Jace's POV

I was lost in a dreamless sleep when I heard her soft mumbled whining.

"Jace…Jace…Where are you going?..." I opened my eyes groggily and absentminded registered the room was alit with the soft glow of the morning sun peeking through the blinds. My focus, my complete concentration, zeroed in on Clary whimpering softly in my arms. I gazed down at her; her face was scrunched up in noticeable distress. She had talked so many times in her sleep over the last two years, but I never got use to the nightmares. That pained look on her face, the whimpering, it broke my heart.

"…Don't leave me…Please Jace…Come back." Her voice let out with another high pitched whine and I tightened my arms slightly, I didn't really want to wake her, but I was hoping to calm her, to reassure her. I reached my hand out and carefully grazed the back of it against her cheek.

"Shhh, it's alright." I whispered softly. My mind might have been spinning last night before I fell asleep, but right now it was tranquil, there were no thoughts, no concerns, no worries, nothing seemed to matter at this moment besides the sleeping angel in my arms. It might have caught me off guard last night, but right now it didn't feel reprehensible as I hesitantly, consciously, closed my eyes and brought my lips to Clary's forehead for a gentle kiss. Was it wrong that this felt so right? I didn't know the answer, but at this moment, I also didn't care. I looked down at Clary as I pulled away and her face looked relaxed, no longer scrunched up. She was peaceful and silent, no whimpers of suffering escaped her lips. This felt so easy, so natural.

I heard an intentional throat clearing and my body tensed. Even without her saying a word, I could tell that was Aline. She knew I was close to Clary, but I never exactly went into detail with how close we were. I wasn't sure how she'd react to seeing Clary in my arms, and right now the fact I had just left her at my parents last night and come here to be with Clary was weighing heavily on my conscience. I glanced up at Aline hesitantly. She stood in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest. The look on her face was calculating, not angry, but that didn't make me feel any better.

"Aline this isn't what it looks like-" I started defensively in just a whisper, I didn't want to wake Clary, but I couldn't exactly ignore my fiancée either. She held up her hand in the air silencing me as she paced in the room. Her heels clicked on the wood floor before they hit Clary's area rug. When she was just shy of the bed she looked down at us, her arms crossed over her chest, her fingers drumming away against her arm. I had the overwhelming urge to detach myself from Clary, get out of bed, move away from her, but I couldn't help feeling that in doing so it would be some sort of admission of culpability. If I just acted like this wasn't a big deal, maybe Aline would too. Besides, I had no idea how Clary would be today, and I was kind of relishing every second I had with her. I looked at Aline and waited.

"It looks like you're here for a friend in need. Is that not the case?..." She asked evenly. I opened my mouth to speak and closed it again.

"…That's what I thought…Just be careful Darlin', we both know how easily ya can be led into temptation…This…" She stretched her arm out with her index finger extended and gestured her hand in a circle referring to Clary and I.

"…is just invitin' trouble…" She crossed her arms over her chest again and glanced down at the watch on her wrist before she looked back up at me.

"…I need to shower and change before church...Don't forget we have an appointment before service with Father Enoch to discuss pre-weddin' counselin'…I'll go ahead and lay out somethin' nice for ya to wear…Oh…And we have brunch with my momma and daddy after church." She turned to walk away and I don't know what possessed me, but the words were out of my mouth before I could stop myself.

"I don't want to go to church." She stopped in her tracts without turning around.

"We talked about this Jonathan…Father Enoch will not marry us if you don't start attendin' church, and the pre-weddin' counselin' is a prerequisite as well." Her voice was sharp and the fact she called me Jonathan was never good, but I really had no interest in spending my morning in church. I rather stay here and wait for Clary to wake up. Aline took another step away.

"We talked about it, but I didn't think we made a decision-" She turned around abruptly and narrowed her eyes at me. The words died in my throat. There was a flare of anger in her eyes that I so rarely saw. Aline could be sweet as anything, but she wasn't a push over, she was a fighter when she wanted to be.

"I always wanted to go back to Oklahoma and get married in the church my momma and daddy got married in. Would you prefer that?" She almost sounded pleasant, but the look on her face made it clear she was irate. I just shook my head without a word.

"I didn't think so…" Her face softened as she took a deep breath.

"…This is called compromisin' Darlin'-"

"Aline, we just got engaged a couple days ago, couldn't we talk about this-" The look that flashed across her face as she interrupted me made it clear that the only thing I was accomplishing by talking at this point was enraging her further.

"So help me God I am tryin' to be understandin' and patient right now Darlin, but ya left me alone at your parents' last night and I find ya with another woman in your arms this mornin'. What's a girl to think? I can guarantee just about any other woman would go and demand ya stop this here friendship, but I'm not like other women am I? I understand she's important to ya, and I'd be a fool to ask ya to stop carin' for her, cause I know it ain't that easy to control how ya feel about another person…I may not have ever noticed how ya looked at her before, or maybe ya just don't look at her that way when I'm watchin' ya, but I saw how ya were just lookin' at her when ya didn't realize I was standin' here. You kissed her and gazed down at her like a momma looks to her newborn baby, like she's the most precious thing in your world. I think I've been a reasonable woman and I haven't asked ya for much, but I need ya to start actin' like a man that's gettin' married. Ya need to start settin' boundaries with your other lady friends, especially her. I don't doubt this isn't the first time y'all slept like this, but Darlin' it's gonna have to be the last-" She really wasn't being unreasonable, but panic seeped into my thoughts and though I knew I should have just bit my tongue, I couldn't help it.

