Many good and bad things happened in the days that followed after Clary's relocation.

She was happier and more carefree, not having to deal with her family and focusing on dodging them at all times. Waking up in the morning and feeling like a prisoner in your own home got tiresome after a while. Now, she could wake up in the morning without having to listen to see if they were still here. She didn't have to sneak in and out like a criminal. They probably didn't even know she was gone. Jonathan wouldn't care even if he did, and her father was always too busy to notice her disappearances anyway.

So she finally got the break she was looking for. Isabelle had been surprisingly helpful. The pushiness was getting on Clary's nerves though: always asking if she could take Clary shopping, always wondering why Clary dressed the way she did, always questioning her activities with Simon, and worst of all, she always asked how Clary got sent to East in the first place and why she wasn't wanting to go home. That woman was a walking questions box, but Clary tried her best to make sure it didn't bother her. And it normally didn't. She was able to stay at the Lightwood's castle-like house without too much confrontation from either of the siblings. Alec would normally stayed quiet and was pretty much invisible anyway, and Max was normally already in bed by the time Clary got back form her time with Simon. Luckily though, the few encounters she had with him wasn't bad, but they were actually fun. He was a cute kid, always wanted to talk about comic books, his school life, and, unfortunately - much to Clary's hidden annoyance - his obnoxious, blonde hero.

Jace. He was a totally different story. One thing was in common between Simon and Jace: They both hated the fact that Clary was now staying there. Well, Simon hated it more than Jace, actually. He said, and quote, "It's just pointless. Isabelle will turn you into one of her shopping savvy followers who only care about what make-up to wear. I don't like it." Even though he didn't say anything about Jace, she knew that it bothered him. He was worried for her, worried that Jace would 'corrupt' her or something.

But after three days, that had yet to happen, so he stopped complaining about it. It wasn't like she was ignoring him. Besides, she rarely spent time with any of them outside of school anyway. The only moments she really spent with Isabelle was late at night when she would come back after staying with Simon at the bookstore or at his house doing homework. In fact, she really only slept at the Lightwood's, mainly because Jace was always there.

She's still not sure how it happened, but the two of them made some kind of a telepathic point to avoid each other as much as possible. Even at school, he'd just nod to her if they made eye contact like she was some buddy and walk away. No words spoken between them. The occasion "hey" came across every once in a while in the hallway, but other than that, it was completely awkward and silent between them. Isabelle had made it clear to both of them that if they were going to talk, that she didn't want an argument. She still had the ability to throw both of them out of the castle, so Clary made sure that she just didn't bother with Jace at all for a fear of having to go back home.

And that plan worked like a charm, until that Friday morning.

Isabelle was in the shower, so Clary was on her own for breakfast, which she didn't mind. Isabelle and food didn't mix anyway. She was already dressed in her normal clothing - tight pants, a tank top, and her jean jacket, much to her new friend's distaste, and was sitting on the bar stool eating a bowl of Frosted Flakes when he walked in.

And he looked good. His football jersey hung loosely around his torso with the number 16 in white letters surrounded by black. His hair was perfect under his hat, naturally. He didn't even have to try to look good. Jeans hung low on his hips, followed by a pair of white NIKE high-tops that matched his white snapback. Normally, Clary would've thought that guys like him were punks or tools, but he was able to make anything and everything work. He was still a jerk in her eyes though.

She ignored him, keeping her eyes on the cereal as he grabbed his own food. For a while, she thought she was completely and successfully invisible until he took the seat next to her.

And then he talked.

"Want to pass me the cereal?"

He didn't say a hey, or a hello, or a what's up. In fact, that was the most they've talked since she moved into the guest room, and she did it without a word. Her fingers gripped the box, dropping it next to him with a thump.

"Are you going to ignore me on my big day?"

She shrugged.

He didn't even pour his cereal. He grabbed and set the box down by his bowl, and grabbed her own bowl when she reached for more.

"Hey!"

"Stop eating and answer my question," he said, pulling the bowl further back and out of her reach until it was pulled behind his bowl and the cereal box. "Are you going to ignore me on my big day?"

