Clary sat on a piece of drift wood, that she'd dragged over by the fire pit, where Isabelle was cursing at the fire pit, and pieces of wood, because she couldn't get the fire started. Magnus tsked. He pulled the light out of Isabelle's hand, and began dumping something over the fire pit, that came out a red, plastic container. Best guess? Gas; but mostly because of the signature smell that gas had, and this smelled exactly like it. Clary had her head propped up on her hands, which were being supported by her thighs. "Where did you get gas?" Alec asked, as he sat down beside Clary, holding a beer in one hand, and Clary eyed it enviously. But, no, Alec wouldn't allow. Magnus turned to Alec, a grin on his face, as fire finally caught onto the wood, and lit a small part of the area that surrounded them. It made the glitter in Magnus' hair sparkle, almost like a disco ball. Clary laughed at the thought. "I like fire," Magnus shrugged, sitting down on the other side of Clary, squishing her even more. "Where's Jace?" Isabelle asked, as she glared at Magnus, who had had no trouble lighting the fire. "Is he pouting because we were picking on him?" Isabelle asked in a baby-ish voice.
"No," said a voice that most certainly didn't belong to anyone already outside. "He is not pouting; he was trying to get the rest of the glitter out of his hair," Jace sat down beside Alec on the piece of driftwood, squishing Clary even more. Clary shot up, and crossed her arms over her chest, as she stood beside Isabelle. "Did you bring the stuff outside?" Clary asked, referring to their "sacrifices" that they planned on burning in the fire. These "sacrifices" included the tube of red lipstick that had been used on Jace-and ruined, in the process-Isabelle's hot pink, feather boa, a small container of Magnus' glitter-which he hadn't given up without a fight-and one of Clary's old drawings that she'd ripped out of her sketch pad. "Of course I did," Isabelle says. "We'll burn them, after we go swimming," Clary groans, but can't hold back a laugh.
"We're going swimming," Isabelle announces. "Anyone want to join?" Isabelle pulls her shirt over her head, and Clary panics for a moment, but calmed down once she realized that Isabelle was wearing her favourite red bikini top. She throws the shirt at Alec, who fumbles with it a moment, before managing to pull it off of him. "I'm in," Jace says, surprising almost everyone. "I don't see why not," Magnus says. "Come on, Alexander, darling," pulling Alec up with him. "I'm really hoping you are all wearing swim shorts?" Clary asks, covering her eyes with her hand.
"Why, Red? You know you want to see my birthday suit," Jace teases, giving her a suggestive smirk, even though her eyes are closed. Clary feels heat rushing to her cheeks, just imagining the stupidly attractive smirk on Jace's face that managed to trap all females in his web. "Yes, Biscuit," Magnus says. "We're all wearing swim shorts," and Clary uncovers her eyes. Magnus is wearing a pair of glittery, rainbow swim shorts, while Alec wears a black pair. Her eyes travel to Jace, who is only wearing his boxers. She turns beet red, and lets out a squeak of surprise. Clary quickly turns away, as Isabelle pulls off her shorts, showing off the ruby-coloured bottoms to her bikini. "Clary?" Isabelle asks. "You coming?" Clary looks over at Isabelle, and nods slowly, trying to get her blush to dissipate. Clary pulled her top over her head, and could feel eyes burning holes into her back, where the strings of her bikini tied together. She self-consciously pulled down her cut-off's, revealing her whole emerald-coloured bikini, that made her eyes pop. Well, they would, if you could see her eyes in the dark. Which, admittedly, would be pretty scary. Clary cleared her throat. "Ready?" She asks, turning around to face Alec, Magnus, and Jace, Isabelle beside her. Jace had an arrogant smirk on his face that Clary was fully prepared to slap off, until Isabelle broke into a run, and began pulling Clary to the water-which was only a small distance away from where they'd built the fire. Clary stumbled over her feet, as Isabelle dragged her. "Isabelle, don't break my biscuit," Magnus warned, and Clary couldn't help that her mind wandered to the gutter. Apparently, so did Isabelle's, as she stopped running, and turned to face him, her eyes wide, and a crooked smirk on her face. "What?" She asked, with a small giggle on the end. Magnus seemed to have realized what he'd said, and pointed an accusing finger at Isabelle. "Head out of the gutter, Miss Lightwood," he warned. "I was referring to dear, Clarissa. She looks like she'd afraid you'll kill her," Clary tries to pull free of Isabelle's grip, but like usual, its an iron grip.
