Disclaimer - I don't own anything re: TMI - all Cassandra Clare
AN: This chapter is a little long. Sorry I couldn't stop writing dialogue. Hope you enjoy! Thanks for reading :)
Jace In Exile
Chapter 9
"I think this is the last box," Alec said setting a large cardboard box on the floor of Clary's new room at the Institute.
"Thanks for helping me move," Clary said to Alec and gave him a smile.
"Clary moving you into the Institute was a piece of cake. You have very little clothing and shoes for a girl. When you asked me to help you move, I'll be honest I was dreading it, but after I saw how much you needed to move, I was relieved. I just imagined you would have hundreds of shoes, and clothes, and make-up, and…"
Clary interrupted him, "You thought it would be like moving Izzy. I get the picture."
"Yes! I hope they never assign her to a different Institute because moving her will take trucks – plural and men – plural. She needs a room just for shoes." Alec quipped.
Clary laughed, "I assumed you would think Izzy's shoe fetish was normal after being around Magnus. Izzy's shoe collection tops his?" She raised her eyebrow at Alec.
"Nah, but Magnus would never ask me to help him move, he'd just use his powers and move everything with magic," he said matter-of-factly.
"Right," said Clary. "Well thanks again."
"No problem. Later." Alec was out of sight before Clary could turn around.
She surveyed her new home with excitement and a hint of sadness. She always pictured Jace helping her move her things into her room, not Alec. One of the perks of living at the Institute was the close proximity it was to Jace. She walked to the door and stared at the bedroom across the hall - Jace's room. The door was closed. It made her sadder to look at it.
Her Mom had squashed the idea of Clary moving into the Institute for weeks. She didn't want Clary living with her boyfriend. Clary pointed out she would be living in the Institute like all the other Shadowhunters in training, not "technically" living with Jace. Her Mom had scoffed at the theory and the conversation died until the battle on Valentine's ship. Jocelyn had finally caved after Luke explained the damage Clary's special abilities with runes could inflict without proper training.
In the end Clary had gotten what she wanted, but without the added perk of Jace across the hall. She missed him so much. Two days had passed since she saw him in the Great Hall. She had broke down after he walked through the portal with Brother Zachariah. Izzy was the only thing that kept her together enough to leave Idris and come home to the city.
She started unpacking her things and found a picture someone had taken of her and Jace in the park. They were on a blanket, he was lying on his back holding a book in one hand and using his other as a pillow behind his head. Clary's head was resting on his shoulder, gazing up at him as he read to her from the book he was holding, a sly sexy grin on his face. She couldn't remember what book they were reading, but to a stranger it probably appeared risqué because Jace just oozed sex in this photo.
She tacked the picture to her mirror and commenced unpacking. He was so beautiful and she would pinch herself a lot when they were together. Clary didn't see herself as pretty, cute maybe, but not pretty or beautiful like Izzy or even her Mother. She stared in the mirror, her breasts were growing (thank God), and her hair wasn't as frizzy as it used to be (Izzy introduced her to smoothing crème), and she was trying to dress less like a tomboy and more feminine.
Jace told her she was beautiful just the way she was but Clary knew she would never be his level of beautiful. Thank goodness it wasn't a competition.
She was putting away her last t-shirt in the drawer when Izzy popped her head in the doorway. "Hey there roomie, I see Alec brought all your stuff upstairs." She looked around the room and saw only a few boxes Clary had moved. "Wow, you pack light! I would need a semi-truck to move somewhere."
"Alec was just talking about his fear of you ever moving. I wouldn't count on his help to relocate you anytime soon," she said and laughed.
"So I know it's your first day here, and you are moving in, and probably want to spend every minute you have coming up with a plan to rescue Jace, but I need a break from all this scheming and plotting. Will you go shopping with me?" She batted her eyelashes and grinned. "There is a new high-end resale shop I've been dying to go to for weeks."
Clary sighed in defeat. "I'll go with you Isabelle under one condition."
Izzy jumped up and down and stopped suddenly, "What's the condition?"
"You only buy for yourself," Clary firmly replied.
Lately every time Clary went shopping with Izzy, Izzy would always buy Clary clothes. It was probably because she had started wearing more "girly" stuff. Still Clary felt like she owed Izzy something for the free swag. She also felt like Izzy was playing dress up and she was the doll.
