First thing's first, I am NOT the realest. Sorry it's been so long guys! I've been trying to figure out exactly where I want this story to go. I'm still not totally sure, so this is kind of a fluffly filler chapter. Again, sorry! On the bright side, it was awesome hearing where all you guys are from! And your reviews (as always) were super sweet and totally made my day! I love you guys!
BTW, I've had a few people ask if this will be a Clace story, so I thought I would clarify. THIS IS A CLACE STORY. They are friends now, but things can change ;)
Disclaimer: I am not feeling creative. I don't own this stuff.
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Chapter 7:
"I SWEAR TO GOD, CLARY, I AM THIS CLOSE TO KILLING YOU WITH MY BARE HANDS!" I said, after Clary hit yet another speed bump, which caused me to hit my freshly tattooed arm against the seat.
"I'm sorry!" she cried. "I can't help it!"
I ran a hand over my face. "I know. Sorry. It just hurts like hell when things hit it."
"I have Advil in my glove compartment, if you want any."
I was reaching for it before she even finished her sentence. "God bless your beautiful soul," I said, popping two pills in my mouth and chasing them down with a swig from Clary's water.
Clary laughed loudly. "I thought you were going to kill me!"
I watched her headlights swing across the front of her building as she pulled into her driveway. "That, my dear, was before you gave me meds."
She rolled those green emeralds of hers as she swung open her door. It always fascinated me, how she was so small, yet all her motions were so big. "You make it sound like I just gave you heroin."
I got out after her, making sure to be careful of the upper portion of my left arm. "I wish."
Clary spun around and stopped herself just before she swatted me right over where my tattoo was. Her hand hovered above the bandage for a moment before she made a big show of lifting up her left hand instead and swatting me in my right arm.
"You're lucky you stopped yourself! You would've really been dead!"
Clary's door flung open just as we approach it. "Why are you killing my daughter?"
Clary and I both jumped back slightly in surprise. "Um…what?" Clary asked.
Jocelyn shooed us in. "I asked why Jace was killing you, but I'm choosing to override that question with, what the hell is on your arm, Jace?"
Clary and I exchanged a brief, panicked look. My parents were going to kill me when they found out, but they would find out eventually. With that said, it would be way worse if Jocelyn told them before I did.
"You can't tell Robert and Maryse," I blurted out.
Jocelyn raised an eyebrow at me as she plopped down on the couch. "Now I'm interested. Sit. Speak."
Normally I may have made some sarcastic remark about me not being a dog, but I have to admit that Jocelyn could scare the shit out of me sometimes. She had the fierceness and stubbornness of Clary, except without as much sympathy. Clary must have gotten most of her compassion from her father. Or maybe not, considering he left when she was a few months old.
I sat down on the couch across from her and Clary sat next to me. Jocelyn was looking at me expectantly. I glanced at Clary. She looked nervous, which was no help. "I got a tattoo."
Jocelyn blinked, then shook her head. "Is that it?"
Now, I blinked. "What do you mean, 'is that it'?"
Jocelyn laughed. "Oh, honey. I have a few tattoos from when I was younger. Luke does too."
Clary jumped up. "What?!"
Jocelyn rolled her eyes. "Stop being dramatic, honey. I let you have secrets, so I can have a few too." She turned to me. "I'm guessing Robert and Maryse aren't fans of tattoos?"
I swallowed and twisted my hands together. "No, they are not fans of tattoos." I lifted my head with a sudden burst of confidence. "But I'm eighteen. I don't need their permission."
Jocelyn snorted. "Legally, no. But that doesn't mean they can't make your life hell for going against their wishes. Look, honey, I won't tell them, but you understand that you can't hide this from them for very long, right?"
"I know," I groaned. "I'm going to tell them tomorrow, I promise. I just think it would be better if it came from me and not someone else."
Jocelyn stood and sat on my left, the side opposite of Clary. "Smart boy. Now, let's see this tattoo."
I let her pull aside the bandage. She gasped and a thin hand flew to her mouth. "Oh, honey." To my surprise, there were tears in her eyes.
"Clary designed it," I said.
Jocelyn laughed and dragged a hand across her cheeks. "I can see that. I'm guessing she didn't approve of the signature?"
"I didn't," Clary chirped, peeking around me.
Jocelyn gave me her warmest smile. "It's a nice touch, dear." Then, to Clary: "It's beautiful, Clary. Truly." She turned back to me then, and we locked eyes even as she spoke to her daughter. "Clary, please go help Luke with dinner."
Clary stood and put her hands on her bony, little hips. "Why? Are you trying to get rid of me?"
