Senior Year

Clary

Here it is senior year and Jace and I have not progressed romantically. He told me that he is in love with me, but we have not gone out on our first date yet. The most romantic thing we have done is prepare for our SAT exam and that was his mother's idea. We have been applying to the colleges that we would like to attend and Jace has turned down his acceptance into Wharton. I was passing by our advisor's office, and I overheard the conversation. When we arrived home, Uncle Steven looked very angry when he called Jace into his office. Aunt Celine, Max, and I started eavesdropping at the door.

Jace

As soon as I walked in the door, dad called me into his office. He looked angry. I put my backpack down in the foyer and walked into his office. The minute that I closed the door behind me, he turned on me.

"Jace, I just received a call from Wharton's admissions office telling me that you have turned down your acceptance. Is this true?"

"Yes, it is true. I have decided that I do not want to attend Wharton or take over your business upon graduation. I plan to attend whatever college Clary decides to attend and maybe find a career that I have an interest in. Something that is going to make me happy."

"No. You are going to attend Wharton and take over my business. This is what we talked about and planned."

"No, dad. This is my life now; my time and I am going to do what I want with my life."

The next thing I know, my dad clutches his chest and falls to the floor. I laid him down on his back and loosened his tie. Mom, Clary, and Max ran into the room and fell to their knees around them. I yelled at Clary to call an ambulance. The ambulance came and loaded my father after they have stabilized him. When we arrived at the hospital, they admitted into the emergency room and ran some tests on him. The doctor came to talk to us after he was done looking at the results.

"Are you Mr. Herondale's family?"

"I am Mrs. Herondale. These are my son's and Clary is considered family. How is he?"

"He is fine, and we have him stable. He seems to have a heart problem, but I am sure that it is all stress-related. We want to keep him here for a few days and run some more tests to make sure that my prognosis is correct?"

"May we see him now?"

"He is being moved into a private room and as soon as he is settled in, you may go and see him."

I felt such relief when I heard the doctor say that dad is fine. My decisions have caused all this, but I will make sure that this will not happen again. The next day, people from the company started to show up to see my father. He was supposed to be on bed rest and free from stress, but these people were here with papers for him to sign and decisions for him to make. The vice president called me over and asked me to go to the cafeteria to talk to him. I followed him wondering what was this about.

Clary

We were all listening at the door to see what Uncle Stephen wanted to talk to Jace about and we heard them arguing about school. The next thing we knew, Jace called out and we heard someone fall. We opened the door to find Uncle Stephen on the floor and Jace loosening his tie and unbuttoning his shirt. He asked me to call an ambulance. After several hours in the emergency room, they admitted him into a private room and decided to keep him for a few days. The next morning, I walked in to see Uncle Stephen surrounded by people from his company with paperwork and only talk about work. The vice president of the company called Jace over and asked him to go to the cafeteria. I asked Max if he wanted to come with me to follow Jace and see what was going on, and he agreed right away. We sat where there was a partition separating us from where Jace was sitting and blocking his view of us. I did not want him to know that I came to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Jace

As soon as I walked in the door, dad called me into his office. He looked angry. I put my backpack down in the foyer and walked into his office. The minute that I closed the door behind me, he turned on me.

"Jace, I just received a call from Wharton's admissions office telling me that you have turned down your acceptance. Is this true?"

"Yes, it is true. I have decided that I do not want to attend Wharton or take over your business upon graduation. I plan to attend whatever college Clary decides to attend and maybe find a career that I have an interest in. Something that is going to make me happy."

"No. You are going to attend Wharton and take over my business. This is what we talked about and planned."

"No, dad. This is my life now; my time and I am going to do what I want with my life."

The next thing I know, my dad clutches his chest and falls to the floor. I laid him down on his back and loosened his tie. Mom, Clary, and Max ran into the room and fell to their knees around them. I yelled at Clary to call an ambulance. The ambulance came and loaded my father after they have stabilized him. When we arrived at the hospital, they admitted him into the emergency room and ran some tests on him. The doctor came to talk to us after he was done looking at the results.

"Are you Mr. Herondale's family?"

