Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Birthday
"Clary," A female's voice asked followed by a gentle shake. "Clary, wake up."
I groaned in reply, trying to keep dream Jace alive, but soon he vanished and I frowned.
"Clary, come on, wake up." I recognized that voice to be Lolo's and I as I tried to move, my neck and body ached. Then I remembered that I had fallen asleep on the coach.
I opened my eyes about to tell her to go away but then, "Happy birthday!" was chorused around the room. Lolo pulled me into a sitting position and hugged me around the neck.
"I'm sorry I had to wake you up, but all your friends showed up to celebrate your birthday with us." She whispered, "And happy birthday, seventeen year old."
"Thank you." I replied as I pulled away from her. I saw my roommates, the three Lightwood kids, Brad Walker, Andrew Wheating, Tyson Gay, and Galen Rupp. "Hi, everyone."
Several laughed but Max ran up to me, holding a gift bag. "Clary! Open my present first!"
"Our present." Alec corrected kindly, smiling down at his brother. I picked Max up and placed him in my lap.
"Here." Max put the present in my hand, "Open it."
"Okay, thank you." I started to open the bag.
"Wait!" Brad shouted, "Wait. Let's eat first, I'm starving."
Jace laughed, "I can tell I'll like you, man. Good call."
I set a frowning Max on the ground and stood up, "Come on, Max. I'll open it later." He seemed okay with that as he ran into the kitchen.
"Clary." Isabelle walked up and hugged me, "I want to sit by you at the table."
"Alright, sure." I nodded as Lolo and Abby pushed me into the kitchen, with Isabelle walking beside me. We all entered the kitchen and I gasped.
On our circle kitchen table and island, was a feast of food. There were bagels, omelets, pancakes, fruit, and croissants. In the middle of the table was a lit candle in the middle of a croissants.
"Wow, this looks great." I said as Isabelle ushered me to a seat and sat down beside me.
"It's all for you, Clary. I cooked it all for you." Brad said, sitting down beside Lolo across from me.
"You cooked this?" I asked, he nodded, "Wow."
"Don't complement or say anything before you try it!" Brad smiled, motioning a hand for us to dig in. They all sang for me and I blew out the candle before we all made our plates and ate. The food was delicious.
"Brad, you are moving in. This food is so great." Abby said.
"No way, we are keeping him in our room." Tyson shook his head. "We've been eating like this almost every morning."
"I'm so jealous." Lolo said and I nodded.
"Me too." Isabelle agreed from beside me, "We don't have anyone that can cook in our room."
Brad laughed, "Well thank you all."
"Gosh," Marti shook her head, "This is fantastic. It feels like so long since we have had a great meal."
"Hey! I made us all French toast the other day!" Courtney objected, looking at her five roommates.
"And your mom, Marti, bought us all that food." Allyson agreed.
"Which lasted like two days." I said as some people laughed.
"I have an idea." Galen interrupted, "Since we all live on the same floor why doesn't Brad make breakfast for everyone?"
"That's a great idea." Jace nodded, "And then we can come over and steal some of the girl's food."
I smiled at my secret boyfriend, "Awesome plan. Thank you, Brad." Everyone repeated me with thanking the javelin thrower. He responded with multiple you're welcome's. We cleaned all off the table.
"Present time!" Max announced, throwing his plate into the sink, making a loud pang but no broken sounds. "I'm first!" Max got behind me and pushed me back into the living room.
"Before we start, I'm sorry but we have to go." Tyson said motioning to himself Brad, Andrew, and Galen.
"Aww," I said hugging the four of them, "Thanks for coming." The rest of them hugged or shook their hands, besides Max who just frowned deeply. The four left.
"Present time!" Max demanded, pushing me over to the coach and sitting me down. He pushed his present bag in my hands.
"Okay, Max, I'm sorry." I replied taking the present and opening it. I opened the card first and read that Max, Alec, and Isabelle all signed it so Jace must've gotten me a different present. I reached into the bag again and pulled out a box; there was a giant gummy bear in it.
"It's a gummy bear lamp!" Isabelle explained.
"No way!" I said in disbelief, "That's incredible. Thank you."
"Do you like it?" Max asked.
"I love it. Thank you." I told him honestly. He smiled before running over to Alec and sitting beside him.
"Clary," Lolo said, "This morning the fabulous five dropped off their present." She brought out a large gift basket.
