Hiding My Life (On Hold)

Chapter Fourteen

Clary's POV

"Baby, wake up. People should be arriving in about an hour." I groaned into my pillow, making my dad chuckle slightly. "Come on, baby." He sighed and grabbed me by the waist, lifting me to my feet like I was a fucking feather.

"Ass." He chuckled louder. "I need to shower." I trudged to the bathroom and started brushing my teeth at the same time Jon was brushing his.

He nudged me with his shoulder and so I did the same. When we both finished, I started the shower and Jon left the bathroom.

I showered, blow dried my hair, pulled it up into a bun, put on my dress, a few bracelets, a necklace, my feather earings, my sandals and a little bit of make-up.

"Clare! Everyone's here! Come on!" I smiled and grabbed my phone before heading downstairs and into the living room.

Dad, Jon, Alec, Maryse, Robert, Magnus, Simon, Izzy and Jace all stood in the living room, chatting with each other.

"Ah, she lives!" Jon exclaimed and I flipped him off with my still casted hand. I get it off in three weeks, but I still have to wear my sling for a while.

"Happy birthday, Clary." I smiled at Maryse and accepted her hug and everyone else's.

"Alright, everyone outside. Let's go." Dad grabbed the hamburger meat and the hot dogs before we all headed out the back door.

I yawned and Jon handed me a cup of coffee. "You're the best big brother ever." I joked and he laughed, kissing my forehead before him and Robert went to help dad with the grill.

Everybody else sat down at the picnic tables side by side in the grass. "So, are you excited for Harvard?" I smiled brightly at Maryse.

"More excited than anything else in my life." Jace sitting beside me, he discreetly reached over and held my hand under the table.

"Angel!" Luke, Aiden and Caleb jumped over the fence and I stood up, going to hug the three of them.

Then, presents started flying over the fence and Caleb would catch them and Aiden would set them on the ground.

"Now jump your ass over that fence! With all that training, it should be a breeze." Training? It's not-

He jumped over the wooden fence and I squealed. "Austin!" He hugged me, avoiding my shoulder, like everyone else does. "What the hell? When did you get back from Afghanistan?" He held onto my waist and kissed my forehead.

"Yesterday. Happy birthday, angel." I smiled, but turned to glare at Luke.

"Why didn't you tell me he was home?" He scratched the back of his neck.

"He was a birthday present." I smiled again and hugged Austin again.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here for the funeral, angel. I wanted to, but we were dealing with insurgents trying to blow us up." I laughed and grabbed his hand, pulling him to the picnic table.

"Guys, these are my friends, Luke, Caleb, Aiden and Austin. They live across the street from my old house."

"I remember you sitting on that stoop when you first moved in and we'd come over to hang out with you, but you'd have your headphones on the whole time, attempting to ignore us." I scoffed.

"Well, who can blame me? Back then, you guys were just wannabe thugs trying to get my attention."

"Oh, come on, you loved it." I rolled my eyes. "You know you did." He laughed and pulled me into his lap.

"So what if I did?" He chuckled and kissed my cheek. "I missed you." I sighed.

"I missed you, too, angel."

I glanced around at everyone and theu were all looking to us, but Jace was the only one with jealous eyes. "Austin, this is Jace. Jace, this is my friend, Austin." He picked up on my enunciation of 'friend' and smiled.

"I heard about you. I oughta wring your neck for hurting my angel." I slapped Austin's arm.

"Stop it. We're okay now. And, how the hell did you hear about that all the way from Afghanistan?" He smirked.

"I have my ways, little angel." I rolled my eyes, making him chuckle underneath me. "I can't believe you're sixteen already."

"Me either!" Dad yelled from the other side of the yard.

"And, who woulda guessed you'd be heading off to college at sixteen? Our rebellious little angel from across the street?" I laughed at him.

"You love my rebellious self." I said and Caleb hummed.

"Yes we do." I laughed and Austin smacked him upside the head for me. "Ow! Uncalled for." He rubbed the back of his head.

"No, it was called for." I said, making everyone laugh.

"Come get your food! Birthday girl first!" I stood and hurried to dad, taking my cheeseburger and my hotdog.

"Thank you, daddy." He smiled, kissing my cheek.

"Anything for the birthday girl." I walked back to the picnic table and sat down, eating my hotdog with one hand, as the other is still stuck in a sling.

"Having a good birthday, princess?" Dad sat down beside me with a plate of food and a beer.

"Best one yet." He kissed my head before biting into his burger, making an instant mess of it.

The rest of the day, I opened presents, had my cake, went out to dinner and dad, Jon and I returned home and watched some of my favorite movies.

Now, as I lay in my bed, I couldn't be happier than I am now.

"Princess? You asleep?"

"Nope." Dad walked in and laid down beside me.

"I'm really going to miss you, princess." I nodded and cuddled up to him.

"I'll miss you, too, daddy. More than anything." I smiled and he rubbed my back as I started to fall asleep. "Night."

"Goodnight, baby."

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"I love you, baby. We'll visit soon, I promise." I nodded to my brother and hugged him again.

"I love you, too, and I promise the same. What are you gonna do without me?" I joked.

"Nothing. I will get depressed, shrivel up and die in my room." I laughed.

"Don't you dare. I've had enough death in my life. Bye, Jonny." He kissed my cheek.

"Bye, Clare."

"I'll miss you so, so much, princess." I hugged him for a long moment and nodded into his chest.

"I'll miss you more, daddy. I love you."

"I love you, too." He pulled away and kissed my head. "Get going. You need to get on the road." I smiled and nodded, detaching myself from my dad.

"Bye, daddy." I got into the U-haul with Luke and we drove off. I waved to my family and friends until we were out of sight.

Here comes my future.....