Disclaimer: I do not own The Mortal Instruments.

Chapter 7

(Clary POV)

I knew my friends had something planned for me as they were all secretive and they made Josh stay away. Thank god, too. I thought I was going to have to tell him to back the fuck off, because I didn't like him. And being the nice person I am I would never say that, but maybe my friends had sense the unease I was in when he touched me or tried flirting with me. I could tell with the first look at my friends at the welcome back mini friends only pool party they seemed distant with each other as they were asking what was up and catching up.

Right now, everyone but Izzy, Magnus, and I were down stairs decorating it for the party. Magnus checked on them every so often to make sure they didn't ruin anything. Though I dought that Jon, Alec, and Simon would purposely mess something up. Magnus was only up here because we were in his room- using it as a dressing room. Izzy and himself, decided to become my hairdresser and stylist for this party as they were currently arguing about what I would wear and what my hair and makeup would look like. And I couldn't help but think back to when Jace said he loved my curly hair especially when it was down.

Shhhhh. Clary, stop thinking about him. You're confused and you want to know if you cared for Jace just because he was the last hope back on Iris or was it something more. Though I already knew the answer, I was just putting it off. Actually I was putting everything off, telling Jace multiple things- life changing things.

While I stared at myself in the mirror, Magnus and Izzy agreed on what my makeup would look like and what I was going to wear, but they didn't know exactly what they wanted with my hair.

"Leave it down." I suggested, turning slightly towards them. I was in a towel and my hair was barely dripping any more. They stood dumbfounded in front of me. The clothes they pick were a peach-white strapless dress, that was lace and you could see my midsection, but not my chest or below the belt, it was beautiful. The shoes were more peachy-skin tone and were the same concept. With my now tanned skin it would look prefect, they had good taste. But it wasn't me anymore. I had changed, I know that much and the things I use to like wasn't what I liked now.

"She is right." Magnus said looking down at the dress then back at me, taping his chin.

"CURLS! Beach waves that would match perfectly." We looked at Izzy, who nods her agreement and then they begin my torture. My hair had diffidently gotten longer, but I loved it so I didn't trim it, and everything seemed to fit perfectly. Now, there was nothing that I would change about my appearance. When they were done, they helped my put on the dress as it zipped in the back and then they worked on themselves. Arguing over the mirror while I sat on Magnus's bed. After they finished, they told me to stay upstairs while they make sure the guys were finished with decorating and have themselves dressed, because the party was going to start soon. And they wanted me to make an appearance.

Probably about thirty minutes after I heard the music turn on, Izzy finally came and got me. Since Magnus had stairs that lead straight to the living room, I sure to have an entrance. Though, somehow I got even more popular after everything, I wasn't use to the attention. Everyone's head had turned, and a few gasp. Girls gave me glares, that I wasn't sure why I was getting them. Boys gave me wolf whistles, I hated it.

Maybe, some of Jace's personality got to me, because I just wanted to hide in Magnus's room until all of this was over. Ignore these people, draw or read a book. I wanted to be by myself, and that wasn't like me and that scared me a little. I was always the one that was a people person, always able to talk and make sure nothing got awkward. But right now in this moment, I felt awkward.

Jonathon joined me at the stairs, dressed in jeans and a white t-shirt. I was happy; I could hide behind him or next to him. But everywhere he seemed to take me, eyes were on me. Boys asked for dances, and I would take them because I didn't want to seem rude, though Jonathon would question, why I looked unease after each dance. And I couldn't answer him.

Every guy that came near me besides Jon, Simon, Magnus, or Alec I wasn't comfortable around. I felt like I was somehow cheating on Jace, even though we weren't an item. I felt discussed with myself because I was DANCING with another guy. I got use to Jace's and my music-less dances in the rain or just because that doing it with someone else felt completely wrong.

Jonathon soon, led me to the living room, were all the couches were gone and a mini stage was put up and I didn't understand. I went to question, but Jon simply shook his head I pointed for me to look up on the stage.

