Happy 20th chapter!

Part of me wants to embrace my sad cowardly side and tell my father that I hurt myself and that he is helping me walk to my room. Valentine Morgenstern, as smart and scary as he could be, was too trusting for his own good. This means that he would have believed me with absolutely no problem. As I was about to explain this perfectly good lie to him that my mother would have seen straight through had she been home, the words got caught in my throat. I look back up at my blonde companion for a moment before I looked back over at my father and said instead, "Can't a girl walk inside with her boyfriend?"

That sounded casual, right? I'm so casual right now that even my racing heart and shaky limbs are taking a rest. Who am I kidding? It sounded defensive and stupid, and I am such a nervous wreck right now that I am sure that Jace is going to drop me where I stand and take off in his car just to get away from my idiocy. He hasn't moved yet though, so I am thinking that either my thought process was just a bit over dramatic, or he is paralyzed by my stupidity.

"Your boyfriend?" my dad asks before I can think on this anymore.

"Yes, sir," Jace says, his manners are flawlessly smooth, and I fight back a grin at the thought. "I'm sorry that I haven't told you before, I was trying to find the right time to tell you guys the great news, but you and Jocelyn are both always gone when I come over and try to talk."

"You're here with Clary when there isn't any adult supervision?" Valentine asks, his voice sounding strangled by the new revelation.

"Not like you'd think!" Jace says, pulling his arm away from me quickly as he held up both of his hands in an attempt to placate him for a moment. "Jon was here too—"

"You're going out with my son and my daughter?" Valentine cries his dark eyes widening. The fact that someone is even having this thought is making me nauseous. The situation is quickly spiraling out of control, and I know that if I don't try and help it could end up being much worse than either Jace or I could have imagined.

"Dad!" I snap, "Jace is one hundred percent straight, and so is Jon. You're confusing them with Alec and Magnus, first off. Secondly, I am not about to share any guy that I date with anyone, let alone my brother. Finally, what Jace was trying to say is that Jonathan was in the house with us while he was here. We were never in a room alone, and Jon would hardly allow that to happen with how protective he is!"

We all stand in silence for a few seconds as my half truth sinks into my father's brain. I can tell that Jace is waiting on bated breath for the verdict, just like me.

"Yes," my father says after a moment. He nods his head and gives me an apologetic smile before turning to Jace, the look in his eyes hardening slightly. "That does make more sense."

"Anything else, dad?" I question exasperatedly, unsure of how much more family I can take for today, and I know that I have to deal with Jon and my mother when they both make it home.

"Yes, actually," Valentine says, nodding with a solemn look on his face, as though he is apologizing to me for whatever is about to shoot out of his mouth next. He looks at Jace and says simply, "hurt her and I will squish you like a bug."

I hear Jace gulp audibly from my side and he says, "Yes sir," his voice is a slightly higher pitch than I am used to.

"Dad!" I snap, my face flushing as I grab Jace's wrist and pull him back outside. As soon as the cold air hits us again, I pull the door shut behind us and look back up at Jace. "I am so sorry."

Jace looks at me with wide eyes, but other than that he looks unperturbed by my father's threat. "It's no big deal," he replies, "he actually handled it very well."

"He called you gay, and I saw that his expression was edging toward the psychotic murdering expression that I see on Jonathan sometimes."

"He called me bisexual," Jace corrects me as he wraps an arm around my shoulders and starts leading me away from the door and toward the side of my house. "There's a difference, Clary, and I hardly consider that an insult. Look at Magnus, he has killer fashion skills. As for that maniac look in his eyes," Jace shrugs, "I'll admit that the thought of him going completely crazy is slightly disturbing to me."

"It should be," I mutter, shaking my head. "My family's crazy."

"I've known you for how long?" Jace snorts. "I'm aware of how crazy your family is."

"You're the honorary member," I inform him, smiling slightly. "It means that you're as crazy as we are."

"That's a relief," Jace sighed dramatically as he drops his arm. We are in the back yard, and not very far from the patio area that wouldn't necessarily protect me from the wind, but it did offer some very comfortable wicker chairs. He moves so that he is walking in front of me and turns around so that he is facing me again and walking backward. "You said we. My girl has to be as crazy as I am."

"Your girl?" I question. "I didn't know that I was your girl."

He gives me a sweet smile as he stops walking backward and takes a step forward. "Pretend girl is a bit of a mouthful," he informs me as he wraps his arms around my waist smoothly. "I figured that we could shorten the phrase."

"I like it," I admit. "So you're my boyfriend?" I ask emphasizing the last word as my heart started pounding.

"How could I say no to that smile?" he asked, looking at me with his signature smirk. He leans down and captures my lips again. It is so gentle and blissfully light that I almost melt in his arms. That is the gushiest thought ever. Focus, Clary, I chide myself, a hot guy is kissing you!

Sadly, as I pull myself back into the kiss it ends. "I figured we'd seal the deal," he mutters, taking my hand and pulling me toward the patio.

I am on cloud nine as I help my mother with supper. Jace is staying over for our famous spaghetti night, and I am surprised by the fact that my father has not immediately told my mother the news. Normally when something traumatic happens to him, he practically runs to her. Poor guy.

