Chapter Text
I wake up to the blinding sun shining through my windows and I shield my eyes. It's Saturday which means I only have two days until I start school again. I can't say I'm thrilled but whatever gets me out of here faster.
My mother Jocelyn at one time was kind and loving, everyone says I'm her mini-me. With my red hair and green eyes but I don't see it. We have similar features but hers are so much more defined than mine.
It's the same with our artistic ability I'm good but my mother is great. With every stroke of her brush, she evokes raw emotion.
My father Valentine was away a lot when I was a child, off fighting in the war but he's home now for good. I wish I could say that's for the best but I can't. In fact him being home has ruined my sense of normalcy that I've tried so hard to regain.
My best friend is more than what I deserve. Simon Lewis has been there for me more times than I could count. I have all these people who I love that are there for me so why do I feel like something is missing? Like I don't belong here. Maybe I'm just being dramatic. That's what my uncle luke always tells me. He may have a point. Luke isn't really my uncle, but he's been like a second dad to me or more like the only father.
I used to call him dad but when Valentine came home for good my mom made me stop. Luke got downgraded to uncle but just title wise in front of Valentine. Luke will always be my father, he might not be blood but he's the father I deserve, the father I choose.
Valentine came home from the war almost two years ago. He " gave up the war to be with his family." or so he claims but I don't think that's true. He didn't give up anything, he came home because he was intimidated by Luke as he should be.
Luke, Valentines once best friend is my mom's soulmate. Valentine might have been my mother's first love but Luke is her last. I firmly believe that. Valentine may have deserved her once but he certainly doesn't now. Luke is the one who gave up the war to come and help my mom.
Luke is the one who took care of me when I was sick, tucked me into bed, read me bedtime stories. Luke was there for me and my mom when Valentine wasn't and he hates him for it.
I'm sure Valentine was once a decent man, a kind man, one worthy of my mother's love. Otherwise why else would my mother stay with him? Why would she have loved him in the first place?
If that man existed the war has erased him from my memory and his too. Sometimes or all the time I wish he'd go back. Does that make me an awful person? Maybe but at least I'm not a liar.
My mother can't see it, blinded by love or whatever you call it but the man that came home is cruel. Maybe that's who he's always been, maybe war changed him, all I know is that man is not my father.
I sigh as I look through my closet for something to wear to check out Simons competition. That's just what I need to get my mind off things, spending time with my best friend.
My mom thinks I'm being unfair to Valentine but how can she not see she's not being fair to Luke?
Valentine forced him out of our lives, he gave my mother an ultimatum and she chose wrong. I would never let that monster cut my true father out of my life. I still secretly see Luke almost every day. But Valentine did succeed in cutting someone else from my life. Someone that means the world to me.
I shake my head as I pull out an electric blue v neck top and black skinny jeans. "Get it together Fray!" I chide myself.
I put on my ankle boots with the secret hiding spots for my knives and walk down the stairs hoping to go unnoticed. Call me paranoid but after what happened to me that night, I will never leave unarmed again. I shudder as I push my thoughts away.
"Clary! Just in time for breakfast!" I knew I wouldn't make it out, I never do.
I force my lips into a smile I don't feel and sit down at the table across from him. The quote "If looks could kill, " runs across my mind as he stares daggers at me.
My mom sets down a plate of eggs and bacon in front of me. "Eat your protein sweetie." She says as she smiles warmly at me. She deserves so much better, she deserves Luke.
"Yes, Clary eat." He says it like an order and suddenly I'm not hungry anymore. My appetite much like my self-restraint is gone. I get up ignoring my mother's glare. She once told me if I had nothing nice to say, say nothing at all. So that's exactly what I'm doing.
"Clarissa Fray!" She storms after me and grabs my arm before I can make my escape through the front door. I slowly turn to her without saying a word.
"You're being rude! You owe your father an apology." It's comical really, I owe him an apology? He selfishly banned the only father I have ever know from my life and I need to apologize?
"Mom, " I say, trying my best to keep a handle on my temper, something us Frays are notorious for losing. "I wasn't being rude to Valentine, I just forgot I'm meeting Simon."
Her face turns blood red as she lets out a breath, in order to scream at me I'm sure. luckily I'm saved by a knock. "Love you, mom!" I say and spin around slamming the door behind me. I take Simons hand and practically drag him to his van. He doesn't even ask questions he just keeps pace beside me and takes off as soon as we're both inside.
When we're on the road I can finally breathe again. He places his hand on my knee and squeezes. I gratefully place my hand on top of his.
"How long did you last this time?" He asks.
"Thirty seconds, I'm improving. " I smile, it's funny only minutes ago I was murderous now I'm smiling.
"Your mom will come to her senses."
"Yeah, " I say "well she is sure taking her sweet ass time, isn't she?"
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Simon parks in the front of the cafe and runs to my door to open it. "My Lady."
I burst out laughing as I take his hand in mine. We walk hand in hand into Java Jones the last of my anger dying out. Java Jones is our favorite place. It's a wonderful cafe that always has bands performing. The smell of coffee hits me instantly making me thirsty.
We take a seat in the back so we won't get noticed by Jordan. The lead singer and Simons mortal enemy. Those are Simons words for him, not mine. I think Jordan's kind of cute but Simon hates him so I hate him too. He's always an ass to Simon and we have a pact. We share enemies. "I hope he forgets the words," I say seething.
"I like the vindictive side of you!"