"I don't exactly know what day you're talking about."

"Yes you do, Tiger. Tonight is a big game," he said. He'd taken to accustom of still using his nickname for her, only saying Clary every once in a while. She wasn't quite sure how she felt about it, since either way still made her feel strange things inside. "Take a walk with me."

"A walk?"

He nodded, standing up and shoving his hands in his pockets. "It's when you use two feet to carry you places without an actual destination in mind. Walking is good for the mind, body, and soul, something you need. None of those three categories are going well for you. And besides, I think there are some things that both of us need to explain, and taking a walk has scientifically proven that people open up better on the move. So, I say again," he bent down lower, just enough so that Clary could notice the difference. "Take a walk with me."

She contemplated the not so horrific idea. Even still, she leaned back, twisted, and placed her elbows against the counter behind her while lookign up at him. "You know, most people would ask."

His face changed, looking at her like she was an annoying five year old. "Fine, will you take a walk with me before school?"

"No."

"No?"

"Nope."

He sighed, pulling his hat off for a split second to run his fingers through it before putting it back on. "You know, I'm trying to be civil, but you're making it extremely difficult."

"The best way for you to be civil would be to act like I don't exist. In fact, I would greatly appreciate it. The past few days have been like heaven without you in them."

"Okay, look here squirt," he said. The anger in his voice made it deeper, more raspy and Clary had to push the thought away about how sexy it was. She always had a weakness for deep voices. "Isabelle thinks we should try to work this out."

Clary huffed, shaking her head. "I have worked it out." She pointed towards him, her finger pressing against his chest from his close proximity. She ignored how hot he felt, and did her best to keep her voice calm. "You're a pretentious, arrogant, boastful bastard that looks down on others and makes them suffer. Simon is a living example. And I," she pointed to herself, "am an artistic loner that wouldn't mind it if you fell off the edge of the earth. So there, we worked it out."

He shook his head. A smirk started to form on his lips. "You think you know everything about me, but you've only heard it from one point of view. And even then, you're other sources are poorly informed on the subject."

Clary leaned forward and stood. He took a small step back, giving her space and looked down at her. "Jace, I'm always going to dislike you. Why does it matter that I don't like you? There are plenty of people that don't like you."

"You're different."

"How and since when does it matter who is different?"

When he bit his lip, Clary knew that she had him stumped. Even if he wanted to say whatever was on his mind, he wouldn't. Jace wasn't the guy to say the truth if it made him feel weak, and she knew there was only one way to get him to talk. She'd have to open up as well. But she wasn't really a big fan of that, so maybe there was a way around it. A way to get him to talk, but she gets to keep her own demons inside. He didn't need to know all that information anyway.

Here goes nothing.

"Alright, Jace, I'll make you deal." His eyes widened just barely, and she held up a finger to keep him quiet. "I'll take a walk with you, only because Isabelle wants it to happen for a reason I can't explain, but you have to do something for me. If I'm willingly putting myself through this, you're not getting off easily"

he looked her over once, contemplating the idea. When his eyes met hers again, they had changed to a brighter gold. "I'll bite. What is it, Tiger?"

She smiled, stepping past him and towards the door. "Follow me."

He did. After a while, Clary finally started to figure out the layout of the giant castle, including the door that lead outside to the garden in the back. Not only that, she also found a path about a hundred yards past the garden, through the trees, that came up to the most beautiful waterfall she'd ever seen in a short, five minute walk. Something about it was quiet but spoke volumes at the same time.

Jace whistled when he came up behind her. "Wow. I didn't even know this was here."

It was a gorgeous, twenty foot waterfall that dumped into a round hole, about the size of a regular swimming pool. There was a huge rock wall that must be climbed to get to the top of the waterfall, and last time Clary was here, she didn't really feel the need to make such an effort. There was probably a path she could've followed along the sides of the giant wall to the top, but she was too lazy to walk the distance. Once she found this spot, she hadn't wanted to leave.

"How did you find it?" Jace asked. "Alec and Isabelle never told me about this place, and it's not even that far from home."

