"Sometimes when I look at you, I feel I'm gazing at a distant star. It's dazzling, but the light is from tens of thousands of years ago. Maybe the star doesn't even exist any more. Yet sometimes that light seems more real to me than anything." (Haruki Murakami)
[I Won't Let You In]
Clarissa watched him closely as he shut his eyes and lied down on the sidewalk. Her shoulders slumped and she decided to stay silent. The only sound heard was the harsh winds of winter. Her lips formed into a slight pout. "You can leave girl. I don't see why you're here in the first place." He said, voice muffled.
"Where's your mom and dad?" Clarissa chose to ask, leaning forward to view his face. That was clearly the wrong response for the fair eyed boy. He swung to face her, eyes boring onto hers. His expression was smoldering in a way that caused her to feel afraid. Clarissa tried to step away and ended up tripping on her bare knees. Wincing at the sudden sting, she glanced up to see him pacing with a cigarette tucked in his lips.
"Stop bein' clumsy." He warned her, narrowing his eyes at the scratch forming on her knee. She gritted her teeth in annoyance.
"Maybe I would if you didn't act like you would hit me." He stopped his walking and arched his eyebrows.
"You think I'll hit ya?" She felt uncomfortable under his hardening gaze and looked away, not answering. Instead of focusing on him, Clarissa flipped her phone open and texted Simon a quick message.
Be there in 15. By the way, got a new anime for us. Popcorn please!
She pulled her satchel strap over her shoulder and pushed away her hair in frustration. When the bright haired girl took a final look at him, she found him staring at her with an unreadable expression plastered on his face. "What?" Clarissa blurted beginning to saunter away.
"Where are you goin'?" He called, hands shoved in his jacket pockets.
She snorted. "It's not like you care."
His response surprised her and she had to halt her steps and whirl to face him. "Who fucking said that?"
"So you do care?" She ignored the foul language and nearly grinned in victory. He collapsed to the same spot he always slept in and shook his head.
"You should put a band aid on that, girl." Her cheeks colored and Clarissa felt somewhat glad that he had some kindness. With that, she trudged over to him and plopped beside him. He didn't seem startled.
"My name's Clary." She mumbled.
He let out a breath. "What the hell are you tryin' to do?"
His hair this time was tousled in a way that caused strands to fall over his forehead and neck in messy tendrils. His orbs were shown brightly unlike the falling flakes outside. There was something about him she admired. There was confidence, but not too much. Just enough. "Aren't you cold?"
"No." He answered harshly and she instantly frowned.
Eyes widening, she stumbled to her feet almost forgetting about her best friend. Jace studied her as she fumbled for her bag. Her wild hair was let down today resembling crimson clouds. She wore a sweater today, one that was colored with red and green stripes. Her eyes met his for a split second.
"I guess I'll see you whenever." He didn't say anything back.
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Clarissa reached her hands into the bag and pulled out a handful of sour cream and onion chips. Her friend's expression turned sour. "How can you eat that?"
She giggled and swung her head to meet his brown eyes. "Delicious." She droned on slowly knowing it annoyed him. Simon stuck his tongue out and took a sip from his soda.
"So, I'm guessing the good guy is the blue one right. Eh, he looks kinda angry though." She muttered and heard the four eyed boy huff in exasperation.
Simon and Clary had the kind of friendship that nothing could ever break. The one that started at the center of one's heart. They stuck up for each other when they were young. They had never shared a fight, not even an argument.
Clary's thoughts were disrupted by the sound of something thudding against the roof and windows. She raised her eyebrows and pulled away from Simon's lap. He gave her a questioning glance but she asked instead, "Is it raining?"
With a mouthful of food in his cheeks, he replied, "Obviously. Didn't you check the weather. It's gonna be extreme. That's why it's movie night Clare." She rolled her emerald eyes at the statement then realized the situation.
Hopping off the all too comfortable couch, she ran to her bedroom ignoring her best friend's cry of surprise. She brought out an umbrella from her closet and an extra hoodie she never really used. "I'll be back Si." Clary slipped on her shoes despite the fact that they weren't fit for the current weather. Her hair was in a frenzy and her clothes were thin for such rain but she didn't really know why she cared so much.
The water droplets fell onto her hair in mere seconds and Clary tried to cover up her body but it was a failed attempt. The gusting wind blew over her pajamas and she shivered involuntarily. Normally, she adored the rain. It felt like a new day was coming. That the rain was washing them from all previous events and actions. She tilted her head slightly and took a quick turn in the alleyway.
Clary found him crouched on the sidewalk, hoodie still down. His hair appeared almost black from the water. He gazed up and she saw his lips part slightly. He finally shows emotion! Go Clary! Point number one! She hurried to him and dropped the thick hoodie onto his lap. "I figured you'd need it." He didn't say anything.