"Izzy," Clary says. "You can let me go. I won't run away," Clary says, trying to pull her wrist free, and suddenly she is free. Isabelle had both her hands at her side. "Whatever," Isabelle dismissed the conversation. She walked to the water, followed by Clary, Alec and Magnus. Clary noticed Jace was missing, as they got out deeper, and began swimming around. "Guys, where's Satan's offspring?" Clary asked, using his well-known nickname over his real name. Alec shrugged. "Not sure, he probably ran into a girl or something."
Clary figured that was a good enough answer, and walked out deeper. The water was cool and refreshing against her bare legs, as some of it splashed up to her hips. Clary was waist-deep, which was only hip-deep for Isabelle, who was standing beside her, looking at the moon, which was bright white, and a full circle. Clary looked at it, itching for her sketch pad and pencils, as she felt something grab her legs. Clary kicked at it, and felt it go away. She relaxed again, but felt it again this time, stronger. It didn't feel like a weed at all, and Clary thought maybe it was a fish. "Iz, there's something trying to grab me," Clary said, looking into the water. She couldn't see a thing, because it was so dark out, so the water looked like clean black. If that even was a thing. Isabelle raised a curious eyebrow at her. "Its probably just a piece of persistent seaweed," Isabelle said. "Now, come on, lets go out deeper," Clary and Isabelle walked until the water was just past the top of Clary's bikini top, while it only reached about three-fourths of the way up Isabelle's stomach. She looked back at Alec and Magnus, to see them kissing. Clary didn't much like PDA, so she quickly looked away.
Then, Clary felt it again, the feeling like something was grabbing at her. This time it was at her hips. Clary used her hands to swat at whatever it was, but felt nothing. Maybe it is just a weed, or my imagination, Clary thought. She brushed it off again, and dove under the water, breaking the water's surface, sending small ripples through it.
Clary came back up, and brushed hair that stuck to her face away, opening her eyes.
Clary felt it again, grabbing more insistently at her hips. Clary squirmed, and kicked and swatted at whatever it was. The feeling was gone, and she felt nothing in the water around her. I'm loosing my mind, Clary thought, as Isabelle went under water. Isabelle came back up, smiling as she wiped water away from her eyes. "This was a really good idea," Isabelle says. Clary squirmed, as whatever it was grabbed at her waist. "Iz, there is definitely something trying to grab me," Clary said, moving away from where she had just stood. "There is nothing in the water, otherwise I would've felt it, too," Isabelle said, a -don't-be-ridiculous tone of voice that Clary didn't appreciate. "Maybe it wants to eat me because I'm the smallest, the easiest to catch and digest," Clary pointed out. Isabelle laughed, as Clary felt something grab her waist in a firm hold. "Izzy!" Clary squeaked. "Something grabbed me!" Clary began panicking, thrashing and kicking at whatever it was.
She felt like she was being pulled under, and tried to grab at something, but found only water. Clary kicked violently at whatever was holding her, and she felt her legs connect with some hard, and oddly fleshy-feeling. Clary closed her mouth, as she was pulled under all at once, she squirmed in the hold the thing had on her. Clary felt herself being held in place by hands, feeling the fingers move, but thought for a second that maybe that a fish had grown some fingers. Clary kicked again, her leg connecting with something again, and instantly she was released. She swam to the surface of the water, gasping for air. Clary coughed into her elbow, some water coming up. She grimaced at it, and turned away. Something came up a moment after her. Clary was still coughing, but froze when she saw the golden hair, that was turning a slightly silver shade in the moonlight.
"You kicked me," he said, and Clary gaped at him. "You scared me to death!" Clary squeaked, out raged at Jace. "Did I?" Jace asked, sounding innocent, but Clary could see the somewhat endearing smirk on his face. "I thought something was going to kill me!" Clary's voice was hoarse, as she coughed again. She couldn't stop coughing, and felt Jace watching her, but a moment later, felt a hand on her back. She looked up at the body attached to the hand, to see none other than Satan's offspring. He looked concerned, as he tentatively rubbed her back. Clary coughed up some more water, her hand on her stomach. After coughing up that bout of water, she was able to stop coughing.
