A/N: Hi guys! :D Ok so I actually made it! hahaha Thank you so much to all the reviewers who reminded me I had to finish this story! :D (I'll make a note for all the reviews in the next chapter. Right now, my internet is annoyingly slow that it hurts. ugh. ) Phew! Alternating life between a student and a journalist is hard shit, seriously. :) But I'm glad to be able to write Millennium Lint again :D I miss TMI character so much :)
As always, read and review if you liked, loved, or hated this chapter :D and if you want me to continue! :D
I'm going to go get some sleep because apparently, people need sleep to be able to do stuff :) Read on? :D
MILLENNIUM LINT
Chapter 4 part 2: Unraveling
When Simon got to Lilit Café, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. In a far corner, locked in a fierce embrace, Jace and Clary were actually making out.
"Biggest mind fuck you've ever seen, yeah?" Upon hearing Jordan's voice, Simon snapped back from his daze. With a slight blush on his face, he forced his eyes away from the direction of Jace and Clary to look at Jordan, who sat on a bar stool, enjoying the show.
"Mind explaining what the hell happened to those two?" Simon exclaimed, making strange pointing gestures at the oblivious "couple." Jordan only shrugged his shoulders and said, "I have no idea, dude. When I got here around 20 minutes ago, they were already getting it on."
Jordan then let out a nervous laugh, and Simon sank unto the chair across him, utterly perplexed. After awhile, Jordan stopped laughing and nudged Simon.
"Heads up," Jordan said. "Jace and Clary are coming over here."
Simon glanced over his shoulder, and true enough, the two had abandoned their station at the corner of the café and were walking towards them.
When they reached the bar, they sat on either side of Simon. Perfectly awkward silence ensued.
"I thought you two hated each other." Jordan was the first to crack.
"Loatheis a more accurate term." Clary stated.
Jordan turned his attention to Jace. "And you?"
"What she said." Jace muttered, all the while licking what appeared to be Clary's lipstick off of his mouth.
"So…" Jordan said, pondering deeply on the implications of their responses. "You two loathe each other… yet… you two were…uh… you know… kissing and stuff awhile ago?"
Clary and Jace gave each other a look and then turned to Jordan with the same unblinking expression.
"Seems so."
"Yeah." They said, respectively.
"Have I ever told either of you how incredibly insane either of you are?" Simon exclaimed. At his comment, Jace and Clary laughed and Simon raised a brow.
"And what the hell is so funny, you sick freaks?" he spat. At that, they laughed even more.
"Simon, relax. This is all, what do you call it—" Jace struggled for an appropriate term.
"…an experiment." Clary finished for him.
Simon fell silent for a fraction of a minute. Then he asked, "Exactly how is you two kissing an experiment?"
Clary's cheeks visibly turned pink at the mention of the kiss, but Jace just licked his lips, grinning like a loon.
"Well, you see—Ms. Clary came to my humble abode earlier today, a forlorn look in her lonely eyes. And who was I to refuse a maiden's call for help?" Simon and Jordan unconsciously inched closer to listen. Clary scoffed in disgust.
"That is nothow it went, you idiot." Clary growled, pinching Jace's shoulder causing the boy to wince. "I didn't even know you worked in Lilit Café until you actually showed up and—ugh. Never mind." She looked at Jordan and Simon, who were both still waiting for an explanation and said, "Long story short, Jace and I made a bet. The winner would not only get the free room in the apartment—but also a back rub and massage from the loser."
"Who, under the terms of our agreement, would be wearing a hot little nurse outfit." Jace winked at Clary, who frowned at him.
"You're perverted as fuck, Jace—but I can't say I'm not looking forward to seeing you in a skirt and fishnets." Clary regarded him with an amused stare.
Jace laughed, superiorly. "Don't count your sheep yet, Fray. The game just started."
"Wait, wait, I'm not following." Simon broke the intense exchange they were having. "Whatsort of game are you talking about? And for the love of all that is good, what sort of apocalyptic bet did you two nut-jobs make anyway?"
"It's pretty simple actually. The bet is that—mph!" Before he could say anything more, Clary moved Simon, who was seated between them, aside to grab Jace by the collar and slowly pressed her lips to his. Simon and Jordan's eyes widened at the scene unfolding in front of them. After a good twenty seconds, Clary pushed Jace away, causing the boy to stumble out of his chair.
"The bet is that," Clary repeated, a victorious smile on her face. "The first to fall in love loses." Simon and Jordan's mouths made big circles and Jace let out a hissing laugh.
