Chapter 15: The Same Old Fight
Hello everyone and welcome back to another chapter! I hope you're all well. Before we get into the chapter, I would just like to say a massive thank you to SkyBell1272 and OliviaWhite55 for reviewing almost every chapter! You're reviews have really helped me write, and have helped me drive the plot of this story. I also wanted to say thank you to 2000s gal - your lovely comment made me smile for a long time. And a thank you to everyone else who has reviewed this story, even if it was only once - it really does make a difference! Thank you and on with the chapter!
It had been a few months of hard work for Clary and Jace. Clary had been hard at work on her new album, which was close to being ready to record. She had written a lot that she was happy with, and the next step was beginning to decide what would actually be going on the album, and what would get pushed aside. Magnus had been in and out of the office all the time, setting everything up and getting everything ready. When he'd initially agreed to being Clary's manager, he thought it would be less work as he would only be managing one person instead of four. But because Clary was working with a smaller label and producing the music herself, it meant there was a lot more that was up to him to do.
She'd also begun thinking that she'd need another person in the band - she was used to having four, and thought that would be enough, but it was becoming apparent that it wouldn't be. Because of the music they were writing, there were extra instruments she'd never used on tour before. And she had plans to sing a few songs without a guitar, so someone would have to fill in for her then.
Jace had been getting ready to produce his first movie. He'd been in contact with directors, writers, actors and other producers he'd worked with before to see who would be willing to work with him. For the most part, there seemed to be a positive reaction to Jace wanting to take on this new role. Sure, a few people laughed at him and told him he should keep his 'pretty face' in front of the camera, but many had said they'd be happy to work with him.
He'd bought the rights to the book 'One Of Us is Lying', and was in the process of writing the script. Isabelle had been key in helping him with everything - Jace was pretty organised and meticulous, but it was Izzy who thought of the smaller details, who set up meetings and kept in on schedule. Simon was getting ready for his tour - which meant a fair amount of press and a lot of practice. Clary was almost constantly writing and putting the final touches on her album before she started recording, so it meant that Jace and Izzy were spending a lot of time together.
But it was okay, because Clary and Jace would drive to their office together in the morning, and drive back together at night. Jace was driving them back one night, when Clary turned to him.
"I have a secret," Clary tells him.
"Oh really?" Jace says, trying to sound interested, but Clary could tell his mind was somewhere else.
After a little while of silence Clary playfully says, "I promised not to tell."
"Then what's the point of telling me that you have a secret?" Jace asks, rather shortly.
"Well, I want to tell you," Clary says, "but I can't risk you telling other people."
"Best to keep it to yourself then, isn't it," Jace says, not looking at her as he talks.
"Is this some weird strategy to try and make me want to tell you… because it's not working," Clary asks.
"It's not like you're very good at keeping secrets anyway," Jace says. "You'll just tell me eventually."
"I've held some pretty big secrets from a whole 'lotta people for a long time, thank you very much," Clary says.
"Okay, well you're not very good at keeping secrets from me," Jace says, still not looking at her. Clary told herself he was just concentrating on driving.
"Well then, I'm keeping this one!" Clary says, crossing her arms.
Jace finally looked over at Clary and quickly flashed a smile, but it was gone as quickly as it came, and Clary could tell he didn't mean it.
"Well, you're going to know in a few days anyway," Clary admits.
"Does it have anything to do with us?" Jace asks, almost sounding a little stressed.
"Not really," Clary says. "But it has a fair amount to do with our friends.
"Right," Jace says as he pulls into their driveway. "Well then I guess I will know in a few days."
"I'm not even meant to know - I just overheard something," Clary says, getting out of the car and going into the house. "What do you want to do for dinner," Clary asks as she walks into the kitchen and then opens the fridge. "We've got chicken or salmon or…"
"Actually I've got a bit more work to do tonight, so I'll probably just have to eat in the office. Cook whatever you like," Jace says, already walking down the hall.
"Really?" Clary asks, "but you had to work last night as well. And the night before that."
"Well yeah, but you know I've got those big meetings on Friday and I need to make sure everything is perfect by then," Jace says.
"But that's like… four days away. Can't we just eat dinner together tonight and then you can do some more work if you need to," Clary asks.
"I need to do this now," Jace says, sounding annoyed. "I can't just leave for three months and call it work. I've got real deadlines and a real job to do here."
"So are you saying that what I do - my album and the rest of it, isn't real work?" Clary asked, getting annoyed herself.
"That's not what I meant - what I'm doing at the moment… there are a lot more moving parts and more people involved," Jace says, still sounding annoyed but realised he may have misspoken.
"So it doesn't matter to you that I moved people to L.A. for this? That Charlotte and Henry are putting their whole company on the line for my album?" Clary asks, finally moving out of the kitchen and toward Jace.
