Day 3

My nightmare ended in a flash as someone began to bang at Clary's door. Grumbling i rolled over and stumbled to my feet, jogging out of the living room door. I looked down the hall towards Clary's bedroom, "Clary?" I called only to find silence. I ran my hand down my face after a moment and walked towards the door. As I opened it, I instantly regretted it.

There in Clary's door way stood her mother, looking snobby in a long black coat that hung down to just above her knees. Her face covered in her crappy make up and that irritating frown that added to her fake persona.

"Can I help you?" I asked keeping my hand firm on the door, holding it only open enough to show myself. I felt the cold air on my bare chest as I looked down on the only woman i had ever wished to harm.

"I'm here to see my daughter, not that it's any of your business!" she spat out at me, a disgusting look of impatience covering her.

"Well she's not here" It was funny after years of lying that I had once regretted, i now appreciated the practice. Well at least in this moment.

"Then why are you here" her hands went to her hips and I had to resist the erg to laugh at her cliché action and question.

"I offered to house sit while shes away" I planted a giant grin on my face, not letting her get to me.

"Well she must be better in bed then I thought, if she could get you do something like that" There is no way, she just called her daughter a whore, can she not fucking see herself?

"I wouldn't know how she is in bed actually, but i bet if i asked any other guy in town I would hear how willing you are." Her face instantly turned red with rage, but all i could do was snicker at the way her mouth was hanging open. Im cruel and sometimes, I even just enjoy it.

"You fucking asshole, you have no right to disrespect me! don't you know how to treat your superiors?"

"Yes, I do know how to treat my superiors, but your not one of them. In fact, I don't think your pitiful whore ass is above anyone!" my smirk never left my face as i looked at the woman who had hurt Clary her whole life. I probably should have been kinder to her but in this very moment, revenge just felt so good, even if it wasn't my revenge to take.

"Where did my daughter pick you up? A prison cell?" She will probably have to if she keeps up this act, or if I get my hands on Clary's asshole step father.

"No, but im sure thats where you get em!" She boar her eyes into me, staring at me, studying me. It occurred to me that what I had said was probably true, and maybe she was trying to figure out how I knew that. I wondered for a moment, just how far the abuse went. What kind of man was her husband, and just how far would he go to get what he wants?

"When is Clarissa back?" she wasn't even going to deny it. I felt my grip on the door tighten as my anger started to leak though my pours, overflowing from inside me. I had been doing so well lately, no out bursts, I could let it all fall because Clary's mother pissed me off.

"For you? Not any time soon." She snarled! She actually snarled! I tried to hold my composer, keeping as calm as i possibly could.

She reached into her purse that had been set onto Clary's steps and produced a bagged item. She shoved it at me as her face changed from a snarl to a devilish smirk, "Be sure you give this to Clary, tell her 'Just to remind you, from Luke'. She will know what it means" I took the object, trying to figure out who Luke was, but hopping my hunch was wrong. "Another time, asshole."

"Later bitch" I watched her leave.

I stood in the doorway for a moment, staring down at the thing that was meant to be for Clary. I wanted to take the packaging off and look at it, I wanted to know who Luke was. A horrible urge to just turn around and throw out the 'gift' washed over me, but even if it was an action that would protect her, I would regret lying to her.

Turning around I closed Clary's door and walked back inside, jumping back as I saw Clary leaning against the wall in the entry way. How long had she been there? "Morning Clary, you had a visitor."

"I know, I heard." She smiled putting her hand out to take the object. After a moment of hesitation I handed it to her and watched as she un bagged the thing just enough to see what was inside. I tried to see it, but she kept it just out of my view. She let out a sigh and pushed it back into the package. looking back at me, "Want something to eat?"

"Only if your offering" I winked at her with a cocky grin on my face. She rolled her eyes at me with a small laugh as she pushed back her hair.

She was Dressed in just a simple black tank and a pair of baggy red plaid pajama pants with the end slightly dragging on the floor at her feet. Her hair was un brushed but not wild from a night of sleep, it was almost like she hadn't slept, and her eyes that were heavy with bags just assured that assumption.

