Disclaimer: I do not own the Mortal Instruments series or any of it's characters.
"I can't even look at you right now" Clary said as she looked away from Jace stubbornly, her head turning to look at the rest of the class, each pair in deep discussion over their assignment while Miss Lilith traveled between the groups. "I can't believe you spoiled the book for me".
"It's not a spoiler, I just said it didn't have a happy ending" Jace argued.
"Which is the worst kind of spoiler ever" Clary argued as she still refused to look at Jace, leaning forward as she crossed her arms over her chest and rested them on the desk. "You spoiled the ending".
"It's not a spoiler but it's better I told you this story is not for the faint hearted, princess. It's better if I told you the truth instead of you reading it and expecting a happy ending that will never happen" Jace said then smirked knowing exactly how to get under her skin, "I was actually doing you a favor".
"You" Clary looked back at Jace with so much anger, she knew her face would be red, and his knowing smirk infuriated her more, "Maybe I wanted to get my dreams crushed, you had no right to tell me".
"Then you're gonna hate when I tell you who dies" Jace said opening his mouth and Clary quickly covered her ears as she childishly chanted "La la la la".
Jace was now laughing at her out loud, she removed her hands just barely at first, testing him before dropping her hands. She can't believe he told her the ending was sad, no his words were exactly 'No one is happy and it's misery all around for everyone'. She had only gotten to read four maybe five chapters.
"Anyways I wasn't a fan of the writing, there was more description than actual story going on" Jace said with a shrug.
"It's excessive but I prefer that to the opposite when I don't get enough description of the scene" Clary said, "I like it when characters notice details". Being an artist herself, paying more attention to little details than others, she liked when characters were as detail oriented as she was.
"It's too much for me" Jace shook his head, "I want more action, I don't like reading five pages on the weather outside and the colors of every single thing and the people around when nothing actually happens except that he goes to a store and maybe some people look down on him".
"You want more action" Clary guessed with a nod of her head.
"Exactly, when someone writes my biography it'll be all action" Jace says firmly.
"Biography of a teenage soccer player?" Clary says cheekily.
"Football player" Jace corrected and Clary rolled her eyes at that, "Besides, princess, you don't even know half of the thrillers of my life". You don't know mine, either.
Clary had almost shrugged it off as a joke but his eyes looked teasing, like hiding a secret and she wondered what was actually going through his head, she asked, "Oh yeah, leading a double life are you?"
"Oh definitely" Jace played along, "Underground crime boss, also faked my death that one time".
"Too bad it was faked" Clary said with a sickly sweet wide smile.
"Cheeky" Jace said, "But you're lucky it was".
"Why am I lucky?" Clary asked.
"You can be my arm candy" Jace smirked.
Clary scuffed, exasperated and obviously offended which only made his grin twitch further up, "Not even if hell freezes over".
Jace tsked, as if he was considering it then nodded, "Yeah, you argue too much, that would never work".
"Hey" Clary jumped up annoyed but then stopped, "I feel like I should be offended either way".
"Would I ever offend you?"
"Yes."
"Good point, next question?" Jace grinned as Clary laughed, smacking him lightly over the chest when they were interrupted by someone clearing their throat.
The two broke their gaze off as they looked back at Miss Lilith who was leaning against one of the empty chairs at the desk in front of them, her arms crossed over her chest and she held a stern yet amused expression, "I believe chatting means you already finished the assignment?"
Clary suddenly noticed how informal she and Jace were sitting compared to the rest of the class, she had pulled her legs up and crossed them on the chair, leaning towards Jace on her left while he had his feet up, crossed at the ankles at the left corner of the desk, his upper body was leaning back on the chair which was close to Clary's that if he leaned back a few inches, his head would rest on her knee.
She tried to fix her stance but Miss Lilith stopped her, giving her a pointed look with one eyebrow raised "None necessary child, I encourage creativity and free spirits in every form but I encourage you to finish the work before doing so".
Clary nodded sheepishly as she got back to the position she was comfortable in and apologized as she looked back at the paper and they started talking about the book again. It wasn't long before they changed the subject again and she asked, "Are you nervous? For the game?"
"No" he answered without a thought, seeing the disbelieving look she gave him he explained more with a sigh, "I don't get nervous, I know my skills, I've trained for this most of my life and I know a game I can win when I see it".
Clary hadn't expected that answer, Jace had always seemed arrogant for the sake of being arrogant and with no reason other than his looks but he surprised her a little, I've trained for this most of my life. "Is it what you love doing?"
"It's.. one of them" Jace hesitated for a moment.
Clary narrowed her eyes, "If you say the other thing is girls I will not hesitate to slap you".
Jace chuckled, "Well yes but that wasn't my point, actually I do have other.. hobbies" he cleared his throat as his lips broke into an honest grin "But football is just something that I love, I'm good at it, the pressure, the fans, being part of the team it's something I couldn't think of myself as giving up, even if just for the sake of playing, not necessarily to play in college league but just because I love being out there doing something that I love doing".
