I'm back! And some crazy stuff happens this chapter, so I'm just going to shut up and get right to it. Enjoy ;)
Disclaimers: I don't own TMI
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Chapter 18:
Hell day turned into hell week on Tuesday. I was just trying to get my books out of my locker when someone slammed it shut, almost trapping my fingers inside. Sebastian the Devil was standing there, his arms folded over his chest. I glared at him. "Can I help you with something?"
He grinned. "I have a question for you."
I flicked my wrist in a "go on" motion.
"Is Clary single?"
My eyes almost popped out of my head. "Why?"
He rolled his eyes. "Why do you think, idiot? I want to ask her out."
No way in hell was he going out with Clary. I couldn't lie because he would find out the truth easily enough. If I just refused to answer, he'd go to someone else. "Yeah," I sighed, "she's single."
He was grinning again and clapped me on the back. "Sweet. Thanks, man."
I grabbed his arm before he could walk away. "But I wouldn't suggest asking her out."
He quirked an eyebrow at me. "Why would that be?"
"You're not her type."
He was smirking now. Mocking me. "Oh? And what would her type be? You?"
I rolled my eyes. "I'm going to be late to class. Don't say I didn't warn you when she rejects you."
The moment Clary took her seat beside me third period I told her about my encounter with Sebastian. "Just wanted to warn you," I told her after I finished explaining.
She had a pensive look on her face. Her emerald eyes looked far away. "Hmm."
I groaned. "Don't tell me you're thinking about going on a date with my mortal enemy, Clary!"
She sighed and shook her head. "First of all, he is not your 'mortal enemy'. Second, it's none of your business who I date, or who I think about dating."
I gave her a devilish smirk. "Actually, it is. Remember our deal?"
Her already pale face drained of color, her freckles popping out. "No way are you holding me to that."
I threw my hands up. "I kept up my end of the bargain! I swore off girls for two years!" I grabbed her shoulders and shook gently. "Two years! You owe me!"
She groaned. "Jace! I'm seventeen! Are you seriously going to tell me who I can and can't date? And how long are you going to keep this up? Until I'm married?"
I tapped my chin in thought. "No, I get to approve of or veto your boyfriends until graduation, and whoever is going to propose to you has to ask me for my blessing."
She put her head in her hands. "Whatever you say, Dad."
"Clary," I said more seriously. "I mean it though. Sebastian is a player and a bad guy. He'll treat you like crap. You don't want to get involved with him."
She glared at me. "How do you know? Have you dated him before?"
I shook my head. "Why are you pushing this so much? I thought you didn't like him."
She ran a hand through her hair. "You don't get it."
I opened my mouth to ask her to elaborate, but the bell rang and cut me off. She seemed genuinely upset, and it killed me to see her that way.
The moment the bell rang, she was out of her seat and flying out the door. I tried to catch up with her, but she was lost in the crowd in the hallway before I could reach her. "Dammit," I swore and hit my fist against a nearby locker.
The only other class I had with Clary was seventh period communications, but we had assigned seats on opposite ends of the room, and she scooted in and out too quickly for me to get a word with her.
I rushed out of my ninth period class to try to get to the car before her. Just as I was walking out the doors, my phone beeped with a text. It was from her, saying she was going to get a ride home with Simon and Izzy.
I slid my phone back in my pocket without responding. Instead of walking to my car, I took a detour and headed to Simon's car on the other side of the lot. Luckily, no one was there yet. I leaned against the passenger door and waited.
After five minutes, I was starting to get annoyed.
After another five minutes, I finally spotted Simon and Izzy strolling towards me hand in hand, Clary looking lost behind them.
I walked towards them and blew past Simon and Izzy, who both looked suddenly very uncomfortable. I stretched my arms out in surrender, stopping in front of Clary. "Are you seriously this mad at me?"
She shook her head and tried to walk past me. I caught her waist and spun her back around. I noticed that her eyes were glistening. "Jace! Stop treating me like that!"
I kept my voice calm. The last thing I wanted was to upset her further. "Like what?"
Her hands, balled into fists at her sides, were shaking. "Like you own me. Like you control me."
I leaned down a little so we were closer to eye level. "Look, if it bothers you, I won't make you get my approval before you date a guy. But Sebastian is a different story, Clary. He's-"
"An ass, I know," she sniffed, dragging a hand across her cheeks. "That's not what's wrong, I'm sorry. You don't act like that. I'm just frustrated."
