A/N: Hey guys! :D Okay, so forgive the horrible-ness of my writing. I was in the same cafe again yesterday and earlier today, finishing up this crap. Inspiration doesnt hit me good enough :P hahahaha

But Thanks so much for the wonderful people who reviewed the debut chapter :D (There's a note for you guys at the end of this chappie ;))
Readers out there!If you guys have any questions, thoughts, or even a guess as to how the next chapter goes, please! by all means tell me through a review :) I'd love to hear them! :D
As long as you have an account, I'll PM you an answer, or reply to you ;) hahaha Don't be afraid, I don't bite. :)

This chapter is called The Newbie :) Carry on? :D

MILLENNIUM LINT

Chapter 2: Newbie

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2 Months Ago in Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA:

"Cut!" The director's voice bellowed from the stage. "That's a wrap!"

The spotlights focused on Clary flickered off one by one. The stage crew hustled to fix sound equipment and turn off extra lighting.

Clary shifted in her seat, and idly played with the microphone carefully concealed in her chest area until a crew member came to take it off her. Clary checked the wall clock at the far end of the small studio and was shocked that it was way past 8 pm. She was dusting herself off, preparing to leave when a woman came up to her.

Clary looked up and her knees began to wobble.
The lady smiled.
"It was a pleasure to have you on our show, Ms. Fray." She extended an arm out to Clary, which she took, a radiant smile on her face.

"It was an honor, Ms. Winfrey." Clary was mentally kicking herself for being so stiff and awkwardly polite in front of The Oprah Winfrey. "You are a great inspiration to everyone."

Oprah let out a very honest laugh. "Don't be so formal, dear." she said, kindly. "It's a little late though. Are you sure you wouldn't want one of the studio's security guards to bring you home?"

Clary shook her head. "It's fine ma'am. I have a chauffeur waiting outside. But yes, it is a little late." Clary gave one polite bow, and added, "Thank you for the opportunity, but I'd like to take my leave now, Ms. Winfrey."

Oprah laughed again before bringing the slightly shaking girl into an embrace.
"Take care and don't talk to strangers alright?" Oprah looked Clary in the eyes and winked.
Clary giggled. "Goodbye."

When Clary was out of the studio, she felt a cold gush of wind and instantly shuddered.
It's pretty cold, this time of the year, Clary thought whilst drawing her shawl closer to her neck.

It was a long walk to where her big van was parked, but Clary liked the silence. It helped her calm down after a stressing day. When she reached the car, she saw a man leaning against it, his tall and boney frame a shadow against the red vehicle.

Upon recognizing him, Clary smiled. "Mr. Bass! What are you doing out here?"

Mr. Bass turned to stare at her through thick-rimmed glasses. He was a few years older than Clary's mother (around 35 years old or so) and he was her talent manager and employer.

He wore a black cloak and a fisherman's hat, which Clary found sort of inappropriate, especially considering the weather—but Mr. Bass had always been particularly fond of odd things.

"I was waiting for you." Clary cocked her head to the side, and if she wasn't so naïve, she would've noticed the passing glances Mr. Bass gave to her hips, her legs, and her lips. "Oh?" was all Clary said.

He exuberantly exclaimed, "I received great news, Clary! Director Michael Bay just offered you a spot in his newest film! It's about this young couple, desperately trying to live in a world dominated by robots! And you've got the leading role! Clary, do you understand how much a production like this could affect your career? You'll be a superstar!"

Clary honestly didn't like the sound of that. She entered the industry not for the fame, or the fortune—for her, it was all about the entertainment. She was a girl who liked to give people a good show.

She liked games, so she guest starred in different aired competitions; she liked drama, so she tried acting, and found herself achieving immensely in the field; she liked to write and draw, so she entered animation classes under Walt Disney Studios and even wrote part of the screenplay for a small-time Broadway-like production.

She was never in it for the money, and the thought of being owned by the media as a public icon brought shivers down her spine, even more than the cold air surrounding her.

"That's awesome, but…" Clary began, toying with the end of her locks, the way she did when she was unsure.

"But?" Mr. Bass' happy smile faded into a thin line. "Clary, I thought this was good news. This is our ticket to fame and fortune!"

"Yes, it's great news! But…" Clary didn't know how to say it properly without sounding ungrateful. "Mr. Bass, thank you for all the support you've given me. Everything, really, is all thanks to you. I'm here because you believed in me and stuck with me. But I'm sorry but I'm afraid I don't think I want that much popularity in my life."

"What?"Mr. Bass' voice sounded low and deep in his throat, disappointment and anger fighting for dominance.

