Disclaimer: I'm sorry to say, but my demons lost again! =/ Well, I guess back to writing fanfic for me...
I'm really happy because of you guys! I got an extra view - one more than I requested! Thanks so much! And to those who reviewed too. Also thanks to those who added my story on story alert and/or as your favorite story. Muchos gracias. As a little present to you guys, I'm updating this early! I was super happy so I wrote this as fast as I could. =)
Chapter 12: Walk it Out
Clary's Point of View
"Ouch!" I muttered. Izzy was doing my hair and none too nicely either. I had gone after Simon had left; staying in my room was too depressing. I would always end up thinking and thinking isn't good.
"Honey, beauty comes with a price, so deal with it," she snorted.
"Yeah, well you can try to be gentler," I shot back.
"Do you want me to do it or not?" Izzy retorted. She had stopped doing my hair and placed her hand on her hips, looking down at me.
"You're the one that wanted to," I said under my breath.
"What did you say?" she menacingly growled, her icy blue eyes clashing with my emerald green ones.
"Yes, ma'am." I rolled my eyes.
She smirked. "That's what I thought you said," she replied while working on my hair again.
.o.O.o.
After about an hour more of pain, Izzy was finally done with my hair. She played around with it, putting it up in a fancy hairdo to only to leave it down. All that pain for nothing.
"Actually…" Izzy started yet again.
"NO! We are done!" I said before she could say anything else. It was a good thing I came early, or else we would have been late with all the time Izzy had taken on just doing my hair.
"But Clary," Izzy whined. "Please? One last time?" She looked at me with a puppy face.
"Alright. Fine. Last time. I'm serious," I gave up, dramatically waving my hands around for the sake of it.
"Yay!" Izzy squealed, clapping her hands together.
This time, she put it back in an up do, putting it in a twist held by sparkling pins, just like it was when I went to that party and Simon turned into a rat. I mentally winced and mentally slapped myself too for being such a baby.
Izzy let a piece of hair on each side of my face down, the curls resting against my face. Izzy just loved to be dramatic. I had to admit though, that it was really good. It looked like it was professionally done.
Then again, I'm pretty sure Izzy is a professional. "That looks good," I admitted.
"See, aren't you glad you let me do it one last time?" she asked, smirking. She could do makeup like a master and knew it. I rolled my eyes. "Okay, makeup time!"
"Izzy," I groaned, burying my face in my hands, not wanting to be tricked with the puppy dog face again.
"See, you don't want to hide your face like you are doing now!" Izzy exclaimed jokingly. "Now, shut up and hold still," she commanded. "Close your eyes." I obeyed, but not after shooting daggers at her with my eyes.
She rubbed cream onto my face and then some other liquidy thing that I guessed was foundation. Then she rubbed on some powder before moving my face to make sure it was even. Then, put on what I guessed was blush – not that I needed that – since it was only over my cheeks.
"You can open your eyes now." I complied. "Okay, so when I say look up, you look up. When I say look down, you look down. Okay?"
"Mhmm."
"Look up." And I did what she said when she put this metal thing by my eye. I smacked her hand away.
"What is that?"
"It's an eyelash curler," she said in a voice that had 'duh' written all over it.
"Oh," was my lame response. And she finally curled my eyelashes after some difficulty after saying up and down to each side. Then, she put some gunk on them, which I could only guess was mascara. Nice.
"Close your eyes," Izzy told me.
"Again?"
"Just do it!" Izzy exclaimed. I finally closed my eyes. "Smooth, you're bunching them up."
"Well, sooory," I muttered as I felt them go smooth. Izzy pretended not to hear my sarcasm.
She brushed some things over my eyes for a while, stopping for a bit before going back to it. I opened my eyes, to only see that she did something like a smoky eye on me, except it wasn't all black. Instead, it started off green, going lighter and lighter until it mixed in with black as it turned darker and darker.
It made me look…not like me. But also mysterious, the kind of girl you would want to find her secrets out. Not like I was ever going to let that happen. Just look what happened last time.
I got to admit, the makeup did made me look good though. Really good. Even pretty, if I dared to go there.
"Now, shoo. Go put on your dress. You brought the heels right?" she asked as she easily put her makeup on, almost already halfway done.
"Yeah, I'll go change." I walked into the bathroom – which was messy as always – and saw that Izzy had laid out the jewelry and my dress on top of everything else.
