Thanks again for all your reviews. I love reading them and hearing your feedback. I am glad you have liked Idris Academy and here is the next chapter :)
Chapter Seven: Goodbyes and Guys
The Mercedes roared into Idris Academy car park and cut off a Range Rover to pull into a NO STOP zone. Clary found that she was breathing heavily and her fingers were white from clenching the seat, Aline looked serene and exactly the same as she had before she had stepped into the car.
"Thanks for the ride' Clary gasped out, 'you didn't have too".
"Don't be ridiculous' said Aline, 'my idiot brother seems to think the world revolves around him. I couldn't let his big head get in the way of making you late".
"You could have let him drive with us" said Clary to which Aline snorted very unladylike and said
"Clarissa, he has seventeen different cars. I am sure he could have found one of them by now. It's not like the school will punish him".
Clary then heard screams and she looked up to see what had happened. All she saw were students waving and calling at Aline. Aline rolled her eyes and said
"They apparently hold me in the same esteem as my sainted brother. Which isn't that much of a compliment".
Clary could just imagine people whispering
"Why is that Clarissa Fray with ALINE WAYLAND?"
Aline fished through her Oroton purse and pulled out a card. Clary took it and then gaped at the wording.
"Aline Penhallow...Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles?"
"Yes' said Aline, 'you can contact me anytime you need help. Dealing with this hellhole you are probably going to need it".
"But' said Clary, 'you will be in Los Angeles...I couldn't" and Aline cut her off,
"If I receive a message from you, I'll fly here quickly. My husband has several private jets".
Clary nodded slowly and Aline revved up the car. Clary got out quickly and Aline said
"I'm here in New York for a while, so let's get together and eat whilst I'm here".
Clary burst out
"Why would you do that?"
Aline looked up in surprise then smiled.
"Because it looks like my stupid brother is causing trouble. Probably because you have the same attitude as I do towards Jace. Not many girls are prepared to stand up to the Wayland heir. I think he might like you, Clarissa".
"What?" said Clary and Aline put on her glasses.
"See you around, Clarissa. Contact me if you need anything".
She then jammed her foot down on the accelerator, backed out, almost hitting a Jeep before tearing up the driveway. She raised a hand and waved before she was gone. Clary stared open mouthed after her.
"She...is so cool" she whispered before she realised that everyone around her way saying that as well. She shuddered slightly, it was a very strange day when she and the rich, snotty kids of this school could agree on something.
Jace sat down on the living room couch and Aline, who was reading an article of the Wayland Pty Ltd profit increase, said
"Mom always runs things her way".
Jace jumped out at the sound of her voice and Aline folded the paper down.
"Don't just show up here unannounced" he said.
Aline gave him a look of amusement and said
"Did I scare you?"
"OF COURSE NOT" said Jace, sitting back down and folding his arms. Aline shrugged and said
"Sorry about earlier".
Jace pretended he didn't know what she was talking about, his nose still bloody hurt and said
"Anyway, why did you come home?"
Aline said
"My husband has been rather edgy lately. He is tense about his latest merger. We both decided it would be good to take a break from each other whilst this deal was happening".
Jace said
"Is he being a jackass again?"
"Don't call him a jackass" said Aline, starting to read the paper again.
Jace scoffed at this sentiment and said
"Don't protect those that you don't love".
Aline said
"I am happy now. We both are happy".
"But not in love' said Jace, 'I remember when you got married, you were reluctant".
"Oh? Is that so?' said Aline, not meeting his eyes, 'then if I were to get divorced, you would want me to come back?"
"Don't be ridiculous' said Jace lounging in his seat, 'anyway how long are you staying?"
"Maybe a week" said Aline and Jace looked away. She looked up and stood up, sitting down next to him.
"Don't make such a sad face' she said, 'I''ll be back soon".
"I don't care if you stay or go" said Jace, moving away from her. Aline laughed and said
"Hey, hey, hey. Do you like Clary?"
"What?" said Jace.
"Remember?' said Aline, 'Clary, that you were chasing today".
Jace stood up and said
"What are you talking about all of a sudden? It's not like that"
Aline nodded, smirking a little and Jace saw her face.
"What?" he said and she said
"If you aren't nice to her, she will drift away from you".
"I don't know what you mean. Anyway it doesn't concern you".
"If you have any love problems, feel free to ask me for advice".
"Why does everyone think I need love advice?' Jace complained, 'it's like some sort of disease".
"I think you mean curse' said Aline, 'and no, we don't think you need advice, we know you do".
Clary sat on the fire escape stairs, continually looking around to see if Simon was there. She wanted to ask him about Isabelle and about his feelings about Jace kissing her and just be with him. He had a calming presence about him, so unlike Jace who seemed to try and bulldoze over her every time they met.
"Seriously' she said, 'I wanted to see..."
"Who?" said Simon.
Clary squeezed her eyes shut. He had the worst timing in the world. She said
"Um...ah...long time no see".
Simon leant against the wall and said
"Yeah, Isabelle's going back to France so I have been busy".