Clary found herself intrigued by his words more and more, she liked hearing him talk about something he actually loves. She remembered this heartless image of Jace that Izzy tried to show her but she couldn't for the life of her picture it. The guy sitting in front of her could not be that person.
"What about you?" Clary looked up when Jace asked her, confused. "What do you like doing?"
Clary hesitated for a second, before answering "Drawing".
"Are you any good?"
Clary looked at him for a moment with her head quirked to the side, before raising her finger and gesturing to his eyes, "I can draw every little golden flex in here so well, you would think you are looking in a mirror".
Jace licked his lower lip and Clary found herself following the movement when he said, "Someday you'll have to show me". She shivered at his tone and he grinned, "Or maybe you'll want to paint me nude, either way- Ow"
Clary had smacked his chest before he finished the words, rolling her eyes when then the bell rang and class was dismissed. Clary picked up her stuff, ready to leave school for the day when Jace stopped her with a hand on her wrist.
"So, I'm seeing you in the game. Will you cheer me on?" Jace asked.
Clary rolled her eyes, "I'm cheering for the other team".
"Hey, how come?" he asked quirking his eyebrows.
"Because you're trying to use a line on me that you used a million times on probably all the girls in school" Clary shot back, already knowing and he grinned.
"But this is the first time that it's not a line" Jace said.
"And you used that line how many times?" Clary wasn't really looking for an answer but he gave her one anyways.
"Only like 0.6 million times" Clary went to walk away with a roll of her eyes but he stopped her again chuckling, "Hey, I'm kidding. Come on, will I see you in the crowd?"
Clary stopped herself from agreeing when his hand slipped from her wrist to her hand, "Maybe" she settled before adding with a wink "If you're lucky".
She detached her hand from his and tried her best to walk in a straight line and not fall on her ass as she could still feel the heat of his stare on her and she had to take several breaths to calm herself.
She couldn't believe she had actually had the strength to not immediately jump to 'Yes', but also having the gull to tease him for it. It was easier when he was being narcissistic and overly flirtatious but not really genuine to sass him back and flick at his ego, but when in the moments where he was gentler, she found it hard to contain herself.
She found her mom outside waiting for her and Clary slipped in the car quickly, Iz had texted her to come to their house to meet before the game and bring her party clothes with her, since the party was at their house right after the game. She told her mom and she nodded.
"Alright, what do you want to have for lunch before you go?" Her mom asked.
"I don't really care" Clary said as she got another text from Izzy Don't kill yourself with your heels or I will kill you.
Clary rolled her eyes as she texted back When the heels actually kill me you will regret saying that.
"How about some steak?" her mother asked.
Izzy- I have some killer funeral heel.
"Or fish?"
Clary- Pun intended?
"Or I could, you know, boil some children in the oven and feed you them?"
Izzy- Yes, because I will be wearing the heels that killed you. And proudly.
"Clary are you listening to me?" her mother asked, slightly agitated.
"Yeah yeah mom you wanna go all candy house witch on Hansel and Gretel, I like it medium well" Clary said without raising her head from her phone. Clary- I knew it. You wanted me dead all along. You were just too friendly.
"Might as well cook you in the oven" her mother groaned.
"You wouldn't like my taste, salty and non meaty" Clary said as she texted Izzy a meme.
"I'm not cooking you for the taste" her mother said under her breath and Clary chuckled.
"Come on mom, relax. Whatever you'll cook I'll love it". The car parked in front of their house and Clary stepped out right away.
"Clary?" Her mom called but the girl was already climbing the stairs to her room. With a sigh, Miranda Fray opened the trunk and took hold of two bags of groceries, guess she'll have to make three trips.
Clary was doing her homework, trying to get a start on things, she usually didn't leave her homework to the last minute since all she has is time. Clary made a point of minimal socializing in every school she went to, she avoided parties as well because she never knew how much time she has before relocating and she thought just shutting people out from the start is easier than saying goodbye all the time.
So ironically she had all the time in the world of homework and drawing and that is all she did.
So tonight would be her first party. She knew better than to get too attached and she promised herself she won't, she'll go the party, have fun and that will be all. No matter how fun Jace, Izzy and their friends were, she will not get attached to them, she will not care too much and when the time comes she'll leave with no regrets.
Yeah, it's just harmless fun.
Her phone buzzed again interrupting her thoughts, Izzy had sent a picture of her feet, crossed at the ankles, laying on the edge of a bathtub, soap and bubbles was all you could see in the water and a wine glass in her hands.
She texted Girls, you never know how much you need it until you try it.
Clary chuckled as she saw Aline text quickly Now if that isn't weekend goals, I don't know what it.
