Chapter 7

Realization Sets In:

Clary stared at her book. Not the reading stare but the stare where you try to comprehend the words yet nothing comes to mind. No comprehensive skills to hand out today. Her eyes skimmed the pages of 'Romeo and Juliet'. She tossed it aside. It's not like she hasn't read the book, or seen the movie with Leo. She rolled on to her back, staring at her ceiling. She hadn't gotten much sleep last night. She hadn't had a good night sleep for quite some time now. It was Jace. She saw Jace as having the brain control ability. Burrowing deep into the crevices of her mind and refusing to leave. She sighed loudly, pulling her skin away as she ran her hands over her face. The doorbell rang.

"Oh goody! Something to distract me with." She smiled absentmindedly as she sprinted out of her room and down the stairs to the front door. It's not like she had much of a choice. Tessa refused to answer the door and Nate was in the shower. Jocelyn and Luke had gone shopping so Clary was left to fend off the house.

The door swung open revealing an exhausted young man. His white blonde hair disheveled. Light purple bruises lined the rims of his black, tunnel like eyes. His face pale and taught in a wide yawn.

"Jonathan?"

"Who else?" He smiled.

"What are you doing here? I thought you wouldn't be home until Christmas." Clary squealed, pulling her brother in close.

"Well, I decided to get away from the Big Apple for a while." Clary peered over at his black duffle bag strapped to his back.

"Did you get in a fight with Dad again?" Clary scolded.

"Is it that obvious?" He raised an eyebrow. Clary pulled him back to her.

"Well you're home now." Jonathan smiled sadly and hugged her back.

Jace's stomach growled. He hadn't eaten all day. Albeit, he had woken up just an hour ago, but there was a large void in his stomach that was starting to get angry. Jace had shrugged off going to weight training this morning, deciding that he was sick with some flu bug. Only that flu bug had a name. Clarissa. Jace hadn't been able to sleep since that study session with her. He felt horrible about doing that to Clary. But how was he to know she hated liars. Okay, Jace couldn't try to justify lying to her, but what was his deal. He's never been this broken up over a girl. He's never actually been upset about a girl. They were drawn to him like a moth to a flame. But not Clary. She sneered voluntarily at him, threw witty comebacks at him when he tried one of his smoldering pick up lines, and called him out regularly when she was talking to him anyways.

Jace tromped down the stairs. His pajama pants hung loosely on his hips, the bottoms bunching around his ankles. He nearly tripped over them as he came downstairs. He maneuvered around the halls of the Lightwood house, finding his refuge, the kitchen. Alas it had been invaded by his sister. She sat staring at her phone, a spoonful of Cheerios hovering an inch or two away from her mouth. Jace tried to be as inconspicuous as possible but Lucky Charms kind of defeated the purpose. Isabelle glanced up from her phone. She gave Jace a nice cold stare before turning back to her phone. She was still a bit mad at Jace for hurting her new BFF's feelings. She dropped her phone and spoon, letting them clatter on to the counter. She dropped dramatically in a fake sob.

"I'm so bored!"

"Do something." Jace took a bite, finding the remote and flipping to some cartoon.

"I can't think of anything." She huffed.

"Go shopping." Jace stared at the television.

"Because I'm a girl right? Wow. I get no respect in this house. None!" She slaps the counter.

"Isabelle, you like to shop. I'm not being sexist I'm just stating a fact." Jace finally looks at her.

"I know. Anyways, I did plan on going with Clary today but seeing as how she has plans with some dude, I don't get to go get this new set from Victoria's Secret…" Jace tuned her out. Clary had a new suitor? Jace was talking like Mr. Darcy? What was the world coming to? After Isabelle had finally concluded her little five minute speech, Jace stepped in.

"Who's the dude Clary's hanging out with?" Jace tried to act nonchalant.

"All she said was she's spending the day with Jonathan." Isabelle shrugged. Jace thought she had actually fallen for that not caring look, but she raised one of her perfectly plucked eyebrows at him. "Are you jealous?"

"No! Why would I be jealous?" Jace tried to hide the conviction. He actually didn't like to lie. It was still a mystery how he had successfully lied to Clary.

"You like her Jace! Admit it! You're in love!" She started making kissy faces, drawing out the ooo as much as possible.

"So what if I find her fascinating?" Jace averted her big brown eyes. Isabelle scoffed.

"Yeah right. If you like her, I could help you win a date with her. Get you back into her good graces." She smiled maliciously.

"You women. Always scheming and nosing your way into others business." Jace jeered. Isabelle heaved a sigh, taking her bowl to the sink and strutting to the door. Her silk robe streaming behind her.

"Fine, but if you ever change your mind I'm open to playing matchmaker." She grinned and ran out of the kitchen. Jace moaned.

Clary peeked over her worn copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. She had read the book over a dozen times. It always started the same way. She'd be reading her favorite parts in the book and then come across some dialogue she had forgotten about and then started to read from the beginning. Every damn time.

She stared at her brother who was passed out on the couch next to her. They had always slept this way when they would camp out in the living room. His legs curled up behind her and hers folded to rest on his stomach. She always had to have her feet in the front because if Jonathan was then he'd kick her in the face. She had learned that the hard way of course.

He looked peaceful. The shadows under his eyes masked by his eyelashes. His complexion pale and smooth. Somehow he had managed to inherit that from Valentine, not even a freckle was handed down to him from Jocelyn. It was ridiculous. He was never teased at school for being a ginger either. Yes, Clary used to taunt him by calling him Malfoy all the time, but can you blame her? He looked like him. Well Clary's mental image. Clary laid her book on the coffee table and settled into the couch to join her brother in dream land.