"Or maybe spring is the season of love and fall the season of mad lust. Spring for flirting but fall for the untamed delicious wild thing." (Elizabeth Cohen)

He played with the small rubber ball in his pocket as he watched her. All the church volunteers had left home and they were now the only ones there. She appeared to be young with an aura of innocence around her. She was shorter than average with flawless pale skin sprinkled delicately with freckles. No make up was worn but her lips were shown in crimson color. She whirls abruptly with a grin and gives him a 'one minute' gesture.

When she finished gathering up the mess and garbage left behind by visitors, she trudged over to him and bowed playfully. "Clary Fray, at your service." His eyebrows rose before offering his hand in greeting. She shook it.

"Jace Wayland." Clary nodded, pulling off the rather large gown she was wearing. Jace instantly turned but heard her laughter ringing through his ears.

"Calm down. I'm wearing clothes underneath." He sighed, smiling a little. Now she had ordinary shorts on and a Tom and Jerry t-shirt. He hummed in curiousity and she noticed.

"What do I seem like to you? A nun?" Jace shook his head before taking a seat on the wooden stage beside him. "Why come to church if you don't want to?" She questioned, ducking into a small room he hadn't realized was there before.

"Parents." He listened as she giggled.

"What are you? Five?" Jace rolled his fair orbs at her response.

"Well I'm not Ms. Jolly-lovin'-Jesus girl." She didn't reply and he thought that he must've angered her with the insult. Clary appeared, a bagel tucked between her teeth. She held two steaming mugs of what he assumed was coffee.

She collapsed inches away from him. "What'd you say? I didn't hear you." Jace waved his hand in the air as if to say it didn't matter. The cup he received was hot and even though the cream cheese bagel was stale, he bit into it.

"What do you believe in, if not God?" Clary added, facing his direction. He was startled to find that her eyes masked the color of churning green waves. It was glimmering emeralds like you were staring into forest puddles.

"I told you, didn't I? I don't believe in religion at all." Clary shrugged her shoulders.

"It's just- if you need something, what do you do? Who do you pray to?" He gave her a crazed expression, lips slightly parted in surprise.

"No one. If I need something, I'll get it." Clary frowned at the words in disdain, her strawberry colored brows creasing.

"Oh." She mumbled and Jace had to lean in to hear her. He shifted, placing the brown mug on the table that lay across from them. He tried desperately to think of something that could snap her away from her thoughts.

She peered up. "Wanna see something?" Clary whispered eagerly like it was some sort of secret.

Her features entranced him and Jace nodded numbly. She rose to her feet and sauntered towards the same room she had gone in before. He studied their surroundings. There were two desks and a small sink and oven. To his left was a mini refigerator and a closet. He caught nothing that would've caught much interest.

Clary tugged at the closet door knob, scolding him for breathing down her neck. She stepped inside and he followed closely, eyes adjusting to the abrupt darkness. One thing he noticed first was that the room was tiny. "Sit down." Clary hissed, bumping his shoulder roughly. He grumbled a few colorful words before settling onto the carpeted ground.

His head touched the ceiling and Jace felt Clary's small figure too close to his. "Now look." She announced, voice full of glee. Clary pulled on a dangling switch and bright light flickered in the center of the room. His tawny orbs widened at the colors that flooded his vision. There was paint plastered everwhere: blue, green, red, and vivid yellows.

A black shelf sat a foot away from Clary and two frames were placed atop it. He reached for it and stared at the photograph. It was Clary placing a kiss on a boy's cheek. The boy wore thick glasses and a Star Wars sweater. He was laughing, his eyes shut.

"That's Simon, my best friend. He left New York four years ago because of a job transfer. I've known him all my life." Jace didn't know why she was telling him this but he found himself listening. He interrupted her rather quickly.

"This," Jace pointed to the walls surrounding them,"is amazing. You painted it, right?"

Her cheeks colored. "Yea. I've had this room for a pretty long time now." She brought something out from her pocket and clicked it on. It was an ipod. She plugged in the earphones and offered him one. He accepted and listened to the tunes she had saved. Lyrics swam in his ear and she leaned over to him to keep the wire plugged.

Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt, suddenly goes away somehow

He glanced and saw that she had her eyelids shut, head lying on the wall centimeters away from his face. Jace had just met a stranger who had opened the book of her life to him and he intended to read more. Her mere presence was beauty. The shining of the sun after crackling lightning.

Jace left the closet shortly after due to a call from Isabelle saying it was getting dark. He felt disappointed and slightly disoriented. Clary insisted she'd stay there and waved him goodbye. Jace asked her for her phone number to which she replied with a grin and a lighthearted wink, "You'll always find me here."

A/N: If you haven't read the summary, this story will be ten shots. Sort of like a Christmas gift to you guys. By the way, check out my stories. I have about 5 clace stories that I'd love for you readers to review! Love you guys. Happy Holidays.

Song in this chapter: One Thousand Years- Christina Perri