"She jumped off a building?"
Simon gasped as Maia read the news story off the internet. She glanced up only to glare at him for interrupting. He shrugged, but then he turned his attention directly to me. Simon was the only one I ever told about my accident. So of course, when the story pooped up, he was there, feeling my sensitivity and PTSD boiling before even I did.
What would this world do without Simon Lewis?
I nodded minutely to say that I was fine, and Simon caught it. The last thing I needed was for Simon to fuss over me. Most of the time, I hated it. Only because there was just one person who was allowed to...
Maia continued with her recitation of the article. "As I was saying, 'The fourteen-year-old Chelsie Franc threw herself off a building after a tragic break up with her long-term boyfriend,'" Wow, universe, I thought to myself, subtle. "At the time, Chelsie is stable, but in critical condition. The boyfriend refuses to release his personal information. We will be releasing another update by the hour.'"
"Crazy, right?" Maia gaped dramatically. Simon and I knew Maia had gone through a tragic breakup of her own at the age of fourteen. She still hadn't gotten over the guy. It made me feel terrible that Maia was willing to share her life with me, but I couldn't share mine with her. Only Simon.
But even Simon didn't know my biggest secret. For if that came out, his life would be in danger. I wasn't willing to do that to anyone.
The bell rang and Simon, Maia, and I were forced to trudge along to our next class. This one we shared. Routinely, all three of us plopped into seats at a lab table. I sat closest to the wall, across from Simon, next to Maia. Usually, the last seat was left open.
We chatted nonchalantly as the rest of the class filed in. When everyone was finally seated, a hush fell over the class as the teacher, Mr. Starkweather, held up his hand to quiet us. Beside him was a boy.
He looked about seventeen, a year older than me. He had dusty-colored hair and dark eyes. Tattoos were printed on his arm, he wore dark clothing. But what caught my attention was, however, was how depressed the boy looked. He had dark circles under his eyes, he didn't meet anyone's eye, and his limbs hung limply at his sides. He was undeniably the saddest person I had ever seen (not including myself in a mirror).
His sadness didn't hold my attention for long, however, as someone let out a shrill whimper close to me. It took a moment for me to realize it was Maia. I looked to her, concerned.
Maia's eyes were glued to the boy. Her lips were pressed into a thin line. She had never looked so mad. But underneath it, I could see terror. My heart pounded.
"You can sit there, son," Mr. Starkweather had finished introducing Sad-boy, and he was now pointing to the empty spot at my lab table. Oh, no. Sad-boy started making his way to our table, his eyes still on the floor. He seemed to be trying to figure something out, but he was very confused. Sluggishly, he plopped into his chair.
"You," Maia hissed. The word seemed to escape her mouth before she could stop it. Maia's eyes flashed vibrant green and she appeared in pain, as though she were trying to hold something back. Finally, Sad-boy looked up to her.
When their eyes met, he froze. Sad-boy was suddenly very awake. His jaw dropped open.
"Do not follow me," Maia whisper-shouted before hurriedly making her way out of the room. She looked feeble, on the edge of destruction. The class watched in confusion, but let it go then Mr. Starkweather began his lecture.
I wanted to follow Maia, but part of me figured her order was directed to all of us.
"Uh, sorry man," Simon said nervously to Sad-boy. "What's your name?"
The kid had been staring out the door after Maia, but after a couple of moments he snapped to attention.
"Umm...Jordan," he admitted. "Jordan Kyle."
0.o.O.o.0
Simon had to physically restrain me from clawing out Jordan's eyes. Long story short, I ended up slumped in a chair waiting to see the principal. I was furious. How dare he show up here? He couldn't just waltz into someone's life that he ruined? Not okay. Maia would be needing some serious ice cream.
Just as soon as I got out of the detention I was sure to be promised.
The door opened and a few people stepped in. I didn't even look up, for fear it was the principal, or worse, Jordan. I was aware that they were mumbling to the receptionist. I only caught a few words, "new here," "classes," and "paperwork."
Ahh. More new kids. Excellent.
