Chapter 26

Faith's POV

It's strange to have so much downtime that I can actually get some of these racing thoughts down on paper. Yet, here I was, writing in my journal with no one to bother me.

Although I found it kind of strange what I was writing, I didn't argue with the idea. Luke had changed in the woods, losing control, and hunting people.

Story wise, it was an interesting idea. Realistic wise, it was a great fear that me and many others had.

I was so into my journal that I missed my door opening and closing. It was only the sound of Jace's voice that pulled me away and made me turn to look at him. "Someone's deep in thought."

"Yeah, just got a lot in my brain I guess," I said with a small smile. I sat my pen down and watched Jace as he walked closer to me.

"Sorry if I bothered you," He said, his hands slipping into his pockets.

Shaking my head, I stood up and met him half-way, laying my hands on his chest. "No. Never," I state before leaning up and giving him a kiss. He kissed me back, seeming to wrap his arms around me and pull me closer to him.

This is one of the things I never could get tired of. Being with Jace, laying with Jace, being a part of Jace. It's crazy to think once I didn't know him, I didn't spend my days or nights with him. Now, he was my everything, and I was his.

My hands found their way to Jace's side, tracing our connection ruin for the hundredth time. His bare chest was exposed to me while I cuddled up next to him on my bed, keeping warm with the sheet's help.

Jace's body shifted slightly before he spoke again. "Do you ever think about the future?"

I tilted my head to look at Jace, slightly confused what his words meant. He caught sight of this an explained, "I mean, our future. Like, like marriage, or, or kids."

It was defiantly a sight to see, Jace Wayland, nervous of his own words. As much as it was intriguing to see, it was also kind of cute.

Laying my head back on Jace's chest, I returned to tracing his ruin while I spoke. "I mean, yeah, actually, a lot. I know, if things were different, I'd want to move in together, where no one else is. I defiantly wouldn't mine spending the rest of my life with you," I said, lightly poking his chest which made him chuckle softly.

Looking back up at Jace, "And I defiantly would want to have kids someday with you. Maybe, let's just get through some of the first steps first."

Jace smiled and nodded, "Agreed." He leaned down and gave me a kiss before moving his arms away from me. "I need to get going, Victor wants to see me in his office to "talk things over"."

Watching Jace get dressed, I commented, "Good luck."

"Yeah," he lightly scuffed. He slipped his shoes on before leaning down and kissing my exposed leg before leaving me.

The second Jace left my room, my mind was sucked back to my journal, and the words I wrote before creeping back in. For whatever reason, my words bothered me, made me worry about Luke and what was happening. I hadn't heard from him since mom died, and even then he barley said two words to me.

Deciding to address the feeling, I reached to my side table and grabbed my phone, calling Simon. Since he's changed, he's gotten closer and spent more time with Luke, meaning he might know something.

"Hello?"

"Simon, hey, it's Faith. Um, I was just wondering if you heard from Luke recently?"

There was a small pause, before Simon seemed to realize his answer, "Ah, actually, now that I think about it, no. Why? Do you think he's in danger or something?"

Shrugging as if he could see me, I said, "Maybe. I don't know, I just have a weird feeling about it all."

"I can go look for him. Clary wanted to talk to him anyways. Two Shadowhunters, one vampire," He said with a small chuckle.

I smiled slightly at his comment and nodded, "Thanks Simon. Let me know if you find him."

"Will do," He said before hanging up.

I starred at my phone, knowing that something was happening and all I was doing was sitting here. But, knowing Clary, she may go with Simon and right now we're a little up in the air. Besides, it'll be good for Simon and her to have some time together.

Getting up, I took a shower before changing. I had just walked out of the bathroom when the door burst open, making me jump slightly, but relax when I saw it was Jace. His face though, looking pissed, made me tense up again.

Oh no, did something happen? He wasn't gone that long.

"I can't believe this!"

"What is it? What happened?" I asked worriedly, fully turning to Jace who started his pacing.

He stopped, stretching his arms out his side, "It's Victor. He put me on Ichor Duty." I was silent, looking at him with a raised eyebrow, which he noticed. "Washing weapons after a battle."

My brows furred together, "Isn't that beginners jobs?"

"Exactly! He says I can't be trusted doing anything else and that if he just lets me off the hook then it's sending a bad example for everyone else. He thinks I'm going to betray him, betray the Shadowhunters."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Jace had just saved Victor's life and now he was benching him. Worst then benching, but putting him on water duty.

"I don't believe this."

Jace scuffed and nodded as he started to pace again. "I'm not going to just stand by and bet treated like I don't belong here. I worked hard all my life to get to where I am and be able to do the things I can do. Now, it's all for nothing."

There was a part of me that understood the "being treated like an outcast". When all of this Shadowhunter stuff started, that was Clary and I. Now, we've worked up peoples trust. To lose it all? That would be heartbreaking as much as it would be embarrassing.

Taking a couple of steps towards him, I say, "Maybe I can talk to him."

Jace let out a sigh, shaking his head. "I don't see how it would help, honestly."

Shrugging, I comment, "I don't see how it would hurt either." Deciding that, that was what I was going to do, I started to walk towards my door. I only got a step past Jace before he took my hand and stopped me.

"Maybe... maybe I deserve it?"

He was questioning himself, while at the same time knowing that it wasn't true. He needed reassurance, and I would happily give it to him.

