When Magnus had asked her if Clary could move in, Paige hadn't even thought twice about her answer. Sure they'd had some awkward conversations, but that was all behind them now and Paige was looking forward to seeing more of her friend.
Though, of course, it wasn't just that. In her current state of mind, she hadn't the will to refuse a favour. Just thinking about Jon always put a smile on her face, and how could she say no while smiling?
August was almost over, which meant that it had been more than two months since her first date with Jon last June. Paige knew that technically two months wasn't very long, but it didn't seem to matter. There was something different this time around. Paige couldn't quite put her finger on what, but she knew in her heart what it meant.
"What's Jon saying now?" Alec sighed as he turned to look at her.
Paige jumped a little and looked up from her phone. "How'd you know who's texting me?" she asked, surprised.
"From that huge smirk on your face," Alec chuckled. Paige blushed. "Oh and the colour of your cheeks."
Before Paige could do more than awkwardly mumble, Chairman Meow decided he was more important than her texting and jumped up on her lap to rub up against the phone.
"Chairman," Paige whined. "You're adding random letters."
Alec's sniggering turned into real laughter as he watched the antics of his cat. "Go bother someone else," Paige continued to whine, looking down at the feline in her lap.
"Meow!" Chairman said in reply, turning around to stick his butt in her face. Before Paige could do more than express her disgust at this turn of events, the cat had decided to lay down on both her arms, pinning them against her.
"I think he wants your attention on him instead of your phone," Alec laughed.
"Ya think?" Paige laughed. Awkwardly reaching from under the cat, she set her phone down and let the kitty have his way. Chairmen purred like a freight train.
"I wish Catsby was this active," Alec sighed. "Poor thing's so low energy these days."
"Yeah," Paige replied sadly. "How old is he now?"
"About thirteen and a half," Alec answered. "And he's been on thyroid medication for over a year now."
"Still pretty young for a cat," Paige observed. "One of my parents' cats lived to be 21."
"Wow that's a crazy old cat," Alec replied, then added in a more somber voice. "Though I doubt Catsby will live that long. Time has not been kind to him." He turned to look at Chairman Meow who was still holding Paige hostage. "You better live to a very ripe old age Mister."
"Meow," Chairman said, as he rubbed his head up against Paige's chin.
"How's the new car working out?" Paige asked after a moment.
"Awesome," Alec said. "I should have asked mom and dad for one years ago."
"Why didn't you?"
"Well when I had classes and lived on campus I pretty much never left the university, so what was the point of a car? Then I moved in with Magnus and he always insisted the bus was good enough," Alec explained. "We only really ever took a taxi when we needed to get a lot of groceries all at once or take Catsby to the vet. And if it was for groceries we'd only take a cab back." Alec shrugged. "Besides I never much liked driving. I only got my license because mom and dad bought me driving lessons for my sixteenth birthday."
"I thought all spoiled rich kids loved driving," Paige chuckled.
"Hey," Alec whined. "Driving isn't that awesome. Personally I'd rather have someone else drive or get things delivered."
"Ah so not your typical spoiled rich huh, Alec Lightwood?" Paige grinned. "Will order Sushi for every meal, but never to get behind the wheel of his own car."
"Oh hush," Alec grumbled.
"Dad taught me to drive," Paige said, deciding she'd teased him enough. "And he gave me my truck. It was an old one of his and is doomed to break down any time." She laughed. "It's getting on fifteen years old now."
"Wow," Alec said. "That's an old car."
"And I suppose your parents bought you a brand new car?" Paige replied, raising her eyebrows. Alec had the decency to look sheepish. "Must be nice," she laughed.
Just then her phone binged again. Tilting her head, Paige tried to read the screen.
'Are you too busy to talk?' the message from Jon read. 'Cause that's totally okay. It's just that you usually answer so quickly.'
"That's it for cuddle time kitty," Paige said, dislodging the cat to free up her arms for texting.
'Sorry I was just dealing with a very needy cat,' Paige texted back. Chairman growled ever so slightly and then decided Alec's lap would be a better option.
'Oh thank goodness,' Jon's texted back. 'I was worried I was being annoying and texting you too much.'
'Never,' Paige replied. There was a huge grin plastered on her face and she knew it.
"Urg I'm almost jealous," Alec groaned.
"Oh whatever," Paige shot back. "If marriage is the goal of dating then you've already won. Let me enjoy the confusing, crazy, terrifying, exciting beginning bit while you hold the championship trophy."
"Fair enough," Alec chuckled. "So when did Clary say she was moving in?"
"I'm waiting to hear from her," Paige replied without looking up from her phone. "Something about finishing packing before I come over and help her load stuff into my truck."