"I am Mrs. Herondale. These are my son's and Clary is considered family. How is he?"

"He is fine, and we have him stable. He seems to have a heart problem, but I am sure that it is all stress-related. We want to keep him here for a few days and run some more tests to make sure that my prognosis is correct?"

"May we see him now?"

"He is being moved into a private room and as soon as he is settled in, you may go and see him."

I felt such relief when I heard the doctor say that dad is fine. My decisions have caused all this, but I will make sure that this will not happen again. The next day, people from the company started to show up to see my father. He was supposed to be on bed rest and free from stress, but these people were here with papers for him to sign and decisions for him to make. The vice president called me over and asked me to go to the cafeteria to talk to him. I followed him wondering what was this about.

Clary

We were all listening at the door to see what Uncle Stephen wanted to talk to Jace about and we heard them arguing about school. The next thing we knew, Jace called out and we heard someone fall. We opened the door to find Uncle Stephen on the floor and Jace loosening his tie and unbuttoning his shirt. He asked me to call an ambulance. After several hours in the emergency room, they admitted him into a private room and decided to keep him for a few days. The next morning, I walked in to see Uncle Stephen surrounded by people from his company with paperwork and only talk about work. The vice president of the company called Jace over and asked him to go to the cafeteria. I asked Max if he wanted to come with me to follow Jace and see what was going on, and he agreed right away. We sat where there was a partition separating us from where Jace was sitting and blocking his view of us. I did not want him to know that I came to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Jace, your dad is in trouble and you are his only hope."

"What do you mean he is in trouble? What is going on?"

"His business is not doing well financially. He has made arrangements to obtain a loan with Mr. Robinson, the owner of the bank, but now with him in the hospital, Mr. Robinson does not want to take his chance. Now, he made a proposition and it involves you."

"Mr. James, what is the proposition?"

"An arranged marriage, between you and his daughter Kailie."

"Is there any other way to save the company?"

"I am so sorry, Jace, but there is not."

"Could I have a full day to think about it?"

"Do you have a girlfriend that you need to break up with?"

"Something like that."

"Call me when you have decided, but do not wait too long."

This is it, Jace will never be mine. He has to choose between me and his father, and he is going to choose his father. It is the right thing for him to do. Max reached over the table and held my hand with a look on his face that bordered tears.

"Clary, my brother loves you. He will pick you. I do not think that he will go through an arranged marriage. I know my brother."

"Thanks, Max. I appreciate it, but Jace has to do what is right for your family and not for me."

Jace

Mr. James has just asked me to accept an arranged marriage to save dad's company. Now I am stuck in between two walls and I do not know how to get out. Over the summer, I finally confessed to Clary that I am in love with her, but now I have to accept an arranged marriage or let my dad fall into ruins. I caused him to have this mild heart attack when I declined Wharton and taking over the company. Now it looks like that I have to take over the company if I want to save it. What am I going to tell Clary? I went to my dad's room to see if Clary wanted a ride home so that I can talk to her, but Max said that she already left. I drove home and found her sitting on the couch with tears running down her face. Something is troubling her so I cannot tell her what is going on. I went and sat down next to her to find out what is wrong.

"Clary, are you alright?"

"No, Jace, I am not. I just realized how selfish I have been these last four years, loving you without thinking about anyone else's feelings. Sometimes, teenagers are so wrapped up in their feelings, that they do not see the problems the parents might be having,"

"Wait, what are you talking about?"

"Jace, forget about me. You need to save Uncle Stephen's company. That company has been in your family for years, and it will kill Uncle Stephen if he loses it. Accept the arranged marriage and do what is right for your family. I understand."

"But Clary, you are going to lose me."

"Face it, Jace, I never had you. We are not meant to be."

Then she ran out of the room and upstairs to hers. I heard the door to her room slam shut. I went upstairs to talk to her but heard her sobbing uncontrollably, so I decided to let her be. Instead, I pulled out my cell phone and called Mr, James. He picked up on the second ring.

"Mr. James, I will do it. Make arrangements for me to meet Mr. Robinson's daughter."

"Alright, Jace. I will call you tomorrow with the day and time of the meeting."