Clary looked down at her outfit she had on: designer jeans, a light green Bohemian top, and gold roman sandals. All pieces Izzy had picked out and purchased for her against Clary's protests.
Izzy snapped her fingers, "Earth to Clary, you in there?" Clary made eye contract with Izzy. "Good, I agree now let's get out of here. I'm in need of some retail therapy pronto," and she turned and walked out the door her heels clacking on the marble floor.
Clary grabbed her phone and purse, followed Izzy out into the hallway, closing her bedroom door behind her. She dialed Simon's number as they were walking out.
"Si, it's Clary again. Where the heck are you? Calling you for two days now, and nothing…I'm starting to worry. Please call me back or I'm going to come over to your apartment and check that you are still alive. I mean physically present on this earth. You know what I mean. Call me back!" She hung up the phone and caught up with Izzy at the elevator.
They stepped in the elevator and Izzy punched the button. She proceeded to chomp gum and inspect her perfect cuticles.
"So Iz - have you talked to Simon since we got back from Idris?" She hoped Simon had connected with someone.
"Nope. I texted and told him we are back, but he hasn't called. That 's part of this shopping trip today. I'm looking for a very revealing shirt, possibly something with a plunging neckline, painted on designer jeans, and sex-kitten heels. I figured we'd get all gussied up and surprise him at his apartment tonight,"
Izzy's excitement made Clary a little squirmy. Izzy's seduction of Simon Lewis wasn't something she liked to think about, especially with Izzy all hot and bothered in a small confined space like an elevator.
They stepped out of the elevator and walked out of the Institute into a clear sunny day. Izzy talked as they walked.
"Simon hasn't called you since we got back? Not even to find out what happened to Jace at the hearing?" Izzy looked concerned.
"No he hasn't. I've tried to call him like twenty times, but his phone goes straight to voicemail. I've left at least a dozen messages and no response," Clary said unable to hide her annoyance.
"Well then we definitely get hot clothes, change into them and head over to his place. I'm kind of worried if you keep calling him and he's not responded. That's not like Simon at all when it comes to you," Clary couldn't ignore the envy in Izzy's voice.
"Izzy you are Simon's dream girl, you know that right?"
Izzy shook her head, "Clary we've been over this. I never know where I stand with that boy. It's worse now that he's a vampire because we're like on the same level of sexiness now. He's always been cute, but with his vampire mojo...well he's smoking hot. I mean really freaking hot."
Clary rolled her eyes, "Ok Iz, so Simon's a hot, sexy vampire and you're a sexy vixen Shadowhunter. Be careful you don't ignite him on fire Iz. I hear fire and vampires don't mix." She couldn't believe Izzy of all people had insecurities about Simon just like Clary had about Jace. "I'm down with your plan minus the whole gussied up part. If he won't call me back, we'll just go see him."
They disappeared into the resale shop and Izzy began her mission for finding an ensemble that would make Simon's eyes pop out of his head.
Jace was staring at the bike Simon had borrowed from his friend Eric. To his dismay, riding this contraption would not be like riding a horse. Jordan was showing him how to kick his leg over the seat and jump on. He made it look easy, and Simon was making some mundane joke that Jace didn't get, something about "it's just like riding a bike". Whatever, he had to conquer his fear if he wanted to take the job at TDA.
Jace swung his leg over the seat and positioned the bike between his legs. He put his hands on the handlebars and stood looking at Jordan and Simon for direction.
"Okay now put your feet on the pedals and push down with your toes, " Jordan said.
Jace did what he was told, and next he was falling, right down on his elbow and hip. "Damn it - Jordan that freaking hurt. Isn't there another way for me to learn to ride a bike?"
A cluster of young girls gathered at the base of some trees close by. They were watching his bike riding skills, the attractive brunette in the middle smiled at him and waved.
A laugh escaped Simon's lips, "Sure if you want some training-wheels. They use those for 5 year-olds learning to ride."
Simon was enjoying Jace's incompetence just a little. I mean this was Jace Wayland, Shadowhunter, tough guy, good at everything, and with cheekbones models would pay to create. No one man should be allowed to have that many woman-swooning qualities. It just wasn't fair. Still he did like Jace, not at first but after he and Clary's attempt at a romantic relationship failed, he realized Jace was really good for Clary. He wouldn't admit that to Jace anytime soon though.
