Just Roomates
Chapter Nine: Faerie Plum
Chapter songs
My Kind of Women ~ Mac Daddy (Demarco)
Shoegaze ~ Alabama Shakes
Ribs ~ Lorde
...
"Don't forget the dishes in the sink" I said as I flipped through the magazine.
"This isn't fair, you only won by ten points!" Jace was scrubbing off the dirty dishes- which we were by no means short on.
"A bet is a bet, Herondale" I flipped through another page.
I got home around noon after sleeping over at Izzy's and after that I had put Jace to work, making sure the bet followed through.
"I went easy on you" Jace claimed.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because you're short and a ginger"
"What does my hair color have to do with anything!?"
"Well being a ginger doesn't exactly help"
"Help what!?"
"Just saying it doesn't hurt but it doesn't help" Jace shrugged.
"What do you know blondie?- Or do you want me to repeat the question so you can understand it this time?" I said slowly.
"I'll have you know over seventy percent of Ivy League colleges are made up of blonds"
"Really?" My brows furrowed.
"I don't know…" Jace trailed off.
"This sounds like a whole lot of chatter and not a lot of work" I chided.
"Keep a busy Cinderelly" Jace hummed the song from Cinderella.
"When I get back, this better be finished" I said in a motherly tone.
"Yes mom" he rolled his eyes.
"I don't like this new attitude Jonathan!"
"What are you going to do spank me?" Jace winked.
"Do I even need to express my disgust towards you?"
"How disgustingly in love you are?" Jace rose a brow.
I pushed a hand through my curls and groaned.
I walked to the bathroom and stripped off all my clothing.
I took a pretty long shower and I spent a little more time picking out what to wear- debating on whether to wear pjs or actual clothes.
I huffed and grabbed pj shorts and a comfy shirt.
I skipped out to the living room, ready to give Jace a sarcastic remark, but he wasn't there.
I glanced the kitchen over to find a neon pink sticky note.
'IMPORTANT BUISNESS, BRB'
I gave a little laugh to the acronym.
I went to the cupboards in search of food for my growling stomach, but I didn't find anything to my appeal.
I collapsed on the couch and opened up a book.
The moment my eyes finished scanning the first sentence the door opened.
Jace walked in with numerous bags threatening to spill over and snap.
"Back" Jace said around a plastic bag he had in his mouth.
I rushed to help him with the bags, forgetting that it was Jace. He gave me a strange look but went to put the other grocery bags on the counter.
"So this was the dire emergency, food?" I asked with amused.
"Yep" Jace popped the p, "and I got movies!" Jace said excitedly.
"Let's see these movies… and snacks" I held my hand out.
"No, it's a surprise- the movies at least" Jace snatched the discs from my hand. His fingers brushed against my hand and I jolted back. Heat coursed through my veins when our skin made contact.
That's… strange.
Jace had already started turning back to the kitchen, putting popcorn in the microwave.
I got up and grabbed a few bowls for the snacks Jace had left out.
"Hey, have you ever heard of diabetes? Just curious" I shrugged.
"I don't need to worry about diabetes, I'm fit and young"
"Not after these snacks you won't" I poked at his stomach as he ate a redvine. My finger met hard lean muscle. "Okay maybe you will, but you can still get cavities" I struggled to win the debate.
"Give it up" he said as he juggled the final bowls to the couch.
Now the couches were set up in an odd way in relation to the tv. The biggest couch that would normally face the tv was on the side, and the love seat had the clear view of the tv, which lead Jace to sit right next to me.
"There is a whole other couch- a bigger one at that" I rose my eyebrows at Jace.
"I'm good right here" He smiled as he placed an arm behind the couch.
Jace grabbed the remote and pressed play.
The sound of an old orchestra came through the room and an animation filled the screen.
"What is this!?" Jace bemused, he stood up to check the DVD case.
"CINDERELLA!?" Jace shouted.
"I rented 'The Shinning' not Cinderella!" He strutted through the room.
But then the opening seen of the movie started and I found myself amused with the opening scene.
"Shh!" I swatted at him as he came to sit next to me.
"We're not watching Cinderella!" Jace scrunched his eyebrows.
"If you let it play you get off your dish duty-"
"I'm sold" Jace cut me off.
Through out the movie we snacked on redvines, peanut m&ms, popcorn, and other chips.
During some portion of the movie, Jace's arm fell from the top of the couch to my shoulders. The warmth of his body comforted me, making me inch closer to him.
