I'm baaaaaack.
Hey guys, I missed you guys so much and I just have to say thank you for all the follows and the favorites and the reviews, so many reviews.
I really appreciate all of it and I am so glad to hear you are enjoying this story.
Anyways I know you're not here to hear me talk so on with the chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Mortal Instruments series.
Recap: Last chapter we had the dance, Maia and Aline are friends again.
Clary finally met Isabelle's date Simon who turned out to be her supposed dead childhood best friend.
As the two reconnected, Kaelie heard parts of their conversation and is definitely up to no good.
Clary found out Seelie kissed Jace and punched her in the nose.
Alec told Magnus he was not going to wait a few months for Magnus to break up with him and the two broke up then and there.
Clary realized her mother was behind the Simon's death lie and Luke lied to her as well, she ran out of the house in the middle of the night, under the rain, clutching her phone in her hand and was found by someone...
And on with the chapter.
Magnus could find his own way back home without Alexa- Alec' help, he's made it this far without his rich fancy car and he will make it tonight as well, too bad he left his car at home, how could he have known he would leave the dance single?
But no time to think about that, no time to think about the fact that he just lost one of the most important people in his life, no time to think about how shallow his breath is coming out or the pain in his chest, there was no time, he needed to get home now.
He probably could have walked home, he could have taken the bus, but he didn't. Maybe it was because he didn't feel like it, which is what he will be telling later on, but deep inside himself he knows the true reason he went to his freshman year ex-boyfriend, Imasu, to ask for a ride, was to piss off his latest ex-boyfriend.
He made sure to be seen by enough people leaving the party with Imasu, maybe that was petty but he didn't particularly care at the moment. He didn't know why he wanted to do this to Alec, but he knew he would not back down now.
Yeah sure, Imasu used him to copy his homework for four months.. and was cheating on him during all of their relationship. But that didn't matter today.
He didn't see Alec on his way out, he must have gone home already, he would have felt his presence in the room if he were still here, Magnus had always had a sense of when Alec was in a room.
A useless talent that seemed now.
Magnus shrugged the sadness and hurt away, dusting himself off as if he could shrug his feelings away like a bug. He can't break down, he can't show that his heart is breaking into a million pieces. He was Magnus Bane, he was never less than remarkable.
"Alec, wait" Isabelle tried to go after Alec but he got into his car and drove off quickly, not even stopping at the Stop Sign when exiting the school parking lot. Isabelle sucked in a deep breath as she looked after him. That was weird, even for Alec, and she could have sworn she saw the look of hurt on Alec' face which was a rare sight indeed.
She was going to head back to the party when she saw Magnus, heading out as well, she squinted her eyes to make out the guy he was with but she didn't spare him a second look when she saw Magnus heading into his car, "Magnus" she shouted, her voice commanding attention.
Both boys turned to look at her as she stomped over to them, a look of murder in her eyes, "What the hell is going on?"
"I'm going home" Magnus said with all the sass he could muster.
"With your ex-boyfriend instead of your boyfriend?" Isabelle spit out as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"As I am currently boyfriend-less, yes, I choose so" Magnus said in a light tone and to her credit, Isabelle only looked shocked for a mere second before her eyes hardened again.
"Magnus, what are you doing?" she asked, this time her voice softer, "What happened?"
"Ask Alec"
She didn't miss the subtle hint of venom as he said her brother's name. Alec, you imbecile, what have you done now? "Magnus, please, don't do something you might regret" Isabelle tried again.
Magnus looked back at Imasu for one long moment before letting a little smile tease his lips, "Those are the best things one can do in life" he said before getting in the car.
Great, wonderful, bloody fantastic indeed, She thought to herself as she went to turn around and head back to the party, the only thing that can go more wrong is...
Her train of thoughts stopped as she caught sight of Sebastian behind her, that.
He raised his hands in surrender when he saw the feral look she gave his way and said "I just want to talk".
"How has that been working out for you in your past experiences?" Isabelle mocked.
"Horribly" Sebastian admitted truthfully, "I always manage to say something worse with every try".
"Then why try again?" Isabelle asked.
"Because the thought of losing your friendship is worse than losing my pride" Sebastian admitted, as he scratched the back of his neck, letting his fingers ruffle the bit of hair there, and Isabelle cursed herself for remembering that same feeling on her fingers.
But Isabelle still wasn't convinced, he took out something from his pocket that made her snap her attention back, bandages, "I have this for your hands" he said, making her instinctively dig her fingers into her palms again before he said "You'll reopen the wounds".
