Scarred for Life

Chapter 23

Hey guys! I'm writing this chapter on the ride home from Nebraska so I'm sorry if there's any spelling mistakes.

Happy Easter!

Isabelle P.O.V

Where the hell is Clary?

I ran around the Institute, shouting her name, but no one answered. The last time I saw her I had ran out of the infirmary because I was upset at Simon. We had sex. We finally had sex and he threw it back in my face. He only did it to try and forget Clary.

I was in the training room, decapitating dummies that had photos of Simon taped to the head, when I heard Jace screaming. I knew it was him because he was the only one with a bedroom even close to the training room. When we first moved in, he insisted that he should get this bedroom so that he could train the most.

I tried ignoring their argument, until Jace told her to leave. I could hear in his voice that he was furious. He was basically spitting the words. I heard Clary run down the hall, then complete silence. I had waited about ten minutes, thinking that she needed time to calm down, before I went to her room.

I ran into her bedroom, and froze. Everything was gone. Besides the basic bed and dresser, all of Clary's things were gone. It looked as plain and neat as Jace's room. Everything looked normal, but if I looked closer, I saw the note on her bed.

I walked over and picked it up. It was addressed to me.

Dear Izzy,

I'm writing this to you to let you know that I'm leaving. Now, before you freak out, I need to explain. When I first got to the Institute, I was terrified. Terrified that you would all figure out who I was and kill me. (You almost did.) I tried to keep myself distant, knowing that if I came to care for you, it would hurt me even more. I didn't plan on falling for Jace. The Angels know I tried not to, but alas, I did anyway.

I fell hard.

I want you to know that I'm going to miss you… so much. I would've stayed and tried to make it work, but Jace didn't want me there. If I had stayed, I wouldn't be able to look at him and see the hate in his eyes, knowing it's my fault. By the time you read this, I'll have my portal made, probably already gone.

I'm truly sorry for all the pain I have caused you guys. You're the sister I never had.

Love,

Clary

P.S I think something is wrong with Simon. For your own good, stay away from him. I've banished him from the Institute, and for good reason. I have a hunch about what might be wrong with him, but I won't tell you until I'm sure.

I'd hardly finished reading the letter before I was out of the room. I sprinted down the hallway, hardly noticing when I ran past Alec and Magnus. I just kept running, my legs screaming in protest.

I didn't stop until I was outside the Institute. I could see the shimmery blue of the portal before I had even rounded the corner. I stopped and clutched the wall, breathing hard. I saw Clary freeze, eyes wide.

"Clary," I gasped, still a little short of breath, "You can't leave. Jace didn't mean what he said. We will all miss you."

Clary smiled, a small, sad smile that told me she hadn't believed a word I said. "I'm sorry Izzy." She turned forward and stepped into the portal, leaving us behind.

I ran forward, determined to follow her into the portal. My only friend can't just leave me! I don't have anyone else. The portal was shrinking fast. With a final burst of speed, I lunged forward.

And ran into the Institute wall.

I couldn't take it anymore. I collapsed on the ground, sobbing. It was at that moment that Alec and Magnus rounded the corner. They tried to say something to me, but I couldn't hear them over the blood rushing into my ears.

"She's gone, Clary left." My voice sounded hollow, heartbroken. "Jace told her to leave. She loved him, so she did."

Alec and Magnus nodded in understanding. They both walked over and sat down on either side of me. They both hugged me and the tears once again washed over me. "My only friend left me, the guy I thought I loved is actually in love with my best friend, and I can't even look at Jace anymore. I don't have anyone left."

Alec started stroking my hair. "Shhhh, don't say that Iz. You have me and Magnus. You also have Mom, Dad, and Max. When they get back from Idris we will help you get through this. You'll never be alone."

I nodded, my tears slowing. "I need to go talk to Jace. I want him to know what Clary did for him."

.o.O.o.

I barged into his room, not even bothering to knock. "Clary left."

Jace shot up off his bed, where he had previously been filing his nails with his stele. "What? Why would she leave?"

"What do you mean 'why would she leave'? You told her too!"

"I didn't mean it Izzy! I was just angry at her. You know I say things I don't mean when I'm angry. I was mad that, despite everything she did, I still care for her. I can't believe she just left! Was our relationship really that insignificant that she could just pack up and walk away?"

I walked over and sat next to him on his bed, and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Of course not, Jace. She wrote me a letter. She said that she left because she wanted to prove that she still cared for you. It was her final gift to you."

Jace sunk down, his head between his shoulder blades. "Can I see the letter?"

I had expected this. I grabbed the letter out of my back pocket and handed it to him. "I have to warn you, it's pretty intense. I'll just wait outside the door." All he did was nod.

While I was waiting outside, I thought back to our conversation. I'd never seen Jace look so broken, so defeated. He was always the strong one. I thought back to a story he had told me when we were 13. I couldn't remember most of it, the story had something to do with a hunting falcon… I think. One line remained stuck in my head.

I stuck my ear to the door, trying to hear if he was done reading. What I heard him whisper shocked me. "I love you too, Clary."

The next thing I knew, the door was flung open and Jace wrapped his arms around my waist. "Thank you, Izzy. You have no idea what you've just done for me."

I whispered, "Your welcome." But I was distracted. I felt something wet on my neck. I knew it wasn't me that was crying. It was Jace.

The boy never cried again.

So before you think that Izzy has a lady crush on Clary or something weird like that, just think about how you would feel if something happened to your best friend. I honestly found this chapter a little sad to write. Sadly, all the bad stuff isn't over yet but it will be soon! I promise!

This chapter is dedicated to DeUtvalda!

REVIEW!

Luv ya,

ByTheAngel99