Chapter Four
"He got you two ice-cream? That is so cute!" Maia bounced with excitement.
"It's not that cute," Simon shrugged his shoulders.
"I smell jealousy," Maia joked.
It was early Sunday morning and the trio were hanging out in Clary's dorm. They had splayed chip packets on the ground and bottles of Gatorade everywhere. Clary decided that she needed to inform her best friends of her night with Jace.
"I am not jealous," Simon rebutted, "What did you say his name was again, Clary?"
"Jace," Clary responded.
"Jace…" Simon trailed off.
"I don't remember his last name, why?" She asked curiously.
"Yeah Si, looking for a hot date?" Maia joked.
"No, it's just, he reminds me of this guy I used to know, Jace Wayland." Simon shrugged.
"How'd you know him?" Clary asked, obviously intrigued.
"You guys can't laugh, but remember that summer in the 10th grade I went away to visit my grandparents? Simon asked.
"Yeah..." The girls nodded.
"It wasn't to visit my grandparents," Simon looked down and fiddled with a bottle lid, "I went to band camp."
Maia covered her mouth with her hand and tried her best not to laugh. Clary was averting her eyes elsewhere and hoping not to look at Simon for the chance that she wouldn't be able to stop herself from crying with laughter.
"Okay, real nice." Simon nodded sarcastically, "Go ahead. You both know you're itching to laugh."
As if on cue, the girls burst out laughing. Their eyes crinkled and their hands pointing at Simon.
"Are- Are you, serious?" Maia burst out, desperate for air.
"Band camp?" Clary laughed. She could feel the tears coming on.
"I'll give you guys a second to compose yourselves." Simon excused himself and went to Clary's small book collection, hoping to find something to busy himself with.
His eyes landed on a book cover: City of Bones.
"Simon, okay, we're sorry." Clary got up and came over to give him a hug. Maia nodded and went around hugging him also.
"Good, you guys are mean. I hope you know that." Simon crossed his arms over his chest.
"We know," Maia agreed.
"I don't know why you're not laughing at Jace; he went to band camp too." Simon reminded her.
"True, but he never admitted it." Clary spoke.
Suddenly, the lock on the door rattled, startling the trio.
"Are we about to be robbed?" Simon said calmly.
"Not like there's much to take," Clary gestured to her dresser.
The three huddled and watched the door intently.
The lock stopped rattling and the doorknob began to turn. A tall, lean girl emerged from the small space and stopped in her tracks to face the three.
"Well, this is a quite a warm welcome," The girl said sarcastically. She had long dark hair that reached her hips, she was dressed in tight leather and her make-up complemented her face shape perfectly. It was only then Clary noticed that she had a lamp gripped firmly in her hand.
"Sorry, we thought you were going to rob us," Clary amended, carefully placing the lamp back on her bedside table.
"A robber with a key, interesting tactic." The girl replied.
"Uh, I'm Clary, I live here, and these are my friends," She motioned to the two, "Maia and Simon."
"I would say it's a pleasure to meet you, but you kinda scared the crap out of me." She smirked, "I'm Isabelle, but call me Izzy."
"Awesome, sorry for the mess. We'll clean it up." Clary apologized.
"Don't worry, I grew up with a brother, you haven't seen mess until you've walked into his room. Pitts of Hell." Izzy joked.
"So where have you been?" Simon piped up. He was referring to Isabelle's few days of absence.
Isabelle turned to face Simon. She was tall but so was he. He only stood a few inches higher.
"I don't believe that's any of your business, Simba." Izzy said sternly.
"It's Simon. Not Simba." He replied.
"I think Simba's better," Izzy smirked, "Look Clary, I love your friends, really, but when are they going?"
Clary turned to Maia and Simon who looked offended by her roommate's rude attitude.
"Don't worry, we were just leaving. Well, cya Clary,' Maia announced.
"Yeah, goodbye." Simon added.
Clary felt like a thousand bricks had just fallen in her stomach. "I'll call you guys," She called out after them.
Clary turned around and began picking up the mess they had made.
"So your friends seem nice," Izzy started.
"Really? That's what you thought?" Clary sounded in disbelief, "You should try to act like it next time."
"Sorry for snapping at them. I just had a few things happening and I didn't really want all the guests." She explained.
Clary wanted to ask what but she saw how Isabelle reacted to Simon. Did she really want to pry?
"Well, I hope it's all sorted out." Clary decided to say.
"I hope so too," Isabelle snorted, "So do you have a boyfriend?"
Clary stopped to look up at her roommate.
"You get right to the point, don't you?" Clary laughed.
"I'm practical. I don't spend time beating around the bush," Izzy shrugged, "So do you?"
"Uh, it's complicated." Clary went for. She couldn't call Jace her boyfriend, not yet anyway.
"What about your friend?" Izzy twirled a lock of her dark hair around her perfectly manicured fingers.
"Who? Simon?" Clary gasped.
"No, the dark brunette." Izzy replied sarcastically, "Yes, him. Is he?"
"You don't like him, do you?" Clary widened her eyes.
"He's cute. That's it." Izzy said, "He'd be fun to play around with."
Clary stood up and placed her hands on her hips, "Simon's my best friend, and he is not a toy. You can't 'play around' with him."
Isabelle rolled her eyes, "Fine," she began to flip through one of Clary's magazines.
Clary stood there for a moment comparing Simon, her best friend since forever, and Isabelle, her new found roommate. There wasn't much to compare. But Simon was in desperate need of a girlfriend. With Maia engaged and Clary kind of but not entirely involved with Jace, Simon was going to need another girl in his life.
Clary stirred for a moment, unsure of what to say. Could Isabelle offer Simon what he needed? "Do you, maybe want his number?"
