Hey! I just want to take this space to start something new. I'm going to start answering a question (or 2) a chapter. If you want to ask a question about anything, feel free to leave a review and I'll pick my 1-2 favourite questions to answer. It could be about anything – the story, my favourites from the books the story is based on or just trivial things you want to know! Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I have enjoyed writing it!
Jon was still asleep on the floor when I woke up the next morning. I tread carefully around him before dipping in the bathroom to get changed. Opting for my usual attire, I penned a quick thank you note to Jon before slipping out early to have a slow walk to school. By the time I arrived at school, Isabelle was already waiting for me in form, sitting on the edge of her seat. Once I sat down next to her, she grabbed my hand excitedly.
"You'll never guess what Clary!" She squeaked, rocking back and forth like a mad woman. I had a feeling where she was going with this, but I decided to play along – she would probably appreciate it more.
"What?" I asked, keeping my face as confused looking as possible. She looked left and right before lowering her voice to an excited whisper.
"Simon and I kissed!" She tucked her hair behind her ears, looking at me and waiting eagerly for my response. My mouth fell open. Yes, I knew Simon and Isabelle liked each other but I'd never imagined Simon kissing anyone ever.
"So are you two – together?" I asked, wiggling my eyebrows at her. She shook her head, suddenly losing that giddiness.
"No, not really. I don't want you to think badly of me." She muttered, I looked at her curious.
"If you want to talk, I'll listen."
"Well, with you being Simon's best friend, I'm not sure."
"I don't tell Simon everything you know." I looked at her seriously.
"Well I'm keeping my options open, I have another date tomorrow night but I don't want to hurt Simon's feelings."
"Well, have you told Simon you guys are dating exclusively?" I queried. She shook her head. "Then where's the issue? There's no harm in playing the field Iz, just so long as you're open about it." I shrugged.
The day went by too quickly and before I could even prepare myself, I was walking back into that dreaded art classroom. My phone buzzed just before I entered, giving me a small leap of hope.
Jon: Love you C.
Jordan was already sat at the table, Isabelle and Sebastian were over at the brush counter. Jordan smiled broadly when I approached him.
"Just a head's up, don't ask about his eye." Jordan muttered out of the corner of his mouth as I readied my art supplies.
"The eye?" I asked, a bit louder than Jordan would have preferred. He held a finger up to his lips, before pointing in Sebastian's direction. I craned my neck slightly to catch a glimpse. You couldn't miss it. Sebastian's eye was a brilliant shade of purple which spread down the entire right hand side of his nose. Jon was right. It had been a good shot.
"He won't tell me how he did it, keeps saying he fell over. He's not the type to get into a fight. It's a mystery." Jordan muttered, silencing himself as Sebastian approached the table. He looked at me, eyes blazing before they simmered down.
"Have a nice weekend, Clary?" He asked, flicking through a few paintbrushes. I nodded.
"It was good. How about you? Been fighting?" I asked. Jordan turned his head away, trying to conceal a smile at how abrupt I had been. Sebastian laughed, letting his hair fall into his face before running his hand through it.
"You could say that. I think I left more of an impression on the other person than they did on me. Bruises fade. Words, thoughts – not so much." My stomach churned lightly at the thought of all the things he could have said to Jon. My hatred for him knew no bounds, he was completely repulsive. I'd had enough of this conversation, and enough of Sebastian already. Making my way over to Sebastian's portrait of myself, I started doodling around the edges, trying to figure out what I was going to do with it. It was making me feel uncomfortable just looking at his interpretation of me. It was making me even more uncomfortable listening to the way Sebastian and Isabelle were talking to each other. He kept giving her 'tips' and being overly touchy. I let myself go, letting the doodles take over, casting whatever it was Sebastian was doing far from my mind. I nearly jumped a mile out of my skin when someone's hand rested against the very base of my back. I span around on the spot to see Jordan stood behind me, an interested look on his face. Turning my attention back to the image, I saw what he was looking at. I'd filled the entire right hand side of the outline with strange little line drawings, some darker than others, some more detailed than others. It looked really bizarre, but worked oddly.
"This is really trippy." Jordan twisted his head to look into the more intricate of details, something seemingly catching his eye. "You've caught a perfect likeness of it. Here Seb, have a look at this." Jordan hailed Sebastian who came to look at the image. I wasn't sure what Jordan was gesturing too, until he stepped back a touch. In my daze, I'd doodled Sebastian's tattoo. It wasn't that surprising to me, it was something I'd been drawing all of my life, something that I drew when I was bored. To Isabelle or Jordan, it looked strange, like I'd been thinking about Sebastian's tattoo, like I'd been staring at his chest or something.
"I didn't realise you took that much interest in me, Clary." Sebastian smirked at me. I could see Isabelle behind him looking slightly hurt, but she quickly changed the look on her face to one of confusion.
"You must have a pretty good memory to just recall it like that from a one off instance." I shrugged.
"I was just doodling. It's just an eye."
Sebastian shook his head, getting closer to the image.
