❤️My dear followers❤️,

I'm so sorry I haven't updated in days. I've been really busy with end of year work and apartment renovation (I got too inspired by Property Brothers) with the babe. I've also been really busy with my other story, The Assassin & the Maid, feel free to check it out (Rated M). About this story, though, I think I'll short chapters to 1K-2K but update more often.

Thank you for all the reviews, follows and favorites! It means a lot to me!

!ALSO!: I'm currently searching for a beta. If anyone is interested; PM or REVIEW. Thank you. Now, let's read!

-Eleonore

Chapter 7:

Confused Kisses and Words

Before I knew what was happening, his lips pressed to mine, scorching with shyness and fear. The kiss only lasted a few seconds, but we were both stricken with both excitement and embarrassment. His tanned cheeks were as red as my hair, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"What?" He asked, nervously passing a hand through his golden hair. "Am I that bad of a kisser?"

I shook my head, still giggling. "No, not at all. Actually quite the opposite." He grinned mischievously.

"Wanna try again?"

"Ew. No. It was fun once, but it was a joke."

"That's what they all say." He extended his arms for me, wiggling his fingers in my direction. His grin widened when I squealed. "You sure, Thorn?" He started tickling me, running his hands down over my stomach and my sides. I giggled loudly, curling into a ball to get rid of his grip. It didn't work. He gripped my face and brought it closer to his.

"I'm having second thoughts," I mumbled, my voice shaking with anticipation and excitement. My eyes fluttered shut as I felt his breath against my lips a second before his were placed on to mine. I opened my eyes again, and pulled back. His eyes spelled out disappointment.

"Jace?" I asked, looking down at my hands and messing around with my fingers. "Should we really be doing this?" His eyes clouded with trouble as I pronounced my last words.

"What do you mean?" He passed his hand through his hair, a nervous habit, I assumed.

"I mean... You just came back after eight years. I don't really know you that much." I felt his gaze locked on my face, and I couldn't help but feel rude. "Wait, I didn't mean it like-"

"You don't know me that much? Clare, we've spent years together."

"Yeah, but like, you've changed." I suddenly felt nervous. What if he got mad at me? I shrugged, trying to brush the feeling of uneasiness off.

"I've changed? You're kidding right?" At that, I looked up. Fury raged in his gold eyes, turning a dangerous shade of fire. He stood up, his hands clenching and unclenching against his sides.

"Jace, wait-" He stared me dead in the eye. If looks could kill, I'd be in my grave by now.

"Tell me, Clary," he said, his voice deadly calm. "Changed for good, or bad? Oh, wait. Right. You don't 'know me that much', so I guess you can't say." I felt anger coming off of him in fiery waves. I stood up in turn, reaching towards him. He yanked his hand back. "Forget it, Clarissa. You can go find some other guy's heart to mess with." He grabbed his backpack from the ground and stalked away before I had time to respond.

What the hell did I do?

I wanted to run after him, but I knew that he would just get even more mad and confused in my presence. I sat against the wide, rough trunk of the swaying willow, contemplating my next move. I grabbed my bag's strap and threw it over my shoulder. I jogged, or tried, with my Nike wedges, trying not to stumble in the grass.

Without bothering to eat, I slipped into my next period's class, trying to avoid any students in the halls. I just wanted this day to end.

.w.W.w.

And she thought I had changed? I sighed internally with Seelie and her posse chatted aimlessly about clothes, boys and what not.

I had to admit: I had hoped that she would run after me when I stalked away from her under the willow. And I just have to say, her kiss was delicious. No, we're getting off topic. I scolded myself as I felt Seelie hang off my arm, her mouth moving, saying something that I, frankly, wasn't listening to.

For the last thirty minutes, I had been grunting out yes or nodding if she ever talked to me, not even bothering to listen to the question. She suddenly squealed.

"Jacey! I'm so excited! Oh, my gosh! We'll be, like, the cutest couple at the dance!" She exclaimed, moving her hands everywhere frantically with excitement. Wait, what? What dance?

"At the dance?" I asked, clueless. She stopped and looking at me, her face saying Duh. What to you mean, "At the dance?".

"Well, yeah, hotstuff." She's been coming up with the most humiliating nicknames, AND saying them loudly in front of the whole student body. "The beginning of the year dance, just as a welcome to the noobies."

I can't believe she just said that. Way to be classy, Seelie.

"But since you're with me," she said her name as if she was pronouncing the queen of England's, throwing her bleached blonde hair over her shoulder. "You'll be fine, Jacey," she added, probably noticing my discomfort.

"Uh..." I needed to get myself out of this mess. "I actually think I'm busy that night." Her face fell, her eyes glinting with disappointment.

"But, you just said you were free." Leaving my mouth and brain unattended won't happen again. It's dangerous. I chuckled nervously.

"I did? I guess I'll have to check my calendar, or something." My brain suddenly switched gears and whirled in Clary Land direction, and I quickly found myself engulfed with thoughts all about her.

Who will she be going with? Is he a nice guy? … Maybe it's not a he. Why would she have kissed me, then?

Every thought drifted into the direction of another, like a treasure hunt with all it's hints guiding you to other clues.

I got snapped out of my thoughts when a specific, noisy, loud, and obnoxious voice blew out my listening barriers.

"Jacey? Are you even listening?" Cringe. "We have to cooperate for, like, what we're wearing."

"I don't think I'll be going."

"Why not?"

Quick, Jace. Generate a believable response to make her shut up.

"I already asked someone," I blurted out of my mouth, before I could stop my lips. She scoffed, twirling a strand of dead-looking blonde hair around neon red nail polish covered fingers.

"Pff. Who would you already know, like, so well, to go to the dance with them? Like, apart from me, duh," she added, rolling her eyes at the other girls at the table like it was obvious.

"Just some girl."

"Just some girl?"

"Yup."

"Name?"

"Cl... Chloe! Chloe Hamilton."

"I've never heard of a Chloe Hamilton at our school."

"Yeah, she doesn't go here."

"Oh. Is she pretty?"

"I guess."

"Can we meet the girl?"

"I'll ask if she wants to come by." From my imagination.


~FEEDBACK IS WELCOME~

Sorry it was so short! Though, I'll update quicker and sooner this way. Thanks for reading!

Still searching for beta.