Clace Best Friends (Slow Updates)

31. The Talk

Jace

I arrive at the Banner Churchill Community Hospital 20 minutes later. As a precaution, I have to be handcuffed. They take me to a different area to wait to be seen, since I'm a 'suspected criminal.' I don't mind as long as they make sure Red's okay. The nice officer from before swaps watch with the one next to me.

"Hello sir," Jace greets.

"I came here to update you on the girl you called 911 for," he states serious.

"I....is she okay?" I ask concerned.

"Jace, s.....she's suffered a substantial amount of damage. She should wake up anytime. It seems as through she was beaten as well as......" He clears his throat "sexually assaulted."

"I figured," I sigh. "Her and I were running away from Va- I'm sorry but I can't call him Mr. Anything. I hope you can understand. I have no respect for a man who abuses his wife and daughter."

"Yes, I get it. Don't worry. You don't have to be as formal now that it's just us," he replies.

"I know I can't see Clary, and she probably hates me, but could you......maybe.....could you just please just stay with her for a little while," I plea.

"Son, you really care about this girl don't you," he says.

"Yes sir I do," I confess.

"To be honest, I'm a little invested in her too," he admits.

"What?" I shout. "Y....you're working for Valentine aren't you!?" I question. "I should've known. Ugh stupid stupid stupid." What have I done? I'm in handcuffs, Red's in some room, Angel is she even here? Was this Valentine's back up plan?!

"No son, calm down," he tries. "My name is detective Luke Garroway. I'm a family friend."

"What?! No, Valentine answered Luke's phone. He told Clary He 'took care of' Luke and Jocelyn," I argue. The officer takes a deep breath when I mention Jocelyn.

"Valentine hacked into my phone, I swear," the officer replies. He pulls out a badge with his picture and Luke Garroway as the name.

"I'm sorry if I don't take that as proof. Valentine is the chief of police, he can have those made easily," I reply.

"You know what kid, I like you," the officer smirks. He grabs a picture that's hidden behind his badge. It's of him, Jocelyn, and- I squint my eyes to make sure- and Clary.

"Okay, so you have a picture. What......" Think Jace! Something Valentine wouldn't know! " What is Clary's best friends name and when did they meet? What is Clary's favorite hobby? How old was Clary when she met me? What happened to Clary on the first day of her senior year?" I blurt a bunch of questions and wait.

"Clary's best friends name is Jace Herondale. She told me that you met when you were both 6. You'd just moved in. You both happened to be outside one day and you approached her. She was shy at first, but after a while, you played that spy game where you're trapped and trying to get away from the evil captors. That's what she told me. I remember she always smiles when she tells me that story. Jace, you're really special to her. Her favorite hobby is sketching and drawing, but she doesn't do it much because Valentine wouldn't buy her things. For her birthday though, you'd buy her a sketch pad and fancy pencils every year. On your birthday, she'd collect any money she could and secretly buy you a guitar pick for you. It was something of a tradition for you two. As I said earlier, Clary was 6 when you two met. On her first day of this year, her senior year, Clary and you walked to school. She was going to leave you at the door, so you could talk to all of your popular friends, but you insisted on walking her to her locker and then first class," Luke answers.

"Wow, that's all right," I respond. "I'm sorry I tested you-"

"Please don't worry. I'm glad you're being thorough," Luke assures me.

"If you're okay, then what happened to Jocelyn?" I ask nervously.

"Jocelyn got a call from Valentine on her mobile phone. He told her to come home or he'd kill Clary." That's why she left her bag and necklace. She knew she wasn't coming back. She died for a head start we didn't keep. "I....I told her not to go, that it was a trap, but she didn't listen. Joc...." Luke takes a deep breath. "Jocelyn's dead." Hearing him say it makes it so......final. "Valentine made it look like a suicide since her daughter was 'kidnapped.' Him being the chief of police, no one doubted the death was by suicide. No one, except me that is."

"Clary's going to be crushed," I state.

"She is, but Jace she'll have us to help her," Luke assures me. "She's like a daughter to me."

"Luke, I messed up. Valentine was kicking and punching me. I said some horrible things, things I didn't mean and would never say. I had to trick Valentine into letting his guard down enough to escape and save Clary," I hesitate.

"Jace it's okay keep going," Luke encourages me.

"Clary was in the room next to mine. She head the entire conversation. Bascially, I told Valentine I never cared about Clary. I told him I was using her for sex and now that we'd been captured, my efforts were for nothing. I said, I'd wasted time with, since I won't get my reward." I cringe even as I summarize it. I don't dare look at Luke.

His deep voice pierces the silence. "Is that true?" Luke questions.

"No, I would never do that to Clary. I.....I love her," I confess. Luke remains silent. "Angel, please don't tell her. I....I.....she doesn't feel the same way. I......I don't want to complicate things for her."

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Will Clary forgive Jace? Will Clace ever happen? Is Jace going to jail?

I do not own any of the Mortal Instruments books, materials, etc. All credit belongs to Cassandra Clare.

Author's Note:
I hope you all like it! Please leave comments, votes, and feedback. I'm going to update, when I'm done and it'll be random.

Originally posted: 6/30/18