She stopped, looking back at his face, a silent question moved through the air that she didn't need to speak out loud, How did you know?
A silent reply was what she got, because like her question, he didn't need to say it out loud I know you.
"May I?" he asked.
She contemplated for the longest time, should she let him help her? He is extending an olive branch, but she worried that with both their tempers they might ruin whatever small bits and scraps are left of their friendship. But then again her palms would start to bleed soon.
She nodded as she walked towards him and sat on the edge of one of the benches, he followed her, without saying a word and waited until she extended her hands to him. He started tending them carefully, as soon as his hands touched her skin, Isabelle needed to suck in a deep breath, and do it discreetly.
His touch sent those deliciously familiar shivers up her arms, leaving goosebumps in their wake. She hated being affected by him so, but it's been so long since they touched, and she hadn't thought all those past feelings would come crushing back, the way her heart skips a beat as a smile tugs on his lips and he tried to hide it, the way her stomach drops when he puts all his focus onto her as if she was the only one who existed in the world, the way her fingers edged to pull him closer.
She had to stop herself from letting her feelings roam freely, so she decided to look away from him, focus on the wounds on her hands instead of him. She had to, she was Isabelle Lightwood, goddamn it, and she did not turn into putty at the sight of a guy.
"Are Alec and Magnus okay?" he asked.
She sighed, shaking her head with disappointment.
"I'm sure they can work out whatever it is, they're the best couple I know" Sebastian said.
"I hope so" Isabelle said, I hope they don't do something you can't turn away from.
"Are you okay, Isabelle?" he asked and she was taken back by the honest tone in his voice, making her look at him.
Was she okay? Of course she was okay, she was Isabelle Lightwood, she doesn't break or bend, she is always "Okay".
He nodded, but he didn't seem to believe her, but as promised before, he did not fight or argue.
Another moment of silence before "Isabelle-"
"Sebastian-"
They both started together then stopped then tried again in unison and stopped.
"Wait" Isabelle said, "I'll go first".
He nodded without speaking another word.
"I'm sorry about... a lot of things actually, I'm sorry for blaming you for my break up with Raphael, I'm sorry for all the things I've said in the past weeks, I didn't mean it, I was just... angry".
"I get it, I said somethings I regret as well, I've crossed more lines than I can count and... I'm sorry for all of it, your friendship means a lot to me and... if you would accept, I'd like a chance to earn it back.. I'll follow all your rules this time" Sebastian said.
"What about a rule involving scarfs?"
Sebastian grimaced at first but then smiled, "I'd love to wear any scarf you offer".
They both chuckled as he let go of her hands, both bandaged now, before she could stop herself she leaped forward and hugged him, it took him a second to respond but as soon as he did, he wrapped his arms around her as well, pulling her closer in a friendly hug. She found that the thing she missed most about Sebastian was his friendship, because some friendships were worth a thousand relationships.
"What are we gonna do about...?" Isabelle started as she pulled back.
"Our feelings to one another?" Sebastian grinned as he said it but Isabelle didn't answer, he sighed as he turned his body from hers towards the parking lot, "I don't know".
"We're bad for each other" Isabelle said.
"Trust me, I've gathered that" Sebastian huffed out sarcastically.
"And we're even worse apart" Isabelle continued.
"Hmm" Sebastian hummed, "Proposal, we try the boyfriend-girlfriend thing, next time we hit a bump, instead of taking it out on each other-"
"And other people" Isabelle interjected.
"And other people," Sebastian nodded, "We talk, work it out, and in a month we revaluate where we stand and decide if we are better off as friends".
"It's hot when you say such romantic things" Isabelle said sarcastically.
He chuckled, "We both know if I said romantic things, you'd jump from that ledge" he said as he gestured ahead and they both chuckled again.
"Are you sure it's a good idea?" Isabelle asked.
"Not at all" Sebastian admitted.
Isabelle breathed in a heavy sigh as she thought of her choices, she could say no, she wants to be just friends, she doesn't want to give this relationship thing a try, but did she want that? There was no doubt in her mind that she had feelings for Seb, even if she can't say it out loud yet, but this idea could either turn out to be the best thing to happen to her or the worst idea in the history of all bad ideas.
Was it worth it?
She looked back at Sebastian, folding what is left of the bandages in his hands, looking at his work with precision, trying to pretend he isn't nervous for what she might answer, but she saw it in the stiffness of his shoulders, in the tightness of his moves and she decided, yes, it was worth it. "Okay, let's try it"
Sebastian grinned, "I don't mean to brag but I think we just made a decision about our relationship".
