Jordan woke up unassisted by his alarm clock. This was one of the many things he loved about the summer break, no classes to attend. There was a strip of sunlight shining in through the curtains. The snow was all melted and it was getting warmer by the day. May was almost over now and June was fast approaching.

Jordan heard a soft sigh to his left, and looked over to see his girlfriend still asleep. He was so used to her early classes, that waking up beside her like this still felt rare to him, even if it hadn't been for a while now. Paige looked so beautiful when she slept, her dirty blonde hair pressed against the pillow, and her face soft and free of the days troubles. Then again he'd never seen Paige really angry before, and was starting to wonder if she was capable of even being mad. Jordan knew this to be irrational. Surely, Paige had been mad before in her life. It was just that so little phrased her. Paige was the ever calm eye of the storm that helped everyone else in a crisis.

No classes and only his shifts at Timmies to occupy him, Jordan's life had come to revolve around his girlfriend lately. Simon spent most of his time when he wasn't working with Isabelle, and Clary and Jace were cat sitting for Malec. Oh no, now he was using the stupid ship name. Maybe it was okay, so long as he didn't say it aloud?

With all their roommates 'missing in action' it was almost like he and Paige lived here alone. The top drawer of his dresser had somehow become her drawer. It wasn't like they'd made a decision together to create the space for her. No, it was more like one day she'd left her pjs here, then a week or so later her toothbrush. At some point he'd started putting it all in one place so she could find it easier, and suddenly she had a draw of her things at his place. She spent so much time here it made perfect sense, and Jordan found he kinda liked it. It was so nice to be with someone who wasn't afraid to take steps forward. Jordan wasn't quite sure how it would work, since technically one too many people lived here already, but he was thinking of asking Paige if she wanted to live here next year. He'd been to her place a few times and knew how much she didn't get along with her roommates.

As Jordan gazed at his girlfriend's face, he saw her eyelids flutter in that way they do when your trying to see without revealing that you're awake. He couldn't keep a grin off his face.

"Oh what ever shall I do today if my beautiful girlfriend doesn't awake from her slumber," Jordan began grinning, but trying to speak seriously. "Maybe I will lay out all her papers in the wrong order and put a red sock in with her whites."

"You wouldn't dare!" Paige said suddenly her eyes snapping open to glare at him.

"Oh you're awake," Jordan chuckled. "Fancy that." She hit him playfully on the shoulder before kissing him good morning.

Jordan smiled as he watched her get out of bed. He almost couldn't believe he'd been with Paige for seven months now. Then again, he was feeling the pressure of the combination of those seven months, and the drawer of her things in the dresser behind him. There were certain words they had not said to each other yet, and part of him was waiting for her to drop the L bomb on him. It wasn't unreasonable to know how you felt about someone you met in October when it was going on June, but Jordan still didn't have his feelings for Paige figured out. He definitely cared about her, but something was holding him back.

"Do you have plans today?" Paige asked him.

He shrugged. "Hanging with Simon, probably," Jordan replied. "Don't work today."

"I will probably have to go home and clean up the small amount of mess my roommates seem to think I had more to do with than I actually did," Paige sighed. "I'm almost never home, and yet they find ways to blame me for the dishes in the sink." She sounded mildly annoyed about this which made Jordan chuckle.

"What confuses me," he said. "Is how that can annoy you, but cleaning up around here doesn't seem to phase you."

"That's different," she said.

"How so?"

"In one, I am choosing to help," Paige explained. "While in the other, I am being told to clean up a mess that isn't mine for people I don't particularly like."

"And yet you live with them," Jordan reminded her.

"But you'll notice I'm never home," Paige teased.

"True," Jordan chuckled. It felt like just the right moment to do the logical thing and ask her to officially live here, but something stopped him from asking. Even if they were currently absent, Jordan did have roommates after all who got a say in who lived here. He needed to check with them first.

"Ouch," Paige said as she rolled over onto something. Reaching under her shoulders, she extracted one of his cell phone cords, the plug of which had probably just stabbed her in the back. "Must you shed technology everywhere?"

"The only plug to charge my phone is on your side of the bed," Jordan explained. She just shook her head at him.

"If I didn't already know you were majoring in computer science I'd suggest it," Paige chuckled. "It's like you shed technology! I bet you anything that somewhere in this room there's a laptop on the floor."

"An old laptop," Jordan explained. "With linux on it that I was using to test code."

"I rest my case," Paige said smiling at him. But she was not one to linger long in bed, even on her days off. With another light kiss, Paige was up and going about her day. By the time Jordan got out of bed, she was finishing up her breakfast and headed out the door, waving to him on her way out.

Sending Simon a quick text to see what he was up to, Jordan decided to play video games. It was a rare moment being alone in the apartment, and he wasn't about to waste it doing something else. When the quests didn't go his way, yelling at his computer was less ridiculous if he was alone. Gamer rage didn't need an audience.

Simon answered his text a few hours later to say he was free to come over. Izzy had plans with Maia, so his day was wide open. Jordan tried not to think of Maia if he could help it. Instead, he focused on getting past the dragon defending the cave where the item he needed was hidden. He was past the scaled beast, and well inside the cave trying to decipher the riddles by the time Simon arrived.

"I feel like I haven't seen you in weeks," Simon said, dramatically when walked in to collapsed on the couch next to Jordan.

"That's because you haven't," Jordan chuckled at him, pausing his game. "Except at work, that is."

"Oh, wow" Simon said sheepishly. "I really never come home, do I?"

"Hey, you're dating Isabelle Lightwood," Jordan reminded him. "Even I, who would never go near that with a ten foot pole, have to admit she is fine!" He dragged out the last word for emphasis. Simon just mumbled something about her appearance not being what he loved most about her.

