Not Broken Just Bent

Chapter 1: One Year Anniversary

Clary:

"Has Jace told you where you two are going tonight?" Isabelle asked, yanking Clary's hair painfully as she brushed it. They were in Isabelle's bedroom at the New York Institute.

"No. It's a surprise, I guess. It is our one year anniversary though, so I guess it will be special," said Clary, thoughtfully.

"Oh it will be special, all right. You'll have so much fun!" Isabelle clapped her hands and then started to style Clary's hair.

"How do you know?!" Clary exclaimed.

"He may have asked me for advice," Isabelle said in a sing song voice.

"Tell me!"

"Now if I did that it wouldn't be a surprise! Jace would be pissed off if I ruined it for you," Isabelle teased, twisting Clary's hair into a knot. "I wish you would let me have fun with you and do something special with your hair."

"No, I prefer it to be simple. This is Jace, after all."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Let's pick out an outfit," Isabelle sighed, looking through the clothes Clary brought.

"What should I wear? Is this going to be casual or dressy?" Clary asked, curious.

"A little of both. Jace said he'd bring you both back here so the two of you could change into a fancier outfit later."

"Both? Gosh, I'll never guess where he's taking me."

"Good!" Isabelle smiled.

•••

Jace:

Jace was anxious to see Clary. They hadn't seen each other in a couple weeks because she was on vacation with her mom and stepdad. She returned a few days ago, Isabelle told him, but instead of rushing to see her like he wanted to, Isabelle told him to wait until Saturday. Which meant he would've had to wait 4 days to see her. Waiting that long was unbearable to Jace.

"Why?" he had asked in an annoyed tone.

"You don't remember? Oh Jace. Be glad I'm here to remind you. You'd be in hot water if I didn't," Isabelle sighed.

"What is on Saturday?" Jace asked impatiently.

"It's your one year anniversary dumbo!" Isabelle exclaimed.

"Oh crap, that's on Saturday? I've had other things on my mind. Like other things this week is an anniversary for,"

"You mean Max?" Isabelle asked sadly.

"Yes, Max. And Valentine as well,"

"Max has been on my mind too, but that still gives you no excuse! You need to plan something special!"

And so, he did. Well, he tried. It didn't seem special enough, not for Clary. Clary was his world. And what he had planned didn't really show how much she meant to him. He didn't think so. He had asked for advice from Isabelle and Simon about what they thought she'd like. Eventually, he decided to take her to an art show, for she loved art. They then would have a picnic in the park and he even had tickets to a Broadway show that Simon told him that she had wanted to see as long as he could remember. It still felt like it wasn't enough, but it would have to do.