A/N: This chapter is dedicated to anyone who ever asked me to write Clace! XD
Chapter 24
(Clary POV)
The next day, I had to do some errands—you know, basic shopping and stuff—so I was out of the house for awhile. I stopped for lunch and coffee at Java Jones at one point, where I decided to call Jace about our redo "date".
I felt trepidation as I was dialing his number. Was I doing the right thing, initiating contact once more? If we eventually got back together, would I be okay with that? Would I be okay if we didn't? My thumb hesitated on the screen of my smartphone, and for an instant I decided not to call him. I put my phone back in my pocket.
But then I remembered my purpose. I needed to talk to Jace one-on-one without the pressure of anyone else there. And I missed Jace, his handsome face and hilarious personality. And I especially missed his love for me, and showing him how much I loved him as well. Needless to say, I took the phone back out of my pocket and dialed his number, pressing the "talk" button and holding the phone up to my ear.
Jace picked up quickly. "Hey, Clary," he said through the phone.
The sound of his voice was enough to make my heart speed up a bit. How I missed him… "Hey, Jace. Want to hang out later, so we can actually talk one-on-one?"
I crossed my fingers in the hope that he'd agree, but it soon proved unnecessary. Jace said, "Sure. Want to come over now?"
"I'm doing some shopping right now," I said, disappointed at my own schedule. "I should be done soon…"
"Okay." A strange quality came over his voice, as if he was planning something. But what? "Are you going to stop home before you come here, then?"
"Yeah, probably," I told him with a touch of skepticism. I took a sip of my coffee, which I drank with no cream or sugar. "I guess I'll see you around dinner time?" That would give me enough time to freshen up and get ready.
"Alright, sounds fine to me."
There was a pause in our conversation during which I drank some more coffee. When I realized he wasn't planning on saying anything more, I took the initiative and said softly, "Goodbye, Jace."
"Bye, Clary." Then he hung up, and I was left feeling somewhat empty. I really did miss Jace… But I'd see him later, which made me cheer up a little.
I finished my sandwich and coffee and did the last of my shopping. By then, I was tired and my arms were full of shopping bags, which were in turn full of clothes and food and stuff. I liked doing grocery shopping for my mother, and she never argued. She was usually too busy during the day, anyway, and didn't have time.
I finally got back home and had to put my bags down so I could unlock the door. Then I picked them back up again and had to kick the door back open, after which I awkwardly maneuvered through the doorway with all of my bags.
Exhausted by the trip, I set all the bags on the ground and let out a long sigh. It was then that I noticed a familiar blond-haired young man sitting in my living room, grinning at me. "Oh my God, Jace!" I gasped, mortified. "Did you just see all of that? I'm so sorry…" I registered that he had gotten into my locked house. "And how did you get here? How long have you been here?"
He got to his feet in a feline, fluid movement, his smile never wavering. "A simple hello would have sufficed," Jace smirked, looking at me expectantly.
All of the awkwardness from our several previous encounters melted away, and I ran into his arms, feeling like I was floating. My exhaustion vanished. "Hi, Jace," I told him, unable to contain a smile.
He bent down to kiss my forehead. "It's great to see you, Clary." His voice dropped, and he looked around. "We're alone, right?"
"Yeah," I said. "My mom and Luke are out." The situation we were in reoccurred to me. "But seriously, how did you get in here?"
"Runes," he said without a shred of regret. "Thought I'd surprise you."
"Well, you were certainly successful at that!" I was so happy to see him in my living room, it was like nothing had ever changed in our relationship. "I have a lot to talk to you about."
"Good, I have a lot to tell you. For starters, I know I've told you this before but I wanted to say it again. I'm sorry for what happened with Evangeline. Actually, I'm more than sorry. I'm absolutely repentant, and I can only hope that you'll start to forgive me some day."
His apology warmed my heart. "Of course I'll forgive you!"
"And I'll have you know that whatever happened between Evangeline and me is over. We're trying to be friends now."
"That's how it is with Simon and me," I explained gratefully. I abruptly didn't care what had happened anymore. It was like our group date had erased all the problems and reset everything to how it should have been.
Seized with sudden desire, I stood on my tiptoes and kissed Jace so fiercely that we almost fell over. He laughed, but nonetheless kept kissing me. It was so wonderful, I hadn't even realized how much I missed this. I hadn't been joking when I brought up to Simon how Jace was a great kisser, he really was, there was no way around it. "I still love you, you know," I murmured to him while we caught our breath.
"I love you too, Clary," he confessed, his gold eyes focused on me and me only. In his pupils, I could see my reflection: messy-haired, red-cheeked, small, and unbearably happy. My happiness surged again as I pressed our mouths together once more, and the next coherent thought I had was that it was great we were alone.
Because soon, Jace and I were making sweet love right there in my living room, the bags of groceries and clothes lying forgotten by the door.
A/N: Did I pull it off? :D I hope you enjoyed it. xoxo