"Sharp are the arrows of a broken heart."

Cassandra Clare

Chapter One:

She was a mess. A sad old mess. She was so vulnerable. She came to my house like a kicked puppy. Lonely and heart broken. I immediately hugged her. I knew of all the problems she had with my step brother. I also knew they had potential to be a real couple which was why I continued throughout high school and college reassuring her that they were the perfect pair. And they seemed to be. At first, anyway. Then things got a little rough. Jace's job left him little room to see Clary. Clary didn't mind though. She was always happy. Even when her boyfriend wouldn't come home for the coming two days or even three. She would tell me, her green eyes glistening with joy, "He's working hard. It's his job. It must be important." And I would stop complaining, a smile returning to my lips at the content of my close friend.

Yet I also knew Jace. I knew him like the stripes on my favorite dress. Memorized. He was a tough guy. He was never really emotional. Never showing much besides sarcasm and anger. He was a ball of fire ready to burst. That was until Clary met him. She told him plenty of jokes and he laughed at them. Like, actually laughed. I knew my step brother was attractive but he appeared much more beautiful when he was smiling at the things she told him. I knew she was his weakness. We never got along, me and Jace. We were sort of opposites. He, a drinking hockey player and me, a not-so-girlish party girl. But we were family and nothing could separate us. Well...except Clary. She did sometimes. Not on purpose. I usually consoled her and trusted her story whenever the couple had fights which caused a rift between Jace and I. I didn't want that to occur so I suggested therapy. They both thought it was outrageous. It was ironic considering they both couldn't agree on one thing.

Soon the arguments and confrontations grew more frequent. More shouting. On Jace's part mostly. His job was keeping him away. He had stopped showing affection towards Clary and that made a nerve in my body flinch. That wasn't acceptable. I marched into his room one night and talked to him. His hands covered his face. He was wearing the same clothes from the day before. "I swear I don't mean to do it." He told me, his voice muffled. And when I was silent, he continued. "If you're here to yell at me, do it now. Tell me I'm a bad person. Tell me I'm being stupid. Tell me all that crap." But I didn't. I just left him in silence. He was in pain too, I realized with a jerk. I didn't know what to do at that point. Clary would come to me crying and I would embrace her, handing her a cup of tea in hopes she would calm down. It was going out of control.

Simon was getting tired too. He was exhausted. He was angry that Jace would not listen to Clary's needs. He was sad that I had to be the one in the middle. That's when I knew it was enough. That that was the limit. The line that would not be crossed.

"Clare, do you need anything?" I asked, staring down at the bundle of blankets that covered the small body on my living room couch. She barely moved.

"No." I heard her say. Her voice was extremely weak.

I frowned, pushing my hair back. "Do you want anything to eat? You haven-"

She stopped me, pulling the covers away from her face. "I don't need anything Iz. Just let me be here. Please." And I was too kind so I let her, nodding numbly. She just needed time to get over Jace.

I didn't know where he was. I didn't know what he planned to do. All I knew was that he was continuing his career. I called him but it led to a dead end. He must have changed his phone number. It felt like my younger brother had disappeared from the face of the Earth and I was left with a broken friend who could not believe he didn't want her. It was confusing really. All of the issues that circled around them. They were so loving. So beautiful together.

I clicked on the television once and watched his team, the Edmonton Oilers. I watched them knowing I would see his number. 21. They won the game, 3-2. I enjoyed hockey and I loved seeing him play. There was an interview at the end. It was with him. Sweat was plastered on his hair but he wore a tired smile on his face. I knew it was genuine. "I really think we can make it this year. It's been hard but the wait has been worth it." Then he was off to the locker room, joining the rest of his team mates. What I didn't know was that Clary had just come out of the bathroom, her red hair still wild but wet. She was staring at the black screen, biting her bottom lip. I instantly apologized but she shook her head and walked into her bedroom.

I cried that night, Simon rubbing circles onto my back. "I don't know what to do, Si. It's tearing me apart." He murmured a few words and kissed me with so much passion I almost forgot about what got me frustrated in the first place. Almost.

The next week Clary decided to leave. I urged her to stay, wanting her to feel better over time. She gave me a hesitant smile. One I didn't trust. She had a small bag with her. Probably filled with pieces of clothing. That was all she had. "Where are you going to live?" I wondered if she was going back to his apartment.

She looked thoughtful and then her eyes creased, dimples displaying. "I think...I'll do what I wanted to do when I was a kid." And she gave me a deep embrace, kissing me on the cheek for all the help I had given her. And then she was gone leaving a flurry of emotions behind.

She didn't have a phone so Simon and I could not contact her but I had a feeling she was doing alright. Jace was leading in points for the team, poised to defeat his rival opponent in the coming games. He did call me. A month later but I wasn't angry. I was just glad he hadn't forgotten his older sis. He talked about hockey and how he was so close. How he could feel it. He apologized for not speaking to her. He told me he wanted to get Clary off his mind. He said he didn't want her. He wanted to erase her. And I just told him I missed hearing his voice. I cried to him. He promised to visit us as soon as the next break would come. My heart swelled at the thought. And then I said goodbye knowing it would be a long time before I would see him again.

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