Jace had put in a 'manlier' movie, he turned on Rocky, which I had never seen before, but it wasn't half bad and it had its funny moments.
We had switched turns picking the movies and I picked 10 Things I Hate About You, with surprisingly no rejection from Jace. At some point I decided that the popcorn bowl and candy bowls were too far away so I placed one in my lap and one in Jace's.
We munched on snacks until they were all gone.
"I'm stuffed to the brim" I placed a hand on my stomach.
"Doesn't pizza sound good?" Jace asked at the same time.
"Pizza!" I said excitedly.
Jace smiled and dialed up the pizza place.
Jace had put in one of his favorite movies which he said he had seen countless times, Reality Bites.
A knock on the door and made me jump. I stood up before Jace, and opened the door. I could smell the hot pizza and tomato sauce.
"Your total is seventeen eighty-nine" The pizza boy gave me the pizza and Jace came behind me right as I picked up and grabbed a twenty and a five from side table, but Jace had handed him the cash and exchanged goodbyes as I got back.
"Hey!" I snickered.
"What?" Jace shrugged as he grabbed plates and napkins.
"You paid for the groceries and pizza" I furrowed my eyebrows.
"Well I used Jon's extra cash for the groceries, but I'm sure you can repay me for the pizza" he winked as we sat down with the pizza.
I ended up eating two slices of pizza and my eyes were starting to droop.
I felt myself leaning against something warm and hard, and a long lump on my shoulder.
My eyes slid shut and my breathing evened.
Slam.
I squinted my eyes open and closed them again snuggling into the warm couch- which was a bit stiff.
"Well this is interesting"
My eyes popped open in the sound of a voice.
"It is indeed"
I looked up to see Jon and Izzy looking at me quizzically.
I heard a slight snore behind me, causing me to almost fall off the couch if an arm hadn't been there. Jace's golden arm had been wrapped around my waist and one of my hands loosely placed over his.
I pulled my hand back in terror, being this close to Jace, and quite an intimate position had my heart racing. As much as I tried to push his arm off me, he was still stronger than me in my sleep.
Izzy and Jon were both cocking a brow towards me.
Why couldn't Jace be the one to wake up?
"It's not what it looks like" I said quickly, not sure it looked like anything.
"Well it seems to me you guys were up late and fell asleep on the couch together" Jon said with a smirk, "Seems like you guys aren't so hostile to each other anymore-"
"Oh! We're hostile!-" I tried wiggling out of Jace's grip but he held me tighter against me.
"Clary" he mumbled in my ear that had fallen close to his mouth, his breath wavering over me.
Jon and Izzy didn't seem to hear Jace's small comment, but I'm sure I looked as shocked as a fish out of water.
He mumbled my name in his sleep.
It must be because he saw me last.
"Can you guys help me!?" I asked before I over thought the whole situation.
"No problem" Izzy said sticking her finger in her mouth and before I could ask what she thought she was doing, she plugged her finger into Jace's ear.
Jace shook awake, squinting his eyes in the bright sun light.
He looked down at me and smiled, "Hi sleeping buddy" his voice groggy and deep.
I swear everything melted inside of me, the sound of his voice sent chills down my back.
I cocked my head towards Izzy and Jon.
Jace, so shocked, sat up straight, releasing me on to the floor.
"I thought I was your only sleeping buddy" Jon pouted.
"I thought you weren't coming back until tomorrow?" Jace gave him a sideways glance.
"That doesn't change anything Jonathan! You cheated on me- WITH MY OWN SISTER!" He gave a 'hard' look towards me.
"Your sister who is in a great need of help" I held my hand up for some to grab.
No such luck.
"Well!?" Jon put a fake distressed hand through his hair.
"I just thought she could comfort me in your absence" Jace said dramatically.
"So you were replacing me?"
"No-"
"When did they become such dorks?" I asked Izzy.
"They've always been, it's just become more dominant over the years"
"No wonder you guys aren't so popular in the lady department lately" I muttered the lie. Clearly they still get attention but I was trying to rile their feathers.
"Hey! That's a low blow!" Jon said.
"Well it's not my fault you guys are such losers" I pushed myself off the floor.
"Are you calling me a dork?" Jace questioned.
"It would seem so" Izzy said.
"Is it?" Jace place his hands on my waist.
I nodded smugly not trusting myself to speak with the heat searing through me because of his touch. I fought the shriver threatening to run down my back.