"Come on Aline, she's just a friend, I've told you a hundred times we're close, but we're just friends. I'm not pushing her away because-"

"'Cause what Jonathan? 'Cause we're gettin' married? You want me to believe y'all just real good friends? Ya think this here girl falling to pieces has nothin' to do with us gettin' engaged and the way I just gone caught ya lookin' at her-"

"Aline, don't be like that, I wasn't looking at her any way-" She yanked off her engagement ring and my breath caught as the words stuck in my throat. She held up her ring in her right hand with an infuriated look on her face.

"My momma didn't raise no fool Jonathan…I can't tell if you're just lying to me or if you're lying to yourself…If ya think this will fit her better, just say the word." I could hear the venom in her voice.

"No Babe-"

"Good…" There was finality in her tone as she shoved the ring back on her hand.

"…We still have a good couple hours before we have to get goin', so don't feel like ya have to go and rush out of that there bed, but God help me, if I find ya in her bed again after today, I won't go askin' if ya want this here ring back, I'll be leavin' it on the dresser on my way out the door." This time when she spun around I didn't try to argue with her, I knew opening my mouth would just get me in deeper shit right now. I briefly debated going after her, but I didn't really feel like looking for a fight; I knew I was probably in the wrong anyway. I also couldn't bring myself to leave Clary's side right now, even though I was still questioning if Aline was serious when she said I could stay here. This was probably some sort of test I was failing and going to catch hell for later. I just couldn't help feeling afraid that this was seriously the last time I'd hold Clary in my arms like this, watch her as she slept. I was feeling so confused right now. I didn't think getting engaged was going to change my life so drastically so quickly, but everyday there seemed to be half a dozen things that were different and we had only been engaged a couple days. I felt my freedom slowly slipping away from me. Even though I was torn and confused right now, I couldn't help feeling a certain amount of comfort too. No matter what the world threw at me, I always felt comforted with Clary in my arms. I gazed down at her still figure and I couldn't help nearly chuckling, she had slept through that whole thing, she never so much as stirred. Not that Aline and I were yelling per se, but Aline wasn't bothering to keep her voice down, that's for sure. Aline's voice echoed through my head, I can guarantee just about any other woman would go and demand you stop this here friendship. I wondered if she had asked me to stop being friends with Clary if I would, if I could. What would I do without Clary?

Clary's POV

My naked body moved in rhythm with Jace's as his tender lips pressed against mine. I could feel his bare skin beneath my fingertips and smell his unmistakable fragrance thick in the air.

The dream slowly became distant and less vivid, but the warm body pressed against mine felt so real. I was between awake and asleep, fighting coming back to reality, fighting for just one more touch, one more kiss. I nuzzled further into the warmth beside me and flexed my fingers slightly. My fingertips moved over firm slightly tacky skin. I rested my hands flat again and absorbed the heat radiating from the body beside me. I tried desperately not to let go of the dream as protective arms tightened around me. My groggy mind gradually started to turn, little by little I tried to pull out of the haze and separate the dream from reality.

I remembered the night before in glimpses and pieces, but the last thought that waltzed around my mind was Jace's arms around me in the parking garage. I wasn't sure how I had gotten from there to here, or where exactly here was, but the arms around me were so real, and Jace's scent, his unmistakable cologne, was strong and unlike anything I had ever imagined in a dream. I was lying down, in bed from the feel of it, but I was far from naked, and my shoes were long since overdue to be removed. Although, I couldn't help holding on to what mattered most, I was with Jace. I let myself surrender to the momentary bliss of being with Jace and disregarded any thoughts on the contrary, but my delusional world was all too soon completely shattered.

"Aline, really?" Jace's voice was quiet and clearly annoyed. I heard a click and a bright flash. I opened my eyes slowly as I blinked away the last of sleep. I was lying in bed next to Jace, his arms around me, but I didn't look up at him, I looked over my shoulder at the movement behind me. Aline was standing with a camera, a big psychotic smile on her face.

"Oh I hope I didn't wake ya…Walked by and saw ya two looking as adorable as two peas in a pod, just wanted to eat ya all up… Just had to take a quick picture…Isn't he just as sweet as pie, here for his girl when she needs somebody…Bless my heart if it doesn't make me fall in love with him all over again." I sat up, Jace's arms falling from me. I couldn't believe this girl. I was somewhere between wanting to scream at her or throw up.

"He's a sweetie alright…" The sarcasm was thick in my voice, but I couldn't help it, I needed more sleep than I got.

"…Look at you…All up and dressed in that pretty little sundress at…" I glanced at the clock.

