Morning Star

4

Clary Fray

"What do you mean? Dying Hog Smokers isn't that bad." Simon retaliates after I've made a very large statement on why "Dying Hog Smokers" is a terrible name for a band. We are walking around town drinking coffee on a Saturday morning.
I stare at him. "Simon, it's that bad." I snap at him.
He gives me a startled glance. "What's gotten into you lately? You've been really... I don't know....mean?"
I sigh as I notice the hurt in his tone. I squeeze my eyes shut because I realize that what's he's saying is true. "I'm really sorry. It's just... All this stuff with Jace and it's like he's stalking me or something! After he supposedly ran into Iz and I at the frozen yogurt shop, he signed up for the football team! And not to mention when we work on our project, he is the most annoying and obnoxious thing to walk on this planet." I rant. I swear, I didn't even stop to take a breath!
Simon sighs and looks at the street. "Maybe he likes you." He replies blandly.
I don't say anything back.
We continue walking in silence, looking at shops we pass. Simon notices a new comic book shop across the street and he points at it before dragging me to it.
The bell rings in the door and a female worker with dark brown hair greets us kindly. There are comic books on racks all over the neon green walls and actions figures in a back corner.
"What should I do about it though?" I ask, flipping through the pages of a superman comic book.
The room suddenly grew darker. I look out the window and notice that a bunch of dark clouds have rolled in. I sigh and turn back to Simon.
He shrugs and picks of a set of Marvel comic books. "I'm buying these. Want anything?" I look around and shake my head. "Okay."
We walk towards the check out and the girl smiles at us- or just Simon. Her name tag reads Penny, which is what she introduces herself as.
"Hi, I'm Penny. Did you find everything alright?" She asks in a thick southern accent with a toothy grin.
I look to the side as Simon replies. I grab a pack of gum called "Zap Chew!" And toss it on the counter without glancing at Simon.
Penny rings us up and puts everything in a brown paper bag. "Um, you should call me sometime." She says and slips a small piece of paper in Simons bag with his change.
Simon nods with a small smile. I roll my eyes. Immediately when we're out the door I say, "What were you thinking, Simon? That girl was totally hitting on you the whole time we were in there."
He shrugs and pulls his red hood over his head as it starts raining. "I have someone else in mind."
It takes me by surprise a little. I pull my own hood up on my green hoodie and walk next to him.
I get hungry so we stop at a diner to get sandwiches and to get out of the rain.
"So..." I begin, "Who is this person that you have in mind?"
Simon glances at me and then looks out the window. "You wouldn't know her."
I scoff at him. "That's silly! Come on, tell me!"
He grins a little and shakes his head. I never got to find out who the girl was that day because after I asked again, he said he had somewhere to be and left.

I've never been able to do the splits. Ever. But the cheer coach makes us do the splits as a stretch. My legs hurt and I feel like my skin is tearing. At least There's air conditioning today. It's been storming all yesterday into today, which is Sunday.
"So he just left?" Isabelle asks as she goes down in a split painlessly.
I nod my head, wincing. "How have you gotten use to this?"
"Practice. But who do you think it is?" Izzy asks looking at the red cheer mat below us.
The coach says to stretch our arms so we stand up and pull out arms over our heads.
"He said I wouldn't know her." I reply.
"Could it be that girl from the cafe the other day?" She says.
"I don't know. He's been getting hit on a lot lately!" I say and furrow my eyebrows.
Izzy's face gets slightly redder.
"Okay everyone, we are going to start out with our toe touches. First eight times we will do them together, then we will go one by one."
Everyone starts counting and I follow along with everyone else. Surprisingly, I do pretty well with everyone else. But then we did them one by one. I was in the fifth row and I watched everyone before do their toe touch almost perfectly. Then it came to me and it was a failure. Izzy gives me a thumbs up though, and I blush embarrassedly.
I mess up almost all my jumps. It's absolutely embarrassing!
We watch everyone do tumbling (if they can) after our jumps. Then we do our stunts. They started me out as a base. I had to lift one of the really small girls in my grade and I am pretty weak so it didn't end well. I couldn't catch her right and she hurt my chest. I almost dropped her five times.
The easiest and best part of it was when we had to learn the routines. I got most of the words memorized and some of the motions. After some practice, I think I'll be pretty good!
"I'm so tired." I say as I put my bag into the car.
Izzy huffs and stretches her arms. "You didn't do too bad. I don't think I'm gonna make it."
"No I won't. I think you've gone crazy." I laugh.
Isabelle gets in the front seat and drops me off at my house. The lights are on downstairs when we arrive. I tell Izzy goodnight and head inside.
My mom is just about to serve dinner as I walk through the door. "Hi honey, how did cheer go?"
I sigh. "Fine I guess. I can't do any jumps right and I barely remember the routine. Is dinner ready?"
She gives me a half smile. "Yep, call Luke and your brother down here.
I run the bottom of the stairs, "Luke and Johnny boy! You are being summoned to eat dinner!"
"Good, I've been starved long enough." Jonathan over exaggerates as he runs down the stairs, Luke follows behind him.
I grab a stack of plates from the cabinet, as well as silverware and cups. "I'll set the table, mom."
She smiles, "Thank you, Clary."
I make set four places in our usual seats in our basic dining room. It isn't too extravagant, but it has light blue walls, a dark wood table, matching chairs, and a China cabinet full of things we never use. One of my mom's larger painting hangs on a wall that made the once dull room actually look lived it; its of a pretty meadow full of wild flowers at sunset, there's a lake in the distance with two birds flying in the sky.
My mom, Luke, and Jonathan come in baring the dishes for tonight's dinner: spaghetti and meatballs, green beans, and garlic breadsticks.
My stomach growls as I take a seat. I reach for a breadstick and shove it in my mouth.
"Clary!" My mom gives me a look. "Wait until we all put food on our plates."
I contain my giggle. "Sorry, I'm starving."
I pile the tasty spaghetti on my plate, a good amount of green beans, and two breadsticks... and I eat it all. Meanwhile, I have a nice dinner with my family. We talk about how my brothers are doing at college, Luke's shop, plans for the baby, mom's art, my cheer practice, and how mine and Jonathan's friends are.
After eating, I take a much-needed shower. I change into fresh pajamas and curl into my bed with my phone. I got a text from Izzy.

Wanna go to a club this weekend? Found this place called Pandemonium and it looks lit af. Simon and Alec said they're in.

I sigh. Oh boy, this is going to be interesting. I type a response.

Well I guess that means I have to. I'm in.