Isabelle looked up and gave a small smirk, "Sure, why not?"
/
"What? His number!" Maia asked through the phone.
"It will be good for him. He needs a lady friend." Clary rebutted.
"He has one, two actually!" Maia responded.
"You know what I mean, Maia. It will be a good change for him."
"And you really think Isabelle; the snarky roommate is good for him?" Maia asked in disbelief.
"We have to give her a shot, okay? For Simon." Clary added.
"Ugh, fine," Maia groaned, "But when she breaks his heart you better be there."
Clary rolled her eyes, "That won't happen. Don't be such a pessimist."
"Whatever, I gotta go." Maia sounded into the receiver, "Just keep an eye on her."
"Yes Captain." Clary smiled as she ended the call.
She scanned around her room, Isabelle had dashed out a while ago and classes began tomorrow.
Clary lay on her bed, drumming her fingers against her stomach. She knew who she wanted to call.
Really wanted to call.
Clary stared at her phone. Maybe he'd call. She continued to think.
"Stuff it," She murmured as she reached for the phone.
"Hello?" A voice asked into the receiver.
"Jace, it's Clary. Wanna do something?" She hoped.
"Sure, my roommates being boring anyway. There's a screening of the new Bruce Willis movie, wanna check it out?" Jace asked.
"Sure," Clary wasn't a fan of cinemas but she wasn't exactly in the position to decline the offer, "Sound's fun," She said, hanging up.
/
The nearest cinema was a block away which was convenient. It was hardly occupied. A few teenagers, some kids.
When the two got their food and tickets they bustled into the dark room. Jace led Clary to the back row. She remembered what Maia had said to her when they were both attending St. Xavier's.
"If he sits at the front of the cinema with you, he doesn't want to talk, at all." Maia explained.
"If he sits in the middle, he wants to watch the movie but he wouldn't mind some talking,"
"What about the back?" Clary had asked.
"The back is where Jordan and I always sit." Maia giggled, "It means all he wants to do it make out."
Clary let the distracting thought cross her mind. Did Jace just want to make out?
"You okay?" Jace asked, looking at Clary.
"Uh, yeah. Sorry," She settled into her seat and tried to focus on the opening credits."
"I know what you're thinking," Jace whispered.
"You do?" Clary's eyes widened.
"Yeah, trust me; I'm thinking the exact same thing." He nodded.
Clary stared at Jace for a couple of seconds, "I don't think we're on the same page, what are you thinking?"
"That this is a screwy date. You don't take a girl to the movies for your first date." He explained.
Date? This was a date?
"Don't worry about it," Clary shrugged, "This is good." She leant back in her seat and occasionally ate some popcorn. Jace had wriggled his arm around her shoulders which helped her to relax.
She kept letting her mind wander back to that conversation years ago with Maia. What if Jace did just want to make out and they were both wasting time?
Clary looked up at Jace. He was watching the movie intently.
"Admiring the sight?" He smirked as he turned to face Clary.
She let out a small laugh, "Sorry, I was just thinking."
"Thinking about what?" He asked.
"Nothing, forget about it." Clary turned back to face the screen.
"Okay, you can tell me anything, just remember that." Jace reassuringly squeezed Clary's shoulder. The two stayed like that for the rest of the movie; Jace's arm wrapped around Clary and her head resting on his chest.
When the lights turned on they got up and left their seats. As the exited the cinema, Clary couldn't help but think about how wrong Maia was.
"Well that was a pretty crappy movie, sorry to put you through that," Jace apologized.
"Don't worry, I was hardly watching." Clary smiled.
Jace slipped his hand in Clary's and they began their walk back to Juilliard.
"Excited for classes soon?" Jace asked her.
"Yep, I actually can't wait to have something to do." She nodded. Clary realised she didn't know what Jace was at Juilliard for. "So what classes are you taking?"
"Musical studies, and everything involving that." He explained.
That explains Band Camp. Clary thought.
"You?" he asked.
"'Visual arts and photography," She beamed.
"Awesome, if you ever need a model, I'm always available." He smiled, "I even do nudes."
Clary felt her cheeks redden, "Well that's very kind of you, and I'll keep that in mind."
"How's the search for the missing roommate?" He pondered.
"Well I finally met her, today actually. Her names Isabelle. She's very witty." Clary explained.
"Looks like you guys have something in common," Jace joked, "I can't wait to meet her."
Clary nodded and crossed the road with Jace's hand in hers.
"Oh hey, you should come to my dorm for a bit, I think my roommates asleep." Jace offered.
"Sounds like an idea." She agreed. When the two had finally stepped unto Jace's floor, he pulled Clary aside.
"You are so beautiful," He complimented her.
"Aww, you're really pretty also!" Clary joked.
"Hey, we're having a moment right now." He steadied himself.
Clary nodded and listened to Jace speak.
"I really like you Clary," He spoke, "I like hanging out with you and joking with you. I like everything about you."
Clary had a feeling where this conversation was going, and in a moment her guess was proven right.
Jace placed his hand against Clary's neck, carefully pulling her closer. Then he pressed his lips over hers. He traced his tongue against her bottom lip and she happily complied, their tongues fighting for dominance.
Clary had no idea how long the two would have stayed like that if not for the interruption. The door creaking open and Jace's roommate stepping out. Clary didn't notice him at first. Not until she heard her name leave his mouth.
"Clary?"
She quickly pulled away from Jace and stared at the man in the doorframe.
"Sebastian." Clary said wide-eyed, "You have got to be kidding."
Author's Notes: Alas, the drama begins. I hope you guys loved reading that as much as I loved writing it. Please leave me your thoughts and or questions and I will very happily enjoy replying to each and every one of them. Thanks for reading!
-Bianca