"Oh."

Blake looked over at her mom staring at the two teens in bed.

"What mom?" Blake asked with a yawn.

She sat up but Jace pulled her back to him. She slapped his chest and pulled his arms off her.

"You guys are sleeping together?"

"Just sleeping? Yes."

She rubbed her tired eyes and Jace grumbled next to her before rolling over and going back go sleep.

"You should get on birth control."

"Thanks for looking after me but I think I should decide whether I go on it or not."

"You are still under the age eighteen, you're going on the pill."

Blake rolled her eyes and got out of bed to leave a sleeping Jace.

"Can we talk somewhere else?"

Blake followed her mom into the kitchen where London was making eggs.

"Good morning Blake" she smiled.

Blake sent her a wave and looked at her mom.

"I'm not doing anything."

"You will."

"I am not having sex with Jace, mom. So no I don't need to go on the pill."

London stood awkwardly, trying to not listen to the conversation.

"Your father would want you to."

Blake narrowed her eyes at her mother.

"Do not bring him into this."

"And why not?"

"I don't know what is up with you lately, but you can't just pick and choose when to tell me what to do. You and I both know dad wouldn't force me to be on birth control, so don't you dare bring him into this."

"He's my husband."

"What the hell does that have to do with literally anything?!" she asked loudly.

She immediately felt guilty for raising her voice at her mom and breathed out.

"I'm sorry for raising my voice" she sighed.

Susie raised her eyebrows at her daughter before crossing her arms over her chest.

"You're grounded and you're going on the pill."

Blake glared at her mom before going upstairs.

"You better tell Jace to leave! You can't see him for two weeks."

She slammed her door shut making Jace shoot up.

"What happened?" he asked while rubbing his eyes.

"You have to go."

She collected his stuff and stuffed some of his belongings in his bag.

"What happened?"

"My mom came in here and saw us in bed, she thinks we are having sex. So she is making me go on the pill and is grounding me for two weeks from seeing you."

"Can she even do that?"

Blake shrugged and tossed his bag on the bed.

"She can't just pick and choose when to parent me."

"I know."

Jace pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head.

"I'll see you at school on Monday, yeah?"

She nodded and groaned.

"She's so frustrating."

"I know."

He gave her a kiss on the lips and she cringed.

"Morning breath" she gagged.

He laughed at her and gave her another forehead kiss before holding her hand and leading her downstairs.

Her mother and London sat eating while watching the two teens walk past them.

"You aren't going with him" Susie said.

"I'm fully aware, I'm walking him to his car" she grumbled.

She shut the door loudly behind them and shivered at the cold air.

"Is she taking your phone away?" Jace asked as he pulled the cold girl to him more.

"I'm not letting her, I'll be out and about tonight. She can't just start ordering me around now. I get she wants me not to get pregnant but I haven't had sex since I was fifteen."

Jace laughed at her and gave her a forehead kiss goodbye.

"Maybe see you later?"

She nodded and rushed inside her warm house.

§

Blake sat bundled up in a blanket as she sat at the skatepark.

The bowl that they have there, she sat at the bottom of it as she stared up at the stars.

"I did not expect you to be down there" Jace called out.

Blake looked at him but didn't say anything as he began sliding down the side holding a blanket.

"I brought my sister's heated blanket."

He draped it over them and turned it on as it began to warm up slowly.

"Is there a reason why you're down here?"

"I never laid down here before."

"That's the reason?"

Blake slightly nodded and adjusted her hood as she intertwined her and Jace's hands.

The two laid in silence, both of them just admiring the stars that littered the night sky. Every time they breathed out, little white clouds would come out before quickly vanishing like it was never there.

"Blake?"

Blake hummed in response, beginning to grow tired with the heated blanket on her.

"Let's get you home" Jace said as he stood up from his position.

"I don't wanna go home" she grumbled before shutting her eyes again.

"If you get out of here, I will carry you to my house. How about that?"

"Really?" she asked him with a yawn.

"Yes."

She stood up and Blake held onto their blankets as they ran up the cement wall before pushing themself up onto solid ground.

Blake held the blankets as Jace picked her up and carried her all the way to his house.

"Your mom will be mad" he whispered in her ear.

"Who cares."

The teen boy sighed and with much struggle, opened his front door quietly, kicked off his shoes and shut it quietly. He slowly climbed the stairs, not to wake anyone up before going in his room. He shut the door behind him and locked it so his siblings didn't just barge in.

They had no manners, they just barge in without knocking and leave the door wide open when they leave.

He laid Blake down on his bed and took her shoes off, leaving her in a hoodie and sweats. He took her socks off as well before climbing in bed next to her.

"Thank you" she mumbled tiredly.

She cuddled up onto the lovestruck boy as he gave her forehead a gentle kiss.

"Anything for you."

The purple haired girl let out a soft scoff but kept her position on him.

"Don't be cheesy John" she yawned.

He laughed softly and rubbed his thumb on her hoodie covered arm.

"Go to sleep baby."

She grumbled a response that he didn't understand before they both fell asleep.
———
Merry Christmas! 12-25-20