Clary had a few theories why it was so hidden. "Honestly Jace, Isabelle isn't the girl that goes trudging through the woods in search of waterfalls. And you and Alec are so busy, I doubt you've ever stepped foot outside of a workout center for more than five minutes."

"Hey, I go running all the time."

And his body pretty much agreed with him. He had the abs and legs of a runner, along with other aspects.

"But I've never seen a place like this," he added. Clary kept silent as he stepped forward, past her, and towards the edge of the water that slower brushed up against the dirt, grass, and rocks. He didn't let his shoes get wet, being the diva that he is, but he did bend down, touching the water like it was sacred with his fingertips. "Why did you bring me here?"

"I told you that you had to do something for me first." She saw his confidence falter as he stood, but quickly regained it. His body turned, facing her, and she saw the smirk that he always used to get girls to grovel at his feet. Sadly, Clary kind of felt her knees go unsteady, but she'd never admit it.

"You want me to kiss you under the waterfall?" he asked as he pointed behind him. "That's so romantic," he said in a high pitched voice that mimicked a girl's squeal.

He was just trying to piss her off at this point. "No. Just shut up and listen." He did, shoving his hands in pockets. "I just want one answer with complete honesty and to my standards, and I'll give you as many from me as you want. But I didn't want the others to hear. This is between you and me. Isabelle doesn't need to know. Alec doesn't need to know. Hell, Max sure doesn't need to know. Just one answer from you, and you get all the answers that you want."

Whether those answers would be the truth... well, what he didn't know won't hurt him.

"One answer?" He looked down, thinking about the question for a moment. "I already know what you're going to ask."

"No you don't."

"So this isn't about the nerd?"

She shook her head. "It's only about you."

"Isn't it always?" he said with a smile that curled at the corner of his mouth. He shut it quickly at the look she gave him, taking a deep breath and nodding. "Alright, Tiger," he stepped up until he was right in front of her, "What mind boggling question have you conjured up in that curious little head of yours?"

"What happened to your family?"

And yes, the expression on his face was of that with a person who's mind was blown. His lips parted slightly, a small gasp coming through. His eyes widened, expressing all the pain under them. His body tensed. His shoulders straightened as he looked down at her. Clary could actually read all the emotions in his face for once. Hurt, regret, anger, pain, suffering, it was all there in the gold of his eyes.

But it didn't last. His face was replaced with the back of his head quickly as he walked away a few feet. He didn't get far before he stopped, staring at the waterfall. "I don't have to answer that."

She expected this reaction. "If you want to talk civilly to each other, you'll answer the question."

"I don't care, actually. You forget that I was doing this for Isabelle."

"Then walk away," she said. "I'll tell Isabelle we worked everything out, but that we still don't really care for each other. It's simple as that. We don't have to speak to each other ever again, because were different people. It only makes sense for us to avoid each other."

"Is that what we've been doing? Avoiding each other?"

"That's my side of the story," she said. "I don't know about yours."

"And that's what you want to know?" He turned around again, his body going back and forth. It was like he couldn't look at her, but had to at the same time. Like he wanted to run, but his feet wouldn't move him. It was the strangest thing Clary had ever seen. She'd experienced and seen plenty of internal conflict in people, but whatever happened to Jace's family had him broken. "You want to know my side?"

She didn't answer, but shrugged with one shoulder.

"Why do you even care?" he asked.

"Scientific curiosity."

He scoffed. "Yeah, coming from an artist," he mumbled. "Look, Isabelle and Alec don't even know what happened that night. You get to know exactly what they know." It was like history repeated itself as he stepped up to her again, but his face was different this time. He was distressed, and very much hating the current conversation, but Clary wasn't letting him out of it until she got some answers. "My parents are dead."

"I figured that much."

He was quiet for a moment, studying her before saying, "Way to sound sentimental."

She crossed her arms over her chest, stepping up beside him. He turned so they were both facing the waterfall. "You haven't exactly earned anyone's sympathy or sentiment. You're quite revolting most of the time."

