I got back to Jace he was almost finished.
"Wow. You must have been thirsty." I said as I poured him more.
"It's really cold outside." He said. "I needed something warm."
"I never got a chance to thank you for your tip last week." I finally said.
"You deserved it." He said. "I could never be a waiter, people can be so demanding." He said and I laughed.
"It takes a lot for me not to say something sarcastic back." I said and he smiled. "But I need the tips, so I have to be on my best behavior. Plus I don't want to get fired."
"The joys of being in customer service." He said and I nodded.
"Not my first choice, but really my only choice." I explained.
"Not a lot of people like to hire people with juvie records?" He asked.
"Surprisingly no. They think I'm 'a loose cannon'." I said as I put that in air quotes and he laughed.
"You were rather hot heated as a child." He said and I smiled.
"Can you really blame me?" I asked.
"No." He said. "You went through a lot of shit. I can't imagine not having a lot of pent up anger."
"Yea. That got me into a lot of trouble though." I said with a humorless laugh.
"So what's the real reason you beat that girl up?" He asked.
"She was the type that thought she was above everyone." I explained. "She loved to poke fun at me about being in foster care, or not having parents." I said. "She loved bring up the fact that my mother was dead, and my father was in jail for child abuse."
"When did that become public knowledge?" He asked.
"Since her daddy worked in law enforcement." I said.
"I hate when officers talk about their cases at home." Jace said and I nodded.
"It didn't bother me at first." I said. "I knew my dad was fucked up, and I lost my mom so young that I don't really remember her." I explained. "It wasn't until she started shoving and tripping me. I could handle her shit talking, but once she started physically assaulting me, I lost it. I went a little over board I'll admit, and I was charged with aggravated assault and sent to juvie. I was supposed to be there until I was 21, but I was let out due to over crowding."
"I can't blame you for hitting her." He said. "She was doing some pretty fucked up shit."
"The principle, and the police didn't see it that way." I said. "I was hauled out of that school, and sent right to juvie."
"Were you terrified?" He asked.
"A part of me was, but a part of me was actually pretty relieved that for the first time since I had been in the system, I was going to be at a place for more than a couple weeks." I said and I looked at him and he gave me a sad smile.
"I'm so sorry you went through that." He said.
"My actions were all my own. Nobody told me to beat her up, and I had to take full responsibility for that." I said and he nodded. "You seem like you made our pretty well." I pointed out.
"I did." He said. "The Lightwoods have been truly amazing to me."
"I'm really happy you got out Jace." I said and he smiled.
"I wish I could have taken you with me." He said. "You don't know how upset I was that I was leaving you there."
"You had an opportunity to get the hell out of there." I said. "I'm glad you took it."
"It's done good things for me." He said.
"I'm glad." I said and he smiled at me.
"Miss, can I have more coffee please." I heard and I broke out of whatever spell I was under and looked over in that direction.
"Of course. One moment." I said. I grabbed the pot and walked over and refilled his cup. I got back to where Jace was sitting and refilled his cup as well. He sat there until the rain let up and than told me he was needed home. He paid for his cup, and walked out of the diner. I watched him go and looked down and noticed another 20 on the table. I looked up and he was standing at his car. He smiled before he got in and I smiled back. I never thought I was ever going to see him again, but I was happy that he was back in my life in some way.
Time Jump – Six Months Later
Clary POV:
"You have to leave Clary." Hodge said and I couldn't believe it.
"I don't have enough money to afford my own place Hodge." I pleaded.
"You've been here for way longer than the normal person is Clary." Hodge said.
"Because kids who come out of juvie normally have family to rely on." I said. "I don't have anyone Hodge. Please." I pleaded again.
"This isn't my decision Clary." He said. "I'm just following the rules." I nodded and gathered my things and walked out of the house. I had nowhere to go, and no one to lean on. I walked until I found bench and just took a seat. I was going to be living on the streets at this point. I don't know how long I sat there and cried, but I couldn't force the tears not to come this time. I was devastated, and I think my body finally decided it was time to let all my anger and sadness out.