"And no one got a shoe thrown at them" Isabelle said in a shocked sarcastic tone.
"Who would have thought?" Sebastian said with a grin, his eyes caught something behind her and he coughed awkwardly, "I'll let you two get back to your date" he said as he got up.
Isabelle froze as she remembered she was on a date with someone. Simon, how could she forget him? She instantly felt terrible as she got up to meet his gaze. To his credit, he did not look angry or hurt, he looked as if he was waiting for Sebastian to leave.
"I can explain" Isabelle started.
"You taking your relationship to the next level with another guy in the middle of our date? Please do" Simon said.
Isabelle sighed and sat down on the bench in defeat, "I'm sorry, Simon, I really didn't mean for this to happen, I just-"
"It's okay" Simon said.
Isabelle looked back at him as if she couldn't believe her ears, "What?"
"Look, I've only known you for less than a week, it's only our first date, you don't owe me anything" Simon said.
"Simon," Isabelle started but she didn't find words other than, "I'm sorry".
"I get it, you have feelings for him, you need to see if something could be there" Simon said.
"You understand?" Isabelle wondered out loud and he only nodded, "I'm sorry".
"Stop apologizing" Simon said, "Not to sound pessimistic or anything but maybe if this blows over, we'd try again and I'd have you without fear of 'what if's".
Isabelle didn't know what to say so she only turned away slightly and gave a soft chuckle, she felt him drab a coat over her shoulders as she shivered, "Not sure how you keep score or anything but I would suggest deducting your boyfriend points for leaving you in the cold".
She chuckled then looked up at him, "You're amazing, Simon".
"I know" he grinned but she could see the edges of his smile didn't quite reach his ears.
Clary was shivering, she knew that, even though she felt the warmth of a heavy blanket around her body and the fire danced absentmindedly in front of her unblinking eyes, she was shivering uncontrollably.
A lock set of golden eyes were trying to get her attention, lips moving in front of her but she couldn't make out the words, couldn't hear anything, everything felt like it was a million miles away and she was all alone in her cold world.
Thoughts of her mother's words ran through her head, of Luke, of Simon. How could they do this to her? How could they just lie like that? To tell her that her best friend died because of her and keep it a secret for years.
She always blamed herself for it, not a day went by when she didn't think of Simon and Jonathan and how they both died for her, because of her.
Her mother was not the person she thought she was, neither was Luke, she couldn't trust them anymore, how can you trust someone who not only let you writhe in pain while holding a cure but caused it as well? How can you trust someone who hurt you? How can you trust someone who would cause this much pain to her own daughter?
Secrets and lies, she thought that was something they didn't have between them, when you are on the run with someone you need to trust them with your life, you need to be honest and open, and she was that with her mother, what a fool she was.
Serves her right for thinking she could ever count on anyone but herself, wasn't that what he had said? Trusting others was a weakness and she'd been stupid enough to fall for it.
Maybe he was right, maybe the problem was with her, maybe she was weak enough to let that happen, he tried to tell her how weak she was and she didn't believe him, now she could see it clearly, he was only trying to show her the truth, to teach her how the world would treat her, she should have listened, should have been stronger, should have learnt better.
"Clary" the sound of her name broke her of her trance, Jace was looking at her with frantic eyes, worried, his hands cupped her face as he tried to capture her attention, his thump caressed her cheek, his touch felt cold, strange, or perhaps it was her, "You're cold as ice".
She tried to speak, to ask how did she get here, but she couldn't, the words left her too slow and came out unintelligently, she could see it in his eyes that he didn't understand her, her words were muffled, she tried to hold his hand but her hands fumbled and shivered under her, unsteady, it felt exhausting to try, maybe she just needed a nap.
Yes, a nap, she was so tired, she tried to close her eyes, "No" she heard Jace say, panic rising in his tone, as he patted her cheek a bit too roughly, "You have to stay awake".
But she was so tired, she didn't want to stay awake, "Clary, wake up" Jace's voice sounded, "Clary, come on".
Why was he so worried? She was only going to take a nap. She liked it though, she liked hearing him fuss over her, she decided to enjoy it while it lasted, who knows how long it would be before Jace would stop caring as well, just like her mother and Luke.
"Clary, you might have hypothermia, I need you to stay awake" Jace said, trying to calm his tone, but she could hear the panic in him.
