Hey y'all! I was able to write an entire chapter in one day cause I was home sick and thought why the heck not. Still sick, but I feel a little better now that I've actually done something! Also, as a reminder, ONE SHOT COMPETITION! We've got six now FOUR MORE ENTRIES AND WE GET THE JACE POV! And also, I wanted the book stuff last week cause I need some books to read!
Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine. The plot is.
"Good morning everyone!" Jace chirped, walking into the kitchen with a smile on his face. I, however, was the exact opposite. I trailed behind him, lips pulled down into a frown, vision still blurry with sleep.
"Good morning, Clare!" Seb greeted happily, and my only reply was a harsh glare. He suddenly pulled his hand from behind him, holding a mug of steaming hot coffee. My entire demeanor changed, a bright smile lighting up my features.
"Have I told you how much I love you?" I kissed him on the cheek before snatching the cup from his hand, sipping on the liquid of the gods. I moaned, my head tipping back as I let out a content sigh. I took a seat at the table, right in between Chris and Jace, right across from the twins.
"How long did it take you to make all this, Mrs. Fray?" Chris asked, eyebrows raised.
"Call me Jocelyn." My mother laughed, "And it didn't take long at all with my husband and the twins helping me." My fork stopped halfway to my mouth.
"Wait…" I eyed my brothers warily, "Both of you helped?"
"As in Sebastian touched the food?" Jace continued for me as I set the utensil back on my plate. Sebastian Fray was out equivalent to Isabelle Lightwood. If either one of the so much as touched the stove, the food was guaranteed to be burnt to a crisp, explosive, or toxic.
"Don't worry." Jon assured, "All we had him do was hand us stuff. He didn't mess with the ingredients." Thank everything, I praised silently, shoveling some of the food into my mouth.
"Ladylike." Jace snorted sarcastically as I ate. I narrowed my eyes at him, swallowing.
"I'll have you know that my mother and brother cook very delicious food." I defended, "So there is no possible way to eat it in 'small, ladylike bites'. Go on, try it." I urged Jace, the camera crew, and Chris. They all took a bite at the same time.
"Oh god." One of the camera guys, Jared, exclaimed.
"This is-"
"Amazing!" Chris cut the other guy, Richard, off. I smirked as Jace tried to speak around the large amount of food currently in his mouth, but he couldn't.
"I think I've made my point." I declared, before diving back in.
"So," Jonathan wiped his mouth before sharing a devious look with Seb, "how long are you guys staying with us?"
"I have no idea…" I answered slowly, scared of what was to come.
"Well," Seb jumped in, "you can stay however long you like. We have no prior engagements." Oh god, I thought to myself, This can't be happening. I resisted the urge to bury my face in my hands.
"Yeah." Jon smiled, "We set the date aside." Okay, now I actually did hide my face in my arms, knowing the torture was just beginning.
"Hey, Clare, can you call my phone quick?" Luke asked, and I silently thanked him for the distraction.
"Sure." I pulled out my own phone, dialing his number. All of a sudden Here Comes the Bride began blasting from somewhere in the kitchen.
"Oh, whoops," Luke faked a blush, "Looks like I set the wrong ringtone. Sorry Clare, my mistake."
"Yeah, because you definitely just have that lying around on your phone." I scoffed as Luke made a quick escape before I could curse him out of the room. I stared at my mom, silently pleading for a reprieve.
"Did you guys like the wedding?" She pressed her lips together, obviously pleased with herself.
"The what?!" I growled.
"I said, did you guys like the bedding?" Her eyes were way too wide and innocent, "I changed it while you were gone, Clary." Like hell, I'd had that bedding since I graduated high school, and I would definitely notice if she 'changed the bedding'.
"Ha-ha." I deadpanned, "Very funny. I think we should go get dressed, Jace." "
Yeah," I didn't like the look on his face either, "Of course you need some prenup time."
