Chapter Two
Clary sat across the table from Simon. When she looked over her shoulder, she saw a very good looking blonde headed boy staring at her. He wicked. Clary turned away shaking her head in disgust. Simon looked at Clary.
"Are you OK, Fray?" Simon asked.
"No, you see that guy sitting over there with the blonde hair?" Simon looked to where Clary was pointing.
"Yea, what about him?"
"He keeps staring at me." Clary said hiding her face.
"Geez, Clary I would be to. I mean you are the most beautiful girl in here." He said smiling.
Clary picked up a pretzel and threw at Simon. "What? You are Clary." Simon said reaching across the table to push stray strand of Clary's hair behind her ear.
"Oh Simon you really think I'm beautiful?" Clary gazed at Simon curiously.
"Clary I...I think..." Simon paused. "Never mind I have to go to the restroom." He got up awkwardly then walked toward the restrooms in the back.
As soon as Simon left, Clary saw the blonde boy advanced towards her. She pulled her jacket tightly hoping he would just walk by. The boy stood at her table smiling. Clary looked up at him. His eyes were a golden brown like champagne. His hair was like liquid gold streaming down his face. He was beautiful she thought.
"Do I know you? Cause you look like my next girlfriend." He said sitting down across from her.
Clary laughed. "In your dreams."
"Why you don't want to be my girlfriend?"
"Why are you desperate?." Clary said crudely.
"No," Jace said raising his eyebrows. "I was just trying to make conversation."
Clary rolled her eyes. "You know what I have to go my friend is waiting for me." That said Clary got up from the table and walked over to where Simon was standing.
They walked out of the club together. Simon noticed Clary was on edge the entire way home. He wondered if that blonde headed boy had anything to with it. He never saw Clary get anger or upset. Even if she did she was very good at hiding it. Clary had been his best friend for as long as he could remember. He cared about her and always worried about her.
"Clary, are you OK?" Simon asked finally.
"Yea," she answered.
"Are you sure? You seem on edge."
Clary sighed, "Simon would you use lame pick up line to get a girl?"
Simon was shocked at Clary's question. He replied, "Well...I...Uh...It depends."
"So you would use one."
"Not exactly. Why do ask?"
"That blonde boy that was in the club used one on me when you went to the bathroom." She said.
"Really, What did say?"
"It was really stupid. I don't get why boys have to go to such extreme to get a girl." Clary said folding her arms across her chest.
"Well some are just desperate I guess." Simon said shyly bowing head while shuffling his feet. "Besides like you said their stupid, lame and almost never work."
"Almost never work? You sound like you've used a few or two." Clary said looking at him.
"Clary, does it matter? I mean your acting like it's a big deal."
"Well have you?"
Simon hesitated "Yes, no, maybe. Look can we just go home and drop this. I don't what talk about that jerk who tried to pick up OK."
"Simon!" She called out but he had already started walking away. Clary ran after him to catch up.
Jace sat at the table wondering what had just happen. It was not unusual that a girl would blow him off like that. Usually his good looks were enough but for some reason this time they weren't enough. Jace had to find out more about this girl. She seemed different somehow. He waited a few minutes before following her out the club.
Jace saw them walk down the boulevard when they stopped. He kept his distance. He heard them talking though he could barely make out what it was they were talking about. Then he he saw the boy with the glasses walk off then the red headed girl chased after him. He saw them turn a corner then he ran after them but it was too late. They had already disappeared into the distance. Frustrated he went down the street towards his house.
The next morning Isabelle was rambling in Jace's ear about a subject he could care less about. Jace found Isabelle more annoying then anyone else he knew. He didn't understand how Alec put up with her. He wished Alec was here now, but Alec had gone to Chicago with Hodge. Jace had decided the only way he was going to get away from Isabelle was to go somewhere that she would never go.
He knew of a bookstore that had a cafe which had the best hot chocolate in town. As soon as Isabelle had her back turned Jace sneaked out. He walked down the back stairs and out the back door. He started down the street towards the bookstore. He knew Isabelle would never come here because she always order books online. Jace loved a good book especially science fiction and fantasy. He read most of the Stars Wars and the Star trek series. He even started reading the Dungeons and Dragons books.
The bell at the top of the doorway rang as he entered bookstore. It wasn't very big, but Luke the owner was very good at getting any type of book. If he didn't haven't in stock he would order it for you. It's what Jace liked about Luke's bookstore. Jace was a regular in the store so whenever he came in Luke manged to have the latest copy of Stars Wars or Star Trek books. Luke was putting books on the shelf when he saw Jace come in.
"Jace," He said, "I just got in some new books for you."
"Cool," Jace replied with a smile.
"I thought you would like that." Luke smiled then patted Jace on the shoulder. Jace followed Luke to the counter where she had been sitting unaware. She was reading the new release of "The Chronicles of Avantia" by Adam Blade. She was also listening to her iPod. When Luke walked behind counter he tapped her on the shoulder. She turned to look at him.
"Hey Luke, what's up?" She said pulling her earphones out of her ears.
"Your feet is what's up. How many times have I told you not to put your feet on the counter." Luke scolded her.
"Too many. I'm sorry I didn't mean too."
"Yea, well do you remember what you did with the box of books I gave you?"
"Um, yea I put them under the counter." She ducked under the counter then produce a small box filled with a assortment of Science fiction books. She place the box on the counter when she notice the blonde boy from the club.
"You again. What are you doing here?" She said coldly.
"I came to check out some books." Jace said with a half-smile.
"Why?"
"Because I like to read."
"Wait do you two know each other." Luke interrupted looking from one to the other.
"Yea we've met." Clary narrowed her eyes at Jace.
"I see." Luke said.
"This boy tried to pick up last night." She said looking directly at Jace.
"Hey I have name you know." Jace pointed to himself.
"Whoa, whoa, hold on a second." Luke said throwing his hands between them. "Let's calm down here."
"Whatever, I'll be in the back." Clary said as she stalked towards the back of the store.
Luke shook his head. "I'm sorry about my stepdaughter Clary. She's usually not like this."
"I can imagine." Jace said looking through the books.
It was close to dinner time when Jace left the bookstore and cafe. He started down the avenue when he saw Clary come out of the store. She was alone. Luke had let the store early to pick up his truck from the shop. He had to put new tires on it because the old ones had worn out.
Jace smiled as he watched her for minute. Her hair was down on her shoulders. It blew like fire in the wind. Her eyes sparkled in the moonlight. She didn't seem real to him. Jace walked up to her.
"Hi," He said.
Clary looked up. She rolled her eyes. "What do you want?"
"I thought since we got off to a bad start maybe we could start over. My name is Jace." He said putting his hand out to shake.
Clary took his hand, "Clary." She said.
"Clary, nice to meet you."
"Thank you, nice to meet you too, Jace" Clary replied smiling.
They talked for a few minutes then Clary's phone rang. "Hello."
"Clary, it's Luke."
"Hey Luke, I was just closing the store." She told Luke. He had left the store early to pick up his truck from the shop.
"Good, Clary I have some bad news." Luke said in a serious voice.
"What is it?" Clary said concerned.
"It your mother. There's been an accident."