"Clary?" I heard and when I turned around there stood Jace. "It's freezing out here."
"I'm aware." I simply said.
"Are you okay?" He asked. He walked over to me and I knew he could tell something was wrong. "Have you been crying?" He asked and I wiped my eyes.
"No." I said and he laughed and took a seat next to me.
"What's going on Clary?" He asked.
"I was just kicked out of my halfway house." I said. "I'll tell you, overcrowding is a son of a bitch."
"Where are you going to go?" He asked.
"Maybe over there." I pointed towards a tree. "Maybe in that ally." I said as I pointed to the sketchy ally to my right.
"You're homeless?" He asked.
"Yea. I can't afford my own place." I said. "And I don't have family to rely on."
"Come with me." Jace said.
"What?" I asked.
"I'm not going to let you freeze out here Clary." He said. "Come with me."
"I'm not going to mooch off you." I said and he laughed.
"You aren't." He said.
"Staying in your house for free is mooching." I explained. He stood up and grabbed my things.
"We're old friends." He said. "We've been through some shit that nobody understands. I got lucky, you didn't. This is me helping you turn that bad luck around." He said and I sighed and stood up.
"Okay." I said. "But only because I'm fucking cold." I said and he laughed. We got to his car and I got in and he followed and than he was off. When we got to his place it was pretty spectacular, and it made me wonder just how well off this family was. He got my stuff and I followed him in and the place was absolutely beautiful. Something that I could only dream about when I was younger. "Wow." I said and he looked at me. "You lucked out."
"I really did." He said as we made our way farther into the house. "Izzy, Alec, Clary is going to be staying with us for a little."
"Why?" Alec asked, but not in a rude way, just in a curious way, which is understandable.
"I got kicked out of my halfway house." I said and they nodded.
"I'll show you to the guest room." Jace said.
"You have a guest room?" I asked and Jace laughed.
"Maryse and Robert wanted our house to be accommodating just in case." He said and I nodded. We walked into the guest room and it was amazing. I mean, I barely got a bed at the halfway house, so this was something else. "I hope it's alright."
"Alright?" I asked. "I barely had a bed at my halfway house." I said. "This is more than alright."
"Well, there is a bathroom over there." He said as he pointed. "Everything is in there, and if there is something you need, just let me know. Extra blankets are in the cabinet to the left." He pointed. "And closet is over there." He said as he pointed in the other direction.
"Thank you Jace." I said and he smiled. "For everything."
"I wasn't going to let you freeze." He said with a smile. "Dinner is kinda a free for all here, so raid the fridge for whatever."
"Can I make something for everyone?" I asked. "I feel kinda bad just crashing here without doing something." I explained.
"If you want, go for it." He said and I nodded.
He left and I took my limited amount of clothes out and put them away. I went downstairs and they were all sitting in the living room watching TV. I made my way into the kitchen and started searching for things to make. There wasn't much to make a full meal, but I knew how to improvise. This was the least I could do for them taking my sorry ass in off the streets, and I was going to prove that I wasn't good for nothing.
Time Jump – Two Months Later
Clary POV:
Jace and I had a rather good schedule. He normally dropped me off at work when I worked the morning shift, and when I told him it wasn't necessary, he told me that he didn't mind plus it gave him time to get his much needed coffee fix in the morning. I knew I wasn't going to win the argument, so I just let it happen. When I worked the night shift though, Jace didn't drop me off or pick me up. I was normally done around midnight, and he didn't need to stay up that late for me. I normally caught the bus back to his place, which was normally fine, but for some reason tonight felt different, and I was just trying to keep my head down until I got to the house.
"Hey baby." I heard once I stepped off the bus. I ignored it and just kept walking. Jace's house was just up the street, and I just wanted to get there and be safe. "Hey bitch, I'm talking to you." I heard him yell and I didn't respond until I felt him yank my arm. "I don't appreciate your attitude." He said. "Give me all your money." He said.