Clary flushed, hoping he had never worked out she had overheard the conversation. Simon looked disheveled today, dark circles underneath his eyes and she felt sorry and sad for him. Unrequited love was a horrible thing to experience.
"Is that okay with you though?" she asked.
Simon smiled and said
"She never gives up when's she decided on something for herself".
Clary watched his face fall slightly and she felt herself say
"But if she leaves, that means you won't see her again. For a long time".
She looked down and suddenly Simon said
"Want to see her?"
"Huh?" said Clary, her eyes widening.
"Do you want to see Isabelle again? That's who you wanted to see, right?"
Clary grabbed hold of this and said
"Yep, exactly who I wanted to see".
Isabelle looked up at both of them came into the room and she smiled.
"Hey guys".
"Hi" said Clary, excited again.
Simon said
"She wanted to express her gratitude for what you did at the party".
Isabelle said
"You didn't have to do that".
Before Clary could say anything, Simon said
"How is your mother? Still angry about you leaving again?"
Isabelle looked down and said
"I think she has finally given up me taking over the business. I think she is just angry that I've picked a place that not only does Dad hate but is very far away from New York".
Simon said
"I'll go greet her properly".
Isabelle smiled and said
"If anything, you will be the one to cheer her up".
Simon left and Isabelle said
"Come on through. It's little cluttered but I am sure you will fit".
Her room was bigger than Clary's house and boxes were everywhere full of clothes, books, pictures and almost every piece of technology that existed. Isabelle noticed her stare and said
"I have one more week left in New York but I decided to send most of my things over there now, so they are unpacked when I arrive".
Clary nodded and said
"So you aren't coming back?"
Isabelle laughed and said
"Not for a while Clarissa. I need to be able to cope without my parents help as I am very sure you are aware".
Clary said
"Simon...will really miss you".
Isabelle said
"I will miss him too. I've known him since childhood, we've always been friends".
Did he know that? Clary had seen the look on his face and she was pretty sure that Simon had always loved Isabelle. It would hard for him to say goodbye.
"Please don't go to France".
Isabelle looked up and Clary realised she had spoken.
"Why all of a sudden?"
Clary bit her lip, she would have to betray Simon in order to make Isabelle understand. Suddenly she said
"For Simon Lewis' sake. This whole time, he was looking forward to your return. While talking about you, he smiles. When you decided to go back to France, he stopped smiling. Can't you see? He doesn't want to lose you".
Isabelle's face was impassive and Clary realised she must have offended her.
"Sorry' she said, 'I'll go".
"Clary' said Isabelle, 'I'm sorry. I can't grant that wish. France is offering me this chance to break free of everything my parent's and their world encompasses. I want to create a new life for myself, a new chance to be strong and independent. The whole world sees me as Isabelle, the famous model but they also see me as Isabelle Trueblood, the famous daughter. I want to be someone who isn't defined by my parents or their company or by money. And I have to break someone's heart to do this. So in the end, I have to choose is it love or independence and pursuing a lawyer's career that I want? I have to go Clary".
Clary looked down and Isabelle said
"I want to live without regret. Clary, I admire you and how much you value your friendship. But I can't grant you that wish".
"Sorry for causing you trouble" muttered Clary and Isabelle shook her head.
"I am glad. I think you are one of the very few people who actually understands what is like for me and what I am actually saying".
She took a step back and said
"Please look out for Simon for me".
Clary said
"It's late. Sorry for bothering you again".
She hurried out of the room and out into the hall, before letting herself out the front door. In front of her, the pool shimmered in the moonlight. She ran down the steps, towards the gate and Simon said
"What were you doing?"
She turned and saw him leaning against the front door.
"What?" she said, in confusion.
"I didn't ask you here so that you could beg Isabelle to stay".
Clary froze and he said
"What gives you the right to tell her not to go to France?"
"I..."
"You thought I needed you to convince her, that I needed you. What gives you that right?"
Clary clenched her fists and looked down at the floor.
"Go home' he said, 'don't interfere with my life. Don't interfere in our lives. You don't know anything, Clarissa Fray".
Clary suddenly found her angry at Simon for the first time. Her anger bubbled up, annoyed that he found her trying to help him such a nuisance.
"OH SHUT UP" she said loudly and Simon looked up, his eyes watery. Clary almost stopped but then she said
"If you really loved her, you wouldn't just sit around hoping to catch her. She may not want to stay but she would at least come BACK if she knew. Don't yell at me for doing something that you should have done the minute you heard she was going back".
There was a silence that rang out across the lawn, her words echoing around and around. She and Simon stared at each other before Clary turned away, walking towards the gate. Simon didn't follow her and she didn't turn around. She kept walking until she came to a bus station and then she allowed herself to cry. How could she have been so stupid? She had basically destroyed her last friendship at Idris and humiliated him and herself. When would she learn to keep her mouth shut?
