Hey guys! So I know it has been over a month since I last updated either of my stories and for that I apologized. I have had a bit of a rough month, I was working two jobs, getting scheduled usually about six days a week while still being a JR. in high school going full days. Then I also got in a car accident and have been stressing about getting my car fixed and making sure I have the money and a ride to work. Then my pet ferret dies. (I'm a huge animal person.) then this last week I have been really sick. And other personal things. But I just finished out my two weeks notice at one of my jobs, I got an antibiotic and my sickness is gone, although I wont have my car for another week, I have every thing figured out, and I'm going to try updating more I promise! I feel bad that I don't update enough but sometimes life just gets in the way.

So I hope you enjoy this installment of hidden!

Song: Just tonight by the Pretty Reckless

Chapter 9: Gold

My head shot down to look at my feet and my stomach churned as I shuffled towards an empty seat in the third row near the door. I kept my head bowed for the entirety of the class, focusing on the work in front of me. I tried to ignore the fact that I could practically feel a pair of golden eyes boring into the back of my head.

Not soon enough the bell startled me out of my concentration and I was packing my stuff into my bag as quickly as possible. I had just finished throwing my things into my bag and began slinging the strap over my shoulders and was about to make a break for it before I turned around and ran straight into a wall. Aka the great wall of Jace.

"Well well, little red riding hood's a nerd." he said, a smug look on his face.

I stood there, frozen in place and clutching the strap of my bag. "I-I…I have t-to g-g-o." I stuttered, darting my eyes around before trying to push past him and failing.

He grabbed my arm and turned me to face him. "Where you off to in such a rush?"

I winced and pulled my arm away.

He rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I'll go find someone who knows how to speak."

And with that he turned his leather clad back towards me and made his way out of the room. I stood there stunned for a second before darting out of the room myself and ducking into a water-fountain hutch. I pulled my schedule out of my bag and unfolded the sheet of paper to see where my next destination would be. And it turned out that I would be off to the lunchroom.

I took a deep breath before shuffling down to the second floor that held the cafeteria. Once I got there I walked into the room through the side door that led to the windows for food. I went up to one of the windows and grabbed a red apple from a basket and paid for it. I clutched the fruit in my hand and walked out a pair of double doors into the loud and crowded lunchroom. I began making my way slowly through the room and looking around.

"Clary!" I voice shouted and I darted my head to the side to see Izzy. She was standing up and waving me over to a round table that sat her, then Alec and some sparkly dude that looked like they were off in their own world. On the other side of Izzy sat an annoyed looking Jon. Beside Jon was some stuck up Asian chick. Then there were a few empty seats. And right across from Jon sat the gold and black blob of Jace. He had a sly look on his face and was murmuring to the blonde haired blue eyed girl he had his arm draped around.

I stood in my place and turned my head around to look for the Lewis kid. I finally found him just where he said he wound be hunkered down and talking to a bunch of other nerdy looking kids. I took a deep breath and turned away from both the tables and ran out of the lunchroom and to one of the doors that lead to the courtyard. I made my way down the stairs and ducked into a hutch and plopped down on the bench.

I sat there, turning the apple around in my hands and staring at it, doing my best to ignore the fact that I was turning into a human popsicle. I was actually happy to have a breath of fresh air.

Then I heard the sound of two pairs of feet pounding down the concrete steps. I jumped out of the bench and hid in the back corner of the concrete plant covered hutch. Soon two people came into view and occupied the bench I currently sat on with their backs turned to me. It was Jace and the blonde.

Jace began to dig through his bag as the girl sat staring at him intently with a small wad of cash in her hand. Soon enough Jace pulled out a Ziploc bad that held a few paper rolls.

"Here." The girl said as she stuck her arm out, offering him the cash.

He chuckled. "Don't worry I don't need that."

She rolled her bright blue eyes. "Come on, I work hard at Taki's to save up for stuff like this."

"Yeah and you can use it when you go to a real dealer." he chuckled before adding to it with a wink. "Plus you already pay me enough."