"Ugh," I groaned, muttering to myself, "You insufferable little beasts. And, just so you know," I turned my accusing glare on Jace, giving him a dry smile, "There will be no prenup time."
"Oooooh." Jon sang under his breath.
"Of course not." Jace got up, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and ruffling my hair.
"You're worse than them." I rose from my chair, shoving him off of me.
"What you see is what you get." He shrugged, "Love me or leave me."
"I think I'll leave you." I stuck my tongue out at him, then realized that I was talking to Jace, and that was a bad move. Well crap, I'll pay for that. The corner of Jace's lip twitched up into a dangerous smile.
"Really?" He took a step toward me, and I took a step back, "Well I don't think I'm ready to let you go." He lunged for me, but I was already running. I sprinted up the stairs, not daring to look back as I heard both Jace's and one of the camera man's footsteps in close pursuit.
For a while, the chase continued, both of us navigating the halls and rooms with ease. Sadly, when I made a sharp turn on hardwood floor, I had forgotten I was wearing very fuzzy, and very slippery, socks. I cane crashing down on the floor, immediately scrambling to my feet, but I had been too slow, and Jace covered the distance between us in a few large strides.
"I think," He grabbed my upper arms, grip firm as I struggled to free myself, "that you need to be taught a lesson." Long story short, I was screwed. I let out a squeal as I was lifted off the ground and thrown over a certain blonde boy's shoulder.
"You buffoon!" I cried, pounding on his back as he carried me toward the living room, "Have you ever heard of chivalry? Do you know how unethical it is to manhandle a lady?!"
"Big words aren't gonna make me let you go, Clare-Bear." I could hear the amusement laced in his tone as he threw me onto the couch.
"This is for your little stunt yesterday." He caught my flailing wrists, pinning them above my head in one swift move.
"What stu- Aaaah!" My words were cut off as his fingers attacked my sides mercilessly. I writhed and squirmed under his hand, but he was way too strong for me.
"Uncle!" I shrieked, "UNCLE."
"Fine." Jace relented, stopping the tickling, but still holding me down. "I need a kiss first." I rolled my eyes before quickly pressing my lips to his.
"Now was that so hard?" He teased, releasing me.
"Asshole." I muttered under my breath as I got up, brushing myself off.
"What did you just say?" He wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me into his chest.
I guess I'm more stupid than I thought.
—-
It had been a long day to say the least. It was safe to say that my family had no idea what the word subtle meant. Finally, we'd gotten back to the hotel, and I'd immediately grabbed my sketchbook and pencils, abandoning jace and walking to the garden.
"…Can't do this anymore." I heard the voice coming from my usual spot, and, being me, I moved closer to eavesdrop. I peeked around a plant, taking in the sight of Kaelie Blue with heavy tears streaking down her face.
"I'm not in love with him." She said, then paused. I noticed that she was talking into a phone (thank you, captain obvious)
"I know," she spoke again, "I know we need the money. But I can't. I'm tired of acting like I'm going after a man for love, when the only person I love is just 50 miles away, waiting for me. I love you, Mel. But now I have to act like I want Jace for his money. I have to act like I'm a horrible person, and, by next month, all of America will believe that.
"I'm doing everything in my power to get eliminated. I don't know why I'm still here. I know he's not in love with me. He won't even kiss me, and, from what I've heard, he hasn't kissed… at least one of the other contestants either…Yes, one of the girls here is really nice… No, I can't be her friend… I feel like I could trust her, but I'm scared she would tell Jace. The other one?… As far as I know, she really is a horrible person, and she would only use this against me, but I'm acting like a friend because she's, quote 'Actually like me'… I know… I know… I love you more than you'll ever know… Bye, Mel."
She ended the call, head hung low, harsh sobs escaping her mouth. Even after all she'd done to me, after hearing that, I knew she needed to talk. After all, I knew what it was like to fake a past for the cameras.
"Hey…" I stepped into view, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot.