Suddenly, the whispering got louder. "Iz, look," it was a male's voice. I knew that voice...
"I told you she'd be here!" I knew that voice too; I got the sinking feeling I was being talked about.
"No, that's not her. I'd know."
And that was it. Against literally every will, cell, and desire in my body, I looked up.
I was met with the unthinkable.
0.o.O.o.0
I stared at Alec. He stared back.
I looked to Izzy. She stared back.
Finally, reluctantly, I shifted my eyes to Jace.
His expression was calculating, unsure, reluctant. Guilty. But it was him. They were all here, standing in front of her. Real.
A normal, righteous, willful girl (like Isabelle) would have said something witty. She would have said something to make her seem untouchable, then she would walk straight out of there and be fire.
Instead, I came up with...
"Oh, h*ll no," I stood up, not sure how to deal with this situation. The parts of my body that had been injured in the fall were burning or aching. My breathing was heavy and short, a minor PTSD attack, I guessed.
"Language, Miss Fray!" the receptionist snapped. Th reminder that there were other people in the room set me off. "Fray...?" Jace muttered disbelievingly. He gaped at her. And this time he was sure.
I broke. I clapped a hand to my chest and broke eye contact. Okay, major PTSD attack. I was having trouble breathing. I needed to be out of there. I was afraid my legs wouldn't hold me.
I summoned all the strength in my body and pushed myself toward the door. I stared only at my destination. I distinctly felt Izzy's fingers brushing against my wrist. In instinctual response, I yanked my arm up to my head. I regretted it instantly. Izzy hadn't really done anything.
Except abandon me.
And still be able to stand Jace's presence.
Yeah...she deserved that.
Unbelievably, I made it out the door without interference. Now, just to make it to my house. I could see the doors of the school. I was so close-
Harsh fingers gripped my wrist. I was violently whipped around to face Jace. I tried desperately to pull my hand from his grip. But it was no use. Of course it wasn't. I had to give up, or my wrist would break. I let myself stare at a place on the wall behind Jace.
"Clary, I need to talk to you. You need to let me explain," He begged.
I scoffed. Loudly. How was I supposed to be there was something he could say that would make everything okay.
"Clary," he murmured. "Clary look at me."
I surrendered and met his eye. Immediately I melted. His amber eyes seemed to pierce me through the heart. He was winning me back just by looking at me. Maybe-
And then I had a memory. A memory of those same eyes looking at me as the owner of the eyes tried to persuade me to jump off a building. They were filled with the exact same terrified desperation now. But then, that night, they had changed to a cold, disconnected hatred. And that's what I remembered. And that made me hurt.
"You pushed me off a building, Jace!" I screeched. Jace winced, and let his eyes fall to the ground. But his grip stayed tight. "What could you possible say to me?"
After Jace said nothing to defend himself, the silence grew to much. "Let go of me, Jace," I demanded. He didn't loosen his grip, but when I pulled away, he let me go. I turned to leave.
"Not so fast, Miss Fray," So close. I turned to look at my principal, Mr. Aldertree. What a butthead. "I'm afraid your two outbursts today have earned you detention. And you, Mr..."
Jace answered without turning around or taking his eyes off the floor. "Herondale."
"Yes, Mr. Herondale. I understand you're new here, but I leave no room for wiggling. Being in the hallway during classes without a pass is not allowed! You'll have detention too. Every day until next Friday! Now hurry along to class."
I had been planning to leave, but not wanting to acquire more detention with the Herondale Devil, I decided returning to class would be the easiest option. I'd be to emotionally exhausted to fight Jordan anyway. But even as I began to walk away, Jace took my wrist again.
Unwilling to hurt myself, I let myself be turned. Jace started mumbling words but something else had caught my attention. I looked to where Jace had my wrist clenched in his hand and my eyes widened fractionally.
Jace stopped murmuring explanations when my hand shot out and grabbed his wrist. He was confused, but didn't stop me when I slowly lifted his sleeve to see the swirling black design underneath.
I sucked in a mighty breath.
What I saw was a rune.