The lights flashed and the music roared in Pandemonium as Jace searched for Clary. He pushed through the heavily intoxicated crowd furiously, but he couldn't find her anywhere. It had been hours since he had seen her, and he was starting to get worried.
He hadn't liked the idea of going to a night club, specially one full of warlocks and vampires.
"Live a little" was all she had said rolling her eyes before pulling him into the crowd and then disappearing
After a few more minutes of circling the club, he finally spotted the fire red curls from across the room. She was dancing with two tall guys. One had blue hair, and the other one had purple skin. Warlocks. He quickly crossed the room and grabbed Clary's arm. She spun around, grabbed his arm and pulled him deeper into the dance floor almost tripping as they walked.
"Woah" she laughed swaying, "Let's dance blondie". She began to dance around him, but he just stood there. She was clearly drunk, and he had to get her out of there and back to The Academy before she had classes tomorrow morning.
"Clary" he tried to catch her attention, but it wasn't working. "Clary come on, we have to go"
"Don't be such a buzzkill" she pouted. Knowing there was no way around this, he picked her up and flung her over his shoulder. "Put me down you freak" she kicked and struggled until they were out of the club and he put her down. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"What the hell is wrong with me?" He tried not to raise his voice, "we have to get back we have class tomorrow"
"Oh no" she shook her head, "I am not going back there".
"We have to get back" he urged but she just shook her head.
"Look" she gasped, "you can go back there if you want, but I'm not coming with you". She began walking away from him. He reached for her just in time as she lost her balance and twisted her ankle. He was able to catch her before her head hit the ground. Tears streamed down her face as he tried to help her up again, but she just sat down on the ground. "I can't go back there Jace" she cried, "they'll just keep bugging me for information. I can't do that again".
"Hey hey" he tried calming her down, "what's this about"
"I haven't told you the truth" she looked down and sniffled, "my name isn't really Clary Fray". She looked down again trying to hold back tears.
"I know Clary" he pushed a strand of hair away from her face and she looked up, her tear filled eyes gleaming from the dull street light, "I know you're a Morgenstern"
"How long have you known?" Her voice cracked as she spoke
"A while I guess" he admitted and she looked up wiping away the ears.
"Yeah" she laughed nervously, "that's me, Clarissa Morgenstern, and I was there that night. That's all they have ever cared about"
"Do you want to talk about it?" He unconsciously grabbed her hand, "what happened that night".
"I can't Jace" she sighed, "I which I could, but I can't"
"That's okay" he nodded compassionately, "let's just get up and we'll figure this out"
"I'm not going back to The Academy" she looked up from the ground as he stood over her.
"I know" he held out his hand and she took it pulling herself up. "Are you okay to walk?"
"Yeah" she lied. She tried walking, but her ankle buckled again nearly tripling her once again. "Nope.
"Put your arm around my neck" he commanded her and she didn't complain. He picked her up bridal style and began walking back to Clary's house.
On the way there he could feel her drifting off, until eventually she fell asleep against his chest. Fortunately, he was able to find his way back to the house. He knew she probably didn't want anyone knowing she was in NY, but by now they most likely already knew she had teleported out of The Academy. Plus, he couldn't climb the fire escape carrying her and she needed someone to check her quickly swelling ankle. He would have used an iratze, but he didn't have his stele with him.
He rang the door bell and waited a few seconds before someone opened the door. A tall boy with blonde hair.
"Mom!" He yelled as soon as he spotted Clary in his arms and moved forwards to take Clary from him.
"What's is it Sebastian?" She asked before realizing Clary was in his arms, "what happened?"
"She twisted her ankle and then fell asleep" Jace explained and suddenly everyone acknowledged his presence.
"And you are?" A strong man walked into the room now, he could feel he was a werewolf.
"Oh, I'm sorry" Jace apologized, "I'm Jace Herondale. I got to The Academy. I followed Clary through the portal and tried to get her to go back".
"Well" Clary's mom, Jocelyn he remembered that was her name, said, "that was very nice of you". "Could you please get her to bed Sebastian?" She took in a deep breath and he instantly disappeared up the stairs, "and I'll go send a fire message to Headmistress Emberbeam. I'll be back in a few minutes Luke".
"You're welcome to spend the night Jace" the man, Luke, offered.
"Thank you, sir" Jace nodded and smiled.
Clary head spun as her eyes fluttered open. For a moment she thought it was a dream, being back in her old room, but then she remembered what had happened last night. Well, part of what had happened. She tossed and turned until she finally accepted the fact that she wasn't going back to sleep. Limping, she made her way downstairs and into the kitchen.
"Someone's finally up" Luke laughed as he passed the plate of pancakes around the table. Everyone was there. Luke, Jocelyn, Sebastian, Valentina, and even Jace. Clary rubbed her eyes and squinted at the bright light that shined through the window before sitting down next to Jace.
"How's your foot feeling?" Jocelyn asked Clary
"Like hell" she answered with a growl.
"Langauge!" Luke warned looking over at 4 year old Valentina who was digging into her breakfast without a single worry.
"What happened anyway?" Sebastian asked and Clary looked over at Jace. She didn't remember what had happened exactly.
"Umm..." Jace began, "she twisted her ankle walking down the street".
"Then why does it still hurt" Clary frowned, "didn't anyone draw an iratze?"
"I did" Jocelyn answered, "but if it still hurts we should get you to the Institute Infirmary"
Everyone remained quiet for the rest of the meal until Luke reminded Sebastian he was going to be late for class if he didn't head out and he ran out.
"Jace, Clary, we need to talk to you" Jocelyn led them into the living room after making sure Valentina was playing in the playroom. "I sent out a fire message to Emebrbeam last night, and she's expecting you to be back later today".
As much as Clary didn't want to go back, she saw this coming from the moment she had opened her eyes and seen she was back home. Instead of whining, she just sat there pouting and frowning.
Later that day, Clary sat on her bed telling Jace what to pack into the bag she had brought with her. He follows her orders willingly thinking about what Emberbeam would say when they got back.
"So" he closed the bag and sat next to Clary, "I thought you were going to the infirmary at the Institute"
"I convinced my mom on letting me wait until I got back to the Academy" she explained, "I didn't want to see al the people from the Intitute. This might come as a surprise to you, but I wasn't exactly loved back there"
"Well this might come as a surprise for you too" he laughed, "but you aren't exactly loved at The Academy either"
"Oh, shut up!" She slapped him playfully.
"If you don't want to be at the Academy why don't you just tell them?" He asked and she took a deep breath.
"My mom and Luke aren't the ones forcing me to attend The Academy" she explained, "the Clave is. So I guess I have to accept that there's nothing I can do about it"
Jace leaned down, his face closer to Clary's. He could feel her warm breath on his chin. He was so close to kissing her, but just as he was about to, Jocelyn knocked on the door.
"It's time guys" she announced and they both stood up.
Clary balanced on one leg trying not to put any weight on the injured ankle as she traced the portal rune on her wall. Just as it had before, it began to glow brighter and brighter until it suddenly dimmed and the portal opened. He picked her up like he had the night before so she wouldn't have to limp through the portal. Clary didn't want to go back, but if she had to she was glad Jace was there. Jace stepped through and she snuggle close to his chest, taking advantage of every moment she spent in his arms.