She set in my hand and I opened it; inside was personalized m&m candies, an Olympic key chain, chocolate truffles, a personalized tall coffee cup, and lots of different types of candy. I voiced my thanks, even though they weren't there. Deciding I would thank them later, I moved on.
Brad Walker, Andrew Wheating, Tyson Gay, Galen Rupp, and a lot of other signed names I found got me a mug that said '6,205 days old, but who's counting?'. They also bought me a lot of candy, a sweet note, and a new sketchpad and colored pencils. They only knew because it was that fact that I liked to draw was one of the many topics we had discussed yesterday.
Marti, Allyson, Courtney, and Abby wrote me a kind note. The girls bought me an Olympic rings bracelet. They also put together a photo album about my Olympic experience in pictures, there were pictures of the first day I got here up until today when we were all sitting and eating at the table. I loved that gift more than I could say and the last gift they bought me made me laugh.
"Make your own friendship bracelet kit?" I asked laughing.
"Yes!" Marti said excitedly.
"We have all wanted to make them, so why don't we all make them together?" Courtney asked.
"Alright, sure!" I nodded still laughing.
"I can't believe that we gave you a gift that is for a five year old." Abby laughed from her seat.
"I know!" We all laughed, "Thank you all. We'll make these later!"
Lastly, Lolo gave me a gift that had two necklaces; one said soul friend and the other said, "Anam cara? What does that mean?"
"It means best friend." Lolo shrugged, "I thought they were cute, something we could both wear."
"It is so cute." I agreed hugging her. "Thank you."
After that, everyone left the room saying that they had to go train, do an interview, or just that they need to get home. Jace stayed back, saying he would be home later. Soon enough, we were alone seated in my living room.
Jace hugged me, wrapping me up in a warm hug. "Happy birthday, babe."
"Thank you." I replied, resting my head on his shoulder.
He let go of me all to soon, "I got you something." Jace said reaching into his jacket pocket and pulling out a grey box with a pink ribbon wrapped around him, a card underneath it. "Clary, I know we have only been dating for three days, but I wanted to get you this. You mean so much to me and I love you. Just know you don't have to wear it, not if you don't want to."
I nodded, a little scared, and read the sweet, loving card that he wrote. Then I gently pulled off the ribbon and opened the box. Nestled inside was a beautiful bracelet that was shaped into the infinity symbol. Along with a skinny felt silver band which would wrap around my wrist. On one side around one curve of the symbol were five green gems, across from that were five gold gems. Across the back of the symbol was 8-1-12.
"It's our birth-stones." Jace whispered, "Green for August and gold for November. And August first of this year is our anniversary."
"It's so beautiful." I gently touched the gems. "Thank you."
"Will you wear it?" He asked.
"Of course," I whispered, "Of course I'll wear it."
Jace grinned a grin that made my heart quicken and took the ring out of the case and slid it onto my fourth finger on my right hand. I was glad he didn't put it on my left hand because that would look like we were engaged or even married.
I couldn't help my arms as I threw them around him. "Thank you so much. I love you."
"I love you too, Clary." He laughed lightly, "Your mother wants me to bring you back so we can all have lunch together. She's still not allowed in here."
I nodded, "This is the best birthday ever."
"I know what could make it better..." Jace said leaning his head down to kiss me. The sparks flew through my body and made me gasp before he pulled away, "We're leaving tomorrow." He sighed.
"What?" I asked, my mind still in a daze from the kiss.
"My family and I, and I think Luke too, are leaving tomorrow. Because school starts on Wednesday."
"It's Friday," I pulled away from him, "Why do you have to leave tomorrow?"
"School supplies, new clothes, all the shit that Isabelle needs." Jace rolled his golden eyes. "Unfortunately, I have to go with them."
I frowned, "I want you to stay."
"Trust me, I want to stay too." Jace said.
My frown deepened, "I'll miss you."
"Clary, come here." Jace pulled my arm and soon his arms were wrapped around me again. "It will only be for a few days, come on, don't get sad on your birthday."
"You're right. We'll live." I nodded pushing myself closer to his embrace. I kissed his neck lightly and then grimaced as I pulled away from him, "Let's go get this stupid lunch over with."
"That's my girl." Jace smiled, kissing my forehead. He intertwined our fingers and tugged my hand, "Come on."
I looked down at myself, "I think I should change."
"That reminds me, why did you sleep on the couch last night?" He brushed some hair out of my eyes, absently as if he didn't know he was doing it, "That had to be uncomfortable."
