Hello! I know its been forever since I have updated this story and I apologize for it! I still haven't got my old laptop fixed but I just thogt: screw it and wrote this up any way. Whic also means I'll also start work on Into Oblivian again soon :)

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Mortal Instruments Series, however, I do own the plot to this particular fanfiction ;)

'Izzy?'

Jace's shocked voice was like a whip-crack through the silent room. Isabelle didn't seem to notice; she just nodded her head, still clutching Jace's face as if her life depended on it. Out of the corner of her eye Clary saw Alec start forward then just stop and stare, his mouth hanging open in shock. What the hell was going on?

Obviously, the rest of the cafe was thinking the same thing as knives and forks were held frozen in limbo, halfway between mouth and plate, the wait staff were standing still between tables, even Taki had come out of the kitchen, spatula in hand, to watch the drama unfold.

Clary slipped out from behind Isabelle, who was kneeling on the table and moved to crouch beside her and Jace.
'Izzy,' Clary said softly. 'Let Jace go.'

Isabelle didn't move, but neither did Jace. They were like statues, their gaze never deviating from the other. Clary knew she'd have to snap them out of it somehow.

Slowly, she tried to pry Izzy's hands away from Jace's head but the other girl would not budge.
'It's you it's you it's you,' she whispered, over and over again until there was no breath between words, no pause.

Clary stared at the two of them, utterly bewildered. Not knowing what to do, she placed a hand on both their shoulders, squeezing.

'Snap out of it, both of you,' she snapped in exasperation. At the sound of her sharp tone, it was as if a switch was flipped somewhere inside Jace.

He blinked once, then tore his face from Isabelle's hands, moving so fast from the booth her face nearly connected with the seat.

Jace stood by the table, his chest heaving. His gold eyes flicked between Isabelle and Clary and Alec and back again.
Clary took a single step closer, afraid he would take off.

'Jace,' Clary said slowly, 'Why don't you come with me and we can settle this whole thing without an audience.' She gestured at their staring crowd. Jace's eyes took in the rapt faces of the cafe patrons and wait staff before his eyes locked once more with Clary's.

'I can't - ' he broke off and then - he was gone, just a gold and black blur tearing back through the cafe, towards the kitchen and out of sight. Three seconds later there was the loud slamming of a door. Shocked silence followed. Clary stared in the direction Jace had disappeared in, hoping he hadn't run away.

Taki was the first to recover.
'Alright!' he boomed. 'Show's over!'

Immediately, everyone in the cafe, save the three teenagers and one small boy, went back to their respective activities. Clary turned to her two friends, their faces masks of shock.

'What do we do now?' Alec asked softly. Clary glanced at them both, her heart breaking at their distress.

'You three go down to the gym, I'll meet you in Luke's office.'
'With Jace?' Isabelle asked, straightening. Clary nodded, her mouth a thin, determined line before darting back through the cafe, following the same path Jace had tread not two minutes before.

In the kitchen, she was met by a bemused looking Jordan.

'I'm guessing you're looking for your pretty boy?' He asked.

Clary, too stressed to acknowledge the jibe simply nodded.

'He went out there,' Jordan, whose forehead had creased when she had not risen to the bait, pointed to the purple door. Clary brushed past him, flinging the purple door open. Her eyes swept the empty parking lot, her heart sinking. She looked down in defeat, feeling unusually disappointed that the golden boy had split, when a pair of scuffed skate shoes caught her attention. Looking to her left she saw Jace, long legs stretched out in front of him, back pressed against the brick wall beside the purple door. He didn't look at her, and she felt a moment of uncertainty. Giving a little sigh, she stepped over his legs and sat beside him, mimicking his position.

'This isn't the first time you've run away, is it?' She asked him, knowing as soon as the words were out if her mouth that they were true.

Jace shook his head in affirmation.

'You met the Lightwoods the first time?'

He nodded.

'Are you going to come back inside?'

He shrugged.

Clary turned her head, watching his silent profile. A silver scar that curled down his temple caught her attention and she found herself staring at it. She looked back out at the parking lot, not wanting to be caught staring.

'I don't know what went on in there, Jace,' Clary said, unable to stop herself from looking at him again. 'But whatever it was, you need to sort it out because I have never seen Isabelle act like that. Ever. I mean, she's a total nutcase but she's usually very...contained. When she saw you, she lost it. You need to talk to them, please.'

Jace didn't speak, just continued to stare out over the parking lot, blind to Clary's eyes. She wanted to know what was going on inside his head, to understand. Of course, right now, Clary knew that was an impossibility.

A slight wind drifted over them, unusually cold for the time of day. Clary stood up slowly, moving to stand over Jace. She held out her hand to him.

'Come on,' She said, 'Let's go sort out this shiz.'

For the first time, Jace cracked a smile.

'The fact that you just said that lowered your respect bar about three points.' But he took her hand and let her haul him to his feet.

Clary just grinned and shook her head, realizing too late that she was still holding his hand. She dropped it quickly, shuffling back slightly to have more distance between them. Jace smirked that annoying smirk of his and turned towards the door. Clary was about to follow him when she froze, that hideous feeling of being watched slithering down her spine.

She turned slowly, green eyes scanning the parking lot slowly and methodically.

There was nobody there.

Fear began to unfurl in her stomach, mingled with paranoia. Was she going insane? Was it just after-effects of the...incident? It couldn't be, it happened years ago.

'Clary?' Jace's hand on her shoulder caused her to start and whip back around, eyes wide.

'You ok?' He asked, brow furrowing slightly in concern.

Clary plastered a smile on her face and nodded. The feeling stopped as she followed Jace back inside but she could not stop herself from glancing once more over her shoulder.

It was just an empty parking lot.

I know its short, but i really wanted to get it up. Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed, the next chapter should be up in a couple of days...hopefuly... :P

Review...please?

Blue.