Just Roommates
Chapter Four: Fermented Tea
Chapter Songs
Jackie and Wilson ~ Hozier
Caprisun ~ Maxx Baer
Flashed Junk Mind ~ Milky Chance
...…...…...
I yawned out of my bedroom, squeezing my eyes shut with my clothes in my hand as I walked across the hallway.
Rubbing the tired out of my eyes I ran into something solid and wet, dropping my clothes on the floor.
I looked up to see damp golden hair and a chiseled chest.
"Watch where you're going" I muttered as I went down to pick up my clothes.
"I'm the one who has to watch out? You're the one who threw yourself at me" Jace commented.
"I'm not in the mood for your seductive remarks" I said in a groggy morning voice.
"That's the first time I've heard that from anyone- less so in the female area" Jace smirked.
"It won't be the last from my mouth, that I can promise" I stood up still realizing that we were less then three inches away.
Instantly I took a step away from him.
"What? Don't trust yourself being so close to me?" Jace said with the same smirk on his lips.
"No I just don't want your gross stench close to me" I retorted like a five year old.
"Oh I see" Jace laughed, seeing clearly past my lame insult.
"Ugh" I pushed past him, and into the bathroom.
I turned the knob on, stripping off my clothes into the shower- a cold shower.
God I hate Jace.
I finished my ice shower and got dressed in my change of clothes.
I grunted my way over to the kitchen, where I made myself a bowl of cereal, and sat at the island.
Jon came in, and made himself a bowl of cereal and took the seat next to me.
"Looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed" Jon noticed the scowl rested on my face.
"Well I think you'll have the same face when you have to take a shower- colder than the water the Titanic sank in- at the crack of dawn.
"Still complaining about that?" Jace walked into the kitchen, fully dressed.
"You used all the hot water!" My eyes shot daggers at him as he got the milk out of the fridge.
"Next time, to avoid this situation, you could just join me, we'd be saving water at the same time" Jace winked.
I walked over to the sink, pushing my dishes into it, then harshly shoving Jace's shoulder with mine.
Though he barely moved a foot, he lost some milk from his cereal.
"Oops" I gave him a bitter smile and walked away towards my room.
"And the bull bites back" Jace said as he went to get a handful of towels.
"Oh? But you were only asking for it" I said in a soft, condescending voice.
"Oh gosh, it's seventh grade all over again" Jon shook his head.
"No, no, we're just reminiscing in past memories" Jace smiled toothily at me.
"We are not doing anything, you are being an annoying prick" I leveled.
"I've been called much worse" Jace looked back at me as I walked the final distance into my room, and flipped him off.
I heard Jon laughing from the other side of the door as I went to grab my phone from the charger.
I saw I had at least a hundred texts from Izzy, and twenty missed calls.
I dialed her number and let it buzz.
"Babe, what are you doing today?" Izzy asked.
"I don't know maybe-"
"Well your spending the day with me now" She said from the other line.
"Iz, I have a painting due tomorrow, I can't"
"Then spend half the day with me"
"Izzy-"
"Pick you up at twelve, be ready" she clicked the phone off as I was left with no choice on the other line.
I started to work on my painting for my class tomorrow, setting it up on my easel, that was placed in front of the window.
I worked on the variation of the trees, making sure each leaf was different, though they all had their familiarity.
I spent the rest of the afternoon filling in leave size shapes, branches, trees, birds, and the pale blue sky- until I heard the buzzing of my phone.
It was a text from Simon.
Hey loser, what's up? We haven't talked in like foreverrrrrr! Can I call?
Not even a minute later, my phone started buzzing again, this time it was a phone call.
From Simon.
"What if you couldn't call?" I mused as I answered the call.
"I took my chances" You could practically hear Simon shrug.
"So how's home?"
"Same old, same old. Everyone misses you, even Yossarian" Simon talked about his cat.
"Mhmm, that's a given, wish I could say the same"
"Oh right, you're probably drowning in Jace's company" Simon said sarcastically.
"Don't even get me started on that boy, ugh" I sighed.
"Is he finally getting under your skin?" Simon said segustivley.
