Jessa walked down the hall towards the dining room. She stopped seeing Church wandering the hall.
He came closer and rubbed against her leg. She smiled and knelt to pet him.
"Hey buddy."
He purred as she ran her hand down his back. For whatever reason, he was always affectionate towards her than the others. She stood and continued on her way, Church not far behind. She entered to find everyone had already began eating. She took her place beside Isabelle and began to fill her plate. Church settled at her feet, warming them.
"Did you sleep well?" Maryse asked.
"Yeah!" Jessa smiled.
"Great, do you feel up to training?"
Jessa's jaw dropped, "Training? It's Saturday!"
"Yes, but you must stay caught up!"
"Mother! We have movie tickets!" Isabelle protested.
"Take Alec!"
"I'll train with her." Jace said as if it were nothing.
"See, Jace is willing to put in the extra work."
Jace grinned across the table at Jessa.
After breakfast she returned to her room and changed into her training clothes before heading to the attic. Jace was leaning against the wall looking out the window when she entered.
"Let's get this over with." she rolled her eyes.
"You seem so ecstatic and eager to learn." Jace responded.
"It's Saturday. I shouldn't have to train."
"You're falling behind, so I'm going to put you ahead of Alec and Izzy."
"How do you plan on doing that?" Jessa raised an eyebrow.
"My father taught me a lot of things."
"Mmm, can't wait." Jessa said sarcastically.
They began with with their normal work out. Jessa put in her earphones and turned up her workout mix. They both got on a treadmill and ran five miles, then weight training, Jace as Jessa's spotter. She struggled very little with weights. Then she and Jace grabbed a medicine ball and began doing sit ups, throwing the ball to one another as they came up, catching it as they went down. Jessa's abs were aching by the time they were returned to the training room and began. First their basic training, just as always, then moved on to their advanced training, and finally Jace's training. Jessa looked up and found Jace a few feet away.
"Okay, so now I'm going to show you somethings that I was taught by my father." He said.
He taught her how to use her blade in several ways she'd never thought of. She smiled feeling his hands on hers. She let him guide her, showing her the correct way to do things, where to attack a demon to kill it. Jace ran his hand down her arm, causing goosebumps to form.
"Now, this ones a big one. I'm going to show you something very important. Seeing as you're at a bit of a disadvantage...with your...condition..."
"Jace!" Her jaw dropped.
"You know what I mean! You're...you're not...you're an amazing fighter, but you'll tire easily. I would hate for you to get stuck in the middle of a fight and none of us able to get to you Jess. I want you to know this so you can move quickly and not get hurt."
"Fine..."
She nodded, feeling him behind her. He saw the remnants of once used runes. On her shoulder was an ink black strength rune. Jace traced it with his finger tip. She tensed at his touch. His hand moved and pressed on her spine gently.
"This spot right here, it's so sensitive that all you have to do is have your arm around the person," he places his arm across Jessa's chest, "and stab them right here and it will sever their spine and pierce their heart at the same time."
Jessa looked over her shoulder at Jace.
"And they die?" She asked, softly.
"Yes. But only if it's necessary." Jace nodded.
Jessa inhaled, taking in what he'd just told her. She moved to stand behind Jace. She touched the approximate location that he had told her on his back.
"Here?" She asked.
"A little higher."
She mover her finger and pressed.
"Yeah, right there." He nodded.
"A kill spot? Good to know." She said softly.
"Shall we see if you can take me and kill me?" he asked.
"Sure." she agreed.
He turned to face her and began to battle. Jace had her pinned to the mat in seconds. She struggled a little before freeing an arm and pushing herself up. She had her legs on either side of him, she wrapped them around his waist and did a back roll, causing Jace to land hard on his back underneath her. She smiled down at him.
"What the fuck was that?" He asked.
"Me, kicking your ass." She laughed.
"Yeah, but..."
"You're dead. Dead people don't talk."
"You didn't..."
"If I had used my blade to stab you, or cut your throat, you'd be dead." Jessa nodded.
"Okay...well then." he nodded, sitting up.
"I win."
"Yes you do." he nodded, placing his hand behind her neck and pulling her into a kiss.
She dropped her guard and collapsed against Jace's chest. She placed a hand on his shoulder, cool with sweat. Jace took her other hand in his and squeezed it gently. They stayed that way for sometime before Jace pulled away. He pressed his forehead against hers and smiled.
Jessa blushed, again bringing color to her cheeks.
"What?" Jace asked.
"Nothing."
"No tell me so I can do it more often...I love seeing you blush."
"What...?" Jessa smiled.
"It's cute..."
Jessa's cheeks grew redder. Jace grinned wider. Suddenly Jessa's face went serious.
"Jessie? What's wrong? Is it happening again?"
"No." She shook her head.
"Then what?"
"What...what is this?"
"What is what?" Jace raised and eyebrow.
"You've kissed me..twice now. What is this Jace?"
"I...I guess...uh..."
"What are your intentions?"
Jace paused and looked away for a moment.
"What do you want?" He asked.
"I...I...don't know...I've never done this before..." Jessa bit her lip.
"Uh...I guess we could give this a shot...you and me." Jace said, tucking her black bangs behind her ear.
"As in...dating?"
"Yeah." he nodded.
A small smile kept across Jessa's lips. Jace pulled her into another kiss and this time it was deeper and more passionate. After six years of being friends and hating his cocky attitude...here she was, making out with Jace Wayland on the training mats. Her hands formed a fist, gripping his shirt. Jace's hand moved up the back of her shirt, touching the moist skin on her back. His touch sent chills up her spine. A few feet away Jessa's phone began to vibrate against the mat. She tried to pull away, but Jace pulled her back to him.
