Hey guys, thanks for all your comments and reviews. I am so glad that you continue to enjoy Idris Academy. I said in Chapter 1, I was using material from both Cassandra Clare and Yoko Kamio, who wrote Hana Yori Dango. Once again, all the rights belong to the aforementioned authors and I am using their work :)
Chapter Eight: One Tiny, Infinitesimal Moment
"My opinion about them all has changed a little bit" Clary said to an avid audience of Magnus and Camille, who had begged her to tell them the details of the sad parting between her and Simon. Camille sighed and said
"They are unexpectedly good people towards their friends".
Magnus lost his dreamy look and said to Camille
"If you don't count the friction between them for the past three weeks, Wayland punching Lewis in the face, ragging on Isabelle and the definite domination of Jace in the group. Yeah, sure".
"Actually' said Clary, 'I would have to say. The others let Jace be the boss of the group but really, I think they are humouring him".
"Oh, it's Jace now, is it?" said Magnus, a smile edging on to his face and Clary blushed slightly. Camille, who had continued to stare dreamily off into the distance said
"A man I once loved also was like that".
"Here we go again" muttered Magnus to Clary. Camille looked towards the window and said
"He was a charming man, had a handsome face and what more had a mysterious appeal. Truth is, he works in the film industry and is a humanitarian for many causes".
"That narrows him down to about six hundred billion" said Magnus.
"The truth is, no matter what the media says, he is a lonely man who doesn't show his true face. The only one who understands him is me. He is such an intriguing man, my dear George".
"Oh, she thinks she went out with George Clooney' said Magnus, disbelievingly, 'so what's her point exactly"
Clary looked at the dreamy Camille and said
"That men often hide their true nature?"
"I am taking offence to that' said Magnus, 'if you haven't worked out my true nature yet, I think we should terminate our friendship right now".
Clary laughed but something Camille had said struck a chord. Was she implying that Jace Wayland had a different nature to the one he portrayed?
Jace looked in annoyance at his email, the cursor blinking on and off at him. He read what he had written so far.
Hey Lewis.
How's Paris?
How are you doing?
How's Isabelle?
He looked away from the computer screen out the window towards the estate, remembering the airport scene. His fist tightened momentarily as he remembered Simon kissing Clary briefly before he turned back to his computer. He slowly typed a sentence that took several minutes, three consultations of the dictionary and the damage of the letter L on his keyboard to perfect. He sat back and read
Honestly, do you like Clarissa Fray?
"What are you doing?"
He jumped so violently that he knocked over the keyboard before quickly righting it. Aline grinned at him and said
"Is that a love letter?"
"It is NOT' he said, 'don't just barge in like that".
Aline's eyes swiftly gazed over the letter and she said
"Well that certainly gets to the point. Do you want me to write it a bit more subtly than that?"
"Absolutely not' said Jace, minimising the screen, 'if you did, you would make it sound like it had been written by a girl".
"And that would be a shock since I am clearly not one" said Aline, sitting down next to him.
"Exactly' he said, 'you would turn it into some soppy soap opera".
Aline raised an eyebrow and said
"Little brother, what are you trying to convey to Simon?"
Jace looked up at her and said
"He followed Isabelle to Paris".
"Good for him' said Aline, 'and so?"
"Yeah' said Jace, 'leaving his mates behind like that. Typical".
Aline laughed and said
"Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye".
"What?" scoffed Jace and Aline said
"H. Jackson Brown said that. Simon followed Isabelle because he finally saw that in order to make Isabelle love him, he needed to show her he loved her. When you love someone, then you will understand that quote. You will understand that love isn't something you can force or challenge or change. Once you are in love, no matter how hard you try to fight it, it won't just go away. Once you accept that, then the binds covering your eyes will fall away and you will see for the very first time".
Jace stared at her open mouthed and Aline stood up. She said softly
"You must love in order to be loved. Do you understand?"
Suddenly Jace said
"Seriously, why didn't you tell me this before. Have you ever considered going into love counselling?"