"And you've decided the best way to spend your time while you wait is sitting here on the couch and grinning at your phone like you are trying to split your face in half?" Alec asked, in a much too serious tone.
"Yep," Paige grinned, ignoring his attempts at sarcasm.
"Well good luck with that," Alec laughed as he too dislodged the cat and stood up. "I'm gonna go take my car for a spin. Do you need anything from the store?"
"No," Paige chuckled. "But I'm sure you'll find something to make the goal of your unnecessary errand."
"Ooh I could pick up Magnus from work," Alec said. "And get dinner."
"Have fun," Paige said as he gathered his things and left.
Paige looked down at her phone. She was still waiting for a reply. It had amazed her these last few weeks how much they could talk without running out of things to say. It had been gradual at first; they'd hung out once or twice a week, but it wasn't long before Paige wanted to see him every day. And on the days she couldn't see him, she texted him alot.
'It's going well,' Jon's reply read. 'Still doesn't quite feel real that they let me back in.'
'I knew you could do it,' Paige texted back. 'Didn't I?'
'Oh my parents are gonna love you,' Jon texted. 'They've wanted me back in school since the day I quit.'
'And can you blame them?' Paige texted back. 'Just one more semester and you'll have Dr in front of your name. 3 So cool.' He sent her a laughing emoji back along with an awkward one.
It was then Paige realized what her enthusiasm for his finishing school sounded like. 'But even if you weren't going back,' Paige texted after a moment's hesitation. 'Even if you just wanted to flip burgers for the rest of your life, I'd still like you.'
She felt very vulnerable saying it, but at the same time she felt like it had to be said.
'Thanks,' Jon's text said. 'That means alot, though flipping burgers for the rest of my life kinda sounds like hell.'
Paige hadn't had time to send back more than a laughing emoji paired with a heart before someone other than Jon texted her. Paige read Clary's message then quickly texted Jon to explain she had to do some driving now but she'd see him soon.
Gathering her keys, Paige locked up behind her since everyone was out and went to her truck. It started up in that way it always did: like the car was asking her in a desperate voice 'why'. But as always it started. If she was a car naming kinda person she'd have called her truck 'old reliable.'
As she pulled into the driveway of Clary's building, Paige parked her truck as close to the back tennet door as she could even if there wasn't technically a spot there. Then she called Clary to let her know she was here.
A few moments later, Clary appeared carrying a large box, and right behind her was Jon also carrying one of Clary's boxes. Paige got out of the car and came around the truck.
"How many more?" Paige asked as both boxes were placed in the back of her truck.
"Too many," Jon whined. Paige couldn't help smiling when she saw him.
"I'll help," she said. "Lead the way." And they went all the way back upstairs to the apartment.
It took the three of them two more trips to get everything Clary was taking with her into the truck.
"I swear most of it is clothes," Clary said, defensively. "Some art supplies, knick knacks and such, but I left all my furniture back with my parents."
"And thank god for that," Jon said dramatically.
"Oh shut up," Clary scoffed, punching him in the shoulder.
"And this is how you thank your wonderful big brother who just wasted his whole afternoon helping you move?" Jon exclaimed dramatically. "With violence."
"Hey, I brought your girlfriend over," Clary explained. "She can do the thanking for me." At his sister's words, Jon blushed before shoving Clary's shoulder. Paige didn't try to hide her smile.
Paige opened the doors, Clary got in, and then Jon tried to follow her. "And where do you think you're going?" Clary asked her brother.
"To my girlfriend's place," Jon grinned. "To get my thank you." Clary looked for a moment like she was gonna throw up.
Paige couldn't help but laugh and blush a little. "You know this is all your fault Clary," she reminded her friend.
"Yeah yeah I know," Clary whined. "I want you guys to be happy, I just don't wanna see it, okay."
"Fair," Jon chuckled, but continued to get into the truck.
Luckily it was a short drive back to Magnus's place, because the three of them on the one bench style front seat was a bit tight.
"You could have just stayed home," Clary groaned at him when he complained that she was taking up his elbow room. Paige didn't have any siblings, and it was fun to watch their dynamic.
"But where would be the fun in that?" Jon laughed. "This way I get two for the price of one: annoy my sister and see my girlfriend all at the same time." He was grinning like the cat who ate the canary. Clary groaned. Paige couldn't help but laugh, but she tried to keep from laughing too hard since she was still driving.
Reaching Magnus's place, she parked and everyone gratefully exited the cramped vehicle. When they came inside with the first round of boxes, the door was still locked which meant neither Alec nor Magnus was home yet. Chairman Meow greeted them at the door but promptly refused to help carry anything in, so the three of them had to carry everything into Paige's room.
"It's a little... um.. compact," Paige said. "But what are friends for if not to live very closely with?" She smiled trying to make Clary see she didn't really mind.
