CHAPTER TEN. THE THRILLING ADVENTURES OF A (MAYBE) TEENAGE VAMPIRE

"YOU LICKED HER BLOOD AND YOU LIKED IT?"

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Wren had gone home. She was completely exhausted and couldn't stay at the Institute. Her redheaded friend had wanted her to stay. She had practically begged her, telling her it would be safer for her to stay there with the Shadowhunters. However, Wren had had enough with the Shadowhunters for one day.

The blonde didn't feel as though she needed protecting. It didn't seem like she was on any supernatural's radar. She felt as though she'd be fine. That's what she told herself anyway.

She was grateful when she got home and even more relieved that her mother wasn't there when she returned. She let out a sigh and immediately went to her room after locking the front door. She walked into her closet and looked around, trying to find a place to hide the sword that Isabelle had given to her.

It wasn't the best hiding spot so she exited the small closet and walked back out into her bedroom. Her eyes landed on the chest at the foot of her bed and she smirked. She walked to her drawer and dug around underneath the stuff she had in it and pulled out the key to the chest. She walked over to it, unlocking the chest and pulling the top open.

Wren shoved the sword into the bottom of the chest and put some of the contents within the chest over the sword to conceal it. She sighed before closing the chest and locking it again, returning the key to its rightful spot.

She looked around her bedroom and let out another sigh before walking into her bathroom. There, she took the longest shower she had probably ever taken in her life and then went to sleep, her exhaustion completely taking over.

Wren was awoken a few hours later by a loud and repeated knock on her bedroom door. The blonde turned over in her bed, a quiet huff passing through her lips. The knocking continued and Wren groaned softly. The doorknob twisted and the knocking resumed. "I'm sleeping," she grunted out. "Why's the door locked?" A familiar voice called from the other side of the door.

"Because I'm sleeping," Wren replied. "You're clearly awake now," her mother said. "Yeah, because you interrupted my sleep," Wren muttered, throwing the blankets off of her body. Her feet gently hit the ground and padded to the door. She unlocked the door and pulled it open. Helena gave her a once over.

"You look... terrible," she insulted. Wren sighed, "Gee, thanks mom." She stepped away from the door and walked further into her room, her mother followed. "Did you and Clary sleep at all last night?" The woman continued. The events of the night before came rushing back to her and she felt pain in her head. "We were having too much fun," she lied. She thought it sounded believable.

"Oh yeah? What were you two doing?" She questioned suspiciously. Okay, maybe not so believable. "Trade secrets, I'm not at liberty to discuss it with you," Wren responded. The older blonde looked her over again before rolling her eyes. "If I had known that teenagers were so annoying, I never would've had you," she joked. "Ha ha," Wren muttered as the woman laughed.

"So, I could use your help today at the restaurant. Just wait tables for a few hours. Please," Helena said. "Sure." Wren shrugged. "Great. So, I've gotta meet with the vendors so Brielle is in charge. Whatever she tells you to do, you do," the woman went on. "I know the drill mom," Wren told her as she walked to her closet to get her 'Spicy Angel' work uniform.

Helena nodded, "All right then. Get a move on." Wren gave her a thumbs up as she looked through her clothes. Her mother exited her room, closing the door behind her as Wren found her uniform. She pulled out the clothes and changed into them. She pulled her blonde hair out of her face and into a high ponytail, looking over her appearance briefly before putting on her shoes. She pulled on a jacket, looking over her appearance one last time.

After grabbing the rest of her things, Wren headed out of her room and out of her apartment. She bounded down the stairs of the building, making her way out into the busy streets of New York. She walked down he sidewalk and towards the crosswalk. She stood amongst the crowd of people waiting for the the crosswalk symbol to change. When it did, she crossed the street and made her way to the restaurant.

••••

With a tray in her hand, Wren made her way to the table whose food she had. The blonde sent the occupants of the table a smile. "Here you are." She placed the plates of food in front of the correct people. "Is there anything else I can get for you?" She questioned after placing all of their plates down. A collective "no" sounded and she nodded. "Well, let me know if I can get you anything else." She sent them another smile before turning around.

The smile slipped from her face as she made her way between the tables in the busy restaurant. She went to another one of the tables she waited, picking up their bill and payment before pocketing the tip they left in her waist apron.

She made her way to the cash register, putting the cash into it before continuing on with her her shift.

Wren just finished wiping down a table, turning around to head over to another one. She jumped at the sight of Simon who was stood behind her. "Jeez, Simon. Don't sneak up on me like that," she said, pushing past him to continue cleaning tables. "Sorry. But I've been calling you," he said, following after her.

"If you couldn't tell, Simon, I'm kind of working," Wren said, beginning to wipe down another table. "Okay but like, I'm freaking out right now," Simon told her. Wren stopped wiping the table and look up at him. "What is it this time?" She inquired.

Simon grabbed her upper arm and began pulling her in the direction of the kitchen. The two entered the bustling environment and walked to the back. "Oh, so this is serious," Wren commented. Simon took a shaky breath. "I think I'm a vampire," he informed. Wren blinked, looking him over. "What?" She questioned.