She continued. "I brought an umbrella too. I know it's not enough but I can't really-"
He cut her off with a skeptical look on his face. His lips curved into a frown. "It's raining like shit and you decide to care about me?" The question caught her off guard and Clary pursed her lips for an answer. She couldn't find one. For perhaps a split second, she felt no rain and only focused on his eyes. The ones that stared at hers in some amazement. Some surprise. And even some grief.
His head dropped to gaze at the sidewalk covered with puddles. "You should go. Thanks but no thanks. Go home."
Clary's mother had always told her she was stubborn. Hard headed. Always defiant of orders. This was an example. Her teeth was chattering and her cheeks colored into a vivid red. She leaned forward and sat across from him, raising the umbrella so that it concealed mostly himself. He noticed and pulled the plastic hook towards her. "Keep it." His voice gruff. But she didn't listen.
"Why don't you talk?" She almost whispered and the young man whipped his head to hear her.
"What the hell do you mean? Do you hear me speaking or are you just deaf?"
"You know what I mean..."
There wasn't words to describe the cold she was feeling. Especially him. The cold rain seeped into the thin fabric of her shoes. The freezing drops fell onto her neck and hair and Clary was quivering with much needed heat. He realized her condition and launched the hoodie she gave him over to her. "Put it on or you'll freeze to death."
She shook her head. "You put it on or I won't leave." He arched an eyebrow and saw that she was serious. He laughed and her eyes widened. It was a real laugh. One that actually sounded happy to her ears. It bubbled out of his chest and Clary saw the beauty that shown on his delicate face. He ran his fingers through his hair.
"Alright." He said simply, putting on the coat slowly in demonstration. She smiled through the cold. Clary wiped the wet locks of hair off her forehead with her sleeve.
"I lied about leaving."
"Yeah, well, I kind of knew that."
"You-You didn't answer my question." She asked, sniffing slightly.
He shouldered her coat so that it was adjusted correctly. "Because...sometimes there aren't things to talk about."
She countered in disagreement. "There's always something to talk about. That's not even an excuse."
His golden flecked eyes moved to her face. "I wouldn't know."
Clary moved to his right side so that her back rested on the brick wall as the rain fell. It felt like waves were falling over them. The rumbling of the clouds. The hissing and screeching of car tires. The leaves that drooped onto branches. The relentless drumming of nails was what it sounded like.
She coughed and saw him glance at her. "What?"
He let out an exasporated breath. "Stop bein' like that and go home."
"Why should I?"
"I'll walk you to where ever you live as long as you stay there. Alright?"
Clary rose from her position. "Really?"
"Don't rub it in shortie."
She held a suspicious expression on her face. "And you have to talk back to me."
He stood up and shook the rain off his locks. "Come on. Lead the way." Clary watched him pull out a cigarette to smoke. She tugged the umbrella along with him and he yanked it from her small hands. She released a yelp of surprise and anger.
"I'm taller if you haven't realized already." They walked down the sidewalks passing the buzzing streets of New Yorkers. His strides were longer and she struggled to keep up with him. Some people gave them curious glances but Clary ignored them. Her pajamas clung onto her body and she inched closer to him.
"Don't you have, you know, a family?"
"Had a family." He answered, deciding not to look at her.
"Oh." Was all she replied back. They remained silent until he spoke again, voice low.
"Did you forget you were supposed to lead the way or did you think I knew where you lived?"
Clary's eyes widened and she quickly told him the directions in embarassment. Stop being stupid Clary. He's just a boy! She knew otherwise. The rain had finally stopped but they were still drenched. White drifts blew past them and he dropped the umbrella in her hand silently. Clary couldn't help but feel safe beside him even though all he did was curse and taunt her. She felt a sense of belonging she never felt with Simon.
"There you go." He said, eyes weary. She wondered if he got any sleep lately. She chose not to ask for the coat back. It was better off with him. He needed it more than she did.
They stood at her apartment room and she still never went in. "Are you stupid? Get in the damn room." Clary grinned.
"Thanks for taking me." She ignored his statement with her own. "By the way, what's your name?"
His slim but muscular figure leaned against the door frame. His ruby colored lips lifted into a semi smirk and Clary felt her heart soar at the sight.
"I love how you go to random strangers and help them without getting their names. For all you know, I could be a damn rapist." Her orbs rolled in irritation.
"Just shut up. You're not helping anything. Plus, I know you're not a rapist or some kind of criminal. And don't curse either." Realizing what he was doing, Jace moved away from her and she followed his actions in confusion.
"Wait!" She shouted, taking a brisk step forward.
"It's Jace." And then he left.
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[a/n]: Thanks for the wonderful reviews! They certainly make my day. I hope you guys continue to do so.
Check out my other story: Did You Forget About Me?
