Chapter 4 - Getting to Know One Another

Author's Notes: I own nothing, save for Dahlia and new character I'm going to introduce. Also, after this chapter I MAY post one more before I start to post a chapter a week. Now that the story's gaining a bit of a following (which I love you all for!), I want to start posting some longer chapters, especially since more characters are going to be introduced that are going to be central to the story, and I'd like to start figuring out how I'm going to take them and their arcs. Anyway, I'll shut up now and let you guys read what you actually came here for! XD

"Where'd you two vanish to?" I heard Simon say, as I looked over Dahlia's shoulder, seeing my mom and Luke approaching, their own coffees in hand.

"We thought you might like to get to know one another, as we've already met Dahlia." My mom answered him, looking between the three of us.

"Plus, this one here..." Luke added on, looking at my mother. "...couldn't decide what to order and had a few people go in front of us." I nodded knowingly. That sounded more like the actual answer to the question that was posed.

"And I really did want Clary to meet Dahlia, she seems like a nice young woman!" My mom protested, earning grins from everyone present, and a few chuckles from Simon.

"We're roommates, Mom. I think we'll end up getting to know one another quite well, whether you can make up your mind about coffee or not." I told her honestly, taking a sip of my coffee.

"And then some." Dahlia added, laughing herself as she followed my example.

My mom looked petulant, causing Simon to speak up, after swallowing a bit of his own drink. "Yeah, but c'mon. She's just looking out for you and hoping you guys get along. I'd do the same if I wasn't going here!" Of course he spoke up for her, he liked to do that when he felt someone was being ganged up on. Or he just wanted to be difficult and go against me.

"You'd do it regardless of being here or not." I shot back, laughing a bit. "Besides, I've never known you to drink coffee as fast as you are today unless you have a reason to. Which means you're playing for my mom's side and plan on leaving me here with her for a small bit of time to see how we get along." I watched as he opened his mouth, probably to protest. "Don't even try and come up with some excuse that you're thirsty. I know you far too well for that."

I could practically hear the gears turning in his head, and if smoke could be coming out his ears, it probably would be right now. "Well, contrary to what one short redhead here is thinking..." I glared at him mutinously, but he took no notice of it. Or just didn't care. "...I actually am thirsty. And those pastries were calling my name, too. Anyone else want one?"

His voice was coming out quickly, much like it did when he was trying to cover up something I'd just completely called him out on. I just waved him off, an affectionate smile on my face, because I knew nothing short of Jace suddenly appearing would deter him from this little mission of his. "Go. And bring me back a peanut butter cup doughnut."

"On it!" He said to me with a grin, grabbing his coffee cup and standing up just as quickly. It wasn't too difficult to lose him in the crowd, given his height and the black curls he sported on top of his head. I stared at him for a few more seconds, just happy to have my best friend back in my life, until a cough brought me back to the fact that there were other people around me.

"Sorry." I said to Dahlia, the one who coughed, judging by the small smirk she had on her face. "It's been two years since he and I last were physically close to one another. We're trying to make up for lost time."

"Long distance relationships. God, they suck." Dahlia replied simply, making my mother snort into her coffee. Next to her, Luke patted her back, hiding his face beind his own mug. "I'm glad to see the two of you made it work for so long."

I stared at her with wide eyes, a flush heating my cheeks so much that I thought they'd end up being as red as my hair. "I...uh...I think you're mistaken." I told her, laughing almost helplessly. "We're just friends. Really good friends, and that's all we've ever been." It wasn't anything new for either one of us to hear. We'd both heard we made a cute couple for years, but it was always by people we knew. People in school who saw us together or knew he and I were still close after he moved. And, of course my mom and Luke. But, it was different, to have a complete stranger pick up on the vibe so easily.

Said stranger nodded over my shoulder, to where Simon was waiting at the counter, the line considerably shorter than it was when we were in it. "Does he know that?"

"What's that supposed to mean?!" I asked her curiously. And really, I had no idea what she meant by that! Everyone knew Simon and I were just friends, nothing more!

"Him. Your best friend. Does he know that's all you think of him as?" Dahlia nodded toward Simon once again, ordering at the counter. "Because it seems pretty clear that he thinks of you as more than just a friend."