Clary just groaned and collapsed on the bed: the only bed in the room.
"Why did I think this would work?" Clary groaned, throwing her arms over her face. "Maybe I should just suck it up and move back home with my parents. I mean it's not like I have a job or a boyfriend keeping me here."
"No you have something much more important than all those things," Paige said firmly. "You have family here. The type of family you get to choose." She smiled, hoping Clary would figured out she meant the friend kinda of family. Then she added as an afterthought, "Plus classes start in September, and even if you only have a couple credits left that still counts."
Clary sat up, looking like she was about to cry before pulling Paige in for a rib crushing hug.
"You are just the best ever," Clary whispered.
Paige wanted to say something cheesy like 'and you have the best brother ever' but thought it would ruin the mood so instead she just hugged her friend back with all her might.
"Group hug!" Jon exclaimed all of a sudden as he wrapped his arms around both of them.
"Thanks again for letting me move in here with you," Clary said sniffling as the hug broke up.
"Of course," Paige smiled.
"Even just having my stuff out of that apartment is better," Clary continued. "It was so weird having to time it right when I had to go back for more clothes. Sometimes I just did tiny loads of laundry." She laughed, though somewhat awkwardly.
"I've been trying not to think about it," Clary began again after a moment. "But with that one bed staring me in the face I'm having trouble."
"Oh don't worry about that," Paige smiled. "It's a double bed. And I don't mind sharing."
"You don't have to do that," Clary replied. "I can sleep on the couch. It's where I've been for ages now. One friend's couch or guest room or another."
"And therefore you've paid your couch dues," Paige insisted.
"With Jordan moving out I have as well updated to a more 'walled' surrounding," Jon smiled. "Even if I had a bed in the living room it wasn't quite the same as having walls."
"Walls are good," Clary agreed, with a light chuckle. "I've slept on that living room wall-less bed myself. It really does make you miss a room."
"Oh yeah," Jon replied.
"Oh stop it both of you," Paige said. "It will all work out perfectly. I promise." Then she added, grinning. "Besides if I have it my way I won't be home to sleep in my bed that much anyway, so somebody might as well use it."
"Oh yeah?" Jon asked, suspiciously. "And whose bed, may I ask, do you plan on sleeping in?"
Paige couldn't keep the smile off her face as she turned from Clary to look her boyfriend right in the eyes and say, "Yours."
Jon was clearly taken aback, almost to the point of not speaking. He opened his mouth once, then closed it again. Clary started laughing at him, but he didn't seem to have noticed.
"Unless you have something against my plan?" Paige said softly, suddenly worried she'd gone too far.
"Don't worry, I speak dumbfounded brother facial expressions," Clary laughed. "And I promise he is very much on board with your plan."
At that, Paige moved forward to kiss him, and received the confirmation of Clary's words in the genuine emotion of his kiss. Jon's hand gently held the small of her back, holding them close together.
There was a dull thud, but Paige didn't let it interrupt her kiss. When they did finally break apart she saw that Clary had fallen back on the bed again, covering her face with her hands.
When next they were interrupted it was by the front door. They heard both Alec and Magnus's voices. Still holding Jon's hand they re-entered the living room to see the married couple of the house laying out cartons of chinese food on the table.
Once again updating without my editor's input. Man this feels weird, but I'm writing too fast and she is so busy. I hope the typos are too bad folks. I did the best I could to edit it myself, even changed the size and font the second go around.
Also I feel like I need to apologize for updating again so soon even if people have told me not to do this. I figure people who can't keep up will binge read at their leisure.
Second every Paige pov guys! What do ya think? I had actually originally planned for her pov to be a one time chapter kinda thing but then people requested more of her so here we are. :) For a character who was only written in as a plot device and conflict for Jaia she is quite taking on a life of her own isn't she?
(Update: Back edited weeks after being uploaded by Connie Brown.)
(Update: Back edited many more weeks later by my usual beta CoffeeandLiterature)
Sneak Peek Chapter 168
In the end they decided to watch a little tv before bed. Alec turned in first; his yawns became almost comical as he kissed Magnus goodnight and continued down the hall.
"You tried too Magnus?" Clary asked. It seemed like an innocent enough question, but Magnus had a sense that she didn't want him to turn in as well.
"I'm fine," Magnus replied.
Clary curled up beside him on the couch and played another movie.
Having Clary back felt to Magnus like the world was determined to have everything come full circle or at least half circle. Tessa moving back would have been a full circle. An event Magnus knew would never happen. He was in fairly regular contact with his old friend though with her busy life it was mostly confined to texting.
"That was a pretty great movie wasn't it," Clary said as the credits rolled. "I didn't expect the maid was the spy even once before the end."