Disclaimer: I do not own the Mortal Instruments series or any of it's characters.
"If this death contraption kills me, you should know my mother will not pay funeral arrangements."
"It's four inch heels, you're acting like it's made of sharp vampire fangs" Izzy said to Clary with a roll of her eyes. She will never understand girls' disdain for heels. It makes you feel powerful and gives you the edge to drive your six inch heels in someone's gut, if they mess with you.
Clary shot up from her seat on the couch in Izzy's home as she looked over herself, "I think this is good". She had wore the dress Izzy picked out and Izzy had pulled her hair up with a pin.
"Better than good, that is hot" Izzy said, "Don't you guys agree?"
"Yeah"
"Sure"
"I definitely think so". They all looked up at the male voice intrusion and found Jace leaning on the door frame, he was now changed from his sweaty team uniform, which was dirty and grassy when he walked in, now he was in dark jeans and a white shirt. Clary tried not to get overwhelmed by him since he seemed to do that to her a lot. "You're wearing my colors".
He eyes her figure very slowly and Clary felt exposed to him, she never wore something this short and she subconsciously tried pulling it down, she thought he would glance at her and move but he kept his gaze tight on her, like he wanted to devour her.
"It's the team's colors" Clary corrected, feeling the need to point out the difference.
Jace smirked "And here I thought you were cheering for the other team".
"I was, at the game. Now I need to blend in so your fan club doesn't kill me" Clary shrugged a shoulder.
Jace raised an eyebrow as he cracked a grin "You've met my fan club?"
Clary licked her lips before smiling sweetly "Charming bunch, though I do have concerns as to their intellectual capabilities".
"How bad could it be? I mean they are my fan club"
"That is actually the reason for my concern"
"I'm not interested in their intellectual capabilities as a matter of fact I-"
Clary jumped up, "Don't tell me what you want those girls for, I'm okay guessing".
"So you will be guessing? Keeping me in your mind?"
Clary pinched the bridge of her nose trying to calm down, she really thought she had him outwitted with the comment about his fan club's intellect but he always had to have some cheeky answer.
She looked back at Jace and saw him gesture with hands, she realized that he meant 2-0. He had won against her twice now.
The bell rang before she could throw a pillow at him and he walked away from the group to open the door for the DJ, he came in and set up everything as Jace got the girls to help him bring the beer in.
"How much alcohol do you need?" Clary said as she put down her fifth trip in the horizontal cooler.
"Is that a real question?" Aline asked.
Clary questioned out loud "How did you even get this? Your fake IDs must be FBI worthy." Mine worthy.
"I'm eighteen and so is Alec" Jace pointed out as if it is obvious.
"Your drinking age is eighteen?" Clary asked with a screech and Jace nodded with a smirk. People started arriving soon after, the DJ had put on some music and before they she went to join, Jace stopped her.
"One more thing" Jace said looking down at her, her reached behind her and without taking his eyes off hers, pulled the pin from her hair in one move, letting her curly locks fall down, framing her face, she ran a hand through it as Jace said grinning "That's better".
Jace put the pin down before turning around and joining the party, Clary took a deep breath before following after.
She had stood awkwardly for the longest time, next to the group who were all there, Alec glared at her with a side eye and Sebastian had said she looked gorgeous which she blushed at, and she just swayed to the music.
Jace came in with shots to everyone which Clary declined at first. "Afraid if you get drunk you'll try to sleep with me?" Jace teased, challenging.
Clary narrowed her eyes, she was stubborn and she wouldn't let him have one on her so she scuffed "As much of a horror that is, and thank you for noticing it as a fear, no amount of alcohol will make me spread my legs for you or anyone at this party" she took her glass and clinked it to the one in his hand and turned her head back as she downed the shot with one sip making a point of not flinching at the taste.
"Ooh" she heard the group around them but she could only see the challenging look in Jace's eyes as he grinned at her.