Going back to him and putting my hand on his cheek, I look him in the eyes. "You did a lot to hurt the academy, but you made up for it in the end. You saved people, you saved me, and that should be enough to at least give you a second chance."

Jace nodded slowly, as if trying to accept my words.

Leaning up and giving him a quick peck on the lips, I whispered, "I'll be right back."

With that, I turned and left my room, heading to the main office, Victor's office. Lightly knocking on the door, I opened it a crack, seeing Victor sitting at his desk. At the sound, he lifted his head to see who it was, leaning back curiously when he saw it was me.

"Faith. Come in. What can I do for you?"

Entering and closing the door behind me, I stood in front of Victor's desk. "I wanted to talk to you about Jace. I understand that he needs to earn his place back in this academy, but he saved your life and others. He deserves a second chance."

"What he deserves is to be kicked out of the academy and stripped of his ruins. But, like you said, he saved my life, so this is what he gets instead."

Slightly confused, I shook my head and said, "So, what? If he hadn't saved your life and saved the sword then he would earn his spot back?"

Shrugging, Victor thought for a second before saying, "Maybe."

"If he hadn't saved your life, you wouldn't be here to care either way. It's over with and your still here. He deserves to be treated better than this, by you and everyone else."

Victor glanced at the table, waving his hands around, "Well, if he doesn't like it, he can always leave."

"Seriously? Jace is one of your best fighters. He's done more for this academy, for the Shadowhunter world than anyone. Now you're sitting there, acting like it means nothing. You can't do that."

Standing up slowly, Victor looked me down, slightly annoyed and angry. "What I should and can do is tell everyone what Jace did when he was with Valentine. What you did. How you stood by and watched it all, never trying to stop it."

My mouth parted in shock, my own anger building up to the point of bursting.

"So, it's your choice Faith. Either Jace does the job he was asked to do, you both leave, or I tell everyone what you two did and you'll be forced to leave."

Shaking my head, I mumbled, "Go to Hell," before storming out of the office and slamming the door behind me.

He can't do this! I mean, he can, but he shouldn't be able too! He said it himself before that Jace and I were special to this academy, now it's all out the door. Just like we should be.

When I returned to my room, Jace was sitting at my desk chair, skimming through my journal. Usually I may ask what he's doing, but in the moment I was too angry to care. I felt like the roles at reversed and I was the one pacing and complaining as I told Jace everything Victor had said.

I don't know what Jace was more pissed at, the fact we were pretty much asked to leave or that I was being pulled into all of this now too.

"Maybe we should. Maybe we should leave this place," Jace said, making me look at him surprised.

"Really?"

"If he wants us gone, then that's what we'll do. We'll leave and he'll see how badly he needs us."

In that moment I realized how truthful Jace was. It was a good plan and in all honestly, a welcomed one. One day Jace and I might want to do and be more then what we are now, having our own place could be just the thing to kick start it all. And, it's more privacy at the end of the day.

After a couple of minutes of silence, of my brain racing with my emotions and Jace's, I look at him and nodded. "Let's do it."

Suddenly my phone rang on my table, making me look past Jace at it. I walked over to it, answering it when I saw Simon's name popped up.

"Simon. Did you find Luke?"

"Yeah, he was having a tough time transitioning back. We got him under control and he's at the Chines restaurant."

A sudden sigh of relief left me and I closed my eyes, happy to hear he was okay. "Thank you Simon. I'll be there in a bit." Before Simon could say another word I hung up and looked at Jace.

Somehow, Jace had heard everything on that phone call and saw how badly I needed and wanted to see Luke for myself.

Gesturing outwards, Jace said, "Go. I can pack our things."

"Thank you," I say, jogging up to him and giving him a kiss. "I'll be back in a bit," I say against his lips before reconnecting them and pulling away. I grabbed my jacket and slipped it on as I shoved my phone into my pocket.

Hurrying, I made it to Luke faster than I thought possible.

Bursting through the door, Luke stood up from a table, quick to meet my arms that wrapped around him in a hug. "Hey, kiddo. I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you."

Pulling away, I shook my head as I looked at him, "It's okay. I'm doing okay. Are you?"

With a heavy sigh, Luke nodded slowly, "For the most part, yeah." He gestured for me to sit down across from him as he sat back in his chair. "I needed some time to process everything and I guess I shouldn't have been alone in doing that."

Reaching across, I squeezed his arm and looked at him sympathetically. "You're not alone anymore. I'm here, we're all here."

Luke nodded and sighed as he leaned back. "How's the academy?"

Pulling my hands back in front of me as I picked at them, I made a face. "Actually, it's funny that you ask that. Victor has been treating Jace like shit and in all honestly, I don't think we're welcomed there anymore. Jace and I want to move out, maybe get our own place for a bit? Otherwise we may be couch jumping for a bit."

Leaning forward a bit, intrigued, Luke said, "Well you know you have a place?"

Confused by his wording, I asked, "What do you mean?"

"Your mom's house. If anything were to happen to her, the place went to your name. It's yours to do with what you want."

I was surprised and taken back by Luke's words. Mom gave me the house. She gave me a place to go to whenever I needed it. She gave me a place for Jace and me.

And that's what it would become.

So sorry it took so long in updating. I've got the next few chapters planned out and I was really going back and forth on how I should do them. Anyway I have a plan now, which you may hate me for later, but I promise you it's all part of a bigger plan.

Enjoy!