Chapter 14: Right of Way's to Shopping Carts

Jace casually rolled out of bed, or well off the couch. The places where Jem and Will had slept were barren, as were the spots of all three girls. Jace stretched, yawning as he got to his feet. That's when he heard it. The screeching. And not just any screeching, but his mother's. Maryse Lightwood was home, and boy was she angry.

Jace cautiously made his way to the kitchen, picking up a pillow in defense.

"I'm gone for a few days and come home to boys and girls sleeping in the same room, one of my favorite Victorian water pitchers smashed, which may I remind you was an anniversary present your father won at an auction in London."

"Didn't he get it from a rumored brothel?" Jace added. Maryse swiveled on him. Her blue eyes scanned him, and with a jerk of her head, motioned Jace to sit next to Isabelle.

"Don't get me started on your recent behavior Jonathan Christopher Herondale-Lightwood." She used his hyphenated name, Jace gulped. He could never hide fear from Maryse.

"I'll have you know that I have informants that told me of your outing with William and James to the Pandemonium club last night and that you had earned yourself a detention."

"Who told you?" Jace gaped.

"I'm your mother, I know everything, but that's not important right now. What is important is that you are grounded until further notice." Maryse sniped. Isabelle let out a bark of laughter and attempted to cover it with a cough but Maryse heard and she pounced like a cat on a mouse. Her eyes narrowed.

"Isabelle Sophia Lightwood, don't mock your brother because you have allowed him to wound his public image so you are too grounded. Now, go clean up the messes you and your friends have made."

"Mom, I can't be grounded…I have a date tonight." Jace stuttered out in fear of upsetting Maryse.

"Well, that is a shame isn't it. Anyways you know the dating rule. I have to meet them before you woo them. I don't want a repeat of Penhallow." Maryse spoke sharply and Jace knew the conversation was over. He sulked up to his room, where he sank on to his bed and then proceeded to call Clary.

"Oh…okay. That's fine. I'll see you Monday." Crestfallen Clary mumbled into the receiver before ending the call.

"What is the matter my dear sister, for whom I have the utmost adoration for?" Jon looked lazily over at Clary.

"Nothing." Clary nibbled at her bottom lip as to not show that it was in fact quivering.

"Did I mention I hold you upon a gold…no even better, diamond pedestal of glory and love." He added with a sugary smile. He tended to compliment her fluently when he wanted to meddle, exceedingly, in her affairs.

"It's Jace. He cancelled our date tonight because he's grounded." Clary sighed in defeat. "Why does everything bad happen to me and not you?"

"My ruggedly good looks ward off negativity." When Clary didn't smile, Jon moved closer to her, draping an arm over her shoulders. "Clary, you of all people know my luck is just as equally or perhaps slightly more bad than good."

Clary knew Jon was referring to their father and his strange, unexplained fits of rage.

"No one's really lucky are they?" Sighed Clary.

"I always assumed the Irish were lucky folk…" Jon smiled lazily and tugged on of Clary's curls.

"I am not Irish, I'm English thank you and you are too."

"No I am not! I am Swiss."

"Are you denying our mother, who has nurtured and cared for you since infancy? That's low Jon!" Clary said with mock hurt. The two stared at each other and then fell back on the couch laughing.

Though Jon had somewhat cheered her dampened mood, Clary still felt the need to sulk about. Jocelyn had finally gotten fed up with Clary shuffling around the kitchen with a can full of chocolate frosting, whimpering as if she were a kicked puppy.

"Go do some grocery shopping. I need these for tomorrow night." Jocelyn urged, but not too persistently.

"Why can't Tessa or Nate do it?" Clary huffed.

"Because I asked you and you're driving me crazy." Jocelyn smiled sweetly. After a few painful moments of faux contemplation, Clary took the list and set out to the store.

Simon Lewis stood in front of the canned goods, trying to decipher his mother's hastily written grocery list. He wasn't really paying attention. He was too preoccupied with last night's disturbingly strange events. He in fact was so involved with his thoughts that he did not see the grocery cart. The grocery cart that rammed into his left leg, causing him to fall over.

"Hey, what the hell! Right of way to pedestrians applies to all mobile contraptions. Including grocery carts!" He looked up at the culprit. The girl who had been pushing the cart was bizarrely familiar and Simon was trying to rake his brain to remember where he had seen her from. She wasn't tall, that was for sure. The handlebar of the cart came up to the middle of her ribcage. Her face was horrified, but even that didn't contort her striking features in the slightest. Her eyes were a brilliant green, the color of summertime grass. Her nose was perfectly upturned with a light dusting of freckles. But what really stood out to Simon was her hair. It was red and wildly curled, which could only be natural.

"I am so sorry! I was buried in my brain and I wasn't…well obviously I wasn't paying attention. Are you all right?" She went over to him and helped him to his feet.

"Despite the bruising of my leg and my dignity, I highly doubt I'll need stitches or an amputation." Simon chuckled, attempting to make up for his sour attitude moments earlier. "Hi, I'm Simon Lewis." He stuck his hand out.

"I'm Clarissa Fray…but most people call me Clary." She smiled timidly.

"Well Clary, most people call me Spock."

"Really?"

"No, they don't…but I wish they did." Simon smiled.

"It's a shame they don't. I have a feeling you'd rock the Vulcan look."

"I like you Fray."

So, the reason I haven't updated as quickly as I would've liked is because I was suffering from writer's block and when I wasn't I was babysitting so that's the excuse. But hey! I made a hundred dollars babysitting in two days! So yippee! Anywho, I'm sorry for the lag lately, but sometimes you just aren't in the mood and admittedly I wrote those last two chapters right after finishing CoHF and TID so I did feel a lot of emotions whereas I wasn't as inspired.

I'm sorry we didn't get the Clace date but I want Simon in here. I mean Clary and Simon's friendship is an extreme factor of TMI so we do need Simon. But the Clace date will happen soon.

So as usual, if you have any questions, concerns, or simply a lovely chat, review or feel free to PM me. I believe I do accept PM's from guests.

Thanks for reading!

Emma