Chapter 2

"Clary? Are you still in there?" Jace asks waving a hand in front of my face.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" I ask with an apologetic smile. I haven't been able to get my mind off the nurse's comment about how I should take care in the coming days. Now it feels like that pair of cold black eyes are still watching me, waiting till I'm alone so their owner can attack me again.

"I asked what is your locker number?" He says through a teasing grin.

"194" I say. "Why?" I'm confused, he helped me, there's nothing else he can do for me or with me, this is the part when he's supposed to reveal that he's secretly an asshole with an agenda.

"So I can walk you to your locker" He says like it should've been obvious. Maybe it was and I'm just too paranoid. Although, if he knew the truth about me he'd know why gaining my trust isn't an easy accomplishment.

"Why would you wanna do that?" I ask, genuinely confused of what his motives are. Not that I'm not grateful, the last thing I want to be right now is alone. I just don't understand.

"A: because I'm new here and you're the first person who's talked to me besides my step-siblings; and B: because I saw how scared that idiot nurse's comment made you and I thought you might feel safer with a tall, handsome, ripped, blonde friend to walk you." He says smugly.

"When you find someone that fits that description send him over." I tease. I still can't tell if he's playing me or not. I don't think he is, but I've been wrong on more than one occasion. I bump my elbow into his side in a playful gesture causing a wide grin the completely engulf his face. We finally reach the slab of metal with aluminum tag that reads the three digit number 194 that is my locker. It used to have the words "the owner of this locker is a dick" crudely scratched into the metal, but I buffered them out with a blue Sharpie. I've always wondered if the previous owner of this locker really was a dick, but I digress. I look at the lock and realise that to get my keys out of my bag I have to move my right arm. I go to reach for the strap with my left hand when a considerably larger one gets in my way. He carefully loosens his already feather-light hold on my bad arm and, with his signature gentleness, slowly slides the bag over my shoulder.

"Thank you." I say with a smile. I've decided to enjoy every moment I have with this beautiful angel of a boy, even though it will only hurt more when he leaves.

"You're welcome." He replies. I extend my left arm and pull my keychain out of the side pocket of my brown messenger bag. I unlock my locker and before I even get a chance to move my arm he's filling my bag with the necessary books.

"How did you know what books I needed?" I ask now feeling slightly suspicious.

"I'm in all of your core classes." He answers with ease. "Why? Were you worried I was a stalker or something? He asks with an eager tone in his voice. This is a challenge, but I've played this game before, and I play to win. I strategically answer his question with a question.

"Should I be worried?" I ask in the same challenging tone his voice just adopted. "For all I know you could be. I already have that psychopath Sebastian to worry about, I don't need a stalker added to the mix." I say in a joking tone, but he wasn't laughing. At the mention of his Sebastian's name Jace's face became a hard look of concentration. He was trying hard to suppress his anger, but I could see the fury behind the almost unnatural glow of his topaz eyes.

"Jace, I was only kidding, it's ok." I say in a soothing voice. His eyes soften as he gazes at me with an emotion I've never seen before. His cheeks begin to bear a reddish tint and I giggle when I realise he's blushing. He quickly changes the subject, embarrassment visible on his tan face.

"Do you want a ride?" He asks shyly, moving his gaze down to the floor.

"What?" I ask surprised. Did I hear him right? I wonder to myself. Did he just ask if I wanted a ride? I look at him, my disbelief at his words evident in my expression. This small show of my utter cluelessness seems to help him gain some composure.

"Would you like it if I gave you a ride home?" He says sluggishly, all but spelling out each word. Words escape me. No one's ever gone to such lengths to make sure I was ok. I think. Not since Simon. Even the thought of Simon's name is still able to rack my body with guilt. Why did it have to end the way it did? I plead with the universe. I feel Jace reclaim his position at my side, supporting my arm so as not to jostle it causing further pain. This wakes me from my painful reverie enough to give him an answer.

"Yes, a ride would be great." I say in a low voice, the sound muffled by my efforts to hold back tears at the memories of Simon. He nods energetically and glides me forward out of the school into the soggy atmosphere the city takes on after a heavy rainfall. My preoccupied mind forgot about the stairs that lead into the drop-off zone and I would've fallen down had Jace not been there to catch me for the umpteenth time today. I'm never this clumsy. I say to myself. How did I become such a spaz over the course of 30 minutes? Get a grip Clary! I scold myself. We reach his car and I listen to the BEEP! BEEP! of the doors unlocking. I slide into the passenger seat and pull the seat belt over my body, carefully avoiding any contact with my right arm. He mimicks my actions, although with a much higher level of grace, and puts the key in the ignition. He doesn't pull out though. Instead he turns his head toward me, a questioning look in his eyes.

"Clary?" He asks.

"Mmhmm?" I say softly.

"Who's Simon?"