"…6:30." She smiled as she walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. She rested her hand on my knee. Could this get any weirder?

"Well we've got church this mornin' see…" Since when did Jace go to church?

"…Isabelle told me that ya were just fit to be tied last night when y'all came back and she thought Jace might have come over here to see if he could calm ya down…What a thoughtful soul?..." She reached her hand out passed me and towards Jace. Out of my peripheral vision I could just make out her hand resting on his cheek. I don't know what I was thinking last night; let's see if I can make myself feel worse?

"…It looks like ya found some comfort…I find the Lord to be very comforting…" She took both my hands in both hers. It made my skin crawl.

"…I would be just tickled pink if ya came to church with us." Yeah, I never stepped foot in a church except for at weddings, and I wasn't about to stop that streak.

"I have…things." I said lamely as I detached my hands from hers and climbed out of bed.

"Well alright…But the Lord is always there for ya if ya want to talk to him."

"Good to know." I said as I nodded slowly. I walked over to the bureau and threw my hair up in a hair tie.

"So I'll have Sebastian, that's my friend, I don't think I mentioned his name before, but I'll have Sebastian pick ya up at the Lightwood house nearabout 7:00." I had nearly forgotten about that.

"Yeah. Sounds great." I said trying and likely failing to sound enthusiastic. Next thing I knew Aline was right behind me and I jerked slightly with surprise when I looked up to see her reflection in the mirror. She came up to me and hugged me from behind.

"Y'all are gonna make the cutest couple…When I called him yesterday he was just thrilled to death. Won't it be amazin' if we could do this all the time?" I took a deep breath and nodded.

"Just super." I said unable to tone down the sarcasm. She chuckled.

"Ya sound awfully close to bitterness sugar. Now ya don't have to get yourself all hung up on that boy that broke your heart…I'm makin' it my mission to find ya a gentleman that makes ya as happy as Jace here makes me…Ya won't even remember that there other boy's name by the time I'm done with ya." I made a slightly uncomfortable laugh. Oh wow, kill me now.

"Good luck with that…I'll see you guys later." I grabbed my purse off the bureau without even bothering to change. I didn't know where I wanted to go, but anywhere would be better than here.

"Sugar you're not even changin' or nothin'?" I shook my head.

"Nope." I said simply. Before I could stop her Aline had spun me around and had her arms tightly around my neck. You'd think I'd be getting desensitized to her touching me, but I wasn't, it was actually having the adverse effect.

"Ya look horrible darlin', just horrible, like ya done gone started drinkin'. I'm just tellin' ya 'cause I care. Ya gonna put yourself together before tonight?" I chuckled uncomfortably.

"Don't worry. I'll be dressed to the nines with bells on." I said sarcastically.

"I don't rightly understand what ya just said sugar."

"It's just another way to say she'll put herself together before tonight…Come on Aline, we've got to get ready for church." Jace's voice sounded slightly soft, almost sad, and I could hear a subtle touch of strain. I glanced over at him reflexively as he spoke, he was standing by the door, but I immediately regretted looking at him, because all I saw was pain and torment reflecting back at me. I realized this was the first time I had looked into his eyes since his birthday, since telling him I loved him, since blowing up at him and then running away from him. Jace was my best friend, up until 36 hours ago anyway, I should have never told him how I felt, he had no idea, and now there was this pain I caused, this rift that I created between us, I did this. The look on his face made me want to cry, I had never seen him so distressed before. I quickly returned my gaze to Aline as I pulled away from her.

"Have a good time at church, tell God I said hi." I said sarcastically as I walked out of the room. I didn't look at Jace or acknowledge him as I brushed by him, but every nerve in my body sparked and became on edge as my body gently grazed his. As I headed down the hallway and to the front door I wondered if Aline thought it was odd I hadn't said anything to Jace and he hadn't said anything to me. I would have liked to think I was doing a pretty good job at keeping up this façade, but I probably wasn't fooling anybody, not even her.

. . .

It was just after 9:00 when I got back to the Lightwoods. I had stopped to pick up coffee and ended up picking up a dozen donuts too. I didn't see Izzy's car in the driveway, but I sent her a text and she said she'd be home soon. She told me to just go ahead and use my key and make myself at home. I opened the door only to come face to face with Max just taking his last step off the staircase and into the foyer; he was just in his boxers.

"Max." I scolded. He just chuckled and crossed his arms over his chest.

"What? It's my house. You're the one that just walked right in like you owned the place." I could tell he'd been working out since the last time I'd seen him in a bathing suit, but he still had the lean and lanky look of a fifteen year old.

"I'm going to be staying here for awhile, can't you attempt to wear clothes?" I asked as I sidestepped him and proceeded into the kitchen. He just followed behind me.

"It's too hot for clothes. I don't know if you noticed, but the central air is all jacked up. The guy is coming by this afternoon to look at it, but in the meantime, what you see is what you get." Max said as he gestured his hands up and down at himself. I rolled my eyes at him.