"I mean, it's great to be recognized and everything—but I already have a tight schedule as it is—adding more and more projects would mean less time at home and I'd have to skip school again just to do taping." Clary set out her reasons.

He didn't say anything. "Mr. Bass?" Clary prompted.

"I keep telling you to just get home schooled." He took sudden steps towards her. His head was turned to the sky; expression unreadable. "You never listen."

Then without warning, Mr. Bass smashed his lips unto Clary's. Her eyes widened in shock and repulsion.
Clary pushed him off and he stumbled back a little. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve and wanted to vomit.
"That. Was. Gross." Clary said each word like a curse. "What the hell, you creep?"

In a n instant, Mr. Bass had taken her arm and effortlessly pushed her to the side of the car. The impact created a loud sound, but it was dark and nobody was around to hear Clary struggle and scream. Mr. Bass pulled her hair at its roots and Clary's eyes burned, in reaction to the pain.

"Clary, sweet Clary," His voice was like an ugly telephone reception. "That ignorance of yours has been tolerated far too long." He brought his mouth closer to her ear. Clary shuddered, wanting to kick him in the balls.

"I've done everything for you." he whispered. "Everything to pull the right strings… put you in the spotlight… make you a star. And you dare push me away; dare push this chance at fame and fortune away? From both of us?"

Clary gasped, when he started sniffing her hair. She turned slightly to glare at him from the corner of her eyes. "I don't owe you anything."
Then the silent night was filled with a tortured scream as Clary bent over to bite his arm as hard as she could.

.

Present time, Manhattan, New York City:

Clary woke up, her face stained with dry tears; she had just woken up from a terrible nightmare. Her heart was pounding like a hammer on cloth; painful and louder than the thunder booming outside.

Clary heaved herself upright and wiped her cheeks. She was breathing heavily and her head throbbed to no end. When the lightning flashed, the room was temporarily lit with incandescent light. Clary's eyes drifted to the sheets she was hugging tightly to herself.

They were white and smelled like fresh soap. Her eyes drifted the wallpaper and she noticed they were off-white as well. There were no posters on the wall nor were there any loose undergarments hanging in drawers. The room was pretty decent.

Clary sighed. She was grateful to Simon, who gave her a place to stay while she let the storm of her other life pass. At first, she felt a little bad that one of the boys had to sleep on the couch so she could have the room—but when she found out it would be that annoying blonde guy, Clary felt no remorse.

She hugged her knees to her chest and hummed to herself. It was in lonely moments like this that she missed her mother the most. She closed her eyes and tried to remember her mom's face as she cooked dinner in their medium-sized kitchen. She dreamily imagined the pot roast glowing to a tender brown; the smell was so heavenly. In her head she was home… but she knew the minute she opened her eyes, it would no longer be there.

.

3 weeks ago in a motel near the airport, Las Vegas, CA:

"Clary, promise me you'll be careful. Don't talk to street bums and don't leave your belongings sitting in the street." Jocelyn, Clary's mother, fussed over Clary's luggage and her. "As much as I'd love to know my daughter is okay, don't call our house. Don't try to make contact with me .Don't ever try to come home unless I tell you, alright? It's for you own safety."

Jocelyn stopped fussing over Clary's luggage and hunched over to cup her daughter's crying face in her hands.
Despite her own sadness, Jocelyn smiled. "When things get better, I promise I'll come and pick you up from Simon's, personally." Jocelyn stroked Clary's hair and hugged her fiercely.

"I love you, honey."

A man's voice boomed from the radio during the drive to the airport—he was narrating the recent hot-topic Hollywood controversy:

Rising star Clarissa Fray allegedly attacked her talent manager, highly acclaimed Christian Bass, and even hit him with a car, due to a fit of teenage rage. Bass has confirmed this; but Ms. Fray has another story. The 17 year old actress has filed a case against child harassment and abuse towards Bass. Fray claims to have been kissed by the 37 year-old manager and even physically harmed and threatened. Bruises have been found on Fray's arms but reps for Bass firmly state that those were just evidences of self defense against the hell-bent teen. Until further information is cleared up, reports show—

"I don't think we should be listening to this." Jocelyn said after turning the radio off. Clary was staring at her feet, emotionlessly.
"I'm sorry, mom." Clary said, silently; the first thing she's said without sobbing or shaking.

Jocelyn reached out her hand to Clary's shoulder and squeezed it gently.
"It wasn't your fault, Clary. I have an irrevocable faith that you are innocent."

"Mom,"
Clary's head went up and met her mother's green eyes with her own.

"I can never come back, can I?" Clary sounded as if the ultimatum was already donned upon her head. Jocelyn looked further into the distance, and didn't say anything.