"It's on, Fray" he said as he drank his shot down. She noted he didn't flinch back at the bitter and sour taste either and she scowled slightly. A song she knew blasted through the speakers which was the first one she recognized and she loved it.
"I love this song" Clary squealed as she finally for the first time since the beginning of the dance was excited and felt comfortable.
She started to dance to the beat, which was loud and fast and the girls joined. It wasn't like a sexy song, it was an upbeat and fun song that they went crazy for and kept dancing with really weird dance moves but high energy. That went on for more songs as she got into their beat, with every song she became more ecstatic, high on adrenaline and felt more comfortable in her skin and around them.
And with each shot they had in front of her, she looked Jace in the eyes as they both downed their drinks. Each shot making her feel less uncomfortable and more energetic. She had a relatively good tolerance, she discovered that when she once hanging out with a few older kids at Miami beach at night and had successfully drank as much as the others did and didn't pass out, it was genetics she figured.
But he had as much tolerance if not more, he didn't even look slightly tipsy.
But she was getting there.
She and the girls danced and she was so entranced with it that she hadn't noticed when all three guys left, she figured everyone was dancing somewhere else when there was a tap on her shoulder. She turned and saw Magnus, she jumped up excited and pulled him in for a hug, she hadn't even realized she was going for a hug until her arms were around him.
She realized this is the first time she hugged or even touched him even, which should have been awkward but she was too energetic and ecstatic to care, especially when his arms wrapped around her soon after and hugged her back.
"Magnus"
"Biscuit, you look amazing" Magus said as he put her down.
"Thank you but that is all Izzy, I literally chose nothing of this" she pointed to Izzy behind her who waved.
"Well I assumed you would have needed help from someone..." Magnus seemed to think of the words and settled on "Like me".
"Thank you" Izzy said with a wave, "Nice to meet you".
"You too" Magnus nodded and turned back to Clary, "Hadn't figured you for the party type".
"Funny I figured you were exactly the party type"
"Biscuit I am not the party type, I am the party" Magnus said and Clary chuckled.
"That's a pretty big statement" Clary said.
"Have you seen me? I am a big statement"
Clary chuckled at that and pushed him in to dance, Magnus had joined them for a while and he proved himself right when all of the attention was on him, he danced and partied and socialized with everyone.
"And that's why he still owes me a favor" Magnus said and the girls chuckled as he finished another one of his stories. Magnus looked at Izzy with an almost innocent expression but Clary caught the teasing look in his eyes, "Hey, has anyone seen Alexander Lightwood?"
"My brother?" Izzy asked, clueless.
"Oh are you Isabelle, Alexander's sister? I hadn't realized" Magnus said, Clary narrowed her eyes and refrained from calling Bullshit.
"Yeah I am, how do you know Alec?" Izzy asked with a smile that made Clary wonder for a second if she was actually clueless.
"We work on a project together" Magnus said, "He was the one who invited me, so I suppose I should find him and thank him".
"Oh should you now?" Clary said outloud and Magnus sent her a grin.
"Of course, it's only appropriate" Magnus said.
"Knowing Alec, he's probably upstairs in his room" Izzy answered.
"Maybe then I shouldn't disturb-"
"Nonsense" Izzy argued, "I'm sure he would be happy to see you".
"Well I know that" Magnus joked, "Perhaps I will see him for a minute, I will be right back". When he walked away, he stopped shortly at Clary and whispered so only she could hear, "Or not, better not wait up".
"Wasn't holding my breath on it" Clary chuckled whispering as she looked at him go.
She caught sight of Jace grinding on some girl from school she didn't know. She stopped for a moment and turned back quickly, not wanting to see the sight, and her smile flattered for only a second before she willed it back up, she caught a hold of another shot and drank it down, she figured it wasn't enough and drank down another.
"This is my song" Izzy exclaimed happily. Clary heard the beat of a familiar song, Don't Cha. She had laughed at that as she started dancing with the girls, she didn't know how but she ended up on the table dancing along with Izzy her heels long gone and not even sure where she left them, Maia and Aline refused to get up with them but Clary didn't mind, she just enjoyed the music and the attention she and Izzy were getting.