"Bye, I'm hanging up"
"I'm joking, chill" Simon said.
"Did you know Izzy never heard of Friends before?" I said changing the subject.
"What!?" Simon sounded exasperated, "How could you not hear about a highly known show through out the world"
"And you thought she was your lobster" I smirked.
"Whatever" Simon mumbled.
When I was done chatting nonsense to Simon I returned to my painting. After staring at the painted picture I suddenly lost interest in finishing it and scurried out into the kitchen
I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and decided I wanted something sweeter.
I saw green tea on the top of the refrigerator, slightly out of reach.
Why do they have green tea on top of the refrigerator and not in it!?
I stretched my arm high, still a few inches away. I started my little hopping game- if you don't get it the first hop, hop higher.
Slim fingers wrapped around the handle of tea with ease as I felt a presence behind me.
In sudden shock I turned around to a sly Jace mere inches away from me, so close I could feel the heat his body radiated, which had always been so hot- not his body- well yeah his body- but that's not what I meant-
He's always radiated a lot of heat, our parents use to call him the human heater. Whenever we went camping he slept in the middle of Jon and I so we did get cold because we tended to kick the blankets off in our sleep.
Being heavily dragged into the subject I almost forgot about the smirking Jace who was literally closer to me then Samis twins.
"Could you be any closer?" I rolled my eyes placing a hand on his chest, attempting to push him back, but apparently he's made up like a brick wall.
"I could be a lot closer if you want me to" He winked as he took a step closer and our bodies were almost touching.
Well maybe a brick wall wouldn't be as seductively annoying.
"Right now I want you to be as close to Asia is to America" I sneered and Jace actually laughed.
"But baby, Asia is no where near your bed" Jace smirked.
"Exactly," I gave one hard shove and he moved a foot or two back giving me enough room to snatch the tea and walk past him, "And don't ever call me 'baby' again. 'Ya clear?" I glared over at him.
"Sure thang, babe"
"I swear to God" I threatened.
"What are you going to do, hit me?"
No, I was just going to ignore him.
Once I had a glass poured out, I took a big swig and instantly started choking.
I ran over to the sink and spit out the remainder of tea that hadn't had the chance to burn my throat yet.
I heard loud laughs from Jace as I was rinsing my mouth with water.
"WHAT WAS THAT!?" I asked with my eyes big.
Jace tried to shrug when his shoulders were shaking with laughter.
"What's happening?" Jon walked out of the bathroom into the kitchen where he saw me choking, then he looked over to Jace suspiciously.
"I didn't do anything" Jace rose his hands to show innocents, yeah innocents my ass.
Jon's eyes widened at the bottle in my hand, "Did you drink any of that?" He asked.
"No, I'm just spitting out my intestines for fun!" I said sarcastically.
"That's been up there for at least a year. Did we even buy that?" Jace looked curiously at Jon.
"I think it came when we had one of the parties"
"Thanks for the warning" I shoved the old fermented tea at Jace, who caught it before it fell.
"Must've slipped my mind" Jace smirked.
"Your whole head must've slipped when you were born" I said.
Just as I was going to continue my argument, I heard an unfamiliar ringing go through the the house.
It wasn't any of our phones, and I looked quizzically at Jon.
"It's the house phone" Jon explained as he went to the counter where the phone was.
"We have a home phone? Why? We're in the twentieth century!" I exclaimed when Jon picked up the phone.
I looked to Jace.
"It was his idea, and I think a land line came with the apartment" Jace shrugged as he threw the container of tea in the trash.
"Hey. Yes it's the hotter Morgenstern." Jon carried on with small talk with who ever was on the phone and for the second time today I felt a heat from another person directly behind me.
"I think that's a debatable matter" Jace whispered into my ear as I spun around quickly.
"You" I stated as he rose an amused eyebrow, "You need to stop it with all the these innuendoes, and maybe learn a thing or two about personal space"
"What? Has it gotten too much? Can you not take the undeniable sexual tension?" Jace took a step closer to me and brushed my cheek with his hand right before I grasped his wrist in my hand.
