Chapter 4

The Way He Played With Her

Clary groaned at her previous memory. Had there ever been a time that Jace wasn't her kryptonite? She fought the urge to turn around and search for him. She looked over to Simon instead. She would not let Jace keep his hold on her.

Formulating a sudden plan, Clary bit her lip, inching closer to Simon. She lifted the armrest between them and rested her head on his shoulder. Simon glanced down at her but continued to eat his popcorn, unbothered. It wasn't until Clary started kissing up his neck that Simon suddenly tensed. "Uhm, what are you doing?" He asked, hesitantly.

"Just go with it." Clary mumbled. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him onto her. Simon was hunched over her but they were laying low in the seat. Clary stopped trying to kiss him and just held him down where those behind them could not see. Eyes wide, Simon stared at her curiously. "I don't think Isabelle will like this."

"Trust me, once I explain it, she will understand."

Clary heard someone clear their throat. She looked over her head to see a plump, middle-aged, woman frowning down at them. "I think that will do it." Clary said to Simon with a grimace. She awkwardly pushed him off of her as they both returned upright.

Simon warily eyed her, popping another piece of popcorn into his mouth. Clary got comfortable and fixed her hair. Jace was the jealous type. At least, he always was with Clary. There came a point where Clary knew their 'thing' had to be a one-sided infatuation on her part. She needed to accept it, get over him, and open herself up to a real relationship. But, apparently, he just couldn't let that happen...

After their little hookup at the river, Clary and Jace stayed close. They were actual friends. They went to the same parties, had mutual friends, sat by each other at the sporting events, chatted in the halls. And every so often things got heated between them. Yet, whenever she seemed to get close to anyone else Jace somehow stole back her attention. So, for the next year there were closet make-outs, hot tub groping, secret touching under a blanket, and sometimes road-head on a drive home. Then, Jace graduated and went off to community college. She still saw him around every so often but, it wasn't the same. He had a new life, new friends... It was time for her to do her own thing.

Clary started dating Sebastian at the start of her second semester, Junior year. She really liked him. He was caring and devoted and a perfect boyfriend... Therefore, after little thought, on Prom night, she decided she would give him all of her. When she previously thought of her virginity... She always saw Jace. But it was time to put that behind her. That ship had sailed and she needed to grow up. It was time to become a woman. Besides, it would be Sebastian's first time, too. When it came down to it, did she want to be someone's first or there... who even knows how many?!

Clary turned from side to side. Her chiffon dress was a deep emerald green. Her hair a bun of bright red curls with swooping tendrils. Diamond studs gleamed on her ears, matching her bracelet. She gave a last look in the mirror before joining Isabelle and Maia downstairs. Both wore dark colored dresses that hugged their curves. Jordan and Maia had broken up last year. Her new boyfriend Bat was a tall, broad-shouldered guy who looked a little rough around the edges. Regardless, she seemed happy. Isabelle's date was some cute, new kid that no one knew very well. She had many date proposals but refused them all. In the end, she saw something she liked and then practically told him he was going with her.

The group of teens talked animatedly as they road in their nicest SUV. They had dinner at an expensive steakhouse and even got dessert. It was a thrill to be dressed in their best as they pretended to live the high life, if for just one night. After dinner, they arrived at the Prom dance a couple hours in and saw it was in full swing. Upon entering, the girls stopped in the lobby to chat with others as they all admired each other's gowns. Clary was just about to go find Sebastian, when she heard the familiar voice that always gave her butterflies.

Across the room stood Jace, among a group of other friends. His blond curls were moussed and instead of a tux he wore a simple black suit, a cup of punch already in hand. Yet, somehow, he still looked more dashing than any number of boys there. She was immediately surprised to see him there. Jace had never attended his own proms before he graduated. Which Clary almost considered a good thing. She wasn't sure how it would feel to see him blatantly choose another girl over her.