When she noticed Jace looking up at her while still grinding with the girl, she stared him down as she made a sexy move, tomorrow morning she will blame the alcohol or just deny it happened but for now she did it with a wink at him and he smirked at her.
She went back to focusing her attention on the dance when the song changed to On The Floor. Clary had danced and drank with Izzy some more and when she looked again at where Jace was, she realized he had disappeared from the crowd and she had a pretty good idea where he was. She didn't want to think about it so she turned to Izzy and danced along, trying her best not to think about it.
And she was determined Jace will not cross her mind again.
"Woooaho everybody let's go shots shots shots" Clary sang along and she took shot for a good measure and Magnus and Izzy laughed at her.
"You better slow down"
"Why would I? I'm having the best time" Clary said as she ran from them but when she did she bumped into someone.
She looked up to see Jace, she chuckled as he looked at her confused, "Jace" she exclaimed happily.
"I think you won this time, how many shots have you took?" Jace asked.
"Too many and yet not enough"
"I would say you are pretty drunk" Jace chuckled.
"No no no, see I am still aware of everything, everything, and there is nothing I did after I drank that I wouldn't have done before so I am not drunk" Clary said with a pointed finger.
"You're just a lot more giggly" Jace pointed out.
"I'm always giggling" she said then whispered as she gestured to her heart "Inside".
"Well that is good to hear. What? Do we not compare to your American parties?" Jace asked.
"I wouldn't know, I've never been" Clary said.
"Really? Your charming personality didn't get you invited to parties?" He said with sarcasm, "How can it not have won them over?"
"It won you guys over" Clary said as she swayed to the music tiredly.
"We're not a bright bunch" Jace joked.
"You mean you aren't the brightest of the bunch" she joked as she laughed. He could see she was a bit drunk and he was in a tight discussion with himself if he should tell her to stop or to keep going.
Jace grumbled annoyed and she chuckled. "Hey where is your.. uuumm I don't know her name but I doubt you do either".
He figured he would let her drink some more, so long as she was having fun. She was funny when she was drunk. Sue him. Jace almost chuckled, "Keeping an eye on me?"
Clary giggled, "Your fly is still open Casanova".
Jace reached down to close his fly as she giggled some more, he sighed as he said "Well at least you were right about one thing".
"What's that?"
"You're like 17 shots in and you still haven't taken your clothes off for me, now this is a first".
Clary giggled, "You still waiting on that?"
"Actually yeah, that's why I came down I was hoping for a show" Jace said, "I'll take you on a date first if you would like that".
"No" she said with a giggle.
"Why won't you go on a date with me Clary?" Jace couldn't help but ask. He hadn't planned on asking her but he figured she was drunk enough not to come up with a lie.
"Because you will be hurt" Clary answered as she swayed a little to the music. Even as she said it, she closed her eyes and listened to the music with such ease and carelessness, as if he was asking her about the weather.
"You think you will hurt me?" Jace almost chuckled at the idea. Actually, he couldn't help himself and really chuckled at the thought. But he noticed she was honest and he really wondered, why would this girl think she would ever hurt him?
"Yes" Clary nodded as she raised her hand to point at his chest as she leaned closer, "And you don't deserve that".
"Aw Jace finally found a girl willing to suck your dick?"
Clary and Jace broke apart at the sound of a male voice intruding on them and they both turned to the source of it. Clary saw three guys she didn't recognize standing in the middle of the party and for a moment it seemed like one of those scenes in the movies where the music dials down and the crowds part and stare at them, hoping for a fight.
The one in the middle was the one who talked, a fair skinned guy with black hair and dark black eyes was the one who said it, she narrowed her eyes as she realized he was talking about her and she went to say something, but her mind was still blurry and fuzzy and Jace had said something first.