"The only tension that either of us should feel is hatred, I don't like you, you don't like me. Got it? You don't have to be charming and seductive around me, save it for your other slags" I narrowed my eyes at him.
"You think I'm charming" Jace smirked.
"Unbelievable" I rose my hands in the air, dropping his wrist.
I started walking toward my bedroom as Jon threw the phone to me.
I clumsily caught the phone.
"It's Izzy" Jon said as I put the phone to my ear.
"Hey I'm running late, be there in fifteen and Jon is coming too, and probably Jace, bye!" Izzy clicked the phone off.
"Why are you coming with us?" I turned to Jon.
"Alec's going" Jon shrugged.
"Alec's going!?" I smiled widely.
You see Alec and I aren't exactly "close" but we could always see eye to eye on most topics. Out of all our friends he was the least- psychotic.
Therefore he could be my favorite out of all my brother's friends.
"Got a little crush there, Clary? I hate to break it to you, but he's batting for the other team" my brother announced.
"Really?" I said with fake shock before I rolled my eyes.
"Why don't you get that excited about my splendid presence?" Jace asked.
"Because unlike Alec, you're beyond annoying" I stated obviously as I headed towards my room pushing past the blond haired twins.
It's funny, because Jon and Jace had more similarities in the looks department, blond hair, physique, and okay maybe not that much in common, plus Jon's hair is almost paper where Jace's hair looks like golden drops of sun.
Jon and I had the same green eyes and the same fair skin, but even with those similarities you wouldn't be able to tell the relation.
I slid on a pair of tights with a shirt that barely reached the end of my butt- a shirt that Izzy would consider a dress.
Once I decided I looked okay enough to travel in the city of New York with other people, I grabbed my bag and headed out the door.
I saw Jon and Jace both waiting for me at the door.
"Are we ready?" Jon said sarcastically implying to the time it took me to get ready.
I rolled my eyes as I went out the apartment door, Jace staying behind to lock it.
I stopped on the first stair going down.
"Wait, why are you going?" I looked up to Jace with a critical glare.
"What? I want to see Alec too" Jace shrugged.
"You see him at practice- and you lived with him"
Jace just swatted his hand, "Details,details"
I continued down the stairs as I stopped in the small lobby at the foot of the stairs.
"Is Izzy even here yet?" I rose my eyebrows.
"No, I told her we'd just meet her at the restaurant" Jonathan turned into the car park.
"One, two, three not it!" I shouted as we spotted the car.
Jace looked at me curiously, along with Jon as I started walking quickly to the car, and Jace suddenly got the idea.
"Way to act your age" Jace sped up to me as I started a quick jog to the passenger seat.
I grabbed on to the handle first, Jace right by my side, stopping himself just in time so he didn't collide with me.
"Move it"
"No" I fought back as he also put a hand on the door handle, "Jace I got here first!"
"Well I got here second"
"Exactly!"
"Guys, what's the big deal of sitting in the back? You get more room and you can spread out" Jon countered.
"If you like the back so much, why don't you sit there?" I bargained.
"Who would drive the car?" Jon asked.
"Me" I answered.
"Whatever" Jon handed me the keys as he clicked the open button and jumped into the car.
Once I was in the driver's seat I started the car and almost drove straight forward into the cement wall in front of us.
"CLARY!" They both reached for the handle at the top of the car.
"What? I got it all under control" I said as I started to back up.
"Did you even get your license!?" Jace demanded.
"Of course! Ooh but look at it! It actually wasn't that bad of a picture and-" I started to rummage through my hand bag.
"Eyes on the road!" Jace still clutching the 'oh shit' handle.
I looked up as we got out of the parking lot and swerved through the many cars, making it a little bumpy of a ride.
"Are you sure you actually passed the test? Who taught you?" Jace asked.
"I did, but she barely listened half the time, telling me she already knew how to do it" Jon also clutching the handle as if his life depended on it.
Jace muttered something about stubbornness and the Morgenstern blood line.
After we passed a few streets I realized I had no clue where I was going.
"Where's the restaurant?"
It seemed Jon forgot to because after giving me a list of directions he sighed as I had to make a U- turn.
After some frantic yelling and prayers, we had made it safely to the restaurant.