"That's rude Max." I sputtered as I dropped the box of donuts on the kitchen island and walked over to the sink to get a cup of water.

"You're right. Where are my manners? Feel free to take your clothes off too if you'd like." I turned around and scowled at him.

"You spend too much time with Jace." I snapped. He chuckled again. He walked over and opened the box of donuts and took one out.

"Speaking of which…What's up with you two?" I rolled my eyes.

"Nothing." He nodded.

"Sure…I hear through the grapevine that he's engaged or something. You don't have a ring on your finger Clary." I rolled my eyes again as I broke down and opened the box of donuts and plucked a sprinkle one out.

"How very observant of you Max..." I muttered as I leaned my elbows against the kitchen island on the opposite side from him and popped a chunk of donut in my mouth.

"…Where were you last night? Didn't you meet Aline?" Max shook his head.

"Who? I headed upstairs right after dinner." I chuckled.

"You hid in your room all night?"

"I wouldn't call it hiding, I had things to do."

"Oh yeah…What kind of things?"

"I…There was an important thing I needed to get to."

"You had an important thing you needed to do all evening in your room?" I asked with a chuckle. Max made an irritated noise.

"You wouldn't understand." I furrowed my eyes at him in amusement.

"Try me…and this better not be a sick 15 year of boy kind of thing." He took an exasperated breath.

"Dammit…Ok…So I died…" Granted, I didn't understand everything he said, but it involved him dieing, being turned into a ghost, hanging out around a graveyard, and another player resurrecting him. Bottom line, he was playing a video game.

"…So I had to hold up my end of the deal and help him out when he got to the dungeon." I took a deep breath.

"You missed out on all the news because you went upstairs to play video games all night?" I asked incredulously.

"See, you're making fun of me…You don't understand." Max snapped indignantly.

"No, no, no, you're right. I'm sorry. I get it Max. I have a buddy that plays WoW." Max looked at me with his mouth agape.

"You know about World of Warcraft? It's like we have something in common." I shrugged halfheartedly.

"It's more like you have something in common with a buddy of mine, but whatever."

"So who's this Aline chick? I thought you and Jace were like a thing." I shook my head.

"Nope. Aline's Jace's fian..cée…" The world stuck in my throat as I stumbled over it.

"…We're just friends." I said solemnly as I popped the last bite of donut in my mouth.

"So are you like friends with benefits?" I choked on my donut.

"No Max!" I snapped.

"No it's cool…I just…I've got this chick that's a friend and I don't want to be tied down or anything seeing as I'm just approaching my sexual prime, but I'd totally like to expand our friendship if you know what I mean."

"I'm not having this conversation with you Max."

"Oh come on…I just want to know how to approach her with this idea."

"You're fifteen Max, you're too young to have friends with benefits."

"Is that because you think I'm too young to have sex, because I'm not." I shuttered.

"God Max, I don't want to hear about your sex life."

"I don't have a sex life Clary. That's the problem."

"That's good. You're too young to be thinking about that."

"I'm a fifteen year old man…" He sounded so serious and I had to purse my lips to suppress a laugh when he referred to himself as a man, looking at him I just didn't see it.

"…This is my sexual peak Clary."

"This conversation is disturbing Max. I'm not talking to you about sex."

"Fine! I was just trying to ease into the topic, and I thought this was a good opening. It's just all my friends are talking about having sex and I can't have a serious conversation with my sister or brothers about this and you're probably the only other person I feel comfortable talking about this stuff too, but fine!" Max snapped as he reached for a glazed donut and shoved the whole thing in his mouth.

"Max…" I rolled my eyes. I was going regret this later I was sure of it, but if he was sincere and for whatever reason felt like he could come to me about this when he couldn't go to them, I couldn't just not talk to him.

"…Did you want to ask me something serious about sex? Not something about how to transition your relationship into a friends with benefits relationship, but something serious?" I'm sure my cheeks were turning rosy red already; this was going to be so awkward. He nodded with an indignant look on his face.

"Yes…And you know this is just as uncomfortable for me as it is for you Clary." He said as he rolled his eyes and looked away. I took a deep breath. I really doubted that.

"Go ahead and ask. I'll do my best to answer your question…" I really have no excuse for how tangled into this topic Max got me, except to say he's like his mother, really easy to talk to, listens well, and always seems to know just the right leading questions to ask. The big difference however, Maryse would never get you to divulge something for a mischievous reason. Just as I anticipated, I completely regretted ever getting into this topic with Max. I wondered if he was really serious at any point in the conversation.

. . .

I'd like to say the rest of the day was better, but it wasn't. Max harassed me every time he saw me and I was really wondering if things could possibly be any worse if I just went back to the apartment. Izzy and I spent a few hours shopping for something for me to wear to my blind date, but I lost interest shortly after lunchtime. As the afternoon eked by Izzy decided we'd pass the time by getting me ready. I really didn't see why I needed to take four hours to get ready, but Izzy wanted to completely outdo herself, plus, it gave us something to do while I hid from Max in her room.

