Clary sucked at skiing. A week at the cabin and that was what she had learnt. She had literally no skill. The amount of times she had fallen on her ass were just embarrassing. It wasn't as if she didn't try. She had tried everything. She even took classes with an instructor but she still was unable to stay upright for more than a few minutes.

The Lightwoods on the other hand, seemed to be born for this. Alec was probably the most graceful person she had seen while he was on the slopes. Izzy too was absolutely perfect. One incident in particular stood out in her memory. A few days ago, some guys did the mistake on catcalling Izzy and implying that she should go with them and forget skiing, because she anyways won't be able to do anything.

The speed with which Izzy had slipped past them and gone down the slope had caused all of their jaws to drop in the most amazing and comical way. It has also sent Jace and Alec into fits of laughter.

Lastly, Jace looked every bit the beautiful person Clary knew him to be. He loved speed and it was evident in his continuous choice of the highest and steepest slopes possible.

The worst thing of all was the fact, that Clary wasn't only bad at skiing, she was absolutely hopeless in ice skating too. They had gone to a frozen lake some distance away, one afternoon to try their hand in skating. But this time Clary was not the only one falling every few seconds, Alec was right there with her.

Finally Jace and Izzy took pity on them. And that's how Clary spent the afternoon holding on to Jace's hand for dear life and gliding along side him. It was quite possibly the single most romantic thing she had done with any person. And even Alec and Izzy giggling behind them like a couple of crazy people, couldn't deter them.

And maybe it was Clary's imagination, but by the end of that afternoon, she was not the only one reluctant to let go. Jace seemed equally unwilling to stray from her side.

So after a week on constant exercise, Clary finally decided that today she will relax in front of the fireplace with her sketch pad and draw. Alec and Izzy had left to do some shopping and a nearby town and will be back only by evening. So that left Clary alone in the cabin with Jace, and no, she was not nervous at all.

Although it was almost noon, Jace was still asleep. So Clary set up the fireplace herself, and started her sketch. As she often did since she had come on this trip, she found herself drawing Jace. She was not even kidding, her entire sketch book was full of Jace, Jace sitting in the rocking chair, Jace skiing, Jace on the lift, Jace sleeping on the couch, Jace cooking. It was as if sub consciously she was always scrutinizing him and memorising every detail.

This time she was drawing Jace sitting in front of the fireplace reading a book.

"If I didn't know better I would say you are stalking me." So engrossed was Clary that she didn't hear Jace until he was right behind her.

Covering her blush with her hair, Clary said "I like drawing beautiful things. And you are a very beautiful person."

And wasn't that the truth? From the heterochromatic eyes to the blonde hair which Clary just wanted to run her fingers through, he was absolutely breathtaking. She knee giys maybe didn't like being described as beautiful or pretty, but there really wasn't any other adjective to describe Jace.

Now it was Jace's turn to blush. "So maybe you should draw yourself. You are beautiful too."

Clary sure was surprised. "But I am nothing special." she said, finally letting some of her insecurities show. She knew the truth. She really wasn't all that beautiful or striking or hot like some girls.

"What are you talking about? You are absolutely amazing." Jace said.

He must have read the uncertainty in her eyes as he continued. "I mean you dance on Spice Girls songs like no one is watching, you managed to find your own place in a very tightly knit trio, you even managed to enter Alec's good grace. Do you know how hard that is?"

By now Clary was as red as a tomato, but Jace went on.

"You are an amazing artist if that sketch is anything to go by. Even after you fell every few minutes, you had the spirit to get up again and again. Hell, you agreed to come to a trip with complete strangers and you are rocking it. Even I know we are impossible to deal with. You are so busy being you, you have no idea how amazing you are."

Clary finally told him to stop.

"But why?" He asked.

"Because if you continue this for one more minute, I will fall iirrevocably in love with you and yoy are going away after this trip so that can't happen." she said.

"Can I confess something Clary? That night at the supermarket, I was there. I was the one who told Izzy to approach you" he looked abashed like a little kid caught stealing cookies.

"But why?" she couldn't for the life of her understand this.

"Isn't it obvious. Because I liked you. All through high school, I had the biggest crush on you. But I also knew it would never work. Girls like you and guys like me never work. And I was never brave enough to ask you out anyways. You were so unreachable always under your books and art supplies. So when I saw you at the market, I really couldn't resist it. I don't know why I asked you to this trip but maybe I hope I might have a chance. Maybe." Jace finished.

Clary was shocked and she was sure her mouth was hanging open. All of a sudden, Jace's remarks about her body, her dancing, even the glances and smirks in the rearview mirror made a lot more sense. She was silent for a long time and he evidently took it for something else entirely.

"And I know its a lot to process so I am gonna leave you here and go make lunch. I truly am sorry for not telling you earlier. I just wanted a chance to get to know you." he said as he got up.

Clary couldn't stop herself. She got up and went up to him. And just like that without thinking about the future, or the fact that in three weeks they will go their separate ways maybe never to meet again, she threw her arms around Jace and kissed him.

She didn't even know they were moving but she soon found herself with her back to the sofa with Jace's hands all over her. He soon flipped them so that Clary was sitting in Jace's lap and could control the pace of their now somewhat less frantic kissing.

She doesn't know how long they made out in that sofa but that was how Alec and Izzy found them when they got home. With their rumpled clothes and messy hair, she was sure they made quite the pair.

But all Izzy did was smirk, although Clary was sure that Alec passed some money to his sister.

"Are you kidding me? You bet on us? Isabelle I expected this from but Alexander you too?" Jace looked like he was still deciding whether to be amused or angry.

This Clary decided was the correct time to maybe untangle herself and she got off Jace's lap to make her way to her room on unstable legs.

She heard a low whistling sound behind her. "You did that with only make out session? Damn, bro, you are good." That was definitely Izzy.

And thats all she heard before she shut the door and slid down thinking of all that had happened in one afternoon. She was sure that the smile did not leave her face the rest of the day.