Jocelyn rolled her eyes. I guess it isn't hard to tell from where Clary got that habit. "No, I'm just trying to make sure Luke has help, and I am not finished chatting with Jace. Now, stop giving me attitude and move your behind."
Clary let out a huff that rivaled that of the big bad wolf. "Fine, but you guys don't get to know what me and Luke talk about."
"YEAH! TAKE THAT!" we heard Luke shout from the kitchen.
Jocelyn snorted. "SHUT UP!" She turned back to me once Clary was behind the door that led to the kitchen. "I actually was trying to get rid of Clary, but don't tell her that."
I shifted uncomfortably. The aging couch groaned under my weight. "Okay."
Jocelyn gave me a sad, knowing smile. Why would adults do that all the time? First Mike, now her. They would act like we were too oblivious or dumb or something to see what's right under our noses. It was really starting to get old. "Jace, I want you to know that Luke and I are your family. I know it's hard for you to go to Maryse and Robert for advice and whatnot, so I want you to know that you can always come to Luke or I for advice. Even if it's about Clary."
I looked at her sideways. "Why would I need advice about Clary?"
Jocelyn laughed lightly. "I think we both know. You can stop pretending."
What the hell was she insinuating? "I don't know what you're talking about. Really."
Jocelyn studied me for a bit, then her smile wilted. "You really don't, do you?" I shook my head and Jocelyn sighed. "Jace-"
"Mom! Luke got lemon juice in his eye!" Clary yelled, bursting through the door like there was a fire in the kitchen.
"Lord," Jocelyn muttered just as Luke cried out in pain. She jumped up and ran into the kitchen saying, "I have three children! I swear to God! Four if you count the blond rebel over here!"
Clary laughed a little and walked over to me, folding her frame up against my side. "I want a relationship like that."
I barked out a laugh. "A sarcastic one?"
Clary looked up at me from under her lashes. "No. A real one."
God, she made my heart just about break sometimes. I threw one arm around her shoulders and the other wrapped around her, pulling her closer. "You'll have one, Clary. I promise."
Clary snorted a little. She was trying to act tough, but I saw through it. This was truly bothering her. "Yeah, maybe by the time I'm forty."
I sighed and ran a hand over her wild hair. I wanted to help her so bad, but how was I supposed to do that? I had absolutely no idea what to say. I could help her with almost any problem, but not all of them. I couldn't exactly talk her through these female-self-esteem issues. That's what Izzy was for. However, one thing I was good at, was distracting her. "You wanna hear something funny?"
Clary let out a breathy laugh that was really more like a sigh at my abrupt topic change. "Sure."
"You're hair is like, the physical manifestation of your personality."
Clary threw her head back and laughed heartily, the sound soaking every square inch of the room in golden light. "What? Did some of that ink seep into your brain?" For good measure, she even tried to examine my head more closely. As though she could see straight through to my brain.
I batted her hands away. "I'm serious!" Even though I was laughing myself. "You're personality is so strong and tough and fierce and wild and fiery, and your hair is just that. Wild and fiery."
Clary laid her head back down on my chest. She was quiet for a few moments. Then, "Have I ever told you that you are seriously the best friend ever?"
I squeezed her a little tighter. "I believe you have, but it never hurts to feed my ego every now and again."
Clary laughed again. It was such a beautiful, musical sound. Like wind chimes in a breeze. "I don't think so. Your ego should come with a warning like those gremlins. 'Do not feed after midnight. Or, ever, really. Will turn into evil, bigheaded monster.'"
I flicked Clary on the back of the head. "Bitch."
Clary sat up with a tough look on her face. She flicked my forehead. "Egotistical big head."
"My head is the perfect size!"
"There you go again, thinking everything about you is perfect."
I raised a suggestive eyebrow at her. "But everything about me is the perfect size. Well, that isn't true-some have complained that parts of me are too big. And I don't mean my head," I added with a wink.
Clary blushed a deep red and scrambled off the couch. It was so easy to frazzle her. "Jace!" she hissed.
"Would you like to see and add your input?" I whispered huskily.
"Oh my God! Get away you creep!" Clary yelled before running away to her room. I heard her slam the door behind her.
I got up off the couch, strolling after her. "Clary!" I called. "I was talking about my ears! It isn't my fault if you have a dirty mind!" I reached her door and tried to open it, but she had locked it. Sneaky girl. "Clary, open up!"
"No! You're being a jerk!"
I rolled my eyes. So dramatic, this one. "Fine. I'll just sit out here until you open your door. And you'll open it eventually. So why don't you just save us both time and open it now."
