Chapter 21 - Fee Like a Break?

Author's Note: Okay, since I now have my two major stories evened out as far as chapters go, I'm going to start updating both at once. This means updates will likely occur less frequently, but I also don't want to make it seem like I'm favoring one story over another. Barring any sudden brainstorms/writer's block, this is how my update schedule will go until further notice. I own nothing, save for the storyline, the mistakes, and Amanda. This chapter is written entirely in Simon's point of view!

Texts are in bold and italics.

I looked down at my phone as I walked across campus, on my way back from the library, seeing a text from my best friend, the girl I was in love with.

Feel like a study break?

As much as I wanted to say yes to the question, I needed to get back to my dorm, work on a paper a bit now, since the library was closed. Plus, wasn't she supposed to be out on Carson Street with Dahlia?

I thought you were out with Dollface.

She'd kill me for the nickname. I didn't really care, since I called Clary Spitfire behind her back to Dahlia.

Our day was crashed by this short girl in a Rite Aid uniform and white heels. Interested in Dahlia. I caught a bus, I'm on campus now. I have salad!

Well, that changed everything. Clary being on campus, that is. Not the salad, because, ew salad.

I have a paper to write before I head off to Hathaway's class.

There was a beat of silence, as I saw my dorm building coming up.

I know that. Which is why I'm already at your dorm, sitting outside the door. You're taking a break, whether you want to or not. You work too freaking much.

I just groaned a bit, because I should've figured she'd be doing something like that when she said she was on campus. Hastily, I typed out a response, fighting the urge to hurry my pace up.

I do not!

It was all I could think of.

The paper for Hathaway's class isn't due until two weeks from now. Clary says take a break.

I'm going to tickle her to death, I swear.

Simon says he doesn't want to.

I could literally see her outside my door, either rolling her eyes or thunking her head against the door. Actually, I could see her doing both as she thought of a response.

Clary says she doesn't give a shit.

I snorted at that. Already cursing, someone knows she's losing.

Simon says to watch your mouth.

Running up the steps that lead inside, I just grinned happily, watching for a retort from her. However, my phone remained silent and black, without a notification of a text message. "Clary?" I started talking to my phone, as if that would do much of anything to make it magically give me a text message from my best friend. "Clarissa?"

I must've looked like some weirdo, talking to my phone as I walked inside the dorm, feeling eyes on me as I did. I paid none of them any mind at all.

"Clary! Urmf!"

As soon as I said that, it felt like I got whacked in the gut. Though, it wasn't a fist. It was a purse. My best friend's purse. Who was grinning like the little devi she was. "Clary says watch where you're going."

Yup. Definitely going to tickle her as revenge.

"Good god, you're acting like I stabbed you or something."

My best friend's voice is full of amusement, her smile and eyes the same as our waitress trudges off with our orders. We were in the same place we went to a few weeks ago, for wings with Dahlia and Amanda, the same night that I admitted to Clary that I loved her and I kissed her, too.

I wonder if she's thinking about that right now as much as I am.

"Well, you are deadly with your purse, you know. Getting hit with that thing is like taking a brick to the stomach when you put enough power behind it."

She just grinned cheekily. "You would know."

"Of course I'd know! You started the whole purse-whacking thing with me! And ON me!" Though I was supposed to be outraged, I really couldn't find it in me to be. it's something I found to be adorable about her. How she'd whack someone with her purse if they annoyed her too much. And, if I admitted it to myself, it was also kind of sexy when she got mad.

"You should feel proud! I started something that I've carried for years with you!" Her cheeky little grin was still there, making me roll my eyes.

"You started a lot of things that you still do with me." It was the truth, and I knew she knew it, too.

She opened her mouth to say something, only to have her thought cut off by our waitress stop by with our drinks, her Dr. Pepper and my Coke. "Did you want ranch dressing on your buffalo chicken cheesesteak?" Her question was directed at me, making me blink a few times.

"Oh. Uh, yeah, yeah, forgot to mention that." I laughed nervously, because she was looking at me too intently.

"Nah, it was my fault. I forgot to say it earlier. I'll just go and put it on the slip." She tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "Is there anything else I can get you?"

"Nope. We're good."

The crisp voice came from Clary, who was almost...glaring...at our waitress, who blinked twice, before nodding curtly at her, Almost like she forgot she was there entirely, because she was focused too much on me.

"Can I get you anything else?" Clary mocked the other girl's voice, before taking a long pull off her soda. Swallowing quickly, she nearly slammed the glass on the table. "Ugh! Girls like that always freaking get to me."

Oh, holy crap. Clary was jealous of her. The thought nearly made my heart burst, and I fought from smiling too wide. Though her jealousy really was cute.

"Why?" I leaned forward, propping my face in my right hand.

"Just...because!" She picked her glass up once again, taking another long pull. "She just using her assets and flirting because she's pretty and has big boobs and thinks that'll score her tips from the male crowd. Hi, I'm the slut waitress and my bra size is higher than my IQ. Ugh, wretch!"

I'm so glad I wasn't drinking anything right now, because it'd be flying across the table and into her face. As it was, I also wished she'd return the feelings I had for her...or at least acknowledge that she kind of did.

Because I'd be kissing her senseless if she did right now. Her jealousy was cute and sexy at the same time. How could she struggle to find reasons why I loved her the way that I did? I could only find reasons why I loved her, not why I didn't.

"Well, well. Making it official, Lewis?"

It was like a sheet of ice water was thrown over the both of us, because we both jumped in our seats, whirling to the accented and smug voice of one smirking Jace Wayland. With Amanda Swan at his his side.

"We're not making anything official!" Clary immediately jumped in. "We're just out for lunch!"

Amanda snorted. "With the way you two were looking at each other, I highly doubt it's just lunch. On either of your sides."

"Like you're one to talk, you slap-happy jealous fucktart." Clary shot back, making my eyebrows shoot up.

Dahlia would be proud of that.

Amanda shrugged in response. "Hey, you weren't doing anything with Simon. Someone else needed to."

"Except I wasn't looking." I pointed out honestly, my mouth a thin line.

"You better wake up, Lewis. Lots of pretty girls around here if our little darling Fray's not going to put out for you." Jace's accent smoothly, and cruelly, cut in.

Clary recoiled like she'd been slapped, her eyes wide.

"Because you know all about putting out, right?" My voice was scathing. "Tell me, have you talked Amanda out of her clothes yet?"

"Why? Do you want to see it for yourself? You know I'll give it to you..." Amanda's tone of voice, so low and full of promise, made my stomach turn. Because I knew she would do just that if I gave her so much as an inkling that I wanted her to.

"i'd rather bottom for Bryce Hightower." I returned flatly, making her seductive little smile fall off her face like an anvil off a cliff.

I could see her struggling to come up with an adequate response for that, me telling her I'd rather go gay than have sex with her, but Jace was quicker. "Alright then, Lewis. Hope you enjoy taking it back there. Thank you for this wonderful insight into your life. I always wondered why you never had your way with Fray, truly I did. Now I know." He was struggling not to laugh. I didn't even pay attention to him, more concerned with the effect his words were having on my best friend.

She didn't look upset, she looked like she was...grinning, but trying to hide her face behind her red hair like she normally did in Jace's presence. He wouldn't notice the change, so long as she stayed silent.

Now, the real question was, why was she grinning so widely?