Pen-Pal's.

Chapter 6

Clary didn't remember when exactly she started feeling suffocated in her town.
It sort of just knocked at the door and she had left it in happily-not bothering putting up a fight as it held her in its clutches.
Of course-it hadn't always been this way.
She used to think of her town as a secret city-hidden from the outside world in a perfect bubble...but she grew up,and so did her perfect image of her town-instead morphed into a prison rather than a sanctuary.
She'd dated her and there- the town boy's often had drooled after her whenever Isabelle had decided to play dress up with her...though there was one that had caught her attention and had stopped her in her tracks completely.

Sebastian Verlac.

Saying his name now left a bitter taste on her tongue-though Clary had fallen head over heels for the strange new popular boy who seemed to be the only one who paid her attention just as she was-other than Isabelle and Simon of course.
How she wished she hadn't let him into her fairytale life.
He worshipped her with gifts, whispered her sweet nothings,made her feel like she was on Cloud 9,and just as Clary felt at her peek...he left her. Broken and used.

Clary had blocked out the painful memories rather than resolve them. She hadn't felt the same ever since then,it felt as though she had lost a missing piece of herself and couldn't seem to find it.

She blocked out that feeling though.

That feeling of loss.

She blocked it out,left it with those memories and had locked them up in her head,throwing away the key so that they'd never resurface to bother her.

So now,as they started to leak into her head and poison her thoughts-she panicked.
She tried hold back the flood,it's undeniable presence shaking her thoroughly. She had been going on her way to the art gallery to start her shift when the sudden shift in her mood seemed to affect everything around her.
The wind whipped in her face,her hair flying in every direction. The sky turned a dreary grey colour and she could hear the oceans waves lapping against the shore roughly.

She didn't care-her main concern was keeping herself from falling into the opening hole that was forming in her mind.

She opened the gallery's door to see Luke checking his watch.He looked up as she walked in and smiled widely at her. She schooled her features to show none of the emotions that were currently bothering her and offered a small smile back.
"Clary! Thanks so much for showing up- I know it was last notice but this thing came up and I really got to go." He rambled,waving a hand around,promptly making his glasses slide down his nose. He shoved them back up as he rounded the counter,striding towards her with open arms.
Clary gratefully returned the hug,holding on a bit longer than necessary. Luke didn't fail to miss this and was instantly pulling away,studying her face quizzically.
"Everything alright,Clare?" He asked lightly,though she could tell he was masking his hidden concern.
She managed to smile and nod her head,shrugging a bit as she replied,"Yeah,of course,just a bit tired from having to put up with Isabelle all night." She added with a snort.
She could feel him relax as the easy smile returned to his face,he shook his head lightheartedly and let go of her.
"Alright...call me if there's any trouble." And with that he was gone,hurrying away out the door.
Clary let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding and slumped against the counter.
She didn't know what had caused those thoughts to plague her mind but was instantly drained from the sudden burst of energy she had to use to hold back the memories from bursting through her shields.

She slowly detached herself from the counter and made her way into the back of the gallery,where there was a small kitchen and bathroom.
She made herself a coffee-black- like her soul,before sitting down at the counter,mindlessly doodling on a list of numbers Luke had been meaning to call back.
She sipped her coffee lightly,trapped in her own little world until she felt rather than heard someone in front of her.

It was enough to stop her hand from moving.
She looked up to be met with the most beautiful man she had ever seen.

He was gold. Literally. Everything about him was gold.
His hair,skin,eyes...Eyes that were currently locked on hers with mild amusement.
She felt colour tinge her cheeks as those eyes rooted her to the spot.
"Are you just going to stare at me or are you going to at least say something?" He drawled as a smirk tugged at his lips.
Now she was utterly dumbfounded.

She was talking to Jace Herondale.

The Jace Herondale.

She inwardly gasped as she remained studying him,her hand itched to draw him and her grip on the pencil she was holding tightened.

He tsked, becoming impatient as he waited for her to respond.
"Hello? Are you mute? Or have I just shocked you into silence?" The smirk was now full blown, contorting his face into pure arrogance.
Clary was shocked-though not for the reasons he hoped for.
She scowled at him,satisfied with the shocked expression that now graced his features in return.
"I'm dreadfully sorry," she said in a sickly sweet voice,"what may I help you with?" She was the one smirking now as he blinked down at her,utterly shell-shocked.
He blinked again and it was gone,replaced by a cocky grin as he leaned against the counter with feline grace. "I can think of a few things." He said as he racked his eyes up and down her body. She made a noise of disgust in the back of her throat and stared daggers at him.
His smirk danced around his lips as he tilted his head like a lion stalking its prey. "I was just looking for a bathroom." He said shrugging,finally backing up enough that Clary felt as though she could breathe again.
She gave him a tight lipped smile as she said "Don't have one."
He raised an eyebrow at her,challenging her to that statement. She glared back at him,annoyed that she couldn't raise an eyebrow like he could.
"Oh you don't do you?... That couldn't possibly be one behind you,could it?" He said innocently as his gaze flickered behind her and Clary turned to see she had left the back rooms door open and could clearly see the bathroom in all its glory,staring back at her,practically taunting her.
She suppressed a groan and slid her gaze back to the irritation in front of her. He grinned at her,his eyes practically saying "Got you."

He slid around the counter,brushing past her as he made his way to the bathroom. She turned to see him about to close the door,but just as she was about to look away-he locked eyes with her,he blew her a kiss and winked as he finally closed and locked the door.
Clary blushed and snapped her head back to look forward,trying not to listen to him moving around in the bathroom.
She heard it flush and tensed,waiting to hear him exit the bathroom.She frowned as she strained her ears,trying to hear him though she was met with silence.

"You're too easy to sneak up on,Red." His voice whispered into her ear,causing her to shriek and swat back at him.
He caught her wrist easily and pulled her up out of her seat,causing her to stumble into his chest.
His hand went to her waist and held her so that their chests were flush against each other.
Clary's skin went hot under his touch,sending tingles up and down her body.She gasped and knew she went as red as a tomato. He chuckled as he leaned in,his nose brushing against her cheek.
"Still got that fire,Red?" He whispered,his warm breath fanning against her jaw.
His voice was an invite,a request.

To which she rejected.

She pulled back,reeling out of his touch as if he burned her. It took her a moment to steady her breathing,her heart was beating out of her chest as she came out of her daze.
He was giving her a boyish grin-full of confidence and arrogance.It was enough to get most of the bimbo's he had attached to each arm turning to mush- though Clary bared her teeth at him.She watched as his shoulders shook with silent laughter,though his eyes flashed with something she couldn't tell-that didn't stop her from practically seething.
He put up his hands in mock surrender  and backed off,grinning as he walked towards the door backwards.
"I look forward to another one of our encounters,Red." He chimed and was gone,leaving Clary practically boiling when he left.

"I hate him so freakin' much." Clary thought bitterly,"Curse you Jace Shitface Herondale."