"I guess I am. Eggs and bacon, sound ok?" I nodded, I couldn't even remember the last time I had eaten breakfast not made at a restaurant or diner. I wasn't really the type who made my own food and I didn't have any one I didn't have to pay to cook for me.

I watched her turn into the hall and down to the kitchen as i followed. It was kinda weird how I already knew her place from the few times I had been in it, but it felt, right. I knew there were two bathrooms, one in her room and one in the hall not far from the rest of the house. I knew about the locked door that i had stumbled upon last night, i couldn't figure out what it was she had locked up, but i guessed it was her basement. But the truly frightening thing about how much I knew about this place, was also what I had seen in her closet last night when she put away are jackets, a gun, a shotgun to be exact. I wanted to ask her about many things in this place but I knew I couldn't.

Her kitchen was nice an big with a huge island and a row of wooden stools that sat on the side facing into the kitchen. She had a large black fridge that was the end of a long line of counter top that shaped a half box, like an "E" without the inside line. The room was filled with beautiful pine cabinets that held the counter top and hung overtop. there was a window that shown the whole street just over her sink. I decided that, I liked her kitchen.

I sat down on one of the stools watching Clary as she searched inside her fridge, without even turning to me she asked, "Jace are you going to ask whatever it is thats bugging you or are you just going to sit there quietly till I figure it out?"

I had known she could tell certain things about people, but I had no idea she could tell that much without even looking at them, or maybe it was just me. I panicked a little inside, wondering what it is I could ask her that wouldn't be to much. I searched my mind for any possible and simple question I may of had for her. Am I trying to hard, it feels like I am?

I looked towards her living room and the picture caught my eye, the one of her when she was young, with a small boy I didn't recognize. I walked over and picked it up, fully aware of the eyes that bore into my back as I grasped the frame. I turned to her, meeting the eyes of a Clary that leaned against her counter with her arms crossed. "When was this taken", I asked with a grin that said I was only interested.

"My 8th birthday."

"It's the only picture in your house" I gazed down at it, smiling to myself at the image of Clary smiling she walked with the small rat like child that gave a peace sign. He looked like a really dorky kid, but that smile on Clary's face, well it made me respect him. When I looked up I followed her eyes to the thing her mother had dropped off that had been put on the counter. I wondered if maybe that was a picture, possibly framed, it was the right kind of size. But if thats what it was, what was the picture of?

Her eyes met mine again before she spoke again. "It was a gift, from the boy in the picture. He framed it and gave it to me, I couldn't get rid of it." I wasn't shocked that someone would do that for her, I know I would of, and I haven't even known her that long. What really caught me off guard was that she hadn't mentioned him before. But she hadn't told me much about her past.

"What's his name?" I walked towards her as she turned around and started frying some eggs and bacon on the stove. I felt like she was hiding from me, it irritated me, but that was selfish. This could be hard for her, I had no way of really knowing.

"Simon, Simon Lewis. He moved away not long after he gave that to me, maybe a month or so." It was strange to feel resentment to a child, but he had something that I wanted, and he had just threw it away without fighting for it. However as much as I would want to blame him, he was only a child then, he probably didn't have much of a choice.

"Did you ever see him again, you know after he left?" I asked now standing just behind her.

"No"

"Do you remember much about him?" I asked stepping beside her and sitting up on the counter. She looked up at me and nodded, an expression that revealed her repressed memories, that I now watched in her eyes. "Will you tell me about him?" I tilted my head to the side and leaned back on my hands, feeling the cool stone under my palms. She looked to be considering it for a moment before she gave a light, single nod, then looking away.

"He was kind, but curious , he had this thing with always sticking his nose into things that it didn't belong in" She smirked and her eyes flickered to me as if to imply the same about me. "He was brave, he said he would always protect me, no matter what. And he did, for the most part, what he could protect me from he did. He was really nerdy, always carrying a comic book with him, I taught him how to read. But if there was anything about him I would always remember, it would be how caring he was. I remember this one time I had fallen and broke my knee, he stayed with me and comforted me, fighting everyone who tried to tear me away from him." I watched her, a smile playing on her lips as she talked about this Simon kid, he made her so happy. "In a lot of ways, you remind me of him. Your both so determined, protective and courageous." Her eyes met mine with kindness in them. "He was the only friend I have ever had."

