Chapter 3

I'm going to try to make my chapters longer but please just bear with me. So here is the next chapter hope you enjoy it! (Like I said earlier, I promise it will pick up)

Clary sighed as she walked past the gym on her way out. She was going out of her way to get to her car, but she just couldn't help herself. Shaking her head she hurried past the double doors before she could dwell on the past even more.

"Clary," a voice called behind her and Clary stopped and turned around hesitantly.

"Hey, Aline." Clary forced a smile onto her face.

"Hey, why don't you watch practice? We all miss you." Aline said as she glanced back at the gym.

Clary's smile almost slipped off of her face. She really did miss cheering even though it really didn't fit her personality. Growing up Clary had always made fun of the cliché type of cheerleader and had only tried out on a dare, turned out it was actually fun and the girls were all really nice. It also turned out Clary was pretty good at it; she had been one of the very few freshmen who had made the squad when she had tried out. She hadn't been able to try out the last two years because of the way things were at home.

"Sorry, I have to get home." Clary said with a sigh as she looked longingly past her friend into the gym.

"Are you going to try out for next year? You really should. I'm sure we could find ways to make sure you didn't have to do too complicated tumbling passes. That way you wouldn't hurt your ankle." Aline's voice was eager. Even though she knew her friend meant well Clary couldn't help but feel bad as her stomach clenched a little at the lie. The excuse she had been using the last two years to not try out was that she had week ankles and if she landed wrong it could be disastrous, when really she just didn't have the time to take care of the house and cheer.

"I don't know." Clary's voice was hesitant.

"Well, are you at least coming to the game tomorrow?"

"Yes. I wouldn't miss it." Glad that her father loved sports and wouldn't miss a home game if his life depended on it.

"Good. Well I better get back to practice." Aline said as she jogged back into the gym. Clary stood there for a moment more before turning and continuing to the student parking lot. For a little bit Clary let herself hope that she could try out for her senior year but she quickly pushed the thought away. She wasn't about to get her hopes up on something she knew wouldn't happen.

Pulling up into her driveway, Clary was surprised to see her father's cop car already sitting in the drive. Furrowing her brows, she sat in her car for a second before grabbing her bag and quickly making her way up the steps to the front door of her house. Her hand hovered over the knob of the door for a couple seconds before she grabbed it and opened the door. The sound of the radio playing greeted Clary as she walked into the house. Closing the door, Clary saw that her father was sitting in his chair wearing jeans and a t-shirt with a book in his lap

"Hey, Clary." Valentine called as he marked his place in the book with his finger

"Dad." Clary smiled.

He must have seen the question in her eyes. "Today was slow so I got off early, besides there are a lot of newbies so they didn't really need me."

"Oh."

"Plus I thought you could go out to eat tonight. We haven't been out in a long time and this way you won't have to cook anything."

"That sounds great." Clary said happily. It had been a good three months since they had gone out to eat and Clary was excited at the idea of not having to cook.

"Well, go get cleaned up. I thought we could leave around 5:30 or so." Valentine said as he opened his book back up.

"Yes, sir." Clary stated as she bounded up the stairs to her room.

Tossing her book bag onto her bed, Clary proceeded to get ready to go out with her dad. She had changed out of her school clothes and put on a pale blue dress that had thick straps and came to her knees, it had been a gift from her father. Needing to something with her crazy mass of hair she curled it into more perfect ringlets and once satisfied put on just a touch of makeup. Clary glanced at the clock beside her bed and quickly changed the dressing on her calf. Opting, this time, for a couple pieces of non-stick gauze and just tapping the top and bottom to allow her wound to get some air. She then put on a pair of brown knee high boots and grabbed her phone and made her way back down stairs.

"All ready?" Clary found her father in his chair once more, only this time he had on black slacks and a light grey dress shirt.

"Yes."

"Then let's head out." Valentine stood up and shut off the football game he had been watching.

They took his truck to Riccardo's, Clary's favorite authentic Italian restaurant. Clary was so excited she couldn't help the smile that spread across her face as soon as her father pulled into the parking lot, a smile that was still on her face as they sat down at their table. Thankfully Valentine had called ahead and got reservations, otherwise they would still be standing in the doorway waiting for a table, even on a weekday the place was full.

Jocelyn, Clary's mother, had been the one to find Riccardo's and the first person she had ever been to the restaurant with. Her mother had brought her and her brother her several times for a dinner and Clary was secretly glad that her father had never gotten around to going with them or else it would probably be on the list of the places her father avoided to the best of his ability now days. This being part of the reason why she did the grocery shopping and not her father. It had been almost two years since she had been to the restaurant and it was just as amazing as she remembered it to be.

When it came time to order Clary steered clear of the more expensive entrees, even though her father had told her not to worry about the price, and went for something that was closer to the cheap side, as she usually did. She ended up ordering pasta with chicken in it as her father got something she couldn't even pronounce. Valentine and Clary kept up some conversation until the food came and Clary saw that her father had ordered some fish dish with seasoned vegetables. She sighed happily as she took a bite of her pasta and decided that she would save some for her lunch the next day. Once she was full she excused herself to go to the bathroom and when she got back she saw that her father had ordered them both gelatos. Clary wanted to squeal in pleasure like a little sever year old girl but she kept herself in check. Looking at her father she could tell that Valentines was suppressing a laugh because his eyes had a sparkle to them and he was having a hard time keeping a smile off of his face.

Clary didn't want the night to end. It was almost like the good ole days when she had a big happy family and she wasn't worried about when a normal day would turn into a bad day.

