I'm Not What I Seem [COMPLETED]

Chapter 19

Jace POV

Right after I figure out who it is, I sprint into the building. I find Isabelle standing by the lockers talking to Cecily. As I rush past I grab her arm and pull her with me.

"What the hell Jace!"

"Isabelle, I know who's been texting me," I say as I hold my phone out to her.

She takes it and reads the latest texts. I see a slight eye roll roll from her. "What the hell even is this? These words don't mean--."

"Isabelle, shut up and listen. That last text she sent me, Clary ended her note to me that way two years ago. I still have it in my backpack." I stop and pull the original note out of my backpack, handing out to Izzy.

"So what? Clary's the one who's been texting you for over a month? Why didn't she just tell you?"

"I don't know," I admit. "But we need to keep this between us, okay? No one else knows about this."

She nods. "I'll keep my mouth shut about it."

And with that, we go our separate ways to class.

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During lunch, I decide to try texting Clary again.

Jace: Have you gone silent now that I know it's you, Morgenstern?

Unknown: Calling me by my last name? Ouch.

Jace: So does being left by your girlfriend when she ran away.

She doesn't start to respond for a few minutes.

Unknown: I had my reasons.

Jace: They better be pretty damn good ones.

"Hey, Jace!"

I look up to see Will and Jem walking up to me. "Hey guys," I say as they get closer.

"Hey man. We were all gonna head to Taki's after school. You gonna come with us?" Will asks.

"Yeah. Definately." After that we walk over to where everyone is sitting and basically do what all teenagers do at lunch. We talk about pointless shit.

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As school is getting out, I'm talking with Gabriel about the upcoming football game against the Brooklyn High Demons. Since I'm quarterback and he's one of the running backs, we have to basically be like one mind. Too bad mine is being completely wiped by what is happening next.

A motorcycle comes zooming down the street and into the parking lot. I watch, already knowing what's gonna happen.

When the rider stops the bike and jumps off, taking her helmet off and shaking her now shoulder length red curls out. She turns to all the surprised faces and smirks, her green eyes mischievously bright. She puts her helmet on a shelf on her bike and starts walking towards me, pushing past shocked teenagers and teachers as she does.

As much as I hate to admit it, she looks good. She's wearing a gray crop top with some kind of dissolving feather design, olive colored jeans, and her famous black leather jacket with the signature combat boots. She hasn't gotten any more piercings since she left, but I can see a tattoo peaking out of her jacket sleeve. Her hair has subtle white highlights going through it and, even though the combination is weird, she makes it work.

She walks until the bottom of the steps and then stops, looking up at the ten shocked faces before her. "Miss me?" she asks smirking. When Isabelle surges forward, crushing her in a bone shattering hug, she makes an 'oof' sound. "Let me breathe Iz."

Isabelle pulls away suddenly and slaps Clary. "That is for running away." She slaps her again. "That is for messing with Jace with those texts." Clary gets slapped yet again. "That is for not telling me where you were or texting me when you started texting Jace."

"Yeah. I definitely deserve those," Clary agrees rubbing her cheek. She still has that mischievous glint in her eyes and a smirk to match it.

Suddenly, Isabelle is hugging her. "And this is for coming back." Clary hesitates for a second then hugs back tightly.

"I missed you Iz," she whispers as a tear rolls down her cheek. "And may I say, I love your outfit. The colors really speak to me."

"What colors?" Isabelle asks scoffing and laughing at the same time.

By then, everyone but me had recovered from the shock. People rushed to hug and greet Clary but I just stood there, anger welling up inside of me. I never spoke it, but I always had this anger at Clary for leaving.

I rush past the group and towards my car and start driving. As soon as I get home, I head inside, slam the front door, and run to my room where I slam that door too. I look over to a picture frame with a picture of Clary and me inside.

I clutch it in my hand and chuck it at the wall. When is shatters I start throwing anything I can find. Books, picture frames, shoes. By the time I'm finished, the room is a total mess and I'm breathing heavily. I back up so my back is against the wall and slide down, sitting with my head in my hands.

I don't know how much time had passed, but soon there's a knock at my door. I look up to see a certain redhead. She slowly walks across the room towards me, stopping only to pick up the picture of us I threw. She sits next to me, pulling her knees to her chest.

"I didn't want to run," she says simply, not meeting my eyes.

"Then why did you?"

She laughs nervously. "There are things none of you know about me. Things that are too awful for anyone to know. I've been running from it for three years now and two years ago it almost caught up to me again."

"What could be so bad that you had to run away?" I ask as I glance over at her.

I see her shake her head. "You have no idea." She glances towards me. "I never wanted to hurt you Jace. I left specifically because I didn't want to hurt you. But if I had stayed, the pain you've felt would have been ten times worse."

"I don't care about how I would have felt, Clary! I laid awake so many nights wondering where the fuck you were! Whether you were even alive! I don't give a fuck about if I got hurt because you were all I ever thought about!" I shout. "And a piece of me died every time I thought about what might have happened to you," I add softly.

She glances over at me, a few silent tears flowing down her cheeks. "I should head back to my hotel. Give you some time to process all of this." She stands up and brushes her clothes off as she makes her way to the door. She turns to me as she reaches the door and hesitates before she turns and walks out.

Now there's only one question left. What the fuck am I gonna do?

AN

It is 5:30 in the morning in Paris and I haven't been able to get back to sleep since I woke up over an hour ago. Anyway, I hope you like the three updates in three days. I also hope your fangirl hearts are ready for the emotional roller coaster I have planned for you all.

Either way, have a nice night or day whatever time zone you're in.~Bella