Clary's POV
Goodbye California...and hello Mullingar, Ireland.

God I hate this. I hate that I have to pack up my entire life for like the 15th time. Okay it wasn't that much but still. I just wish I could stay in Cali. My whole fucking life is here. Does my mom care? Of course not. She was originally born in Ireland. Don't get me wrong I love my mom, she still had some of her accent. I am practically a copy of her. But I have my father's eyes. The trademark Wolffsson eyes...he had us change our last name to Wolf so we couldn't be found.

He's why we always moved. He was in the army, always bouncing around from base to base until he was shipped over seas. He was killed during battle. He was awarded the purple heart though. It's weird to think that I'll never see his smile anymore. Nor will I be able to hear his funny accent. My dad was originally from Russia, and the area that's he's from doesn't truly exsist anymore. That's what we always say. Western Russia isn't a thing anymore.

The funeral was in May. It is August now. I miss him. My mom lost some of her brightness when he left. I don't like the word die or death or dead. It seems so final. I know he is still here, he lives in me. He feel him when I play the piano or guitar. He taught me along with his parents while my mom taught me how to paint and sketch. She was an artist. Her paintings were beautiful. My dad loved watching her paint. He said she puts him in a trance when she paints.

She has already bought a studio in Mullingar. She doubles as a photographist as well. I have lived in California, Wisconsin (My dad's 'home' state), New York, Florida, Colorado, and Texas. I suppose Ireland now too. Wisconsin was the first place that my dad lived after coming here from Russia...he said it reminded him of his home. My mom wasn't a huge fan of the frozen winters like dad and me.

I am supposed to be going into my junior year at Pasadena High. Nicole and I were the youngest on varsity. We got on as sophomores. I was the star player. Football was my life. I barely remember a time when I wasn't going to practice. How I managed to learn all these skills and still had time to become a kick ass football player, I have no idea.

I just finished packing my bag for the plane when my mom snapped me from my thoughts. "Clary, Nicole is here to say goodbye yet again. Do you have everything you need for the plane ride?" She was leaning on the doorframe. Her red hair up in a loose bun, there were some white hairs in there. Her Irish blue eyes looked into my Russian green ones. I sighed and looked aroud my room one last time.

It was already pretty empty. They already shipped most of the furniture over to the new house. I bounded down that stairs and ran to my bestfriend. Nicole was always the pretty one. Her long brown hair had that California beach waves. She had brown eyes that just made you smile. They were always warm and inviting...well to me anyways. Nicole does have a mean streak in her for sure. She was the only one who talked to me on my first day here. She LOVED my weird ass accent. Her words not mine. After that...we became so close...practically sisters. Neither of us have siblings.

She was crying again. I started to cry. God we were a blubbering mess since my mom told me that we were moving half way across the world. "You have to promise to write and call and skype and everything!"
"I promise Nicole. You are like my other half. You better kick ass at football without me okay!" We hugged one last time before it was time for me to load up the cab. I watched her drive away and I grabbed my bags and headed towards the cab.

I want to be mad at my mom but its physically impossible for me to ever stay mad at her. "Clary, I know this isn't what you wanted to happen. But you'll love Ireland. I promise darling." I just smiled at her. I've been to Ireland maybe like twice in my lifetime. I've been to Russia way more but that was because I had to. Ireland seemed nice...a little too rainy for me though. At least I'll somewhat fit in, Nicole said I had a mix accent, I talked like an American but I used words like football for soccer.

I watched California fly past me as we drove to the airport. We boarded the flight. It was so early in the morning here, but it was practically the afternoon in Mullingar. I already looked up the football program at the new school. They were the best in their league. I looked over at my mom, she still wore her wedding ring. The story of how my parents met was my favorite. My dad was a horse fanatic...and my mom's parents bred the best at that time. My mom's pride and joy is what made my dad have to go see them. They talked and laughed, he stayed longer than he should've. The fell for each other...years later they got married and it was a HUGE deal for my dad's parents. Then they had me, I was born in Wisconsin, I have dual citizenship in Russia and the US.