"I don't have any." I said honestly. Tips were scarce during the night shift.
"Don't fucking lie to me." He said as he punched me in the face and I fell to the ground. Normally I would stand my ground but I was tired, it had been a long night, and I didn't have the energy.
"I'm not lying." I said as I was on the ground. "I'm just a waitress. Tips aren't a thing during the nightshift." I said.
"Than give me your cell phone." He said.
"I don't have one of those either." I said honestly, but I felt a kick come to my ribs. I screamed in pain as my head hit the pavement.
"Don't fucking lie to me." He said again.
"I'm not. I can't afford one." I said. He took my bag, grabbed my by the neck and smiled at me. I could smell the tobacco on his breath, and I was repulsed.
"I'm just gonna take this than sweetheart." He said. He left go of me and ran off. I stayed there for a couple minutes trying to get my composure so that I could make it back to Jace's house. When I finally stood up, I was in pain but I couldn't stay out here all night. I needed to move.
Jace POV:
I was woken up when I heard a crash in the kitchen. I got out of bed and at the moment I opened by door, Alec and Izzy emerged from theirs as well.
"What's going on?" Izzy asked.
"No idea." I said. We made our way to the kitchen and Clary was standing there, her back facing us, and she was looking down at the ground. "Clary?" I said and she turned around and I gasped. "What the hell happened to you?" I asked as I saw the swollen eye, the blood dripping from her lip, her damp hair, and the tears that were streaming down her face.
"I was just trying to get a glass of water." She said.
"Forget about the glass." I said as I made my way over to her. "What happened to you? Who did this?" I asked.
"I was getting off the bus and some guy approached me. He asked for my money but I didn't have any and he didn't like that." She said. "He punched me and I fell. Than he asked for my cell phone, and I don't have one of those either, and he wasn't buying it, so he kicked me." She said and her hands went to her torso. "Than he just took my whole bag and ran."
"Did you get a good look at him?" I asked.
"No. It was dark." She said and I nodded. "I just wanted some water. I'm thirsty." She said again.
"Why don't you take a seat on the couch?" I said. "Izzy will take you, and I'll get you some water." I suggested and she nodded. Izzy came over and held her up and guided her to the couch. I stepped over the broken glass and grabbed another one and filled it with water while Alec started cleaning up the broken glass. I went over to her and handed it to her. She took it and started drinking. I went to help Alec clean the glass up when Izzy joined us.
"She's asleep." Izzy said. "She finished her water, and than laid down and was out like a light."
"Thanks for helping her." I said and she nodded.
"I have an early class tomorrow, so I'm going to head to bed." She said and I nodded. She left the kitchen and I looked back at Alec.
"You can go to sleep too." I said. "I don't have class until 1, so I don't mind staying up to clean this."
"Okay." He said. He left the kitchen and I continued to clean it up until I heard whimpering. I put the broom down and made my way over to Clary and I heard her talking.
"Please daddy." She said. "Please stop. It hurts." She said as she tossed and turned. "Please, I promise I won't do it again." She said and I bent down and touched her leg and she started crying.
"Clary. Wake up." I said as I shook her lightly.
"Stop daddy." She whimpered again.
"Clary its Jace." I said as I shook her harder and she shot up and was gasping for air. I didn't even say anything. I just grabbed her and pulled her into me. She didn't say anything either, but she clung to me for dear life as she tried to control her breathing. When she was calm she pulled away from me but I didn't move. "Are you okay?"
"Yea. Just a nightmare." She said.
"Clary, you don't have to pretend to be strong around me." I said. "It's okay to have your weak moments."
"It's nothing Jace." She said. "I've been dealing with them for years."
"That doesn't make it right." I said.
"I've been through worse." She said. "Shit happens, maybe more to me than to you, but you know what it's like. You move on quickly."