"Fine," Jordan replied. "But it is certainly a bonus. Admit it!"

"Oh, alright yes," Simon gave in.

"Ha!" Jordan said pointing a finger at him in triumph.

"Sometime when we go places together, other guys give me the weirdest looks," Simon whispered gleefully. "The best way I can describe it, is like 'really, she's with him?' It's kinda awesome."

"I bet," Jordan chuckled. It was great to see his friend so happy, especially after everything it had taken to get him here.

"Anyway, what were we talking about?" Simon asked.

"How you're never home," Jordan reminded him.

"Right, so I was thinking, maybe I should never be home, officially?"

"Not quite sure I follow you there buddy," Jordan remarked.

"What if I moved out?" Simon said. "I know you only moved in because I dragged you, so I don't want you to feel like I'm ditching you or anything, but at the same time, it feels kinda silly paying rent somewhere that I never am… if that makes any sense?"

"Yeah that totally makes sense," Jordan replied. "And if it's what you want, I think you should move in with Izzy."

"Honestly, I was expecting a little more hesitation on your part. Afterall, I would be ditching you with what is soon to be an extremely mopy Jace once Clary leaves in August."

"Actually," Jordan began. "I was thinking of asking Paige to move in. I mean she's basically here as much as you aren't."

"That's perfect!" Simon exclaimed, clearly happy to be able to do what he wanted without upsetting anyone.

"Yeah, I know Paige hates her place so I thought I'd see, though I technically haven't asked her yet," Jordan added.

"I'm sure she'll say yes," Simon smiled. "That girl adores you." Jordan just nodded, and turned back to the paused game in front of him. Jordan loved everything about Paige. He just wasn't sure if he was in love with Paige. She hadn't forced his hand by saying it first, which he was grateful for. He didn't want to upset her, or lose her because he couldn't get his own shit sorted out. She was absolutely perfect. What the hell was wrong with him?

"Anyway," Simon continued. "Now I just need to ask Jace."

"Not Clary?" Jordan asked.

"She's leaving," Simon explained. "And therefore forfeiting her say in who lives in the apartment."

"How is Jace coping with the long distance thing?" Jordan asked.

"He's trying not to make a big deal," Simon explained. "But I'm sure he's worried. He and Clary have been quite literally glued to the hip all summer. It's like they're trying to get in as much time together before she leaves."

"If they aren't careful, they'll be sick of each other before she does," Jordan chuckled.

"More like she'll be sick of Magnus's cats," Simon laughed. "I've been getting texts about how needy they both are for Malec's return, and Catbsy's medication has been proving quite the complex cat sitting task."

"I still can't believe they've been gone over a month, and still aren't gonna be back till August," Jordan said with a shake of his head. "I want Alec's parents."

"Who wouldn't?" Simon laughed. "Rich and kind is a rare combination."

"It was a really beautiful wedding," Jordan said. "And amazing how many people their parents invited. I knew they weren't homophobic or anything, but there's a difference between accepting your gay son and throwing a wedding for him with five hundred guests, including all your professional colleges."

"They're proud of him," Simon summed up.

"And just think," Jordan chuckled. "If things go right for you, they could be yours someday."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Simon replied, firmly.

"Oh come on," Jordan laughed. "After attending her brother's huge wedding, don't tell me you haven't thought about it."

"I have a feeling Isabelle would never put up with the pre-wedding stuff long enough to get the perks," Simon said with a smile. "She'd probably elope against her parents wishes, and deny us a four month honeymoon in the mediterranean."

"Your loss," Jordan sighed. "Should have went for the brother." Simon's sharp laugh cut the air, and soon they were both laughing.

"Not even for a year in the Caribbean," Simon gasped through his laughter.

"The burden all straight men must face," Jordan signed, seriously.

"And what's that?" Simon laughed.

"Women," Jordan replied deadpan, and Simon lost it. He was doubled over holding the stitches in his sides. Jordan couldn't help but laugh as well.

When the two of them finally calmed down, Jordan asked. "So do you want to decipher a Sphinx's riddle with me?" Simon agreed with a 'hell yeah' and they spent an enjoyable afternoon doing quests together.

I got stuck on this chapter. I didn't work on it for over two weeks and ended up writing over eight chapters of my new Girl Meets World story instead during that time, four of which are published now. So I had planned to write here and ask if you guys were getting as bored of R&S as I am. The lack of views (compared to before. This story still gets more views than any of my other ones) and engaged readers lately had me thinking that maybe it was time to wrap things up, annex the long term plots and end it sooner. I would never just leave a story hanging forever, but I could cut short some things short, and write an ending before marking R&S as complete.

Or so my thinking went... and then I found myself reading Royal Dilemma to my mom of all people and somehow I managed to write the rest of this chapter in less than an hour. Who needs early endings anyway. :D

Sneak Peek Chapter 123

"Have you heard from Alec lately?" Maia asked by way of getting her roommate to stop singing.

"I got a half assed text reply this morning," Izzy sulked. "I asked for pictures and lots of details and he just sent back 'busy ;)' Brat." Maia laughed out loud at Izzy's grumpy tone. "The only real replies I've gotten have been about the cats."

"Ah yes how are the little felines fairly without their daddy and papa?" Maia chuckled, recalling the cat topper of their wedding cake.

"Needy," Izzy said. "To tell from Alec's texts it sounds like those cats are giving Jace and Clary a run for their money."

"Oh come on," Maia scoffed. "How much work can two cats be anyway?"

"Catsby is on meds," Izzy reminded her. "And it seems Alec has taught them bad habits."

"Like?"

"Like sleeping on faces and kneading heads to get breakfast an hour sooner," Izzy replied.

"Another reason why I'm a dog person," Maia answered.