She bit her lip and reached for the bag. My nose began to itch just as they were each grabbing a roll and I let out a sneeze. They both turned around to face me as I stood there wide eyed.

"What the hell!" the blonde exclaimed.

"Clarissa." Jace smirked.

"Why are you smiling?" the girl asked him. "This freak is sitting here watching us like a perv."

"Eh I don't think she's a perv. Kaelie"

"Well she's just sitting there watching us." the girl, Kaelie, defended. "Come on let's just go somewhere else and let the freak be by herself."

"nah. This is my usual spot. I like it here."

"I-I'll just go." I choked out, beginning to walk away.

"Why don't you stay?" Jace spoke up, causing me to turn towards him.

"Yeah." Kaelie spoke, standing up. "I'll just go. Bye Jace." and with that she walked out of the hutch and up the stairs, disappearing back into the school.

I stood there awkwardly as Jace sat back in the bench, the Ziploc bag still in his hand. "Well sit down. Nothing to be scared of."

I looked down at my feet as I twiddled my thumbs.

"Ah." he said in realization, breaking the silence. "I'm sorry for that one day where I scared you. That was kind of out of hand."

"Thanks for ap-apologizing." I muttered.

"You're welcome. Now come on take a seat."

Nervously I took a few steps towards the bench and tensely sat down beside Jace.

"You know despite whatever Jon told you, I'm actually not that bad of a guy." he sighed. I stayed silent. "I know you have been through a lot, but to tell you the truth, I have too. You can talk to me. If you would like."

"I-I highly doubt you have been t-through as much as me." I spoke up.

He took a deep breath. "My parents were murdered. I found them one day when I got home from school."

"O-oh."

"Yeah." he smirked. "I really don't know why I'm telling you this. I never tell anybody. But, you seem like you could use it."

I stayed silent for a moment before gathering up my courage and speaking up to break the silence. "Well t-thanks. I could. U-use it that is."

He smirked. "I could tell."

"Y-you know you don't e-exactly make a good case for yourself." I spoke, shocking myself.

"Oh?" he asked, crooking an eyebrow. "And how's that?"

I was tempted to get up and run. In fact, I thought I was going to. But I didn't. "Well y-you say you're a good guy, but then y-you g-go around doing drugs and acting like a c-cocky bastard."

He chuckled. "Oh honey, I don't act. I am a cocky bastard."

"I-I'm just saying. M-maybe you wouldn't have lost J-Jon as a friend if you were a little nicer t-to people."

"Jon's a buzz kill. Plus he does this all the time. Things will patch up sooner or later."

"B-but wouldn't you rather that happen sooner r-rather than later?" I asked honestly. "T-trust me Jon is lost without you. I h-have only been around l-like a month, and I-I can already tell y-you guys are basically b-brothers."

"Yeah, well as close as we may be, Jon's a good guy. And I'm not. Good guy's and bad guy's don't mix well."

"W-well sometimes a bad guy needs a g-good guy to keep him on the right track." I learned that from T.V. and books.

"Yeah well looks like I haven't found my good guy yet. Because trust me, Jon ha tried to help with no success."

"O-or maybe you just haven't let anyone help you yet."

"Maybe." he smiled, staring at me.

"W-what?" I questioned, trying my hardest not to smile.

"Nothing." he smirked back. "You're just really beautiful."

My attempt to not smile failed. "N-no."

"What?" he asked.

I stood up. "Just fix things with Jon. D-don't do this with m-me. I'm not like that K-Kaelie girl."

"I never said you were."

Just then the bell rang and I turned around.

"Hey Clary!" he called out and I topped in place, not bothering to turn around. "I just wanted to say that I saw you run away when Izzy called you. I know she can come off as a lot, but she really does mean well."

"I know." I sighed before running away.