Hypo- what? No, that didn't sound right. Maybe she was hallucinating, why would she hallucinate this, though? She was so confused.
"Clary, please, I need you awake now" Jace pleaded, "I'll make hot chocolate and get you warm enough, Robert's gonna be here soon, just please stay awake".
"J-ace" she could finally make the words out, she stuttered and coughed violently, the words hurting her throat.
"I'm right here" Jace said, "I'm not going anywhere".
She didn't believe him, but in that moment she let him pull her to his chest and hold her, she wanted this, she needed this before it all goes away.
When her mind came to her again, she was in the same place, right by the fire, blankets surrounding her from all sides, but now she recognized her surroundings, she was in the Herondale manor, in the same room where she stayed with Jace after their first date.
But how did she get here? Why is she here?
She looked all around at the blankets, what, were they building a blanket fort?
She felt so comfortable though, the soft material over her skin was lovely and warm, she looked under the blanket and saw she was in a sweater that was way too big for her, she got up quickly, confused, but the move made her head pound against her skull painfully.
What was going on?
She took the sweater in her hand and sniffed it, it smelt of soap, smoke and coppery blood, it smelt like Jace, she let herself enjoy the scent a moment longer before her mind started to ask questions again.
She looked behind her and saw Jace on the floor, his back leaning against the couch, his neck craned forward and legs pushed close to his chest as he slept in what looked like an uncomfortable position, he also did not have a blanket around him.
She tried to get up slightly, soundlessly, when she disentangled herself from her sheets, she realized how cold it is, a look outside the window told her it was raining heavily as the wind howled, the sound of rain thumping against the glass and wind smacking against the concrete were only heard when she focused on them, the sound of the cackling fire veiled all else.
She didn't need this many blankets, why didn't he take one for himself?
She sniffed slightly as she got up, her head hurting with every move, her legs were shaky, her nose was clogged, maybe she had a cold?
Then it all came back to her, she had a fight with her mother and Luke, she ran out in the rain, she called Jace. Did he pick her up? She didn't think she said anything about her location? Did he come back? Did he see her on the street walking alone, cold and confused?
She grimaced at the thought, she didn't want him to see her so weak.
She took one of the big heavy blankets and tip toed towards Jace, she draped it over him slowly, in case he was a light sleeper, and made sure it covered his whole body. She stood before him for a moment, admiring his sleeping features as the memory of him taking care of her racked her brain. He was so sweet to do that, and a part of her relished in the fact that that was a side of him preserved for her, it was a side only she could witness.
She removed a string of curly golden hair from his face gently and smiled to herself, she went to stand up and tip toe away when something caught at her waist and brought her down, she slammed against Jace's lap with a thud, a squeal of shock escaping her lips, he used the blanket to cover them both as he circled his arms over her waist and nuzzled his nose into her neck, his eyes not opening once.
"You should be resting" he whispered in her ear.
"I might have a cold" she said as she tried to escape from his hold, not wanting him to catch her sickness.
"You do, which is why you should be resting" he repeated, not letting her up.
Clary realized he would not let her go and so she sighed and gave up, putting one hand behind his head so she could play with the strings of curly hair at the back of his neck, twirling them against her fingers.
She tried to keep quiet to let him continue his sleep before she woke him, so she was once again a victim of her own thoughts. Thoughts of her mother and Luke's betrayal, thoughts of Simon being alive, it felt like her whole world was crumbling underneath her feet, what she once knew was false and the people she trusted with certainty didn't deserve that trust.
Jace's right eye opened slightly to peak at her, he stopped momentarily before he opened both eyes fully and stretched, "You think too loudly" Jace teased, hints of tiredness still in his tone.
"Well then maybe you should let me go so I can think elsewhere" Clary teased.
"Or I can do this" he said before holding her chin in his strong hand and bringing her closer to kiss him.
Clary immediately put her hand up between their lips to stop him, "I'm sick, remember?"
Jace mumbled something under his breath that Clary didn't hear as she moved from his lap to sit by his side, finally having the courage to ask "What happened? How did I get here?"
"I was hoping you could tell me" Jace said, "Last night after I dropped you off, I was driving home and you called, I thought you must have forgot something in the car but you sounded... distressed.. off.. I can't explain it so I turned back and found you walking in the middle of the night underneath the pouring rain".
