A./N. Hey everyone! I'm so glad you all have been liking the story so far! And I'm sorry for not posting yesterday, but I had Freshman Orientation so I was surprisingly tired. But now I'm good and I know what I'll be doing next chapter as well! Today is the last day of almost daily updates, as school starts in less than a week, so I will be starting updates every week on Sunday.
Disclaimer: I only own the plot; the rest goes to Cassandra Clare.
Clary p.o.v.
Jace keeps me on his back the whole way to the kitchen. Not that I'm complaining, I enjoy him carrying me around.
Once we get in there he sets me on the counter and doesn't hesitate to resume what was abruptly stopped in the basement.
I don't know how long we were kissing for, but I'm rather thankful someone clears their throat, or else things might have gotten out of hand.
We break apart and look to the doorway.
My face burns when I see who it is, though Jace seems unfazed by being caught.
"Maryse! I didn't know you were coming home today!" He says.
"I was able to come home early, and was going to surprise all of you, though it seems I'm the one who was surprised." She says knowingly, her gaze traveling to me quickly before resting back on Jace.
"Hah, yeah..." He says, looking down. His hand reaches up to scratch the back of his head. I can see the beginning of a blush on his cheeks.
I take that as my cue to talk, knowing things will just get worse if I stay silent.
I jump down and turn to face Maryse Lightwood.
The resemblance between Isabelle and her mother has always been striking.
Maryse is a taller, bonier version of her daughter. She has the same black hair as her children and striking blue eyes as Alec. Her son also got her bone structure as well.
I clear my throat and look at her. She shifts her gaze to me again, her eyes showing some surprise. She must not have realized it was me before.
"Hi, Mrs. Lightwood." I say rather sheepishly.
"Oh! Clary, it's great to see you. Though normally you're with my daughter, not my son." Her mouth trying to hide a small smile, but failing.
I smile at her, and then look back down.
"Jace, can you please go and tell your siblings that I'm home?"
"Sure, I'll go get them." He says, leaving the kitchen.
I follow after him, not wanting to have to be alone with his mother, after what we were previously doing.
I mentally slap myself at my lack of ability to choose better places to have my mouth invaded.
I sigh, and then continue following Jace.
Jace p.o.v.
I didn't expect to see my adoptive mother in the doorway, three days before she was due to be home. I also didn't expect to be found by her, with my tongue in Clary's mouth.
So later, after we all had welcomed Maryse home, I stole Clary away and brought her to my room.
Needless to say, there was still not much studying done.
I was also surprised when she stopped me, which she does not normally do.
"Jace, you never told me about your parents." She says quietly, laying her head on my chest. Her head was the only part of her body that wasn't still on top of me.
I brought my arms around her, and then answered.
"Clary, I told you about my parents already. They died in a fire, end of story."
"No, not end of story. How did you end up with the Lightwoods then?" She says firmly.
"My parents were family friends with the Lightwoods, and when they died, the Lightwoods took me in, adopting me soon after." I say, relenting.
"I'm sorry." She says, looking into my eyes.
"It's not your fault, you didn't do anything." I say, looking away.
"I know, I'm still sorry though. Why don't you use their last name?" She asks me.
"I didn't want to lose my past, so I chose to keep my last name, but I'm also legally a Lightwood." I tell her.
She just nods and strokes my hair. It's weird. I've never told anyone outside of the Lightwood's about my past. I don't like to think of it. I'd rather just pretend that I care only about myself, instead of letting people care about me.
She doesn't ask me why I act like a jerk; I think she knows without me having to tell her. She just lets me be, allowing me to keep some things to myself.
All too soon she says she has to go, though I'm able to keep her for another ten minutes.
When she does leave, she gives me a chaste kiss then heads out. I just lie on my bed, a smile on my face, content for the moment with what I have.
Clary p.o.v.
I didn't realize how tired I was until I finally got home.
The constant worrying had kept me from getting a good night's sleep, but I didn't even notice until now.
