Chapter Eleven
1239 Words
Clary's POV
A month later and I'm back on my feet, but only for short periods of time during the day. I still get headaches, which is normal, and dizzy when I stand up too fast.
Jon and dad have been coddling me, doing every little thing for me and as much as I love being pampered, I also like to do things on my own.
Without help. But, they haven't quite picked up on that yet and I don't want to hurt their feelings.
Now, I was sitting in one of my little hiding spots downstairs, a little window seat kind of thing, but it's hidden by long white curtains. You could see me from out back, but not from inside the house. Unless you were looking.
I had my headphones on, blaring my rock music while I drew with my left hand, not my dominate hand, and held a cigarette with my right, the window cracked.
My bruises have started to heal, along with my incision, but I still had to wear a beanie for a while. Unless I wanted to show it off to the world. Which, I don't.
I looked up and to my left when the curtain was pulled back and Jace stood there. He gestured to my headphones, so I let them rest around my neck as I paused the song.
"Need something?" I asked.
"I was looking for Jonathan, wanted to return his cd." He held up my Fall Out Boy album.
"That's mine."
"Oh. Well, here then." I took it from him and set it up above me on a shelf. "You mind if I hang out for a while? I'm pretty sure mom and dad and doing a little something at home that I don't quite want to see or hear." I shrugged and he sat down across from me.
"Where's Max?" I asked, returning to my drawing and taking a drag from my cigarette before blowing the smoke out the open window.
"At the park with a friend." I nodded. "Does your dad know that you smoke?" I laughed lightly.
"Who do you think buys them for me?"
"Why does he let you smoke? You're fifteen. My mom would flip s**t if she caught me with a cigarette."
"He knows that they help to calm me down and not much else can do that. So, cigarettes."
"Calm you down for what?"
"I have issues, anxiety is one of them, it helps me not be completely freaked out all day."
"Freaked out about what, though?"
"You ask too many questions." I laughed.
"Well, I wouldn't have to ask you so many questions if other people would answer them, but things are all kinds of secretive when it comes to asking something about you. So, had to go straight to the source."
"Aaahh!" The front door opened and closed and Max soon came into view, so I put out my cigarette.
He looked over at us and ran for me, hugging me, his face hidden in my neck.
"Maxy, what happened? You okay?"
"No! Mom- Dad- Eww!" I rubbed his back and his hair, failing miserably to force back my laughs.
I looked over at Jace and he laughed along with me.
"It's not funny!" Max exclaimed, never moving away from me, so I continued to play with his hair.
"No, no, it's not. I'm sorry." I lied and stifled my laughter, occasionally letting out a snicker.
The doors opened and closed once again and I looked to Maryse and Robert, noticing the sweaty hair and backwards clothes.
I shook my head at them and Maryse attempted to advance towards us, but I held up a hand and she stopped in her tracks.
"Not now." I mouthed and she sighed, but nodded, heading back out the door with Rob.
"How about some ice cream to make you feel better?" I suggested and he looked up at me.
"Okay. What flavors do you have?"
"Vanilla, chocolate, rocky road and mint chocolate chip."
"Can I have rocky road, please?" I smiled.
"Of course you can." He ran to the kitchen and I stood up. Too fast apparently.
The dizziness hit me and I leaned against the wall for support.
"Hey, you okay?" Jace asked and I took a deep breath before answering.
"Yeah, just stood up too fast. I'm fine."
"I'll do the ice cream. What flavor do you want?" He asked me and I slowly sat back down.
"Vanilla. Thanks." He nodded and walked to the kitchen.
My phone started ringing and with my blurry vision, I couldn't make out who it was, so I just picked it up. "Hello?" I answered.
"Clarissa, I'm sorry." I rolled my eyes.
"For what? Ruining my life?"
"Yes. I never meant for you to get hurt back then. I wish you could forgive me."
"Clary, Jace wants to know if you want chocolate syrup on yours or not." Max said as he stood in the doorway of the kitchen.
"No, thank you, Maxy." He disappeared through the door again.
"Are you with someone?"
"Yes. And, by the way, I will never forgive you. No matter how many times you call me, no matter how hard you try, I will never forgive you."
"Clarissa, please, I'm your mother. You can't even at least give me a chance to make things better?" I scoffed.
"Nothing you say or do will make any of this s**t better. I f*****g hate you and I always will, so leave me the hell alone."
"But, Claris-"
"Stop calling me that. And, I am not your daughter, you are not my mother. Good luck trying to call me next time, 'cause I'm blocking you."
"Please-" I hung up the phone and turned it on silent as she tried to call back.
"Ice cream for everyone." Jace walked in with two bowls in his hands, while Max had one and they came to sit with me once again. "Here you go." He handed me the bowl.
"Thank you." He just smiled in return.
"You seem tense. Something happen while we were gone?"
"Nope." I glanced at my phone as it rang again, Unknown number my ass.
"Liar." He chuckled and we all sat there eating our ice cream.
"Could I stay the night here, Clary?" I smiled at little Max at my side.
"As long as you ask your parents." He looked down at his bowl. "How about I ask them instead?" He smiled and nodded, shoveling more ice cream into his mouth.
He shyly looked up at me. "Thank you, Clary."
"Anytime, Maxy." I declined the call and texted Maryse.
She almost immediately texted back and said that he could stay with us tonight.
"Guess who's staying the night." I smiled at Max as he showed off all of his pearly whites.
"Yes! Can I go play the Wii? Please?"
"Go right ahead." He ran off and got the game set up.
"You're good with him. You like kids?"
"Yeah. I used to volunteer at an orphanage, taking care of the littler kids."
"Why don't you do it anymore?"
"College. I tried to do college and the orphanage, but I was too swamped with assignments to go take care of them. But, I did find someone else to take my place there, so I knew that they were well taken care of."
"You're just full of surprises, aren't you?"
Maybe I am......
- Writer