I took a step toward her and whipped away a tear. "Why are you frustrated?"
Her gaze flitted to my face, then away. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Clary," I breathed. "Come on, you can tell me anything."
She pulled away from me slightly. I let my hands fall limply to my sides. "Jace, it's embarrassing."
I smirked at her. "Clary, you can't be embarrassed in front of me. I've seen you naked." Her eyes popped out of her head and her jaw hit the floor. I chuckled. "I'm kidding!" That earned me a slap on the arm. "But seriously, Clary. You're the only living person to have ever seen me cry. Did you know that? You are the only one who knows that I don't sleep and that I get nightmares. Well, I mean I'm sure everyone in my house has guessed because of the screaming, but still. Clary, please. Don't be embarrassed to talk to me."
She looked over her shoulder to where Simon and Izzy were waiting in his car. She turned back to me. "Can we talk about this in your car?"
I nodded. "Of course."
She ran over to tell them she didn't need a ride anymore and then we walked over to my car in silence. I didn't buckle up or turn it on once we were both inside. I just turned to her expectantly.
She was fiddling with her hands in her lap, all her attention focused on them. "I've never had a boyfriend, Jace. It's just nice to know someone is interested."
I couldn't help it, I laughed lightly. "So? I've never had a girlfriend."
She gave me an annoyed look. "Yeah, but you've been…with girls before."
I quirked an eyebrow at her. "So all of this is because you're a virgin?"
She blushed furiously. "No!" she squeaked. "I mean, sort of." She looked down again. "It's more that I've never even kissed a guy before."
I ran a hand through my hair. "Plenty of kids our age have never kissed anyone."
"All of my friends have done way more than had their first kiss. It makes me feel like a loser."
"Clary Fray, you are not a loser. Will you stop thinking like that? God, if I wasn't such a man whore I probably wouldn't have had my first kiss by now."
Clary buckled her seatbelt and looked out the window. "Can you just take me home, please?"
I didn't know what else to do, so I started the engine and did just that.
By the time we pulled into her driveway, neither of us had said a word. The moment the car was in park, Clary was unbuckling and reaching to open the door. I unbuckled too. "Clary, wait," I said, reaching out and grabbing her wrist.
Her gaze went to my hand, then dragged its way up to my face. I scooted as close to her as I could. My voice was low, barely above a whisper. "Clary," I breathed. "You are beautiful, and brilliant, and hilarious, and," I swallowed, "perfect. You are as far from a loser as you can get." She was a deep, adorable shade of red. Her gaze started to drift down again, so I put a hand on her cheek to keep her eyes locked on mine. "But if that isn't enough to convince you, if it takes more, then I'm more than willing to prove it to you." I kept my right hand on her cheek and reached the other out to rest on her knee. I leaned in slowly – painfully slowly – giving her tons of time to stop me, to tell me no. Instead of pushing me away, she let her eyes flutter shut.
Just before our lips met, I brushed my thumb across her cheek once, so softly she may not have even felt it. Then, my lips brushed hers, lighter than a butterflies wing. I wanted her to know she could pull back, if she wanted to. She didn't.
My lips met hers for real this time. They were soft, and gentle, and so damn perfect. She was perfect. All I wanted was to pull her to me, hold her as close as I could and kiss her until I forgot my own name. But after letting my lips linger for a few moments, I forced myself to pull away. Just because I wanted all those things didn't mean Clary did, and I would never make her do something she didn't want to.
I pulled back until our faces were about a foot apart. The hand that had been on her flushed cheek was resting on the center counsel. Clary's eyes were bigger than I had ever seen them, her mouth parted slightly. Before I could get my head together enough to say a word, she jumped out of the car and practically ran into her house.
I let my head fall back against the headrest. As much as I hated to say it, Sharon had been right about one thing: I was in way too deep to go back now.
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AHHHH! Did you like it? Did you hate it? Too soon? Not soon enough? Let me know! :)
I'm keeping the question the same as last chapter, because it's the same day. I love all your suggestions so far! Some of them are actually pretty close to what I have planned! Don't be afraid to be very specific too, because I'm very open to suggestions.
Love always,
YesIWriteForFun
P.S. Thank you all for all your continued praise and support, and a HUGE shout out to CrazyMeReally for just becoming my 300th reviewer! :) You guys are all awesome!