He didn't say anything harsh but she could hear it in his tone, his words were coming out a little less carefree than usual, "Jace-"
"No, let me finish" he said tightly and she didn't interrupt, "You weren't talking or responding to anything, I brought you back here shivering, I called Robert and gave him the scare of his life to get him to come here and check you out. I changed your clothes because they were wet and I stayed here by your side for the last 48 hours. What were you thinking? Going out like that?"
"It wasn't a choice" Clary said with a bit of annoyance.
"Wasn't it? Please do tell" Jace said sarcastically.
"Why are you being an ass?"
"Have you met me? I am an ass".
Clary huffed out as she looked away from Jace, she couldn't tell him about anything that was going on with her, none of it would make sense and she'd just be putting him in danger. Something tugged at her heart, something that ached at the thought of not telling him, at the thought of his angry face, at the thought of everything they had been through wasn't enough to trust him.
If she couldn't trust her mother, who could she trust?
"Clary can you for a second stop being so stubborn and tell me the truth" Jace said, "Just tell me what happened that made you leave your house in such a rush".
Clary hesitated before sighing, "I can't tell you that".
"Of course you can't" Jace huffed out annoyed.
"Jace I want to tell you but-"
"Do you?" he asked, a hint of accusation in his tone, "Sometimes, Clary, I think you're hiding some other life that you don't talk about and it's... frustrating".
She knew he wouldn't say the real word about how he felt: Scared. He was scared for her and because of her, she knew that and it tore at her heart to be the one to cause him this pain, but what other choice did she have?
"It's getting late, I'm going to school, there's plenty of food in the fridge, there's wood in that cabin for the fire, help yourself to anything you like" he said in a closed off tone as he got up.
"You're leaving?" Clary asked in disbelief as she tried to keep her eyes away, locked to the ground.
"School" Jace answered simply.
"Wait, I'll change" Clary said as she went to get up as well.
"You're not going, you're sick" Jace said.
"I have a cold, not the influenza" Clary narrowed her eyes at his excuse.
"Sick is sick, you need to stay here" Jace argued.
"I doubt Dr. Lightwood said that the cold was that serious" Clary said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"How would you know? You were out cold" Jace said, his tone rising as his teeth clinched, his eyes narrowed accusingly.
"It's my body, I'd know if I was dying" Clary huffed out as she swung her arms around.
"Damn it, Clary. Can't you, for once, listen to me?"
"You're not listening to me either"
"Because you're being stupid"
"Stupid? How's this for stupid, I'm going whether you drive me or I walk" Clary said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Jace stood there for a moment looking her up and down, his eyes were glowing red, his nostrils flaring, he took a few moments of silence before letting out through clenched teeth "Isabelle left some clothes upstairs".
Clary didn't say anything else, she just turned around and went up the stairs, he agreed to let her out of the house, she didn't want to piss him off any further. Well, she didn't want to piss him off at all, but some things were unavoidable, she had to go to school, if she didn't, she'd be all alone with her thoughts and that's not a place she wanted to be.
She just needed to keep busy for now, school, friends, Jace, preferably making out with Jace and not pissing him off.
She looked herself in the mirror and almost let out a gasp, she almost didn't recognize herself. Her eyes were red and puffy, her cheeks hallow and holding a disgusting color of yellow-ish green, lips almost white, she looked like a ghost. She quickly fluffed out her wig then splashed water on her face as she started fumbling with a set of female clothes Isabelle must have left.
She only found black leggings and a few shirts, she went for a blue one and a scarf she had left before.
When she went down again, Jace was fully dressed, he threw a coat her way and she didn't hesitate to wear it, she didn't want to shiver all day just to prove a point. They didn't talk through the whole drive to school as the storm outside gathered, the sound of rain and wind blasting against the windshield was the only thing that broke through the silence of the car.
Clary didn't like this, she didn't want to fight with Jace and she didn't want to sit in silence, she would have stayed at the Herondale manor otherwise, "How long was I out?"
"Almost the whole weekend" Jace answered, "Aren't you hungry?"
Her stomach growled at the mention of food and she could see him grin from the corner of her eye and he shrugged, "We have time, I know this place where we can get coffee and waffles, would you like that?"
Her stomach grumbled again and Jace laughed, "I'll take that as a yes".
"So what did I miss?" Clary asked.
"Let's see, Magnus and Alec broke up-"
"What? NO!" Clary's eyes shot out of her skull as she looked at him.
"Yes"
"No"
"Yes" Jace said in a tone that left no room for doubt.
"Why?"
"Alec' not talking about it but I think it's because of his scholarship" Jace said, "He got a full scholarship".