I slipped the dress on and put on the earrings and the bracelet, and I looked good. I couldn't even believe that was me in the mirror. If Izzy had red hair, green eyes and was short, then she would look like this.
I smiled to myself once before walking out to see Izzy painting her nails sliver, matching her shoes and jewelry that contrasted with the deep blue. Izzy had painted my nails a black, with a green swirly design on it that looked somewhat like a rune.
"How are you done already? You took hours on me!"
"Well, I don't need hours," she teased. I rolled my eyes and I set to put my heels on, instantly becoming taller. I still felt short around Izzy and when Izzy would wear heels, we would be back to square one.
"You look good," she commented. I smiled at her, feeling even more pretty now.
"Thanks, you too."
"Don't I always?" she jokingly asked.
"Psh, no," I teased.
She rolled her eyes. "Do you have weapons?" she asked, changing the subject after a moment of silence.
"Do I really have to take it?" I asked, but I already knew the answer. Always be prepared, is what Jace had said. Except the unexpected. I never really got that; if you expected the unexpected, then it wasn't the unexpected anymore, now was it? Oh, by the Angel, I groaned to myself. I was confusing myself even more now.
"You already know the answer to that."
"Yeah, yeah." I put a small dagger in a black purse that Izzy had lent me. She herself took a sliver sequined clutch, completing her usual Izzy outfit.
"You have your stele?" Izzy asked, making sure.
"Yup," I responded, popping the 'p'. "Is a dagger okay or do I need more?" We weren't going hunting or anything and this was just in case of an emergency.
"Yeah, you should be fine."
Jace's Point of View
I stared at the crumpled bills for a while, sitting there motionlessly and emotionlessly.
"Would you like anything, sir?" a waitress asked, batting her eyelashes at me. I wanted to glare at her, can't people ever leave me alone? Even when I'm like this?
"No, I'm fine. Just leaving," I responded curtly. She frowned at me slightly like asking what my problem was and then shrugged before sauntering off.
I walked out shortly after, my hands jammed to the bottom of my front two pockets. I didn't just make Clary and Izzy hate me too now. I just made bloodsucker hate me too.
.o.O.o.
I walked in the Institute to hear muffled voices from my corridor. I peered around the wall, making sure no one was there. I walked to door that concealed the voices.
I put my ear against the door, eavesdropping. I apparently walked in – or rather listened in – to the middle of a sentence. I heard Izzy begging who I guessed to be Clary, saying 'please' and probably giving Clary her famous puppy face look, looking up at her with sad with excitement mixed in those cunning blue eyes. She could guilt trip girls with that look in a snap and boys too, if not faster.
I detached my ear from the door, feeling bad for eavesdropping again. I probably could be awarded 'creeper of the year'.
I thought about going back into my room and face-plant my head in the pillow again, just before Simon had so rudely interrupted me from. Well, I got to hand it to him; he had guts and was percistent. At least he was worthy enough to be her best friend. And he wouldn't even make a bad boyfriend for her.
I gritted my teeth on that thought due to the fact that it was true. He would make a good boyfriend. He would make her happy. He would always be there for her. I banged my head on my door, sighing deeply.
Making up my mind, I flung open the door and…
Grabbed new training clothes and was out of the door as quickly as I entered it. I walked quickly to the training room, putting on gloves and standing in front of a punching bag.
I recently learned that this was a good way to energy out of me – it was better than hurting someone else and therefore hurting myself. And Maryse would kill me if I went to kill a demon by myself again.
I punched the bag, the punches making a rhythmic one, two, three before starting all over again. I punched with my right first since my left was stronger. Each punch was taunting me, like it was saying Clary, Clary, Clary and starting all over again.
Pushing myself, I punched faster, sweat coating my forehead and back. One, two, three, four, five was the new rhythmic sound. I kept my new pace up, only concentrating on hitting it as hard as I could each time.
Growing tired after a few hours – which is harder than it sounds, trust me – I cooled down by punching twice regularly and throwing one down, my pace slower than before.
Still, each time I hit the punching back, it moved back to my pleasure. It was hard work and I stopped after another hour.
At least mentally I felt better, unable to say the same for physically. Despite the thick boxing gloves, my knuckles were raw and bloody, several layers of skin peeled off. I hadn't even noticed the stinging pain until now.