"Oh." Realization hit me like a lead balloon. Or a ton of bricks, whichever worked. "Oh god!" Unable to help myself, I started laughing, Long and hard. And it was only after I took a long swig of my coffee that I was fully able to calm myself down. "Okay, now I get what you're getting at. I know what he thinks of me. He and I have always been close. So close that we were considered brother and sister for a time, until we felt it was too weird. But, so close that we could be siblings, I get it now. And trust me, you're not the first person to say that."

She was staring at me as if I was dense, and she opened her mouth, getting ready to say something, but Simon holding a steaming fresh mug in front of me effectively stopped her from saying anything. "Thought you might need a refill, so long as I was up."

"Oh, thank you!" I said to him happily, realizing I drank a lot of it to calm myself down from Dahlia's misconception. "How much do I-?"

Simon waved off the suggestion before I could even finish. "Keep it, I'll get you back for it at some point." He grinned at me, before suddenly starting like someone shocked him. "I forgot the other things! Crap!" before I could even say much of anything else, he had already turned, heading back to the counter.

Or trying to, at the very least. Because he nearly plowed into a girl working here, clearly a server from the plates she was carrying, headed to our table.

"Simon!" I was out of my chair just as quickly, hands steadying him before he tripped over his own feet, or worse, knocked her over. I flashed an apologetic smile towards the girl headed to our table, desserts in hand. The thing was that she was shorter than me, looking to be about five feet, if that. She was dressed simply in a dark green shirt, black pants, and sneakers, being that she was at work, with dark green eyes and her strawberry blonde hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, obvious to keep it away from any food she had to serve. "Sorry, he's not usually like this. I think he's had a bit too much sugar..."

"Hey, it takes all kinds." She replied kindly, waving off the apology quickly. "Besides, I fall over my own feet whether I'm energized or not, and I've spilled stuff on myself with less help than a guy like you." The last part was directed at Simon, a smile coating her words. "Uh, not that a guy like you is a bad thing, I just meant that you're a bit clumsy, too. At least that's how it seems, and I'm rambling..." She laughed a bit awkwardly, smiling at the two of us.

"No, no, you're not wrong in that. At least sometimes." Simon corrected her, laughing himself a bit, trying to put her at ease.

"Try most of the time." I spoke up, with a laugh of my own, making her grin a bit at the both of us. The statement earned a small nudge from Simon, but I ignored it. Mainly because he knew it was true. Especially when he had too much caffeine in him.

"Well, good, that makes me feel better about this one time." She looked at her hands, both of which were full with plates. "I'd offer a handshake, but they're kinda full..."

Simon took the hint quickly, accepting both of them, and handing one to me quickly. My mouth began to water immediately, because it was the doughnut I wanted. "Hey, how many people can say they met through a near collision in a coffee shop?" He asked her, making me crack a grin of my own.

"You'd be surprised." Both her and I answered the question at the same time, giving each other grins after doing so. Her hands free now, she held out her right to each of us, smiling softly.

"Amanda Swan."

Smiling at her in return, I shook it. "Clary Fray." I greeted her. "Nice to meet you, despite the near disaster."

She turned to Simon, her smile growing just a bit at the corners. "Simon Lewis, nice to meet you, despite nearly bowling you over." He greeted her in return, giving her an amicable grin.

"Likewise, both of you." She smiled at the both of us, her dark green eyes shining, before turning her head, seeing the customers piling up once again. "Uh, I would stay and chat, but..."

"Duty calls?" Simon finished for her.

"Yeah..." She replied, wringing her hands together a bit. "...it was nice meeting you both, and hopefully I'll see you guys in here again?"

"Don't worry, I'm a coffee addict. You'll see us both in here." I reassured her, giving her a smile in return.

"And I'll leave you a tip to compensate nearly wiping you out." Simon added, making the both of us laugh.

"How about you just tell me the next time you guys are in here?" Amanda asked us both, laughing a bit. "I'll take my break and join you both."

"Deal!" Simon and I agreed at once, holding out our free hands at once. Laughing herself, Amanda shook them both at the same time.