I'm really sorry for not uploading last week! But exams are over, I have a brand new shinny laptop and I'm back onto writing :D Sorry again guys!

Anyways... ENJOY!

About two weeks passed by before Valentine decided that I would take up somewhat permanent residence with him and Cece. He had sat me down the morning after he had hit me and told me exactly what was going to happen. He told me that he would discuss with the doctors to make sure that my mother stays on life support for as long as possible. In return, I would be going back to Philadelphia, packing everything I needed and moving in with Valentine and Cece.

I didn't say a word throughout the whole conversation.

By the time two weeks had passed, the doctors told us that she definitely was stuck in a coma with severe head trauma, which they were watching closely. "Even so," Doctor Wells had said, "The damage she took in the actual car crash indicates to me that she surely should have woken up by now. Something isn't right."

I nodded and stayed silent. Some sort of thought in the back of my mind began to form, but I pushed it down and resumed my empty-minded day-dreaming. I wasn't meant to scheme. Scheming wasn't what I did anymore. Now I just processed information and moved through my dull life, trying not to hurt anyone I cared about any more than I already had.

I had left a lot back at the house in Philadelphia. I had packed my wardrobe and my laptop. I even left behind my photos. If Valentine saw them, he might get mad.

I didn't want to make Valentine mad.

And so I spent two weeks in my musty room, staring at the ceiling that was haunted by the ghosts of my childhood stickers and thinking about… well, nothing. If I got extremely bored, I would open my laptop. Even then, I would only really stare at the wallpaper.

Valentine wanted to sell the Philadelphia house. I didn't argue, but Cece did. She used her sweetest voice to persuade Valentine that if… or in her words, when… mum woke up, she would need the hose. Valentine said that mum would come back to live with us, and Cece pushed that she would need her stuff from the house, and that we could sell it afterwards. For a moment, I was so very relieved that Cece had won the fight, but I pushed that feeling away.

Another week passed, and Valentine decided that I would go to school, as mum didn't seem to be making any sort of rapid recovery. For an instant, my whole world lit up. I pictured John, Magnus and Jordan's faces and a grin pulled at my tight lips. But then the happiness died. I looked over at my phone, the display telling me that I had missed two calls from Jordan, three from Magnus and eight from John. There was even a call from Camille there, and most to my surprise, one from Clary. I couldn't talk to any of them. Not without opening myself back up to that world full of emotion and hurt.

By the time I was actually sitting in the passenger seat of Valentine's car, staring out the window and up at the two stories of Washington High School building, a month had passed and my mum showed no recovery. "Don't do anything stupid," Valentine said as a farewell, "Or else."

I regarded the man with emotionless eyes before pulling myself out of the car. The silver Mazda roared away from the curve, leaving me on the side walk with a hundred pairs of eyes trained on me. I looked around at the faces of the kids walking to school, some of which were familiar. Despite knowing this place and knowing these people, my stomach squirmed uneasily. After my last experience, it was enough to say that I was even a little bit frightened.

Taking a deep breath, I walked towards the front entrance. Kids chattered excitedly and howled in laughter, their voices whirling around my head chaotically. The scene was so similar to my experience at Philadelphia that sweat broke out on my forehead.

Some kids saw me and gaped openly, dropping their conversation immediately. Some didn't notice me. But as soon as I locked gazes with yet another familiar face, I shrunk in on myself with self-consciousness. I couldn't help it. The chattering seemed to die out a little, and my ears started ringing.

An arm fell across my shoulders. I gasped in surprise and shrunk away from the attacker. I pulled away from the light grip and backed up against the lockers, holding my hands up in front of me in defence.

I locked eyes with John a moment before the surprised smile melted into a mixed expression of shock, confusion and hurt. "Jace…?" he said, his grey eyes disbelieving, "What are you doing here, man?"

He held out his hand, which I just stared at for a long time. It felt like it took me an eternity, but I reached out and grasped his hand in my own. He pulled me close and slapped my back, laughing or crying, I wasn't sure. I felt tears well up in my own eyes. "I'm sorry," I blurted out, "A lot has happened."