"It was." I rolled my eyes, "I fell asleep watching archery." I shrugged before letting go of his hand and kissing his cheek, "I'll be back in a minute."
Jace nodded, sitting down on the coach. His hands twitching as he looked at the mess I made with the wrapping and tissue paper.
Not feeling comfortable with taking a shower with my boyfriend in the next room, I simply change into jeans and a black shirt that had USA printed in white and a small American flag under it. Over that I wore a black jacket that had the Nike symbol on one side and the Olympic rings on the other side, on the arm with over my bicep was an American flag. Then on the back in white letters was printed 'The United States of America', I loved this jacket; it was one that I had gotten for free.
I brushed my embarrassing curly hair and brushed my teeth and then I walked back outside, into the living room. I shouldn't of been shocked, but when I saw the abnormally clean room with my presents stacked on the lap of Jace, I couldn't help but gasp.
Jace stood up at my entrance, holding my gifts in two hands.
"I didn't want to go into your room while you were changing." He explained, "I can go set these on your bed."
I nodded thanking him and told him that my bed was the one pushed up against the wall. He nodded back, left, and returned a moment later. I thanked him again before we both left the room.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARY!" My mom screeched as soon as I entered the room, followed by a huge hug. "Come in, come in, come in!" She said, grasping my hand and pulling me into a sitting position on the coach.
I saw that my two family members, all the Lightwoods, Lolo, and my coach, Jeff Morgan, were all in the room. Jeff held a present and the Lightwoods all wore smiles.
Luke, who sat beside me, wrapped an arm around my shoulders and gave me a side hug, "Happy birthday."
"Thank you." I replied, smiling at my step-dad.
"Clary," Robert brought my attention to him, "this present is from all your mother and Luke and also myself and Maryse. We all chipped in to buy it."
Maryse smiled and gave me a long heavy box wrapped in happy birthday paper. She gently placed it in my lap, mindful of my hurt leg. I thanked her as she wished me a happy birthday and started to open the present. I gasped when the paper was gone.
"It's a 10-can vending fridge!" Maryse bubbled happily. "It's very retro!"
"That's the truth." I whispered looking at the coca-cola based vertical tall red fridge.
"Oh! Today I got a message from the school that said Isabelle and you are staying in the same room together!" Mrs. Lightwood announced.
"Really?"
"It's true, roommate!" Isabelle grinned.
I smiled back. Our school, Brooklyn Glass Academy, was a boarding school almost an hour away from my house in Brooklyn. It was a great school and I enjoyed attending it, sadly though this was my senior year which meant it was my last year at B.G.A.
"That's great!" I said accepting Isabelle's hug when she threw her arms around me.
Coach Morgan walked up next, handing me his present.
"Happy birthday, kid." He smiled and patted my shoulder, fondly.
"Thanks." I said, smiling back and opening the little box.
Inside was a black necklace with a small silver running shoe at the end of it. I thanked him again and pulled it on. Not liking it there, sense I already had my small cross necklace - also given to me by Coach-, so I wrapped it around three times around my wrist, as a bracelet. On the opposite arm as the gift Jace had given me.
"I like it like that." Coach said, looking at the necklace turned into a bracelet. I nodded.
"Me too."
The next day, again I walked over to the other apartments to say goodbye to Jace and the rest of his family. It was a long tearful goodbye with lots of secretly kissing Jace. We had to keep it a secret from our families because if Mom found out, the world would know. Quickly.
I hugged them all and watched them leave before returning to my room. On my bed was a present, with blue wrapping paper and a red bow. A late birthday present? I walked to it and opened the card, that was taped to the top of it.
Clary,
This is late because of your stubborn ways. Ryan, Tyler, and I couldn't figure out what to get you and on top of that we had races. So we are sorry it is late, but we hope you love it.
Michael
I rolled my eyes at the card and opened the present, and laughed. Inside were a pair of neon yellow Nike running shoes, signed by the three swimmers. I took the shoes out of the box, pausing a minute to admire them, and then looked at the bottom of the box. There was more.
Also in the box was a two-hundred dollar gift card to Subway, a long sweet note from Ryan, and a large picture with multiple frames which held a picture of the three boys and I smiling at the camera, in the next was a funny picture of the four of us, and in the last was a napkin with numbers on it. They wrote there three names and then put there ten digit numbers under each of them. And then they had a short note that read, 'Don't hand these out! Keep in touch!'
I laughed again, and called each of the boys to thank them. After that, I went with Marti to watch the gymnastics.