The next few days flew by uneventfully. I woke up, went to school, ignored people in the morning, ignored the cafeteria and sat alone in my hutch, ignored people in the afternoon, went home, sat in my room, and went to sleep. I was perfectly fine with doing this each day until Friday rolled around. We had a test in History on Monday about material learned the last semester and I was totally unprepared for it. So Friday night after school I had Jon drop me off at a library to study for it.

Jon insisted picking me up at first, but I knew he had plans with some friends and would feel bad making him cancel or cut them short. He has been really odd and lonely since his fallout with Jace, and despite the advice I gave Jace earlier that week things had not improved between the two of them. Plus the library was only a mile or so from Luke's store and he agreed to drive me home as long as I was there before closing at ten thirty. Or else it would be the cab for me.

So at around nine forty five I packed up my things and began making my way through the busy Friday night street's towards the bookshop. I began to feel uncomfortable about half of the way to the bookstore when I hit an empty stretch of street.

I was quickly trying to get past the few empty blocks to Luke's store when I heard a crash and shouting coming from an alleyway beside me. I stopped right before the alleyway where the noise was coming from when a tall slutty looking brunette girl busted out shouting about how big of a jerk some guy was.

When the girl was halfway down the block and headed towards the busy part of the city I peeked my head around the corner of the empty brick building and into the alley way to study the scene.

The building on the other side of the alleyway contained a restaurant that had their garbage bags piled up on the side of the building. I wouldn't have been able to see the black leather clad boy if it wasn't for his golden colored features.

"J-Jace?" I questioned as I began stepping towards the boy. At the mention of his name his head snapped around in a flurry of gold. His golden irises grew wide along with the now red whites. I sighed. "Y-you're high."

"W-what the fuck are you doing here?" he slurred.

"A-and a tad drunk it would seem." I added.

He chuckled, not moving from the disgusting bed of garbage bags he laid atop of. "Trust me Clariees. I'm much more high than I am drunk. I've only had a few beers."

"Uh huh sure. T-that's why you cant even say m-my name." I sarcastically said. "Now c-come on let's g-get you home."

"No!" he protested, sitting up. "I can't go back there and face Max. he's only ten he shouldn't see this."

"W-well what do you usually d-do?"

"Go home with a girl or to a friend's house."

I sighed. "Well looks l-like you might be doing b-both of those things."

He eyed me suspiciously. "What does that mean?"

"Come o-on we're going to my p-place." I stretched my hand out shakily towards him. He took it and I pulled him up, scrunching away from the smell.

"No I am not going there and facing Jon and Jocelyn." he protested.

"D-don't worry about them-m. Jon is with friends and p-probably won't be h-home, a-and if s-so it will b-be late. Then Jocelyn I-is with friends a-and she wont b-be home until like t-two. U-unless she goes to Luk-ke's."

"You really want me to come home and stay in an empty house with you?"

"It's b-better than leaving you h-here to sleep in t-the garbage and get mugged-d."

"Fine." Jace gave in. "My bike's parked a few blocks from here I'll dr-"

"No!" I cut in. "I-I am not getting on a m-motorcycle with a guy w-who is drunk and high. We can take a cab."

He rolled his eyes. "Fine but I'm paying."

"F-fine with me." I shrugged. "You can hail it too."

He rolled his gold and red orbs and glided past me and over to the street curb. He put out his arm and whistles for a few seconds. A minute or two later a yellow cab pulled up in front of us and Jace was slouching inside. I ran to the cab and hopped in beside Jace. I told the cab driver my address and sat in an awkward silence for the entirety of the ride. I texted Luke to let him know I was safe and taking a cab then stared at my twiddling thumbs.

Not soon enough we pulled up in front of the familiar Brooklyn town home. I handed him the wad of cash from Jace and gave him a smile for thanks. I pushed open the door and pulled Jace out. I dragged him up to my house and unlocked the door quickly. I had to practically drag his body inside before slamming the door shut and locking it behind me.

Jace began to slump to the couch and my eyes grew wide. "no no no no! I-I am not going t-to let y-you stink up the couch-h."