"He sounds like a cool guy, I hope you have that many nice things to say about me." I laughed lightly.

She finished cooking the food and pulled together two plates and two cups of coffee. She handed me one of each and sat up on the counter next to me.

"I could probably think of a few good things to say, if I forget the massive ego that you tug around and not to mention what a terrible snorer you are."

"I do not snore, and even if I did, it would be a wicked cute snore"

"Yes defiantly Jace, and you would know that because? Haven't you ever been told you snore before?" She teased.

"Well to be honest, I can't remember a time other than that night with you, that I had spent the night with anyone."

"But I thought you were the big ladies man, always scoring with random women."

It was then that it occurred to me, When was the last time I had slept with anyone, its been a while hasn't it? I didn't even notice, by now I normally would have been with at least six different women, wait its been like what, three weeks? So yeah six sounds right. Thats strange. My eyes roamed to Clary's lips as she sipped her coffee and a thought came to me, could it possibly be because of Clary?

"To be honest, they never stay the night, I can't handle it." That was the truth and nothing but!

"The nightmares right?" I felt myself stiffen, that was a topic I had avoided with her.

"Yes-" I started.

"You don't need to explain, I just wanted to know if that was the reason." She finished off her food and set the dishes in the sink with a grin. "Im going to go get dressed." She poked my bare chest "If its not to much to ask, can you please put on a shirt?" I watched her walk away laughing, while I holding back the erg to make a comment about her liking the view I presented.

The moment she was out of sight I went into the living room and picked up my iPhone and searched Simon on Facebook. To tell you the truth, I never thought I would be able to find him, but if who came up was the person from Clary's childhood, I had hit a serious break. Because the guy who's Facebook profile was open on my phone, had a profile picture of him kissing Isabelle Lightwood. He was Izzy's fiance. Fucking small world.

Without even thinking I looked over at Clary's phone that I still had, and came up with a very devious plan. I reached for the phone knowing that Clary had gotten Izzy's number last night, and I called it.

"Clary!" Isabelle's voice rang on the other end, sounding surprised and pleased.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but no, its me Jace." I corrected her with a calm voice that was ready for the worst.

"Do I wanna know why you have Clary's phone?"

"probably not, but listen im in a hurry and I need a favor, don't say no till you hear what I have to say."

There was a small pause that told me she was thinking, then her soft strong voice broke through the phone. "Im listening."

"I need to meet with Simon, like today and also while im doing that I would need you to occupy Clary, take her shopping like you talked about."

"Why do you need to meet with Simon?" I heard a guy beside her mutter something, and her shush him. I didn't know how much to tell her, I wanted to check Simon out before hand.

"I think that maybe he will be interested in something I have to tell him about an old friend he used to have." I blurted out.

"How would you-, you know what I don't even want to know." She was silent for a moment, probably thinking it through. "Ok Jace, I will get him to meet you in an hour, I will text you where. Give Clary back her phone, I will call her in ten minutes and insist we go shopping. I hope your not lying to me Jace, I want you to be the guy my brother claims you have changed into."

"I don't know what hes said about me, and I can't promise it's all true, but Izzy I am different, better, and I am sorry for what I've done, I really am. I know I can never repay the both of you, but im willing to try. "

"Alec told me once that it takes a good woman to change a man, I guess he was right" I stayed silent, waiting for her to tell me exactly what she is talking about, but my confusion didn't find a release. "Good luck Jace."

The phone clicked, as she hung up.

...

I walked into the small coffee shop Izzy had told me to go to. It was simple with a few tables, a small stage and a couple couches. Nothing special.

In the corner sitting in a booth was the man I recognized as Simon. He was looking down at the table thoughtfully with a clenched fist holding up his lazed head as his dark hair fell across his face. There was something about the look in his eye, something odd.