My mom and dad had the kind of love that poets wrote about. My mom would've followed my dad to hell and back. They were the iconic couple. I wanted my marriage to be like that. He was taken too soon. I was proud of how strong my mother was. "Clary, you should try to sleep, we will have a long day of unpacking ahead of us when we land. Oh I can't wait to see my family again." She kissed my head that rested on her shoulder.
"I can't wait to see all of them either." My mom had an older brother. His wife couldn't have children though. So I was the only grandchild. My dad had a lot of brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, but they are all dead. They died in the same tragic accident that took my dad's parents as well. I slowly drifted off to sleep thinking about the palace I spent my childhood summers at.
"Clary, darling we are about to land. Wake up sunshine." I slowly regained awareness. I looked out the window and saw rolling green hills. God it was beautiful here. We got out bags and rented a car. It was about an hour drive to get to our new house. I'm getting tired of sitting...

We finally arrived. It was a nice house. My dad's family was loaded but we never lived like it. My dad liked to live modestly...helped us stay unseen. I walked inside and looked around. It had modern finishes. I ran up the stairs, two bedrooms, each had their own bathrooms. I smiled, my mom knew I hated sharing bathrooms. I went back outside and grabbed my bags and put them by the mound of boxes in the foyer.

I went back outside to help mom finish unloading, when I noticed she was talking to someone. I wandered over and saw she was talking with a woman about her age. "Alexandra Myles? Is that you? After all these years who would've thought you would returm."
"Hello to you too Maura! It has been too long. Oh this is my daughter Clarissa. And my last name is Wolf now Maura." Maura...that name sounded familiar. Riight she was my mom's best friend growing up. They still kinda kept in touch. It has been years since my mom has been back home though. The last time I remember was when I was 10. I was going to be turning 17 in September.
"I'm going to start unpacking Mom..."
"Oh right. Maura would you like to come over for dinner? You can bring your son! He's about Clary's age right? It would be nice for her to know someone before school resumed." Great. Just great. This was the last thing I needed. An awkward dinner party. I went back inside and picked a room. I left my mom the bigger one.

I put my bags down and sighed again. I hated moving. Not to mention I am going to stick out like a sore thumb at school. I heard my mom come in. "Clary darling I am going to sort the boxes by room then we unpack room by room okay?"
"Sound just dandy mom." I followed her downstairs and looked at the mound of boxes. Oh good grief this will take a while.

There was a knock on the door. "Oh that must be the furniture!" I continued to unpack as my mom ordered the men around. After about three solid hours of unpacking we finally finished. "I am going to go shower then skype Nicole."
"Okay sunshine, Maura and her son are coming over at 6 though. So you have two hours." She smiled at me then went to go shower herself.

I went upstairs and looked around my room. Most of my stuff was unpacked. I decided I would finish tomorrow. I took a quick shower and changed into a pair of shorts and a Derby Rams jersey. I got my computer and hopped on skype. "Heyy girly! How's it over in leprechaun country?"
"I take offense to that being half Irish. Wanna see the house?"
"Of course! Give me the grand tour via computer." I just laughed and showed her around when we got to the kitchen my mom was cooking.
"Helllo Mom!! Nice pad." Nicole pretty much just inserted herself into my family half way through freshman year...so my mom was her mom too.
"Thanks Nicole. Clary one hour left." Damn now Nicole will ask questions. I sat down at the table and just nodded at my mom.
"One hour until what?!"
"We are having our neighbors over for dinner..."
"Please tell me that you are neighbors with a hot guy."
"I don't know I just moved here."

We talked until a knock sounded on the door then my mom glared at me. I rolled my eyes and groaned. I did not want to meet new people. I just wanted to Skype Nicole for the rest of the day. "Well Nicole this is goodbye! Until tomorrow my sweet!" Nicole just laughed at me
"Text me afterwards, and see ya dorkwad." I closed my computer and put it away in my room. Then bounded downstairs, mentally preparing myself for the most awkward dinner of my life.

Notes