She loved books, she really did. She's read all sorts of books; however, she loved fantasy books most of all. Which is why she stood for 10 minutes glaring at her favorite book at the top of the shelf. This day was supposed to be perfect. The library was almost empty; her favorite spot by the window was open allowing the soft streams of sunset to filter in. The cute librarian even let her sneak in some coffee. Except now the universe suddenly decided she couldn't have a perfect day and seemed to mock her pitiful height. Her cursed midget self.

She swore inside her head, cursing every growth gene that decided to have a day off when she was supposed to be getting growth spurts. She narrowed her eyes at the book and tried to move it through sheer will. Sadly magical powers were not real and even if they were she was sure she'd have crappy super powers like being able to telepathically control a remote control or something and slumped her shoulders in defeat with a sigh.

"Wow, for a minute there I thought you'd actually manage to burn a hole through those books or set them on fire or something." An amused deep voice suddenly said.

She whirled around in shock to find the source of that voice and almost tripped over her own feet in doing so. She managed to catch herself at the last second by throwing her hand out and grabbing the nearest shelf. Once she was sure she wouldn't make a fool out of herself, she looked up and found herself staring at big bold words that said "Go back to sleep, today has been cancelled." She then realized she was staring at someone's chest, someone's very nice chest and moved her gaze upwards to land on a man's face.

For a minute there she was sure she stopped breathing. If his chest was nice, his face was something else entirely. Peculiar golden eyes framed by long lashes, tanned face with high cheekbones, red lips, all wrapped up with strong jaws that should definitely be illegal. Again she realized she was staring and also realized the man was staring at her with an amused smirk and a raised eyebrow.

"If you're quite done checking me out and being adorable, might I say, would you mind telling me why you were trying to use the force a while ago."

Adorable!? I am most certainly NOT adorable, at all. I'm a ferocious fire breathing dragon! Oh well, it comes with the height I guess.

She scowled and flushed a deep red when she noticed he was trying to hold back a laugh. Oh great, he thinks I'm a nerdy idiot now. "Icntrhtebk" she mumbled quietly. Wow brain, just wow, you had one job! One job and you can't even do it.

"Hmm? . .What's that? I couldn't quite catch that." He was full on smiling now. His eyes crinkling around the edges and he leaned down closer to her.

Curse you universe for letting me make a fool of myself! Curse you!

She took a deep breath, looked up at him through her lashes and said "I can't reach the book on the top shelf." There brain, now that wasn't so bad was it

"All right, that's no biggie, tell me the title and I'll get it for you." He said

She eyed him suspiciously for a moment and mumbled "The hobbit, over there beside The Green Mile" while pointing at said book.

He looked towards where she was pointing and plucked out the book like it was no big deal and handed it to her.

Why did he have to be such a giant, a tall and very climbable giant.

She flushed at her own thoughts and ducked her head so he wouldn't see.

"Thank you." She mumbled

"You are most welcome." He replied, that stupid smile still stuck on his face.

Stop smiling!

"Sooo yeah, thanks, um I'll be going now, waaay over there, so yeah. Um Bye." She cringed at her own awkwardness. Can I just sink through a hole, like right now? Please?

"Okay then, bye." He said while trying to hold back a laugh.

She couldn't leave fast enough.

Once she was safely seated on her favorite spot by the window, she took a deep breath and tried to forget whatever just happened. She had her book now, nothing else mattered. She smiled and started reading, basking in the glow of the sunset while enjoying her steaming cup of coffee.

She was about five pages through her book when a shadow suddenly loomed over her and casually sat down across from her like it was the most normal thing in the world. She peered over her book to look at the stranger and met liquid pools of gold staring right back at her.

She groaned unceremoniously and put her book down.

"Look, not to be rude or anything, but why are you here? Don't you have somebody else to annoy?" She grumbled while making shooing motions with her hands.

He raised his eyebrows and said "Oh? Is that how you show your gratitude to everyone?" That infuriating smile still plastered on his perfectly perfect face.

She looked up at the ceiling and mentally cursed Why world? Why? Just why must this happen to me?

"My face isn't on the ceiling you know. It's right across from you, and while my view isn't actually so bad at all I would prefer it if you actually looked at me as well."

She closed her eyes and mentally counted to three before facing the man across her again.

"What do you want?" She tried again.

"Why I want nothing," adapting an innocent expression as he spoke "only your name," He said.

She raised her eyebrows and tried to stop her lips from twitching upwards. What a weird guy.

"It's Clary. . .Yours?" She said, finally allowing herself a tiny smile.

"Jace." He replied. "So you do smile. You should do it more often."

She rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Anything else?" She asked him.

He looked at her quietly as if he was contemplating something. "Yes actually, as payment for my gallant services, I'd like you to accompany me on a date."

She blinked at him for a few moments and her jaw literally dropped. She recovered in less than a second and sputtered "Y-You, want to go on a date? With me?" Her voice getting higher and higher as she spoke.

He laughed out loud, head thrown back with his eyes crinkling even more at the corners. She couldn't deny that it was a beautiful sound, and a beautiful sight as well.

Why did he have to be so ridiculously damn perfect.

"Yes, I really, really do." He finally said.

She momentarily flat lined and said no, she couldn't possible go on a date with him. She didn't even know him. Yes he was gorgeous, but she herself would feel like an ugly duckling next to him. Again, no, she couldn't possibly ever consider going out with a guy like him. It was a very tempting and gracious offer, but no, just no. However, she realized she hadn't actually said any of those words out loud.

Instead, what came out of her mouth was "Okay then."

She'd willingly bash her head repeatedly against the table while mumbling stupid, stupid, stupid until her brain turned to jelly and she herself died of mortification if it weren't for the genuinely surprised and pleased expression on Jace's face.

Oh well, might as well give it a try

He beamed at her and slipped a piece of paper towards her as he was standing up.

"My number, you know, so you can actually have a means of contacting me." He said, noticing her confused expression.

He started to walk away but then turned around again.

"Just don't forget to call me yeah? I'd be really disappointed if you don't."

And with that, he winked at her and left.

Only after a few minutes of her still clutching the tiny slip of paper and staring into space did she mumble "okay" even though she knew he was no longer there.

She pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming and looked at the numbers scrawled on the paper.

This is a bad idea, a very very bad idea.

Even though she knew it was, she still decided that when she got home, the first thing she would do would be to call him.


Hi everyone! I'm alive, well not so alive, but still. I hoped you enjoyed this attempt to recover my writing mojo. Reviews are very welcome. Let me know what you think :)