I walked over to him and sat across from him. He sat up imminently and met his glass covered gaze with mine, the oddness now vanished. "Im Jace" I said reaching a hand across the table.

His hand met mine with a firm grip, "Simon" he responded. "But you already knew that, may I ask how?" He continued curiosity along his face.

I reached into my pocket and grabbed my phone. I search through the device till I found the picture I had taken earlier. It was weird that I had taken a picture of a Clary's picture, but I had thought it could maybe come in handy, you know, jog his memory, prove I wasn't lying, stuff like that. I set my phone on the table and pushed it across to him.

He reached for it, curling his fingers around it and bringing it up to his face. His mouth fell open slightly and he looked up at me with shook, "How did you get this?" he asked.

"A friend of mine, has that one picture in her home and only that picture. I asked her about it this morning and she told me it was a gift on her 8th birthday by the only other friend she has ever had, one whom she hasn't seen since being a child. She told me about him, she told me about how she even taught him how to read, all while she had this look in her eye that told me how much she missed him." Simon was breathing deeply now, a small smile on his face as he looked down at the picture.

"Clary Graymark" I was stunned for a moment, Graymark?

"Wait what? Graymark?" Simon returned his eyes to mine confused.

"Yes, Clary Graymark, Graymark is her last name right?" Why would he think that? Was that Clary's real name, was she lying about her name?

"No it's Fray, Clary Fray."

"She must have changed it, I never really liked the name Graymark anyway. It didn't suit her very well."

"So you do remember her?" I asked trying not to seem anxious, but I knew I was.

"I could never forget, I spent most of my teen years trying to find her. I checked Facebook ever week to see if she would magically appear. I remember visiting her old house when I turned 18 on a trip to New York." He trailed off, frowning. "There was always something off about that place" I wondered for a moment how long Clary had been abused, if it had started at the young age Simon knew her, or if it was later.

"Do you mind if I ask you something weird?" Simon laughed lightly at my request

"This whole thing is weird, just go ahead!"

"Did you ever meet Clary's step dad?" His face turned solid as he passed my phone back to me.

"When I was little I remember seeing him standing at the window waiting for her. His hair was greasy and stubble was patched all over his face, he was filthy and obviously drunk" we sat there staring back at each other for a moment. "Then when I went back, I knocked on the door and an older version of him answered reeking of liquor and sweat. He told me that Clary had moved out, so I left when he wouldn't tell me where. He just kept telling me that he had no idea where she was, but sooner or later he would find out."

My hands clenched into fists on the table and I felt my face begin to harden. "Creep" I muttered.

Simon just watched me, staying patient as I calmed down, he had something he wanted to say. "She made out ok right?" He asked with his gaze set on the table.

I didn't know how to answer, Clary was many things, but ok just didn't seem like the right thing to describe her. "She's a well known artist, has a nice home and I don't think I've ever known a more interesting woman. And trust me when I say I have met a lot of woman."

"I don't doubt it." I stared at the man for a moment. There was something strange about him, and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't figure out what it was that different. Something about him just made me wonder how much alike we really were.

"So, if I call Izzy right now and tell her to bring Clary here, will you be the friend you were years ago? And don't give me any crap, I know you were her friend, hell you were her only other friend. As far as I know, your probably the only person she ever trusted, and I need to be sure she can still trust you, because if your just going to be an asshole we can just forget about this whole thing," I blurted out moving my hands off the table and fisting them in my jeans as I stared at his bowed head. He never seemed to look up, like always looking down was a habit.

"If she's the Clary I knew as a kid, there isn't a chance in the world that I would be an asshole to her. Sarcastic maybe bur not a jerk." He assured me. "Call!"

That's the chapter!

Who liked it?

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JUST REVIEW AND TELL ME ALL YOUR THOUGHTS!

oh and I wanna know what you guys think of how Jace talks to Clary's mom.

And if you think you know what Simon is hiding!

LAST THING

WHO WANT"S AN ISABELLE POV?