All That Money Can't Buy

Chapter Seventeen: Getting There

I'm in repair.
I'm not together but I'm getting there.

~ John Mayer

(Unedited)

{Clary's POV}

I wake up to violent knocking on the front door of Jace's apartment and rub my eyes awake. The noise had been going on for quite some time considering it had infiltrated my dream and so I tug at the sheet around me and waddle to the door.

I hadn't been surprised when I woke up and Jace wasn't next to me but I was to find the house completely dead. It seemed Jonathan hadn't come home at all last night which probably explained the angry knocking but when I swing the door open I realise it's been a mistake when Olivia, looking equal parts devastated and confused stares back at me.

"O-Olivia..." I stammer and tug the sheet further around me. Not before she sees the clothing I'm wearing though, unfortunately.

Her cold eyes focus on my T-shirt before coming back to my face and I feel disgusting stood in this doorway. "Where's Jace?" She barks at me and I blink, looking behind me into the vacant apartment.

"I have no idea. The place is empty." Hopefully she can see how honest I'm being but when she narrows her eyes at me it's clear she doesn't believe a word.

"Of course it is. Why the hell are you here then?" She asks but it's a difficult question to answer "It's a long story." I try feebly. I didn't want to lie to her but she only tuts at me "When isn't it a long story with you Clarissa? Every news story that involves you needs at least four pages to fully explain your fucked up shit." She says venomously.

Ive heard it all before but something about hearing it from her, a woman I have so much respect for in the same industry as myself hurts even more.

"And now here you are, trying to worm your way into Jace's pants as usual because you just don't know when to leave well enough alone." She adds.
"I wasn't trying to-"
"You're always trying to." She cuts me off, taking a step forward because she isn't intimidated by me, honestly I don't think anyone intimidates her.

"He's very vulnerable Clary. He isn't as strong as he pretends to be or as he always feels he needs to be for you. He'll never admit it but he wishes you could just pull your shit together so he doesn't have to keep putting up with it because he can't handle it." That. That hurt more. Possibly because deep down I knew she was right.

"He's an addict Clary and he's addicted to you. It isn't love, he's just too weak to let you go and if you truly loved him you'd do it for him but again here you are." She throws up her arms and laughs humourlessly at me like I'm pathetic "you don't love him but I do. I love Jace so I'm telling you to back the fuck off because he has enough of his own shit to deal with never mind yours."

***

{Jace's POV}

"Clary?!" I call into the dimly lit apartment and close the door behind me. I dump my keys in a dish by the door just as I hear a voice.

"She's gone Jace." I immediately spin on my heel towards it and almost jump out of my skin at the sight of her.

"Jesus Christ Olivia, you scared the shit out of me." I chuckle nervously because the way she's standing tapping her foot at the beginning of the hallway is worrying me.

"Yeah, I bet I did. Didn't expect to see me here did you?" She doesn't sound the least bit pleased but I can't help but think about what she said "Gone where?" I ask.