~ THEMESONGS ~

Screen ~ Twenty One Pilots

.M.I.W.

18. Kick Start

Kaelie left the party about five minutes later, sputtering some lame insults at me as she left. I could care less about the whole thing, my head already in a downward spiral of emotion. Anger, betrayal, frustration – the usual.

The thing between me and Meliorn was definitely over now, as far as I was concerned. I mean, it had been before, but this just sort of solidified it for me. I was never going to see that kid again.

And I was okay with that, until I suddenly realized that that relationship was probably going to be the last one I would ever have. Then it kind of sucked.

I walked through the party, barely paying attention to the people I pushed past. I found Clary, Magnus, and Alec already seated at a large round table. Clary's head shot up when she saw me, and I attempted a smile to ease the worry on her face.

"Hey, guys," I greeted as I sat down at the chair closest to me. It was right next to Alec and Magnus and across from Clary.

"I knew it would only be a matter of time before you found me," Magnus said dryly, nudging my arm with his elbow.

I grinned at Magnus, but out of the corner of my eye saw Alec glaring daggers my way. And partially at Magnus too. I quickly turned away and shrugged.

"Sure, sure," I agreed, my eyes fixed on the centerpiece of the table. I reached out to touch one of the flower petals, trying to figure out if they were real or not, glancing over to see Alec cooled down a little.

The silence after that was a little awkward, until Clary suddenly jumped up to her feet, making me flinch in surprise. I looked up to see her already wrapping her arms around Simon's neck, who was being flanked by Jordan, Isabelle, and Claire. I exchanged a careful look with Claire, before giving a smooth 'sup nod' with Jordan. Isabelle waved me off and vanished into the crowd.

"Where's your boyfriend?" Simon asked.

Clary pulled away from him and shrugged. "He got held up at the Institute." She turned. "Hey, Kyle."

Jordan gave a meek smile. "It's Jordan, actually."

"So I've heard," Clary returned, and gestured towards the table. "Well, we might as well sit. I think pretty soon there's going to be toasting and stuff. And then, hopefully, food."

They all sat down, Claire taking the empty spot next to me.

The awkward silence ensued once again.

"So," Magnus piped up. "Jordan. I hear you're in the Praetor Lupus. I see you're wearing one of their medallions. What does it say on it?"

Jordan started, turning away from watching Maia. "Beati bellicosi – blessed are the warriors."

"Good organization," Magnus replied. "I knew the man who founded it, back in the 1800s. Woolsey Scott. Respectable old werewolf family."

Alec snorted disdainfully. "Did you sleep with him too?"

I'd been flipping one of the serving knives, and fumbled a little with it at Alec's blatant question.

"Alexander!" Magnus gasped.

"Well, I don't know anything about your past, do I?" Alec demanded. "You won't tell me anything; you just say it doesn't matter."

Magnus' widened eyes narrowed and turned into a glare. "Does this mean every time I mention anyone I've ever met, you're going to ask me if I had an affair with them?"

Alec shrugged, already beginning to look worn from the fight. "Maybe."

"I met Napoleon once," Magnus rejoined. "We didn't have an affair, though. He was shockingly prudish for a Frenchman."

"You met Napoleon?" Jordan asked, surprised. "So it's true what they say about warlocks, then?"

Alec whipped on him in an instant. I leaned back into my chair. "Shit," I muttered.

"What's true?" Alec demanded.

"Alexander," Magnus snapped. "You can't be rude to everyone who talks to me."

Claire slowly leaned closer to me, out of fear or interest, I didn't know. I was trying to do my best to look like the conversation wasn't existing. Like I was deaf and blind to the world. Isn't that the polite thing to do?

"And why not?" Alec demanded. "Cramping your style, am I? I mean, maybe you were hoping to flirt with werewolf boy here. He's pretty attractive, if you like the messy-haired, broad-shouldered, chiseled-good-looks type."

"Hey, now," Jordan said meekly.

