Chapter Seven: Reservations and Commiserations

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This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory.
No happy ending.

- Mika

{Unedited}

Jace's POV

"Babe!" I call through to the other room in search of a reply. Jeans and boots, jackets, scarves, dresses and underwear covering the bed in front of me and I haphazardly attempt to stuff them into my suitcases.

My method of packing doesn't quite seem to be working.

"Yes?" I hear a light clatter coming from the bathroom like something being dropped in the sink.
"I need some help with this." I sigh, giving in "Please."

"Do you even really need to go?" She asks upon entering the room and takes my place in front of the overflowing suitcase, she doesn't say anything about the mess just begins to fold. I watch her, pretend I didn't hear her last question.

"Jonathan?" She's looking at me now, holding some fancy lingerie number of hers in one hand, she has a habit of calling me by my full name.

"What?" I slip my hands into the front pockets of my jeans, make eye contact with a pattern on the bedsheets.

"Do we really have to go?" I don't think about it, I just stall my answer. Something I do often since a lot of what is asked of me nowadays I'm not entirely thrilled or comfortable about.

"Yes." I nod and grab some more pairs of our shoes from the floor.

"Why?" The folding commences and I make myself busy now by picking our rubbish up from the hotel floor. We've hid in here long enough. Or I have at least.

"Because my family is back home." I tell her, simply and she's quiet for a second like she understands.

"So is Clary." My eyes close against the syllables, thankfully I'm facing the ground, bin in one hand.

I grab a dirty tissue from under the bed and dispose of it.

"Well it is her home too."

"Where are we going to live?" She asks and I make a face at the ground like she's an idiot which often she is.
"My flat obviously, Clary is staying with her parents at the moment."

"Still?" She's stopped again waiting for me to look at her, I resist the urge to sigh.

"Yes, she's trying to get her shit together." The sound of zips closing slices through the awkward silences between our sentences.

I straighten up and put the bin back where I found it and take a long hard look out the windows to the city below.

"Well she should hurry up," my shoulders tense "it's been months now."

"Give her a fucking break Sarah, she's just lost a- S-she's having a hard time at the minute." Across from us is a block of flats, big high ceilings and windows. Massive rooms, probably multiple bathrooms. But why would I care about expensive apartments and being spoiled for choice when I go for a leak?

I don't anymore.
It's the people inside.

People who get to have meals with their loved ones, laugh at stupid jokes, invite their parents round, play with the dog and tuck their children into bed at night.

That is why I silently watch these nameless people in their lives that are rich enough to be cozy.

You can't buy yourself luck or the promise that nothing bad will happen and you certainly can't buy love.

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