For a while, they both just kept quiet and watched the waterfall side by side. If Jace wouldn't have been there, she would've actually felt peaceful maybe. Last time she was here, she felt like it was the closest thing to home she had. Her mother used to take her to such places when she was little. It was one of the few things that she remembered as a child. Her mother and water always seemed to go hand in hand. It was like they flowed together.

She jumped when suddenly, out of nowhere with no warning, Jace collapsed. Clary jumped back, shocked as he hit the floor, but it was planned. He fell back, his jersey and jeans lying against the grass as he stared at the trees above them.

"You okay?" she asked, even though she didn't really care one way or another.

That was all she asked, but she got a whole lecture for an answer. "Okay is a strange word. People use it as more of an excuse, and I don't feel like it really has any meaning." He sounded like he wasn't really talking to her, but a brick wall or something. "When loved ones die, when people have their hearts broken, or when they get physically injured, it's always the first question. 'Are you okay?' Its crap. No one really cares. It's the social protocol. You know how many people asked that question and genuinely care?" He held up his hand, making an 'O' with his finger and thumb. "Zero."

"Isabelle and Alec didn't genuinely care?"

"They didn't ask," he said. His hands moved to the back of his head, cupping behind it. Clary, not really sure what to do, sat down next to him, eyes on the waterfall, and pulled her legs up to her chest. "They knew better ways to help me cope than to ask questions. Alec helped me train, while Isabelle spent her time getting me girls to occupy me. When I was alone, I'd think too much and end up hurting myself. I'd punch a hole in a wall, break a few mirrors, that kind of thing. They did everything they could to keep me under control."

"So, they turned you into a manwhore that works out a lot?"

She expected to get some kind of sarcastic remark about all the girls he slept with, but she didn't get it. "I'm not a manwhore," he said in a voice that resembled that of a child.

Clary looked down at him, and found his eyes on her as well. The rays of the sun made the gold look brighter than usual, but they had a trace of frustration and... shame? "What would you call it then?"

"Coping," he said without hesitation. "I had lost my parents, and everyone has their ways of coping with the loss of close family. Whether it's sleeping around, working out, messing with nerds, or punching the shit out of opponents in a ring. I'm sure you've been through something similar before. Everyone has."

He didn't know how right she was, and she turned away completely from him before he could see it in her eyes. Her mother's face, the one from the pictures passed through her mind. If she recalled correctly, no one in her family really dealt with her disappearance with much grace. Her father turned to alcohol, which he eventually got out of after some time. Jonathan coped pretty well for a long time, before recently snapping and turning into a monster. And Clary's idea of coping was having one friend and painting.

But at least she didn't break hearts and sleep around.

"Who did you lose?"

She didn't answer. She didn't want to. The sound of crunching grass broke through the sound of rushing water as Jace sat up, coming into Clary's peripheral vision.

"You made the deal," he said. "I answered you're question, and you answer all of mine."

She shook her head when she was sure the tears weren't coming. "I said you have to answer it to my standards. Two words aren't exactly my standards of a fully answered question."

"Well, that's all you're getting." Clary moved to get up, but Jace was there too quickly. He hovered over her as he crouched in front of her, but not directly, as she sat back, like a dangerous angel. "What are you trying to do?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said with complete and total honesty, looking down to avoid his gaze.

"Don't play that shit," he growled. "You think you're special? That I'll open up to you just because I said your different? You're wrong, like most women are. Don't even think for a second that you stand out compared to all the other girls."

"I didn't," she shot back. "I never wanted to be different in your eyes. That only leads to getting hurt by someone like you. But Isabelle isn't exactly good at keeping secrets. She keeps mentioning something, and then cuts herself off and changes the subject. I know a lost cause when I see one, so I went to the source."

He stood, shaking his head at her as she rose to her feet. He stood as well, his eyes never leaving hers. She could feel his gaze burning into her skin like a laser. "Well, you'll be sorely disappointed as far as I'm concerned."

Clary's phone buzzed in her pocket, and although this conversation was the longest and angriest she had with Jace, she pulled it out and answered with a calm and collected voice. "Hello?"

"Clary, hey!"

