By the Shore

A/N: Oh my goodness, you guys are the best. I was overwhelmed with the response that this got so… thank you. I love you all!

Chapter Two: Panic

Clary POV

It was one of those moments. One of those moments where the world seemed to freeze, and the only thing that you could actually see was the person in front of you. They were the only person that you could even hope to concentrate on because your brain was already muddled and fogged with feelings and thoughts.

I tried to act collected and calm, but I really didn't know how well I was doing. My vision seemed to fade every so often, darkness creeping up on me like fog, but never threatening to overpower me. It was just a lingering presence, but I knew that if I didn't keep myself under control, I would be swallowed by it.

In reality, my gaze into Jace's eyes lasted only a couple of seconds, but it could have been an eternity for all that I knew. The only thing that kept me grounded were Jace's arms around me, his grip strong and safe.

I could have stayed in his arms all day, but although it was him that was grounding me, it was also him that made me feel lighter than air. How cheesy.

However, detangling myself from him proved to be a very difficult task. My brain knew what it wanted to do, but my body didn't seem to be listening. My arms were still wrapped around him in a death grip, my gaze feebly trying to convey my feelings, but he seemed to be oblivious to my inner struggle.

Move. I told my body furiously. If Jace was too dim to see my problem then I would just have to solve it by myself. Surprisingly, my muscles relented, allowing me to move away from him.

Izzy flashed me a questioning gaze, probably wondering what my relation to the boy was. I shook her off with a wave off my hand, mouthing the word, later, to her. She nodded, and then turned back to her conversation with the boys.

I made sure that the distance between us was quite large, not trusting my stupid hormonal teenage emotions. Instead, I situated myself between Izzy and the dark haired boy named Alec.

The rest of the time we spent with them was blurred, my foggy brain only hearing snippets of the conversation. What I did hear though, was that we would be meeting up tomorrow at seven to have dinner at a fancy place called The Shipwreck, something about getting to know each other better.

When they moved on to the topic of girlfriends though, I just about lost my last shred of sanity. Izzy had started the conversation, most likely to find out whether Simon was single or not.

When Alec was asked, he just blushed furiously and ducked his head, mumbling a short little no. Izzy asked Simon next, flashing an absolutely radiant smile when Simon pronounced he was, in fact, single.

And then there was Jace. I was dreading his answer; half-hoping that Izzy would forget about him now that she had her answer. The other part of me though, was hoping that Izzy wouldn't forget, so I would be able to find out Jace's attainability.

Stop that, I told myself, he is your friend, he has been for years.

But Izzy, of course, did not forget about Jace. So when she boldly asked him his status, I found myself waiting with baited breath when he answered. Fervently hoping that the answer would be no.

No such luck in that department though, because Jace announced that, and I quote, "unlike these two dorks, I have a girlfriend. Actually Clary, you know her quite well." He said turning to me. I, of course, had turned away from him, not wanting him to see the hurt that was surely lingering in my eyes.

"Actually, she was one of your best friends in the third grade. Do you remember Kaelie?" My jaw dropped as he announced the familiar name, disbelief spreading through my body.

Kaelie had been my best friend ever since the third grade when she offered to let me borrow her extra shirt. I had spilled a whole jar of purple paint on my own, and had been completely devastated. Ever since that fateful day, we had been inseparable… until she had moved away to some preppy all girls' school in the seventh grade.

I had been really sad, throwing her a party and everything. What had worried me the most though, was the fact that I didn't have any friends. I mean sure, I had friends, but no best friends.

That was when Izzy had made her appearance, and she had filled the hole that Kaelie had left behind, allowing me to forget about her.

But now that the name was back in the open, I felt like strangling something.

Izzy caught my expression and mumbled something to the guys about me being tired from jet lag. They all nodded understandingly, waving as Izzy and I walked the dirt path back to our own cottage.

Izzy stopped me at the porch, and I prepared myself for the questions that she was surely going to bombard me with.

She opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off.

"Look, Izzy. I understand that you're curious, and confused. But I really don't feel like talking about it right now. My relationship with him is, well, it's really weird, and kinda complicated."

She looked at me pointedly.

"Yeah, I know it sounds really cliché, but just give it time, okay?" I told her, hoping sincerely that she would understand.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm not going to push you for information… yet." I groaned at the thought.

"But," she continued, "I know something that we can do that can get your mind off of things… and him." She added as an after thought.

"Like what?" I said timidly. Izzy's ideas could tend to be a little different. You had to be careful to what you agreed to when you were with her.

"I'll show you!" She announced, grabbing my hand while bouncing to the front door.

Crap.

0 0 0

"Do we have any potatoes?" I giggled, sounding slightly drunk.

I guess I was, in a sense. Izzy had loaded us up on diet coke and cinnamon toast crunch, my two favourite things in the world.

"I don't know, why?"

"I want to make home fries!" I announced happily, my thoughts hazy and slow.

"We might have some in the garage!" Izzy giggled, stumbling to the door.

"Wait!" I stopped her. "We don't have garage." Even in my drunken state, I was happy that I was able to at least put some coherent thoughts together.

"Oh yeah…" She stopped for a moment, thinking, looking at me in the process. For a few seconds we said nothing, the air heavy and still, until it was filled with the bell like sound of our laughter. "We could check the cabinets!" Iz said when we had calmed down enough to speak.

I agreed, thinking that idea was absolutely fantastic, and we set to work on the quest for the potatoes, the name I had secretly given it in my head.

We searched the cabinets in vain, looking for the potatoes that would certainly bring me some level of happiness.

After five minutes of searching though, with no luck, we both collapsed on the couch, slowly unwinding from our sugar rush.

"This is a crap fest." Izzy sighed, dropping her head into her hands.

"Yeah, I know. Please remind me to never listen to you again when you have an idea. I absolutely hate when I have have no filter, it's why I hate being drunk. You have no control over what you say. Like before, because I seriously don't know when I became so intent on making home fries." I retorted, completely embarrassed for the things that I had said.

Izzy laughed. "Yeah well, your thoughts aren't really filtered when you have caffeine and and the delicious taste of cinnamon controlling them." I laughed along with her, agreeing one hundred percent.

"Anyways," Izzy sighed, "I'm tired. I'm going to go head to bed. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow. I wanted to go into town for a bit before we have to head over to have dinner with the guys. Is that alright?" She asked, looking hopeful.

"Of course." I said, knowing that the quaint little town of Idris was always an amazing place to go. Little boutiques and shops lined the streets, making it extremely adorable and perfect. "Have a good night!" I called out, watching as she trudged into the hallway and turned into her room, shutting the door behind her.

I, on the other hand, was too lazy to get up. Instead, I pulled out the large afghan and snuggled up with it into the couch.

I waited patiently for sleep to come, knowing of the dreams that would surely plague me that night.

As always, I was not disappointed.

A/N I saw Eclipse this weekend! Totally loved it. TEAM EDWARD ALL THE WAY BABY! I don't understand how people can think he's ugly. He's very obviously not, or he wouldn't have been picked for that role. Besides, Jacob's too self centered for my liking. Though that line, the "I'm hotter than you" one? That totally got me. I was laughing like a total idiot. I also had to explain to my mom about how Edward was not a creep. She didn't like the whole Bella vampire thing and her getting married. Ahhh well, you win some you lose some.

Have a good week!

xoxoxo Be the Crayon

P.S, if things seem a little complicated, just wait. All will be explained soon, grasshoppers. Oh, and thanks for the nephew comment. I never caught that. Oh, and hey. Does somebody want to explain to me the whole beta thing? I kinda want one and don't really know how to do anything about it. Help please!