"It occurs to me every day" said Aline, somewhat sardonically but Jace wasn't listening. He was lost in his own thoughts. She frowned, Jace didn't seem to have got her point. She said almost to herself
"Is it really okay to leave you...like this?"
He didn't hear her and she bit her lip, wondering whether he had taken her advice in a completely different way to what she had meant.
"Jace' she said slowly, 'I think..."
"This is the best parting gift you have ever given me' he said, 'next time you are back, I'll be a brand new person".
"I can hardly wait' said Aline, eyebrows raised, 'this is without a doubt the weirdest parting gift you have ever given me".
Clary sat alone, listening to her second hand Walkman, whilst she ate. Around her, students were bustling around, talking, laughing, texting, getting richer. Over the crackly music, she heard someone say to her
"How sad, now that Simon's gone".
She took off her earphones, only to realise that it wasn't meant kindly. The girl who had thrown water on her at Jace's party was standing there, with two of her friends. Clary went to put the earphones back in and the girl said
"And with both Isabelle and Aline leaving, there will be no one left to side with the poor commoners".
Clary's fist clenched as the girls laughed and she said coldly
"If you have a problem, then bring it on. I'll take you on anytime".
The girl laughed and said
"With what? Your fists? You had better have an excellent lawyer than. Oh wait...can you afford a lawyer?"
Suddenly the girls were pushed aside and Jace stood in front of the table. Clary sighed and said
"All I ever wanted was a peaceful lunch".
The girl said in the same voice Camille used to describe her past loves
"Jace"
"Shut up" he said and turned towards Clary. What had she done now? He stared at her and she looked back at him. The silence lasted for what seemed like forever. Then to her everlasting and greatest shock ever, he said
"Saturday. Central Park. Strawberry Fields. 1 PM".
Then he left as quickly as he had came, leaving Clary in a state of confusion. What? Everyone watched as Jace left the cafeteria, with a slight swagger. Then the girl said
"Why did he come to see her?"
"I don't get it" said one of her friends. Then the other, slightly smarter than the others, said
"Didn't it sound like he asked her out on a date?"
There was a ringing silence before suddenly everyone started screaming and texting ferociously. Clary suddenly realised and her confusion turned to shock.
"What the hell?" she said to herself, her heart beating so quickly, she thought she might have a heart attack. Jace...Wayland...had asked her on a DATE? Her feet moved before her brain realised it and she ran after him, through the crowds of shocked people. He had disappeared from sight but Clary was fast and she caught up to him in the main hall.
"Wait".
Jace turned and he looked a little surprised she had followed him. He shoved his hands in his pockets and said
"What?"
"What was...that just now?" she asked.
"You don't know?' he scoffed, 'stupid".
"Hey' said Clary, 'I am not the one who speaks in monosyllabic words".
Jace conceded that and said
"Anyway, its Brown".
"Brown?" said Clary, slowly and Jace laughed
"H. Jackson Brown. Don't you know it?"
"Do I know it?" said Clary, still confused and not making much sense.
Jace laughed and said
"Read his books. You'll understand then".
"What?' said Clary, to his retreating back, 'all of THEM?"
What the heck? First he asked her on a date, then he gives her a summer reading list. Maybe she had punched him too hard?
The silence was endless. The clock ticked, the loudest thing in the room. The shop was devoid of customers and that was good, otherwise they probably would have walked out in disgust. Camille and Magnus seemed to have gone into a state of shock, just staring at her. Clary felt slightly pleased she had had three days to digest the idea and felt rather composed as she told them that today she was supposed to go on a date with Jace Wayland. Finally Magnus managed to cough out
"What...the...hell? Jace Wayland and you. On a date".
"Yes' said Clary, losing some of that composure, 'and I need your help".
Magnus looked excited and said
"To do your makeup?"
"And change your clothes" said Camille, pretending she hadn't been shocked. Clary looked down at her ripped jeans and baggy top and said
"Not exactly. I want to work today".
They both stared at her uncomprehending and she sighed.