"Look Clary," Jace says, taking a step back from her, "I don't have time for this right now, okay? I've got to work. We can talk about it in the morning or something."
With that, Jace turns and walks down the hallway towards his office. Silently, Clary turns and heads back into the kitchen trying to not let what Jace said get to her. Of course he knew what she was doing was real and important. He was just stressed about work - it was the first time he was showing it to anyone in the business. He would be back to her normal Jace after his meetings.
She made them both dinner and brought it to Jace. He took the plate without a word and placed it on the desk next to him. She left the room, and when she was about half way down the hallway, she heard him yell out her name.
She quickly turned and went back to the room, expecting him to apologise, or ask if she wanted to eat with him, but all he asked was for her to shut the door. She flinched at the sound it made, but was sure he barely even heard it.
Much later night when Jace finally joined Clary in bed, he faced away from her and fell asleep in minutes, leaving her to wander if there was more behind this than just stress. She quietly got out of bed to lock the bedroom door, because she was sure he wouldn't have, and then got back into bed, making sure she stayed on her half.
But she didn't end up getting a chance to ask him what else was going on the next morning, because he told her he didn't have time to work out with her that morning, or even eat breakfast at home. She heard him get in his car and go to the office before she had even gotten dressed.
When Clary got to their office a little while later, she saw that Jace was already shut up in his room with Izzy, looking over the notes that covered the majority of one wall. She sighed before going into her own office and looking at the cards that held song titles all over one wall. All she really had left to do before recording was to choose the songs that were going on the album, and maybe start deciding the order. She knew what songs she wanted to start and end the album with, and there were a few others she was sure would end up on the album. But there was just so much to choose from. And it all had to be done by Friday, when she started to record. It seemed like Jace forgot that too.
Alec came in before she got the chance to actually start doing any work, and she quickly turned to him, grateful for the distraction.
"Did you do it?" she quickly asked. She assumed the answer was no, because she expected him to call her.
"No… there was no right time. And then I thought about it… could I do it here? Tonight?" Alec asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yes, that would be amazing! I'll make sure everyone is out of the office, and you can have the backyard if you want… it'll be perfect," Clary said, practically jumping with joy.
"Well actually, I was thinking maybe everyone could stay - I know Magnus probably expects some big gesture… how did Jace propose to you again?" Alec asked, looking really stressed.
Clary laughed a little and led him over to the couch. "In the back of a cab after I chased him through the airport."
"Right, well I think Magnus probably expects something a bit bigger than that," Alec said, smiling at the story.
"I think you're right," Clary says, leaning into Alec a little more.
"So I thought if everyone could be here - well not Kit, because he's on tour. But everyone else… then it would be a bit more grand. And I was thinking we could set up the backyard with fairy lights, and candles and flowers and sparkles and champagne. Just make it very Magnus… and then I can ask him in front of everyone… do you think that'll be enough?" he asked, looking genuinely concerned.
"I think it's the perfect blend of you and Magnus. He's going to love it," Clary says, smiling at Alec.
He let out a little sigh of relief and fell back into the couch. "I don't even know where to begin. He doesn't know I'm here at the moment, but he said he'd be coming here around five to see where you were at with everything, and then would be coming home after that."
"I can help you if you want. I know I'm not Izzy or anything, but I think we could make it look nice," Clary says.
"I mean, I would love the help. But you have your work to do, and you've probably already planned lunch with Jace-" Alec was saying, but was cut off by Clary.
"No. No plans - I'm free to help you all day."
He could probably sense the bitterness in her tone, and he looked over her shoulder at all the notes on the wall and narrowed his eyes at her. "What's going on Clary?"
"Nothing's going on - you know me… prefer to get all the work done before the deadline. Come on, I'll drive you to the shops and we can pick up some stuff," Clary said, quickly getting up. She knew that Alec would be able to tell something was wrong, but also that he wouldn't press her on it if she didn't want to talk. That was the good thing about the Lightwood's - they never forced anything out of you."
So Alec and Clary spent the rest of the afternoon driving around L.A. picking up everything they needed for Alec's proposal. They got back and had around half an hour of setting everything up in the backyard before Izzy came out.
"What are you two up to?" she asked, walking into the back yard.
"Would you believe us if we said setting up for dinner?" Alec asked. Izzy shook her head, looking amused. Alec rolled his eyes and walked up to his sister and showed her the ring.
As Clary predicted, she almost instantly started crying and jumping and hugging her brother. "Oh my god! This is all so cute - he's going to love it Alec, congratulations."
"Hey, he hasn't said yes yet!" Alec said, but hugged his sister anyway.
Simon came into the backyard then, "what are we celebrating?" he asked.
Alec flashed the ring at him, and Simon hugged him as well, "congratulations man."
"You knew about this?" Izzy suddenly asks Clary.
"I only found out yesterday because I overheard Alec talking on the phone," Clary said, holding her hands up in defence.