I hopped out of the car as Jon and Jace were still recovering from their panic attacks.
"Are you trying to kill us? I mean I know I made fun of you earlier, but was that necessary?" Jon said with a hand still over his heart.
"I couldn't help the car that came out of no where!" I joked clearly pissing them off with my "bad" driving.
"They're called stop lights for reason!" Jon exclaimed as I just wove a dismissive hand.
"Is this how you drove my baby!?" Jace asked referring to his car.
I wove another dismissive hand as I heard a whimper.
As we walked half the block, to the busy restaurant, I spotted the familiar black locks and the striking blue eyes you could see from a mile away.
Alec was sat in the patio, next to Magnus, the chairs next to them empty.
"Clary!" Alec smiled as we approached the table.
He stood up and gave me a bone squeezing hug.
I laughed into his chest, squeezing him back, embracing the warm hug.
"How you've been- Woah" he inspected me, "Did you actually grow half an inch!?" His eyes widened.
I swatted him around the shoulder rolling my eyes.
In the past few years, Alec had changed mildly. He looked more built and mature.
"Don't make fun, her height is adorable and precious" I looked up to Magnus, who was now stood up.
"Thank you" I smiled up at him.
"What I would do to be two feet" Jace sauntered closer to the table.
"At least I'm not a giant, breaking everything in my path, Mr. Six foot-" I had to stop myself, considering all the guys here were a good inch or so over six feet, especially Magnus.
"You've managed to break things regardless" Jace referred to all the dropped glasses or knocked over mugs, that had to been of my doing.
"Anyway, It's been a pleasure to meet you in person Clary" Magnus drew my hand to his puckered lips.
"The pleasures all mine" I said as I winked.
"Where's Izzy?" I questioned, recognizing her absents.
"She went to the bathroom with-" Alec started.
"CLARY!" I felt something crash into my legs almost sending me to the ground.
I looked down to see someone who was actually shorter than me- and younger.
"MAX!?" I kneeled down squeezing him in a death grip.
"You're so big now! How old are you now? Like seventeen?" I took in his baby face and small frame.
"No" he giggled, which might have just been the cutest thing, "I'm eight!"
I'm really surprised he still remembered me- sure I was at his house nearly every day hanging out with Izzy, but he had to been about three or so at the time.
I had talked to him a few times whenever he had barged in on Izzy and I skyping on the computer.
It was pretty cute.
"You're the big one! Have you grown an even inch!?" He smiled when everyone else erupted into laughter.
"Okay, so which one them payed you to say that?" I rose my eyebrows, and none to unexpectedly, Max pointed to Jace.
"Traitor" Jace whispered to Max.
"She's prettier" Max shrugged.
"Picking the right team I suppose" I smiled at Max.
He nodded back eagerly.
"Okay, I'm starved" Izzy announced who was a foot or two behind Max.
"Jealous not all the beauty compliments aren't headed your way?" Jace questioned.
"No, I think you're the one jealous" Izzy sneered.
I took a seat next to Jon, and Max on my right.
"So how's third grade going?" I turned to him.
"Really cool! We did this report on old historic figures and I was Isaac Newton! And then for another project I made this HUGE rocket that was on top of a volcano- which exploded once the rocket launched, it was so cool! Jace helped me with it!" Max said excitedly.
"You helped him with it? But doesn't that normally require work and a brain?" I looked at Jace jokingly, forgetting about the brotherly bond between Max and Jace.
I think Max is the closest Lightwood to Jace- real brotherly feelings, since Jace had been there for all Max's life- like a normal sibling.
Not that he wasn't extremely close with Alec but it was more of a best friend/brother/bromance type deal- kind of like what he has with my brother.
"Ha-ha Morgenstern, that's exactly why you couldn't help him with a science project like this" Jace said, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I sent a grimace his way across the table.
The waitress came and took our drinks, which took quite awhile- and considering max was trying to sneak some soda in, didn't make it any easier. But it was cute.
I started looking up and down the menu. So many things, that looked so good.
I groaned aloud.
"What seems to be the problem?" My brother asked.