Clary looked up into Jace's eyes, that looked like pure gold in that moment. She found herself wanting to pull him towards her, but snapped out of it, realizing who she was thinking about. "Thanks," Clary said. He nodded. Clary looked up at the sky, there was millions of stars in the sky, and each of them was beautiful, as they shone brightly down on Clary and Jace.
She could hear Isabelle talking to Alec and Magnus in the distance, whispering to each other. Clary didn't bother trying to ease drop, as she watched the stars twinkle. They were so pretty, and she felt the familiar itch to have her sketch pad and pencils and start drawing the night sky. Jace was still standing behind her, and she could feel his eyes on her. Clary felt self-conscious, and wrapped her arms around her waist, even though Jace was looking at her back, and not her front. "Clary!" Isabelle called, and Clary turned around, breaking her focus on the stars. "Come on! we're going to go burn stuff!" Isabelle loved fire, that Clary knew from experience, when they went camping with their class-let's just say Isabelle almost caught the whole forest on fire.
Clary walked back to the shore, where Isabelle had waited, while Alec and Magnus were ahead of them. "I feel like he's undressing me with his eyes," Clary whispered to Isabelle. Isabelle looked back at Jace, who was walking towards them, his focus on Clary. "That's because he totally is," Isabelle whispered back, with a smirk. Clary shivered, as they walked down the beach, closer to the fire.
Clary could feel the heat radiating from the flames, an smiled, as she closed her eyes. Clary opened her eyes, and Isabelle was passing out things to burn. Jace was standing beside her, and Clary felt the urge to move away from him, but wouldn't give him the satisfaction knowing that he had made her uncomfortable-which he definitely was. Isabelle walked over to them, she handed Jace the bottle of Magnus' glitter, and Clary the pink feather boa. Alec had Clary's drawing, while Magnus had the tube of red lipstick. "On the count of three, throw them in the fire," Isabelle said.
"One," Isabelle counted, as Clary approached the fire. "Two," Isabelle grinned, the grin that told Clary something she wouldn't like was going to happen. "Three!" Isabelle shouted, and as Magnus and Alec threw the lipstick and drawing into the fire, Clary threw in the feather boa, and Jace threw in the bottle of glitter. Magnus looked sad, but made no move to grab the bottle of glitter out of the fire-thankfully. Clary didn't quite understand what Isabelle had been grinning about, but she was thankful nothing had happened.
Clary grabbed her shorts, and pulled them on, sitting down in the sand. She had sat as far away from Jace as possible, because he was making her feel very uncomfortable tonight, and she didn't quite feel like being undressed by his eyes again. Clary was sitting in front of the fire, on the opposite side of Jace. Isabelle was fascinated with watching everything they'd thrown into the fire burn, as she sat in between Alec and Magnus on the piece of driftwood.
-*#*-
They had sat outside for a while now, at least three hours. Isabelle had retired shortly after the fire started to die down, saying she was bored, and going to bed. So, that left Alec and Magnus-who were kissing at the moment, and Clary and Jace, who were watching the fire in silence. "Jesus," Jace finally spoke up. "Get a room."
Alec broke away from Magnus, sheepishly, and rubbed the back of his neck, mumbling a quick, sorry, and pulling Magnus into the house. Leaving Clary and Jace to sit on the sand and stare at the fire. About a half hour had passed since Magnus and Alec had went inside, and Clary found herself yawning. She stood up, brushing sand off her shorts, and grabbed her shirt. Clary gave Jace a parting wave, before disappearing into the house, leaving Jace to sit in front of the fire.
XXX
Clary tossed and turned, but she couldn't get comfortable. She wasn't even tired anymore. Clary sat up in bed, frustrated and angry that she couldn't will herself to sleep. She looked at the clock; 3:14 a.m. She was wearing a graphic t-shirt, that had been a gift from Simon, on it, in all capital letters, was Made In Brooklyn. It was one of her favourite shirts, but Isabelle never let her wear it out, so now, it was used for pajamas. Clary had on a pair of black shorts that were kind of loose in the leg area.