I quickly changed out of the now completely damp clothes and dropping them in the hamper; I excited the room in the same manner. I hurriedly drew a sloppy iratze on the back of my hand as I walked towards my room – the light stinging of it was like what you would get from a paper cut – my knuckles slowly healed into nothing but silvery thin lines that were almost unnoticeable. It took a bit longer than normal, probably due to the sloppiness of the iratze.
I reached my door and glanced at the clock, and saw that I was going to have to hurry. Good thing I was brought up with Izzy – we learned that either you are ready fast or risked turning deaf.
I was late.
Clary's Point of View
When Izzy looked over me about a dozen times before finally declaring me perfect, she lead us me outside her room, the corridor dimly light. I felt uneasy, and I soon found out why.
Leaning across Izzy's door was a shadow, but a shadow that I could make out anywhere.
Jace.
I felt my breathe come out in a whoosh before I controlled myself. I was done crying and I built the bridge. And I was over it, so saying a simple hello isn't going to kill me, I reasoned.
Jace stepped forward into the light, his hair glowing like a gold halo. Too bad he was like the exact opposite. In looks, he was but other than that, it was a big fat nope.
"Clary," he greeted nodding at me.
"Jace," I responded. We looked at each other awkwardly and Jace seemed surprised for some odd reason. What, I thought, does he think that I'm going to bite him? Maybe I should, just so he wouldn't look surprise anymore.
I looked at his clothes; he was wearing a tight fitted black shirt that showed his muscles and abs and dark blue jeans that hung low on his hips. He looked like he always did – perfect.
Izzy broke the tension, hurrying out of the door and we all started to walk together. "Ready to go?" she asked.
Before I could respond, Jace answered. "Yes."
I glanced at Jace before staring at Izzy. She looked back at me guiltily. "Izzy," I begged, "please tell me that he isn't coming!" I wanted to shout, kick something and cry all at the same time. Looks like the bridge was crumbling under my feet.
She meekly nodded her head. "ISABELLE LIGHTWOOD!" I screeched, waving my hands frantically in the air.
"Sorry, sorry! I didn't think–"
"You're right. You weren't thinking at all!" Someone cleared their throat and me and Izzy both looked at Jace at the same time.
"'He' has a name you know," he informed, wagging a finger in our direction. I glared at him.
"You're right," I smiled sickly sweet at him. "His name is It! Thanks for reminding me." I glared at him now, narrowing my eyes at him.
"Hardy hardy ha. So funny that I forgot to laugh." I rolled my eyes at him since he obviously thought that he was funny.
"Anyways, after It so rudely interrupted us," I started, tossing another glare in his direction, "as I was saying: I'm not coming if It is."
"Come on Clary, don't be such a wet blanket!" Izzy pleaded, starting to use her puppy face at me.
"Izzy, no. And use that face on me…" I threatened, trailing off, letting it hang in the air.
"I'm not coming. That's final." I started walking backwards towards Izzy's room, planning on changing.
I made it towards the door until a hand gripped me hand and shoved me through the door. For a wild second I thought that it was Jace before my eyes meet with the familiar blue ones.
"What?" I hissed venomously. She knew that Jace was coming and she didn't tell me? She knew very well as to what happened and this happens. I wasn't exactly in the happiest mood with her right now.
"Look," she logically told me. "If you don't go, Jace is going to think that you aren't still over him and that he still has a grip over you. You don't want that right?" Izzy didn't pause for my affirmative. "So, if you go, that shows that you moved on and ready to party, with him coming or not," she concluded.
I couldn't argue with that logic. "But you didn't tell me!" I sniffed.
"Clary," she dragged out my name. "I was hoping that you weren't going to freak out like you just did."
I seriously wonder why you thought that, I wanted to mutter, voicing my thoughts. For Izzy, it was like a new boy everyday; she wouldn't get it.
"Fine. I'll come but you so owe me," I gave in. "And my way," I quickly added, knowing that making it up to me for her would just be overboard.
"Deal, now let's go!"
Jace's Point of View
I was leaning on the wall opposite of Izzy's room, waiting for them to come out. I had a feeling that Izzy didn't tell Clary that I was coming yet. Luckily, they still took longer than I did, even when I was late, showered and changed.
