Thank you to all of my readers and followers. I apologize if this took some time; I've been super busy lately. Hope you like this next chapter in Alec's POV.

Alec Lightwood has been planning this party for ages, and everything seems to be going to plan. The only thing missing: a cute guy on his arm. He will admit that that's mostly on him; being such a workaholic can definitely hinder one's love life. Sure, he's been on a few dates with guys in the city. He even had a short lived relationship with Mark, a friend that Clary introduced him to. But that ended in an unfortunate catastrophe involving his very possessive ex-boyfriend, Kieran. And though he's tried to find a man to call his own, the fact of the matter remains: Alec Lightwood has never actually been in love.

"I just don't know what to think or do," Jace is telling him, whining for the millionth time about Clary's freak out earlier that day. "She's not answering my texts and… you know what's supposed to happen tonight." Alec rolls his eyes, but tries to be sympathetic.

"I'm sure it's nothing," he tells his brother. "She'll probably explain it tonight."

"Yeah but what if she doesn't even show up?" Alec shakes his head.

"She was with Izzy earlier, helping her get ready," he explains. "She's coming."

"Wait, she was with Izzy?" Jace asks, sounding hurt. "She'll talk to Izzy and not me?"Alec sighs.

"Calm down. Izzy just needed help with something."

"And I need help understanding why Clary ran out on me." There is an edge of despair in Jace's voice. Alec turns to face his brother fully. "I thought we were in a really good place."

"I'm sure that you'll work this out," he says soothingly. "You two always do." Jace shrugs, sadness and worry clouding his eyes.

"It just feels different this time," Jace admits. "What if she doesn't love me any more?" Alec scoffs, shaking his head slightly.

"Clary is so in love with you her body practically sings when you're near her," Alec assures him. "Don't start doubting that now." As Alec takes a sip of his drink, he spots Clary by the door. He turns to Jace and nudges him. "There she is, right on cue."

He expects his brother to leap into action in the charming way that only he, with his blonde locks and effortless grin, can pull off. But Jace just stands there for a moment, caught up in some intrinsic struggle. His brother looks scared in a way that Alec has never seen before, and he wonders what that must be like, to love someone so much that they become the center of your world. To need someone in such a way that you wouldn't know how to function properly without them. He himself has never felt that kind of intensity, that kind of internal chaos. But he knows that Jace felt it from the moment he met Clary. Alec wonders if it could ever be like that for him.

Alec was having a perfectly nice day until Jace and Izzy stormed into the living room, bickering as per usual.

"Just go talk to her," Izzy was demanding. "It's not that hard. You've done it a million times before with a million other girls."

"No other girl ever...mattered before," Jace threw back, uncharacteristically distraught.

"How do you even know that she matters? You've only exchanged a handful of words with her."

"I just-" Jace struggled, huffing in frustration. "I just do, okay?" Izzy looked at him like he'd grown a second head. Alec took this as his cue to interrupt.

"Okay, what exactly is this about?" Alec asked. Jace and Izzy both turned to him and began runting, their voices twisting together.

"Whoa," Alec interrupted. "One at a time. Jace, tell me what's going on." Izzy huffed but bit her tongue.

"Well, there's this girl," Jace began, "and she's, well I don't know. I've only talked to her once. But I feel like, like…" Jace sighed, unable to find the right words. Izzy grumbled.

"You're just upset because she didn't immediately swoon when she met you," she said.

"Iz, let him talk," Alec scolded.

"You always take his side," she mumbled, crossing her arms.

"Iz," he warned.

"I just need to know her," Jace confessed, looking distraught.

"Ugh!" Izzy exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. "I'm done with this. If either of you want to have a sane conversation, I'll be in my room." And then she walked out, flipping her hair over her shoulder and pushing up her glasses in her typical drama-queen style. Alec smirked at Jace, expecting a grin in return. But Jace just looked pensive, his eyebrows scrunched together, his lips pursed. That's how Alec knew he was serious.

"Okay," Alec said as Jace sat beside him. "Tell me about this girl."