As the Olympics drew to a close, a week and a half later; Michael Phelps made history for the second time, the fabulous five won gold as did the USA soccer team and Courtney with her water polo and, needless to say, we were all very excited for them.
On the last day before leaving, the six girls stood in a circle-holding each other's hands.
"This is not the last time we are going to see each other." Abby spoke with absolute clarity, "Even though Courtney and Marti are going back to California. Allyson's going back to Oregon. And Clary, Lolo, and I are going back to New York. This will not be the last time we see each other. Listen, I love you all and I can honestly say that you've all become my best friends."
We all nodded in agreement to that.
Abby suddenly seemed nervous, "If you guys would like, we could all walk together during the closing ceremony."
"That's a great idea." Allyson nodded, smiling.
"I think we should." I smiled. The others all nodded and said words of agreement.
"Okay, great. Then let's go! It's about to begin!" Abby looked at the time and said. We all scrambled to get dressed in our proper clothes.
Then we walked all the way down to the front of the hotel, together. As soon as we got there, though, we saw the boys from track and everyone else we had become friends with. We separated to talk to them. I hugged all the boys.
"I'm going to miss you guys." I told them after I hugged Brad.
"We are going to miss you too." Andrew said smiling sadly.
"Clary! Guess what?" Tyson Gay asked.
"What?" I smiled.
"Trell, Manteo, and I moving to Brooklyn!"
"As roommates." Trell added and Manteo clapped both of them on the back.
"That's amazing! I'll have to show you around." I smiled wider.
"Well of course you will, girl." Manteo grinned, side hugging me.
I nodded, "I will."
"That's great because I already live in New York too and we could have another Olympic party!" Brad announced.
"Hey! I live in New York City!" Andrew added.
"USA WILL BE WALKING IN TEN MINUTES, PLEASE GET READY!" The announcer shouted over the intercom in several different languages. I smiled and hugged the guys all again before walking back over to find my roommates.
I saw that Abby was talking to her team and decided not to bug her as someone tapped on my shoulder. I looked around and saw Michael, Ryan, Tyler Clary, Missy Franklin, Allyson Schmidt, and several other swimmers I didn't know.
"What? You're not going to tell us goodbye?" Ryan asked, mocking hurt.
"No! Of course I was!" I hugged them all.
"Oh, Clary! I'm going to miss you! I wish we had more time to talk!" Missy said as I hugged her.
"I know! We'll keep in touch though!" I promised, "Even though you're going back to Colorado and I'm going to New York. I'm staying in touch with all of you!"
"You better." Michael eyed me.
I laughed, "I will! I promise!"
Michael smiled, "Alright, we'll keep in touch too."
I nodded and looked around me, "I better get going but I'm sure I'll see you guys later."
Missy hugged me again, "Of course."
After that, I walked back over to where my roommates had gathered and we started walking a few minutes later. As we made our way to the USA area of the arena, we ran into the fabulous five and told them that they'd better keep in touch and all that jazz. The closing ceremony was filled with tears, laughs, and oh's and ah's as we watched everything occur.
And as I watched all my new friends and old eyes fill up in cheer as bands preformed and people danced, I couldn't help but feel that this was the greatest feeling of my life. Then I remembered the last time I thought that and I smiled.
The next day, was our plane home. Almost every Olympic athlete from the United States had to fly home on the same plane, so you can imagine how much fun -and how many pictures- was had during that plane ride. When we arrived back home it was ten in the morning, and to me it felt like four in the afternoon. Ugh, I thought, jet-lag.
We landed in Pittsburgh to thousands of screaming fans and more pictures being taken. Lolo, Abby, and I said goodbye to all over our good friends- with tears and all- and boarded the flight to New York City along with a few other Olympians. When we got to NYC it was almost nine o'clock at night and I felt like passing out, my jet lag after all was six hours later.
My mom and Jessica met up with me at that airport, around the baggage claim area.
"Hey, honey!" My mom said, hugging me around the neck.
"Hi, Mom, Jessica." I replied lazily as I saw multiple people taking pictures and a lot of people screaming, by this time I had gone deaf in one
"Oh? Are you tired? I'm sorry." Mom frowned.
"Yeah, I am. How are you so peppy?" I asked with a yawn.
Mother shrugged, "Coffee."
"Clary?" Jessica asked, "I'm really sorry about this but you are booked to do the Late Night show with Jimmy Fallon tonight."
I gaped at her, "Are you serious?"