It was just before 7:00 when Izzy was done with me. She had put a lot of makeup on me, so much more than I ever would put on myself, but it didn't look caked on, it actually looked really pretty. Not a single freckle peeked out under the foundation she put on me and though I didn't think the rouge she dusted across my cheekbones was necessary seeing as I flush at a drop of a hat, she argued that with the amount of foundation I was wearing nobody would even be able to tell if I was blushing. She had put on so much mascara that my eyelashes looked fake and with the smoky brown eyeliner she lined both my upper and lower lashes with and the sparkly green eye shadow she used liberally on my upper eyelids and delicately accented my lower lid with, my emerald eyes really popped. My lips she left soft and natural, with a shinny lip gloss that had just a hint of color. She had left my hair down, but took close to an hour to tame the curls. I would have never been able to make my hair look as amazing as she had.

I was wearing a sleeveless black chiffon dress with a white lace overlay. The dress had an empire waist with a high neckline and a keyhole in the front. Luckily the dress had a built in bra, because I could have never worn a bra with the way my back was almost completely exposed. The dress was short compared to what I usually wore, it hit me mid thigh, but what the hell. The shoes Izzy had picked out actually went perfectly with the dress. They were a very airy crisscross black lace-up sandal with a three inch stiletto heel and a peep-toe. They were a little effort to walk in, but not impossible. With a chunky bracelet and dangly earrings I thought I looked pretty hot.

My mind was all over the place. I wasn't sure if I was trying to make Jace jealous or just trying to look good for my blind date. I kept reminding myself that Aline seemed nice, why would I want to mess this up for Jace. It was possible her friend really was just what I needed to help me move on, then again, who was I kidding. I had been in love with Jace for the last nine years, it would take a miracle for me to get over him. After sweet compliments from Alec and Maryse I was heading downstairs to the sound of the doorbell with Izzy right behind me meticulously repositioning my curls as I walked. I started wondering if I seemed too eager as Izzy fell behind me and I covered the last few steps through the foyer alone; maybe I should have let somebody else answer the door. I opened the door to Jace on the other side of it and I immediately furrowed my eyebrows at him. His eyebrows shot up as he looked back at me.

"I…You look amazing." I might have started to get my hopes up for just a second as I glanced around him and had a painful reality check when I noticed Aline in the car.

"Was I stood up?" I questioned sarcastically as I looked back at Jace. He blinked a few times and shook his head.

"Um…No…Aline thought….I think…She just wanted to see you first." The words stumbled out clumsily. I rolled my eyes.

"She thought I would still be wearing what I left the apartment in this morning?" I questioned harsher than I meant to. Jace scratched the back of his head and shifted his weight uncomfortably. He glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the car. I took the opportunity to quickly give him a once over. He looked so hot. He had on dark gray dress pants and a tucked in light blue short sleeved button up dress shirt that he was wearing with the top couple buttons undone. His hair was still damp and always looked the curliest like that. I couldn't help but smile. Corkscrew curls twisted over his ears and flipped out randomly. I doubted he even ran a comb through his hair, he probably just dried it with a towel and moved on. Any other time I saw his hair looking so unruly and I knew he was heading out to a fancy restaurant I would have reached out and tamed his curls a bit, but right now I was apprehensive about combing my fingers through his hair.

"Maybe." He answered vaguely as he glanced back at me. I still had a stupid grin on my face, so I pursed my lips and quickly looked over my shoulder in search for Izzy. She was sitting silently on the steps behind me.

"Don't wait up. I don't know when I'll be back." Izzy nodded.

"Maybe you'll get lucky?..." She said with a smirk and a playful shrug.

"…I put a few things in your purse just incase." I scoffed at the same time I heard an unmistakably irritated noise coming from Jace. I glanced in his direction with my eyebrows furrowed and he seemed to be shooting Izzy an ominous glare. I nearly wanted to yell at him for thinking he had the right to still act overprotective of me, but I let it go, besides, those rebellious curls spiraling down his forehead and out of control were adorable and I had to suppress another smile. Why did he have to be so damn hot and so cute mixed together? Not that he'd ever let me call him cute to his face, but I probably wouldn't call him hot to his face either.

"You have a key right?" I looked back over my shoulder at Izzy and nodded as I patted my small clutch.

"You have a key?" Jace asked quizzically. I glanced back at him, but no sooner did I look away from Izzy than I heard her shout.

"Don't you dare pervert." I looked behind me, but it was already too late.

"Sexy, sexy, sexy." Max called out as he pinched my ass. I jumped with a yelp.

"What did I tell you last time you did that Max?" I shouted in a warning voice as he took off.

"Totally worth it…" Max called back as he ran down the hallway with Izzy charging after him.

"…NATHANIEL GRAY POPPED CLARY'S CHEERY." Max's voice bellowed from another room. I just cringed. He'd been saying that all day. After our horrible little chat earlier, Max pieced together who I lost my virginity too. I had no excuse at all. I didn't confirm it for him, but the first time Izzy heard him say it, her reaction was confirmation enough.

