City Of Changes || ✔️

Chapter 2

Edited

Clary

Clary woke up to the sound of cooking in the kitchen. For a moment, she thought she was back in the Institute, and that was Isabelle cooking eggs or something, burning them in the process. Getting up, Clary noticed that her eyes were puffy, and she remembered the events of last night.

Not being able to cry anymore since she cried enough last night to last a lifetime, Clary grabbed a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt and headed for the bathroom.

She took a shower, got dressed, put her hair up into a pony tail, and walked out to the kitchen where Jem was cooking pancakes. Sitting next to the stove was Church, the cat that used to live in the Institute. Clary wondered what he was doing there, but then remembered her mom told her about how Church was Jem and Tessa's cat before he lived at the Institute.

Clary sat down in the chairs at the small dining room table. Jem looked up and asked, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling fine I guess. But I really just want to leave New York. I was thinking about the Institutes I could go to, and I think I wanna go to the one in New Jersey. My friend Maia used to live in New Jersey." In all honesty, Maia didn't really like it there. As a child, she was often bullied because she was "biracial," and her parents liked her brother more, but Clary didn't have another place in mind.

"After breakfast, Tessa and I will help you portal there. But right now, you have to eat." Jem placed a plate of pancakes in front of her with butter and syrup on them. Clary thought that they smelled absolutely delicious.

Up until now, Clary didn't realize how hungry she was. She grabbed the fork that was laying next to the plate, and starting cutting into the pancakes. A few minutes later, Tessa came into the kitchen and kissed Jem on the cheek. "Good morning!"

Clary waved at Tessa since she couldn't speak with her mouth full.

"Clary told me that she wants to go to the Institute in New Jersey. Think we can portal her there after breakfast?" asked Jem.

"Of course! I'll go pack some things that you can bring along Clary."

"Thank you so much," said Clary.

"Of course." As Clary continued to enjoy her pancakes, Tessa walked into the room Clary had stayed in and started the packing process.

Jace

For the whole night, Jace had been all over town searching for Clary. He went to the Institute first. He checked all the rooms, and since there were a lot of guest bedrooms, it took him a while. Jace even checked Alec's room, which unfortunately resulted in him invading a very private moment between Alec and Magnus.

After checking all the rooms in the Institute, Jace realized how stupid he was for checking them because Clary wouldn't have stayed around after what he did to her. There was really no where for Clary to go, except for her house, so he went there next. When he arrived, Jace found that the door was locked. Using an opening rune, Jace got into the house and searched everywhere, but found that the house was empty.

Not knowing where else to look, Jace ran all over town. He looked in Taki's, Luke's old shop, even the police station, but Clary was no where to be found. No one seemed to know where she was either.

Finally, Jace just gave up and went back to the Institute. Everyone was asleep, but he just couldn't sleep. He missed Clary like crazy. He wanted to hold her, kiss her, and tell her that he was sorry. He wanted to say how it was all a mistake and how he really only loves her, but it was too late. Clary was out of Jace's life, possibly forever.

He remembered back at the Pandemonium Club that the girl had given him her number. Jace was feeling really lonely, and was contemplating calling her.

No, I can't think like that. I've already hurt Clary once, I'm not doing it again, even if she isn't here. Besides, I don't even remember the girls name. Wasn't it Brittany or something?

Jace sat on his bed for what seemed like an eternity. He felt weaker, sadder, and lonelier by the second. Like before, Jace just gave up, and picked up his phone to call her.

She answered on the second ring. "Hello? Who is this?"

He sighed. "It's Jace from the club."

The girl's voice grew louder. "Oh hey Jace! How are you?"

"My place, nine o'clock. Be there," Jace demanded. His voice sounded so foreign to him, as if he was another person.

"Alright!" she said in a high pitched voice. "See you then babe!"

Then Jace hung up. He was already regretting this, but he couldn't turn it down now. After what he did to Clary, he didn't deserve happiness. He didn't deserve to be with someone out of love; not that there would be anyone else he could love besides Clary. Jace knew he deserved to be in pain, and what other way could there be to punish yourself than just reminding yourself of the guilt you felt? Being with this girl would remind him of what he did to Clary. It would be his own personal punishment.

Clary

After breakfast, Tessa handed Clary her backpack. "We will have to go outside in order to make the portal Clary. I highly doubt that you'll see Jace out there. He doesn't know where I live, and I don't think he would assume you were near here either."

Clary nodded and followed Tessa and Jem down to an alleyway next to the large apartment building. The alleyway was decorated in colorful graffiti. Often times, Clary thought graffiti was both rude and ugly, but in an ally where it wouldn't really disturb anyone, she really took the time to appreciate it. Especially when it was so abstract and colorful.

While Clary was looking at the graffiti on the walls, Tessa created the portal. In order for Clary to travel to the place where she wanted to go, she needed a picture of the Institute. When Tessa was done, Clary went on her phone and looked up the church so she could picture it as she went in the portal.

With a final hug from Tessa and Jem, Clary stepped through the portal to start her fresh new journey, leaving her old life behind.