Within a few minutes they were at the airport. Clary had to go in on her own at that point. She was dressed to look conspicuous, but her mother was not. Clary had to leave the city without the press or the media noticing her departure. She was traveling incognito; kind of like James Bond, Clary imagined.

"Clary," Jocelyn's voice was strained, but tender.
Clary looked at her through big sunglasses.
"Don't lose Simon's address, okay? It's in your coat's right pocket." Clary instinctively checked to see if it was there and after feeling a small piece of paper brush her fingers, she nodded. Clary picked up her luggage and began pulling them away from the car her mother had rented.

After awhile, Jocelyn added, "K-keep safe, honey."

Clary stopped halfway and turned to her mom.
"Mom,"

Jocelyn looked at her with eyes puffing a little.
Clary mustered up all her strength to smile. Strange how before it was so easy, but now, it felt like as her lips curved upward, the bile in her throat hurt so hard it could choke her.

"I love you, too." Clary blurted, awkwardly, as she often did when it came to talking about how she felt.

Jocelyn looked like she wanted to say something too but instead; she turned away and closed the car door. Clary knew her mom was crying and she, herself, was probably tearing up underneath the tinted lenses as well. But they both had to be strong.

Moments after Clary watched the car pull out of the driveway, she was on a plane headed for New York City, her old life behind her.

.

Present time, Manhattan, New York City:

The door creaked open as Clary silently made her way to Simon's kitchen. She wanted to get a glass of water so she could drink some medicine that could help her sleep better. When she reached the sink, she pulled out an empty cup and began to get her fill. She was already opening the small medicine vial when a voice almost shook the life out of her.

"Nice weather we're having." Clary let out a small yelp and almost dropped the cylinder. Jace was leaning by the door frame, in a sweatshirt and pyjamas.

"Jesus, you scared me." Clary held a hand to her chest, willing her pulse to slow down.
"You had my name off by four letters, and are you sure you're supposed to be drinking that many?" He snatched the batch of pills from her hand and examined it.

"My medicine dosage is none of your business." Clary reached for the container, but Jace held it up higher than she could reach.
Clary grunted. "Do you exist to give me a headache—or are you normally this annoying?" Clary tried to make a jump for it, and ended up pressed against him. She caught him smiling down at her before she pushed him a few feet back.

"Give me back my meds." Clary ordered.
"Nope." Jace said calmly, before stalking back into the living room, pocketing it.
Clary screeched and lunged for his back. He easily caught her by the arm and held her at arm's length.
He sneered. "Didn't think I saw that coming, Ms. Fr—hey, what's wrong?"

Clary's knees were caving in, and she dropped to the ground, her entire body cold. Jace transferred his hand to her waist and tried to support her, but she fell to the floor anyway, shivering and on the brink of tears. Clary mentally cursed herself. She thought she had conquered that fear already.

"Damn,Jordansaid you were an actress, but I didn't know you'd be that good." Clary's temper flared at that comment.

She was seriously about to have a breakdown and he thought she was just acting? She was ready to give him a good smack on the face when the lightning flashed again, and his face got caught in the light.

Despite herself, the artist in Clary found it hard to resist tracing his lips with her eyes,; memorizing how the dark made his eyes look luminous and yellow and his hair, slightly disheveled, was curling slightly at his nape. Without her realizing it, she had dropped her hand, mesmerized by his physical.

"Secretly tormented soul, huh, Ms. Fray?" Clary's eyes met his and she thought she saw empathy in them; like he knew the feeling.

She willed herself to look away. "What do you know about my soul? My life is no business of yours." She felt him stand up and move away from her, and despite herself, Clary felt disappointed.

Wait, what am I thinking? Clary shook her head furiously.

"If you have problems, you should talk about it. That's what Simon told me the first time I got here." Clary felt a blanket drape over her shoulders. Jace sat beside her on the floor now, his elbows resting on his knees. "Keeping a secret can be like drowning… you can survive only for awhile. Then death consumes you." He turned to smile sadly at her. "Take it from someone who's been there."

Clary drew the blanket closer to herself. They were both silent for awhile.

"Camels." Clary said out of the blue, causing Jace to look at her judgingly.
"What?"
"Camels." Clary repeated, staring at a speck on the floor. "When I was a kid, my mom took me to the zoo and I rode a baby camel. The mother camel became a little over protective, and started pushing me away and making strange noises. I cried for two hours straight. Ever since that day, I've been afraid of camels."