He is simply sitting at the kitchen table, reading a newspaper, something I've never seen him do, and shooting me glances as I flit around the kitchen, handing my mother the spices, vegetables, and cooking utensils that he requires. I am suddenly wondering where Jace is. I haven't seen him since he and Jon had disappeared into Jon's room maybe an hour before, and I want him with me so we can face my father's uncomfortable staring together.

He is so loyal.

"Valentine, dear," my mother says, not even looking away from the pot of boiling noodles, "are you going to tell me what's on your mind?"

I look over at my father with wide eyes, wondering what he's going to say. "I don't know what you mean, dear," my father says, his voice so obviously nervous that I have to fight back a roll of my eyes. How can someone be so bad at lying?

"Yes you do," my mom sighs, finally turning around. She is looking at my father with concern, and I figure that it is because he hasn't made a comment about how amazing it smells around the house yet. My dad looks at me with wide eyes, and my mother immediately looks at me, "Clary, do you know what's bothering him?"

Yes. "Something's bothering dad?" I question, my voice coming out just as strangled as my father's had only seconds earlier.

"Honestly," Jocelyn says, rolling her eyes, "Can you two please work on your lying skills? It's a little insulting."

"I am an excellent liar!" I exclaimed, feeling seriously hurt. How could she compare me to my father?

"That is a lie, Clare," Jace's voice came from a few feet beside me.

I cross my arms over my chest, refusing to even acknowledge the insult. Then I feel his lips against my cheek quickly before he moves past me to the fridge. I look over at my mother and see her looking at me with wide eyes. I stare back, wondering what's going on underneath that mane of red hair. Hopefully nothing terrible. Then she starts jumping up and down and shouting, "Yes! In your face, Maryse!"

I hear the sound of glass clattering against tiled floor, and my shocked spell is broken and I am able to look away from my manic mother, who has thankfully stopped dancing. Jace is standing in front of the fridge, looking at my mother in blatant shock. He had just dropped an empty glass, which he had most likely been using to get a drink.

"Mom," I say worriedly as I take a step back from her. At the moment I'm not sure that my father could protect me if my mother decided to go crazy, so I inch toward Jace instead, though I am unsure if he would be able to do anything either, "Are you okay?"

She looks at me with a wide grin and says, "Maryse owes me fifty dollars," simply. Her eyes flickered from me to behind me almost constantly, telling me that she was looking at Jace too. Maybe I shouldn't have gotten closer to him…that just made both of her apparent targets in the same area.

"Why does Maryse owe you money?" Jace asks, his voice is strangled with disbelief. I jump slightly as I feel his upper arm brush against my shoulder.

Jocelyn looks between Jace and I again before saying, "You two! We've had a bet to see how long it would be before you finally started dating!"

I look at him, my mouth gaping open. "You used us as a bet?" I question, trying to calculate exactly how many ways what she did was morally wrong.

"She sure did," Valentine said, his voice gone back to normal. "This is why I should be the favorite parent."

"Says the man that tried to tell me that Jon wasn't your son because he didn't have the proper shade of blond hair when he was younger!" Jocelyn scoffs, rolling her eyes.

I look at my parents, gaping in pure disbelief. "I can't believe this. You're both terrible!"

"What?" Valentine defends, "it's not my fault that his hair was always too dirty to be a distinguishable shade of white-blond!"

I just shake my head and walk toward the living room where Jon is sitting, not even paying attention to our argument, much to interesting in his cell phone.

"I'm taking this as your date went well," I inform him as I sit on the couch beside him.

"It did," he replies. "I think I might really like her." He looks up at me with a smile. "I'm actually excited about seeing her tomorrow."

"You're going out again?" I question, raising my eyebrows.

Jon rolls his eyes, "Jace isn't the only one that can grow up, you know."

"I had complete faith in you," I assure him with a smile. "I feel like a proud parent."

Jon rolls his eyes at me, and I look away from him, curious about where Jace is. I see him sitting down at the table with my dad. His face is slowly beginning to turn whiter than my father's hair, and I am officially concerned. I have a feeling that I know what my dad is talking to him about, and then it hits me that he let me endure the awkward staring for who knows how long. He deserved this.

I turn back around and grab my own phone, looking at it for the first time since this morning. I see that I have one text message from about two hours ago. As soon as I look at it, I immediately want to turn my phone off and not answer.

Simon: we need to talk, Clare. Can I come over tomorrow?

I look down at the phone, not really wanting to reply when I am still so angry at him. Even my elation at Jace having to endure 'the talk' with my dad isn't making me feel any better. I inhale deeply and close my eyes for a moment. I'm sick of not having my best friend. I am still completely pissed off at him, but I also know that I want him back, so I am going to have to hear him out.

I sigh quietly and text him back.

Me: I guess so.

He texts back immediately, making me smile faintly.

Simon: Good. I was worried that you were going to say no! I'll see you first thing tomorrow morning.

I look down at my lap for a moment, but swallow my anxiety immediately. I wasn't about to let my worries about Simon overshadow my elation. I turn back around and look at a slightly green Jace. He was my Golden Boy now, and I wasn't about to let him go anytime soon.

Hello, peoples! Happy early birthday to Nikita Jackson's friend, who I don't know the name of, lol. Hope you enjoyed your hug from Jace and the chapter. Personally, I want a hug from Four from Divergent for mine, but whatever :). So, as you can imagine, there is going to be a few issues for a newly instated couple, and Simon and Isabelle are up next, right? Well Simon is going to be in the next chapter, anyway. I hope you liked it! :)