Chapter Nine:

Time Jump-Spring Semester

Jace POV:

Clary had left again for school and to say I miss her would be an understatement. I hated having her thousands of miles away from me. But in May I would be done high school and she'd be home from school and we'd never have to leave each other ever again.

It was no secret around town that Clary and I were together and I got a lot of shit for it. Mostly from girls but also from a lot of guys on the team. They couldn't believe that I would betray Jon like that. And I couldn't give a damn about Jon because for so many years he lied to me and he turned a blind eye on Clary, and someone like that deserves to be betrayed at some point. It was a normal day at school until practice came. I was standing at my locker getting my things ready when someone punched the locker beside me. I looked to my left and there was Jon.

"Yes?" I asked and he looked like he was out for blood.

"I tired really hard to ignore all the bullshit around this school regarding my sister and you, but I can't believe you Jace. You are my best friend and you are slumming it with my whore of a sister." He yelled and got the attention of the rest of the team. Nobody else had ever heard him talk about her like that and they were shocked.

"Dude, we've been together for awhile. Why are you just now confronting me about this?" I tried to be civil but when Clary is brought into anything I automatically get defensive.

"Because she's a FUCKING WHORE!" That's when I lost it.

"Jon, shut the hell up. Don't talk about her like that." And immediately Alec was by my side.

"You honestly think that piece of shit is worth anything? She isn't. She's worth nothing." Before he continued I punched him. I just couldn't stop, I was on top of him punching the shit out of him until Alec pulled me off. I was pissed and everyone could tell.

"You have no right to talk about her that way." I screamed at him. "You don't even have the right to take any interest in what she does with her life. You gave that right up the day you let your mother abuse her." I heard gasps from the locker room when coach finally came in. He saw Jon on the floor and bloody.

"What the hell happened?" He screamed. Before I could answer someone else from the team stepped up.

"Jon started it coach. He was trying to get a raise out of Jace."

"Care to explain Jon?" Jon looked pissed.

"He's sleeping with my sister." I laughed. Coach glared at me.

"Is that true Jace?"

"I mean we're together but, it's hard to have sex when your girlfriend is at school in Florida." Coach looked more pissed than he was before.

"I don't want this to ever happen again."

"I can't promise I won't try to kill him coach. He's talking shit about my girlfriend."

"She's my sister."

"Jon, did you not hear anything that came out of your mouth a couple minutes ago?" Another boy spoke up. "The fact that you would disrespect her that much is incredibly disturbing." Jon looked pissed.

"Jon, go home. I don't want you here today." Coach said and Jon stormed out of the locker room. "What exactly happened Jace?"

"He called my girlfriend a whore." My coach shook his head and sighed.

"Alright, everyone get ready. Practice starts soon." He left the locker room and I pulled out my phone to text Clary.

Jace-Hey babe. I just got into a fight with your brother.

Clary-What happened?

Jace-He called you a whore. I tried to control myself but I just couldn't.

Clary-Its okay. He was asking for it anyway. Are you alright?

Jace-Absolutely. He didn't even hit me.

Clary-I'm glad you're okay. Thanks for defending me.

Jace-Anything for you babe. I'll talk to you later. Practice is about to start.

Clary-Sounds good. Bye!

I put my phone away and headed out for practice. Things were going to be tense for the rest of the year with Jon but I won't sit around and let him talk shit, if he wants to he can expect something from me. Forget friendship, if he wants to be that way he can just forget about me.

Clary POV:

After Jace texted me I realized that things were never going to be the same. Jace took my side over Jon's and I knew that was going to be a problem. I got up off my bed and looked at myself in the mirror. I needed to find myself again. My true self. I grabbed my car keys and made my way to the mall and decided to get back to my old self. Maybe some minor adjustments but the old me before college started. No more short ass dresses, no more fishnets, no more black streaks, no more thick makeup, and I'm going to quit smoking. I decided that the tongue ring can stay, I like it.

By the time I get back to New York Jace probably won't recognize me, but I knew that my appearance wasn't the one he truly liked. I knew he liked me regardless, but I also knew that who I am now, is a complete 180 of who I was before and I think I'm ready to get back to that. I was ready to be Clary again, and I couldn't wait to show the world that I overcame a tragedy and I'm going to be okay.

Time Jump-End of Sophomore Year

Clary POV:

I was on the plane on the way back to New York. I was super excited to see Jace and the rest of them, and I was really excited to see their reaction to my look. I got off the plane and grabbed my luggage and started looking for Jace. I spotted him across the way and made my way over to him.

"Hey babe." I said and he looked up and smiled.

"Wow Clare, you look different."

"I know, I decided that I was finally ready to get back to my true self. I was ready to embrace what happened to me and this is how, by going back to my old self. With a few adjustments."

"Well, you look beautiful like always."

"And guess what." He lifts an eyebrow. "I quit."

"Really Clare?"

"Yes, I quit about 4 months ago and haven't picked up a cigarette since."

"I'm very proud of you Clary. Did you keep anything from your old style?"

"Yes."

"And what is that?" I stuck out my tongue. He smiled. "I always liked the tongue ring."

"Really?"

"Yes. I think he's rather sexy." He grabs my waist and kisses me.

"Come on, lets get you home. Izzy is dying to see you." He grabbed my hand and took my luggage and we headed out of the airport. We got in the car and headed home. Jace grabbed my bags and we made our way into the house and I heard Izzy scream.

"Clary! Oh shit. What happened?" She looked me up and down.

"I decided to get back to my old self. I have come to terms to what has happened and I decided that the only way to overcome it is to go back to normal."

"You got rid of everything. I hope that awful tongue ring is gone." I laughed and looked at Jace. "What?"

"Tongue ring is here to stay." I stuck out my tongue.

"Ew. Jace, tell her to get rid of it."

"I happen to like the tongue ring."

"Seriously?" He nods and I laugh.

"That's so gross. Doesn't it feel weird to kiss her?"

"It isn't very different, plus it's kind of a turn on."

"Okay, okay. I don't want to hear any more." We laughed and headed inside to greet the rest of the Lightwoods. We sit down at the dinner table and talk about everything under the sun. But all I can think about is that next year when school starts, I won't have to leave Jace behind because he'll be with me. Everything seems so perfect, but I guess my life can never be perfect.