I got reviews concerned about this, so I wanted to address it. I will not throw an unplanned pregnancy to Clary and Jace while they're in high school. That isn't what this story about. If you're interested in that storyline, my stories Terrible Love and The Prospect Of Forever have that kind of storyline. I also recommend The Nine Consequences Of One Night And A Door by ddpjclaf; it's one of my favorites.
I know my audience for this story has really dissipated, since I didn't update for two years (I swear, I didn't realize it had been so long) and I'm still really sorry. But, for those of you who are around for this story (thank you!), I just want to let you know that the story is starting to wrap up. It makes me so sad. I want to try to hit around thirty chapters. But, in addition, I will have a very long epilogue. It's something I have been planning for this story for a very long time. I'm thinking around four parts, but we'll see. Until then, enjoy chapter twenty-three! -Megan
Chapter Song(s):
Cemetery Drive – My Chemical Romance
Meet Me In The Hallway – Harry Styles
Spin – Lifehouse
Kill Em With Kindness (Acoustic) – Selena Gomez
I think, when you are a teenager, you think that high school will never end. But then one day it just...does. As I was walking out of my final exam (Chemistry), I started to realize all the lasts. Though I was a junior (as were my best friends) for so many people I knew, these were their final days here. This would be the last time they walked through these halls, turned in books to the library, said hi to teachers they liked. Last time they walked by and smelled cafeteria food (though, that may not be such a bad thing), and the last time they walked in and out of those doors as a student. It was almost surreal in a way, that something that seemed so endless actually ended. I doubted, for every student at this school, that their lives had not changed in some way, shape, or form this year. Mine continued to change. I pushed the food around my plate, stomach in too many knots to eat. Dad thought we were at a party; we weren't. Jonathan, Luke, my mother, and I sat at the table, trying for a 'family dinner'. I liked mom and Luke together; I was glad she had found happiness, something she hadn't had with my dad, at least in the end. I was still having a really hard time adjusting to her being here again. Jonathan was as well. His eyes were downcast, and he was flicking peas into his mound of mashed potatoes, avoiding conversation, unless he was directly addressed. It was odd seeing him that way. Normally, he was the cocky one, confident and talkative, never complaining about receiving attention. I was the shy, sometimes nervous one that mostly kept to herself. Even so, it felt nice knowing that I wasn't the only one having issues adjusting. Mom wasn't coming to graduation. Dad would be there. So she wouldn't be. We had made a deal about her being involved, and though I knew why she felt that she felt that she had to avoid the event, her absence almost felt like a betrayal. I secretly hoped that she would at least consider going to mine, but it wasn't fair. Jonathan deserved the same. I wasn't sure who I hated more; my mom, for what she had done and in some ways continued to do; my dad, for being the main reason for this entire situation; or me, for not being eighteen, for being the one that needed protection, for being the one that prevented my brother for having his mother there for key moments in his life, and in some of my own as well. "Excuse me." I said. I slid my chair back and walked down the hallway, towards the bathroom. I felt kind of bad; I was pretty sure my mother had been in the middle of a sentence. But I just couldn't bring myself to care too much about it. I slid past the door to the bathroom, locking it behind me. I sank down onto the closed toilet, burying my face in my hands. The emotions of anger, hurt, and guilt swirled inside me. They found an outlet inside my father. I hated him. God, I hated him. I know, it's wrong to hate your parent, but...I did. I had not been able to admit what this feeling festering inside me had been, but I couldn't deny it anymore. I liked to believe that my father had once felt some semblance of love for me, some sort of compassion. But when my mother di – when my mother faked her death, I became a reminder of what he had lost. As my brother grew, so had the gap between my father's outbursts. I had someone to protect me. And Jonathan...he was dad's star. He wouldn't hurt him, not any more. But I remembered his temper. The way his face would redden, and his muscles would strain. Or, and this was sometimes worse, he would get this cold look in his eyes, giving no indication of the rage simmering beneath the surface, just like a cobra, coiled to attack. Lately, he chose to pretend I didn't exist. To him, I was at most like a pet; an expense that he had to feed and care for in as little a way as possible. The only parent figure I'd had to look up to in the last eight years had been my brother. We'd both been forced to grow up too early. I hated my parents for what they did to us. But mostly, I was tired of it continuing. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and rubbed my palms against my denim-clad thighs, forcing myself to suck it up and walk back out there. I stood up, leaving my hiding place and taking my seat back at the table. And I got through the rest of the night.
Graduation day came. And as expected, my mother was no where to be found. My father, instead of sitting with me, sat with the other coaches from the school. I ignored how the action still held sting, and sat down in an empty seat. As the ceremony started, the audience quieted. There were claps as names were called, despite the principal's request that the audience hold their applause until the end.
"Jonathan Christopher Herondale" I cheered and clapped as Jace accepted his diploma and saluted the audience before hopping off of the stage and taking his seat in one of the many folding chairs filled with seniors.
"Jonathan Christopher Morgenstern."
I hollered and clapped again as Jonathan grabbed his diploma and then went to join the rest of his class. He and Jace's similar names were one of the things that made them become friends. Our parents had been friends in high school, but had lost touch in college. Their names almost seemed to similar to be a coincidence, but they were. As the ceremony wrapped up, I made my way down the stairs to the floor. I walked up to my brother, tapping him on the shoulder. He turned to me, and I smirked. "Congrats, big bro. You actually managed to trick your teachers in to passing you."
"Yeah, and now you will have to think of new methods to get them to pass you."
I lightly smacked him on the shoulder, and then stood on the tips of my toes as I wrapped my arms around him in a hug.
"Congrats, though. Really." I told him. "Stanford will be lucky to have you."
"I know." He replied with an answering smirk. Butthead.
I turned away from him as dad approached and spotted the group of blonde heads talking. Celeine smiled at me as I neared, and Stephen gave me a kind nod. They left us alone for a moment as they went to go talk to some other parents.
"Oh, now I get my turn?" Jace asked as I walked up to him. I rolled my eyes and stopped in front of him, gripping his shoulders and standing on the tips of my toes to snag a greedy kiss. His arms wrapped around my waist, hugging me to him. As our lips parted, I reached forward to take his maroon graduation cap off of his head and fit it onto my own. "My turn now." I told him.
"Hey, look; it matches your hair."
I gaped at him. "Mean!" I said.
He just grinned that lazy grin of his at me.
–
This chapter was a bit of a dud, sorry. But, I will be trying to write a lot this week. I'm stuck at home because a hurricane is going to hit us soon.
Pros: More time to write, read, and not have to go to school.
Cons: Um...hurricane...
See y'all soon. -Megan