"Yeah it was your mother this morning, why do you ask?" Jace responded. Clary frowned a bit as she saw Jace was grinning, and if she didn't know any better she would have thought he was actually carefree, but she felt a sort of rage emanate from him.
That wasn't very nice. Clary thought about Jace's comment. The guy was a douche but still it wasn't a nice comment.
The guy's face hardened as his teeth clinched, "Funny you would mention mothers considering yours killed herself".
Never mind, this guy deserved it. Clary thought as she glared at the guy, she felt rage. How dare he mention something like that? She looked up at Jace and saw his face harden, his grin turning to a scowl, a very angry dark terrifying scowl that made her shiver. Her hand ghosted for a moment over his own but she couldn't let herself take it.
She knew it would take Jace only a moment to pounce on this guy and possibly kill him so she cleared her throat hoping to defuse the situation, "You know Yo' Mama jokes works better with lighter subjects like weight. Here, I'll show you, Yo' Mama is so fat-"
"And she talks" the guy said then turned to Jace, "Do you pay her extra for jokes or is it a seasonal discount?"
"Watch it Azazel" Jace growled at the guy whose name is apparently Azazel. Was Azazel just insinuating she was a prostitute or something?
Who the hell is this douche?
Clary glared at the three guys who were laughing, she stepped forward "The jokes come free after I kick your ass". A hand on her arm stopped her as she stomped to beat the guy up, she struggled to push Jace's hand off but he wouldn't budge, he pulled her back behind him but she poked her head to look at them.
"Feisty too, come on princess, I'll let you take a swing at me, I don't mind" Azazel said as he smirked looking at her behind Jace's shoulder.
"You really mean it, Zaz?" Jace said with a sickly sweet tone as if Azazel was talking to him, "Now get the hell out of my house or I will take you up on that offer".
"What's he doing here?" Alec's voice shot through the room as he appeared in Clary's sight. She looked around and saw their little scene pulled at the attention of everyone. She saw Sebastian and Alec come out of no where and stand next to Jace as if backing him up, a look to the side and she could see Iz, Aline and Maia standing on the side.
Iz gestured for her to come next to her but she wouldn't, she couldn't move. Her head was still fuzzy from the alcohol and she still wanted to kick this guy's ass.
"Doesn't matter, he was just leaving" Jace answered quickly.
"Now Jace is that really anyway to talk to your friends that way?" The guy on Azazel's right said.
"It's how I talk to assholes before I beat them up" Jace quipped back.
"Now I don't think you should talk this way in front of your lady" Azazel said as he looked at Clary. Clary glared, she just about had enough of this guy, she wasn't gonna let him talk about her like she wasn't there. She won't be disrespected by some guy again.
"Then you definitely won't like what I will say asshat" Clary jumped up.
"Clary" She heard Sebastian of all people call her name, probably to tell her to step back.
"Clary, is that your name, sweetheart? Now why don't you tuck on your bulldogs' leashes so I can talk to you" Azazel said with an infuriating smirk. Clary would later regret not thinking of a comeback like If you're worried about their bite you shouldn't, you should worry about mine.
Jace huffed up, "Azazel, do you really need me to kick your ass one more time so you'll get it?"
"Oh just relax Herondale, you know we'll face sooner or later" Azazel said. Clary was confused, what did he mean? Who the hell was this douche?
"No way Raziel put you back in the game" Jace scuffed. What game?
"He already did" Azazel said, "But don't go crying to him this time because you can't beat me".
"You cheated and you know it, I know it and Raziel knows it that's why he pulled you out of the game" Jace said. What game? Clary was so confused
"Well now I'm back in" Azazel said.
"Good" Jace said quickly, "Now I get to beat you one more time, for old times' sake. Now why don't you get the hell out of my face".
"Or what? You'll make me?" Azazel asked.
"Yes, he will" Alec said as he crossed his arms over his chest, seeming even taller than he actually is, Jace and Sebastian soon followed his motion, and Clary had to admit, they looked like a pretty intimidating bunch.
