Clary spun around in her chair and hung her head back, staring up at the ceiling for the umpteenth time that day.

She was fucking bored.

She was bored, but she was broke, and so when she had gotten a text from the person who managed the photography lab, she had begrudgingly said yes, even though she really just wanted to get her two classes of the day out of the way and then possibly catch the bus in to see Jace.

Who she hadn't seen since Saturday when they hadn't even had sex.

The kisses had been nice though.

Really nice.

So nice that she had gotten herself off three times now to the memory of Jace pinning her against the wall and kissing her senseless, and she could only imagine how many more times she would be able to get herself off once there was some under the clothes action happening finally. Simon and Jordan had both still been up when she had gotten back home—Izzy was apparently out on a date, which was a bit weird because Simon and Izzy had sort of been dancing around each other lately and it had seemed as though something might happen, but maybe not—and they had immediately wanted details when she had walked in, looking all dazed and swollen lipped. She had ignored them both, going straight to her room, stripping out of her dress since she didn't want to explain to Izzy that while her and Jace hadn't actually had sex in the dress she'd still had an orgasm in it, and then gotten herself off so hard that she had fallen asleep seconds later, completely forgetting to plug in her phone or even get under her covers.

Entertain meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

And then she added a bunch of emojis at the end, flowers and bunny rabbits and weird road signs, leaving it up to Jace to try and decipher them if he chose to. Maybe Clary could be a little needy at times, but if her and Jace were going to have a thing, or whatever it was that was happening, then he should be aware of that.

But she also knew that he was usually busy through the day, running his company and being all adult and in charge, so she tossed her phone back onto the desk and started spinning around again, not expecting an answer straight away.

She always regretted picking up extra shifts, especially on a Wednesday, but the money would be worth it when she got paid, given she was working nearly a full eight hour shift, which she never did.

I know you don't have class right now, since it's Wednesday, so why are you bored?

Clary couldn't help but squeal and do a little dance at the stupid fact that Jace knew her schedule, and she got a dark look from someone who was using one of the computers near her, and she shot them back a glare, because that guy was in here all the time, but he never used the dark room and she hardly ever saw him using the actual photography software on the computers, so he could just be using the normal computer lab instead. He probably just came here because it was less busy and there was more availability on the computers.

Definitely meant he didn't have the right to give her dirty looks when she was just sitting there, half-assing her job.

Picked up an extra shift. Need that cash money

Oh yeah? Is there something you're saving up for? Or just to put away?

Clary rolled her eyes at that.

'To put away'. As in savings—she almost snorted at that word. She had her sock money, which was her back up money, which she might eventually use to buy a new laptop with if she stopped having to dip into it, but she didn't really think of it as her savings. Putting money away and having savings sounded like such an adult thing, and it was something that she definitely didn't have.

Life, Jace. I just need money to liiiiiive

So nothing special then?

Clary wrinkled her nose and tapped out of her texts, into the notes app on her phone where she had a wish list of things that she wanted. She had it separated into two sections, because she was organised like that and lists were nice and made her feel accomplished in the small way, for the stuff that was on her short term wish list, which were things like her hair professionally highlighted, rather than just getting a cheap job from a friend of a friend who was studying to become a hair dresser, new shoes and a new party dress—which she could probably take off now. Although technically her and Izzy were going to share the dress, so that didn't really make it hers...Clary blinked as another text came through, her brain completely side tracked as she thought about whether she should take the dress off her list or not.

Didn't you say you needed new photo lights? And a laptop?

Clary made a face, because yes, she did need both of those things, especially a new laptop, although the photo lights would come in handy as well, given she wasn't going to be a student next year and she couldn't just keep hiring the lights from the university. Besides, she wanted to have her own lights so that she could advertise for work without having to worry about booking in lights and working around others schedules for equipment.

Her laptop was beginning to smell a bit when it had been turned on for over two hours, and apparently there was something wrong with the internal fan, and when she was Skyping with Jonathan last week, he had laughed at the fact that she was peeling at tiny butterfly stickers that were stuck to the inside of the laptop that she'd put there sometime in her last year of high school.