"No, you've got it right down to the intricate details. It's as though you drew the tattoo." He looked at me curiously as I had to plaster a fake smile on my face. He was clearly trying to heighten the awkwardness of this conversation. Once I'd managed to talk it down to a coincidence, I made my way to the supply cupboard to get some mixed media to help Jordan with his part of the project and to get out of the line of questioning for a couple of minutes. My arms filled with supplies, I went to turn around just to find Sebastian in my way once again.
"Excuse me please." I said briefly. Sebastian just looked down at me, the door of the cupboard open only a fraction.
"I think you want to be saying more than 'excuse you' Clary." He growled. "Have you seen the state of my face? I had to walk around my college like this – I look like a thug, like your brother and his shadow." Sebastian was getting closer into my space, his voice getting lower and deeper.
"He wasn't meant to hit you." I managed, trying to look for an escape from this horrible situation. Sebastian laughed, pushing his hair from his eyes again.
"But he did. Now what are you going to do about it? How are you going to make it up to me? I could still go to the police you know." He was right up against me now, his hands resting on the tops of my arms, holding me lightly in place before him.
"It's hearsay." I shrugged, trying to worm my way out of his grip, his touch making me queasy. His hands clamped down, his fingers digging roughly into my biceps. I held back a yelp, not wanting to give him the satisfaction. He kept his grip on my arms, his teeth gritted for a few moments before his face softened.
"Oh Clary, Clary, Clary. It's a good job I love you so much." He finally loosened his grip, his hands rubbing my shoulders in a reassuring way. It was anything but reassuring. He grabbed the supplies from my hands, before heading out of the cupboard, flashing me a smile as he left. I must have stayed in there for another five minutes just trying to compose myself. My arms were burning. My face was burning. But I didn't cry, I refused to let myself cry. When I made my way back to my seat, I quickly put my jacket back on as though it would protect me. I didn't talk to anyone else for the rest of the class. I just wanted to go home.
Then I remembered I'd promised Simon we would go to Java Jones.
"Tell me all about your date then." I smiled, getting myself comfortable, wrapping my hands around my latte. Simon stripped his coat off, holding out his hand for mine. I shook my head, citing that I was cold. He sat back down, a nervous grin on his face.
"Well, it was really strange. Her brother Alec drove us to the cinema and I could kind of see him looking at me the entire drive there, like he was sort of weighing me up, it was weird. Well once we got there, it took us forever to pick. I mean, there wasn't really a lot of options and I didn't want to pick something I actually wanted to see just in case she wanted to yknow get a bit friendly and I ended up missing something important. So I let her pick, but nothing really happened during the film, we just sort of watched it." Simon shrugged. "But then once it was done, I was walking her home and hold onto your hat Clary – we kissed on her doorstep. Like actually kissed. I mean, I know she kind of likes me but I never imagined that she liked me that much!" Simon was babbling, his ears turning redder with each passing second. I smiled lightly, hovering over my latte.
"So, are you thinking about asking her to be your girlfriend?" I tested the water, I wanted to see if Simon was on the same page as Isabelle was. He shrugged.
"I'm seeing where it goes at the minute. I don't want to plunge into a relationship after just one kiss. You know me Clary, I have many a girl hanging on my every word." I tried not to snort into my coffee. He hit my arm for my cheek and I had to bite the inside of my mouth to stop myself from crying out from where Sebastian had grabbed me earlier. I forced a small smile before Simon and I started tearing apart the 'terrible' film that he'd had to endure with Isabelle.
Nobody was in by the time I got home. Mum and Dad were out for food, Jon probably at the gym. I hastily headed upstairs and into my bathroom. I locked the door behind me, just in case I had any unwanted guests. I stripped my jacket off cautiously, before unbuttoning my shirt. I took a deep breath before I allowed myself to pull it from my shoulders. The harsh black and blue fingerprints stood out against my lily white skin, each one tender to the touch. I threw my shirt back on immediately, swearing to myself that no one would find out about this. Reclining on my bed, I opened my phone to a horde of messages.
Simon: We really need to go out like that more often. How about tomorrow?
Clary: I can't do tomorrow. How about Wednesday?
Simon: Sounds good, chocolate pud.
Jace: You still owe me.
Jace: Ignorance will not save you. I will have this debt repaid.
Jace: Have I done something to upset you?
Clary: No, no. Today was just ridiculously long! Have you decided about our date tomorrow?
Jace: I have. Not telling though, you'll have to wait and see.
Clary: I wouldn't have it any other way.
Jace: You getting soppy on me, Red?
Clary: Nah. I'd just probably say no if I knew what it was beforehand.
Jace: You're very rude.
Clary: What can I say? I've had to adapt to my surroundings.
The last message was from Sebastian and I opened it with great hesitation.
Sebastian: I love you Clary. I'm sorry.
Clary: Sorry just isn't good enough. Leave me alone.
Sebastian: It's alright Clary. We'll get there in time. You're my everything.
I sighed in frustration, throwing my phone as far away from me as physically possible. Tomorrow was going to be difficult to get through.
Thank you to every single person who reads, reviews, follows and favourites. You really make this story worth writing. Your feedback always makes my heart soar and really keeps me motivated to deliver. All of my love, until the next time! ~Sapph