Azazel looked between the three, and scuffed but Clary could see he was intimidated, he gestured with a nod of his head to the door and the guys followed him out.
"Who the hell is that douche?" Clary finally asked the question burning a hole in her head.
Jace turned back to her, he looked at her for a moment before he just shrugged, "Don't worry about it".
"That's what someone says when you should worry about it" Clary argued.
"He's right, Clary. Hopefully, you won't have to find out" Sebastian said. Clary looked at him a little shocked. She and him had probably the least contact in the group, but he was still talking to her as if he cared about her.
"Just let it go" Jace said then turned to the rest, "Everyone, I say we get the party back on". The crowd cheered and Jace gestured for the DJ to play some music and he did quickly.
"Clary, are you crazy? Why didn't you back away from these guys when we called you to?" Aline asked quickly.
"Because I don't like it when some douche disrespects me" Clary said as if it was obvious, she really tried not to jump up in defense and not let her anger control her words.
"Just stay away from this guy, Clary" Maia said, "He's bad news".
"Not that I will go looking for him or anything, but again who the hell is this douche?" Clary asked.
The group looked between themselves for a moment then back at Clary, and she could tell they were debating whether to tell her the truth or not. But whatever they agreed to, Iz was the one who stepped forward and said "He's just some guy who lost against Jace a few times and he doesn't like it".
"Soccer?" Clary asked.
"It's Football" They all corrected her at once and Clary rolled her eyes. She noticed that it wasn't exactly a Yes and their answer was vague as hell so she wondered what's really going on.
She held in her breath, shocked and a bit overwhelmed by all the group's attention, because they seemed like they were hiding something from her but they also seemed to be a bit protective of her, like if they weren't telling her it was only because they were trying to look out for her.
And that overwhelmed her.
"Look guys, why don't we just go back to partying?" Iz asked then her eyes widened, "Oh new song I gotta find Izzy" and then she ran off to the party. The girls all went and Clary decided with a shrug she was gonna follow them, she decided with a shrug she'll know when she knows.
She stopped before she was out of eyesight and called out, "And Jace", she gestured with her hands and Jace immediately knew what she mean 2-1. He shook his head as she winked and walked- more like strutted away. Jace looked after that strange girl and shook his head, what a peculiar little thing.
"Clary it's almost three a.m. everyone already left, how do you still have energy?" Izzy said tiredly as the other girl danced some more.
Guess alcohol just energized her more and more. Her eyes widened when she realized, "What time is it?"
"Almost three" Maia said tiredly, "Iz, I am sleeping in your room, there is no way I am going home at this hour".
"Aline is already up there" Iz said and Maia made some sort of noise as she climber up the stairs.
"Oh god where is my phone? My mom must be freaked" Clary jumped, sobering up as she looked for her phone, she looked around on the couches, tables and in her bag, "I can't find it".
"You mean this incisive noise thing?" she looked up as she saw Jace climb down the stairs, her phone in his hand, ringing again. She ran towards him and took the phone.
Mom
13 Missed Calls
18 Messages
"She's gonna kill me" Clary said as she looked at the phone ring again but couldn't pick it up.
"Give me" Jace said with a tired sigh.
"No"
"Give me that" Jace took the phone from her hand quickly and answered it, "Hello Mrs Fray? This is Jace Herondale, Robert's son. No, sorry Clary can't come to the phone right now, she's asleep. We would have drove her home but it was very late in the night and we didn't want to driving at this time so she slept in Izzy's room but she lost her phone and I just now found it. No, you shouldn't pick her up, she is already asleep and all of Izzy's girl friends are sleeping here as well. Aha, aha, okay, no problem, great".
He pressed the button to end the call and handed it back to Clary who was stunned and he rolled his eyes, "You girls are overdramatic".
"I thought she would kill me. What did she say?"
"She's gonna kill you"
"What?!"
