The gym was in full swing as I walked in the next day. I lugged two giant bags with three cameras and all my equipment. I dropped the bags by the practice octagon and just observed for a few minutes. Jace was still in his office, I assumed, so I noticed all the people training on the mats. Simon was rolling around with a much larger man and finally go on top of him to make him tap out. His eye was still swollen and the colors looked like they had darkened since I had last seen him. Along with Simon, there were about ten more fighters training their jiu jitsu on the mats until Jace emerged from his office and whistled to get their attention.

"Alright, ladies," he yelled. "Everybody up. Start running." There were groans coming from the group as they all stood up and began running around the perimeter of the gym. Jace spotted me and started my way. "Did you bring enough stuff, Red?" He smirked.

"I didn't know which camera would work best in here," I explained as he put an arm around my shoulder and led me toward the mats. "What exactly do you want me to shoot? Are there certain people I should be focusing on?"

"Just take the pictures you want to take. I'm sure they'll be amazing." I nodded and Jace looked back toward the guys running around the gym. "Okay, so I'm going to get over there. I'll talk to you later."

Jace jogged over to the back of the line and ran another lap with the guys as I set up my cameras and equipment. Before I knew it, I was really getting into this project. I was lying on my belly to get the best angles and capturing mostly the faces of the fighters training. I noticed Simon standing by the wall and snapped a shot of his bruised eye as he looked onto his friends training. I thought I had taken my favorite picture of the day when all the guys were taking a break and I caught a shot of Simon tackling Jace and the look on Jace's face was priceless. That was until I saw something that most people wouldn't have noticed. Jace was standing against a wall watching as everyone drilled. Two guys were grappling on the mats and Jace closed his eyes for a second. I snapped a shot. When he opened them again, one of the guys on the mat was able to get the other in an arm bar and force submission. When he tapped his hand on the other guy's arm, Jace's mouth twitched with amusement and his golden eyes lit up to look like two suns that lit the sky. I snapped another shot. I looked down at the digital preview screen on my camera and smiled inwardly. I couldn't wait to get the shot up on a computer screen to see if I actually captured that moment when Jace's face lit up as he watched his friends and the sport he loves.

I decided not to wait and ran over to my bag to get my laptop out. I sat on the floor against the cage of the practice octagon, took the memory card out of my camera and put it in the laptop to upload all the pictures I had just taken. Jace called out that it was time to start cleaning up and get ready for the kids classes that night. I looked up and couldn't believe I had spent the entire day there. Jace walked toward me and plopped down next to me nudging my shoulder with his.

"What are you doing, Red," he asked looking over my shoulder.

"I couldn't wait to go through the pictures," I explained. "And I figured you might want to look at them, too."

He nodded and I pulled up the photo of Simon's profile up close. He had this determined look on his face and his bruised eyed added a pop of color to the hot. "Wow, that's an amazing picture."

"Not yet." I clicked on a few buttons to adjust the picture. "If I adjust the contrast and increase the focus on Simon," I paused, "there, now it's an amazing picture."

The adjustments I made, made the bruise darker and everything around Simon blurred. It drew the focus the look on Simon's face rather than what was happening around him. I looked at Jace as he examined the edited version of the shot. He finally smiled and looked me in the eyes.

"You truly are talented, Clary." I shook my head and looked back at my computer screen saving the edited shot to a new folder for Jace. "Can I see some more?"

I nodded and started scrolling through the shots on the screen. When I came to the picture of Jace, he grabbed my hand and stopped me. Immediately, I felt embarrassed. I felt like some sort of stalker and like I had invaded his privacy. That picture documented a private moment when Jace was inside his own mind.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. He remained silent for another moment.

"Don't be sorry." His hand came to cup my cheek and turn my face toward his. Before I could say anything, he brought my mouth to his and I closed my eyes. He pulled away too soon and pressed our foreheads together. "You did it. You captured exactly how I feel about MMA. I don't know how you did it, but you did."

I was having a hard time forming words with Jace's hand still on my cheek and his forehead against mine. I finally whispered, "Jace." He pulled away abruptly and curled in on himself.