"I'm not going. Could I be rostered on?"
"WHY NOT?" said Camille.
"Yeah' said Magnus, 'if you don't go, he could have you assassinated. Or worse, prevents you from shopping anywhere but Walmart".
"Oh that frightens me so much' said Clary, 'come on. Think about it. I lower his profile by refusing to accept him as well as punching him in the face. Don't you think it would be raised if he managed to get the very person who lowered it to go out with him?"
"I suppose' said Magnus, dubiously, 'it makes sense".
"Trust me' said Clary, 'I've had three days to think about it".
"You mean, he asked you out THREE DAYS AGO' said Magnus, 'and you didn't tell ME. I don't know where our friendships coming to".
Clary nodded and said dramatically
"Blame the Shadowhunters. They are changing me for the worse".
"If you are prepared to give up on your true love, if you are sure that you can face him, if you know in your heart this is the best thing to do' said Camille sombrely , 'I suppose I can fit you in".
"The way she says it' said Magnus, 'you'd think Hitler had invaded again".
The morning seemed to fly, plenty of customers coming in and as the clock ticked towards 1, Clary found herself looking at it more often, willing it to pass by 1 and for Jace to go home. Hopefully he had met a blonde supermodel and had fallen hopelessly in love with her. She didn't know why she felt so bad about standing him up but she knew it was a matter of principle.
"If you are staying because it's a matter of a principle' said Magnus as they both watched the clock hit 1, 'then that's a stupid reason".
"Is IT?" said Clary, irritated Magnus knew her so well.
"Yes' said Magnus, ignoring her upwards inflection, 'if the only reason you are here is to beat Jace at something, to use his olive branch against him, then you really have changed".
Clary was silent and Magnus knew he had hit something. He said
"What do you feel right now about standing him up?"
"Happy as can be" she said flippantly and turned away to serve another customer. The day wore on, the clock passing over two and three o'clock. Clary now found herself avoiding the clock, it seemed to be staring at her with condemnation and contempt. Finally at three fifteen, she looked up from a customer and found herself disgusted at herself. She should have gone even if it was to tell Jace she didn't want to go out. She should never have hidden herself away behind her friends and hoped that the problem would go away.
"I've gotta go" she said suddenly and she was sprinting out the door. The customer said
"Well really".
Magnus and Camille who had watched her leave looked at each other before Magnus said smilingly at the customer
"Youth these days. Heads up in the clouds. Now how may I be of service to you?"
Clary sprinted along the street, which was rapidly darkening with rain clouds. She was full of nervous energy so she found herself pounding around corners, across roads and through alleyways. She found herself pushing past the crowds of people walking down the streets and accidentally threw a tourist against the wall.
When she finally hit Central Park Avenue, ten minutes later, she was panting a bit but the sight of the greenery gave her the extra momentum. She was almost run over by a carriage as she crossed the road but she avoided it narrowly and stumbled onto the park.
The sky was spitting now, raindrops falling down and as she came into Strawberry Fields, it was practically pouring. Plenty of tourists were milling about the place, gazing at the plaque in the middle of the pavement. She sighed a breath of relief when she didn't see Jace, nobody would be stupid enough to stay. The lack of him proved her point, the only reason he had asked her out was to prove he was able to beat anyone.
Clary turned around and came face to face with Jace. Her mouth opened slightly as she saw him and her heart sank before it gave a gentle flutter. He was staring at her almost impassively and she felt herself look down. She couldn't believe she had been so harsh. Then the rain started pouring down and after about ten seconds, they were both soaked. Around her tourists were taking pictures, putting up umbrellas and chattering in foreign languages. He was probably so angry, he could barely speak. She opened her mouth to say something and then suddenly
"Where the hell have you been?' he said passionately, 'I thought something had happened to you. I was worried".
Clary stared at him in shock and for one tiny, infinitesimal moment she couldn't remember why she had hated him. And for what seemed like infinity, they gazed at each other, green meeting gold, girl meeting boy, confusion meeting realisation. For one tiny, infinitesimal moment.