I sighed knowing that Clary was going to bite my head off. I was only coming mainly due to the fact that she was going and I wanted an excuse to be near her. Maybe I could even find someone that will take my mind off her for good.
My thoughts suddenly went to Samara – she was captivating and she had made me forget about Clary. But then she tried to kill me, so that was a big fat N-O for her. She had the standard any colored eyes for a blond, in her case were a bright green almost like Clary's. Not quite though. Clary's were much prettier.
Speaking – well, thinking of her – she came through the door and my jaw dropped. Izzy really had outdone herself this time. Her dress hugged her body, showing off her curves, black at the top and green filled the rest.
She wore a bracelet that was made out of tiny little beads that made a thick section that weaved in and out of each other, matching her dress colors perfectly. Her earrings that decorated her ears were matching to the bracelet, only going down. Clary's hair was up, held by sparkling pins like when we went to Magnus's party. This time, two curls on either side of her face were down, giving her one of those professional curly hair up-do kind of thing.
I heard her breathe leave her body with a whoosh as she stared at the shadow that was me. She quickly composed her shock and I stepped forward, into the light.
"Clary," I greeted her first this time.
"Jace," she returned, sounding taut. We just stared at each other awkwardly as I realized that Clary wasn't that much shorter than me with her big heels on. She was only about half a head shorter than me now.
Izzy burst out of her room probably worried that we were going to snap each other's heads off. Well, I for one wasn't. I was surprised that Clary hasn't bitten my head off yet. "Ready to go?" Izzy asked.
I wondered if Izzy told Clary that I was actually coming now. Well, time to see if I was right. "Yes."
Clary quickly looked at me and then Izzy, probably with rage. "Izzy, please tell me that he isn't coming!" she begged. She looked like she wanted to punch something right now. Or, someone. Like me.
Clary slowly nodded her head before screaming. Ah, there it was. "ISABELLE LIGHTWOOD!" She waved her hands around to emphasize her point. Nice to know that I'm that bad. I guess I was.
"Sorry, sorry! I didn't think–"
"You're right. You weren't thinking at all!" I got to admit, that was a good one. But I wasn't about to let them have a cat fight because of me. Everything bad that happened lately seemed to be a result of me.
I cleared me throat. They both looked at me at the same time, irritation written all over their faces for interrupting their cat fight.
"'He'" I started, not knowing what else to say. "Has a name you know," I informed, wagging a figure in their faces. Clary glared at me, her eyes turning into rock hard jade. Great. Just great.
"You're right," she smiled, the sticky sweet kind that always ended up being evil at me. "His name is It! Thanks for reminding me." I was shocked. By the Angel, I didn't realize that I had rubbed off on her. Not that that was important right now.
She just kept being so…pissed at me. She was like a tame cat that looked like she just found out that her owner didn't like her anymore. She narrowed her eyes, the green still visible, reminding me more and more of a cat.
"Hardy hardy ha. So funny that I forgot to laugh," I responded, not able think of anything that was witty that wouldn't upset her even more. Clary rolled her eyes at me in response. It was almost like we were pals. Almost.
"Anyways, after It so rudely interrupted us," she said, tossing another icy green glare in my direction, "as I was saying. I'm not coming if It is."
"Come on Clary, don't be such a wet blanket!" Izzy pleaded, starting to use her puppy face that Clary fell for each time.
"Izzy, no. And use that face on me…" she started to threaten.
"I'm not coming. That's final," she ended instead and started walking backwards towards Izzy's room.
Clary made it towards the door until Izzy grabbed her arm and shoved her through the door.
I sighed, waiting for the drama to be over. I had a feeling that this was going to be a long wait. Then again, did I really want to go clubbing? I mean Clary was going to dance with other people and I don't think I could bear to watch that.
Or maybe, I thought, this will help convince her that I'm not really into her. Truth was, I still was.
Trying to distract myself, I remember seeing the pale flesh of Clary's back, already dotted with silvery scars. The scars shimmered when she moved the skin on her back. I hadn't noticed before that there were shining matching green and black beads, mostly green, criss-crossing down her otherwise bear back.
I had to admit, the dress was hot, and she looked even hotter in the dress. The green matched her eyes, making them pop even more than usual.
Voices drifting from the room distracted me from my thoughts of Clary. The door suddenly burst open and I heard Clary lightly say yeah as a response to something Izzy said.