"Or there are plenty of pretty girls here, since apparently your taste goes both ways. Is there anything you aren't into?"

"Mermaids," Magnus replied. "They always smell like seaweed."

"It's not funny," Alec growled. He stood up from his chair and stalked off into the crowd.

The silence turned from awkward to stunned. I was still playing with the serving knife, glancing Magnus' way after a second or two. His head was in his hands, black spikes of his hair sticking up between his fingers. "I just don't see why the past has to matter." He muttered.

I could see why Magnus would think that. He was a warlock. He would live forever, as far as he was concerned. The past would never mean much to him because it wouldn't define his future.

Now, as a person very aware of her mortal clock ticking down to its final numbers, I really had a difference of opinion. For me, the past did matter. My life was stretched out behind me, coming to a screeching halt. I would never have the chance to change my future because that time was spent. For me, my life was already in the past. It had no future.

"The past always matters," Jordan spoke up. "That's what they tell you when you join the Praetor. You can't forget the things you did in the past, or you'll never learn from them."

Magnus glared up at him. "How old are you?" he demanded. "Sixteen?"

"Eighteen," Jordan replied, looking a little nervous.

When Magnus didn't say anything else (and I was seriously beginning to debate whether or not I should be shielding Jordan from a massive attack), I glanced over at Clary. She was staring at the front door, her face paling.

My eyebrows furrowed when she dropped her napkin on the table and scrambled to her feet. "Excuse me," she said, practically running from the table.

Magnus was next. "Well, if there's going to be a mass exodus…" he said. He stood up, throwing his scarf around his neck, and disappeared into the crowd, probably looking for Alec.

I slowly leaned back into my chair, letting my muscles relax. "Well, hasn't this been a picnic?" I noted dryly.

Suddenly Simon stood up. "Don't even think about it," he told Jordan, who had started looking at Maia again. "You stay here."

"And do what?" Jordan asked.

"Whatever Praetor Lupus do in this situation." Simon shrugged. "Meditate. Contemplate your Jedi powers. Whatever. I'll be back in five minutes, and you better still be here."

Simon turned to Claire and I. "Watch him." Simon ordered, making me arch an eyebrow in response.

"Bro, you better check yourself before you tell me what to do again." I suggested coolly.

Claire sighed loudly. "Chill out, Madi. Go ahead, Simon, she's just in a bad mood."

A few seconds after Simon left, I stood up from my seat, smoothing out my dress. "Well as fun as this has been…" I said, already leaving the table.

"Madi!" Claire yelped after me, quickly on my heels. "Where are you going? Isn't the… the uh… isn't the thing supposed to start now?"

"They'll find us when it does." I said. "Plots just have a way of coming together when you need them to."

I made it to the far end of the bar where no one was looking, and snagged one of the bottles. "Now relax, would you? Get some wine, champagne, anything –"

"Are you trying to get drunk?" Claire squawked, grabbing at the bottle. "Jesus, Madi! First smoking, now underage drinking –"

"Rookie, please shut up. You're not my mother." I said, reaching for an unattended bottle opener. I began to twist it into the cork of the wine bottle. "I'm not going to get drunk."

Claire continued to look in horror after I pulled out the cork with a satisfying pop! I lifted the bottle to my lips and took down a few swigs. The sweet drink tingled in my mouth, and I only tasted the slightest hint of alcohol. I pulled it away to look appreciatively at the label. "Not bad stuff, this. You should try it."

Claire groaned, and pushed the bottle towards me. "There's going to be a battle in, like, thirty minutes! Are you kidding me?"

"I swear to God, you're going to be my first blood of the evening if you don't shut up." I said dangerously, taking another swig of the champagne.

"You're going to get drunk." She stated.

I rolled my eyes. "Claire, I spent a month in Montana getting shitfaced every night with Russian vodka. I don't think a little champagne is going to kill me."

She glared at me for a few extra seconds, then sighed loudly and folded her arms across her chest. I shook my head, and drank more.

.M.I.W.