(Jace POV)

The guys told me to be early, like two hours before the party started. And that's what I did, mainly because they told me too, and that I needed to set up what I wanted to do, which was sing a song. I was not sure if it will get through to her, but it is what I felt, many songs could have been use for what I felt. But this one had stuck out to me more. I helped the guys decorate and carried the couches to another room, that no one would be allowed in and we built the make shift stage. Alec, Magnus, and Simon would help me being the instrument while I sang.

I was not going to explain the meaning of why I picked that song; most would think I used it as if we broke up. But in fact we were never really together, but it felt like it. It felt like we were broke up and I wanted her to stay. The song would be Stay by Mayday Parade and luckily the guys new the song, and how to play it. By time the party started, they kept me hidden and Jonathon would stay by Clary the whole time keeping her 'on schedule' Izzy, Simon, Alec, and Magnus always made sure I wasn't seen by her and to help us get ready for when the time on stage.

When Clary came down those stairs, my breath had caught. Even though I have seen her multiple times, I could not help when my breath would catch because of her. She actually seemed uncomfortable with all the attention, even when she danced with some of the guys. I controlled myself, with wanting to go and yank them off her. As I would ruin the whole thing. I simply wanted to talk to her, but Izzy said I had to do something 'big' to make sure I had her attention.

Though I knew I didn't have to do that, I just had to corner her or at least have her friends away. But they seriously wanted to help me, and I didn't know why. But I would take it, if it was going to get Clary. I guess getting Clary came in the package deal; because Alec, Simon, and Magnus soon became friends with me. Jon and I acted like nothing ever changed, and I teased Izzy like she was my sister. Even if it had only been a week in a half, I realized why Clary loved them all so much. I couldn't say I loved them like that, friend love- maybe, but maybe not even that.

Izzy made Simon, Alec, Magnus, and I hide after a while, because it was 'show time' and she wanted us to go through a dry through first. Which we did, and soon she got the attention of everyone.

"Hi, Guys. I guess I should make this fast. So we have a little treat for Ms. Clary over there." Izzy pointed her out, as if she had too, because once she said her name everyone's' head turned towards her and she shrank back. But Jon, simply moved back with her so she could still be in the spot light.

"So, I welcome my brother, Alec, Magnus, My boyfriend- Simon, and Jace to the stage." I glanced at Clary and her mouth dropped and searched the crowd for us to show. I took a deep breath and walked to the stage. Waiting for the guys to start before I started myself:

(Slanted = song, regular = Jace's thoughts)

I need some time just deliver the things that I need for now

Everything that I feel's like a warm deep calm casting over me

And it's taking me to somewhere new

If you believe that everything's alright

You won't be all alone tonight

And I'd be blessed by the light of your company,

Slowly lifting me to somewhere new

Oh can you tell, I haven't slept very well

Since the last time that we spoke, you said

"Please understand if I see you again don't even say hello." I thought back to when she started blowing me off, staying with her friends when I wanted- needed to talk to her. At first I had thought it was nothing, but she kept doing it and that was what it felt like she was telling me.

Please

What a night it is, when you live like this

And you're coming up beneath the clouds,

Don't let me down

All the love's still there I just don't know what to do with it now Being on Iris with Clary, I had always felt 'high' and I didn't want to come down. I realize that now, I never wanted to like her go. I thought I was going to be able to let her live the life she had before and if she still wanted me in it, I would let her because that was her choice. But I didn't really want to give her that choice anymore. I wanted her and I was pretty sure she wanted me.

You know, I still can't believe we both did some things

I don't even wanna think about

Just say you love me and I'll say "I'm sorry,

I don't want anybody else to feel this way" It even got to the part where I felt like I was ignoring her. Which I was, I could tell she would always search for me and try to make eye contact with me, but I never let that happened.

No, no, no

Oh can you tell, I haven't slept very well

Since the last time that we spoke, I said

"Please understand I've been drinking again, and all I do is hope"

Please... stay

Please stay

I'll admit I was wrong about everything

Cause I'm high and I don't wanna come down

All the fun that we had on your mothers couch, I had to smile at that, because even if it wasn't on her mother's couch, we still had a lot of fun. Some unspeakable, and some you might want to tell close friends, but never parents or non-friends. Like dancing in the rain- which is kind of embarrassing, or picking freaking flowers for her, even saving her life more than one occasion. But something told me (Maybe Jonathon) that she hasn't mentioned anything about it, even to her friends. At least on how much we counted on each other.