Izzy looked pleased with herself and Clary was ranting under her breath, meaning that she was coming. It was both good and bad. She didn't hate me enough that she wouldn't go if I did but now she was going to be dancing with other guys.
That reality hit me hard and as it sunk in, and we walked outside the doors.
Clary's Point of View
I was aware of Jace near me the whole time. How was I going to be able to party with my ex standing right there? Then again, he probably was going to do the same, so why should I care?
We went outside to wait in front of the wrought gates of the Institute since Simon can't come inside anymore due to the fact that he is a vampire and it was a holy place. Poor Simon.
I opened the door, blinking at the sudden light change. It was already dark; the sun had set about half an hour ago. The first of the shining stars shone like tiny shards of broken glass scattered around the night sky, shimmering.
I saw someone leaning against the gate, hands folded across his chest. My heart leapt in my chest. I knew this person's shadow just as well as Jace's.
"Simon!" I cried and ran through the gates and hugged him fiercely. I dimly wondered how I was going to explain why Jace was here. Not after what I told him.
"Hey, get your hands off my boyfriend," Izzy commanded jokingly. I just hugged him tighter, just to annoy her.
"Okay, I was joking before, but really. Off. Now." I pulled away from him, slowly, just to irritate Izzy even more. She frowned slightly at me.
"Okay, okay. Yesh. No need to be so pushy. He's been my best friend for years Izzy."
"Yeah, well, you never know," Izzy replied lamely.
"Don't worry, I only go for chicks with blue eyes," Simon joked.
My eyebrows shot up. "Oh really," my voice heavy with sarcasm. "Because the last time I checked, my eyes were green."
"Oh, shut up Clary. You're ruining the moment," Simon glared at me.
"What moment?" I joked.
Simon finally glanced around after wrapping his hand around Izzy's waist; I guess they were together. For now.
"Wait," Simon started. "What's he doing here?" Simon spat out, pointing his free hand at Jace.
Jace's Point of View
I watched Clary run into Simon, hugging him fiercely. Izzy, Simon and Clary all joked around like good old friends, while I was off to the side. Like the fourth wheel to a tricycle, silently watching everything with my arms crossed in front of my chest, my feet a few feet apart. I probably gave off the impression of a body guard. I guess, I thought, in a way I was.
"Wait, what's he doing here?" Simon spat at me, pointing his finger in my face. Obviously, he hadn't forgotten our recent meeting. I was surprised that he didn't notice me before. Or he was probably too busy before with the girls.
Everyone slowly turned to stare at me, even Clary, who did very slowly.
"I'm here to party," I replied in a 'duh' voice. Simon glared at me menacingly as if to tell me to stay away from Clary. Izzy looked a bit shocked that Simon would say that to my face.
Like I said, this vampire had to have guts to say that to me. To my face. And to point at my face.
Maybe he had a bit too much guts. Or maybe I was losing my scariness.
"Fine," he sighed, still glaring at me and we hailed a cab to Pandemonium.
So, what did you guys think? Ah, don't you love my rising action? Even though it isn't the clubbing scene yet, I hope you like it because I try to make each chapter dramatic for your patience =) Now, I was going to make the chapter afterwards with the stuff that happens at the club with this one but that would have been way too long and you guys would have had to wait a while...so, hope you guys liked it! Oh, and for the secret word, I want you guys to tell me your favorite song and who's it by since I can't think of a word for you guys right now...and it would be interesting to see what you guys like. Next chapter, I'll tell you mine ;)
86 reviews? Please? With sprinkles on top (since with a Jace on top sounds wrong...*ehm* you know who you are)
P.S. Check out the stories I beta for: Bookninja15's Raziel Academy (as well as all of her other amazing ones...she writes a lot =D), Coolxnerd's You Should Have Stayed and MollyGM's City of Bones Jace POV! They are all super awesome (like me =p) so check them out!
Also, just asking, what do you guys think Samara is? If you didn't guess already (and I thought I made it painstakingly obvious - if you don't think so, go back to the chapter and read it!) she isn't human! So, tell me what you think ;) Oh and also what you think of her? I forgot to ask you guys that...so yeah! =)
***Reminder: This is set AFTER City of Glass and BEFORE City of Fallen Angels. And don't forget to review please!