Sebastian. Jace rose an eyebrow, but Clary shoved him away with one hand and started walking towards the house again. She didn't care if Jace followed her, stayed there, or drowned in the giant pond. "Hey, what's up? Ready for the game tonight?"

"Of course! Can you come?"

"Yes!" she exclaimed, picking up her pace to get back to the house. "Isabelle and I will definitely be there. I'm not going to this stupid thing for anything else though, so you and Izzy need to keep the PDA to a minimum in front of me. I told Simon that I was going for you, and if he finds out I didn't even get to spend it with you because of a black haired, gorgeous, hormonal teenage girl that he has a hug crush on got in the way, he and I will be very upset."

"No promises. I don't really restrain myself very well."

She ducked under a tree branch, jumped over a tree root, and tried her best to keep from falling as she walked. It sucked to have no coordination whatsoever. "It's still better than some people I know." Jace and Jonathan for starters.

"I know exactly what you mean," he said with a chuckle. "But hey, don't forget that I said Simon could come if he wanted to. I know you two had tonight planned when I called Isabelle, so I don't want you cancelling your plans for me."

"It's not a problem. He said that he had some business to take care with Jordan, whatever that meant. He–"

Clary lost her footing when a cat suddenly darted out in front of her, chasing what appeared to be a lightning fast squirrel. Her toe got caught on blasted tree root sticking up when she jumped, and she stumbled, reaching out to catch herself, dropping her phone in the process before her face hit the floor. But the impact never came when suddenly a pair of arms wrapped around her and pulled her back.

She felt him pressed up against her, arms around her hips and hands pressed against her clothed stomach, holding her to him. She wasn't paying attention to the phone on the ground, the wind picking up, or the cat screeching as it chased until it disappeared. All she was aware of was Jace, and how freakishly close he was to her right now. How hard his body was against her back. How big his hands were. How hot his breath was against her cheek.

"You might want to be more careful," he whispered in her ear. His voice was throaty and deeper. "Chairman Meow is kind of… a killer."

She nodded, heart still pounding in her chest. Whether it was because of the adrenaline of almost face planting or Jace, she wasn't sure. Not to mention she couldn't figure out if she actually liked how he was holding her or not. It was so aggravating.

"I'll leave you to your phone call." And then she was alone again. His body moved quickly, disassembling himself from her and heading towards the house at a jog. That kind of hurt that he wanted to get away from her that quickly. She did kind of deserve that reaction though.

She grabbed her phone slowly, making sure she didn't hit the floor again, and pulled it to her ear. "Seb?"

"What was that awful sound?"

Clary looked back towards the bushes where the cat ran through, kicking a rock in that general direction. "Some damn cat chasing a squirrel."

"Damn. Are you okay?"

She looked forward, towards Jace's disappearing form. There it was. That question that he hated so much. What was his deal with people being concerned about him? But now, as even her best friend in the entire world ask her if she was okay, she couldn't help but see his point. There really wasn't a point to the question, and even if there was, it was always followed by the same answer. It didn't matter if the person lied or told the truth, because it was the same either way.

"Yeah, I'm okay."

He was angry. He was pissed. Hell, he was completely livid at this point. She stepped over a line that was never meant to be crossed, and dammit to hell if he'd let this one go. Jace had let Isabelle get away with a lot in the past, mainly out of their friendship, but this pushed him over the edge. It was about time he spoke his mind now, and she was so dead.

The house was quiet enough as he charged through it, up the stairs, and he kicked, literally kicked, Isabelle's door open, breaking the hinges and sending the wooden rectangle flying into the room. It landed with a loud crashing sound, smaller wood chips breaking off and flying across the room. He didn't even bother with it, stepping inside and scanning the room. "ISABELLE!"

"WHAT THE HELL, JACE! That's my door, you jackass!"

Isabelle, the traitor, stood in the doorway to her bathroom in her towel. Her black hair was wrapped up in its own towel as well, and her body was still dripping wet. She looked angry, confused, and shocked as she looked from the door to Jace, to the door with an open mouth.

He stormed right up to her, and shoved her against the wall with such a force that she actually yelped. He would've felt sorry if he wasn't so pissed off. Right now, all he wanted was to beat the shit out of her. If she was Alec, he would've. Damn her for being a girl! "You told Clary."