Yeees. But that's a long term plan. Ew. Or a long term idea. I don't have any plans, exactly

It kind of made her sound like a ditz, she realized after she had sent it, but it was true. She didn't have an exact plan after she had graduated, not like Simon did—or like Alec had. She scrunched up her face at that, because every now and then, Luke would ask her what she was planning on doing once she graduated, and she had a feeling that he was starting to panic a little bit the closer they got and she was just replying with, be a photographer, Luke, duh. It was just the idea of being out of college was kind of scary, to be honest, and even though she had every confidence in her skills, she was also very aware that there were a lot of aspiring photographers in her city and she was going to have to be close to the top to make it.

It was a good thing she did a damn good job whenever she was hired to do private jobs, she always got great reviews left by clients on the Facebook page she had set up and always got glowing praise from her professors.

That reminded her though...

I have a job on Saturday morning! I'm back up photographer for a wedding!

That's amazing, Clary! Are you working with anyone you know?

It's one of my old profs students. She recommended me a while ago, and I've worked with her before. We had good vibes and she pays me well

Plus it adds more to my 'work portfolio' which is good

"Um, excuse me?" There was a tentative voice that made Clary look up from her phone, and there was a girl with curly blonde hair and cute blue glasses standing there. She had that wide eyed look of a first year about her, and Clary put her phone down and gave her a smile. The girl seemed to relax a bit, seeing that Clary was actually prepared to help her and wasn't just going to try and fob her off. "I was wondering if you could help with me book some of the equipment?"

"Yeah, absolutely," Clary nodded, pushing her phone aside—even though she unfortunately saw it light up with Jace's name from an incoming text message—and tapped her fingers away on the work computer to pull up the list of equipment and the sign out list. She spent ten minutes with the girl, helping her with lights and a camera, giving her the usual spiel of looking after the equipment and swiping her Student ID card so that it was logged in the system in case something happened while the equipment was in her care. Once the girl was gone, Clary picked up her phone and saw there were a couple of messages from Jace.

It's always good to get as much added to your portfolio before you graduate, makes you more appealing to future employers.

Clary snorted at that, it sounded like something that Luke would say, and instead, it was Jace, the guy that she wanted to get in the pants of.

Then she froze, because that was a weird thought, so she shook her head and looked down at the next message.

Did you need your photography lights for your job on Saturday? Or are you using ones from the school?

It's an outdoor wedding, and I'm not doing all the up close shots, so I don't need any lights, Layla will have her own for all of that. I just need my camera and stuff

AnyWAY! I said, entertain me! Tell me something about yourself

She stared at her phone for a few beats, waiting for a message to come through, but there was nothing for all of thirty seconds, so she threw it back on top of the desk and turned on her own laptop, clearing some space so that she could spread out some of her books from her classes that morning. She managed to get about two minutes of studying in before her phone pinged with a message from Jace, which immediately shifted her attention with a bright grin.

I have seen Lilo & Stitch more times than I can count.

And that was simply the best fucking thing. Clary was about to tell him that when she got another message, and then a third one.

I love mac and cheese but I haven't had it in years.

That just made Clary sad, because mac and cheese was the best comfort food, after pizza and her mums lasagna, and everyone should have mac and cheese at least once a month, even if it was the disgusting packet stuff where she had to dump extra cheese on it to hide the terrible, gluey pasta pieces.

And I miss you.

Clary squealed again, before promptly pulling the fingers at Dirty Stare Guy when he glowered over at her again.

As much as Clary wanted to see Jace again that weekend, she was going to be working all day on Saturday, and when she got home after a job, she always wanted to spend a few hours going through her photos, even if she didn't start any editing, just to see what she had gotten and send a couple shots through to her client so that they got an idea of what was coming. It wasn't that she doubted that she could do a good job, but it was always nice seeing the photos on a bigger screen than the small one of her camera. Jace said he completely understood, because he of course he did, he was the nicest guy in the whole wide world, and asked if they could do lunch sometime through the week, which she was all in for, and she text Izzy while she was standing on the bus, coming home from the wedding, bags heavy on her shoulders.