"What? That's awesome" Clary said then sat back confused, "But why would that cause a problem?"
"Because the university is in New York" Jace said.
"Oh" Clary said, she looked back at the road. She hadn't thought of New York much since she left, once every couple of months or whenever she had a nightmare. But she hadn't had many nightmares in so long now, she would never say it out loud but she knew Jace was a big part of the reason why, nightmares went from two or three times weekly to once every couple of weeks to rarely, she remembered once she had a nightmare when they were sleeping together, she just woke up and realized he was asleep beside her and she went back to soundless sleep after that.
She thought how difficult it must be for Magnus and Alec, long distance relationship is hard, or so she was told. She wondered if the situation was anything else, and she and Jace had to live across the seas from one another, would they make it work? Could they, even?
"How is Alec?" she asked.
"Depressed and not talking about it" Jace said.
"Yikes" Clary sighed, "I hope they can make it work".
"I doubt it, Magnus left the party with some ex boyfriend of his" Jace said.
"Oh no" Clary settled down into her chair, "Does Alec know?"
By the sad look on Jace's face she got her answer, Alec knew, and he was devastated. After a moment of silence, Jace cleared his throat and smirked, "You'll never believe what happened".
"What?"
"We finally have an answer to our little Seb and Iz's fight investigation" Jace said.
"Oh? Did they finally admit to killing someone?" Clary said with a lazy grin.
"Nope" Jace grinned theatrically, "They're dating".
Clary shot up from her seat in the speed of light as she turned to him with wide frantic eyes "Shut your ass".
"I don't know what you think I'm doing in my spare time but my ass is shut" Jace joked.
"How did this happen? Since when do they like each other?" Clary went on as she hadn't heard him.
"For a while I guess" Jace said.
"And she didn't tell me?" Clary sat back surprised, "That devious little minx".
"If it makes you feel any better, Seb never told me" Jace said.
"It doesn't".
"I know, I just wanted to share my bitterness too" Jace laughed, making Clary laugh as well.
"But what about Simon? I thought things were going well with them" Clary asked.
"That geeky guy she was with? Apparently they'll be just friends" Jace said, "Oh and apparently Aline and Maia are friends again".
"What?"
"Oh and Aline is dating a new girl"
"A new what?" Clary freaked out, "Man I get sick for one weekend and it's the world spins differently now".
"Maybe you shouldn't get sick for a weekend again" Jace teased.
"Trust me, never again, I might miss someone's pregnancy or wedding" Clary said.
"Or funeral" Jace countered.
"Optimistic as ever, I see" Clary said.
"I'm just a ray of sunshine, I know" Jace said with a grin as he parked the car in front of some café.
"When did we become an old married gossipy couple?" Clary joked as she got out of the car.
Jace moved towards her to lean an arm around her shoulders, he hunched slightly and slowed his movements "What was that dear? I can't hear you".
"I said you're an old fart, dearie" Clary said, changing her voice to sound older and spoke the words slowly as if they took effort.
"A pop tart? No, thank you" Jace said in that same tone.
"Let's go get some food" Clary said.
"What? I can't hear you. Let's get some food" He said as if she hadn't spoke.
"That's what I just said" Clary grumbled tiredly.
"You farted? Darling, I think we should go our separate ways" Jace asked and Clary rolled her eyes, shoving him off her shoulders and he laughed this time, loud and angelic.
"I hope you catch my cold" Clary said as she strutted in front of him.
"Wait a second" Jace called and she stopped, he took his phone out as he put one arm over her shoulders and went to take a picture.
Clary grimaced and moved away in shock, the movement dropping his arm from her. She didn't take pictures, she could never risk it, if it ended up online... if Valentine found her...
"What's wrong?" Jace asked.
"I don't like to get my picture taken" Clary said, "You know that".
"Come on, I'm not gonna post it or anything" Jace said, "It's just for us, we don't have any pictures together".
Clary hesitated as she scratched her elbow, looking around and not meeting his gaze, "I just don't like it, it's not about posting it".
"Clary" he said in a careful matter, "Is something going on?"
"Hmm? No! Of course, not" Clary said.
"Are you planning on breaking up with me?" Jace asked teasingly.
"No!" Clary rushed out.
"Do you not trust me when I say I won't post it?" Jace asked.
"No, it's not that" Clary said, and she realized how true her words rang. She does trust his word, and as she realized this, the want to take a picture with Jace started to increase and overwhelm her, why shouldn't they take a picture together? They were in a relationship, people in relationships take cute pictures and don't worry about it getting back to their evil father.