"There you two are!" Isabelle sighed in annoyance.

It'd been almost an hour or so since I started on my bottle of champagne. Claire and I were now sitting at a table, and I was pacing the drinking speed to a minimum. I gave her a cocky smirk, which she rolled her eyes at and let her forehead collide with the table.

"What's up, Isabelle?" I asked, taking another sip.

"Camille has escaped the sanctuary." Isabelle sat down with us and reached across the table to grab my bottle. "Starting the after party early, are we?"

I rolled my eyes, dragging the bottle back to me after she took a swig. "Are you suggesting we need to go after her or something?"

"No, Magnus is taking care of it. I just thought I'd let you guys know."

"Great to be so informed." I said, standing up. "I think I need to get some fresher air."

We began to walk outside, only to be stopped by a certain teenage werewolf, who looked incredibly worried.

"Jordan," I greeted him. "What's up?"

"I can't find Simon." He answered.

"Well, we haven't seen him," Isabelle said. "I thought you were supposed to be his keeper."

"He told me he was going to be right back. That was forty minutes ago. I figured he was going to the bathroom."

"What kind of guardian are you? Shouldn't you have gone to the bathroom with him?" Isabelle demanded.

Jordan's eyes widened. "Dudes do not follow other dudes to the bathroom."

Claire sighed.

"Latent homosexual panic will do you in every time," Isabelle said. "Come on. Let's look for him."

After scanning the party three or so times, and collecting Maia and Alec along the way, I found myself getting fidgety. Obviously things were kick-starting, and I felt a weird, niggling feeling in my stomach that made me feel like I had to go solo on this.

"I'm going to head back to the apartment to look for him." Jordan decided. "If he's there, great. If not, that's still where I should start. They know where he lives; they've been sending us messages there. Maybe there'll be a message."

"I'll go with you," Isabelle decided.

"You don't have to –"

"Yes, I do. I told Simon he should come here tonight; I'm responsible. Besides, I'm having a crap time at this party anyway."

"Same here," Claire agreed. "Watching Madi drink all night isn't going to do wonders for my social life."

"Maybe we should all go." Alec piped up. "Should we tell Clary?"

"It's her mom's party," Isabelle shook her head. "It wouldn't be fair. Let's see what we can do just the four of us."

"Four of you?" Maia asked, folding her arms across her chest.

"Do you want to come with us, Maia?" Jordan asked.

Maia and Jordan stared at each other for a minute, sharing a look that I know I would never understand ever. I was already backing away from the obvious-soon-to-be-couple, deciding I had to go solo.

"It's Simon," Maia finally said. "I'll get my coat."

Claire looked at me then, frowning. "Madi?"

Everyone else's attention turned on me then, and I slowly took a step back.

"You guys go ahead." I said. "I'll scout the area. Maybe he's taking a walk or something, you know? I'll give you a text if I find him."

"You're sure?" Isabelle asked, looking like she didn't believe me.

Damn these perceptive Shadowhunters.

"Positive." I replied, turning into the crowd. I quickly looked over my shoulder as a last-minute thought hit me. "Keep an eye on Claire, would you?"

Before I could get yelled at, I was already hurrying to where my gear had been stowed for this exact moment. It was outside on the terrace, stuffed amongst some fake ferns. I pulled out the small black bundle and made my way inside of the bathroom.

I quickly slipped out of my purple dress, letting it fall on the floor for someone else to find. I slipped on my pants, shirt, and jacket. Then I pulled on my boots, and slipped my swords over my shoulders in their typical 'x' formation. The weight settled comfortably on my shoulders, feeling a lot lighter than when I used to carry around that rucksack all the time. I was glad I decided to leave it at the Institute. It wasn't like I'd need it anymore.

Throwing myself under a glamour, I slipped out of the back of the party, and started booking it to the Church of Talto.

.M.I.W.

I'm really sorry if this chapter was horrible, I wasn't expecting to write it. I'm also sorry that this has been so delayed.