"I'm sorry," he said shaking his head. "I shouldn't have kissed you."

"No." I lifted the laptop of my lap and set it on the ground in front of me. I moved around to face Jace and place my hands on the sides of his face. "I wanted you to kiss me. Don't be sorry about that, ever."

"Clary, I haven't felt like this in a very long time. I've known you for three days and I already can't imagine not spending time with you."

"I know. I feel it, too, but I've been burned in the past, Jace and I haven't been able to trust anyone other than Isabelle since. I want to trust you."

"You can. Let me prove it to you." Instead of answering, I leaned forward and kissed him again and he deepened the kiss. Catcalls and cheers came from the direction of the doors as the fighters entered the gym after their break. I pulled away and laughed. "Do you want to hang out after classes?"

I nodded. "Come by my apartment when you're done." I gave him one more kiss before I gathered my equipment and bags to leave. Jace grabbed my arm as I turned toward the door and pulled me against him with a smile on his face. "Jace, the kids are starting to come in. You need to go." I laughed as he shook his head and dipped his head to kiss me. I pushed him away. "I'm serious, go."

"Ugh, fine. I'll see you later." As I exited the gym, I could hear the sounds of clapping as Jace walked toward his friends. "Shut up and get everything ready for these classes. I don't want to be here later than we need to be."

I couldn't wipe the goofy grin off of my face as I drove to my apartment. Isabelle was sitting on the couch watching some entertainment news show when I walked in the door. I dropped my bags by the door and flopped down on the couch next to her.

"Why the hell are you so happy," she asked.

"Let's just say he's six-foot-two and has the most beautiful eyes in the world," I said with that stupid grin still plastered on my face.

"Oh my God, I knew it!" I laughed. "What happened? I thought you were just taking pictures for him."

"I was, but then I was showing him some of the photos and he kissed me." She squealed and I had to cover my ears. "Iz, I haven't felt this way in so long and it feels so good."

"I told you he liked you."

"You said no such thing."

"I did in my head. Anyways, so what does this mean?"

"I don't know yet. He's coming over after classes." I looked at her shyly. "Do you think you could make yourself scarce?"

"Are my ears deceiving me? Is Clarissa Fray asking for the apartment for the night?"

"Oh shut up. You don't have to leave and nothing is going to happen. We're just hanging out."

"Right, okay. Whatever you say." I tossed a pillow at her and her incessant giggling. Before long I was joining her. Man, this felt good. I couldn't remember the last time that I had laughed and smiled so much. Isabelle was right. I needed this. I needed to find someone to bring me out of my shell and enjoy my time with. "What if I invite Simon over and we can all have a movie night or something?"

"You really like him don't you?"

"I really do, Clary."

"Can you do something for me then?" She raised her eyebrows in question. "Can you give him a chance?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean, Iz. You date a guy for a few months, make him fall in love with you and then cut him loose. Simon really likes you and I'm not sure if he can handle an Isabelle Lightwood heartbreak."

"He's a professional fighter, Clary. He gets beat up for a living. I think he can handle a little heartbreak."

"Why? Why would you want to break his heart if you claim to like him so much?"

"Because it's easier to be the heartbreaker than the heartbroken." She lowered her head in shame. "I'm scared. I know I act all tough and strong, but my worst fear is getting my heart broken, so I end it before that can happen."

"Hon," I said wrapping my arms around her. "You need to take some of your own advice. You told me that I needed to let my guard down and look at me know. I don't want you to regret anything one day and I think if you break things off with Simon, you'll regret it."

"I know, but what if I let myself fall in love and get hurt in the end?"

"That's a risk you have to take. Would you rather take a chance on love and have it be the best thing you ever did or never take a chance and regret it the rest of your life?"

"When did you become so wise?"

"I'm just seeing life in a whole new light lately." The ridiculous smile made another appearance.

"And would that light be the light of an angel?" She smiled and I could feel my face light up.

"Maybe it is."

A/N: Thanks for reading and all your kind words! I hope you're enjoying the story so far. Let me know what you think and leave a review! :)