She shook her head in confusion. "Told her what?"

"About my parents," he said. "You spilled it."

Isabelle's eyes went from angry to apologetic within seconds. Her hands came up, only to drop again like she didn't know what to do with them. "Jace, I didn't–"

"But you did."

"It was an accident," she insisted. Jace stepped back, letting her step away from the wall. Her blue eyes were full of worry and regret, something he didn't see very often. "I stopped myself, I swear, but Clary caught on that I was keeping something secret. You know I'd never do that to you on purpose, Jace. I love you too much to hurt you like that."

"Then why did you?" he let out along with a deep, exasperated breath. Suddenly, a feeling of tiredness washed over him, and he wanted nothing more than to just go back to sleep.

Isabelle wrapped her arms around her torso. Jace noticed the water dripping out from around her towel, down her face and legs, but it didn't bother him. But the fact that she looked natural was different to him. She was huge on make-up and wouldn't get caught dead without it, so now, just fresh out of the shower and natural isn't something he was used to.

Isabelle's blue eyes met his, soft and apologetic. "Did you tell her?"

He nodded slowly. "About as much as you and Alec know. I didn't exactly have a choice."

"That's what happened to me," she said. Jace raised an eyebrow, still kind of confused, before Isabelle explained. "She's easy to open up to, even when she doesn't ask questions. I've realized that the past few days, even if she hasn't got a clue about the effect she has on people. Think about it, you spent how long with her this morning?"

Jace shrugged. "Ten, fifteen minutes."

"That's what I'm saying. It took Alec and me two weeks to get you to talk about it."

She had a point, but it wasn't entirely true. "But it doesn't get to me now like it did back then. It's easier to talk about now that I've recovered."

Isabelle didn't look convinced. "Either way, I just got caught up when I was talking with her. I never said that it was anything about your family, but she must have figured it out. She's easy to open up to, and even you can't deny that after what you just told me."

Even though he wanted to be angry, he knew that he couldn't be upset with Isabelle, but with Clary. The redhead was the one that was being pushy, that was asking questions, and was seriously starting to get on his nerves. She could mess with him all she wanted, ask him anything and if he gave it up, he couldn't blame anyone but himself.

But he hated how she was manipulating Isabelle, even if she didn't realize she was doing it. Clary could get her to do anything it seemed like, and that wasn't okay. He wouldn't put up with it. Not now. Not ever. If this continued, who knows what Tiger would find out, and some secrets are best left alone, locked away where no one would find them.

"I have to go."

He headed out of the room quickly, dodging the broken door on the floor in search of Clary.

How did this ever happen? She looked so sweet and innocent when he first laid eyes no her. Even Isabelle thinks she's just a nice, little girl. But she was exactly like Nala from the Lion King. Cute, small, sassy, a bit curious. Actually, a little too curious. And she was pretty fearless as far as Jace could see. The way she can stand up to him and Isabelle isn't something most people succeeded at. It was normally just one or another, never both.

That was the bad part. He and Isabelle were a team. They kept each other grounded and out of the worst trouble. That's how it's always been, and Clary was screwing that up. She was like the wedge that was pulling them apart. Jace never yelled at Isabelle. He never had a reason to, but since the redhead got here, things had changed. And those changes weren't for the better.

He found her walking up the stairs, looking like she didn't have a care in the world. Her head was down, her phone in her hands as she texted away, and it was only when she was two steps below him did she realize her was there at the top of the stairs.

"Well, twice in one morning," she said with amusement. Her hand fell, her fingers digging into her pockets as she looked up at him. "I must be one lucky girl."

"Cut the crap. What game are you playing at?"

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about." She leaned against the railing of the stairs, looking rather casual. "Please, enlighten me."

Jace stepped down on step, leaning down to stare into her eyes. They were the greenest eyes he'd ever seen, with the mixture of different shades dancing across the iris. He could see her freckles across her nose, the set of her jaw, and the flare of her nose because of his close proximity. But like him, she wasn't backing down.