"Kidding, she said to call her first thing in the morning now if you don't mind I was going to sleep" Jace said annoyed then pointed to Clary, "You two, sleep, now".
Clary nodded as she heard the authoritative tone of his and let Izzy drag her up to her room to sleep.
When they entered the room, despite the two sleeping girls in it, Clary's eyes noticed something else first.
"I knew it, you are so the type of girl to have a freakin whip in her room" Clary said as she looked at the snake figured, patterned whip that twined around itself.
"It's a bracelet but I am glad you think of me that way" Izzy said with a wink.
Maia and Aline were there sleeping on the mattresses Izzy pulled out and the two shared Izzy's queen sized bed but they slept opposite so Clary's feet where next to Izzy's head and vice versa.
They had been laying for a few seconds that felt to Clary like half an hour, staring at the ceiling when Clary called out "Iz?"
"Shut up"
"Okay"
Iz sighed as she sat up and looked at Clary, "What?"
"Thank you" Clary said genuine.
"For the party, for being my friend, for picking up a stray and inviting me to the group" Clary said with a chuckle. She knew she had met Jace first but she also knew that if she hadn't met Isabelle, she would never have befriended the others.
"You're acting like you've never had friends"
"Not like this" Clary admitted. She always had those people she talked to if she was in class with but never like this.
"You're welcome" Iz said as she leaned back to sleep.
"Why did you do it?" Clary asked as she sat up. Looking at Iz curiously, "I mean so many people in school, and you have plenty of friends, so why did you?"
Izzy sighed, "I have a sort of feeling for these things, I don't really know how or why, all I know is when I saw you, I knew we could be great friend".
"That's your answer? A feeling?" Clary asked.
"That's my answer" Izzy said, still not opening her eyes. She poked open one eye and said, "And I'm glad I did, you're not so bad Fray".
Clary smiled and leaned back on the bed to sleep, "You're not so bad either, Lightwood".
Clarissa, when will you understand I am trying to help you become a better person, like my father taught me. Can't you see I am doing this for you?
Clary shot up from the bed with a deep gasp, when she took in her surroundings she almost panicked before everything that happened the night before slowly shifted inside her head, random pieces of memory jumping up and she realized where she was.
The clock on her phone read 06:03. Great not even full three hours of sleep. She will need some coffee.
The three girls were still asleep but she needed a breather, and she needed to call her mom. She took her phone with her as she walked out, she headed for the balcony and breathed out.
She took in the sight of it all and she realized she wanted to draw it.
"You okay?" she heard a small voice and she turned around quickly, slightly panicked. She saw a small child, his thick squared glasses were too big on his face, dressed in checkered patterned red and light blue pajamas and she breathed in heavily. He reminded her of an old friend.
"Max?" She guessed and he nodded.
"Hi, Max, I'm Clary. And yeah just needed a breather but now I am craving a coffee" Clary said.
"I can show you where the coffee is" Max said.
"I wouldn't want to impose-"
"You're not. I offered" Max said with a small smile and she couldn't help but smile back as she followed the little kid downstairs to the kitchen. She realized she didn't have a massive hangover but she figured with all her dancing she drained the alcohol out.
"We keep it in this drawer" she noticed he opened the second drawer on the right as they reached the kitchen and she looked inside, there were possibly four kinds of coffee and she picked out her favorite, luckily they had it. She heard the kid laugh a little.
"What?" Clary asked smiling, the kid's laugh was contagious.
"That's Jace's favorite." Well she found a good quality in Jace, he had great taste in coffee. "Do you want milk?"
"If it's possible" Clary said, almost sheepish, she didn't know what the protocol was when sleeping at a friend's house and waking up early.
He opened the fridge, handing her the carton and from another drawer got her a milk pot, "Thank you so much Max, I would have died without you".
Max chuckled at her and Clary's eyes noticed on the table a Manga comic and she looked back at Max impressed, "You like Manga?"
Max nodded, "I was reading it when I heard your voice".
"So you know how to read this?"