"Don't give me that bullshit!" John cried, pulling away and running a hand through his dark hair, "Why didn't you pick up our calls? The others have been crazy worried about you!"

"You sure that wasn't you?" I teased.

My vision suddenly went dark. I felt a warm mass pressed against my eyes and I could tell that someone had snuck up behind me. "Guess who?" another familiar voice cooed.

I spun myself out of their grip and grinned up at Magnus. Jordan was there too, flanking Magnus. I pulled the two of them into a hug, not caring about what other people thought at this point. "I missed you guys so much," I said quietly.

"Pfft," Jordan scoffed, "If that were true, maybe you should've returned our calls."

My smile died. "I'm really sorry."

"Don't sweat it," John said, "For now, let's just get the story of how the hell you're even here outta ya!"

The next few hours were the best few hours I've experienced in a long time. Naturally, the four of us skipped class. I knew it was a bad look, considering it was my first day back, but I couldn't care less. We all snuck out to the football field and scaled the fence that encircled it. We quickly found the little hill, which had grown to become our secret hideout of sorts, and lay side by side in the grass, staring up at the blue sky. I told them the bare basics of my high school experience in Philadelphia, but I think they could tell something was up. Thankfully, none of them really questioned me about it too much.

"Ah," Magnus drawled, "So the great, mighty Jace isn't so great and mighty after all. Man, us three must be awesome. You're welcome for making you cool."

I scoffed, "Yeah, right. I would've been cool if that asshole wasn't there. He was a nutcase."

"But Magus is both an asshole and a nutcase, and you're still cool with us," Jordan smirked.

Magus coughed loudly. "My, my, Jordan dear, you've hurt my feelings."

"Dear?" Jordan leered, "Looks like you have a little crush on me, Magnus."

"You wish," Magnus retorted, although his cheeks looked a little red. I guess even the fabulous Magnus could get embarrassed sometimes.

Jordan didn't stop his taunting, and started making kissy faces at the other boy. Magnus shot to his feet and charged at Jordan. I wasn't expecting him to, but Magnus tackled Jordan and the two went rolling down the hill, Magnus roaring in anger and Jordan howling with laughter. I couldn't help but grin as the Magnus chased Jordan out of sight.

"You guys haven't changed," I sighed and lay back down next to John, who had his eyes closed against the sun.

"I wish I could say the same for you," He replied, peering at me from underneath half-hooded eyes, "It was worse than you're making it out to be, wasn't it?"

I looked away, listening to the distant laughter of Jordan and Magnus. "Maybe. Like I said, a lot happened. Who am I kidding? A lot is happening."

"I can tell," John murmured, "You don't seem the same."

I didn't reply.

"You look a lot skinnier too. How do you expect to pick up the ladies without that Herondale body and charm?" he prodded.

I didn't say anything.

"So you've really moved back in with Valentine?" he asked, concern underlying his voice.

I nodded, feeling my chest tighten at the subject.

"And what does your mum have to say about all this?"

I looked at the passing clouds, feeling just as non-existent as they were. Water floating through the air, waiting to become so heavy that I couldn't stay aloft any longer. "Nothing. She's in hospital. Car crash."

John sat up and looked down at me, but I just closed my eyes against his wide-eyed stare. "Why didn't you tell me?" he demanded.

I didn't respond.

He continued, "Shit, Jace. I had no idea."

"It's alright." I said quietly, "She hasn't woken up yet, but as soon as she does…"

"You'll leave for Philadelphia?" John finished for me.

I thought about it for a moment. "No, I don't think so. I can't leave Cece again. Not with Valentine."

There was a moment of silence, and then John asked, "Is he hurting her?"

All I did was nod. It seemed like enough for John. He had suspected a lot of things before I had moved, and now the evidence must have been even clearer for him. He didn't say anything after that, but we both knew he didn't need to. He would help and support me, I knew, but this wasn't his fight. I was going to have to deal with it by myself, and there was no getting around that.

"Let's not tell the other about this, okay?" I said.

"No arguments from me," he replied, understanding seeping into his words, "Our little secret."

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