Chapter 3

A week had passed and, god, it had to be the worst week of my life. After hours of pruning fingers and plate after plate after plate. The only highlight of my week was the times I saw Clary around. It was that bad. I tried to go to Pandemonium two times, but both nights were as worse as being here. From the amount of time it took to get there to the early time of which I had to leave for some sleep for this fucking job, I didn't have any fun. I was there three hours at the most-and even then I was exhausted from the days work I already did.

I know this the first time working for me, but is everybody with a job this miserable? And despite everything the nearest town with a professional gym was in town. I had to make a drive if I wanted to do anything here. My parents sure knew what they were doing when they sent me here.

Just as my shift ended and I made my way out of the kitchen, Robert stopped me. I was exhausted and just wanted to sleep at this point, I was truly disappointed in myself for my exhaustion at this early hour, even for a Monday.

"Jace, wait up. I would like you to meet some people." He said. I turned around reluctantly even though I just wanted to ignore him and keep walking out. I woke up some when I saw the two people I recognized instantly. They were the siblings that clary was with a week ago, I hadn't seen them since then but was surprised to see them now.

" These are my children. This is Alexander," He said gesturing to the boy with blue eyes who quickly waved with awkwardness and just trying to be polite," and this is Isabelle." and with introducing his kids he walked off.

"Hey. You can call me Izzy and he prefers Alec." She said with tons of enthusiasm. She didn't seem the least bit into me at all.

Was it just me? Was I losing it? No, it has to be this crazy town.

"Hey," I said. I decided to be the least bit friendly since its been a while since I had seen people my age around here that didn't act like adults. " I'm Jace."

"Did you just get off? You could hang out with us if you want. It gets a little boring around here." Izzy said, devoted to befriend. Well, I had no problem with them.

"Yeah, a LOT boring. I don't know how you can stand it here." I said.

"It's easier when you have grown up here." Alec said, speaking up. They started walking out the door and I followed after them.

"Bye Jace!" I heard behind me, I looked behind me to see the blonde waitress looking at me with what I presume to be her attempt at an innocent face. I just turned away and kept following Alec and Izzy. She was hot, I'll admit, and another member to the 'over 20, under 30' list I was conjuring up in my mind. Right now that list was extremely low. But I'm definitely not going to sleep with her if I know I'm going to see her everyday.

Alec and Izzy led the way through the streets for about a block before entering a building.

"We come here every now and then because this is the only place around here that actually has a bar and any good alcohol. I mean it's a family place also, and I guess that's why they get such good business and can get away with having a bar in this town. Otherwise, somebody would have probably voted to get rid of it…" Damn Izzy has a mouth on her. I tuned her out after walking in the building. As it turns out, it's a bowling alley.

I had no idea this was even here. Although this seems to be quite a popular place judging by the amount of people here.

"Hey, It isn't so bad here, you just got to know where to look" Alec said to me as Izzy was still rambling on ahead of us.

"I never even knew this place was here. And thank god they have alcohol." I said, catching sight of the bar.

"Well, there are a couple places that we like to hang, maybe we'll show them to you." He said looking around the room.

" Whiskey." I told the man behind the counter " well I could use some fun." As soon as he put the drinks down did I pick them up. It wasn't exactly a fancy bar with much drinks, considering it was a bowling alley and this was also part of a restaurant inside, but damn was it better than gas station beer.

"We should go bowling." Izzy declared after we had all gotten our drinks. Without even waiting for approval she started walking over to the counter where bowling shoes were rented. Not exactly in a position to object with there nothing better to do I followed just as Alec did. I soon caught on that there was no objecting.

After about three hours of drinking and bowling, I was too exhausted to go on. The alcohol had woken me up, but you can only avoid sleep for so long. I admit that I did have fun with Alec and Izzy. The most fun I have had all week. They offered to hang again the next day as we walked back to Taki's where my car and there's were parked.

I fell asleep as soon as I got home. Looking at my alarm clock on the side of my bed, I concluded this to be the first time I went to sleep before eleven in years.

I hung out with Alec and Izzy a lot more since we met. They showed me a couple other places they like-and when I say couple I mean like three other places.

On Thursday is when She came with us. Izzy had asked Clary to come along considering the lack of feminine attitude. I had asked Alec about Clary and how they knew her, but he said she was a good friend but not very close. She went with them every now and them but normally it was just Izzy and Alec and the occasional other.

"Hey, Jace right?" Her voice said to me. Pulled back to attention I looked down at her and responded.

"Yeah," I said adding a small smile. Wow, she barely remembered my name.

"Come on, lets go. Are movie is going to start in less than an hour and we still have to drive into town." Izzy called to us as we all met at the Taki's. We were going to see this action movie at a theatre that was on the outskirts of the city.

Honestly I haven't seen a movie in a long, long time. Of course, I used to when I was trying to sleep with a girl but recently I had no reason too. I normally just waited till it came out on DVD.

"So, Clary, what do you do for a living?" I asked, breaking the silence in Alec's car.

"I'm an artist. I sell paintings."

"Really? I wouldn't have pegged you as an artist."

"well, I certainly don't have any other valuable talents." She said with the faintest of smiles. "And you? How do make a living, besides, you know, getting kicked out of houses."

"Well, currently, I work at Taki's at request of Michael. Well more like force."

"You work for Robert? I would have never have guessed."

"I guess we have completely different views of each other then." I looked over at her then and she did the same. She smiled slowly lighting up her face. After about thirty minutes of driving we arrive at the theatre.

"Hey Clary!" A man said as he passed us while just entering, slightly waving at Clary. He was tall, around my height, maybe a little shorter, with straight brown hair with hidden tattoos on his arm just barely showing. Who's this guy?

"Oh, hey Jordan. How are you doing? It's been so long." I looked at Izzy and Alec and they didn't seem the least bit surprised, yet it obvious they had never seen this man before. That's right, Clary knows a lot of people.

I looked at 'Jordan' again, and saw a look of surprise and confusion before it was gone in a flash. What was that?

"Yeah, I have been good. I'm still living in the city. You know, I really like that painting I bought from you a while back. I think I'm going to get another one. I should probably get going, let you get to your movie. I'll call you this weekend." He said before leaving.

"Who was that?" I asked. Alec and Izzy had gotten in line to buy the popcorn, I probably should have gone with them but I'm curious about Clary.

"Oh, he's an old acquaintance. I met him at an art show in town about a year ago." She said waving it off and walking into the movie. I watched her as she walked in; there had to be something more than that. He looked confused, then he just went along with it. I followed her inside and sat next to her, brushing it off. Maybe I'm making something out of nothing.

Lol you guys are great. Sorry, I'm sorry. It's been a long time. I hope you enjoy this, and don't judge the plot, its my story. This may sound bad but I'm starting another story. But don't worry, I won't post it until I get somewhere with this story.