secrets

twelve

-SIMON-
______

"Clary, I'm home." I say to the dark house. My voice echoes and bounces off the walls, receiving no response. "Clary?" I say, turning on the light.

I find her asleep on the couch. I watch her for a moment, nostalgia running through me. There was a time when I would look at her face while she slept and find it so beautiful. That was a time when things were much simpler, when I didn't know her as well. That was a good thing. I didn't know her true character or the way she manipulated people.

But now I do. Which is why I'm terrified to remove her from my life, even though there's nothing I want more than to give Adele my whole heart.

I wake her up, my well thought out plan pleading to come to life.

"Simon? Why are you home?" She sits up, throwing her long hair into a ponytail.

"I'm on lunch break."

"Are you here to tell me something or just to eat?"

"I already ate on my way here. I'm here to ask you out."

"Ask me out?"

I nod. "I miss you. And you know just as well as I do that we're growing apart."

"Ever since you laid your eyes on that girl in the pub, we have." She flatly says.

"What girl?" I ask, pretending to have no idea. Little does she know that that girl has completely captivated every part of me.

"That blonde you met! The one who is way more younger than you! The one that Alex was with!" She raises her voice in frustration.

Oh, of course she remembers his name. I clench my jaw at the sound of it. I despised that man for what he did to Adele.

"Whatever, I don't even know who you're talking about. I just came to ask if you wanted to join me for dinner tonight."

Her face lights up, which is not what I was expecting to happen. "Really?"

I nod. "Why would I joke about a date?"

She shrugs. "I don't know, but I would love to go out with you tonight."

"Good. I'll come home after work and we'll go, alright?"

She nods, a wide smile spread across her face. Then she starts to lean closer to me, and I don't have a chance to turn away. Her lips meet mine and I just go with it, not feeling anything in the kiss. She pulls away, oblivious to my lack of passion.

"I've gotta get back to work. I'll see you later, Clary." I get up and race to the door, avoiding her and her response.

So far, the plan is falling right into place.

_____

"So that's the plan?" Adele beams.

I nod, proud of myself for creating such a brilliant plan. Yes, it would mean Clary gets hurt, but we're all still young and she deserves someone who will love her unconditionally. That person just isn't me. And at the end of tonight, if it goes as planned, Adele will be all mine and I will be all hers, which is what I've wanted since I first talked to her all those weeks ago.

"You're so bad!" She playfully hits my chest, laughing. Her laugh is so gorgeous. "But I love it. And I'm going to get ready." She announces, getting up from the couch and walking up the stairs. Louie follows her, and she stops in the middle of the steps to pick him up. She kisses him, and I find myself smiling at how adorable she is.

"Wipe the smirk off your face, Konecki!" She says when she reaches the top, never once turning around to see me. She already knows me that well. I laugh, and head into the bathroom to change into a suit.

After an hour, she finally descends the flight of stairs looking like a queen. She's wearing a long red dress with sleeves that go just past her elbow. It outlines her curvy figure and shows off everything that is unique about her. She lets her hair fall down freely in soft waves, and I find myself at a loss for words yet again.

"You are," I take her hand and pull her into me, "Flawless."

She blushes and says, "Have you always been so perfect?"

"It took a few years of practice, but I would say yes." I joke, kissing her cheek as she laughs and leading her to the door.

"Wait!" She says just as I put my hand on the doorknob. "I have to say bye to Louie."

I laugh as she calls for him. He obediently runs out of the room he was in and straight towards her. She kneels down in her dress, kissing him and saying, "See you later baby boy."

If this is how she treats her dog, she's going to be the most incredible mother to her child.

"Ok, now I'm ready." She grins, placing her hand back in mine and allowing me to lead her to the car.

"The reservations are at 8, and it's only 6:30." I think out loud, driving down the road. "So I thought a romantic walk would be a good start to our night."

She grins joyfully. "I'm glad I wore flats! I would love that. I love seeing the lights this time of year, too."

"I love that about you." I say.

"Love what?" She turns her attention away from the window to me.

"Your love for the simple things."

She shyly smiles, taking my hand. I run my thumb over her insanely soft skin, wondering how I got so lucky to be loved by her.

Once we arrive, we get to the sidewalk and start walking hand in hand. I watch in awe as she becomes infatuated with the blue lights lining the trees.

"I have a question." I suddenly state.

"What is it?"

"Remember when I said I didn't have to know your middle name to love you?"

"I remember." She answers.

"What is your middle name?"

She laughs. "Laurie Blue."

"Hmm." I say, stopping our walk and turning to face her. I pull her into me, placing one arm around her waist and the other in her hand, as if we're about to slow dance. "Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, will you be my one and only?"

She grins from ear to ear, looking like a work of art. "It would be an honor." She answers.

I seal our decision with a gentle passionate kiss against her soft lips. When she pulls away, she looks ahead of us and then goes paler than a piece of paper.

"Adele?" I say, worried.

She begins to tremble and her giant fearful eyes fill with tears. I follow her eyes to the source of her fear and see something that completely stuns me.

Clary is walking towards us with a smile on her face and none other than Alex himself holding her hand.