Jace looked up and met Clary's eye, as if he had felt her stare. His grin grew. Clary smiled hesitantly and gave a shy wave. He started toward her but Clary looked away at the feel of a hand on her back. Sebastian came to her side smiling, and offering her a drink. She accepted it and looked back, expecting to introduce Jace, but he was gone.

Sebastian led Clary into the dance hall, along with her friends. The room was dimly lit, most of the light coming from the technicolor light show at the DJ booth. Isabelle and Maia found their dates and they all gathered at a table. Without even taking time to sit, they set their purses and belonging down and headed to the dance-floor. The bass vibrated throughout the room and words could barely be heard over the music. But that didn't matter, Clary twined her arms around her boyfriend's neck and leaned in with a kiss. She just let herself go with music and dance away. Eventually, they were in a cluster of other friends they knew, dancing to the song's rhythm. Clary spied Jace across from her, a golden blonde, bent over in front of him. Clary recognized the girl must be Jessamine, her older brother had been a friend of Jace's. She must have been his date. Or maybe even girlfriend now?

Losing track of her footing, Clary stumbled to the side, bumping into another girl in the process. It earned her a dirty look.

"Woah! You okay?" Sebastian voiced in her hear just as the song began to change.

"Yeah! I think I'm just going to take a bathroom break." She voiced, so he could hear her.

They both walked back to their table where Clary grabbed her purse and left for the restroom. On her way, she saw Jace and his friends taking a break at their table, as well. Discreetly, Jace took a leather-bound flask from his pocket and sipped from it. Clary's eyes darted around. She supposed the room was dark, and most of the chaperones were too busy enjoying themselves to notice.

Once finished, Clary pushed out her bathroom stall and trudged over to the sink. Her feet were beginning to severely ache and the heels were definitely coming off soon. Black smudges were starting to show under her eyes. With her pinky finger, she tried to straighten out her makeup. The bathroom door creaked, signaling the entrance of another and in waltzed Jessamine.

"Oh, don't tell me you are in here sulking?" The blond demanded. By the slight slur of her speech, Clary assumed she had been sharing drink with Jace.

Clary came up short. "No, just peeing. Why would I be in here sulking?" She retorted.

Jessamine gazed at her reflection. She pursed her lips and shimmied up her breasts. "Because I'm here with Jace, duh."

Staring back at her own reflection, Clary swallowed. "So?" She quipped back at her.

"Oh, please..." Jessamine drawled. "Don't act like you guys didn't have a thing."

Clary began to wash her hands. "I mean... I wouldn't say we were ever a 'thing'. Jace hung out with a lot of girls." She said with a shrug. She was surprised that Jessamine was even aware that they had hooked up.

Jessamine met Clary's eyes through the mirror. "Yeah, but you are all he ever talked about." The way Jessamine spoke was as if that information was common knowledge. Clary could feel her heart pick up pace.

"Yeah, well..." She tried to steady her voice. "We haven't spoken in months so it's not like I would be jealous of anything. And I have a boyfriend, remember?" She said coldly.

One of the perfectly sculpted eyebrows on Jessamine's face rose in concern. She rolled her eyes. "Easy, Clary, I was only teasing..." She then seemed satisfied with her appearance and left the bathroom. Clary, feeling embarrassed, followed suit.

After she returned to the dance hall, she and her friends continued to dance for some time before they agreed it was time to go. On their way out, Sebastian excused himself to the bathroom and Clary said she would wait for him outside.

The air outside was warm, a bit humid but, stale with scent of smoke. Clary glanced down the pavement walk and spied Jace, among several friends. When he saw her, his arms raised and he yelled for her. "There she is!"

Clary smiled and casually walked the distance to him. He smiled, tight lipped, down at her. She pinched the cigarette from his lips and let it drop to the pavement where she covered it with her heel. Yet, Jace's smile didn't waver.

"I'm sure your date would prefer you pop in some gum. No one wants to kiss an ashtray." She playfully chided.

"Well, I guess you would know." He replied with a smirk, lightly taking her fingers in his.