"I think I'm a vampire," he repeated. "W-why do you think that, exactly?" She asked next. "Maureen came over and we were talking and she broke my picture frame and cut her finger and there was blood and I was like, craving it. Her blood. And I tasted it and it was kinda good—"

"Okay, gross. You licked her blood and you liked it?" Wren interrupted. Simon frantically ran his fingers through his hair. "Y-yeah. But I don't feel the urge to like, rip out someone's throat and drink them dry or anything so like, I'm probably not a vampire, right? Please say right because I'm freaking out and I don't wanna be a vampire," Simon rambled.

"Okay, relax. I don't have an answer for you because I don't know how any of this works. A few days ago, I didn't even believe in the supernatural and now we're talking about the possibility of you becoming a vampire like it's normal because it might as well be. I mean, you very well could be becoming a vampire." This didn't ease Simon's nerves in the slightest as his breathing picked up.

Wren took note of this. "Simon, just breathe, okay? You're probably not a vampire," she tried. "But you just said—"

"I just said I don't know how this works. And neither do you so let's not jump to conclusions, okay?" She interjected. Simon nodded his head, his fingers wringing together as he took a breath. "Does Clary know?" Wren asked. "I called Clary. She didn't pick up," Simon responded. Wren wasn't even surprised that he had tried to tell the redhead first. But she was surprised that Clary hadn't answered his call.

"She didn't pick up? Is she okay?" She asked next to which he shrugged. "I don't know. She's probably busy with Shadowhunter stuff. That's so weird to say," Simon replied. "Well, you should try her again. The Shadowhunters will know what's going on," Wren stated. Simon nodded his head and pulled out his phone to call Clary again.

Wren watched expectantly. After a few moments, Simon pulled the phone away from his ear and pressed the end call button. Wren sighed before shrugging. "What now?" He asked. Wren thought it over for a moment. "Now, we get your mind off of the whole, vampire thing," Wren proposed.

"Okay, so what do you wanna do?" Simon said. "After my shift, we can hang out at my place," she suggested. Simon nodded and released a breath. "Yeah, I like that idea," he said. She nodded, "Good. Now get out of the kitchen, you're not supposed to be here."

Simon rolled his eyes before exiting the kitchen. Wren took a breath before getting back to work.

••••

"So, how exactly were you gonna help me out with Clary?" Simon questioned. Wren refrained from rolling her eyes. They had been hanging out and she was successfully keeping his mind off all things involving the Shadow World, including Clary. She should've known it wouldn't last long.

"Um, I don't know. I didn't really have a lot of time to think about it before we were thrown into all of this," she began. Simon watched her expectantly and she shrugged. "I was thinking that you could blow her off," she went on. Simon's eyebrows furrowed, "Blow her off?

"Yeah, blow her off. Whenever she'd call or text saying she wanted to hang out. Tell her you're busy or you're not in the mood," she explained. "But I don't want to blow her off," he said. "You don't have to actually do it now. She's on this dangerous quest to find her mom. I highly doubt she'll be wanting to hang out," Wren replied.

The whole thing was still just so crazy to her. Vampires, Shadowhunters, demons. It all just felt so unreal. She honestly couldn't actually believe it. Maybe she was having a nightmare and still hadn't woken up.

"But that's so rude. And I don't see how that would make her like me back. It seems like it would make her hate me," Simon said. Wren rolled her eyes, "Okay 1, Clary could never hate you. And 2, it would make her miss you and want to spend more time with you."

"Where did you get that idea from?" She asked. "It works in the movies," she shrugged. "The, the movies? You were basing my potential relationship with Clary on a movie?" He questioned. "Well your doing of absolutely nothing wasn't helping you so I took an idea from a movie. Sue me," she retorted.

"You are ridiculous," Simon replied. "Says the guy who's been pining after the same girl for years. I'm gonna be honest, Simon, but I think it's long since been time for you to move on," Wren replied, busying herself in the pantry of her kitchen. "Why?" He asked and she sighed.

"Because, I feel that if Clary wanted to be with you, she probably would've either spoken up or at least shown signs by now. The only person showing signs is you," the blonde answered. Simon remained silent for a long moment.

"You never thought I had a chance, did you?" He finally asked. She turned back to him and saw his eyes holding sadness. "When you've been in the friendzone for so long, it's kinda hard to get out of it. I wanted to help but, I don't really see you getting out of it. Especially with, you know, everything going on and Jace," Wren trailed off.

The sadness in Simon's eyes was replaced with anger and he stood abruptly. "Thanks a lot, Wren," he said, making his way towards the front door. "Simon," she called, walking after him. He rounded on her, "You know, of all people, I didn't expect you to think that I'm a loser too."

"I never said that," she defended. "I read between the lines," he said. "Well then you read wrong," she snapped back and he scoffed. "I'm out of here," he said. He gave her one last look before walking out of the apartment, slamming the door shut. Wren closed her eyes briefly.

What just happened?

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