Chapter 8:
Jace was absolutely startled. But he didn't fail to regain his balance. "I thought you couldn't." he said, breaking apart. "I couldn't or wouldn't?" she answered grabbing his hand and dragging him up the stairs.
She pushed open the door and practically tackled Jace in a hug. "I thought this was going somewhere else." He laughed hugging her back. His chin rested on her head. "Why'd you say no earlier?" asked Jace as she squeezed him harder.
"Who said I'm saying yes now?" she asked. If it weren't him in the situation and someone else, he would've laughed. "I'm not saying no, though-"
"Then what are you saying?" asked Jace pushing her away ever so slightly. He couldn't push her for real. Even if he tried. "I don't know, Jace-"
"Do you know how hard this is for me?" he asked, his voice slightly louder. "To say what I feel?" Alaska knew. Alaska knew because it was the same for her. She tried to hide her feelings, she never let them get in the way of anything. Telling Jace how she felt- that's something she hoped she never had to do.
"Jace, I-"
"Before you, I tried to live my life avoiding emotions in general, Alaska." He yelled. "But then you waltz into my life and just make me feel these- things."
Alaska took a deep breath. "Jace, just let me-"
"I'll be in my room." He said, more quietly now. "Why don't you come see me when your done sorting out your feelings, or whatever."
He laughs at himself and walks out of the room, slamming the door behind him. "Perfect." Said Alaska throwing herself on the bed. She sighed and covered her face with her hands.
"Ally?" she heard a little voice call out behind the door. She smiled when she realized it was Max. "Come in!" she said. Max opened the door slowly and in the darkness of her bedroom, Alaska could only make out a dark figure. But since it was so short, she could only imagine it was Max.
"Are you alright?" he asked crawling onto the bed. "We heard screaming downstairs and I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
Alaska smiled. "Yeah I'm alright. Just confused." She said as he lied down next to her. "You were yelling at Jace because you were confused?" Alaska chuckled. "Something like that."
"I'm sorry about what I said at dinner. Mum said it was rude." He said sweetly. Alaska couldn't get over how adorable he was. "It's alright, Max. It was a little funny." She said smiling.
"It was, wasn't it?" he asked, giggling. Alaska laughed in response and nodded. "It really was." They lied there in silence. Max cuddled into Alaska and she smiled. She always wanted a little brother but her parents never wanted to. And by the time her mum did, it was too late.
It was only ten minutes later when Alaska heard light snoring escaping little Max's mouth that was wide open as he slept. She decided that it was better for Max to sleep in his own bed and scooped him up. She had a bit of trouble opening her bedroom door, but managed to do it without loosening her grip on the sleeping child.
Alaska almost dropped Max when Jace open the door. She was so startled that she jumped. She was lucky Max was a heavy sleeper. "Do you need help with that?" asked Jace.
"So now your brother is a 'that'?" Jace shook his head and laughed lightly. "No. Let me take him." Alaska turned around when Jace's hands were about to scoop up Max. "I can do it myself."
"I know you can. But as you said earlier, he's my brother. Therefore my responsibility." Alaska rolled her eyes. "If you want to help, open his bedroom door." So with the help of Jace, Alaska finally got Max under the safety of his duvet.
With their shadowhunter skills and swiftness, they barely made a sound as they crept out of the bedroom. After Alaska closed the door behind her with caution, she opened her mouth to say something to Jace. Anything. But no noise escaped her mouth. She finally regained her confidence and said:
"Jace, I-" she was waiting for him to interrupt her like every other time she started a sentence like that, but he didn't. He stood there, ready for her to reject him. Again.
"I hope you understand Jace, that were the same person. In two different bodies." She said. He smiled a bit. "You think I'm joking?"
"Jace," she continued. " Us being together is like trying to attach two positive batteries." Jace had a hard time not leaning over and just pressing a kiss to her lips, but he knew now was not the time. "You know what I say to that Alaska?" She smiled. "What?"
"Fuck Physics." He said before pulling her by the waist and kissing her hard. Even though he'd been rejected three times that day, he couldn't have felt better.