"But I'm tired." he slurred. "And I'm going to stink something up no matter what."

"No you a-are not." I protested. "Y-youre going to shower a-and get rid of t-that horrid scent. Now c-come on." I grabbed his arm and began dragging him behind me and up the stairs, pushing him into my bathroom.

"Your bathroom?" he questioned, plopping down on the toilet seat.

"Y-yes. Now d-do not get undressed y-yet I'll get y-you some clothes."

He growled as I left the room and bounded down the hall and to my brothers room. I flipped the light on and began rummaging through the drawers until I came up with clean underwear and some gray sweatpants and a white t-shirt. Jon had a bunch of them so I doubted he would miss them. I went back to my bathroom where Jace was still sat on the toilet with his head tilted back and occasionally grumbling. I threw the clothes down on the floor and turned the shower on to a cold setting.

"G-get up and get in." I softly told Jace.

The golden boy stood up and began pulling his shirt off.

"W-woah woah n-no." I stopped him. He dropped the hem of his shirt and eyes me. "W-wait until I'm out of the r-room. I'll g-get you some c-coffee and water."

"And food! I'm starving." He requested.

I sighed. "W-what do you want-t?"

Jace shrugged. "Whatever."

I rolled my eyes and turned, leaving the room and shutting the door behind me. I made my way down to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. I pulled out a tray and searched the fridge until I found a box of chicken nuggets and threw a bunch on a plate and into the microwave. I got out two mugs and poured the coffee into them when it was done. I got out a big bottle of water and a bottle of ketchup. When the nuggets were done I arranged everything on the tray and brought it upstairs.

When I got to my room I found that Jace had finished his shower and was spread out on my bed.

"I have y-your whatever." I spoke up and he shot up, jumping over to the windowseat.

"Oooh chicken nuggets." he grinned. "gimme!"

"W-what are you five?" I retorted, rolling my eyes and making my way to the window seat, setting the tray in front of him and sitting down on the other side of the seat from him.

"Yes. And I have the munchies." he explained, squirting ketchup onto the plate and shoving a ketchup coated chicken nugget into his mouth.

"I-I can tell." I grinned.

"You can smile!" Jace exclaimed in a shocked tone,

I rolled my eyes. "Duh it's a n-normal human reaction-n."

He shoved another nugget into his mouth as I sipped on a cup of coffee.. "Don't you want any?"

I shook my head.

"Come on you have got to be hungry. You look like you haven't ate in a week."

"I-I'm fine."

"Come on I insist!"

"I-I said I'm fine!" I shouted.

"okay sorry!" he defended, throwing his arms up.

"g-good."

His smirk fell. "Why do you stutter?"

I shrugged. "Nerves-s."

"Well what are you so nervous about?"

I sighed. "E-everything."

"I can tell. I see you at school. You don't talk to anyone. But you are talking to me. Why?"

"b-because I'm a good person and y-you needed help. P-plus you never shut u-up."

He laughed. "That's true. But you could ignore me like you ignore everyone else. Why don't you?"

"I-I don't know okay!" I shouted.

"wow red no need to shout."

I sighed. "I d-don't know okay. I-I don't know-w why I talk to you. I-I don't even really like y-you."

"Well that's assuring."

"T-that's not what I meant. I mean I d-don't want to like you. I-I don't like what y-you do. I-I'm trying not to like you."

"I know what you mean. I'm a bad person. I know. I would hate me too."

"J-Jace. Y-you aren't a b-bad person. Y-you just d-don't know how t-to bring out the good in you. You n-need someone t-to help you."

"Yeah, well the only person I feel like could bring out the good in me hates me."

"J-Jon?"

"No you."

I froze in place, not knowing what to say. I searched for the right words before choking out the first thing that came to my mind. "W-we should probably g-get some sleep."

Voila! Sorry it took me so long to update! I promise to update first chance I get! You all rock!

Make me smile andddd

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Goodnight and enjoy!

-Karissa