Clary slipped on her sneakers, and grabbed her sketch pad, and pencils, before quietly leaving her room, as to not wake up Isabelle-who was sleeping soundly.
Clary tip-toed down the stairs, careful not to make any noise, as she opened the front door, and closed it.
The moon was full, and the stars shining brightly down on her. The fire was only a pit of dying embers, now, but Clary thought it was even prettier than when it was flaming. She sat down on the piece of driftwood, and opened her pencils up. Clary began drawing the moon and stars, getting lost in the drawing, just the way she loved to.
Clary was just adding the finishing touches to the drawing, shading the moon a little bit more, when someone sat down beside her. She swore her heart stopped beating for a minute, as it got caught in her throat. Clary stopped drawing, and looked beside her.
Sitting beside her on the driftwood, was Jace. He was looking at her sketch pad, as Clary put a hand to her chest, and tried to calm her racing heart. "I thought everyone was asleep," Clary finally said, as she took her hand away from her chest. "I never went inside," Jace replied, looking up at the sky. "Why not?" Clary asked, as she watched the flickering embers of the fire. Jace looked over at her, and shrugged. "I wasn't tired. What's your excuse?"
"I couldn't sleep," Clary sighed, still frustrated that she hadn't been able to sleep. Her mind had been racing in a million different directions. She shrugged. "And don't you dare give me the 'you're only seventeen and should be asleep by three a.m.' speech," Clary warned, pointing a pencil at his chest. "Because I am almost eighteen," Clary added for good measure. She would be turning eighteen on August twenty-third, and Isabelle had already started planning the party. Jace laughed in a low voice. The light from the embers of the fire made his hair look even more golden than it already did. "Wait," Clary said, looking away from her sketch pad. "You weren't out here when I came out," Clary said, accusingly. "I went for a walk," Jace said, as he watched the stars twinkle. "And I may or may not have been almost eaten alive by ducks."
Clary laughed. "Ducks?" He looked at her, his face serious, along with his tone. "Ducks." he said. "Whatever you say," Clary said under her breath, as she continued shading the moon. "You know," Jace said. "You're a pretty good artist," Jace remarked, as he moved closer to her, looking over her shoulder at the drawing. Clary turned away from him slightly, and shut the sketch pad. She looked down at her sneakers. She shrugged. "Not really," Clary said. Jace looked at her incredulously. "Only someone incredibly stupid wouldn't be able to see how good you are," Jace said, and Clary looked at him. "Really?" She asked. "Yeah," Jace replied. "Because I believe that in art class, you said, and I quote, 'I've seen a person without hands do better than that,'" Clary finished, giving him an accusing look.
He held his hands up in defense. "I never said that I wasn't incredibly stupid," Clary rolled her eyes. "Well, I remember that one time at a party when you said-" Clary was cut off when Jace pressed his lips to hers. She sat frozen for a moment, before she completely melted into him. It was impossible not to; his lips were warm and soft. He wrapped his arms around Clary's waist, and held her tightly to him. He pulled away from her, and she sat there, breathless, her eyes wide. "Shut up," he said, and kissed her again.
After what felt like hours, but Clary knew was only minutes, she pulled away from Jace. The eyes that she had learn to recognize as tawny, were the colour of molten gold. She felt like any words she wanted to say had been ripped away from her, along with her breath. Clary looked down at her hands, and then pulled them back up to meet Jace's, looking at him through her lashes.
They sat in silence. Neither of them saying anything. But Clary didn't know what to say. So, there she sat, as an uneasy silence fell over them. Finally, when the last embers of the fire died, and there was only a black pit in front of them, Clary spoke. "I should get to bed," she stood up, grabbing her sketch pad and pencils. Clary quickly brushed the sand off of her, and walked as fast as she could into the house. She didn't wait to hear a reply, because she knew she wouldn't get one.
Clary walked over to the fireplace in the living room, where there was, too, a dark pit of ash and dead coals. She leaned her back against the wall beside it, taking deep breaths, as she slowly slid down the wall.
I loved writing this chapter *happy squeal*
I finally was able to get over my writer's block for this story, which is great. It feels amazing!
So, yeah. REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!