Jace only stared at her. Clary didn't mind him. He didn't need to understand. He just had to listen.
"My hair is naturally orange." Clary added after awhile. "I've never met my dad. He died when I was young. My favorite ice cream is vanilla. But I like chocolate too, only on cake, though. When I eat pizza, I eat the crust first, then the pepperoni, then the pizza itself. I enjoy arts and I often draw to express myself. I like—"

"Okay! Okay! I get it." Jace sounded fascinated, but he held up his hands. "You don't have to—"
"I'm not done yet." Clary looked him in the eyes; a new found courage seemed to come from inside her, urging her to finish what she started.
"I'm afraid of zombies. I also believe in the supernatural; I think vampires, and humans with angel bloods—they're called nephilims—walk amongst us. We just don't know it. I can't sing to save my life, and I can't resist falling for a character with a fancy accent." Jace gave out a small chuckle.

"I went to a regular school even though I was working 10 hours a day inHollywood, and around 3 months ago, I was physically assaulted by my manager, and almost raped. I filed for a lawsuit, but nobody believed me. People started making up rumors about me. Everything got so bad I had to drop school for awhile, leave my home and my family, to assume a new identity in a new . Which is where I am now."

Clary thought of more things to say, and when she came up empty she said in a huff, "Okay. Now I'm done."
Jace's mouth had fallen into the shape of an O.
"So when comes the part when I actually feel better?" Clary asked bitterly.
"Jesus, you were raped?" Jace sounded concerned and angry, though Clary had no idea why he'd react as such.

"Almost. I managed to fight him off."
"Why'd he do that to you?"
"My manager? He was frustrated because I didn't want to take a movie deal that could put my name in lights and his credibility known throughout." Clary said, pushing the memory of his lips pressing against hers away from her present thoughts.

"Where's he now?"
"In a hospital. I'm being accused of violence by the supreme court because I hit him with a car."
"But he attacked you."
"That's not what his reps are saying." And that isn't what the world believes.
"That's bullshit."

Clary raised her head, an astonished expression on her face. Jace just looked ready to murder someone.

"He'd better jut stay in that hospital. The minute he gets out, I'm going get everything else you haven't already broken and destroy them. Seriously. That's major bullshit."

"I can't say I don't agree." Clary chuckled slightly, snuggling herself up in the blanket. After a while, she said, "Hey, Jace."
"What?" He looked like he was already setting up a plan to annihilate Mr. Bass. Clary found herself smiling at that thought.
"Thanks." Clary dropped her gaze to her hands and began fiddling with her hair, as stated, an unconscious gesture of nervousness. "You sort of made me feel better. So…thanks."

Jace ruffled her hair and pushed himself up. "Save me the details. If you really want to thank me, you could give me back my room. Or you could scootch over and let me in it. Either way, I'd be grateful." He smiled deviously and, oddly enough, found Clary found his bluntness very comforting.

She threw the blanket at him. "Go to hell."

He chuckled and lied down on the couch. "Goodnight, Newbie. You better make that song for Simon's band mind-blowingly awesome, or else me giving up my bed for you to comfortably sleep in would be a wasted sacrifice." He drew the blanket over his head and pretended to snore.

"You're a bad actor." Clary insulted him, but a smile was on her face.
"Well, not everyone was blessed with your chops. Ow!" Clary had placed a foot to his stomach.
"Whatever." She began stalking over to the hall where her room was. "Goodnight."
She was holding the knob when Jace called after her.
"What now?" Clary asked, in half irritation, half elation.
"You forgot your meds." Jace called from the living room. For the record, Clary felt just a little bit sorry she took his room—but not enough to let him have it back.

"Keep them." Clary went inside then pausing by the door frame, she added, "Just in case you decide to do the world a favor, and drug yourself into a good disposition."

She heard a loud laugh erupt from where he presumably was, and then in a few seconds, his head popped from one of the pillars; like a boy playing hide and seek.

"You'll pay for that, newbie." he said, an impish smile spreading across his face. Clary stuck out her tongue and retreated into the room.
When she drifted off into sleep, that same face brought a smile to her lips.

A/N: Big thanks these awesome people:

it's a secret - thank you! :D should I be concerned with this obsession of yours? :) hahahaaha keep on reading! :D
xxgabigailxx - thank you and sorry for the slight spoiler :")
lilianneherondale - Thank you! that means a lot to me! *hugs* hope you liked this chapter! :D
pureawesomeness - Well i wouldnt want you to die, so here's the update :))) Thanks for the review and hope you liked this bit! :D
Pearl919 - Thank you! :D Hope to see you in future chapters :) Read and review! :D

You guys are the reason this story is on paper, and not just a plot bunny in my head :) Love you guys lots! :*

Next chapter: Bull's Eye
I might update it after five or six days though. :( I'm going out of town on Friday for a baptism. :( Sorryyyyy!