Secrets and Lies

20 Years Later

Chapter 2
Clary's POV

I wake up to the sun shining through my window, blinding me. I sit up with a groan and look at my alarm clock, 8:30 on a Saturday, fuck that. I lay my head on my pillow trying to get back to sleep but I'm interrupted by someone jumping on me. I scream out playfully knowing full well who it was. I take my face out of my pillow to be greeted by electric blue eyes staring at me and a childish grin plastered on her face. "Addy what have I told you about waking me up in the morning?" I reply groggily. I look at my big sister sitting in front of me, her dark brown hair fell down past her shoulders in small waves, her bright blue eyes staring at me with love. Adelaide was 19, she was tall and regal looking, her face was a mix of soft and sharp lines looking youthful and beautiful. She looked nothing like me with my crazy curly ginger hair and my emerald green eyes , all soft and round face and small frame, the only resemblance we shared was the same fair freckled skin just like our mums, it was hard to believe we were sisters sometimes. Well only half sisters, 12 years ago Addy found that we didn't share the same dad and since then she's always felt so lost. She chuckles lightly and pulls me up into a sitting position, "To never do it again. But this is about the 12th time I've done it so I'm clearly not listening to you." She moves so she is sitting next to me and I lean my head on her shoulder.

"Come on get dressed we're going out." She announced jumping off my bed frantically. "I'm not going anywhere until I get a coffee inside me" I say closing my eyes slightly and leaning against my headboard, she walks out my door and comes back a few seconds later, I open my eyes and see her standing in front me with my favourite spotty coffee mug in her hand, "Did you really think I would forget about your daily morning coffee?" She says with a smirk "And yes it is black, like your soul." She adds chuckling with me. She walks out of my room leaving me to get ready. I drink my coffee whilst it is still boiling hot and then roll out of bed.

I run into the shower and relax as the steaming beads of water roll down my skin. I'm interrupted in my relaxed state by Adds talking through the door, "Oh and when you're done there is something downstairs with your name on it!" I laugh to myself and finish up in the bathroom. After I dry my hair I put on my usual mascara and lip balm and try and tame my unruly curls, I then pick out my outfit for the day which consists of my favourite pair of mom jeans along with my black and white stripy top, I then pair that with a big belt, my Panama hat, my frilly socks and my chunky boots. I run down the stairs and turn right to go towards the kitchen. Our apartment was pretty big for just the four of us, the front door opened into a big open plan kitchen and living room with hardwood floors and big windows looking onto the New York skyline. The kitchen was very modern full of marble counter tops and white cabinets, in the middle was a big marble island with bar stools surrounding it, the living room was very bare with just a huge grey corner sofa and a tv placed in the middle on a wooden TV stand and a round boho rug underneath. A big collection of my mum's canvases scattered the walls, full of old and new paintings. As I walk towards the kitchen i am met with a big colourful birthday bag and loads of envelopes on top of the island.

My mom, dad, Jon and Addy were all in the kitchen having a conversation. My mum was standing by the oven cooking breakfast on the hob, her back to me, her dark red hair was in a loose bun on the back of her head and she was wearing her usual grey sweatpants, painting top and bare feet, clearly she had been up early this morning painting again. My dad stood next to her facing Jon and Addy who were sat at the island. He was wearing dark jeans and a white collared shirt, clearly he was going to the office soon, his feet were bare and he was leaning against the countertop. I ran behind my mum giving her a weird side hug along with my dad. I sat down next to Addy at the island. Jon handed me an envelope. Jon was my older brother only by a year, he had the same ginger curls and green eyes as me although he was tall and sharp looking. Although we were close in age we were not that close as siblings he always seemed jealous of me and Addy that he never tried to bond with us. I started opening my cards muttering a few thank you's for the money. I reached for the massive bag knowing it is from Addy. I tear into it, too excited to wait, I'm greeted by a mass of carefully wrapped presents. After I open all my presents and cards I gather up my money and put it in my purse.

