I'm really really happy with this chapter, it's all cute and you know...fluffy. I hope you like it too. Reviews are always appreciated! Sorry for any typos, I wrote this pretty quickly
disclaimer: I do not own The Mortal Instruments or Doctor Who.
Clary found herself taking more time than usual to get ready the next morning, and as much as she tried to tell herself it had nothing to do with Jace, she couldn't deny that it did. She gave up on her hair after attempting to tame her curls and eventually settled on wearing a black top with a lace back over a black cami, with jeans and her combat boots. She applied a thin layer of eyeliner and mascara, her clear, pale skin required no concealer or foundation. She left the house early, even though it only meant waiting at the bus stop longer than usual. Her mother had asked her about Jace after he had left but Clary simply smiled and walked upstairs, leaving a confused Jocelyn to puzzle over her daughter's odd behavior Clary got to school and went to her locker as usual, then slowly started walking to her first period class. She was suddenly nervous that Jace had changed his mind overnight, that he wouldn't want anything to do with her, but when she walked into the class, he looked up and smiled, a shy, affectionate smile that melted Clary's heart. She walked to the back of the class and took her seat.
He leaned down and said quietly in her ear, "Hi." Clary giggled and Jace in turn chuckled.
"Why hello there. How are you?" she replied, still giggling slightly.
"Better now. I uh...I had a really good time last night. Oh god did that sound as bad as I think it sounded? I meant...you know...I just...uh..." to save him from his embarrassment, Clary reached up and kissed him on the cheek, silencing his rambling. He smiled and leaned down to kiss her but was interrupted by the teacher walking into the classroom. Clary giggled again, and Jace decided he loved the sound of her laugh. The period was full of shy glances and hand holding. When the bell rang, Jace picked up Clary's bag along with his own and carried it to their next class. At lunch Izzy noticed the change between her best friend and the new boy, and sent questioning looks towards Clary who mouthed that she would tell her about it in art. Simon of course was oblivious, but Clary was glad to see that he seemed to be getting along well with Jace. Lunch finished and Clary said goodbye to Jace and Simon, heading to art with Isabelle. Before they had even walked into the room Izzy started bombarding Clary with questions. She answered them all, not afraid to share her feelings with Izzy, who was extremely happy for her red-headed friend. Clary spent the rest of the class working on her painting, but her mind was elsewhere. She practically ran to her last class, getting there before anyone else. Soon after, Jace walked in, a grin on his face, and he made his way to his seat beside Clary. He was suspiciously silent the whole class, putting a finger to his lips and smiling every time Clary tried to talk to him. When the bell rang he gently grabbed her wrist, keeping her in her seat. When the class was empty he moved closer to her and whispered in her ear.
"I'll pick you up at 7:00 tonight." Then he leaned in and softly brushed his lips against her cheek, a whisper, a promise of more to come.
As Clary walked home, still trying to process how she could be lucky enough for something so...magical, her mind supplied, to happen to her. That's when she started having doubts. What if he was just looking for something physical? What if she wasn't really worth anything to him? This had to be too good to be true, there had to be some catch. She wondered and worried as the clock seemed to race and drag all at the same time, giving her too much time to over think everything and yet, by 6:50, she still hadn't made sense of any of her thoughts. True to his word, he was there at 7:00 sharp, looking painfully handsome in a green sweater that made his eyes stand out, and a black leather jacket that looked soft and worn.
Like a knight from a fairy tale, he bowed and said "Will you be so gracious as to accompany me this evening M'lady?" If anyone else had said those words to Clary, she would have burst out laughing, but as Jace looked at her, his face honest and sincere, all she could do was beam like an idiot, all of her worries temporarily forgotten as she got lost in his gaze. He took her arm and led her to his car, holding open the door and making sure Clary was comfortable before crossing to the driver's side.
"So where are you taking me?" she asked, some of her doubts creeping back as the initial buzz of seeing him again wore off.