Her stance told him that much. She was stubborn, much too stubborn, and he felt like yelling wouldn't get him through this situation, but he tried anyway. "Just spit it out, Tiger. You're messing with Isabelle and with me, and I want to know why."

"I'm not messing with anyone," she countered. "Isabelle took me in to escape my family. Why would I compromise that? She's actually being a friend to me."

She tried to brush past him, but this time, Jace stopped her. He stepped to his left, locked his right hand on the railing, and his left behind Clary on the railing as well. She was trapped between his arms, glaring up at him.

"Move, Jace."

"Not until I get some answers."

She leaned back, her expression making him uneasy. He hated this. He hated how she played games, how her facial expressions made him feel small and confused. It was like she always thought ahead of him, and God, how he hated it.

This time was no different. She leaned back casually, leaning against the rail and looking at him as her hair fell into her face. She pushed the red curls back playfully. "If I recall, I told you that you'll get all the answers you want once you answer mine."

"I did answer it."

She shook her head. "Two words aren't a decent answer. That's avoiding the question."

"You're question isn't relevant to life on planet earth as we know it," he said. To his own surprise, his voice was pretty steady. The smell of her shampoo hadn't messed with his brain as much as he thought. Normally he had a weakness for girls who smelled like strawberries, and although he still felt an overwhelming force begging him to throw this ungrateful, mischievous redhead against a wall, he fought it with all he had.

Her eyes were full of challenge. "It'll explain why you're always here and never home. What's so awful about that place that you refuse to be there?"

"I could say the same for you." She rose her eyebrows, but didn't look too interested in talking about that conversation. Jace sighed, dropping his head slightly before lifting it again. "There's nothing awful about it."

"Then why are you here? Because I'm pretty sure that you and I," she gestured between them, "don't exactly get along. Being home has to be more pleasant than dodging me."

"You're right. At this point, anything is more pleasant than you," he said.

Something flashed in her eyes, and he realized exactly what he said. He shouldn't have said that! He'd never said anything like that to a girl. Sure, he'd had bad thoughts about Aline, his other girlfriends, and even Isabelle, but he'd never actually said it. A saying his mother always used flashed across his mind as Clary looked away from him.

Say something sweet to a girl, and she'll need to hear it a thousand times to believe it. Say something rude to a girl, and it'll stick with her for a thousand years.

He really was an asshole, even for his standards. The pain flashed across her face, even if she was trying to hide it, and he couldn't handle it. This girl drove him mad, but watching her in pain because of him was almost as bad as losing his parents. It was painful to him, and he was the idiot that dealt the very pain.

"Clary, I didn't mean that." She didn't respond, and he made a move without thinking. His hand came up, clutching her chin softly to pull it back towards him, but her reaction made him stop.

A noise of escaped her lips, one that sounded like a squeal, a whimper, and a gasp, and she smacked his hand away. His eyes widened slightly in shock of himself, not sure what he was expecting. Did he really think she'd let him touch her like that? Was he completely losing his mind? Most girls would've fallen at his feet, but he knew that Clary wouldn't have. He shouldn't have expected anything else.

That was all blocked as soon as he looked down at his hands. There was a smear of make-up on his fingertips. It was foundation and looked like it was a fresh coat. His brows pulled together in confusion. He hadn't known her for a long time, but she wasn't the type to use make-up.

And when he looked back down at her, he knew why. On her chin, barely visible because of the make-up, was a purple looking bruise. It was faded, but he could tell that it was there. "Clary, what the hell happened to your face?"

She immediately reacted. "It's nothing." She turned away from him, heading up the last step when he raced after her. "Jace, just stop. It's nothing."

"That bruise doesn't look like nothing," he said as he followed her. He was hot on her heels, and was getting an answer from her for once, whether she wanted to hand it over or not.

She picked up the pace. "Well, it doesn't matter what it looks like to you."

"Clary, they're in the shape of someone's fingers. Did someone harass you? Hurt you?" He paused when they reached her doorway, his hand coming up and gripping the knob so she couldn't open it. "Did Simon do this to you?"

