"Clary." Jace breathes.

"Jace. W-what are you doing here?" I say, realizing how hoarse my voice is.

"I just thought- I wanted to talk to you. Sorry for coming so late." He rubs the back of his head nervously.

I narrow my eyes, I can imagine what he was doing so late. Maybe the guilt just started to sink in.

After a year.

"It's fine." I open the door wider. "Come on in." I say, my voice holding no emotion.

Jace hesitantly steps inside my house, and I shut the door behind him. I lead him to my bedroom, and I take a seat on my swivel chair. He looks around then sits on my bed. I frown, seeing he's still taller than me.

I look away, hoping he wouldn't notice as I push the lever from under the chair, improving my height.

"Look, Clary. Ever since you left.. it's been a living hell." Jace says, staring at the floor. I fume. Right, so he's resorted to dating ditzy young girls?

When I don't speak, he continues. "We need you. Your powers... your runes, we need them to defeat Sebastion. And those demons. Clary, this is something big. We need to you runes to survive."

I frown. Oh. So it wasn't about us at all. Its all about the runes.

"The shadow hunter race endangered."

I look up and into his eyes, a beautiful clear gold. They're desperate and pleading.
That's when I realize.

This isn't about us.

They need my help. I sigh. "Fine. But it's been a while since I've drawn a rune." I lie.

I draw them every night. I have a book thats filled with runes I've created. Some that would be good in battle. Most on how to get over heartache.

Jace's face brightens, and it doesn't help the clenching in my stomache. "No problem, I'll even train you, just to get you active again." I see him flinch as the words exit his mouth.

I glare at him and he looks away. What a jerk! He suddenly comes to the house of his ex-girlfriend-thats not-over-him after letting his ex-girl friend's best friend die. THEN he insults her about how active she's been lately.

You know how I react to guys like that?

I punched him, square in the jaw. He curses, and holds his mouth. I stand up and usher him to the kitchen. "I'm not doing this for you. And I DEFINITELY don't need YOUR training."

I get a scrap piece of paper and scribble a note to my mum, hoping she'd understand, I push Jace out and follow him to the Institute.

Jace tries to look at me, and says "Where is your stele and weaponry?"

I roll my eyes, "Geez, I set fire to that thing last year."

Jace sighs, "You set your stele on fire? Clary, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"Shut up. Its a pretty reasonable thing to do when your best friend dies and your boyfriend didn't even try to find you." I say, gritting my teeth.

We don't say anything.

"What about your swords?" HE finally asks. Ha. It seems like he doesn't want to say anything about what happened. I wonder if he's angry at me for not forgiving him. Stupid Asshole.

"I gave them to Isabelle. She actually came to my house and apolagized properly." I grunt.

"Why were you angry at Isabelle?" Jace accuses.

"I wasn't. She was apologizing for your retarded, asshole behavior."
Once again, silence meets us.

"Oh." Jace says.

"Uh-Huh." I nod firmly. Even though he can't see me. We walk past Taki's and I get a familiar leap in my chest.
I'm with Jace, walking past Taki's. That made those pains even worse because.

We're just doing business.

Plus, Jace is a total jerkwad.

He must feel me stiffening up, because he says softly. "Are you not over me, Clary?"

I let go of his arms, eyes widening in surprise. Jace speaks again, "Do you still love me?"

I shove him forward, regaining composure. "No. I don't like you at all. I love Jace Wayland."

He looks confused. "I still am Ja-"

"You're not my Jace." I murmur, on a tone that suggest we end the conversation.
000

A/N Really sorry peeps, but at least its now here!