Life As Clarissa Morgenstern

Chapter Eighteen

Clary's POV

Therapy seemed to help and I actually talked a little bit. Just a few words. It made me feel bad. I just don't really like to talk at all at the moment.

Afterwards, I walked out of the building, looking at the group of people with wide eyes.

Dad, Jon, Jace, Jocelyn, they all stood there, but dad was arguing with Jocelyn until they saw me.

"Clarissa, it's so great to see you, I missed you." She continued on and I looked to dad as he started.

"I'm sorry about kicking that boy out, I didn't realize that I was hurting you by making him leave." Then, Jace.

"I am so sorry for leaving you at prom, I never meant to hurt you, I was just frustrated about all of the secrets." They all kept apologizing at the same time.

Their overlapping voices made my head hurt and the many voices started to sound distorted.

It's too much. Too much.

"Stop!" They all shut up as I yelled at them. "Leave me the fuck alone!" I cried and walked back inside the building before locking myself in the single bathroom.

"Clary? Baby, will you open the door?" I quietly sobbed into my knees as I hugged them to my chest. "Please, sweetheart? I'm sorry." He sighed. "Jon, go upstairs and get her therapist."

Everything was silent for a while, but I knew that they were still out there waiting for me.

"Clary, talk to me, kid." Dr. Matthews spoke. "I want you to come out when you're ready, but if you're not out in thirty minutes, I have to unlock the door myself, okay?" I sniffled.

Jon's POV

I got Dr. Matthews downstairs and he stood outside the door. "Clary, talk to me, kid. I want you to come out when you're ready, but if you're not out in thirty minutes, I have to unlock the door myself, okay?" With only the faint sound of a sniffle, he sighed and turned to us. "What the hell did you people do?"

We all stepped away from the door, not wanting her to hear this.

"We were all trying to apologize to her at once, I think it was overwhelming for her." Dad answered, staring at the floor like a kid in trouble.

"What were you apologizing for?"

"Kicking that thug out of my house."

"And, you? What'd you do?" He turned to Jace. 

"Kind of dumped her at the prom to go have sex with a different girl."

"You're Jace." Jace nodded in confirmation. He turned to Jocelyn. "Don't even say anything. I know what you did."

"I just wanted her to forgive me." Mom said.

"Okay, we'll start with you." He faced dad. "Clary went through a lot, she is scared out of her mind and you kicking her friends out and making her mad will not help. Even if you were trying to protect her. Ryder is not a thug, he's a good friend of Clary's and he would never do a damn thing to intentionally hurt her. So, tone it down with the protective side. You can't protect her from everything."

He turned to Jace. "You, you broke her heart, because she couldn't open up to you and tell you things that she has never opened up and told anyone. It is none of your business and you leave her alone until she feels that she's ready to forgive you. Give her time."

Then, mom. "And, you. I happen to know every little thing that you did." She lowered her head in shame. "You hurt her is so many different ways and it will take a very long time before she can even think about forgiving you. There's a lot that I don't know about you, but I know for damn sure, that Clary is not ready to have any sort of relationship with you right now. She is far too unstable for that right now." Mom nodded.

"Okay, now is there someone that she can go and stay the night with? 'Cause she needs peace for a night."

"I could call Ryder. Clary dropped her phone outside and I grabbed it on the way in."

"Then, call him."

I pulled the phone out of my pocket and went to his contact, stepping away from everyone else.

"Hey, angel. What's up?"

"Not Clary."

"Um, okay. Where is angel?"

"Well, she locked herself in a bathroom at her therapist's office. Her doctor says that she should stay somewhere else tonight, away from us, for a little peace, so-"

"You're actually okay with her staying at my place?" I sighed.

"No, but I don't have a say in the matter. So, could you come get her? Take her home with you for tonight?"

"Sure. Text me the address and I'll be there soon."

"Bye." I hung up and texted him the address.

"He's on his way." I said as I returned to everyone else.

"Who?" Jace questioned.

"A friend of Clary's." He nodded.

"Since when? I've never heard of him." Dad and I looked to each other, but I decided to stay silent, and dad sighed.

"He is her secret make-out buddy from college." You could see the disappointment in Jace's eyes, so I looked away.

"I deserved that."

Not too long after, Ryder walked in and nodded to us. "Where is she?" I pointed to the door and he headed for it, knocking. "Angel? What's going on in there, babe?" He asked softly and the click of the lock sounded.

He opened the door and walked inside before closing the door behind him.

"Come on, time to go, angel. You're staying with me tonight." Soon, he walked out with Clary in his arms, half asleep.

"Take care of her, please." Dad spoke and Ryder nodded.

"She'll be okay." Ryder spoke softly and we made it outside, watching Ryder set Clary in the backseat of a cab. "I'll call you later, let you know how she is."

"Thank you." He got into the cab and drove away with my sister. .

"Now, all of you," We turned back to Dr. Matthews. "You can contact Ryder once tonight and once in the morning, but I suggest twenty-four hours of no contact with Clary." Dad started to protest, but Doc held his hand up to stop him. "This is not for you, it's for her. Remember that."

"Fine. No contact." Dad spoke. 

"Good. Now, I have another appointment, so go on."

I wish I could help my baby sister......