Jace had taken a step forward and I reflexively placed my hand against his chest as I glanced back at him. His hands were balled in tight fists at his sides and for a fleeting moment he continued to glare daggers down the hallway in the direction Max had just run. He looked like my protective Jace, the one that scared off my junior prom date, as well as several other prospective boyfriends over the years.

"Easy killer…It's really not that big of a deal." He looked back down at me quizzically and I could feel the muscles in his chest relax just a bit, god he really knew how to work out. I shook the thought as I quickly dropped my hand.

"He been pulling shit like that a lot with you?" He questioned. I rolled my eyes.

"Give it a rest. He's been pummeled more than once by Alec and Izzy. He just has more hormones than he knows what to do with. I'm sure you remember being fifteen." I said as I mechanically pushed my hand hard against his chest and he took a half step back. I pulled the door to the house closed behind us. I squeezed around him and he easily fell in step next to me.

"That wasn't an answer…I'll talk to him, I should go back and-" His pace was slowing as he darted his eyes back towards the house. I cut him off as I quickly grabbed onto his arm and towed him along.

"Seriously, don't worry about it." Jace stopped walking and I dropped his arm as I stopped reflexively. There was a time I might have just kept pulling him along, but the longer I held on to him the more my body went into overdrive. I could only absentmindedly mull over the fact that in any given day I touch Jace a lot without even thinking about it. Of course now the actions were just as routine, but for some reason my body was in cahoots with the cosmos about how to make this even harder on me, and now every time my body touched his in the slightest it caused an involuntary reaction within me sending every nerve on edge. He looked back towards the house with a quizzical look on his face.

"Wait a minute…Did I hear him right?..." He looked back down at me with his eyebrows pulled together.

"…Did he just say Nathaniel Gray-" Without thinking I hastily threw both my hands over his mouth as I shook my head.

"I've heard that way too many times." Jace's eyes narrowed at me as he pulled my hands from his face. He just went off. He was talking adamantly with his arms flailing about.

"I can't believe you Clary. Out of all the sleazy, no good, rotten, son of a bitches…That guy was the biggest doochbag…You slept with him? With him? After everything I did to try to protect you from guys like that? I can't believe you-" My hands flew to their confrontational position on my hips and my eyes narrowed as I cut him off.

"Whoa…That's enough…Who I did or didn't sleep with is really none of your business Jace."

"I probably should have just let that Samuel Blackwell kid take you to your junior prom, then you wouldn't have had to wait so long. I had no idea you were in such a rush." Jace said in a flabbergasted tone.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Nate was nothing like Sam. Sam was a player. Nate was a sweet quiet kid. I dated Nate on and off for three years of high school…He was the only guy you didn't completely scare away and if I remember correctly, the only reason you didn't seem too fazed by me dating him in the first place was because at the time you thought he was too much of a dork to waste your time with…" I snapped venomously.

"…And I don't consider dating the guy on and off for three years and then waiting until my senior prom to be rushing…I was seventeen years old…closer to eighteen...much closer…I bet you had sex well before that, probably with a girl you barely knew…What were you? Sixteen? Fifteen? No, no, no…We're talking about Jonathan Christopher Lightwood…God's gift to women…You were probably only thirteen or fourteen…Still just a child…Weren't you?..." I was so pissed off I took a step towards him and pointed my little pointer finger into his chest. Jace looked completely taken aback.

"…You have no right to act like you care who I lost my virginity to. No right at all…" I jabbed my pointer into his chest again and he took half a step back. He had a startled look on his face, but he was making no move to speak or defend himself and I was too furious to stop and think right now.

"…You want to talk about waiting? I waited and waited and waited for you…You know the only reason I even had sex with Nate was at the time Izzy made me feel like I practically owed it to him, the way he put up with me stringing him along. I'd break up with him at a drop of a hat every time I thought you might be interested in me and then he'd take me back again and again…I still feel bad at times with how horribly I treated that guy…If it mattered to you so much who my first time was with…You had plenty of time up until that point to make a move!..." I assaulted his chest with my pointer one more time.

"…And what the hell is with you getting all bent out of shape when Izzy makes a sarcastic comment about me getting lucky?…I can count on one hand how many times I've had sex, and I can count with one finger how many people I've slept with…You on the other hand…If you've even kept tract, which I'm sure you haven't, you probably couldn't count on all your fingers and all your toes and even if I loaned you mine you still would probably be pushing it to be able to count all the people you've slept with…And your hair is driving me crazy, do you do that on purpose?" Jace's face suddenly looked confused as my hands rushed to tame his locks. I jumped to the blaring of the car horn. The aggression and frustration left me in a gush as I dropped my hands and looked over to see Aline waving us over with her happy little smile plastered to her perfect little face.

I was suddenly feeling horrified by what I had just said to Jace, and I was even more embarrassed by the possibility that Aline quite possibility heard me with how loud I was speaking. Jace and I walked the rest of the way to the driveway silently, both of us with our arms crossed over our chests. We climbed into his car and didn't speak another word to each other the entire ride to the restaurant. Aline complemented my outfit and how nicely I cleaned up, but otherwise said very little to me during the drive. The car ride was relatively quiet with Aline and Jace speaking idly from time to time, but neither one of them attempted to engage me in conversation. I was content to hope they might just forget about me all together back here.