Before I could tell what was happening, Jace's big hands pulled me down and suddenly I was pinned under him on the couch, his long hair tickling my forehead. His left hand was took hold of my hip, keeping me in place. My chest was heaving up and down, unable to hold back my reaction to Jace's touch.
"Jace" I gasped.
His hands went to my waist and he started his attack.
Unwelcome giggles sprang from my mouth and my head arched backwards.
"Jace-" gasp, "s-stop!" I followed with more giggles.
"Am I still a dork?" Jace had a smile placed on his lips.
"Y-yes" I knew what he wanted to hear but like he's mentioned plenty of times, I'm a stubborn red head.
"Wrong answer" Jace tickled me everywhere, his fingers running over my ribs to my hips.
I started kicking and squirming so much, Jace and I had fallen off the couch and I was placed on top.
I smirked as I placed my leg on his stomach and I pinned his hands down.
"Oh how the tables have turned" I smirked as my hair cascaded down, creating a curtain swallowing us.
"You really think you can hold me down?" Jace rose a brow.
"Yes! Of co-" Jace had gotten his left arm free and wrapped it around me and stood up as I hurriedly wrapped my legs around his waist so I wouldn't fall.
I heard a laugh and a giggle. Jace turned- forcing me to turn too, facing Izzy and Jon. Izzy had a phone in her hand and Jon was trying to fight the smile on his lips.
"Why are you even back here today?" I asked Jon as Jace turned to Izzy.
"What are you even doing here?"
"It was raining in Seattle, so the final game got cancelled" Jon shrugged.
"I thought I would save Clary from another torturous day with you" Izzy placed her hands on her hips, "And I thought she could help me plan Max's birthday"
"And I'm not invited?" Jace's eyebrows shot up.
"Only if you pay for lunch" Izzy smiled.
"Lunch? It's breakfast time" Jace said.
"Whatever, just be at Takis by twelve-ish, okay?"
"Fine-"
"Are you ever going to let go of my sister?" Jon asked, making me realize I still clung to Jace.
"Oh right" Jace almost dropped me in the sudden release but he put a hand on my back to stable me.
"Thanks" I said gruffly.
"Okay I have to pick up Alec and Magnus, so I want to see your butts there and square" Izzy strutted out the door and paused, "Come on Jonathan" she looked at my brother.
"What?" He looked baffled.
"The soccer gear isn't going to unpack itself" She continued her way with Jon now following her.
Jace and I let out a bark of laughter.
We parted ways and I rushed to take a shower, washing away the Jace germs.
I looked at my clothes and everything looked to hard to put on. I settled on a loose sun dress and matching flats.
I flung a purse over my shoulder and a pin in my hair to tame the wild curls.
"Let's skedaddle" Jon said when I stepped out and Jace popped up from his chair.
As I threw my keys in my purse, I saw Jace eyeing me in the corner of my eye. I swung my head towards his direction as he suddenly glanced at Jon. "We can take my car" Jace said quickly.
"Okay" Jon threw the keys at Jace and Jace with his graciousness caught them fluently.
We all hurried down the stairs and pooped into the car, because of Izzy's strict timing- and she had said the last to sit down pays for breakfast.
I had gotten stuck in the back because I was the "youngest".
Jace looked down at a stop light.
"Ooh! Tic-Tacs!" he cheered.
Jon held out a hand and Jace poured some in, I put my towards the front but Jace ignored it.
"Can I get a tic-tac?-Please" I asked annoyed.
"Only cool people get tic-tacs" He winked at me through the rear view mirror.
"Well then it makes no sense why you or Jon got one" I crossed my arms.
"I thought you guys got over this flirty banter" Jon said.
The long silence was cut with barks of laughter from Jace and I. "Us flirting?" I wheezed and Jace laughed even more-but then I remembered the way my body reacted to his touch the previous night, he made me feel warm and cold all at the same time.
And he was Jace.
ThesameJace that I grew up with, my childhood nemesis, the boy who would constantly banter with me- and I wasn't one to hold back my tongue. But Jace was also the boy who made sure I wasn't left out, he would tease Jon with me, and he always there to crack a joke when I was down.
And he's my brother's best friend.
We were the first ones to get to the diner and I got stuck in the middle of Jon and Jace since I was the smallest. I grabbed the cloth napkin, that wrapped my silver wear, and placed it on my lap. In the process my hand grazed Jace's leg, warmth spread through my hand, Jace's leg jumped and his knee banged the table.