The airport was bustling, voices buzzing over the PA, a whole lot busier than when they had last met Isabelle here. Alec, Sebastian and Jace stood in front of Isabelle, who was readying herself to board. Jace suddenly said
"About what happened at the party the other day..."
"I know' said Isabelle, 'it's alright".
Jace looked back at the other two and said
"We'll be supporting you in your first case".
Isabelle grinned and said
"I'll support you three as well in whatever you do...Tell that to Simon too".
Their grins fell slightly at the absence of Simon but then the final boarding call came onto the PA and she said
"Well then, see you guys around".
She turned towards the gateway and suddenly someone called
"ISABELLE".
Isabelle turned around and saw Clary coming towards them. She smiled and said
"Clary, you came".
The other three turned around, Jace raising an eyebrow. Isabelle walked back towards Clary and said
"I am glad you came".
"I am sorry for getting here so late' said Clary, looking around, 'where's Simon?"
Isabelle's face fell slightly and said
"He's not coming. He's being really childish".
Clary nodded, she hadn't spoken to Simon all week, studiously avoiding the fire escape. She hadn't seen him anywhere though, so maybe he had dropped out. Isabelle said
"Oh wait' she rummaged through her cabin baggage and pulled out a parcel, 'this is for you. To say thank you. Open it when you get home".
Clary looked at the box and tried to imagine what was in there. She said
"I can't..."
"Don't be silly' said Isabelle, 'nobody else deserves it".
Clary took it in her hands and said
"Thank you. For all you have done. Good luck in France. You will make a really good lawyer".
Isabelle's face lit up and she said
"That means so much, Clarissa".
She turned around and started walking towards the gateway again. Before she disappeared she turned and waved to them all. Clary raised her hand and Isabelle winked. Then she was gone and Clary sighed. Clary watched the empty doorway before suddenly she heard
"SIMON?"
Clary turned around and saw Simon leaning against the glass balcony. Sebastian said
"When did you get here?"
Simon shrugged and said
"About an hour ago".
Sebastian raised an eyebrow and said
"What the hell? Did you get lost and forgot to ask directions? No, you were asked to serenade someone in the royal family?"
"I was watching the whole time" said Simon.
Clary found herself saying
"Are you freaking stupid?"
The four Shadowhunters turned to look at her but she ignored them. She wasn't scared of them anymore. She walked up to him and said
"Go after her. If you are in love with her, you should chase after her, anywhere. Are you satisfied just watching her?"
There was a silence before Sebastian said to Alec
"I don't know about you but there is something about this girl that is getting me very excited".
Alec said
"Oh god. Have you lowered your relationship demographic? That just means I have to watch you make out with a whole lot more females".
"Alec' said Sebastian, 'in the past two months, she has stood up for her friend, yelled at and confronted Jace, punched him in the nose, kissed him, survived his mother, befriend Isabelle and Aline, survived several attempts to make her leave and now is yelling at Simon. You have to be boring as hell to say that this isn't fun...actually you are boring as hell. Nobody listen to Alec".
"Screw you' said Alec, 'I am so fun".
"I am going too" said Simon, over their squabbling.
Clary looked at him and he said
"I am going to France".
He pulled a ticket out of his pocket and everybody stared at it. Alec said
"Are you serious?"
Simon walked towards Clary and said
"Clary, what you said was right. I was stupid and I am sorry for treating you like I did. I wish that I had your strength. So I am going to go after Isabelle".
He leant forward and kissed Clary on the cheek. When he drew away, where he had kissed her tingled and grew warm. He then said
"Well, I'm going now".
Jace watched them both before Simon walked past Clary and towards the exit gate. Suddenly he said
"Wait Lewis".
Simon stopped and he said
"Are you really going?"
"Yes" said Simon. Jace said angrily
"Why didn't you even tell me?"
Simon was silent and Jace came towards him and grabbed his shirt collar. He shook Simon and said
"We've always been friends and now you are leaving. What's wrong with you?"
Simon said
"Jace, about the other day..."
"Who cares about that!' said Jace, angrily pushing his hair behind his ears, 'hey, are you going to be okay without us?"
Simon smiled slightly and said
"Take care of yourself, I don't won't to come back to anything less than your crazy, violent self".
Jace swallowed and said
"If anybody gives you hell, tell us right away. The three of us will fly over straight away. You got that?"
Simon stuck out his hand and Jace shook it. Clary felt herself smiling slightly at Jace. He was full of surprises. Then she scowled, annoyed he had made her smile. Simon then nodded to the others and to her before leaving out the exit.
"He'll be back, Jace' said Sebastian, 'with or without Isabelle, he'll be back".
"I know THAT' said Jace, 'and who cares if he comes back or not? Why do you think I'd care?"
Sebastian shrugged and said
"I have absolutely no idea".
Alec rolled his eyes and said
"You can never be serious for one second, can you?"
"No' said Sebastian, 'that's your job. And being a prize prick is Jace's job".
Then all three of them were bickering again and as Clary watched, she realised something. For the first time, the Shadowhunters...seemed like average, normal guys.