"Well you see, I want the California Supreme Nachos, but I also want a burger" I explained like it was obvious.
"Well, you can get one now, and get the other later" Jon explained simply.
"But I want both now!"
"No need to throw a fit" Jace smiled across the table, "I'll split both with you. How about that?"
"But you have germs" I crossed my arms.
"Do you want the burger and Nachos?" Jace said rolling his eyes.
He had a very valid point.
"Fine" I said grudgingly.
When the food came Jace and I had Jon split the burger evenly so their was no contemplating.
We both ate at the Nachos a few chips at a time.
When I was in the middle of chewing I felt a tug on my sweater.
I turned to Max and is ketchup covered chicken tenders.
"Can I have a sip of your soda?" He whispered secretly into my ear.
I scanned around the table and saw no one's eyes on us.
I hurriedly gave him my drink as he took a good size sip and burped afterwards.
Charming.
I smiled to myself and put the drink back in the the table as I saw someone's eyes on me- none other than Jace.
He gave me a look, along with a smirk.
I rolled my eyes, saying it wouldn't kill the kid- but it sure did make him hyper, but it was only a sip!
Or so I thought.
I looked to my cup, almost empty when I had barely touched it.
Max was clanging his knives together topping back and forth on his chair- almost falling out of it.
"Max calm down!" I whispered, "If you act this hyper, they'll know you had soda"
"So what, I'm eight! I'm practically a grown up!" He chattered as he played with a spin like it was a space ship.
Practically a grown up.
"Yes- well no, but that's not the point. They'll find out I gave you soda and they won't be very happy with me"
"Izzy and Alec?" He questioned.
"Yes them"
"They like you anyway, they'll get over it" Max shrugged before he zoomed out of his seat running around the table.
"Aye!" Jace said with excitement as his hands quickly darted out to Max and picked him up to his lap.
"I see someone had soda" Jace looked at him knowingly, because he practically saw me giving an eight year old kid a sugar high.
"How did you know!?" Max's eyes widened.
"You think a big brother can't tell?" Jace's eyes squinted at Max.
"Woah! Can you read my mind to?" Max asked.
"Yes Clary is looking really pretty today" Jace said to Max as Max's eyes grew bigger.
"You can read my mind!?" Max asked more to himself.
"Now do you want to sit down before I tell Clary all about your secret wedding?" Jace rose an eyebrow, and Max sprinted back to his seat.
Jace to the rescue- never thought I would be saying that in my life time.
I was about to grab a nacho as I saw that they were practically all gone.
I narrowed my eyes at Jace, and he just smirked.
"So how was you art class?" Izzy asked.
"It was alright, I met this girl Maya, and she's pretty cool"
"That's funny, I have a friend Maya, but she never really talked about art that much" Izzy explained.
"Jordan's girlfriend?" Alec asked.
"Yeah" Izzy nodded, "they were supposed to come today but something popped up"
"Who's Jordan? I furrowed my eyebrows.
"This guy on the soccer team that we're friends with" Jon explained.
I nodded as I ate my half of the burger.
"So will I see you at the next game?" Magnus gingerly plucked a French fry from Alec's plate, "Dressed in nothing but the team colors, showing more skin then those sleazy cheerleaders?"
"Yes, when will I see you at one of my games Clary?" Jace smirked.
"A day after never" I glared at him.
"Not even for your big brother?" Jon pouted.
"I thought it was off season?!" I exclaimed.
"We have off season games" Alec explained.
"Sucks, I know" Izzy had her arms crossed.
"Don't act like you don't enjoy molesting them with your eyes, dear Izzy" Jace threw to Izzy.
"Almost as much as you do" Izzy smiled.
"Oh Izzy, we both know how incredibly-" Jace started.
"In case the two of you haven't noticed, our little brother is currently sat at the same table- where you two decided your inappropriate little spit of words" Alec eyes Jace and Izzy.
Every one turned to Max.
"What's molesting?"
Oh boy.
...
I'm so sorry guys school has been crazy.
I hope you liked it.
Winter or Summer?
HAPPY BACK TO THE FUTURE DAY!
Tenga una buena noche :)
Kisses.