"Well, if I told you, I'd have to kill you, and I can't hurt someone with a face as pretty as yours now can I?" Jace said with a wink, which along with his compliment, made Clary's insides flutter. As they drove toward the mystery location she couldn't help but notice again that the silence between them wasn't awkward, it was nice, almost peaceful. Clary thought about all the places he could take her. The movies, the park, the museum. So she was surprised when they pulled up in front of the flower gardens just outside of town, and even more surprised when he pulled a picnic basket out of the backseat. Always the gentleman, Jace helped her out of her seat and took her hand as they walked towards the entrance. A tingle, starting in her fingertips, worked its way up her arm until her whole body felt light as air. They walked under the stone archway, spiralled with ivy. Thunder rumbled off in the distance, but Jace reassured her it was far off and probably wouldn't reach them. Clary nodded and they continued walking. She felt his eyes on her and tentatively looked at him out of the corner of her eye. His gaze travelled over her worn Doctor Who t-shirt, her black jeans and her black Chucks, the clothes she had thrown on after school without thought, and forgotten to change out of, and she suddenly felt horribly under-dressed.
"You look perfect." he said, and Clary couldn't help but sigh in relief. They sat down in the middle of the garden, surrounded by the flowers that had just started blooming, on a soft flannel blanket. He pulled out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and she giggled when she saw they had been cut with cookie cutters shaped like small people. When a bottle of sparkling apple cider, orange slices, and two glasses followed Clary couldn't stop smiling at how perfect it all was. As they ate, they talked about everything from music to math. It seemed so effortless, just being with him and not worrying about anything. But as the sun slowly moved lower in the sky, she once again started to worry that this was too good to be true.
So, instead of skating around the edges of the problem, she said, "Why me? I mean, I'm not beautiful, or incredibly funny. I'm sarcastic, dorky, and I read too many books for my own good."
He sighed, almost in frustration and said, "You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Every time I look into your eyes I never want to look away, I'd be content to just stay there forever. You seem to breathe life into everyone you talk to and you're so sweet and kind and good that I can't help but want to be around you. Every word that comes out of your mouth makes me sigh because your voice makes everything better. I hardly know you, but all I want to do is learn everything about you." He looked down, apparently embarrassed by his words. Clary tried to think of something to say to make him understand how much what he had just said meant to her, and she could only think of one thing. The truth.
"I feel the same way," she said slowly, making sure he understood each word she said. "I don't know what it is about you that draws me in, but I can't think or talk or even function when I'm around you. I just...I don't know. I just really like you."
She looked him straight in the eye, hoping he understood just how serious she was, just how much she meant everything she had said. Jace slowly raised his hand and placed it lightly on Clary's cheek, slowly moving his thumb across her pale skin, sending shivers across her every fibre. she sighed and leaned into his hand, closing her eyes, perfectly content to stay in this moment forever. She opened my eyes to find him right in front of me. She gasped at the beauty of his stunning golden eyes. Then, almost without warning, his mouth crushed hers. His lips, so soft and full moved against hers, full of urgency and desire. His hands tangled in her bright red hair as she ran her hands along his chest and shoulders. As if their date was part of some cheesy romantic movie, it started raining, the warm water running through the spaces between them, into their just open mouths. He let out a small moan as she wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to pull him closer still. His lips travelled across her jaw and down her neck, as he kneaded her back, molding her ever closer to him. When the kiss ended they were both panting, his arms still tight around her. His lips were red and his eyes smouldering as the rain ran down his face. Clary had never seen a more beautiful sight.
Jace leaned in again, but when his lips met hers it was sweet and gentle, without the desperation that had been in his first kiss. His lips tasted like oranges and sparkling cider. He cupped her face and whispered her name against her lips. Without even thinking about it, Clary reached out and tentatively ran the tip of her tongue along his bottom lip. He groaned low in the back of his throat and pulled her tight against him. He deepened the kiss, and as the rain slowed, their breathing quickened. Every cell in her body was electrified, and she realized she was trembling from wanting him so bad. His hand ran slowly up her leg to her hip and without warning, he pulled her so that she was sitting on his lap. She traced the features off his face, his jaw and forehead, his nose and lips. She ran my fingers along his cheeks and brushed slow, glancing butterfly light kisses along his lips. As she wrapped my arms back around his neck Clary saw her watch and realized what time it was. Startled by how quickly time had passed she stumbled to her feet. Suddenly awkward she ducked her face, hiding behind her curls as he slowly stood up.