"Clare I have one more present for you." I turn around and I'm face to face with Addy's necklace. It was the only thing she had from her real father, "Adelaide I'm not taking that. That's the only thing you have that is your dad's." A small smile played on her lips "I know and you are the person I love the most in the world, I want you to have it. Keep it safe for me you know how I am with jewellery." We both laughed as I reach for the necklace in her hand, it was a simple silver chain with a silver ring dangling from it. The ring had the letter 'L' in the middle and on each side there were flames etched into the metal. I pulled it over my head as it was big and I admired it wondering what the 'L' stood for. I picked up this other beautiful necklace that Addy got me, it was a simple silver necklace with a four leaf clover pendant. I loved it. I loved it even more because it meant something to Addy and me...

Flashback

It was my 4th birthday, we were on holiday in Ireland, it was late at night and I was woken up by mummy and daddy shouting at each other. I didn't know what they were arguing about I just knew it wasn't good. I sat up from my bed to see Addy in the corner of the room crying, "Addy?" She looked up at me and smiled. "Sorry Clare Bear I didn't mean to wake you." She apologized while wiping at her eyes. I walked over to her struggling a bit as it was dark, "You didn't, mummy and daddy did. Why are you crying?" I sit down next to my 7 year old sister and cuddle into her side, "I just heard something I didn't want to hear, I'll tell you about it later okay?" I nodded and cuddled closer to her, we sat in silence for a bit whilst mummy and daddy carried on shouting. "Here, look what I found." Adds moved to her side and pulled something out of her pocket. "It's a four leaf clover, it brings luck. Someone told me that each leaf has a meaning: the first represents hope, the second stands for faith, the third is for love and the fourth brings luck." She breathed through quiet sobs. She handed it to me and hugged me again. "Look after it. It can be our special thing."

Flashback over

I put the necklace on carefully and hugged Addy for the third time that morning. I was brought out of my happy daze by a knock at the door. I ran to the door knowing exactly who it was, i opened the door and was encased in a hug by Simon and Effy. Simon is my best friend we met on the first day of preschool, he was getting bullied for wearing glasses and for having a Star Wars backpack, I punched one of the bullies in the face and we instantly became best friends, we bonded over our deep love of Star Wars and comics, we also had the same birthday which was hilariously weird. Effy was my sister's best friend even though she was two years younger than Addy we grew up next door to each other, effy and I became friends through a mutual love of horror films and similar fashion tastes.

Simon had dark brown short hair that sat messily on his head his glasses sat over his bright blue green eyes, he was more angular and muscular than he was and few years ago but he held himself with the same self consciousness as always wearing his planets t shirt I bought him for our birthday last year and his dark washed out jeans. Effy had her dark chocolate hair down as always, she was wearing a little black mini dress with fishnets tights, black combat books and her leather jacket that her and Addy got in a goodwill down in Brooklyn 3 years ago, she paired that with her Chucky silver chain and cuff. She had dark smokey eyes which made her sapphire irises pop.

After I opened my presents from the two of them and I gave Simon his present, all four of us jumped in Addy's car and drove to the beach. It was the hottest day of the year and I wished that I had not worn boots or jeans. After a few hours at the beach we went home and started watching movies and ordered pizza.

3 am

Me, Si and Eff ran into the street laughing and drinking. We spotted this big glass building, it looked as though it was brand new and was not open yet, so without thinking I ran towards it. When I saw that there was a big gate bolted shut the mischievous side of me took over and my little fingers worked at the lock with a clip and within a few seconds I was in. We ran across the field and went through the fire door, we stepped into a huge white and green tiled room, we all stopped and looked down, in front of us was the biggest swimming pool ever. Without any warning I threw off my clothes and jumped into the pool in my underwear. A few seconds later Eff did the same and joined me in the pool, after a few moments debating with himself Simon then jumped in creating the biggest splash in the world. We were swimming and laughing  and splashing each other in our drunken states when we were interrupted by a deep voice, "Who's there? You shouldn't be here!"

Uh oh they're in trouble. Hope you enjoyed this chapter as well the next chapter is my favourite you'll find out why.

Xoxo Shanice