"Thank you." Clary exclaimed to her dad happily as the got back into his truck to head back home.

"You're welcome." Valentine smiled as he started the truck, backed up, and pulled out of the parking lot. "It was nice to go out for once; I didn't have to suffer eating your food."

"Ha ha, nice to know you appreciate me. Your just lucky I can cook otherwise we both would be starving." Clary joked back shaking her head.

"Don't worry, darling, your cooking isn't so bad. I mean it hasn't killed me yet."

"Dad!"

Valentine laughed a little. "You know I'm kidding. You're a great cook, but it is nice to get out once in a while and have something new."

Clary smiled even as her heart tightened a little. She hadn't realized how much she had missed this, being teased by her dad and bantering back and forth a little, just being silly. It was almost like normal, the old normal, not the new normal that she now so precariously lived in.

"Yeah. Hey, we are going to the game tomorrow night, right?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Valentine said as he smiled at her and then turned his attention back to the road.

"Good."

The rest of the ride was in comfortable silence and once inside the house Clary got together something for her father for lunch the next day and went upstairs. Once in her room Clary happily changed out of her dress and into sweat pants and an old t-shirt. She had enough skirts for one day. Clary didn't mind skirts and dresses, but she did most definitely prefer jeans and t-shirts. Since she didn't have any homework she read some until she was tired. With a happy sigh she turned off her reading lamp and rolled over. Today had been a good day. So good in fact that yesterday seemed like a distant memory.

…..

…..

…..

Clary was in Ancient History and she was having one of those days where her hand just couldn't keep still, resulting in three pages of notes fighting battling against doodles upon doodles.

"Clary."

"Hmm?" Clary looked up to see Alec looking at her. "Oh, sorry!"

"It's alright." Alec said with a small smile as she put her pencil down and sat on her hands to keep herself from picking the pencil back up. Mr. Kent had pared them up and they were supposed to be deciding on what two Egyptians god and or goddesses they want to do research over. She had, embarrassingly enough, accidently tuned out Alec as he was talking and let her artistic side take over her notes.

"I'm sorry," Clary apologized again. "Sometimes when I get the urge to draw I just shut everything else out."

"It really is alright." Alec laughed. "Besides, all I came up with was that we could each pick one deity and then we could do the research together."

"That sounds good. Do you have anyone in mind?" Clary brightened as she realized her partner wasn't irritated at her.

"I, well-" Alec almost seemed embarrassed. "Ma'at."

Clary couldn't help but notice he seem flustered but she didn't know why. "That's cool. I like her, I like Sekhmet."

Alec raised his eye brows at her as she smiled at him. "What?" Clary asked, glad that he no longer seemed flustered but curious of his reaction to her choice.

"Nothing, it's just most girls would probably pick Bastet or Isis, or even Ra, because they are easier and I quote, pretty." Alec used finger quotes around the word pretty.

"Really?" Clary said wishing she could arch a single eye brow but having to settle with a look that was a mix between you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me and do-I-look-like-that-kind-of-girl. It seemed to get the point across.

"Sorry." Alec had his hands up in mock surrender.

"Good, now that we are going against the grain and understand each other, how are we going about this project?" Clary couldn't help but smirk.

Alec smiled back and they spent the rest of the class time figuring out what they were going to do, who was going to do what, and what they wanted done by tomorrow. Thankfully they had all of the next week in class to work on the project but both of them wanted to get done sooner rather than the day of. When the bell rang Clary walked with Alec to their next classes, where they said goodbye.

Just as Clary turned to walk into Mr. Banner's class she bumped into someone and suddenly felt strong arms surround her waist before she could fall on her but. When they owner of the arm seemed satisfied she wasn't going to fall they let loose of her.

"Hey, I know I'm attractive, but I feel like if you keep throwing yourself at me every time we meet the other girls are gonna get jealous and start assuming things." Jace said smugly with a devilish grin on his face.

"In your dreams." Clary glared as she continued on to class not caring to come up with a more original comeback.

"Hey, that isn't any way to thank the guy who just saved you from falling on your butt." Jace said as he quickly caught up to Clary.

"Hmf," Clary ignored his presence as she made her way to her desk.

"I mean, you are the one who keeps running into me." Jace still had his lips twisted up into that smile of his that Clary was sure would make most other girls swoon in an instant.

Clary sighed and looked up at him as she realized he probably wasn't going to go to his seat anytime soon, or at least not until the late bell rang. "Only because you just happen to be right there, I'm sorry that I don't have the abilities of a ninja to sense your presence and move out of the way. Besides, if you ask me I'd say you were there on purpose."

Jace opened his mouth to respond but before he could say anything Mr. Banner walked out of his office and the bell rang a moment later, both of which sent Jace to his desk on the other side of the room.

Sorry this is a terrible place to end a chapter but I just couldn't wait to post what little I had. But I hope the fact that Clary and Jace are slowly starting to build up a relationship makes up for it! Also for Alec and Clary's project in Mr. Kent's class, the goddess that Alec choice (Ma'at) is the goddess of truth, justice, and harmony which I thought kinda worked with him. Clary's choice was Sekhmet, the goddess of war. The reason Clary chose her is because Clary really is a fighter and she doesn't like to be perceived as weak. Another side note, for those of you who noticed so far, yes the teachers are members of the DC and Marvel comics. I couldn't decide on names for the teachers so I decided to bump my nerdom up a level and I was tickled pink by the fact that many of you noticed!