Maia sent a pic of a controller and a flat screen TV with some video game logo on it and captioned I'll take video games over a bath any weekend.
Izzy- Why not both?
Maia- Because if my controller falls in the water I will have nothing else to live for and will therefor kill myself.
Clary sent three laughing emojis while Izzy sent an emoji rolling his eyes and then messaged I don't think Jordan appreciates overdramatic people.
Maia- You don't know that yet.
Aline- So what is going on there? Did he call to ask you out or anything?
Maia- Not yet.
Clary- Don't worry about it Maia. I'm sure he'll call soon.
Maia- I'm not worried, if he'll call then he'll call.
Clary- That sounds like a healthy mentality, I wonder what that's like.
Izzy- Can't relate.
Clary chuckled as she put her phone down and returned to her homework. "Clary, lunch" her mother called.
"Coming" Clary yelled out, she closed the books and before she walked out, took her phone with her. She sent a text You know we are coming in like half an hour and I expect you to be fully clothed Izzy.
Maia- I agree.
Izzy- *Sigh* everyone is afraid of little nudity.
Clary sent an emoji rolling his eyes and texted Yes, terrified. I don't know any of you that well.
Izzy- We can change that, *winking face*
Clary- *Eye roll emoji*
Izzy- But I am kidding, please don't show up naked to my house. Clary.
Maia- You would give Jace an amazing early Christmas present.
Clary- Not a chance.
Izzy- Clary is right, Jace isn't home he is off to his game.
Clary- Like the is the only reason I won't do it is because Jace isn't home.
Aline- I think it's a little early to tell.
Clary- I don't.
"Clary!"
"Coming" She said as she realized she was now fully stopped in the middle of the stairs. She hopped down and helped her mother set up the table. "You see this is why I don't come when you call me the first time for lunch. It's always a trap to set up the table".
"It's not a trap. You know setting the table is on you" her mother pointed out.
"Yes, because I fall for the trap every time" Clary pointed out with a chuckle and sat down in her chair and her mother did as well as she put food in her plate.
Clary looked at her phone as it buzzed again, she went to pick it up but her mother stopped her "Clary no phones at the food table".
"Since when?" Clary asked.
"Since you started using your phone at the food table" her mother said and Clary rolled her eyes but put her phone down nonetheless.
"So how was school?" her mom asked.
"Okay I guess"
Her mother looked at her for a moment with a raised eyebrow as she asked "That's it? That's all I get?"
"It was school, what am I supposed to say?" Clary said.
"I don't know was it a good day or bad? Are you getting along with others? Did you get into a fight with someone?"
"It was good, nothing out of the ordinary happened" Clary said.
"Just good?"
Clary sighed, "Fine, it was great, wonderful even. The students and the teachers threw me a parade because of how much they love me."
Her mother clicked her tongue, "See now I just think you are over reaching to hide that something bad happened".
"Mom" Clary whined annoyed, "It was just a school day, my life isn't really Pretty Little Liars, nothing really happens at school".
"Okay fine" her mother back off as she cut through the steak and started talking, "Luke called to ask how we are doing, he'll be back in a few weeks to check up on us".
"And you will take the chance and ask him out" Clary said as she raised her fork to her mother as if warning her.
"I am not asking Luke out" her mother said.
"Why not? Mom, you like him, he likes you. What is the problem?" Clary asked.
"Clary what kind of love can I have with Luke? We are always on the run-"
"You said we are probably settling in, and in any case it seems like an FBI agent who travels a lot but always wants to take care of us like the perfect person for someone in our situation and vice versa for him" Clary said.
"And what if things don't work out? How can we work out a situation like that where he has to still see me?" her mother wondered.
"Mom I think you are just a little too old for teenage concerns like that-"
"Excu-"
"I meant that as a compliment" Clary said with a roll of her eyes. Her mother took a deep breath and reached her hand out to take hold of Clary's wrist.
"I don't want you to worry about me" her mother said, "I have all I can ask for, right here".
Clary sighed, that doesn't mean she can't worry. She didn't want her mom to be like her, at least she could be with someone. But for her it was impossible. She has never known someone long enough to actually have a relationship. Maybe someday a new FBI agent who is young enough will join the force, and maybe then.
Her mind wandered over to Jace in the FBI uniform, he would look hot in that. Granted, he would look hot in anything. Clary shook that thought out of her head as she said, "Just think about it, okay?"
"Okay".
Clary took in the Lightwoods' house which was no where near a house. It was a mansion. A huge gate, was opened, the brick ground road split into two roads by a fountain and connected again, there was a big courtyard that had parking lot spaces on both sides, but there was only two cars. A black Mercedes and a white Audi.
She assumed there were spots for Jace's and Alec's cars as well and guests. The house was white with high columns at the start of the stairs, which were only eight steps of stairs, the end of the columns connected to the second floor's balcony and continued to the ceiling. There were a few statues in the entrance, she noticed one was someone with a bow and arrow pointed up towards the sky.