"What do you want?" She snapped, fixing me with a harsh glare, but I knew her heart wasn't in it. My own heart ached for her at how sad, how broken, she sounded.
"I'm gonna go now." She growled rising to her feet, but I knew what she actually wanted. Silently, I opened my arms, and she eyed me warily before walking over and falling into me, returning the tight hug.
"Shhh." I stroked her hair comfortingly as sobs racked her frail form, and I could literally feel her trembling, breathing sharp and shallow. I rocked her back and forth until she finally calmed down, chest rising and falling at a slower rate.
"Why are you doing this?" She sniffled, rubbing the tears from her face, "I've been nothing but horrible to you."
"You're not really a bitch, are you?" I asked, setting my hands on her shoulders.
"How did you know?" She let out a shaky laugh, not bothering to lie anymore.
"Well," I gave her a soft smile, "I could give you all this crap about how observant I am, and how I analyzed you and have known for a while. Honestly? I was eavesdropping right now." A blush crept to my cheeks, but, to my surprise, Kaelie didn't slap me or even get mad. Instead, she gave me the first genuine smile I had ever seen on her face.
"Thank you." She whispered softly, "I-If I wasn't able to talk to someone, I don't know what I would do."
"C'mon," I took her hand, pulling her to sit down on the grass next to me, "Tell me your story." Kaelie sighed softly.
"It started in high school." She laughed at her own memory, "I met this ass of a player, Meliorn. Yeah, weird name. I know. Basically, things changed, we were forced together on a project and it flipped around. It was honestly like a Wattpad love story. Anyways, he became part of my family, and, right on my 21st birthday, he proposed to me. We got married, fought passed the stage right after the honeymoon phase, and now we're still going strong. High school sweethearts.
"But Meliorn's company had to cut over a thousand employees, and he was one of them. I'm only a fifth grade teacher, so my salary wasn't enough to keep us both alive. We had to sell our house, most of our things, we barely get by, but Mel's got a new job right after I came here. I came here because this thing pays really well, and we really needed the money and gah, I'm a horrible person." I threw an arm around her, and she rested her head on my shoulder.
"You did what you had to so you could keep your head above the water." I comforted her, "Maybe not the best way to do it, but I can honestly say that, from what I've heard now, you're a good person."
"I'm sorry." She said after a moment of silence, "I put you through a bunch of crap, but I did it for a reason. It was a surefire way to get kicked off."
"What do you mean?" I scooted away to face her.
"You don't see it?" She let out a soft laugh, "Really? Cause Jace is head over heels for you. You'd have to be a complete and total idiot not to notice. You act like you've been a couple forever and, I don't know, he just seems to be… him around you. When he's alone with Seelie or me, it's like he turns into this closed of, cocky player. But when he's with you, he's… Well, I think he's the real him. And, just so you know, I'm rooting for you all the way." I looked down, biting my lip.
"Uh… Thanks… I guess." Of course, Fray, choose now to me awkward.
"Hey," Kaelie eyed the utensils beside me, "Is… Is that art stuff?" "Yeah, why?" I took my sketchbook into my hands.
"I love drawing!" Her eyes widened in excitement, "Are those Prismacolor?"
"Yeah!" A manic smile grew across my face, "How did you… Okay, I'm not even gonna question it! What bands do you like?"
"Fall Out Boy," She answered instantly, "Arctic Monkeys, Paramore, Imagine Dragons, Coldplay, The Fray."
"Oh God! I've found my soulmate!" I threw my arms around her, and she snorted, "What's your favorite song…"
Short and sweet! But I wanted you guys to know Kaelie's story. She deserves a voice! Now Seelie…. She really is like that. :D. Welp, I hope you guys like that. REMEMBER THE ONESHOT COMPETITION! Oh, and another thing. WHAT ARE YOUR GUYS' FAVORITE TV SHOWS? Buh Bye, until next time, my faithfuls!
-Shadowhunter5801