The One Who Loved Him

Leaving is Always Hard

It was as soon as I had stepped out the door. One second it was Italy, the next, the front of the building where Magnus and Alec lived. Before I had left to go with Jonathan, I had sent a note to Alec telling him I'd visit sometime when I had the chance. I went inside, walked up the steps, and knocked on the door. A few seconds went by before the door opened up. Magnus stood in the door frame, spiked, glittery hair and his gorgeous green-gold cat eyes. Alec walked up behind him and smiled when he seen me.

"Elizabeth Cartwright. What a pleasant surprise."

/-/

Jonathan whistled out a tune, much to the surprise of Jace, who rarely heard anyone sing at the apartment beside Liza. "Uh, you okay?"

"Yes. What would make you think I wasn't?" Jonathan asked, abruptly stopping.

"You're whistling." Jace answered, as if Jonathan was stupid.

"Can't a man whistle?" he asked defensively.

"Not when it's you."

Jonathan crossed his arms and looked the other way. I can whistle if I want, he thought to himself. A piece of black material caught his eye. It was a lace shirt hanging in the window of an Italian clothing store. Something Eliza would wear. He tore away from Jace and stalked over to the other side.

"Hey, where ya going?" Jace called.

He didn't answer, just walked inside, the bell clinking when he stepped in.

"Ciao, signore! Benvenuti Chic di Vortelli." the store clerk said.

"Ciao." Jonathan answered, then paused. "Posso chiedere... Quanto costa quella camicia di pizzo nero sul display?"

The lady came around to look at what he was talking about, lifting up her glasses and giving him an odd look.

"E 'per la mia ragazza. Il suo compleanno è in arrivo presto." The last part was a lie. Such an easy excuse.

The lady smiled at him and grabbed a shirt from the rack directly behind the display. She held it up, questioning if it was the one he wanted. He nodded, looked for Eliza's size, and followed the lady back to the counter.

"Che sarà 30 euro." she said, ringing it up and putting it in a bag.

Jonathan pulled the euros from his pocket and laid the amount in her hand.

"Grazie! Have a nice day!" she said, handing him the bag.

"Si, anche." he replied as he walked outside to meet Jace on the sidewalk.

"What's that?" he questioned, eyeing the bag in Jonathan's hand.

"Something for Eliza. Now come on."

/-/

I felt like I was betraying Jonathan, being in the same room as his mother and the "good guys", like I was stabbing him in the back. I laughed at Simon, sipping at the coffee in my hands.

"So, how's everything?" Alec asked.

"Everything being?"

"You know, everything."

I knew what he meant. But I didn't want to say anything, especially about Jace and Clary. Or Jonathan. They all looked at me: Jocelyn, Izzy, Simon, Alec, and Magnus, waiting for my answer.

"Well, depends on what you mean..."

"We know you're with Jonathan. There was a glint in his eye and I saw something with Elizabeth on it in his pocket when he turned. I knew it was you." Jocelyn said.