"You alright man?" Jon looked Jace who looked shaken.
"Yeah" he sounded a bit breathless.
He didn't really look at me or my brother, he just stared intently at the menu.
"What's faerie plum?"
"Lots of alcohol," Jon spoke like he had experienced the item "Here, this side has food" Jon flipped the menu.
"The smoothies here are extraordinary" Izzy scooted down the booth.
"Where are-"
"Well, I just don't think it's a good idea" Alec said wide eyed at Magnus.
"Sure, darling" Magnus flinging the previous subject away as his his smile twinkled at us, and his eyes lingered on Jace and I with a smirk.
"Hello my loves" Magnus sat next to Izzy and Alex piling in next to him.
"What can I get you guys started with today?" The girl with a pixie cut asked cheerfully. As I was about to pardon her for another minute for Magnus and Alec, Magnus said "I'll have the blubbery pancakes and orange juice- with no pulp. Clary you have to get the blueberry pancakes they are to die for"
"No! She has to have the fruit smoothie" Izzy proclaimed.
"Why not get both?" Alec smiled across the table.
"Okay I'll have that" I told the waitress and she took everyone else's order.
I'm not one to moan over food- not that it isn't worth moaning for, I just found a bit dramatic. But this- this pancake was like a drug, a warm, sweet drug that melted in your mouth.
"Mmmmm" I moaned, all the anticipating eyes cheered and laughed.
"This is delicious!" I exclaimed.
"Now try the smoothie!" Izzy said.
"This place must come from heaven" I said after a took a sip.
Jace smirking at me.
"You should've seen him, the first time he tried the food here! He had to of gained at lest three pounds that day, he took a pretty long nap after too" Alec smiled looking at Jace and Jace pursed his lips.
"You should've of seen those two when they tried fairy plum" Izzy said as a bark of laughter interrupted her. "They were so out of it-"
"I think that's enough of that story Iz" Jace interrupted.
"Oh, come on!" Izzy whined.
"Nope" Jon popped the p.
"You guys are no fun" Izzy pouted.
"These hash browns never get old" Jon hummed.
Before he could snatch his plate away I grabbed a corner of his hash browns with my fork and popped it in my mouth.
"You're right, they're pretty good" I smiled as Jon glared.
When I about to take another bit of my pancakes, I heard Magnus whisper a jumble of words in Izzy's ear, the only word I picked up was "Now"
Suddenly orange juice covered Jace's and my lap. I screeched as the cold ice dripped down my leg.
"I'm so sorry! I'm such a klutz!" Izzy put a hand to her heart.
Jon moved out the way so Jace and I could go to the bathroom.
I was too concerned with the sticky orange juice dying on my leg to realize there was only one bathroom and Jace followed me in.
"Don't turn it on too-" Jace started but cold water splashed all over my dress- "fast…" Jace finished.
"Thanks" I said with a sarcastic smile and turned down the water.
We both grabbed paper towels and rubbed away. I did have to admit, I felt bad for Jace, wearing thick jeans. The orange juice was most likely not going to come off, unless he took off his pants- not that I want him to take off his pants- well maybe-
I shook the thoughts away and ended up hitting my head on the hand drier. I looked up to see Jace with a small smile, trying to contain his laughter.
"Having a hard time over there?"
"Shut up!" I snapped.
"Wow, felt that one right here" Jace put a hand to his heart. My eyes followed the motion then traveled up to his face.
"You have something on your face" I stated.
"Nice try" Jace said, though he "subtly" ran his hand over his face.
"Here" I walked over to him.
Our chests we're almost touching, I could feel his warmth radiating in waves. His scent intoxicated me, fresh lemon, soap, and spices.
I put my thumb to his cheek and wiped. Jace seemed a little shocked at the motherly touch, though it passed so quickly, I wondered if I had just got a wrong glance.
"I can't remember the last time someone's done that to me" Jace tried to keep a casual tone, but you could tell his words went deeper than humor.
I still played along and gave a short laugh.
We went back to the table and discussed the many details of Max's birthday party.
...
Sorry I really thought I would have this out last month!
Lady Midnight was very good but the ending kills me so much
AND 'A LONG CONVERSATION' WHAT WAS THAT!?
But yeah I liked the book a lot, another year of waiting.
Kisses.
Favorite Avenger?