"Sly little move you made there, Newbie." He pulled himself up, and then walked over behind Clary to box her in her seat. Clary jumped a little. Simon and Jordan were still watching them intently. Resting his head beside her face, Jace whispered so silently only Clary could hear him, "I'm looking forward to how this game will progress. Though I'm pretty sure it's clear who the winner shall be."
Before Clary could make a snide comeback, Ronnie, the waiter, chose that moment to interrupt them. "Uh, S-sir Jace—you're needed in the kitchen." Ronnie said, his face redder than his hair.
"Damnit, well I have to go work now." Jace said in dismay before pushing himself off of Clary, who finally let out a breath. Apparently, she was holding it in the entire time Jace was behind her.
Jace adjusted his shirt, which Clary had messed up awhile ago when she grabbed him, as he smiled at his group of friends.
"Well, see you later" he stated as if nothing happened.
Simon and Jordan were too shocked to say anything so they just waved him goodbye but then again, Jace probably forgot they were even there. His eyes were on Clary.
Clary caught his gaze and in a huff, turned her seat in the opposite direction, her orange curls whipping across her face.
"Don't forget," Clary said, her back turned to him. "6:30 pm tomorrow. Don't be late."
At that statement, Simon and Jordan were revived in the conversation. "What's happening 10:30 tomorrow?" they asked in unison.
Clary still had her back on Jace, who only laughed and shrugged.
"Oh nothing," he said, already making his way to the kitchen. "Clary and I are just going to have our first date." And with that as his parting words, Jace winked at the two gawking boys and then disappeared behind two flapping doors. He didn't get to see how Clary's face turned bright pink, nor did he get to hear how loudly her heartbeat thudded against her chest.
"I swear those two have lost it." Simon told Jordan as they exited Lilit Café. Clary had excused herself earlier on, claiming she needed to finish up Millennium Lint's new song by tonight because she wanted to show the finished piece to them by tomorrow.
Jordan only patted his friend's shoulder. "It was totally unexpected, but nevertheless, I think it was bound to happen anyway."
Simon stopped walking and looked at Jordan with a confused expression, which the later returned with a shrug.
"Well, I mean, they both like a challenge, and well, maybe playing around with each other can be good for them. It's all in good fun, anyway. Well, that's what they said." Jordan's brows knitted together as he contemplated.
Simon sighed and walked on. Jordan easily caught up, seeing as that he had longer strides.
"Nobody plays with love, dude." Simon said as they walked the streets of Apple Avenue. "It's like they're asking to be damned."
"Really? I think they look pretty suited for each other." Jordan said, his eyes on the ground.
Simon raised a brow. "Do you not hear their banter every morning?"
"Exactly my point!" Jordan exclaimed. "The way I see it, Jace and Clary sort of complement each other, the way I see it."
Simon was about to retort then he stopped to think. True, Jace was difficult to get along with, but ever since the "kitchen TV incident" where Jace smashed it to pieces so Clary wouldn't have to answer to Jordan's tactless, yet innocent, questions, Simon was convinced that Jace, despite what he said, held even just a bit of compassion for their new housemate.
And awhile ago, when Clary took Jace by the collar and kissed him abruptly, Simon swore he saw Jace's eyes flare up with a sort of unexplainable excitement. Maybe even "glee."
"You're starting to see it my way, aren't ya?" Jordan leaned in to put an arm around Simon's neck, his lips quirking into a knowing grin. "Admit it! I'm right! They look good together!"
"Clary is my childhood friend and I know for sure she'll hang us both if she finds out we ship her and Jace as a couple." But a smile was on Simon's face. "But yeah, they do look pretty good together."
Jordan let out a hearty laugh as he patted Simon's back affectionately.
"Can't say I didn't tell you so." Jordan gloated.
"Shut up." Then Simon saw a cloaked figure emerging from a small building on the other side of the road. Her form was quite familiar. Simon's eyes widened. It was Isabelle from Taki's earlier.
"Hey, Jordan, you mind going ahead?" Simon said dazedly, already making his way across the street.
"What? Hey, Simon! Where are you going?" Jordan called after him but for Simon, his voice was just a whisper in a large crowd.
"Just go on without me!" Simon didn't even hear himself say. He was so focused on Isabelle' that he was almost run over by a car. The car came to a hard halt in front of him and honked angrily. Simon mouthed a 'Sorry' to the driver, but he kept on walking over to where Isabelle—Izzy, she preferred to be called—stood.
"Isabelle!" Simon panted. She twitched at the mention of her name and turned to his direction. Under the sunlight, her eyes looked amber.
"S-simon?" She sounded scared, but at the same time excited. Simon didn't know. His heart was beating too loudly for him to hear anything.