The drive to the restaurant took close to thirty minutes. We were eating somewhere I hadn't heard of before, but Izzy had been once and said it was a very fancy place. I climbed out of the car and strategically followed a number of feet behind Aline and Jace. I was still relatively convinced that I had completely humiliated myself with the display outside the Lightwood's, and even though Aline hadn't acknowledged it, I was pretty sure she had to have heard at least some of it. Maybe she didn't though, the windows to the car were up, but with my recent luck, odds are she heard. The way Aline and Jace walked with their elbows hooked together, I felt like a third wheel. Maybe I could sneak away and they'd forget I was ever here, though I'd catch hell from Izzy, she did spend four hours getting me ready.

We might have showed up only ten minutes early, but it felt like we sat at that table waiting forever for Aline's friend Sebastian to show up. I was beginning to panic that he wasn't really coming. I was sitting directly across from Aline and diagonal to Jace and found my gaze nervously looking anywhere except at the two of them. Jace ordered a bottle of white wine and we started drinking. I wasn't sure how old Aline was, but luckily the waitress didn't card us, because I was still only nineteen, and my fake ID wasn't that great. Maybe I just looked older with all this makeup on, or maybe nobody cares how old you are if you order an eighty dollar bottle of wine. Not that I could afford to be drinking eighty dollar bottles of wine normally, but Izzy was insistent that I make Jace pay for dinner if Sebastian didn't offer to pay; I was pretty much forced to go on this blind date and I didn't have a choice about where we were eating. I had glanced at the menu a number of times, and the whole thing was à la carte with main courses starting around forty dollars. What do you do to mashed potatoes to make them cost nine dollars? At 7:35, after fifteen painstaking minutes of waiting, Aline's face brightened and she stood up, Jace standing up reflexively.

"Sebastian!" She cooed as she walked over to him and put her arms around him for a brief hug. I heard Aline introduce Jace and Sebastian; I was surprised they hadn't met before. I could just see out of my peripheral vision that they were shaking hands as I stood up and walked around my chair.

"So Sebastian, this little sweet thing is Clary." Aline said with a huge smile. I really hadn't been paying much attention to Sebastian while Aline said the introductions and my eyes finally shifted to him as I reached my hand out. Sebastian was tall, probably just a couple inches shorter than Jace. He looked built as well, like he worked out regularly. He was wearing a cranberry red long sleeved button up dress shirt tucked into a pair of black dress pants. He had jet black short hair and deep brown eyes. I tried to give him a sincere smile when he took my hand, which wasn't too much of an effort because I was flattered the way his whole face lit up.

"Oh shit…" He smirked with a little chuckle. I furrowed my eyebrows slightly at him, not a traditional greeting.

"…Clarissa…Clarissa Morgenstern?" I gave him a quizzical look as he just continued to hold my hand.

"I…ah…" I couldn't even get the words out. I hadn't been called that for a very long time.

"You're Johnny's baby sister?" I hadn't been called that in just as long. I shook my head at him in disbelief.

"I'm so sorry…I have no idea who you are." I only absentminded noticed he was still holding my hand in his.

"You have a brother?" It was Jace's surprised reaction, but I only half registered it.

"I…Who?" I stumbled. Sebastian's face just lit up further.

"Oh wow…" He chuckled again.

"…Sebastian Verlac, but you and your brother use to call me Seb…" It sounded so familiar. I just shook my head slightly and furrowed my eyebrows.

"…Come on, I practically use to live at your house…" I was trying so hard to remember him. He leaned in closer, much closer, and lowered his voice.

"…I may or may not have pulled an I'll show you mine if you show me yours on you and your father walked in on us."

"Oh. My. God." I put my free hand up to my mouth as I laughed so loud, which was rather disruptive considering the kind of elegant restaurant we were in. I heard Aline make a little throat clearing and I tried to subdue the laughter as I whacked Sebastian in the chest. I glanced over my shoulder in Jace and Aline's direction as Sebastian's arms quickly surrounded me. I was pretty sure they heard what Sebastian had just said. Jace had a little glare on his face and Aline looked like her plastered on smile was a little more forced than usual. I remembered that, I was six or seven, my father walked in my bedroom to find both of us stripped down to nothing, he was livid, but I had no idea what the big deal was all about at the time. Sebastian's arms were tight around my waist as he lifted me up and twirled me in a circle. My face felt like it was on fire as I continued to laugh, but I wrapped my arms around Sebastian's neck. I hadn't seen him in forever and that's the story he decides to go with to remind me who he is? I had tears threatening I was laughing so hard, but I just couldn't seem to stop.

"Fuck…I just can't get over it…You're all grown up." He said with a chuckle as he placed me back down on the ground, but he kept his arms loosely around my waist.

"Well god it's been like twelve years." He nodded.

"No shit…How's Johnny? I haven't seen him in forever." I shrugged.