Once I get home, my parents had gone to bed already, both tired from their work. I wonder how my mom's tired, but I decide I don't want to know if there's another reason.
I head straight to my room, shucking out of my clothes, and changing into my pj's.
I call Izzy, needing some time with her. She answers after the first ring.
"Clary! I was just about to call you!" She says, sounding totally awake.
I chuckle quietly, before answering her.
"That's crazy, Iz. I feel like I haven't talked to you in forever, even though I saw you today."
"I know right! It's cause you've been with Jace for the majority. Don't even try and deny it!" She says.
"I know, I know. You're right. I've been slacking, Izzy. A lot has been on my mind the last week." I say.
"That's true. I've also been with Simon a lot, so I haven't been free either."
"Are you two dating yet? Or are you just "seeing each other"?" I say, knowing she can hear the air quotes.
"I really don't know. We act like we're dating, but neither of us has really asked. Lord knows I'm not going to. He's just gonna have to get over his weirdness and do it." She replies.
"Good luck with that." I say, laughing.
"You're in the same boat I am! You and Jace aren't dating, but you sure as hell aren't seeing anyone else."
"Yeah, he hasn't asked me or anything, but I'm pretty sure he will. I mean, he hasn't been hooking up with any girls since. Well, I hope he hasn't." I say.
"There haven't been any girls sneaking out of the house at some un-Godly hour; so I would assume that's a no."
I switch my phone to the other hand, and lie down; sitting couched on my bed is starting to hurt my back.
"That's good I guess. School hasn't really been any different, except we're nice to each other. We still both spend our free period in the courtyard, though now we usually make out during that time."
"Really; can you two not go one day without playing tonsil hockey? Have you no self-control?" She says, though she's really no better.
I smile and nod, then remember we're on the phone and she can't hear me.
"Well, most days we're hanging out to do homework, because he says he needs help, when he obviously doesn't. And then things just go downhill from there."
"Well you and I need to have a girl's day soon. I feel like we haven't hung out since last weekend. That is far too long in my book. You'll die without a healthy dose of Isabelle Lightwood." She says, matter of factly.
"Okay, whatever you want Iz." I'm not going to try and stop her. Once her mind is set, there's no changing it.
After that we fall into our usual conversation. She tells me all the gossip about people at school. How Helen Blackthorn and Aline Penhallow have both come out, and are in a relationship. Almost everyone, every girl, that is, knew though. None of us are really bothered by it, they're happy, which is all that matters.
We talk for two hours, I don't even notice until I look at my clock and see it's midnight.
"Izzy, I have to go. And so do you, we have school and I'm not going to be some sleep deprived monkey." I tell her.
"Well alright. If we must. I don't even understand why we have school. Ugh, well, night Clary, I'll see you tomorrow." Izzy says.
"Night Iz, see ya." I say, then hang up, turn off my light, and fall quickly asleep.
I'm in a burning house; I don't even realize it's my house at first. Normally the nightmare starts like that day, but this time it's different.
I'm also not six, I'm me. Sixteen-year-old Clary, dressed in a billowy green dress. The color the same as my eyes.
I involuntarily inhale, and start coughing from the smoke. I hear something rustling, so I walk in the direction of the sound to find not something, but someone.
I assume it's Jonathan, but then my heart stops and my blood turns cold when I see who it really is.
Jace
I run to him, he's huddled in a corner, his head down.
I yell his name, but he doesn't hear me. My dress being torn on broken and cracked pieces of the house.
He starts to look up, and I get a glimpse of his amber eyes before everything turns black.
I fly to a sitting position, my breathing ragged and my heart pounding.
I look at the clock to see it's only been two hours since I went to sleep.
I put my face in my hands, trying to calm my racing heart.
Once I'm somewhat calmed down, I try to fall back asleep; a feeling of dread deep in my gut.
It's nothing; just a feeling that crossed over from your dream.
Everything is fine.
Jace is fine.
I hope…
A./N. Sooo, I hope all of you liked it! Rate/review/favorite/follow as usual!
Always,
Mari