Movie night tonight?

Wanna get high and watch Midsommar?

Isn't that a horror?!

Yeah, but we'll be together. Don't be a little bitch

Oh yeah, all these boxes showed up for you too

Clary frowned down at her phone, her body easily rolling with the rhythm of the bus as it turned around a corner and then jolted to a stop. She was more than used to the jerky corners and stops of buses by now, and easily moved to the side as people behind her got off, then quickly sniped one of the now-free seats, even though she only had another five or so minutes on the bus.

Boxes?

Yeah. Did you spend, like, ALL your sock money or something?

Not the last time Clary checked.

I didn't order anything. I'll be back soon

Clary scrunched up her nose as she looked out the window, trying to remember if Luke or her mum had said they were going to be sending her anything. She was pretty sure they weren't, her mum hadn't mentioned any type of care package when they had spoken on the phone last time, although it would be a total bonus if she had, but multiple boxes? That was weird.

It was two more stops, and then Clary got off, her feet dragging a little in the heels that she had been wearing all day. She should have been smarter about it, like Layla Johansson had been, and worn flat shoes, but she'd only shot at two other weddings before and she always felt the expectation to dress up a bit so she didn't stick out. Plus, she already looked like a fucking child, given how short she was and her kind-of baby face, she didn't want people doubting her capabilities because she didn't look the part. So she had worn one of Izzy's floaty dresses and a pair of sling back heels that had been comfortable for the first hour or so, but definitely felt as though they were trying to cripple her now.

"Holy...Shit," Clary breathed out as she stepped into their apartment and saw all the boxes that Izzy had been talking about. Her friend suddenly popped up from where she had been laying on the sofa, wide eyed and nodding her head crazily.

"I know, right?! What the fuck?! Everything arrived about half an hour ago! The delivery guys just confirmed that you lived here and then dropped it all off!" Izzy was grinning and wiggling her shoulders as she bounced up from the couch and came over to stand next to Clary, looking around at the boxes and her hands twitching at her sides, clearly eager to start ripping at the cardboard, ties and tape that were hiding whatever it was inside.

"And they didn't say anything?" Clary asked as she dropped her bag, and then placed her camera bag down more carefully, because that shit was expensive, kicking off her shoes and feeling a lot more comfortable when her bare feet were flat on the wooden floors. "What the fuck? Who just drops this shit off and doesn't say anything?"

"Oh my god, just fucking open it," Izzy sounded impatient, shoving at Clary's side and pulling at her hair, making the redhead retaliate and flick her cheek. "Come on."

"Alright, alright," Clary muttered, but she couldn't help her own smile as she picked up one of the smaller boxes, on top of two others, and held out a hand to Izzy. "Well, make yourself useful then. I need scissors." Izzy rolled her eyes at her and as she walked past Clary to go into the kitchen, her hand lashed out as though she was going to try and pull her hair again, but Clary just giggled and ducked her head. She couldn't help the feeling of excitement that was building in her chest as she looked around at the boxes—there were six of them, she counted in her head—trying to work out what the fuck was going on. Two of them were really big boxes as well, the kind that she could literally fit into without much effort and close up and hide in, one box that still looked reasonably big, and then three smaller ones of varying size.

"We should totally hide in these boxes when the boys arrive home and jump out when they come over to find out what they are," Izzy said as she came back with scissors and Clary let out a squeal, eyes dancing.

"I was just thinking the same thing!" She cried and Izzy smirked, but then their complete attention fell to Clary's hand as she cut through the ties of the top box and then the tape. She opened it up and there was some bubble wrap and wadded up paper inside that was obviously protecting the package and when she pulled it all out, her eyes widened.

"What is it?!" Izzy demanded, looking past Clary and into the box as Clary pulled it out. It was folded up, but Clary knew what it was, even as she was opening it up.

"It's...A beauty dish," she said quietly.