I blow him a kiss, "Your enemies are my enemies."
"As is yours Fray." Jordan starts shredding on the guitar and Simon tenses by my side. Jordan is his main competition for the battle of the bands.
He wins every year and this is Simons last chance not to come in second. "Don't worry! Crimson Batman will totally kick Jordan's mind explosion's ass." He smiles but I can tell he doesn't believe me. I want so much for him to win. He deserves it. Jordan only wins because he can afford professional bandmates. Jackass, I think to myself.
"Simon, you're going to win you deserve it." I squeeze his hands for reassurance, "thanks for being there for me today and every other day. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Clary... there's something I want to tell you. Something I should have told you a long time ago...I..."
"Jace! earth to Jace." I snap my head up at the sound and that's when I see him. Golden eyes are staring into mine. Golden curls fall around his ears and with his muscular body, he'd easily be the most attractive man in any room. But those eyes, I can't stop looking into those eyes. I finally snap out of my daze when Simon tugs on my arm. It's only then I notice the man isn't alone.
On either side of him are two beautiful dark-haired siblings. I assume they look just alike. The woman has long black hair that falls to her waist in waves and apple red lips.
While the boy's black hair falls to his ears and his lips are turned into a frown. Both beautiful but nothing compared to the boy with the golden hair. The boy who's still staring at me, I almost get sucked in by those eyes again but Simon is tugging at me and he seems angry. I notice both of the siblings pulling on the blonde's arm much like Simons doing to mine. I don't want to look away first. "Clary!"
I look up at Simon, "Yeah?" I say breathlessly. A look flitters across his face, one I've never seen before. Anger, hurt? Both? "Simon, what's wrong?"
He looks at me like I should already know the answer. "You were eye humping that guy for damn near five minutes!"
"I was not! Simon, what's gotten into you?"
"You!" He Shouts.
"Jace, come on let's go. You've caused enough of a scene." I hear the frowning guy say.
The boy Jace I assume says something too low for me to hear. But I guess it wasn't low enough for Simon because he's angrier than ever.
"You want to know what's gotten into me?" He takes my face into his hands and kisses me hard on the mouth. At first, I'm frozen in shock. But then I come to my senses and gently push Simon off.
"Simon what?" before I can finish my sentence Simon is all but bolting for the door. I turn to chase Simon but the boy, Jace, is staring at me again. I monetarily freeze trapped again by those golden eyes that are like a sunset. Now his friends as staring at me too. Probably because I'm eye stalking their friend. I shake my head putting him out of my head.
"Simon!" I scream running after him as fast as my legs will carry me. When I shove through the door Simon and his van's gone. I go back inside and sit at a table as I dig out my phone. I call Simon but it goes straight to voicemail. "Simon I'm so sorry, just tell me what I did? You're my best friend and you always will be."
I hang up and rest my chin on my hands. Trying not to burst into tears. Why did he kiss me? The obvious answer, the one I don't want to face is staring me in the face, like a neon sign. He can't have feelings for me, he just can't, he's my best friend. I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn to see Jordan.
"Did you and Simon get into a fight?"
"That's none of your business!"
He gets closer to me as I back away from him.
"I want to make it my business, let me take you home Clary."
"Oh, please you don't care about me you want to use me to get to Simon. I'd rather walk."
He shrugs his shoulder, " suit yourself."
I turn back to wallowing in my hands when I feel another tap. "Jordan." I stop abruptly when I see it's the boy.
He sits beside me and gives me a lopsided smile. One that makes my heart do a back flip. For a solid minute, he just stares at me with that adorable grin on his face. I mean I know this should be sending up red flags but then again I'm drooling over him after all.
"Hi, " I say and then I feel like a fool, there are over a hundred thousand words in the English language and I said hi. I wait for him to say something, anything but he doesn't.
"So, nice chat," I say awkwardly as I stand up.
"Wait!" he says and the voice that comes out of those lips is that of an angel. "I can take you home."
Okay, he's hot like out of this world hot but he's a stranger. He could be a serial killer, plenty of good-looking serial killers out there waiting for naive girls.
"No, that's okay I'm not going home and I have a ride."
"Really?" I can hear the sarcasm dripping from his voice. "Because it looked like your boyfriend left you here. Does he always cause such a scene? I've seen toddlers throw quieter tantrums."
Okay, now the hot angel is kind of pissing me off. He may be the hottest living thing on this planet but no one talks about Simon like that.
"Don't pretend you know him or me." I glare at him" and frankly it's none of your business, thanks for the offer but I think I'll decline." He looks shocked like actually shook to the core."
"What?"
I roll my eyes "I said no, you have heard of that word before right?"
The girl with the radiant black hair starts to laugh hysterically. "I like you!" she says as she thrusts her hand at me, I hesitantly shake it.
"I'm Isabelle Lightwood but my friends call me Izzy. You can call me Izzy, " and this she says as she yanks on the dark-haired boy's arm, "is Alec, my brother. I see you're already acquainted with Jace."
"I think you've found your match, Jace," Izzy says as she snickers again.
"I think his true match is himself," I say and now the brother is laughing too. Wow, when he smiles he looks almost as beautiful as his sister. They have nothing on the golden asshole though.
"Okay, where is this girl that Jace is obsessing with? I have to see this!" A familiar voice booms from behind me. A voice I would recognize almost anywhere. I turn and run to the voice. "Magnus!" I scream as I barrel into his arms. His arms wrap around me instantly. "biscuit!"