14
Jace's POV

I sit across from my adoptive parents as I cut up my dinner in silence. They arrived home this morning and I promised that I would stop home for dinner after football practice. I haven't seen them in a bit between staying with Clary, and them traveling for work. I'm not even sure how long they are in town for this time.

"So, Jonathan," my adoptive father addresses me, "how has the team been doing?" He hasn't been to a single game this year, not that I really mind, I understand that he is busy. But, he does care an awful lot about my football career for someone who doesn't witness any of it.

"We are doing well, coach thinks we have a shot at states this year so he's been riding us hard. We have a game Wednesday if you want to come out?" I offer to him in hopes to satisfy his question, "I would, but I leave tomorrow for California. I'll be there until the end of the week on business. I'm happy to hear about coach's high hopes though, maybe that'll mean some schools will throw some scholarships at you." He says, tipping his wine glass towards me in a complimentary style. I don't truly have any interest in playing football in college. I don't have a love for football; I have just found that I am good at it, and it is important to Michael. In the perfect world, I could go to school for Journalism- I love to write- but I don't know if that is the plan my family wants me to take.

"And I assume fighting is going well?" My adoptive mother, Eliza, does her best to join the conversation, "Yeah, I suppose. Luke hasn't lined up any fights for me yet due to football season, and with me not wanting to get hurt, but I have been training nonstop. Alec is doing well too, but is in the same boat as me. Once the season ends we will get more involved. It is helping me keep my strength up." I tell her, shoving some food in my mouth, as Eliza nods, humming in response, "Good to hear, I miss the Lightwoods, I'll need to give Maryse a call. Where are you staying tonight? I'm assuming you'll be back at that troubled girl's house?" She asks and I sigh, fighting the urge to put my head in my hands. In the best way possible, all of our dinner conversations feel like an interview. Eliza and Michael aren't very nurturing in their ways of parenting me; I feel very much like a business partner whenever I spend any time with them. I suppose it could be worse though; I could be dead with my parents.
I grimace at the dark thought, swallowing back my urge to gag, "Her name is Clary, and I wouldn't really say she's trouble. It's her family's problems, not hers." I tell them honestly, "And you care for her, no?" Michael asks me and I shrug, "I guess. She's a good girl, good for me." I respond, making a smile slip onto Eliza's lips as she takes a sip of wine.

"I'd like to meet her." Eliza says and I nod, "You can." I tell her, "Whenever I get back from your father's trip, invite her over for dinner." I purse my lips at her before nodding again, "She's not distracting you, is she?" Michael adds on, a little edge in his voice. I know that he holds me to a higher standard than Eliza, and to an extent I appreciate it, but I feel like in a lot of ways he forgets I am still a kid. He seems to just want me to be a star athlete, an investment for him.

"Uh, no. She's a really great fighter, a good sparring partner." I tell him, my eyes trained on my plate of food in front of me. He just responds with a hum, going back to the plate of food in front of him, the room falling silent again as we eat the rest of our dinner.

Clary's POV
Isabelle and I sit next to each other on my living room couch after football practice. Magnus and Alec went to grab some food together, and Jace had to meet up with his parents for a bit, leaving Isabelle and I together.

Class was interesting today, I didn't get nearly as many comments as I was expecting, but the looks I got today spoke volumes. People were obviously curious, but I'm pretty sure the look on my face chased them off, "So," Isabelle says, rolling on her side to look at me, "now that it's just us girls, and your mom and brother are nowhere to be found, do you want to tell me about what's going on with you and Jace?" She asks me and I sigh, looking up at the ceiling, "We're friends." I say quickly, "Well, I don't know." I tell her honestly, pressing my good hand on my forehead.

"You guys seem really close." She bumps me with her elbow, "Like, really close," she winks, "he was freaking out when you got hurt, I know he probably didn't show it, but I know he was." I hum in response; I didn't know he cared that much. I purse my lips, unsure of how much I want to tell her. This is girl talk- right?

"We kissed the other night," I tell her and she lets out a squeal, "No way!" She exclaims, "Alec totally owes me twenty dollars. Was it good? Are you dating? Why didn't you tell me when it happened?" She tells me, pushing herself up on her knees.
"It was when you were in the shower. And it was good, and no, I don't think we are dating." I knit my brows together in confusion. I don't know if we are dating, does kissing someone mean that you are dating? I've never had a boyfriend, only non-serious flings.

"Oh come on, you guys obviously like each other. I have known Jace forever, and I have never seen him infatuated with a girl the way he is with you." She tells me, "Have you asked him if you are dating?" She asks me and I scrunch my nose, "No, why would I do that?" I respond and she sighs, rolling her eyes, standing to her feet, "Clary, sometimes I think you're hopeless." She walks towards the kitchen, leaving me alone on the couch.

"Do you think that your brother will be back tonight?" She calls to me from the kitchen, "Probably. He's most likely reporting back to my dad about what a train wreck I am, and then he'll be back tonight to spy a bit more." I spit out bitterly. I don't know if that's what he's doing, but that's truly what it feels like. Knowing the way my dad feels about me, if he was employing Jonathan to spy on me, I wouldn't be surprised.
"Well, you know, I can always take Magnus and Alec and we can leave you guys alone for a few hours if you want to talk out your feelings." Isabelle calls to me from the kitchen and I scoff, "That will not be needed." My face flushes. The front door swings open loudly, causing me to jump at the sound, wincing at the pain that shoots through my body, "Who's talking about their feelings?" Magnus asks as he and Alec enter my apartment.

