A/N: I know, I know! I wrote it earlier, but meant to post it earlier. I have finals, so it took me longer than I expected. I only have four days left of school, though, so I should technically be able to post a little faster to complete this story as soon as school's out. YAY! XD Enjoy! And so sorry for the wait, again!
Disclaimer: I don't own TMI, BUT I WISH I DID XD. All rights to Cassandra Clare
Jace POV:
I enter the school. It's been a while since we've kissed, and honestly, I miss it. She's beautiful, amazing. I can't stop thinking of I know I'm nothing but trouble for her. Memories of her so broken, tears pooling in her eyes, a long time ago... it's too painful. So much guilt. I can't do that to her. Not again. It had been a mistake, an accident of course, but it didn't matter. She was everything to me, whether I denied it or not. If I had to stay away, then so be it. If it kept her safe, I could suffer without her.
Clary POV:
I had left my art pad at school, and to say I was freaking out, well that would be the understatement of the year. I panicked all night. The worst part? I left it in the art room, which meant Jace probably had it. Even worse? What if he looked? Well, he he wouldn't, right? He knows it's like my diary. He would never. But then again, it's Jace Herondale... you could never tell with him. Even I didn't see that coming, all those years ago...
Jace POV:
I see her there, sitting there in homeroom, looking as breathless as she always did. I mentally chided myself. Stay away from her, Jace. If you love her, stay away. I sit down next to her, casually.
I see her glance at me, out of the corner of her eye. Usually, she just ignores, and god, it hurts every time she does, but I know I deserve it. Drunk or not. It wasn't an excuse. I was stupid, foolish, to ever hurt her. Damn, I love her so much. And it feels weird, I'm a player, I don't love. I play people.
Clary POV:
I've got to ask him for my drawing pad. I know, he won't ever give it back unless I ask. He doesn't approach people. That's just the way he is. Nervous energy fills up in me. Summoning my courage, not meeting his eyes, I open my mouth to speak to him.
"Jace, um..."
Jace POV:
My heart pounds when she says my name. I just want to kiss her. Hold her tight and never let go. Instead, I try to keep my expression even and try to listen instead of focusing on her beautiful fiery red hair, emerald, sparkling eyes, and soft skin... damn. I know I'm falling now, harder. Crashing like a plane actually.
Clary POV:
"...I think I left my art pad, and well, I was wondering... if you saw it?" I meet his gaze, expression hard, trying to show him I don't want any of his B.S. He nods actually. Relief pounds through me. I'd been worried sick. He seems sort of nervous as well. Jace fumbles trying to get the pad out of his bag.
Jace POV:
I try desperately not to blush, I'd been staring. Hopefully she hadn't noticed. I fumble for a couple minutes and then finally pull out her yellow art pad, with her name written in fancy letters on the cover. I hand it to her. She offers no smile, no anything. My heart shatters. She simply takes it and mutters a small "thank you."
"Clary I..." I honestly have no idea what I was thinking. But guilt piled on me, for once, I had a conscience. "I looked. I'm so sorry, I know I shouldn't I looked." She freezes, eyes widening. And then before I know it, she's dragging me out into the hall by my arm. I gulped.
Clary POV:
Anger pulses through me. Once we're safely in private outside, I push him into a supply closet and shut the door behind us, enveloping us in darkness. Then, I slap him. He winces, but makes no attempt to protest, he knows he deserved it. He opens his mouth to speak, but I cut him off.
"How dare you?!" I scream at him. "You knew, you knew not to open it! Damn it, Jace!"
He flinched and had enough sense in him to look down. "Clary, I-"
"Shut up, Jace! If you're going to give some explanation, save it! I don't want to hear your lies," I hiss, venom in my voice. I glare at him in a stony silence. He starts to explain, and a little calmer because I slapped him, I give him one chance to explain.
"Clary, I'm really sorry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have. I have no excuse."
"Damn right you don't," I mutter under my breath. He continues on.
"But-but we need to... are we going to talk about this? Or are you just going to run away again and not let me explain like you did so many years ago?" I huff out a breath, but he's right. It's been years, we can't just keep pretending nothing happened.
"Fine, let's talk, Jace. Let's talk about what you did to me!"
Jace POV:
"It was around five years, Clary. Calm down, let's talk this through, like civilized people."
"Don't you dare act civilized, you liar!" Her words pain me, but I push through. Pretend emotionless, like I always do. "You cheated on me! I-I Jace Herondale! I put my heart out there, I was already afraid! Last time I put my heart out there like that... and what'd you do? You made promises, everyone thought someday we'd be married or something! Thought I'd finally broken the great player, made him love! But I was wrong, alcohol or no alcohol, really? Really?!" she let out a shaky breath. Tears pooled in her eyes, she didn't even bother to wipe them away, she was beyond upset. "You promised, Jace. You promised you'd never hurt me, not like he did. And you hurt me worse than anyone ever could."
I try to speak, but she cuts me off again. "You- you...wow." She shivers. "Let's recap. You'd given me the promise ring, what two weeks ago? Correct?"
I nod quickly.
"Then, at your birthday party, in front of everyone..." she shivers again. "Truth or dare," she reminds me. "He dares you to kiss Aline. You did."
"It was a dare! What'd you expect me to do?! Be a wuss?!"
"No, that's fine. So you kissed her. Fine. But then what? You made out with her! For like twenty minutes! In front of everyone! And everyone stared at me with pity, it was horrible!"
"It wasn't my fault!"
"Oh yeah?! How so?!"
"She pushed me up against a wall and wouldn't let go!"
"Don't you dare tell me a boy who plays both American football, and soccer can't push a twig off of him! I get it! She was your latest play before you and me became a thing! I get it, you still obviously were attached to her! But COME ON!"
"I was drunk!"
"And who's fault was that?!"
Both of us glared at each other in the very dark closet.
"I'm leaving," she snapped. "Don't ever talk to me again, Jace Herondale. I hate you," she told me bitterly. Her words hit me hard. But the closet was too dark. She tripped over something, I don't even know what, and let out a tiny shriek, about to fall forward and land painfully. My reflexes kicked in and I caught her, but just barely. That's when I realized how awkward it was. She had just been about to storm out on me, and now we were pressed against each other, faces inches away from each other, in a dark closet. I waited for her to slap me and tell me not to touch her. I closed my eyes, bracing myself.
A/N: AAAAAAAAAND CLIFF HANGER! AYE! XD Sorry not sorry! School's almost out. Four days left! WHOOOHOOO! I have to write Sizzy's date, more Clace, Malec angst, and then I'll wrap this story up. Hope you enjoyed. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!