I don't even wanna think about

I'm not strong enough for the both of us I seriously wasn't strong enough for the both of us, it took two people for a relationship to work, and I didn't want this one to just be a one person relationship, not after everything we've been through. Other aspects, I was strong enough to carry both of us, but some point in time you needed to understand that one person held up the other.

What was I supposed to do

You know I love you

Whoa-oh

Please just stay

Stay

Through the whole song, I kept eye contact with Clary. Never breaking the eye contact, not when girls come close to me. Not when people actually started dancing to the song. Not until the song was over and my part was to disappear until she found me outside, under a tree. Even if it was raining, it would be like back on the Island and if she didn't find me, she wasn't looking. And I would take that as a message that she didn't want me that everything on Iris was in my head. Now we hurried off stage, the guys kept me hidden until I was outside and they went back in.

(Clary POV)

I didn't fully understand Jace and this song. I knew it meant more to him and his thoughts then I could guess. I knew he wanted me to stay, but stay by what? Him? Not to leave him ever, we weren't even together, okay maybe we had this unspoken agreement on Iris, but we didn't talk about it on the plane and I didn't want to talk about at school.

And seeing all the girls in front of him, the person they had all hated, before they learned he could sing and play an instrument. Something none of them bothered to learn or try to learn about him. I felt jealous, though I remain in eye contact with Jace. Him basically begging me to see all these feelings he had at certain moments.

Before I could question him, he disappeared. Straight after the song, he held my eye contact for about 5 seconds later and he was gone. When I looked up at Jon he was the biggest grin on his face. So THIS was what my friends were planning. But how did they know about Jace? At least my feelings? Was it that obvious about my uncomfortableness with other people? I knew it was to me, but I didn't know I showed it that much.

The rest of the party, I tried to look for Jace, but I couldn't find him. I danced with more guys as they tried to talk down Jace, and I ignored them. They would never be him, they'll never understand him. I now regret not talking to him, not trying to get away from my friends harder. It was not until that song, I realized that I never wanted to leave his side. I wanted to be with him, HECK I AM FREAKING IN LOVE WITH HIM! How could I be so stupid to let him go so easily?

The party was soon over, and I still hadn't found Jace I was about to give up, but Jonathon pushed everyone outside. Pouring rain, which I did not know about, I wanted to question him but when I turned slightly I saw gold and turned back. Jace was standing underneath a tree, leaning against it. I smiled, shaking my head.

"You know it is raining right?" I yelled, which got his attention, he got off the tree and looked up, spreading his arms out.

"I hadn't noticed!" He smirked, of course he had, he was soaking wet. I wonder how long he has been out here.

"Why don't you get out of the rain?" He shook his head, stepping a little closer. The tree was in the middle of the yard and it was huge. Even though I knew everyone was behind me, it just felt like me and him. Like about on Iris.

"Dance with me?" I looked at him like he was crazy and stared up at the sky and pointed up when I looked back at him.

"But it's raining!"

"It never stopped us before!"

"I'll ruin my dress!"

"You're making excuses!" I sighed, throwing my head back a little.

"FINE!" I placed my hand on Jon's shoulder to level myself as I at least took off my heels and walked out to him; by time I reached him, I was soaked and cold. He placed his hand on my waist and the other intertwined with my hand, as I placed my other hand on his shoulder.

He smiled down at me, before he started dancing. Spinning me around the tree and back, until he did like he did the last time and picked me up and spin us around and I started laughing. When he placed me down he smiled at me.

"Sorry I ignored you." He shrugged, looking down.

"I started ignoring you too. I am sorry."

"Don't be, I was just stubborn. I want to understand my feelings and my brain thought, if I stayed away from you it'll get clear."

"Did it?" I nod, smiling I looked up at him. "So?" He questioned, putting his hands in his pockets. Like he was not sure if he wanted to know that answer. I could feel my smile get bigger as I through my arms around his neck, almost knocking him to the ground as he wasn't expecting that. He laughed and wrapped his arms around my waist.

"God I missed this." He mumbled in my neck, I smiled.

"Me too."