Fourtris Meets Clace

Chapter 8 - Jace

JACE

Eventually Tobias and Tris come back into the room to explain to us what happened. In the meantime, Clary managed to stagger back into the front room and flop on the sofa. She's still pale, even now, and she reckons the sweet and sour chicken disagreed with her, but she feels better now.

Tobias tells me that they were talking about their old friend, Uriah, who was from the old city. He died in a coma when he got shot during the war, without even saying goodbye. Tris said she guessed it just got too much for her, and she missed him so badly, and so she burst into tears. She apologised as well, which was unnecessary.

I was a bit unconvinced that it was true, but I didn't say anything, because Clary would be annoyed. I mean, I get it and all - I'd be the same if Alec died, or Isabelle, or... Anyway, the point is, my outbursts of crying and sobbing and grief and loss wouldn't be that random, even if I had just been talking about that person. Plus, I wouldn't be as bad as Tris.

Clary announces she is off to bed, because she is extremely tired and kind of embarrassed that she 'threw up in your lovely toilet, really sorry. I tried to clean it up as much as possible!' I don't really want to stay up with Tobias and Tris without Clary, so I follow her.

"Hey, Tobias?" I say.

"Yeah?" he replies.

"Uh... Thanks for the meal," I say awkwardly. This is why I leave it to Clary. "It was good food."

"Anytime," he says, although I'm not sure he really means it.

Clary takes my hand as we walk to our room. "That was good of you to say that, Jace," she says approvingly. "Thank you."

"Still don't like him," I murmur under my breath. She giggles.

When we get inside I push the suitcases and bags off the bed. Clary retrieves her pyjamas and goes off to the bathroom to get ready for bed. I get undressed and put on my pyjamas, waiting for Clary to finish so I can go clean my teeth. Whilst I wait, I look at the bed. It actually feels quite soft, even though it is tiny, like I said. I check under the covers to see the mattress. Memory foam! The duvet is just a plain chocolatey colour with matching pillows, but overall I guess it's not too bad.

Need to make it a bit bigger though.

Clary enters the room with her old pink tee and small green shorts on. Her hair is up in a high bun and her face is damp from a quick shower, probably. I kiss her lightly on her forehead when she comes in and go into the bathroom to get ready.

I brush my teeth ferociously. I wash my face, using a random blue flannel because I forgot mine, and pad back into the room, only to be stopped by Tris, who is in the hallway, just off to the bathroom. Her eyes are still red, and she has changed into her pyjamas - a pale blue vest and navy silky satin trousers.

"Oh... Hi," she says.

"Hi," I reply, quite bluntly.

"Um... are you going to bed now?" Tris asks.

"Yeah," I say. "I guess you are too."

"Yeah," she says. "Uh, have a nice rest."

"You too," I say, and I walk past her into our room.

Clary is under the covers, with her eyes closed. For a second I think she has already fallen asleep, but when I open the door her eyes flutter open. "Jace," she breathes, smiling.

I get under the covers and she comes into my arms, resting her head on my chest. I lie there, smiling slightly, feeling totally content.

"I'm so tired," she whispers.

"That's okay," I say. "You can go to sleep, now."

She doesn't answer, and when I look at her beautiful face, she is fast asleep.