"Your guess is as good as mine…When did you leave England?" I questioned. He glanced down in thought.

"God, it was only like a year after the divorce. I came to New York to live with my aunt and uncle."

"Wait…What?...Your parent's are divorced? You're living with your aunt and uncle now?" He shook his head.

"No I meant your parent's divorce…and I'm not living with my aunt and uncle anymore, I've got my own place now…My parents were both killed in a car crash. I thought Johnny would have told you…He came to the funeral." I shook my head.

"No…God Seb I'm so sorry. I would have looked you up if I knew you lived in the city." He shrugged halfheartedly.

"It alright…I tried to keep in contact with Johnny for awhile, just letters and emails, but you know how it is…then when he ended up in juvy we lost touch-"

"Juvy? When the hell was that?" Sebastian looked at me like I was crazy.

"He had to be like fourteen...You two are what? Almost four years apart?…" I nodded.

"…It was only a couple years after you and your mom left. Shit Clary…When's the last time you talked to him?" I just shook my head again with an uncomfortable chuckle.

"London courtroom twelve years ago."

"Oh Clary…I'm sorry." I half shrugged.

"It's fine…That was a long time ago." I trailed off. Jonathan was my half-brother, we had the same father, but not the same mother. There really wasn't a choice in the matter when my father was awarded custody of him. I heard an intentional throat clearing and looked over to see Jace scowling. I had nearly forgotten we were in a restaurant and not alone.

"Bless my stars, see how sweet this is, it's like fate brought y'all back together." Aline said in an excited voice. I chuckled as rolled my eyes.

Dinner was much the same, Sebastian and I seemed lost in a world of reminiscing and I barely paid attention to Jace and Aline, which I wasn't sure if I was being rude or not. Aline occasionally would make a comment about how cute we were, but otherwise she seemed more than content to talk to Jace. At the end of the meal, and two bottles of wine later, Sebastian asked if he could drive me home. I hesitated, though I was happy to see Sebastian and reminisce, I really wasn't sure if I wanted to pursue a relationship with him and I didn't want to lead him on.

"We can take her home, we live together." Jace quickly chimed in. I glanced in his direction as Sebastian was pulling out my chair.

"Oh? I thought Aline told me you lived outside the city, a half-hour or so away?" Sebastian questioned. I nodded.

"I'm in the process of moving, you know…" I glanced over to Aline and Jace.

"…thought it'd be nice to give the newlyweds some space." I said trying not to sound bitter. Sebastian hooked his elbow with mine.

"There's no reason to rush." Jace snapped tightly under his breath as he pushed by me, his hand interlaced with Aline's. I glanced up at him with furrowed eyebrows. He'd been moody all night.

"So where are you staying?" Sebastian questioned. I chuckled uncomfortably.

"Kind of a funny story actually-" Jace was quick to cut in.

"My parents." He glanced back over his shoulder as Sebastian and I followed.

"Oh? Your mom doesn't live in the area anymore? I'd love to see her." I smiled.

"No, she moved a couple years ago. She lives about four hours away now. I bet she'd love to see you too…" I heard Jace scoff, but I just kept talking.

"…You were around so much I think she felt like she lost two of her kids when we left." Sebastian gave me a warm smile as we all walked outside. He and Jace stepped away to claim their cars from the valet.

"Well look at y'all gettin' friendly." Aline cooed as she grabbed onto my arm with both of hers. I smiled slightly and rolled my eyes as I shook my head.

"He's just an old friend of my brother's, that's it." I said simply. She was giving me a mischievous sideways smile.

"Alright sugar, whatever ya say." Sebastian and Jace walked back towards us and Aline dropped my arm to go scoop Jace's up. He furrowed his eyebrows slightly at me, but his gaze dropped to Aline as she whispered something to him. I didn't catch what she said or his reaction as Sebastian started talking and my attention shifted to him.

"Well, I had such a great time tonight, I hate to say goodbye just yet. I live only like five minutes away. You could come back for a drink if you want? I still have all my photo albums with pictures from when we were kids." I glanced at my watch, it was 9:30 and I had work in the morning.

"Sure, I guess we could." Jace piped in sounding almost bored. I glanced up at him skeptically. That invitation was definitely not meant for him and Aline too.

"Darlin' don't be absurd. Sebastian was askin' Clary back for a drink, not us." Aline said with a chuckle. A second later Aline had her arms tightly around my neck.

"Now ya go and have some fun…" She kissed my cheek before she pulled away. Seriously, did she think we were that close or was she drunk? Though I must admit, I was feeling a little less hostile towards her at the moment, and I was sure that was the alcohol swimming through my veins.

"…We'll catch-up tomorrow." She said with a little wink. She hooked her arm with Jace's and tugged him towards the car the valet had just brought around. Jace looked back over his shoulder at me with such a torn expression as they walked away. A moment later they were gone and the valet was holding the door to Sebastian's car for me. As I climbed in I was really wondering if I made the right decision.

A/N - Thank you all for taking the time to read my story! I love all of your supportive reviews!