"You were beat up and mugged tonight Clary." I reminded her. "That's not something you get over quickly." I said and she just shrugged.
"I'm going to take a shower." She said. Without another word she got up and walked away. I knew Clary was a tough girl. How could you not be in her situation? But that didn't mean she had to go through it alone. When I walked upstairs. I heard the water running, and when I peaked in her room she was not there. I opened her door, walked in and closed it. I got in her bed and waited for her to come out. I wasn't letting her be alone tonight.
Clary POV:
When I was finished in the shower I opened the bathroom door and was surprised to see Jace on my bed.
"What are you doing in here?" I asked and he looked at me.
"You went through something traumatic Clary." He said. "I'm not leaving you alone to deal with it by yourself."
"I've been doing it alone for years." I said.
"And now you don't have too." He said. It was late, and I was exhausted, and I just didn't want to fight anymore.
"Fine." I said and I got into bed. I got comfy and when I closed my eyes, the darkness took me over faster than I expected.
I woke up the next day and I was incredibly warm. I went to sit up and realized that something was stopping me. I looked to my left and noticed that Jace was sleeping next to me. But that wasn't all. His arms were wrapped protectively around me, I didn't even mean too, but I smiled more than I thought I was able too at this moment, and than I realized that I didn't have any nightmares last night.
"What time is it?" I heard Jace ask and I looked at the clock.
"8." I said.
"I don't have class until 1, and you don't work until later. Come back to bed." He said in a super sexy sleepy voice.
"Okay." I said and he pulled me into him. I fell against him, and my head was resting on his chest. He was asleep in a second and I listed to the sound of his steady heartbeat until I lulled me to sleep.
Time Jump – Later That Night
Clary POV:
I had asked a co-worker to drive me home tonight. After explaining to my boss about what happened, he told me that he would give me dayshifts until I felt comfortable enough to come back and work the nights, and I was really thankful for that.
When I got into the house I took a deep breath and headed to my room. I got a shower, and got ready for bed, and when I got under the covers, I instantly hated how big this bed felt without Jace in it. I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep, but I couldn't. Every time my eyes were closed I could see my dad, or I was reliving that attack, or my many horrible nights in juvie, and when I looked at the clock it was nearly 2 in the morning. I thought about disturbing Jace, but I just felt so bad about waking him up. I convinced myself that I didn't need him to feel safe, but I was just deluding myself. Of course I needed him, and I hated that I felt that dependent on someone.
I walked out of my room and walked down the hall to where Jace's room was. I stood in front of it for who knows how long just debating if this was the right move. I didn't want to interrupt his sleep, but I also knew that I slept better with him by my self, and at this point, I was afraid to sleep alone, and he only shared my bed for one night. I took a deep breath and knocked on his door. A few moments later Jace opened it looking incredibly tired.
"What's up?" He asked in his groggy voice.
"I'm sorry. This was a mistake." I said as I backed away, but he grabbed my hand.
"I know you Clary. You wouldn't be here if you didn't need something." He said.
"I can't sleep." I said. "I've been trying since I got home from work, but every time I close my eyes I just see horrible things that have happened to me." I explained.
"What can I do?" He asked.
"Can I stay with you?" I asked shyly. Jace was still holding onto my hand, and he pulled my gently into his room and shut the door behind me. He guided me to his bed and motioned for me to climb in. When I did, Jace wasn't far behind. We both got comfy before he pulled me towards him and I rest my head on his chest. He was asleep the second he got comfortable and I laid there and drew circles into his chest until my eyes got heavy. I was lulled to sleep by the sound of his heartbeat yet again and no nightmares flooded my dreams for the second night in a row, and I wouldn't believe he was having this affect on me, but I didn't mind it.
Time Jump – Next Day
Clary POV:
I was working the day shift and when the doors opened in walked Aline and her click of dicks. I rolled my eyes and they took a seat in their normal booth. I hated that they always sat in my section. Like, annoy someone else, and leave me alone. I grab my note pad and made my way over to them.