I had just started to sit down when her door flung open. She stood behind it with crossed arms. "You really suck."
I chuckled. "I know. See? I know I'm not perfect. Happy now?"
Clary's big ass grin made my heart melt. I loved it when she was happy. "Yes, I am."
"Dinner!" Jocelyn called from down the hall.
I threw my arm over Clary's shoulders and led her down the hallway. "Does that mean you forgive me?"
Clary tapped her chin in thought for a solid minute. Finally, she grinned at me. "I guess. But you aren't sleeping in my bed tonight," she whispered.
I swallowed. I knew my eyes were huge and I could actually feel my face pale. "Please tell me you're joking."
Clary could tell she had gone too far. "Jace," she said, grabbing my arm to stop me just before we entered the kitchen. "I'm sorry. You know I wouldn't do that to you. I shouldn't have joked about that."
Inside, I let out a huge sigh. Outside, I just masked my emotions and fixed a grin on my face. I didn't want Clary to see how much that bothered me-not that she didn't already know. Plus, I didn't want her to feel guilty. "I knew you were joking. I was just messing with you."
Clary wasn't fooled. But, like a good friend, she played along. "Right. Well, you got me. Come on-I'm hungry." She snatched up my hand and dragged me into the kitchen.
I had to stifle a laugh at what I saw. While Jocelyn was portioning out and serving four plates, Luke sat at the kitchen table with a damp wash cloth to his eye. He glared at us as we entered. "Don't worry you two. I am just fine. Thank you for all your concern and immediately coming to check on me." His tone oozed sarcasm.
Clary laughed and wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Hey, I did my part and got Mom for you. What more can you ask of me?"
Luke snorted. "Sympathy? Compassion? Concern?"
Jocelyn walked up and set his plate in front of him. "Maybe," she inserted casually, "people would feel bad for you if you weren't such a drama queen."
Luke winced dramatically, a hand flying to his heart. "Ouch, love. That one almost stung."
Jocelyn brought over the last of the plates and plopped herself down at the table. Clary and I followed suit. "Hush up and eat your pasta."
Luke grinned and set the wash cloth down. His eye beneath it was bright red. "Yes, ma'am."
He took a bite and the rest of us dug in as well. One bite in, and I was once again close to professing my love for Clary's mother. "Oh my God, Jocelyn, this is heaven." I mumbled around a mouthful of food.
Jocelyn looked at me levelly. "Honey, you may be family, but that doesn't mean I want to see your chewed food. Close your mouth."
"Yes, ma'am," I responded. After I finished chewing.
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That night, I was crawling into bed with Clary. She was already tucked away under the sheets. "I'm setting an alarm," she said quietly. "When it goes off, you go back to the floor."
I groaned. "But I don't want to!"
I could just imagine her rolling her eyes in the dark. "It's either this or risk my mom walking in and booting your ass to Jon's room."
"Fine," I mumbled, rolling onto my stomach.
We were both quiet for so long, I thought Clary had gone to sleep. But then she spoke up. "Jace? You still up?"
"Mhmm," I mumbled into the pillow.
"I'm sorry. About earlier. You know I wouldn't do that, right? Kick you out of my bed?"
Without opening my eyes, I shifted my body so I could toss an arm over her stomach. "I know."
Another minute of silence. "Do you still get them?" Silence was her answer. "I'm sorry, Jace. I wish I could be there every night."
I shifted a little closer. "No sense wishing for things that can't happen, Clary. But thanks."
"And don't worry too much about my mom catching us. If I told her the situation, she would let you sleep in here in a heartbeat."
I stiffened, ever so slightly. "I don't want her to know."
Clary's chest rose and fell under my arm as she sighed. "I know you don't, Mr. Tough-guy. But worse case scenario is all I'm saying."
Silence. A short one this time. "Thank, Clare."
An eight hour silence, preceded only by her grasping my hand firmly in her own.
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I'm sorry for any mistakes, but my laptop is like, dying. And I am tired. So, SORRY FOR LIKE THE BILLIONTH TIME TODAY! Not to sound creepy, but I liked hearing about you guys! So I've decided that at the end of each chapter, I'm going to ask you guys a question! Then, if you guys want, I'll answer in the beginning of the next chapter! :) Also, please feel free to leave in the reviews any and all thoughts/predictions/cunstructive criticism you guys may have! Thanks!
Today's quiestion is inspired by my super adorable and super cute dog! Do you guys have any pets/animals? If so, how many and what are their names?
Love always,
YesIWriteForFun