"For your photography?" Izzy asked, her voice soft as she looked at the dish and Clary nodded dumbly, fingers gently running along the edge of the dish now that it was unfolded. It was a collapsible one, which meant it would be easy for her to pack up and carry around to shoots, but it felt solid under her touch, so it was also a good brand.

Nothing she could afford, and something she really doubted Luke or her mum could afford, especially if there was more.

Izzy had gone quiet, not pushing Clary to open up the boxes, letting her take her time, which was good. She moved the open box and the bubble wrap and paper out of the way so that Clary could gently put the beauty dish down on the couch and then begin opening the next box.

There was also a Colour Checker, a sturdy tripod, a Softbox and two sets of lights, which was when it clicked.

Jace.

"It was Jace," Clary's breath caught in her throat as she looked at the two sets of brand new photography lights that seemed to be...Hers? She blinked as she stared down at the strobe lights and the speed lights, completely overwhelmed, not knowing what to say as Izzy moved to sit on the ground next to her, reaching out her pinky to touch the back of Clary's hand.

"Jace got you these?" Izzy asked softly and Clary nodded slowly.

"I...Think so?" She said slowly, tilting her head to the side. "We were talking about how I needed photography lights, but I—I mean—" she cut herself off, suddenly feeling very out of her depth, and her heart was thudding in her chest and her brain felt as though it was short circuiting before she suddenly snapped her head to the side to look at Izzy. "I didn't ask him to get me these things, Iz—I'm not trying to get him to spend all his money on me, I—I wouldn't do that—"

"Clary," Izzy cut her off, letting out a laugh that wasn't mean at all. "I don't think that, don't worry." She looked around at the unpacked boxes and all of the equipment that was carefully piled up. "But, hey. If my cousin is turning out to be your sugar daddy or something, just make sure it's all fun and consensual," she jiggled her shoulders and despite how shocked Clary was in that moment, she couldn't help but let out a laugh, although it still sounded disbelieving. "Now text him and say thank you. Or—text Helen. See what sugar daddies usually want as a thank you." Clary couldn't resist poking her tongue out at Izzy, and that seemed to break the tension, so Izzy stood up and started moving to pack up the rubbish.

Clary still sat there for a few minutes, processing all of the expensive shit that she now apparently owned.

Then she text Helen.

I think Jace might be my sugar daddy? How do you say thank you if he's just brought me a bunch of amazing shit?

It didn't take long for a reply to come through.

Put those panties on and go sit on his cock, giiiiiiiiiirl! Get that D!

And then there were a bunch of peach and tongue and water drop emojis, because Helen was classy as fuck and not at all helpful and Clary groaned and let her head fall backwards against the front door.

Okay, so my top songs this week are as follows;

1) Walls - Louis Tomlinson. 2) Alanis' Interlude - Halsey and Alanis Morissette. 3) Venice Bitch - Lana Del Rey. 4) Fake Love - BTS. 5) Too Young - Louis Tomlinson. 6) Always You - Louis Tomlinson. 7) Mikrokosmos - BTS. 8) Caught Up In Your Storm - Mickey Guyton. 9) 8TEEN - Khalid. 10) Heebiejeebies - Aminé and Kehlani.

The song that my husband hasn't stopped playing is Dionysus by BTS. We've been on a total BTS buzz lately, totally jumping on that train, even if we're a little late. My hubby's faves are Suga, Jungkook and Namjoon—he completely swoons everytime Suga comes on stage or starts rapping. Haha. Mine would be Namjoon, who I, admittedly, swoon over everytime he comes on screen, and then Jungkook, even if he's too pretty to even exist.

In one of my reviews, KnivesOut recomended Anne With An E which I have actually watched before although I haven't finished yet, and I definitely want to recommend to you guys! I remember reading the books when I was younger and loving them, and there's just something about this series that has brought it all back. I've also started watching Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood when me and my husband are high, and I'm super into it. Haha.

I think my weekly updates are going to slow down a bit for a few weeks, although I think I had a good run! So I'll be doing previews of the next chapter if you leave a review and let me know if you want one or not.

Also, feel free to hit me up on my socials;
Tumblr: SereneCalamity
Twitter: CalamitySerene

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