Collision Course

Chapter 35:

Friendship is at the Center of this chapter.
-Jace and Maia
-Clary and Isabelle
-Clary, Tessa, and Emma

~•~

Clary left to go get Simon and Isabelle while Jace went downstairs to get the food out of the oven. Maia stood by the counter and watched as Jace scrambled around to set up everything.

"You know you didn't have to cook the whole thing. I would have been happy with pizza and ice cream and a bunch of beer."

"See here's the sad part about that is that I know you're serious. But you deserve a full out birthday dinner."

Jace was thankful for Maia she was a friend through it all. He was beyond proud of how far she's come since high school. She didn't take shit from anyone she was always there for everyone as well. That's why he wanted to do this for her. Because she never sees that she deserves it. He puts the chicken down and goes to Maia and hugs her.

"What's going in that head of yours?" She smiles, "what ever do you mean?"

"Hey you don't let me get dark and twisty on my birthday I won't let it happen to you either." He kisses her forehead,

"It's so stupid I have all of you and all I can think about is my stupid parents." She wipes her tears away,

"Exactly. Your parents are stupid, you're a rockstar Maia Roberts never forget that. Now wipe those tears away and go upstairs while I finish up here.

Maia laughs and hops off the counter, "thanks for that."

"Always. You keep my head up and I'll keep yours up."

"Hey while you're up there tell them to help me bring these food up." He said as she goes upstairs.

—

"Hey is this seat taken?" Clary looks up from her phone to see Isabelle standing next to her with two glasses and a bottle of cider. Clary shakes her head and moves over to make some room for Isabelle and the bottle.

"Should we help Jace downstairs or let him do it himself?"

Izzy laughs, "I've learn to just let Jace do all the cooking. He gets very involved in it and forgets that anyone else is in the room."

"You and your brothers a very different from each other."

Izzy shrugged, "I'm the only girl amongst 3 boys. I learned to handle myself and lead them. But yeah we're all apart in age, well Jace and I are only a year apart, so we have our own things."

"Can I ask you something?" Clary's been wondering for a while now. Izzy finished her glass and nods,

"Jace and Maia what's the deal between them?"

"What do you mean?"

"Have they ever dated? Jace says they're just friends but they seem like they're more than that."

Isabelle chuckles, "you don't have to worry about those two. They're basically the same person just in different bodies and gender. If Alec wasn't in Jace's life Maia would have probably taken the cake as Jace's closest friend. They've had flings but it never goes pass that."

"Why do you ask?" Izzy grins,

Clary rolled her eyes but was semi pleased with Izzy's answers. She's heard it from both Jace and Maia that they were just friends but it was nice hearing it from someone else. "I have terrible taste in men. But Jace is different."

"He is, he's good Clary. Don't tell him I told you this, but he likes you. He's just someone who doesn't trust easily. It may seem like he does and he doesn't have a care in the world but Jace has been hurt a lot before. He's learned to mask it and he's gotten good. Don't be alarmed if you can get a honest read from him easily, it takes time."

"Thanks Iz. I needed this girl talk."

"No prob red, if you ever need anymore girl talk you have my number." She gets up and goes to her brother and Magnus.

She sees Jace and Will coming out with a bunch of side dishes and plates. Followed by Jem who's wheeling out the chicken dinner.

"Food's done!" Jace said loudly,

"Jesus Jace you really went for it." Simon said looking at the feast in front of him.

"Well I didn't make it all you can thank me by going to Idris when we're home and checking out our menu."

Everyone gathered around the table and sat down. Jace guided Maia to the head of the table who laughs as he got a crown and placed it on her head.

Clary sits across from Jace who is sitting next to Jordan who was sitting on Maia's right. Jace spots her looking and smiles.

"Okay before we eat I wanna day a few words." Maia said as she stood up,

"My birthdays has never been my favorite day to celebrate but over the years they've gotten better thanks to all of you. It's not even my actual birthday yet but it's already off to a great start so thanks to everyone for taking time out of their lives to come up here and celebrate with me. And thanks to Jace for going over the top with this dinner."

Everyone laughs and cheers, the dinner was lively and entertaining. They all told stories about Maia or stories in general. Simon talked about tour and his favorite gigs they played Jace and Isabelle shared a story about college and spring break when the two of them and Maia did a road trip from their schools to the Poconos.

"Keep in mind Columbia and NYU are fairly close to each other but Maia went to Rutgers so we had to drive all the way to New Jersey then turn around to head to Pennsylvania." Isabelle said.

"We got lost 4 times and we missed our check in by 3 hours." Maia finished the story laughing.

"At the end of that night we ended up just sleeping in Jace's car for the night until the next morning."

"It was not a big car, worse sleep of the week but thankfully we got another reservation the next day so all was good." Jace added

"Moral of the story don't let Jace book your rooms, and don't let Isabelle navigate."

"I've never been more happy to decide to not got to spring break every time I hear this story." Alec adds,

After dinner everyone helped with the clean up. Clary decided to help with the clearing of the table with Emma and Tess.

"You're quiet Clary what's wrong?" Tessa asked, which in turn made Emma look at her as well. She loves Tessa a lot but one thing she hates about her is that she's very perceptive and if she or Emma are in a sad mood or has something on their mind Tessa will always pick up on it.

The weight of Jonathan's trial, no matter how hopeful it was looking, was finally getting to her. She's been keeping this from her parents, from her friends, for almost over a year, "I need to tell you both something."

"What is it?" Emma asked, her attention fully on Clary, "not here, follow me." She takes Emma and Tessa to the docks where she would sit and usually sketch until she was tired or it got dark, which ever came first.

~•~
I've been gone for 2 (ish) months. I needed a break and regroup for this story. And I think I have it now, keep in mind I haven't written anything in advance for this story so it's still being written as I update. I hope you all still enjoy it :)

Also shameless self promotion but would you mind checking out another story of mine? It's on AO3 (Archive of Our Own) called "Some Endings are Just New Beginnings"
https://archiveofourown.org/works/18752923/chapters/44485906

- M ❤️