"H-hey," Simon managed to say despite his uneven breathing. "You have a lot of nerve… leaving… without… even giving me your number…"
He heard a short laugh, again, Jace-like, and her footsteps getting louder. She was walking towards him.
"What makes you think I'd give you my number?" She said in a tone quite sexy, which Simon assumed was her normal voice.
"You said… I was… awkward… that's a complement… isn't it?" At his words, Izzy laughed. Simon noted how the sound was beautiful and melodic. Before he knew it, she was right in front of him.
She stared at him. And he stared at her. Though it wasn't hard on his part, seeing as how damn beautiful she was.
"What are you doing here, Simon?" Izzy whispered, but Simon heard her loud and clear.
"Isabelle—Izzy, I mean—I—" But before he could say anything else, a small voice piped in, "IZZYYYYYYYYYYYY!"
Izzy turned to look behind her, and Simon's eyes widened at the sight. Approaching them was a little boy, around 10, who looked disturbingly like him (glasses and everything!) with a Marvel comic clutched to his chest.
"Max!" Izzy said, a big grin on her face. She unfolded her hands so "Max" could run into her embrace. They had the same eyes.
"Izzy… who's your friend?" The little boy's gaze was very steady and Simon found himself fidgeting.
"He's a friend I made earlier today." Simon saw Izzy give Max a kiss on the forehead as she cradled him in her arms. He was pretty small for a ten year old, so he was still easy to carry.
Simon felt a little awkward being around them, seeing as that he wasn't sure if Max was a relative, or Izzy's kid. Hey, it was possible.
"Hey," Simon jerked. Little Max had released Izzy and had come up to examine him. After a few seconds of deliberation, he grinned.
"Are you going out with my sister?" he asked innocently.
Oh thank god, Simon thought. He was relieved to know Max was Izzy's brother and not her son from a previous boyfriend, or something.
"No, I'm not." Simon gave him a friendly smile. "But I'd like to. But she wont let me."
Max turned to Izzy, a pouting expression on his face. "Why not, Izzy?"
"Max, we just met—and what are you doing outside? You have piano lessons until this evening! Don't tell me you're playing "Hookie" again!" Izzy scolded him.
"Hmph, you're no fun anymore." Max muttered, but he took his sister's hand when she offered it. "Old Izzy would happily play Hookie with me!"
"Well, Old Izzy was an irresponsible older sister. Max, if you keep ditching your classes, Mom and Dad are going to scold you and get mad at you. Do you want them to fight again?" Izzy said, her eyes weakening for a moment.
"No," Max grumbled, kicking a pebble on the sidewalk.
"Then, let's go back inside and have your piano lesson, okay? I'll stay and listen… even if the room smells like old hats."
Max laughed boisterously and Izzy giggled a little too. Simon involuntarily smiled at the tender exchange.
"Hey, Mr.!" Simon heard Max call him again.
"You don't talk much." He stated. Simon wondered if bluntness ran in their family.
Then unexpectedly, Max's eyes softened and added, "But I like you. See you around!"
Then he dragged Izzy in the building, talking about senseless things.
"Simon!" Simon's eyes darted towards Izzy, who smiled and threw something at him.
Simon clumsily caught it. It was Max's comic book.
"He wants you to have it." Izzy gave him one last smile before she was pulled inside the door by her younger brother.
Simon stared at the magazine for a while before deciding to flip through the pages. At the blank page before the comics, he saw a scribble of numbers in rushed script. Then below it was a note.
You're really awkward. - Yeah, it's a complement. :)
-Izzy
And as Simon walked on home, he was practically dancing and singing to a happy tune.
A/N: Typos. Sorry for that :\ Anyway, so BEFORE YOU SAY ANYTHING... i was a little scared when I made up Simon's dialogue with Izzy... it seemed too "daring" for our favorite awkward little vampire. BUT! I read through CoFA, searching for a loophole and well, yeah! Near the end, he finally plucked up the courage to ask Izzy something very important like (and sort of in a daring, im sexy manner too!) but then he was cut off which sucked. BUT ANYWAY, YEAH, TECHNICALLY HE'S IN CHARACTER. In my mundane terms of understanding, anyway. :)
Izzy is still a little bit different from Cassie's Izzy, but all in good time, my readers. All in good time. :)
Next chapter: Let the Games Begin
Short synopsis: Millennium Lint gets an upgrade! Thanks to Clary's torturous, erm, training, the band has finally been recognized as a formidable teenage music group! In fact, they've been invited to join the Battle of The Bands! Simon gets to know Izzy a little more, and JAce and Clary continue to get on each other's nerves. Jordan's getting a little better at girls, and... well, more madness ensues! :D Ah, the life of a rockstar. Aint it a beaut?