Clary walked to the double dark brown wooden door and decided to not use the knob and knocked on the door to the Lightwoods' house like she always did, with the rhythm shave and a haircut two bits thing. She doesn't remember when she started doing it but she has never stopped since.
Aline opened the door and said immediately "She's gonna kill you", she was already there with Maia and Clary was the last to show. She walked in with Aline leading her inside, and the house was as impressive inside as it was outside.
There was a circled pattern on the floor in the entrance and when she looked up she saw the high ceiling that looked up to the second floor which was only about the size of the pattern, the rest was a regular ceiling, a chandelier was right in the middle of it and a circled stair case to her left, the hand rail was black and metal and had flower patterns on it.
She saw a hallway to her right and as she walked in she saw in front of her was an open floor, no inner walls, a kitchen was on one side and on the other was a big living room with two sets of matching couch sets that were turned to meet each other, two squared coffee tables aligned and finally a piano at the very far corner. Izzy and Maia were sitting on one of the leather couches.
Clary tried not to feel the tiny bit of jealousy at that. She knew the Lightwoods were well off but she hadn't thought it was this much. She thought of the crappy house they had this time and how it paled in comparison. But she figured the other option for her was to be six feet under so she wasn't in a particularly bad situation in comparison.
"Finally" Izzy said from behind the door, "Are you always late?"
"Not intentionally" Clary said scratching the back of her head lightly. "Your house is beautiful".
"Thank you" Izzy said then narrowed her eyes, "And what are you wearing? That's not the outfit I picked out".
Clary looked down at herself, she had settled for black jeans, a black shirt and a red jacket, "It is an outfit you picked out and hey I still wore red, that's what matters, right? I also brought my party clothes".
Izzy grumbled, "Fine, I guess I can accept that, you can put your bag here, you'll change when we get back. Now let's go".
They all headed outside and the white Audi's indicator lights all blinked, Clary looked at Izzy surprised "I thought you didn't drive?"
"No, I said I don't have a license, that doesn't mean I don't drive" Izzy said with a secret smirk.
Clary looked at her confused and she said, "I know how to drive, I've been doing it for two maybe three years but I still haven't passed my driver's test. My parents don't let me drive to school because Jace and Alec both take their cars to school but for times like these when neither are around, they don't mind me driving my car".
Weird family. Clary thought as she climbed in the back with Maia and Aline sat in the passenger seat. Music blasted instantly to some pop song Clary didn't recognize as Izzy revved the car.
"You know this is my first soccer game" Clary said as they found their seats, nachos in one hand and a giant drink in the other.
"Football" The three girls corrected her in unison but she didn't mind them.
"You know I'm not really a fan of sports" Clary said.
"Us neither, well, Maia is, I'm just here for the sweaty sexy football players" Izzy said.
"And I'm here for the food" Aline said as she munched on her popcorn that they got from the shack outside where they got all of their snacks.
"You don't have cheerleaders?" Clary noted.
"No, we've only seen them on TV" Izzy said.
"But American High Schools have cheerleaders? I thought those were a myth" Aline turned to Clary, engaged and curious.
"They're real" Clary nodded.
"Fascinating" Aline sounded sincere.
"Don't tell Jace. Girls in short skirts cheering him on? He'll move to America right then" Izzy said.
"Oh, if that is a promise then maybe we should tell him right away" Maia suggested and the girls chuckled lightly at that.
The game started soon after someone announced the teams and Clary's eyes found the mass of blond hair no matter how far she was, Jace was number 5. She noticed Alec's number was 7 and Sebastian was 13.
She didn't know the game much except for the basics, they can't use their hands and a ball in the net meant a goal. She kept her eyes on the ball going back and forth between the teams, she was curious about their passes. Kicking a ball and passing it to your teammate and not die from it? That was, in her dictionary, impossible.
She noticed Jace and Alec were the ones who advanced to the others territories while Sebastian protected the net, there were other people that Clary didn't know but recognized their faces from school.
She had cheered with everyone else when Jace scored the first goal, booed the other team when they got a score (When in Rome, right?), cheered again as Alec scored another goal right after the half time and Jace scored another goal, five minutes before the game ended an then it ended.
Meaning they won. Jace had told her they would. His moves on the field were slick and it seemed like he teased the other team just as much as he teased her but in a different form. He seemed exactly the same out there as he did in English class when they were talking.
The crowd cheered as the team won, the two teams shook hands and left as the crowd was leaving. Clary got in the car with the girls, she guessed she could say now she liked soccer moderately, she wouldn't be catching up to the games, listening in to every detail of it any time soon but if she was there she could cheer their team on.
"Come on girls it's time for the party"
A/N: Hey guys thanks for reading and please review.