Jace brushed some dry leaves off his elbow, "Funny Lewis, I don't need training-wheels."
What Jace really thought was - a balance rune would really be helpful right now. Jace put his feet back on the pedals and started to push forward. He was moving, not falling which was rewarding, but he had to think about steering out of the way to miss the tree in front of him. He remembered at the last minute how to break and did so just in time to avoid a collision with the tree.
The group of girls started applauding, and Jace got off the bike and took a bow. Their applause got louder and included whistles and catcalls this time.
"Dude your Shawdowhunter runes really made you!" Jordan exclaimed.
Jace grunted in frustration. "You don't think I realize that genius! At least I'll always have the face and body of Adonis," he chuckled deeply, smiled and waved back to his audience under the tree.
Jordan shoved his hands in the pockets of his jacket, "I'm just speaking the truth brother. Let's talk to Tessa at work and ask if you can do deliveries in a small area of the city. My first month, my route was really close together. I could've walked it, if I wanted too."
"All right, and I'll practice riding the bike after work each day until I get the hang of it." Jace said. He looked at the bike with loathing.
Simon took the bike from Jace and started wheeling it toward the apartment. "Dedication, I like it Wayland. You're really serious about learning to live as a mundane." Simon turned to look at Jace for confirmation.
Jace wasn't walking next to Simon any longer. Simon turned around and saw him a little ways back talking with the gorgeous brunette girl and her pretty blond friend from the group at the base of the tree. The pretty blond was touching Jordan's arm and talking rapidly, the gorgeous brunette was handing Jace a piece of paper and giving him a megawatt smile.
The little group dispersed and Jace and Jordan jogged to catch up with Simon.
"What was that all about? Was she offering you bike riding lessons?" Simon said and raised his eyebrows at Jace.
"No they invited us to a party tonight. Her mom runs a huge modeling agency in the city and she thinks we should come to the party and meet her mom. I guess the agency is looking for new talent," Jordan answered instead of Jace. "She said you should come with us, you have that whole geek-sexy thing going on," and he punched Simon on the arm.
"A party – that's what you think we should do tonight? Jace don't you think it's about time to call Clary? Let her know you are alive and not being tortured," Simon asked. Jace could tell Simon was a little angry with him for avoiding Clary.
"Normally I wouldn't have talked to that lot, but she mentioned modeling as a job to make some money. I need a job right now, especially if I can't figure out how to ride a freaking two-wheel beast in time to work at TDA." Jace sounded desperate and a little worried.
"I can only hold out on her so long. Clary is one determined gal. She's left about twenty messages for me," Simon said with a little sadness in his voice.
"You haven't called her just to say hello? I thought you were talking with her but just avoiding the part about me. I didn't tell you to treat her like the plague, just to leave out the fact I'm with you." Jace said.
"Look Wayland, Clary knows me better than my own mother when it comes to lying. She would know I was keeping something from her." Simon parked the bike in the bike rack and locked it up.
He started up the stairs to the apartment and yelled over his shoulder, "It was just easier to keep missing her calls than lie to her, even if it was lying through omission."
"Simon I'm going to call her, I just need a little more time to lock down a job. Let's go to the party tonight and hopefully Maureen's mom will offer me a paying gig," Jace and Jordan were bent on their knees in a pleading position.
"That's a prick way to go at it, but it's your life," Simon said. "If you hurt Clary I will hurt you Wayland. She is my best friend, like a sister to me, and I'm a vampire, I could take you down easily without your Shadowhunter marks to protect you. Don't make me hurt you." Simon turned his back on Jordan and Jace and walked into his room.
"So we're still going to the party right," Jordan shouted after him.
Simon didn't answer them instead he just slammed the door to his room.
Jace was standing there dumbfounded. I guess he deserved that from Simon. After all, he was right this was the prick way to do things. Jace loved Clary with all his being, but he was so frightened she was going to leave him or not love him anymore when he was a mundane.
"He'll come around Dude. Let's go get some modeling jobs tonight!" Jordan was doing a little celebration dance.
Jace just shook his head and vowed to himself to call Clary tomorrow night no matter what. He looked at Brother Zachariah observing him from the corner, and hung his head.