Max's smile dropped, "No, I just look at the pictures".
"I can teach you if you want?" Clary suggested as she remembered how an old friend of hers taught her too, he was nerdish and looked a lot like Max the last time she saw him.
"Can you?" Max asked hopeful as he got his comic for Clary and she chuckled as she squatted to his height.
"You see you read the words backwards, instead of left to right, right to left" Clary explained just like her friend explained to her. She remembers how excited he was to teach her.
"Oh" Max said, "Thank you".
Clary grew curious when she remembered Max has been absent to school and she decided to brave it up and ask, "Hey Max, you helped me find the coffee and I helped you with reading Manga so we are friends now right?"
Max shrugged, "I guess". Because it was that easy for kids to make friends.
"And friends tell each other the truth, right?"
"Right"
"So you want to tell me why you don't want to go to school?" Clary asked and she saw Max's smile fall and be replaced with something similar to panic and slight fear and he shot back defensive "No".
Clary knew it then, he reminded her too much of her old friend Simon Lewis who she knew back in New York when she was just a kid, before they started running from Valentine and she remembered seeing that exact look on his face then.
"Max is someone hurting you?" Max grew quiet and Clary sighed as she sat on the ground, "You know you remind me of a friend I had when I was your age. Same glasses and loved Manga too, he was the one who taught me how to read Manga. But someone in our class was mean to him and he tried to tell him to stop but that didn't work, so he tried to stop going to school but his parents wouldn't let him".
"So what did he do?"
"He got himself a friend who punched the kid right in the nose" Clary chuckled. "And it worked for a while but one day his friend wasn't in school and the bully tried to hurt him again and do you know what he did?"
"He punched the kid in the nose?"
"Consider that plan b. No, when they guy came up to him, he spilled his juice box all over the front of the guy's pants and yelled out Miss, Andy had an accident" Clary said and Max laughed.
"That's mean" Max said laughing, "Maybe I'll try it".
"What I mean is Max, you can't hide forever. And you have a house full of people who are ready to go make a clear point to the teacher or this kid's parents to stop messing with you" Clary said as she pinched Max's cheek.
Before she knew it, Max jumped up and wrapped his tiny arms around her, "Thank you, Clary".
Clary chuckled as she got over her shock and patted the kid's back, "No problem kid".
"I gotta go, get another Manga book now that I know how to read them" Max said as he jumped up and headed to the stairs. Clary chuckled.
"You're good with him"
"Jesus" Clary shrieked as she jumped up and turned to see Jace behind her, his arms crossed in front of him and he leaned on the wall.
"Not quite, but close enough" Jace joked then groaned, "I need some coffee".
"I'm making some" Clary said as she got up and went back to making coffee.
"Why are you up so early?"
"Why are you?"
"I'm always up at this hour, can't help it" Jace admitted then looked at her pointedly, "Your turn".
Clary contemplated telling him the truth, but ultimately decided against it, "I heard voices, light sleeper".
Jace looked up at her for a moment and she had thought that he knew she was lying, but she sighed in relief when he asked instead "So what happened to this friend?" as he leaned on the counter.
Clary sighed as she stirred the milk in the pot, looking at solemnly "He died in a car crash a long time ago".
He died in a car accident the day she told him what her dad does to her and her family, the day she told him she gets beaten up every time she walks in the house, that was the last time she ever confided in anyone.
Her father was so proud as he came home and told her about it, making a point to clarify that if she ever told anyone anything again, they would have the same fate.
She held back the tears as she tried not to let her face scream It's all my fault at Jace. She felt a hand under her chin as Jace made her look at him, "I'm... sorry for your loss".
He hadn't said 'sorry' in a long time. Too long actually and he always said that he hated the habit of apologizing when you have done nothing wrong but he remembered Clary's words to him when he told her about his parents and he had felt it then.
She smiled slightly as her eyes blinked a bit and she said "Thank you".
A/N: Please don't kill me also review because why not?
