Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter; it really means a lot to me. I hope you like this chapter. This one will be in Jace's POV.

I do not own the Mortal Instruments

The music of Pandemonium pounded in my ears, so far from the notes I play on the piano. The lights of the club flashed in a rainbow of color. The smells of sweat, perfume, cologne, and various junk foods collided. Bodies grinded to the beat in ways that—had there been more adults present—would have been discouraged. Pandemonium was an assault of the senses that only a teenager could appreciate enough to enjoy.

The club only operated during the school year seeing as there wouldn't be enough business without the institute's student body, and tonight was the night all the new kids would discover Pandemonium for themselves. Tonight was the night when all the perfect, do as daddy says, good girl, art students would realize that music had more than one purpose. Tonight was a night that guys like me normally thrived on.

Normally I would have found a hot girl—it didn't matter who she was—and enjoyed the night. I would have attracted stares and I would have given suggestive smiles to girls I'd never met. I would have danced until closing and not cared who it was with, just as long as it wasn't Kaelie. I wouldn't have sat around moping, or whatever it was that I was doing. I wouldn't have ignored the suggestive looks of the female patrons of the club. I wouldn't have been thinking about one girl in particular—one with fiery red hair—who I barely knew a thing about.

I caught her sneaking a glance at me, but her expression didn't resemble those of the other girls here tonight—she wasn't gawking at my looks—she looked almost confused. I saw Izzy and Maia sit down next to her and start talking. I couldn't quite place what they were saying from across the room, but it looked like girl talk. Before I could think anymore about Clary, a gorgeous blonde sat down on my lap and brought her lips close to my ear.

"What's a guy like you doing here all alone?" she whispered seductively. "The other girls say you won't dance with anyone, but what about me? Would you dance with me?" Her lips lightly brushed my ear, "Or maybe you just want to get away from here?" she questioned, a suggestive smile playing at her rouged lips. My eyes found Clary—she, Izzy, and Maia were watching us with curious expressions—and the girl followed my gaze. The girls looked away, but the blonde in my lap turned back to me, "I could make you forget whichever one of them it is. Let me help you forget," her breath was hot against my cheek as she found my hand and pulled me along to the door.

I had convinced the girl that I didn't want to do anything with her and sent her home pouting. My feet had moved of their own accord after that, taking me back to my dorm. In the light of the morning I was surprised with my actions, I needed to think. As I normally did when I needed to think I found myself in one of the music rooms in the school, sitting on a piano bench, my fingers playing whatever my mood told them to. The sound resonated around the room, and relaxed my mind.

Did Izzy have a reason to be worried about me? I wasn't that put off, was I? Was I showing that much, or did she just know me too well? If only someone understood.

I heard the sound of footsteps behind me, but didn't look up. It would be Izzy or Alec, looking for me. When the intruder showed herself however, I found it was not one of my siblings, but Clary. She sat down beside me, and I let the last few notes echo around the room.

"You're really good," she said, sounding somewhat in awe, "I didn't expect that from you. It was beautiful."

"What did you expect?" I asked smirking, curious for her reply.

"I don't know, actor, maybe a guitarist, but not classically trained pianist."

I chuckled softly, "Sorry to disappoint," I replied.

"But you didn't."

"What about you?" I asked, changing the subject, "What are you? An actor, you'd make a good little kid," I teased.

"No, I'm an artist," she stated after giving me a gentle push for teasing her. She looked down at the keys in front of us and reached out to run her fingers over the tops. "I always wanted to learn to play an instrument," she said dreamily, "Would you teach me something?" she asked, looking me in the eyes.

"Sure," I answered and took her small hands in mine, maybe for a few seconds longer than necessary, before placing them on the correct keys. Both our eyes watched my hands on top of hers. I told her witch keys to press and showed her how on my side of the piano, and then listened as she slowly played the notes to the child's lullaby I had shown her. I studied her silhouette as she concentrated on playing the tune, and took in the details of her face.

She was just as beautiful as my first impression of her, if not more, definitely prettier than the blonde from the club, and she seemed so much more genuine. She looked up when she saw me watching her. Her eyes met mine, the light made her deep green eyes sparkle as she looked up at my gold ones.

"Thanks." She had whispered to account for our closeness.

"Maybe you could teach me to draw sometime," I suggested, not sure where it had come from.

"I'd like that," she replied, hesitated, then added, "I think we could really be good friends." She got up after that and left the room leaving me even more confused than I had been when I came here. Girls normally would throw themselves at me, but she just wanted to be friends. Of course I was fairly sure she was dating Simon, I was sure of that after I had seen them kissing last night, so I don't know what I expected. What was it that bothered me about her use of the word "friend" then?

It was the last day before classes started and I found myself looking for Clary. I found her down on the rocky beach I front of the institute, sketch pad in her lap and a case filled with pencils at her side. The sketch pad showed the ocean scene before her, taking on color as her pencil moved expertly across the page.

This must be her piano, her place to think, I thought as I sat down next to her. I didn't say anything, just stared out at the waves as they crashed down on the shore. I breathed in the salt air and caught the faint smell of vanilla coming from Clary. I moved closer to get a better look at the drawing.

"It looks just like the real thing," I commented.

"Thanks," she said, looking up from her drawing.

"You nervous for tomorrow?" I asked her with a knowing smirk.

"A bit," she replied, turning back to the picture.

"Anything I can do to help?"What is wrong with me?

"If I think of anything I'll let you know," she smiled, "But I appreciate the offer. Now, didn't you say you wanted me to teach you to draw yesterday?"

I nodded, and she ripped a piece of paper out of the sketch pad and handed me a pencil.

Thanks for reading. I don't know when the next time I will be able to update will be, but I will be updating at some time. Please review!

-Pageturner96