"All your girls know, I'm sure." She speculated. Clary turned a bit and stepped back, her hand gently tugging in his grip. She hoped he would get the hint that she had said her 'hello' and had a date to get back to.

Jace frowned and twisted her close to him so that her back was pressed against his chest. His arms enraptured her chest and neck in a bear hug. His head dipped into the crook of her neck. "What are you talking about? You are my girl." He slurred and Clary could clearly smell the whiskey on his breath.

Clary didn't answer. She simply clutched his forearm and let him hold her. He clung to her in silence for several moments. "Leave with me." He finally muttered, leaving a sloppy kiss on her cheek. Immediately, Clary tensed and pulled his arms from around her. But his hands encircled her wrists.

"Jace, you're drunk." She said sternly.

His face contorted. "So? I miss you." His voice softened and his hands cupped her face.

"You know I'm dating Sebastian... And you came with Jessamine." Irritation seeped into her words.

"You are going to turn me down for that loser?" He spoke loudly, eyes wide with bafflement.

Clary threw his hands from her face. She could feel her chest tightening and a stinging at the back of her eyes. "Stop." She choked out turning on her heel.

In the distance, she heard Isabelle scolding Jace's name. But, again, the boy grabbed her arm and waist, pulling her back to him. "Clary, don't leave." His voice pleaded.

"What the hell!" Clary heard Sebastian yelling, as he bounded toward them. He hooked onto Clary's other arm but Jace yanked her behind him, roughly shoving Sebastian with his free hand. "We're just talking so you can back off, kid." Jace sneered.

He turned back to Clary, but before he could say anything else, Sebastian's fist came flying and knocked him in the side of the head. Jace staggered forward and Clary shrieked, bracing her hands on him. "Oh my God! Jace, are you okay?" She croaked.

"Jace?!" Sebastian shouted, exasperated.

In a flash, Jace recovered and turned swinging at Sebastian. And unlike Sebastian, Jace had more experience brawling. In a second, he had the dark-haired boy pinned to the pavement. Sebastian could only hope to guard his face from Jace's pummeling.

"Jace!" Clary shrieked. This time appalled. "Get the fuck off of him." She latched onto his arm as Jace pulled back for another blow and went flying forward with it. She collided with the pavement next to Sebastian. Jace cursed, suddenly concerned as he reached for Clary.

Sebastian took the opportunity to scrabble to his feet, covering a bloody nose. "Forget this..." His muffle voice strained.

"Enough! Jace, you need to back off!" Isabelle's voice came shouting as she finally arrived at the chaos.

Jace tried to help Clary to her feet but she screamed at him. "Don't fucking touch me!" She clumsily climbed to her feet in her now scuffed heels and chased after Sebastian to the parking lot.

"Seb! Seb, I'm sorry! Stop! Please!" Whatever apologies that poured out her mouth, fell on deaf ears. Sebastian got in his car and tore out the parking lot, tires screeching past her, as tears streaked her cheeks.

Jace jogged up behind her, out of breath, as she gazed after Sebastian's SUV. "Clar-" Before her name was even out his mouth, Clary turned on him. Her eyes were wet and blazing with fury.

"Don't!" She marched up to him, a hard finger poked in his chest. "You cannot keep doing this to me! Coming in and out of my life as you please. Like you have some sort of claim to me!" She cried.

Jace stared at her shocked, panting. He ran a hand through his hair and looked to the ground frustrated. "Look, I'm sorry, Clary. I'm sure this will blow over and he will call you tomorrow. I'll even apologize if I have to, alright?"

"You don't get it! Tonight was special. We were supposed to—I was—He..." She gasped out her words between sobs.

Jace just gawked at her as the realization of her words fell on him. Isabelle's arms enveloped her in a hug and then Maia came up consoling her, as well. Clary didn't look back at Jace as her friends ushered her away to another car. She simply folded in on herself, cringing at the ache in her chest as if her heart was being ripped in different directions. Pieces of it laying at Jace's feet.