"Welcome to Taki's, what can I get for you?" I said in my customer service voice.
"You'd think that they'd find someone more qualified for your job by now." She said and I resisted rolling my eyes.
"Well, if you sat in another section, you wouldn't have to deal with me." I said and she just laughed.
"But this booth is so comfy." She said and her posse laughed.
"I have other tables, so what can I get your to drink?" I asked.
"I'll have a water with a lime this time. But no seeds." She said and I nodded. The rest of the group ordered and I went to go get them filled. I was walking with a tray of drinks back to the table when someone bumped into me and the all 6 glassed covered me in liquid.
"Oh my god." I said as I dropped the tray.
"Oops. My bad." Aline said and I balled my fists but bit back my anger. I couldn't get fired. Not over her.
"It's okay." I got out. "I'll be right back with your refills." I said. I grabbed the cups, and the tray from off the ground and went back to the kitchen. I grabbed more cups and filled them with their order and safely made it to their table with no spills. "What would you like to eat?" I asked.
"Fries for the whole table, and some carrot stick. I'm trying to maintain my figure." Aline said and I wrote it down and walked away.
"Figure my ass." I whispered to myself as I put in the order. I was wiping myself down with towels when the bell rang and in walked Jace. He went to open his mouth but before he had the opportunity someone else spoke.
"Jacey." The voice came and there stood Aline. "There is a spot open at out table so you don't have to hang around with this low life." She said as she pointed towards me.
"I'm good." Jace said.
"Are you sure?" Aline asked again.
"Positive. I'm just here to pick up Clary." Jace said.
"You're an hour early." I cut in.
"I know, but I didn't want to go home alone. I thought I'd come and hang out here, and wait until your shift was over that way when we get home, I won't be alone." He said as he took a seat.
"Wait, you live together?" Aline asked shocked.
"Isn't that what most couples do?" Jace asked, which caused Aline's jaw to drop, and me to choke on my own spit. Aline was so shocked that she cut walked away. Jace turned his attention back towards me with a smile on his face. "Maybe that will be the last time she hits on me." He said with a laugh and than notices my expression. "What?"
"That just shocked me." I admitted.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because you told Aline we were a couple?" I questioned and he laughed. "Why is that funny?" I asked.
"We sleep in the same bed at night Clary." He pointed out.
"That's happened twice." I stated.
"And what are the odds it would happen again tonight?" He asked and I went to open my mouth but nothing came out. "See, even you can't deny that it's a couply thing to do."
"I never said it wasn't a couply thing to do." I said back because I had nothing else to say. "I was just pointing out that we aren't a couple."
"And why is that?" He asked.
"Because we aren't." I said.
"That's a very juvenile answer Clary." He said.
"We aren't a couple for a couple reasons." I said. "1. You didn't ask me out 2. We don't do anything else couply besides share a bed and 3. We wouldn't work."
"Why wouldn't we work?" He asked, and when I looked at him he seemed genuinely curious.
"We're from two different worlds." I said and than wanted to take it back immediately.
"Have you forgotten where we met Clary?" Jace said. "I remember sitting in a living room when a tiny and terrified 8 year old girl came walking in." He explained and I totally forgot about that day until he started talking. "You sat on the couch, hugged your knees to your chest, and rocked yourself back and forth because you refused to cry." He said and I laughed. "That night I heard your whimpers, and I went to go see if you were okay. When I kneeled by your bed you were crying and I slipped under the covers and held you until you were sleeping peacefully."
"I can't believe you remember that." I said and he smiled.
"It was the night I met one of my best friends." He said and my eyes watered, but I didn't cry. "I wasn't lying when I said I was upset when I had to leave you behind. We helped each other through that place, and I felt like I was abandoning you when I got adopted."
"I was thrilled when you got out." I said honestly. "It was terrible there, and the fact that you got out was amazing to me."
"Still. I never forgot about you." He said.