She wanted this.
"Then what is it?" Jace asked.
Luke would have said it was a bad idea, her mother would have prohibited her from doing this. But she didn't have to listen to them anymore, who knows what else they lied about to try to control her? Maybe when Valentine found them that time with a picture wasn't her fault at all, even, maybe they lied about that too.
"Let's do it" Clary said.
"Clary, I don't want you to think you have to do this" Jace said with furrowed brows.
"I want to do this" Clary said as she hugged Jace's side, he had one arm around her in an instant and snapped a photo, they took several others, some with them making funny faces and others where they were kissing each other and some cute photos.
"Wow, from not wanting to take a single picture to taking like thirty at once" Jace commented.
Clary blushed and gave him a light push as they entered the restaurant, she looked over his shoulder, "What are you doing?"
"Making this one my screen background" Jace said as he put the one with them making funny faces, he laughed as he did so, sitting on the table. They looked terrible, Clary knew.
Clary took his phone and flipped through their pictures and decided on one of them looking cute, "Send me this, I want this on my screen".
Jace looked at it with admiration, "We do look hot in this one" Jace nodded.
Clary looked at it again, she thought Jace was hot, too hot, his golden hair and golden eyes made the picture glow in a different light, very different from the dull background, his sharp jaw and features made him look too hot. She looked at herself then and admired herself, she did look hot as well, "We do" she agreed.
"Not surprising, we are the hottest people I know" Jace said.
"I'm the hottest person you know?" Clary asked unsure.
"Well-"
"If you say after yourself, we are breaking up right now" Clary threatened.
Jace coughed once and let out hurriedly "Yes, you are".
"Good, now I'm starving what should we eat?"
Clary knew this was only a distraction from their problems, this friendly banter like everything was okay was just a façade, soon to disappear, it couldn't last long. Jace is still mad at her for keeping secrets and she still can't tell him any of them, it wouldn't be long before all of this blew up in her face.
It suddenly occurred to her what thin ice they stood on, that any moment the ice could split apart and drag her under the cold water and she would lose this forever, and she decided to memorize this moment, with Jace, just sitting at a restaurant and looking at photos of the two together, joking around, she would capture this moment and keep it in her heart for as long as she lived, however long or short that might be.
It occurred to her as well, that he knew that too.
"I can't believe her, she broke my nose" Seelie complained loudly again as she looked herself over in the bathroom mirror, a patch covering her nose as she swung her head from side to side to see it from all angles, "My nose".
"I'm sorry, did you say she broke your nose, was it?" Kaelie asked sarcastically.
Seelie turned her gaze over to Kaelie's reflection in the mirror with a hard glare and narrowed eyes as she let out through clinched teeth "Not funny. Ugh, I could kill her for this".
"Mmhmm" Kaelie mumbled offhandedly as she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back against the tiles of one of the bathroom's walls, looking at her feet shuffling one against the other.
"Something wrong?" Seelie asked as took out a brush from her cosmetic bag and stroked a few lines against her cheeks.
"Just thinking" Kaelie answered.
"About?" Seelie prompted.
Kaelie hesitated, looking up at her friend, she dropped her arms and let out a breath as she said "I heard something last night, something I shouldn't have".
Seelie stopped stroking her brush and looked back at her friend with a raised eyebrow, waiting for her to go on, "It's about Clary" Kaelie said. Seelie's eyebrows shot up as Kaelie continued "She was with that new kid, he said something".
"Stop being so overdramatic, Kaelie, and out with it" Seelie said, a hint of excitement and impatience in her tone.
"I don't think she is who she says she is" Kaelie said in one breath as if she was running out of time, "I think she's lying to.. to everyone".
"What are you on about? How do you know that?" Seelie asked unsure.
"They said a name, she said she doesn't go by that name anymore" Kaelie said, "Clarissa Morgenstern".
Seelie stopped now and gave her friend a once over as if she said the weirdest thing ever, she considered it, thinking it over in her head before finally going to Kaelie, "Then let's just see what deep dark secrets our friend Clarissa is hiding" she said as she stroked her brush against Kaelie's nose teasingly and collected her stuff.
"Where are we going?" Kaelie asked as she followed.
"Computer room, we have some detective work ahead of us" Seelie said over her shoulder as her heels clicked against the ground walking ahead of her friend.