"Clary and Jace kissed." Isabelle yells to them and my jaw goes slack in embarrassment as I push myself up to my feet, "Isabelle! Isn't girl code a thing or something?" I yell to her, walking towards the kitchen.

"I figured when I walked in on you two whispering yesterday something was going on." Magnus says with a shrug, and Alec adds on, "I already knew, Jace texted me right after it happened." Alec smiles, "And you didn't tell me!" Magnus and Isabelle exclaim together.

"I'm his best friend." Alec shrugs in response, and Isabelle groans, "You owe me twenty dollars." Isabelle tells her big brother. My front door swings open again, and Jace comes walking in, pushing the door shut quietly behind him, stopping when he sees everyone staring at him.

"Do none of you know how to knock?" I cork my eyebrows at the group. Not a single one of them knocked on my door today, "And," Isabelle narrowed her eyes at him, "why the hell didn't you tell me you and Clary kissed?"

"Red, I didn't think you'd be one to kiss and tell." Jace looks at me, a small smirk on his face, "Why, you embarrassed?" I respond, my stomach doing flips as the words slip past my lips. I never thought about how our friends would react to whatever Jace and I have going on, and I don't know how Jace feels about everyone else knowing.
"Definitely not." He smiles at me as Isabelle collects her prize money from her older brother, "So, has anyone heard from Luke? He said he was going to look into Seelie." I ask as I shuffle my way to the bar, sitting down on the high top stool.

"I can text Simon; I know he sees Luke a lot." Isabelle offers from across the kitchen and I can't help but smile, "I didn't know you had Simon's number." I grin, "Yeah Isabelle, why are you texting rat-boy?" Jace asks the raven haired girl and I narrow my eyes at his insult.

"Shut up Jace, I happen to like Simon." Isabelle crosses her arms defensively over her chest, "And we are friends, that's all." The group throws a few teasing remarks her way before we eventually make our way into the living room, where we collectively decide to brave another horror movie as we wait for the inevitable return of my mother and brother. I can't help feeling on edge as my eyes jump between the front door and the TV.

My eyes lock on the front door as I hear footsteps from outside in the hallway. When the door doesn't open, and the footsteps pass, I feel myself let out a deep breath that I didn't know I was holding. I feel Jace's arm snake lightly around my shoulders, giving me a light tug, encouraging me to lean into him, which I oblige. I force my eyes away from the door, and train them on the TV, attempting to enjoy my night and the comfort of my friends.

By the time the movie is over, the clock reads past midnight, Alec and Magnus had disappeared to bed a long while ago, and Isabelle has passed out face down on the couch cushions next to me, "Clary, I don't think they are coming home tonight, why don't we go to bed?" Jace offers quietly in an attempt not to wake Isabelle.
"You can go to bed, I'm going to wait up a bit longer. If Jonathan said he was going to go after mom, he should have brought her home by now." I respond, and Jace lets out a sigh, "Well, you said she tends to stay out a lot, and Jonathan isn't the most reliable," he offers, obviously trying to convince me to give it a rest, "but if you want to stay awake, I will stay awake with you."

"I don't want you to stay awake for me." I tell him, propping my feet up on the coffee table as I lie my head back against the couch, "Well, it technically wouldn't be for you. I'm waiting up for your mom obviously." Jace tells me with a stupid smirk on his face; I roll my eyes, "She's kind of hot." He tells me, I snap my head to him, my mouth wide, "Take that back." I narrow my eyes at him, "Take it back right now."

"Look, all I'm saying is that if you look like that when you're forty, I'll be set for life." I shove him hard, "You're disgusting." I pause, corking my eyebrows at him, "You think about us being together when we are forty?" Are we 'together' now?

"I think about a lot of things," he pauses, "in the long run, I would like to say that we will be in each other's lives when we are older. You?" He asks, no longer looking at me, his eyes trained on the ceiling. Dare I say he is feeling unsure of himself.

"For the longest time I never envisioned myself living that long. I figured I'd get my neck broken in an off the books fight, or I'd get in a motorcycle accident, or I'd throw myself off a New York high rise." I tell him, my lips pursed together, "Clary." Jace reaches towards me, but I put my hand out to stop him from touching me, "I'm kidding." Kinda. I offer him a humorless smile. He just stares at me with an unreadable look in his eyes, "That's not a funny joke." He crosses his arms.

"I was in a different mindset a month ago." I offer, trying to ease his mind, "An epic death isn't really on my mind anymore. I guess I would be ok with us remaining…" I trail off, unsure of what to refer to 'us' as, I'm not even sure if there is an 'us', "whatever we are."

"Yeah, whatever we are." He repeats, his eyes meeting mine with a small smile, "Ok." He reaches forward, giving my knee a squeeze, "I think I might pass out on you. Are you ok with me going up to your room?" I nod quietly, "I'll see you later." I tell him, offering him a tight-lipped smile. I watch his tall form retreat up the staircase, and I sigh, leaning back against the cushions.