"I'll let it slide," Izzy says to her brother, "but only because I'm so happy for you."
Alec quickly explained the plan to them both. Simon said he'd go talk to Jace and Izzy ran around putting little touches on everything making it perfect. Clary went inside and started getting the champagne ready.
A little bit later, they heard Magnus' car door shut, and they all began lighting their sparklers. Clary noticed that Jace wasn't there, but she held onto his sparklers anyway, knowing he'd hear what was going on and come down quickly.
Magnus walked into the backyard looking confused, and then utterly shocked when he saw Alec down on one knee.
"Magnus," Alec said. "From the moment I met you, I knew there was something different about you. You've never judged me, or made me feel bad or guilty for being myself. You've carried me through some of the toughest years of my life and helped them become the best. The first time we danced together, to this song," he paused for a moment so everybody could hear Moon River playing, "time stopped. And there was a time where I wished we could stay dancing forever. But not anymore. Because every moment we've spent together since then has somehow been more magical. Magnus you add a sparkle to my life that I never want to be without. Will you do me the greatest honour of becoming my husband."
Magnus quickly wiped the tears from his eyes, and walked up to Alec. For the first time since Clary had known him, he seemed unable to talk, so all he did was vigorously nod his head. Alec quickly kissed him while everyone cheered and then slipped the ring onto his finger.
Clary turned to smile at Jace, but he wasn't there. She sighed, and put on a happy face to go congratulate Alec and Magnus. She quickly passed around flutes of champagne before taking two glasses herself and going up to Jace's office.
All the offices had one entirely glass wall to make the space feel more open, so Clary could see into Jace's room, and could see him sitting at his desk, working. He evidently didn't see her, because he jumped a little when she knocked on the door, but quickly motioned for her to come in.
She stood there for a moment, waiting to see if he'd say something, but he didn't. Clary placed the glass of champagne on his desk, and then sat in the chair across from him, taking a sip from her own glass.
"What's with the champagne?" Jace asks without looking up from the paper in front of him.
"I thought Simon told you?" Clary said, looking out the window to the backyard where everyone was still celebrating.
"Told me what?" Jace asked. He was still looking at the paper and making notes.
"About Alec and Magnus. About the proposal!" Clary said.
Jace looked up at her finally, but she suspected it was because she'd raised her voice and not because of what she'd said.
After a moment it seemed to click, "shit. Has that already happened?"
"Yes Jace, it has. And you missed it," Clary said with a big sigh.
"Okay well don't make me feel guilty about it. I was w-"
"Working," Clary finished. "I know. Alec was your best man, Jace. And he's your manager's sister. And Magnus is my manager. And they're pretty much our family. And they wanted you to be there."
"Okay, well, I fucked up, didn't I," Jace said, looking back down at the script in front of him.
"You're not going to go down there now and apologise. Or congratulate them?" Clary asked, becoming angrier. It was one thing for Jace to blow her off - maybe she deserved it, but she wasn't going to let him do it to their friends.
"Clary, I've told you this - I've got work to do," Jace said, looking up at his wife.
"And I don't care, Jace. You can take a five minute break to go down there and congratulate them.
He didn't look happy about it, but he reluctantly stood up and went down stairs and into the back yard. He kept looking at his watch the whole time he was down there, and after what Clary assumed was exactly five minutes, he went back up to his office.
Even though she hadn't gotten any work done that day, Clary went home soon after that, not feeling in the mood to be around Jace for much longer.
When he got home at around 11.00 that night, Clary was sitting on the couch waiting for him.
"I um, wasn't expecting you to still be up," Jace said as a way of greeting his wife.
"I know," Clary said. "But we need to talk."
"Look, if this is about this afternoon, I'm sorry. Time got away from me…" he said, but he didn't really sound sorry.
"That's not what I want to talk about," Clary said.
"Then what do you want to talk about?" Jace asks, sounding slightly bored.
"I want to talk about us-"
"Jesus Clary," Jace said, finally moving away from the front door, "we've talked about this. I've got big meetings on Friday and I need to work. So get over yourself, because there are bigger things going on right now."
"Since when has work been the most important thing in your life?" Clary asks, trying not to let what he said hurt her too much.
"Work's always been important to me," Jace said, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"That's not true. When we first met, you showed up late to set every day. You were always hungover. I know you almost got fired off that movie!" Clary said, trying hard not to yell.
"You know I've changed," Jace said, quickly starting to raise his voice.
"Yeah I know you did - into a person who would never put his work ahead of his family or friends. You turned into the man who flew home after I got hurt. Who became a loyal friend. You turned into the man I loved," Clary said. "So what happened? Why is this all suddenly so important to you?"
"You can't talk to me about prioritising work, Clary. You left! For three fucking months," Jace yells, throwing his bag onto the floor.
