Chapter Nine
Summer had finally come to an end. School was beginning to start and the Lightwood kids were wondering when Hodge was coming back. It seemed no one had seen him for weeks. Maryse and Robert Lightwood would have to send their kids to public school this year instead of homeschooling them. Jace was excited to finally go to a public school especially because he could spend more time with Clary.
"Did you hear we're going to public school?" Max said excitedly.
"Yes Max we heard." Isabelle replied.
"But why are we going to public now? What happened to Hodge?" He asked her curiously.
"No one really knows Max. Nobody seen him for weeks." Alex said patting him on the head.
"All I know is I get to spend more time with Clary." Jace replied leading back in the chair with his behind his head smiling.
Isabelle rolled her eyes and shaking her head. She never understood why any girl would ever what to date Jace. She thought he was obnoxious and irritating. Although it was nice when Jace had a girlfriend because spent less time inside the house. Otherwise he was always in the library doing nothing but reading not that he didn't it anyway. Isabelle wished she could find a guy who would date her. In some ways she was jealous of Jace and wondered how he did it. Most guys who had asked her out would ask out on a date then never call her back. She never really had a serious boyfriend. Though she saw Alec and Jace date consistently.
"I wish I had a boyfriend." Isabelle said slightly to herself.
When Monday came Maryse dropped her kids off at school. Jace, Alec and Isabelle walked to their homeroom classrooms. Isabelle had the same homeroom as Jace, which was not thrilled to be in at all. As a matter of fact she hated the idea though on the plus side at least was only for homeroom. When they arrived Isabelle found a seat close to front. Jace went to the back where he saw Clary she waved excitedly at him. Some of the girls in the class watched him walk towards her. They shook their heads with envy.
It had been weeks since Jonathan went into surgery for his ankle. He had gone to physical therapy and soon the doctor said he could walk on his ankle without using crutches. Though he still walked with a limp. He sat on the couch watching T.V. His brother Sebastian was running some errands for Luke.
Jonathan was starting to get bored. He turned off the T.V. then got up from the couch. He grabbed his jacket from rack and headed out the door. Jonathan needed to find out why Helen was with Raphael. He decided to pay her a visit.
Clary and Jace sat next to each other at lunch. They were laughing and holding hands. Clary looked up to see Simon walk down the isle carrying a tray of food. She waved him forward. He walked closer.
"Your sitting in my seat." He said to Jace.
"I don't see your name on it."
"I always sit next to Clary at lunch." Simon said slamming his tray on the table.
Jace laughed, "look four eyes. I was here first."
"Oh yeah well I say you are invading my territory."
"Simon, stop." Clary intervened.
"You want a piece of me four eyes." Jace said getting up from the table.
The two boys stood in front of each other. The other students in the cafeteria stopped what they were doing. They all stared at the commotion.
Simon pushed Jace. "Yeah I do."
Jace pushed Simon back. "Show me what got four eyes." He said putting up his fists.
"Jace, Simon enough. Stop before you both get trouble."
Simon put his fists up in response, but was too slow foe Jace's right hook. Simon fell to the floor. The other students gawked as Simon got up. He swung his fist hitting Jace in the jaw. Then the two boys started throwing punches. A crowd started to form around them. Clary got shoved out of the way.
"Fight, fight, fight." the crowd of students chanted.
Alec, Matt, Kirk and Eric made their way through the crowd. They tried to get between Simon and Jace. Clary who had been watching from behind, decided that she had enough. She went to get a teacher to stop this from getting any worse. When a teacher and the principle Mr. Harris arrived at the scene he looked around the students.
"All right get back to class now." His voice boomed. "Except you six. In my office now, though two of you should see the nurse first. Then I want you in my office." He radioed to nurse Amatis that two students were on their way to see her.
"Yes sir." They all said together.
Clary watched Alec escort Jace to the nurse. She shook her head then turned it away. Simon followed closely behind with his friends. He could see tears streaming down Clary's face.
When Jonathan arrived at Helen's apartment building, his ankle was throbbing. He limped his way up the stairway. He knocked on the door. A series of chains and locks came from within. The door cracked open. Helen stood in the doorway surprised to see Jonathan standing there.
"Jonathan, what are you doing here?" She asked.
"I came to talk to you."
"Why?"
"I need to know why you were with Raphael." He said.
"I can't tell you." she started to shut the door but Jonathan stopped it with his hand.
"Please let me in Helen."
"Jonathan." She said holding back tears.
"Helen, please." She released the door. Jonathan followed her in. He took her arm and swung her so she was facing him. He stared in her eyes. He could see she still had feelings for him. He then kissed hard on the lips tucking his arms around her. They stood in the hallway of her apartment kissing each other. Helen sled her arms around Jonathan's neck. They soon made it to the bedroom.
Jace sat outside of the principle's office waiting for him to be called in. His face hurt, he could barely see out of his left eye and his lip was bruised and swollen. Jace thought about Clary. He saw the horrified look on her face. She will never forgive me for this he thought. Then.
"Jace Lightwood, the principle will see you now." The secretary said.
He picked up his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. He didn't know what the principle was going to do though he hoped he wasn't going to get kicked of school. As he walked in to the office he noticed how clean it was. A large desk sat in the middle of the room and two chairs were in front. A medium built man sat behind the desk.
"Ah, Mr. Lightwood. Please have a seat." He said. Jace sat in one of the chairs putting his backpack down the floor. "I see you are new at this school, yes?"
"Yes sir" Jace said politely.
"Well Mr. Lightwood. It seems I am at a position as to what I should do with you and Mr. Lewis. He says you threw the first punch. Is this true?"
Jace looked down at his lap. "Yes, sir."