"Was that..too forward? I'm sorry if I did something wrong." He said quietly, as if speaking to a skittish kitten he didn't want to startle. She could feel the flame of her blush spreading up her neck and across her face as she slowly raised her head to look at him.
"No, you didn't do anything wrong. That was...um wow...that was..um.." Clary couldn't form a coherent sentence and her tongue felt heavy as she tried to speak through the haze that his kiss had created in her mind.
He suddenly doubled over, and she started forward, but then she realized he was laughing. His laugh just made her blush all over again. It was a sound she could listen to forever, deep and happy and she realized he wasn't laughing at her, there was no mockery in his tone, only pure joy and Clary soon found myself laughing as well. When they finally contained their laughter Jace looked at her silently, a gorgeous, fey-like grin spreading over his features, turning her insides to jelly at the glint of his white, straight teeth.
His grin faded slightly, morphing into a small smile that made her heart flutter inside her chest. He walked towards her slowly, again as if he was afraid of frightening her. She looked up into his face as he stopped in front of her, his hand moving to rest lightly on her waist, the heat of his hand burning through her wet shirt.
"I really want to do that again." He whispered, as if he could shatter the moment by speaking too loudly.
"Well then get down here" she whispered in reply, suddenly feeling bold.
He was more than happy to comply, his mouth coming down on hers with a spark she felt all the way in her toes. She melted against him, loving the feeling of his hard chest pressing against her soft curves as he moved his hands around her back.
Minutes later, she realized there was in fact an outside world and broke away. They sat down again but this time it was different. It seemed as if he was unable to stay still, to not be touching her. He always seemed to be holding her hand, stroking her knee or playing with her hair. They kept talking until the light had faded to a golden haze.
"I feel horrible for saying this, but I need to get home." she said, as he traced the lines on her palm, making her shiver.
"I know," He replied, "but I don't want to give you up. Not now, not ever." He raised his eyes to look at me, as if making sure I understood what he was saying.
"Well...you don't have to. Give me up I mean. This...I don't want this to be over, some fantasy that lasted for five seconds, but dissolves as soon as we walk through the school doors." she said, almost afraid for his answer.
"I would never be able to bring myself to forget this. I'm too selfish to ever let this end, I want you to be mine too much. Do you...will you be mine?" He asked, his face alight with expectation and excitement.
"I'm already yours." she replied, and in return, was gifted with another of his wide, sunny grins and a soft touch of his lips on hers
They walked back to the car, again hand in hand, although it was so different from the first time. On the way back he was silent, but she wasn't worried, he simply smiled at the road and every once in a while turned to look at Clary, his grin widening further. She took the chance to study his profile, her hand itching to draw him, although she knew she'd never be able to do his features justice. Her eyes travelled over his strong forehead and gorgeous green eyes, moving lower as she took in his proud nose. She blushed when she looked at his full mouth, the perfectly shaped cupid's bow, remembering how his lips had felt, pressed against her own, warm and gentle.
When they reached her house she hesitated, not sure whether she should get out or wait for him to do something. She turned to look at him and found that he was staring straight at her, his eyes almost glowing. He slowly leaned forward and pressed his mouth against hers, a sweet, gentle kiss. A goodbye kiss.
"I don't want to say goodbye." He murmured, his lips still touching hers.
"I don't either. I never want to say goodbye" she said, before deepening the kiss.
He responded with equal fervor groaning when she parted her lips slightly. His fingers tangled in her hair again as she ran her hands over his chest. She pulled away, panting and giggled as he tried to lean in again. she gently pushed him away and opened the car door, almost falling. That of course invited laughter from inside the car and a resulting blush spreading across her face. She waved goodbye and walked inside, grinning the whole way.
TAAADAAAAAA. I hope you liked it! It's my favorite chapter so far. There will be drama soon though, but for now, lets all just bask in the Clace fluff. ;)