"And I never forgot about you." I said and he smiled.
"Um, excuse me. Where is our food?" I heard Aline yell.
"Go out with me." Jace said. The bell dinged, and Aline snapped her fingers. I looked back and their food was ready.
"Hold on." I said. I grabbed the food and ran it to their table and than made my way back to Jace. "Yes." I finally said.
"Really?" He asked sounding surprised.
"Why are you surprised? You asked me." I said and he laughed.
"I don't know. I guess I just figured it would take some convincing." He said with a laugh. I looked at the clock and I was thrilled to know that I only had 30 minutes left.
"Would you like anything to drink while you wait?" I finally asked.
"Coffee sounds great." He said. I poured him a cup and I continued on with my shift.
Thankfully Aline and her posse left so I could enjoy the last 10 minutes of my shift. I was cleaning off a table and when I turned around Jace was gone. I looked back and he was sitting in his car warming it up. I made my way over to his empty coffee cup and there sat a 20 dollar bill. Coffee was 2.40 here, and it was free refills, so a 20 was insane, but he insisted that I keep the change as the tips I don't rightfully earn, and he won't let me even give him back a little so I just accept it, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't need it. I took my apron off and grabbed my things and headed out towards Jace's car. When I got in Jace just smiled at me and than started the car and drove us home. I honestly couldn't wait to sit down. Well, take a shower and than sit down.
"I'm going to shower." I said to Jace and he nodded.
"Probably a good idea for our date tonight." He said and I stopped dead in my tracks.
"We're going out tonight?" I said and he laughed.
"The sooner the better." He said.
"But I'm not prepared." I said and he laughed.
"Don't worry. I texted Izzy. She's pumped to help you get ready." He said. "Now, I'd get in the shower before she comes home other wise she'll shower with you."
"You're joking." I said and he shook his head. "Oh dear god." I said. I heard him laugh as I made my way to my room to shower. I turned the water on and got in and than it hit me. I was going out with Jace Herondale tonight, and that's when the freak out started.
Jace POV:
I was sitting on the couch when Izzy walked in with the biggest smile on her face. She was holding two bags and singing to herself.
"Why are you so happy?" I asked.
"It's not every day I get to dress someone." She said.
"What's in the bags?" I asked.
"Outfits for her." She said.
"You don't even know her size." I said.
"I'm good at guessing." She said. "Now, where is she?"
"Shower." I said and she nodded.
"Perfect. Gives me time to set everything up in her room." She said as she made her way to the stairs. "And Jace." She said and I turned around. "Don't fuck this up."
"Do you have no faith in me?" I asked faking shock.
"I have faith that you can get a girl with one simple smile, I don't have faith in you keeping said girl." She said.
"I know my history is a little scandalous, but Clary is different." I said.
"I know she is, that's why I don't want you to fuck it up." She said and I laughed.
"I'll do my best." I said and she nodded.
"Oh! The water is off! I have less time than I thought!" She said as she ran up the stairs and I laughed. I wasn't going to ruin things between Clary and I. That was a promise.
Time Jump – Date
I was pacing in the living room waiting for Clary to come down. Izzy had basically banned me from the second floor except to get dressed, so I had no idea what Clary looked like, although I knew she would look beautiful. She always did. When I heard the heels I turned around and there stood Clary, looking better than I ever could have pictured.
"Wow." I said as she walked over to me. "You look stunning."
"Thanks. Izzy really went to town." She said as she blushed.
"She had a great canvas." I said and she smiled. "You ready?"
"As I'll ever be." She said and I held out my arm and she linked hers with it.
"Don't be too late!" We heard Izzy shout. "It's a work and school night for both of you!" She said before I closed the door.
"Well, if you ever wondered what it was like to have a mom, that was it." I said and she laughed. I opened her door and she got in. I took a deep breath before making it to the drivers side where I got in.
"So, where are we going?" She asked.
"That my dear, is a surprise." I said and she groaned.