Seelie walked into the computer room and fired up one of the old computers they had, Kaelie hot on her heel, the school has not had any funding for this room since they first made it so she looked annoyedly at the 2008 computer with the small screen as it took forever to turn on.
"Why not just use our phones?" Kaelie asked.
"Where is your sense of adventure? In all the movies they use old computers to solve a mystery" Seelie said with a grin as she tapped her foot impatiently.
"No, they use books for research in movies" Kaelie said.
"Well in movies they're usually searching vampires and werewolves, I doubt I'll find a 'Hotsy Totsy liar' book in the library" Seelie said.
"Then if we're not following the movies anyways why not just-"
"Would you forget about the stupid movies for a second, I don't know why you brought it up" Seelie huffed out annoyed, "Besides, we might need to print something".
"Print?" Kaelie asked unsure.
"Yes, I- No, I don't want to make any updates, just leave me alone" Seelie almost yelled at her computer, "Anyways, yeah, who knows what we might find".
"I don't know about this" Kaelie said unsure.
Seelie pretended not to hear her as she opened the Internet and started typing, "What was the name again?"
"Clarissa Morgenstern" Kaelie said.
"How do you spell Morgen- oh wait never mind, I found it" Seelie said, "Oh my, I think that little girl is her".
"What is it?" Kaelie asked as she moved her head to rest on Seelie's shoulder to see the screen, "Oh my god, red hair is so not her color" Kaelie said with a grin and a roll of her eyes.
"Blonde isn't either" Seelie commented.
"That's for sure" Kaelie snorted, "Who is she?"
"I'm looking" Seelie said as she flipped through sites, "There, apparently she is the daughter of some hot shot lawyer in New York".
"So? How does that help us?" Kaelie asked.
"Why would a daughter of some hot shot lawyer move across the sea and change her last name?" Seelie asked, "Doesn't that make you suspicious".
"Could be a bad divorce?" Kaelie suggested.
"I don't think so, something smells fishy about Clary, and not just the horrible cheap perfume" Seelie said.
"I think I have the same perfume as her" Kaelie started to herself but Seelie didn't dignify her with a response.
"Oh" Seelie said.
"What?" Kaelie asked on the edge of her seat, "What did you find?"
"She is the missing daughter of some hot shot lawyer" Seelie said with a grin as she looked back at her friend.
"Missing?" Kaelie asked, growing as suspicious as her friend now.
"I knew something was wrong about her" Seelie said as she read the article in a hushed whisper making sure the two other people in the far corner of the room weren't listening as if they were even interested, "Apparently lawyer Valentine Morgenstern reported his family was missing, a wife, a son and a daughter about seven years ago or something".
"And you want us to help make a happy family whole again?" Kaelie asked unsure.
"No, you idiot" Seelie said harshly, "Let's check this Valentine Morgenstern. Oh, apparently Mr. Hot Shot Lawyer has an undefeated record, never lost a case, oh and.. oh this is good".
"What?"
"He's apparently been accused multiple times of being in possession and selling illegal stuff, he is involved with a lot of people and his undefeated record is apparently not due to hard work" Seelie said.
"Let me see that" Kaelie peaked at the screen, then shook her head shrugging "That's not a real article, that's just someone venting, I doubt it's proof of anything".
"My dear Kaelie, have you never heard the phrase 'Where there's smoke, there's fire'?" Seelie said with a grin, "This girl's father is bad news and the rotten apple doesn't fall far from the rotten tree".
"Seelie-"
"I'm printing these articles out" Seelie said as she pressed a few buttons, her eyes grew wide suddenly as she thought of something, she took the photo of Clary they found with red hair and added it to the search engine and she found another photo of her with dark hair this time on some beach in the south of the world with a birthday cake in front of her 'Happy Birthday, Vanessa'. It was the only photo they found.
"Odder and odder" Seelie muttered to herself as she printed out those as well, "This girl doesn't look good in any hair color".
"What are we gonna do with them?" Kaelie asked.
"Nothing, for now" Seelie said as she handed the papers to Kaelie, "Keep them with you, we'll wait for our perfect moment and then we'll use them".
"Use them for what?"
"Payback, blackmail, I don't know darling but luck favors the prepared" Seelie said as she patted her friend's shoulder, "Now, let's go, we have class".
Kaelie hurried to put the papers in her bag as she made sure to close all tabs on the computer then ran off after her friend.
A/N: Hey guys, I hope you guys enjoyed it, follow, fav and review, I'd love to hear your thoughts and I'll see you in the next chapter.