"Jesus Jace, we can't keep having this fight!" Clary yells back. "I left, and maybe that was a shitting thing to do. But apologised. And I can't take it back now. And anyway, I needed that trip - you even said that I seemed happier!"
"So what, are you saying I don't need this. Explain to me how this is different, Clary. You got yo focus on your work and now I'm focusing on mine," Jace says, staring straight at his wife.
"Because I told you what was going on!" Clary yells back. "Because I didn't leave until you said it was okay! But you've just disappeared from my life, and I'm left here trying to figure out what went wrong!"
"I was never okay with you leaving," Jace says, as if it explained everything.
"You told me you where," Clary says, pulling at her hair with frustration.
"Whatever, Clary. I don't have time for this right now, okay. I've got heaps of work left and I'm already exhausted. I just want to get to bed."
"Well I don't! I want to fight," Clary says walking up to him.
"Why would you want to fight?" Jace asks Clary, hanging his head.
"Because if we're not at least fighting then what are we doing here? Are we just two people living in a house who don't like each other or talk to each other anymore? Because that's not what I want."
"I still like you," Jace says, and then adds, "I still love you."
"Well, you're not really acting like it right now," Clary says, finally calming down. This wasn't where she wanted this conversation to go, but at least they were talking.
"I just need time, Clary. Just give me some time," Jace says, and then pushes past Clary and goes towards the spare bedroom.
For the next few days, it seemed like Jace was avoiding Clary at all costs. They slept in different bedrooms, he would leave the house most mornings before she'd woken up and leave the office well after she did. When they ate lunch he made sure that he was talking to Izzy the whole time, or he would just eat it in his office. He never really replied when Clary tried to talk.
But Clary had her own work to do. Jace may have been stressed about his meetings on Friday, but Clary started recording that day and she had to make sure everything was perfect. She'd prolonged this process enough already. She'd even talked to Simon so see if he knew anyone who'd be good in the band, and he'd put her in contact with George Lovelace. He was originally going to be in Simon's band, but because of timing he couldn't be. He seemed to fit in well with everyone so he'd been added to the ensemble.
Clary went home on Thursday anxious for what the next day would bring, but excited to finally get started.
Like all the days previous, Jace had left before Clary had woken up. Even though she was still angry at him, she sent him a text wishing him luck for all his meetings.
She met Jem, Emma, Julian, George, Charlotte, Henry and Magnus at the recording studio. It was nerve wracking to have so many people looking at her for direction, but it also felt pretty good. To start with, she wanted to see if it was possible for them to all play at once. She knew it was protocol to record one thing at a time, but she wanted to give this a go first and see what it sounded like. After a few takes, she decided to start recording everything individually as well, because it was going to be easier to mix later.
She had a successful day, and when she got home that night, she knew she was in a good position, and knew that this album was going to be good. She was surprised to see Jace sitting on the couch as she walked into the living room - not only because it had become rare for him to get home before her, but he usually retreated to the spare room or his office the moment he did.
"Hi," she said, still a little confused.
"I replied to your text," was the first thing he said, "but you never responded."
"I was busy… how'd all your meetings go?" she asks, sitting on the couch a little distance from him.
"Really good," he said, and Clary could see the relief on his face. "We got a writer signed on, and a director. We're going to start looking into production and actors and everything soon. It all went exactly to plan."
"I'm glad," Clary said. Not exactly sure how to respond. She was obviously happy for him - this was everything he'd been working towards. But it had been at a pretty high cost, and now that the movie was going forward, she could only assume that he was going to pull away even more.
"What were you busy with today. I had to run into the office for a little bit and I noticed you weren't there."
"I was at the studio - I started recording my album today," Clary said simply. When did they get this out of sync?
"Oh shit - that started today? Look Clary I've been acting like an ass this past week, sleeping in a different room and not talking to you at the office-"
"But you don't think the amount you've been working is an issue?" Clary asks.
"Well, no. I'm working hard because I want this movie to be great - I thought you of all people would understand that."
"I get wanting something to be great… but I also get being overworked to a point where you hate what you're doing. You need balance Jace. You're burning the candle at both ends and soon you're not going to be able to do anything."
"Clary, you don't get to tell me how to do my job, okay. These are my choices to make," Jace says.
"Fine," Clary says, standing up, "but when you're sick and tired remember this conversation." With that, she goes down the hall to their bedroom. Despite everything, she still left the door unlocked, hoping Jace would come in, but he never does.
Mentions: One Of Us Is Lying written by Karen M McManus and Moon River by Henry Mancini
I hope you all liked that. I had a few comments saying they got over everything too quickly, so I thought I'd bring some conflict back to the story! Who do you think is right and wrong, or is it a mix? Let me know! Also let me know if you want to see anything in the story, or just have any general comments - I love to read them all! Hope you have a nice and safe week :)