"Yes, I'm sorry. Actually we have to get there pretty soon."
I didn't have the energy to fight her, "Alright. But there better be a good hair and make-up department."
I hugged Lolo and Abby, knowing I would see them later, and Jessica hailed a cab. I logged my three suitcases and two huge bags - which held new birthday presents- and got into the cab with my mother and agent.
About an hour later, I was awoken from the nap I didn't know I had.
"Clary? Clary! Wake up!" Jessica shook me, "Come on. You look beautiful and you're about to go on."
That's when I realized I had fallen asleep in the hair and make-up department. She was right though, as I looked in the mirror I saw a red-haired beauty.
However, I didn't get to look at the girl for more than a minute because all of a sudden I heard, "Please welcome my second guest, Clary Fray! Olympic gold medalist!"
Jessica pushed me and my braces and all to where I was supposed to be. She effectively knocked over a table with a lamp on it, braking the thing with a loud crash. I apologized as much as I could before almost running to get on the air. And then I was there on stage with Jimmy Fallon and the Phelps twins, shaking there hands in greeting.
Jimmy sat down behind his desk and I sat in a comfortable blue chair, remembering to cross my legs and sit up straight.
"Hey, Clary. How are you?" Jimmy greeted me.
"I have to apologize to you." I said the guilt becoming to much.
"Why, what happened?" The host asked.
"I broke a lamp in your dressing room." I replied in embarrassment.
"You did? Why would you do that?"
"I didn't mean to. I'm so sorry! I was just running to get out here and I ran into a table with the lamp on it and they both fell."
"I can't believe you-" The mug on my left on a fancy coaster started to tip over, right onto Oliver Phelps aka George Weasley.
Oliver caught it quickly, laughing. "That's okay-"
I was shocked, "Oh no! Did I do that?"
"It's alright. I'm fine." Oliver smiled.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! Oh, this is why I'm never invited anywhere! I'm sorry!" I apologized quickly. Oliver laughed it off as Jimmy asked.
"Well, Clary, how are you?"
"Not to great Jimmy, my first late night show appearance and I spill water on Oliver Phelps. I'm so sorry."
"I promise you it's fine. None even got on me."
"Alright, good. I love your movies. You two always made me laugh in Harry Potter." I told them honestly.
"Oh great, cheers. Just give me a medal and I'll be fine." I laughed along with the three men and, realizing for the first time that I had three metals around my neck and two in my hand I took them off and handed each of them a gold. Placing my other two gold and silver on Jimmy's desk.
Jimmy gasped, "Wow. This is incredible. They're really heavy aren't they?" He asked.
"Yes, they give you a sore neck." I nodded from experience.
"I'm sure they do." Jimmy put one around his neck and the crowd cheered, "Wow, I look fantastic. Oliver, James, put one on for yourselves."
"That's great. Can I keep one?" James asked, pulling the medal around his neck.
Jimmy laughed, "I'm sure Clary would love that, James. She worked for seven years to get gold, I'm sure she wouldn't mind giving you each one." The twins and I all laughed again.
"At one point wasn't there what? Ten minutes between each race." Jimmy asked, talking about the first real thing.
"Yes, between my 400 meter and 800 meter- I think- I had fifteen minutes to rest." I replied.
"That's not even resting though, and you didn't even sit down did you?"
"I did," I nodded, "only for like a minute but I did then I had to stretch and get in line for another race."
"We have to take a commercial break, but when we come back Clary will still be here!" Jimmy looked toward the camera. Three minutes later, "Clary?" Jimmy asked.
"Yes?"
"Do you ever like to show off?"
I paused, "Define showing off." Jimmy laughed. "Because sometimes I do like to go to the gym and beat out a few guys with bench press." I admitted, "That's always fun."
Jimmy laughed again, "Well, Clary it was great to meet you and I hope you'll come back someday."
I nodded, "Definitely."
"Thank you for being here." He shook my hand across the desk and reluctantly pulled off my gold medal from around his neck, "I guess I have to give you this back. Happy late birthday by the way. Clary Fray everyone!" The crowd cheered as I smiled, got all my medals back and the twins and I walked off stage.
Jimmy talked to the three of us backstage after the show, we all took pictures and posted them on twitter before Jessica, Mom, and I all stayed in a hotel as I was already passed out by the time we entered the lobby.
Still, with one final thought before I went to sleep I couldn't help but think that it was good to be home.
A/N: Thanks for reading!