"I hate surprises." She said and I laughed. "And you know that."
"Come on, what 10 year old doesn't like a surprise party?" I said remembering what she was referring too.
"This 10 year old." She said and I laughed. "You scared the shit out of me that day." She said.
"I just wanted you to experience a real birthday." I said honestly and she smiled.
"And I would have denied it back than, but it was the best present anyone, well the only present anyone ever got me." She said. I reached my hand over and took hers in mine.
"It was the least I could do." I said. "We both might have lost our parents, but mine at least treated me like a human. You on the other hand never got that, and I wanted to know that not everyone is shitty." I explained and she laughed.
"You were the only person who ever showed me that kindness." She said. "Amatis was a nice enough social worker, but she never showed compassion. She just did her job." She explained. "I never found anyone else like you after you left."
"I am one of kind." I said and she smiled and laughed. "You have an amazing laugh." I said and she blushed.
"Thanks." She said shyly. The rest of the drive was quiet, but I didn't mind. Clary was playing with my fingers, and I couldn't get the smile off my face. I pulled up to the restaurant and we got out of the car. I took her hand in mine and walked her to the entrance. We were seated and I couldn't stop looking at Clary. "Is something wrong? Is my make up running?" She asked and I smiled.
"No. Everything is perfect, I just can't stop staring because you're so beautiful." I said and she blushed which I absolutely loved.
"You're such a sweet talker." She said and I laughed.
"But nothing I've said was a lie." I pointed out and she nodded.
The rest of dinner went by amazingly. Clary and I had a history, so we talked about our old memories, and some of the trouble we got into. It was great to talk about this again. I never really did open up to the Lightwoods when I was adopted. It didn't seem right too considering they wouldn't understand, but Clary got it. She understood what it was like to have nothing, and it was nice to be able to connect to someone on that level.
"So, you know how I spent my high school life." Clary said. "How did you spend yours?" She asked.
"In a boarding school in England." I said.
"Sounds fancy." She said and smiled.
"It was. Just think of Hogwarts, but without the magic." I said.
"That doesn't sound half as fun." She said with a laugh.
"It wasn't." I said honestly. "But I did have Alec with me, and Izzy was at the boarding school down the road since having a co-ed boarding school was unheard of. So I had family with me."
"That's always nice." She said. "Unfortunately I didn't have family in juvie. I had an admirer, but no family."
"An admirer?" I questioned and she nodded. "What was she like?"
"She was actually pretty sweet." She said. "Her name is Helen. She was in there for the same reason I was, but she was defending her brothers and sisters instead of just beating people up." She said with a laugh.
"Is she still there?" I asked.
"No. We were both released to due to over crowding. Believe it or not, we weren't the most dangerous ones in there." She said and I laughed.
"I believe it." I said. "Do you keep in touch?" I asked.
"No." She said. "She went home to her family, and I was stuck in a halfway house."
"That kinda sucks." I said.
"Yea, but I was lucky enough to have her friendship in juvie." She said and I nodded. "So did you play any sports at this fancy boarding school? You were a pretty active child." She said and I laughed.
"I did." I said. "I played soccer, and lacrosse."
"Impressive." She said and I smiled.
"Not as impressive as you think. I didn't go anywhere with it, but our school was pretty good. My freshman year and junior year we won the championship." I explained.
"Damn. That is impressive." She said and I smiled.
"We had a great group of guys." I said.
We were finished and I paid and Clary and I made our way back to my car. We got in and the atmosphere was really chill and comfortable. I loved hanging out with Clary, and getting to reknow her. When we got back to my house we walked to the front door, but I knew behind it Izzy was waiting to steal Clary away and gossip about the whole night so I stopped us before I opened the door.
"So, will there be a second date?" I asked and Clary smiled.
"There will most definitely be a second date." She said and I couldn't help but smile. I took this opportunity and leaned forward and pressed my lips to Clary's and I don't think I could possibly kiss anyone else after this. Kissing her was something I've never experienced before. When we broke apart, all I wanted to do was kiss her again. Before we could both talk the front door opened and there stood Izzy.
