Valentine

"You suck at driving. How in hell did you get your licence?" I criticized as I got off the bike. We were in front of Luke's Chinese restaurant, not at all the place I had expected to wind up.

Jace put the kick stand down and turned to face me as he removed his helmet. His expression was smug, much like Jonathan's usually was. No wonder they hated each other so much they were so alike that they couldn't stand it. Though Jonathan had a short temper and Jace seemed to be the kind to brood alone in a corner.

"I'm an excellent driver." He declared.

I unstrapped my helmet and tossed it at him. "That's why we practically glided down South Ave?" I challenged. He caught the helmet with ease.

"It was icy, not my fault." He defended hanging the helmet on his handle bars. "Hungry?" He asked stepping around the bike and towards the restaurant.

I was about to deny it but my stomach growled putting any arguments to bed. "Yeah, whatever." I grumbled.

Jace smirked as he held the door for me. A polite gentleman. I wonder if Jonathan would ever do any of this for his girlfriend? If he had a real girlfriend not a weekend call.

We were barely inside when I was clasped into a tight embrace cutting off my oxygen and making me go lightheaded. "Mira what's wrong?" Bat's voice sounded right next to my ear. Next to me I could hear the faint chuckle of Jace.

"A-i-Air." I struggled to say.

Bat's grip loosened and sweet oxygen filled my lungs. It smelled like egg rolls and chicken lo mien.

"What happened?" He demanded inspecting my face. The tears had stopped with worry I wouldn't survive Jace's driving, but my eyes were probably red making it a dead giveaway that I was crying.

"Nothing. Teenage drama you know." I brushed it off.

Bat didn't buy it. His eyes narrowed, his brows pulled together, and coupled with his scar made him look impossibly intimidating and scary, but I knew him. He wouldn't push. He wouldn't fight with me. He was just. . . overprotective. Yeah that was it. Like an older brother, but not like Jonathan-older-brother, normal-older-brother-who's-not-related-to-me.

Bat's eyes drifted over to Jace who was shuffling about with his hands in his pockets. "You two aren't? His not the one to-?" Bat motioned to his neck and my face grew a hundred degrees hotter.

"NO." I shoved him away. "God no. Are you crazy? Jace and I that's disgusting."

"Hey that's offending." Jace spoke up. "I've been told I'm angel among men. My mere presence makes women swoon." He said arrogantly.

Bat's suspicious look faded as he turned back to me. "Yeah, you're right. No idea what I was thinking." He said and Jace made an irritated sound. "So why are you two together anyway?" He questioned crossing his arms.

"The angel of swooning and I bumped into each other and I needed a ride. But apparently he decided to buy me dinner instead." I smirked at Jace would stopped his pacing.

"I didn't say that." He said narrowing his golden eyes.

"Isn't he a generous driver." I said stepping around Bat and towards the buffet line.

Behind me Jace asked, "Is she always like this?"

Bat chuckled. "This is her sweet side."

"Sweet? She's like a little devil with boobs. Ouch!"

"Watch it Jace." Bat warned. "Mira hits harder than I do."

Moments later Bat disappeared behind a set or swinging doors to a room labeled kitchen. Jace joined me in gathering a plate of food. We were silent for a while as we surveyed the choices, but Jace is clearly not the type who likes the quiet.

"So what are you gonna do now?" He asked. He was clearly not talking about eating.

"What can I do?" I replied stepping away from the buffet lines and to an empty table across the open floor. Jace joined me.

"Do you like living with the Morgensterns? Aren't they difficult?" He inquired sitting across from me.

I used my fork to poke at a dumpling as I replied, "Difficult doesn't mean impossible. In reality it's quite simple living there. Better than where I use to live, so yeah I like living there."

"How do you deal with Jonathan?" He asked flatly.

"A lot of yelling and screaming and cooking." The answer rolled right off my tongue.

"Cooking?" Jace snorted.

"Food soothes the savage beast." I smirked.

"That's music."

"Okay, then next time Jonathan starts a fight with you why don't you try singing him a lullaby. See how that works for you."

Jace sighed and I laughed.

Maybe he isn't as annoying as I thought.

Jace and I ate, chatted here and there, and Jace took me home after Bat smothered me in another hug. His driving was still crazy, but I made it home in one piece. I tossed my helmet to him and shrugged out of his jacket. We said nothing in farewell, we weren't really friends. With a small wave he took off down the street and I turned to enter the warm lobby. I rode the elevator up to the loft and as I stood in front of the door I realized I didn't have my keys, or my phone. They were both in my jacket which Jonathan had.

Maybe they're home. I thought as I knocked on the door.

There was no answer.

I knocked again, louder. Again nothing.

With a huff I leaned against the door and slid down it until I was sitting on the floor. I would have to wait. Maybe they were still at dinner. Maybe they were going somewhere else after the meal. Maybe they weren't coming back.

I pressed my forehead to my knees trying to remain calm. Of course they were coming back. This was their home. Valentine was my guardian, legally. He had to come back to take care of me.

WAIT!

He was my guardian. That meant he had to take care of me. I had to live with him, I didn't have to move! The day we met in front of that motel was probably all arranged by him. He was probably the "government official" that had paid for my stay while my parents deaths were being investigated. He knew where to find me, and offered me a deal that wouldn't reveal his motive. All along he must have known I hated my parents, and I didn't even know about the attempt at murder until tonight. Valentine definitely knew. There was just no other way he could have planned out this all without knowing how I felt about them.

I don't know if that makes me happy, or scared. How could one man plan all that? He's much smarter than I thought, so what did that say about Jonathan? Did he know?

Before I knew it I was asleep in my awkward curled up position. Images of Jonathan flashing across my mind. His sarcastic smile, his arrogant laugh, his serious expression, his hurt and betrayed look in Taki's parking lot. All of them came and went, and I fell more and more in love. That bastard.