"I see. " said Mr. Harris. "Well then Mr. Lightwood since you admitted to the hitting Mr. Lewis first. I am going to cut you a break." He turned to the intercom. "Mrs. Jones can you send Mr. Lewis in here please."
"Yes, sir." she said.
Simon entered the room soon after. He scowled at Jace. It was hard to tell who looked worse. Both boys had black eyes, swollen lips and their shirts were torn slightly. Simon sat down in the chair next to Jace. Mr. Harris looked at the two boys with his hands folded on the desk. Though Mr. Harris hated the idea of suspension he had no choice.
"I have decided to suspend both of you for the rest of today and tomorrow. When you return you will spend the next two weeks after school in detention with Mr. Stevens." Mr. Harris said.
"The janitor?" Said Simon.
"Yes."
After Mr. Harris filled out the paperwork and called both boys parents. Maryse was not happy at all when she picked up Jace. When she saw his face she only shook her head.
"Jace, I can't believe you got into a fight on the first day school." She scolded him.
"I'm sorry mom." Jace said bowing his head.
Then Simon's mother walked. She took one look at Simon and said: "Simon Francis Lewis."
Jace smirked when he heard Simon's full name. He tried not to laugh. Simon looked at him with a scowl.
"You think my name is funny." Simon said.
"Yea I do." Jace laughed.
"Jace Lightwood." Maryse said. "Enough. Let's go now. Your father is not happy with you."
"You too." The two boys followed their mothers out of the building.
For the next two days he be spending his time at home. Jace climbed in the car. Maryse started to lecture him on violence. He leaned his head against the window listening to her. Once they arrived back home Jace saw Robert standing on the back steps. He was dressed in his chief attire with his arms folded across his chest. Jace noticed him looking at him. He didn't look happy at all.
"Hello Robert." Jace said half smiling.
Robert shook his head, " I'm very disappointed in you Jace."
"I know. I'm sorry." He bowed his head.
"Get inside Jace were going to talk about this later." Robert said. Jace followed him inside. "Wash your hands, put on an apron then start chopping up vegetables. When you're done with that start washing dishes. Then take out the trash and sweep the kitchen."
"Yes sir" Jace put his backpack down in the break room. He did everything Robert told him to do. After the restaurant opened Robert had Jace buss the tables. Through out the day Jace was kept busy. Taking out the trash, washing dishes, cleaning the bathrooms and sweeping up the kitchen. By mid afternoon Robert gave him a break to get something to eat and rest. Once Alec came home from school he took over and Robert told Jace to go upstairs and get started on his schoolwork that Alec had brought home.
Jonathan had returned home from his outing. His Ankle was throbbing from all the walking. As soon as he entered the apartment he clasped on the couch. He elevated his foot with pillow, he wince at the pain. Clary came out of her room when she heard him.
"Jonathan, are you ok?" She asked concern.
"Hey Lil' sis. Yeah I'm alright." He sighed. " Could you get the peas out of the freezer and hand me my painkillers please."
"Sure" Clary said heading to the kitchen. She grabbed the bag of peas and the bottle of Jonathan's prescription painkillers. She also filled a glass with some water then brought them to her brother.
Just as she did Sebastian walked in the apartment. " Where have you been?"
"Out." Jonathan replied.
"Where?" Sebastian asked stepping over to the couch.
"Why do you need to know?" Jonathan said raising his voice.
"I was worried about you."
"Why?" Jonathan asked coldly.
"You're my little brother." Sebastian replied.
Jonathan shook his head. "I wish you quit with little brother crap. I mean I'm not kid Sebastian and I'm only younger than you by two minutes." He said. "Do you ever worry about any one else? Like Clary?"
"Of course I worry about Clary she kind of attacked with a hug when she came home from school." Sebastian replied. "She had apparently been crying and…"
"Crying? Why were crying?" Jonathan turned to Clary.
"Jace and Simon got into a fight this morning." She said. " I tried to stop them but I got hit instead." She turned her face to show Jonathan the small bruise on the side of her face.
"Which one hit you?" He asked.
"I don't know it all happened so fast all I saw was an elbow."
"Hey she is okay Jon. Doesn't matter. Tell me where you went." Sebastian interrupted.
"Fine I went to see Helen." Jonathan told Sebastian.
"Helen? Why would you go see that whore?"
Jonathan looked at his brother with eye borrows close together. "Don't call her that. I still care about her. Besides she did tell me something interesting."
"What did she tell you?" Sebastian asked curiously.
When Robert came up to talk Jace he found him in the library asleep at his desk. Though he was very angry with Jace for fighting at school Robert lightwood was kind man. He had raised Jace since was four years old he loved him like a son. Robert walked over to Jace and carefully moved him. Jace was about the same height as Robert so it made it easy to carry Jace to his bed. He wrapped Jace's arm around his neck then using his other arm to hold him. Once Robert got Jace into his room, he laid him down on his bed removing his shoes then covered him up with a blanket. Robert walked to his room where Maryse was sitting in bed reading.
"Did you talk to him?" She asked him.
"No he was sleep when I found him." He replied.
"You put in his bed right."
"Of course." Robert said. "I'll discuss it with him in the morning." He kissed Maryse good night then settled in the bed. Maryse put her book down marking her place. Then turned off her lamp. She snuggled next to Robert.
"You're a good father you know that right."
"Thank you Maryse." He kissed her again and smiled.
Robert would talk to Jace in morning about his behavior. Though something else had been bothering him lately. He knew he was going to have start training his younger son Max. He had to find another tutor fast. Though he knew it wasn't going to be something that happened over night. In the back of his mind he knew something was coming and he knew that he had to do something and fast.