"Don't hog her!" She said as she grabbed Clary's hand.
"Sorry I was hogging her on our date." I said sarcastically. "Next time I'll share more."
"There's going to be a next time?" She said with so much happiness in her voice.
"That is the plan." I said.
"Oh now we need to talk!" She said as she pulled Clary into the house.
"Okay, goodnight!" I called after her. Clary looked back and waved before disappearing upstairs. I made my way inside and into the kitchen to get a drink when Alec came up behind me.
"How'd it go?" Alec asked.
"Great." I said. "It was nice because we knew each other so it wasn't awkward. We talked about out time together in the foster home, and caught up when I left. It was really nice."
"I'm glad you had a good time." Alec said.
"Thanks." I said. "Izzy stole her away from me." I said with a laugh and Alec laughed as well.
"Doesn't surprise me in the slightest." Alec said and I smiled.
"Me either." I said. Alec soon left and I made my way to my room. I got ready for bed and just laid there thinking about the night. I don't know how long I was staring at my ceiling but I was taken out of my mind when I heard my door open, and there stood Clary.
"Hey." She said and I sat up.
"Hey. How was your talk with Izzy?" I asked. She walked in and closed the door behind her.
"Long." She said with a laugh. "That girl can talk." She said.
"Don't I know it." I said. I pulled the covers back and Clary made her way over to me and got in bed. I curled into my side and I couldn't help but smile with her being this close to me. I kissed the top of her head before I felt her breathing evened out, and I wasn't far behind, dreaming about the girl in my arms, and the one I'd never let go.
Time Jump – Graduation
Clary POV:
Jace was graduating college today, and I was super proud of him. The things that he's been able to accomplish already is truly amazing, and I couldn't wait to see where he went in life. I was excited to actually start our lives together. I mean, we already lived together, and were together, and planned on staying together, but everything was different now. He was finished school, and starting his real career, and although that was pretty intimidating, I was super excited to experience it with him.
The ceremony was long. Way longer than I thought it was going to take, but there were a lot of kids. I was standing in the grass with the Lightwoods, waiting for Alec, Izzy and Jace to come find us. His family was very nice, and extremely kind to me, and the more I talked to them, the more grateful I am that they got Jace out of that terrible environment. I wasn't expecting it, but two arms picked me up off the ground and I couldn't help but scream. When I was placed on the ground I turned around and there was Jace laughed.
"You're such a jerk." I said as I slapped his arm.
"But would you want me any other way?" He asked with his signature smirk.
"Not at all." I said and he pulled me into him and I gave him a sweet kiss. "I'm really proud of you." I said when we broke apart.
"Thanks." He said.
"We're proud of all of you." Maryse said.
"How about dinner?" Robert asked. Everyone nodded and we started walking towards the parking lot. Jace was holding onto my hand and we were walking in sync just like we always do. I felt someone looking at me, and when I turned to my right Jace's eyes were burning into me.
"What?" I asked and he simply smiled.
"I just love you so much." He said and my jaw practically hit the ground and started dragging. That was the first time he told me.
"I love you too." I finally said when I collected myself. He squeezed my hand a little tighter and we continued to his car. We were told what restaurant we were meeting at and everyone got into their respected cars. He closed the door and started the car and we were on our way. He reached over and intertwined our fingers like he always does when we drive somewhere. I couldn't take my eyes off of the boy who has saved my life countless times, and now the boy who was my life, and I was his. If there was anything about the foster care system that I was thankful for it was bringing us into each others lives. I don't know what I'd do without him.
Authors Note:
Someone requested one about them being in foster care, Jace being adopted, and Clary going to juvie, and this is the finished product! I hope you enjoy it whoever you are who requested it, and to all my fellow readers, i hope you enjoy it as well! Let me know what you think and leave a review! :)