"No...please... Don't." he said between kisses.
"Have to." She responded.
Jace reluctantly let her go and she slid off his lap and grabbed her phone.
"It's Isabelle." she said.
"All the more reason NOT to answer it." Jace responded.
Jessa laughed, answering the phone.
"Yeah?"
"Are you done yet? It's been four hours!" Izzy asked.
"I don't know, how long does your mom expect me to train?" Jessa shrugged.
"I don't know, but it can't be that fun training with Jace."
"He's not that bad actually." she said, eyeing him.
Isabelle laughed, thinking she was joking. Jace smiled widely at Jessa. She bit her lip and blushed.
"Well as soon as you're done the sooner we can go to the movie." Isabelle said.
"Alec and I got two extra tickets."
"Okay, we'll finish up then."
She hung up her phone and stood up. Jace stood and walked closer to her.
"We're going to the movies with Alec and Izzy." Jessa said.
"Oh joy." Jace rolled his eyes.
"It'll be fun. Come on." Jessa smiled.
"I guess...uh... One condition."
"What's that?"
"I get another kiss." He said.
Without thinking, Jessa planted her lips on his, kissing him deeply. Jace smiled and took her hand as they began to walk towards the door. She paused.
"What?"
"Do you think it's...I mean I don't think Maryse will like the idea of...this." Jessa said, looking down.
Jace nodded and unlaced his hand from her's. They walked down the hall in silence and made their way to their rooms. Jace stepped into the shower, washing the sweat off his body when it started. His second thoughts. His father's words echoing in his head.
"To love is to destroy."
Jace stood under the shower head for some time, lost in his thoughts. He didn't want to destroy Jessa. He wanted her to get better. Should he just stop this relationship here and now? Push her away? No. He wanted this. He wanted to try to have a relationship. He was pulled from his thoughts by a banging on his bathroom door.
"Jace! Did you drown in there?" Alec yelled.
"No, I'm getting out." Jace responded, turning off the shower and grabbing a towel.
"Hurry up! The movie starts in 30 minutes."
"Yeah, let me get dressed."
After Alec left, Jace grabbed a black shirt and jeans and pulled them on. Entering the hallway he found Isabelle and Jessa standing a few doors down. Jessa's hair was now straight and had a flower tucking back a small portion on the left side. She was wearing a black dress with purple flowers on it, black leggings underneath. He'd seen her in that or similar outfits dozens of times, but for some reason she looked different. Make-up? She wore make up normally bit it looked different. Jace approached the laughing girls. Jessa smiled up at him.
"We ready?" he asked.
"Yeah, Alec is waiting up front." Izzy said.
The theatre was full when they walked in. Toward the middle there were four seats together. They made their way down and sat. The boys were the bookends for the girls. Jessa between Isabelle and Jace, and Alec beside Izzy. They sat silently, occasionally whispering about which movies they'd want to see. As the lights finally we out, leaving the theatre dark, Jessa felt Jace's hand link with her's. She looked up nervously, her eyes meeting his. He smiled at her. She moved her eyes back to the screen. The thought that this was a horror movie hadn't really crossed her mind until the ominous music began during the opening credits. Every so often she found herself clenching Jace's hand. Jace would smile at her, watching her expressions. There was a scene that caused everyone in the theatre to jump out of their seats in terror. Izzy screamed and hid behind her hands. Jessa's eyes were wide. Jace leaned over, causing her to flinch. He laughed.
"It's just a movie, Jessie." He whispered softly.
She looked at him and smiled. He squeezed her hand gently. A soon as the movie was over they returned to the Institute. Isabelle and Alec retired to their rooms as soon as they got through the door. Jessa and Jace stood in the foyer silently for a moment.
"So that was an interesting movie." Jace said finally.
"Scary...very scary." Jessa responded.
"It wasn't that bad."
"It was pretty bad. I'll probably have nightmares."
"Well if that happens, I'm right down the hall." Jace smiled.
Jessa nodded, "I know."
"Are you feeling okay? You're quiet." Jace moved closer.
"Yeah...I'm fine."
"Then why so quiet?"
"I'm just...I don't know. Thinking..."
"About?"
"Something horrible." She responded.
"Like what?"
"I don't want to die..."
"Jessa, no don't...don't say things like that."
"There's only one way to fix this." Jessa responded.
"And what's that?"
"Kill Yanluo."
"The Greater Demon?"
"Yes. The one that cursed us."
"It won't be easy. He'll be hard to find. But we can do it."
"What? We can't!" Jessa gasped.
"Says who? If its the only way to save you, then we have to!"
"Jace, no, it's to dangerous!"
"Jessie, we will do this together. We'll do our research, find some informants...we'll get him back for what he's done."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yes."
Jessa nodded and headed to her room. Jace followed behind until they reached Jessa's room. He wrapped her in a hug and kissed her forehead.
"It'll be okay. I promise." He said.
"I know."
Jessa kissed Jace slowly, shutting him up. They stood embraced and locked until they heard a soft "meow". Church was sitting and Jessa's feet.
"Hey you." She smiled, scooping him into her arms.
"I don't know how you stand him." Jace rolled his eyes.
"He's sweet. Come on Church, time for bed."
She opened the door to her room and let Church in. She gave Jace one last kiss before closing the door and crawling in bed.