"No." She breathed it out, leaning against the door.

"What about that Sebastian punk that Isabelle keeps talking to." Jace's free hand balled into a fist at the thought of Sebastian Verlac. That was not one of his favorite people on the planet to begin with, but if he touched Clary... "She told me that you were friends with him, so–"

"Stop acting like you care," she interrupted, her green eyes meeting his. "We all know you don't."

"So it was Sebastian?"

"Why do you think that?"

He dropped his hand, crossing both of his over his chest. She didn't exactly give it away, but her defensive posture made it seem plausible enough. "You interrupted me. That means you just didn't want me to say the truth out loud."

She looked back at him momentarily, huffed in annoyance, and stormed into her room. The door slammed behind her, leaving him alone in the hallway when Isabelle emerged from her broken bedroom door. Her hair was tamed and straightened, but she had yet to get dressed, and jogged down the hall towards him in her towel.

"What's going on?" she asked. She looked between Jace and Clary's door. "What did you do?"

"I started prying, and no way in hell am I done yet." He stormed in after Clary, Isabelle hot on his heels. Clary wasn't visible, and he heard her rummaging through something in the bathroom, so he walked in, slamming the door against the wall. "We're not done with this."

Clary sighed, dropping her toothbrush and toothpaste on the counter. Her eyes met his through the mirror, and then she shifted them towards Isabelle. "Yes, we are."

Jace's anger was getting to the point that he wanted to snap. "Just tell me who did it so I can beat the shit out of that asshole."

"What are you–" Isabelle looked from Clary to Jace, and then her eyes settled on Clary's now visibly bruised chin. "Jace, this is none of your business."

His eyes widened. "Of course it is!" He turned on his best friend, and she stepped back slightly. He knew that look on her face, the knowing look that he hated more than anything, especially right now. It was the look that Isabelle used for secrets. Suddenly, all his anger turned to the feeling of betrayal. "You knew? Isabelle, that bruise has been there for a while, even days, and you didn't tell me?"

"Calm down," Isabelle insisted. Her hand descended on his arm, pulling him towards the door. He didn't want to go. He wanted to know who the hell could've hurt Clary. He wanted to beat the shit out of that person, but Isabelle's grip was surprisingly strong. "Jace, come on, let's GO."

He looked over his shoulder, his eyes meeting Clary's again. There was something in the green colors, something that he hadn't recognized, but he didn't have time to look before Isabelle yanked him through the door, into Clary's bedroom, and finally, into the hallway.

Clary's door shut behind Isabelle with a click, and she immediately shoved him with both hands, sending him stumbling backwards and into the opposite wall. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"ME?" He pointed at himself. "Seriously? I'm not the one that laid my hands on her," he pointed to the closed door that hid Clary from view, "and hurt her. I'm the one trying to get back at whatever bastard did."

Isabelle sighed. "Just let it alone."

"Why?"

"I'm handling it," Isabelle insisted. Jace didn't like the sound of that, and she put her hand on his cheek. She always had a way of calming him, even in his worst times, but right now, even she couldn't stop the boiling in his blood. "She's staying here for a reason, okay? You trust me, don't you?"

Great, the trust card. He took a deep breath to calm his racing blood that pumped with the need to hit something, nodded his head and closed his eyes. "Yes, with my life. You know that." The doorbell rang loudly throughout the house, and he wanted to rip his hair out. He groaned, a sound of annoyance and frustration escaping his throat. "That'll be Aline."

Isabelle's hand fell from his cheek, and she smiled with sympathy. "Don't worry about Clary. You know I'll keep her safe. Just go deal with the bitch at the door."

He did as he was told, not even bothering to defend Aline's nonexistent honor, and headed down the hall to the stairs as Isabelle went back to her room. Aline wasn't the person he wanted to talk be right now. He'd rather have a short redhead with green eyes and freckled skin in his arms than a dark haired slut on his arm, but he had no choice.

So he grabbed his bag, and headed towards the door, preparing himself for the scolding look and the many questions about why he hasn't called her back at all this week.

Jace found out! Tell me what you think! REVIEW! Stay tuned!