Disclaimer: I only own the plot and all the poetry in the works that follow. All the characters and recognizable properties belong to Cassandra Clare.

Chapter One – Graduation

It's end of childhood

The final step we take before embarking on the road to adulthood

Say goodbye to old friends and familiar places

And welcome the challenges ahead

- Jace-

It was graduation night and Clary and I were lying side by side in my bed. She was still flying high on the sense of accomplishment that came with completing high school.

"Can you believe that just a few hours ago we graduated? And in a few short months, I'll be leaving?"

"You know it's not too late to go to school here with me, like we wanted when we were younger." I told her.

"Pittsburgh's only 8-9 hours away. I'll be home all the time on weekends and on breaks. And it'll be like nothing changed." She promised, kissing my lips. Normally we would stop there but tonight that wasn't the case.

I couldn't get enough of her, and she couldn't get enough of me. My hands roamed down her hips and hers weaved their way into my hair.

When I moved to unzip her dress, she leaned over and pushed her hair back out of her face.

"Are you sure?" she asked, but I knew Clary could see the answer within my eyes. I had wanted her for so long. And as tonight was the first day of the rest of our lives, I wanted to live it well.

"I'm sure." I told her, leaning down to recapture her lips. When we broke apart for air, I leaned back on my heels and unbuttoned my shirt, my aureate eyes never leaving her jade ones.

As we revealed our teenaged bodies to one another, I told her I loved her. It wasn't the first time but it still held just as much weight and meaning as it did when I first expressed it.

Clary and I met when we were ten years old. She was the new girl on the block, quiet and kind of shy. The first thing she told me was of her desire to draw me.

As we got older, we became closer and I didn't see anyone the same way I saw her. To me she was an angel and I was merely the mortal lucky enough to be loved by her.

Clary nimble fingers nervously glided over my chest, exploring further down. I watched her bite her lip and she removed the final piece of clothing I had on.

I lavished her neck and bosom with kisses and slight nibbles as her small hand wrapped around my member, slowly stroking me to fullness. I captured one of her nipples in my mouth, teasing it with my teeth and tongue.

Small moans left her mouth and I moved further and checked her readiness. Pushing my finger into her folds, she gasped in surprise but pushed her lips onto mine with a vehemence I had yet to experience from her. Clary pulled me in closer; her hands making every molecule of my skin feel alive.

That night as we crossed the line between friends and lovers, I thought of nothing and no one. I didn't think about the fact that she was leaving me at the end of the summer or the fact that I couldn't follow her. I thought of nothing but the moment we were in and the closeness we were sharing.

Baring my soul wasn't something I did with everyone. Hell I didn't let anyone in. Not my parents, not even Alec, who I considered my brother. But Clary, she got more than my soul. She got all of me. My mind, my body and my soul. Everything that I didn't need, I gave to her willingly.

"What happens now? I'm leaving at the end of August."

I pulled her in closer to me and kissed the top of her head. "Let's worry about that in the morning. I just want to enjoy this." I whispered, stroking her arm.

I didn't want to speak about it. I didn't want to take the high road and tell her that I would be fine with seeing her here and there but I didn't want to take the low road and beg her to stay in a place I knew she once hated.

Life for Clary didn't exist in a town whose nickname was 'The End.' She saw life in Montauk as a trap for all who stayed here.

When she first moved here, all she could talk about was how life in Brooklyn was so different from here. She loved hearing the sounds of the city at night and riding the train to school. How everything stayed open late and you could have almost anything you wanted delivered.

But out here in the country, nothing was within walking distance and everyone acted so friendly, all the time. It was enough to drive a city girl insane. But I was one of the few people who knew the real reason why she moved out here. Brooklyn wasn't safe for Clary and her family.

One night while we sat at the edge of the docks she told me. She told me about her real father, Valentine. How he was trouble and obsessed with her mother. They moved here with her stepfather Luke, into his old home, in the hopes he wouldn't find them.

In the beginning I always thought Clary only saw me as a welcomed distraction but then I realized she came to see me as a friend and confidant. I showed her that there was more to this place than just the things she hated.

I stayed awake that night as she slept in my arms, holding her tight and never wanting to let her go. I knew the pain would be unbearable and I feared it would be the thing to kill me.

When she woke, she mentioned nothing of leaving; only smiling at me and promising she would see me later that night.

I worked at my father's bar, making chum change but saving every bit of it. On the nights when she didn't have to work, she would come by and keep me company as I did inventory.

Then one night, she was different. A month and a half had passed since we were intimate and it was clear it changed us but it wasn't clear how.

Usually she would make conversations and even assist me with the counting, double checking everything. When I asked her about her thoughts, she shook her head, stating nothing was bothering her.

"You know you're going to marry that girl." My father commented as he always did at the sight of us together.

I tried to think of nothing but the good memories that we had and not how desperately I wanted to beg her to stay.

"Here," my father pulled me out of my thoughts, tossing me his keys so I could drive her home.

On the way, I tried to make conversations but it was clear her mind was elsewhere. I wasn't use to her shutting me out. I was the one she told all her secrets to.

So I continued acting like tomorrow would never come.

But it did. And when it did, I was unable to face it, choosing to let her go.