Jem looked out his bay window into the night sky as he gently played his violin. The bow went up and down on the strings as a soft melodic sound flowed out of the instrument. The violin was his most preferred instrument, and he learned it the first. On the white walls of his room was the awards he had gotten for his music, pictures of his friends, posters of famous musicians and some Chinese souvenirs his mom had bought him, every time she went back to China to visit family.

Jem's dad was British, and was part of the society that his ancestors had created, along with Will's. Many families were in it, most of them wealthy and beautiful. The Carstairs was one of the original creators of the Shadowhunters, along with the Penhallows, the Starkweathers, the Morgensterns, the Waylands, the Fairchilds and, of course, the Herondales. Many other families were added on later of course, but they were the original seven.

Most of the time, Jem's dad was away on business with these families and often left Jem with Will and Cecily. His mom was home more often than him, but was usually with his dad when they left for business. But it was alright. His parents came home as much as they could and Jem knew they loved him.

Then familiar music came from his antique radio. The familiar voice of Lucie Manette blared through the radio, announcing this song made by her friend.

And it was Jem's song.

Jem's mouth was wide-opened, and he closed it immediately, for it was rude and his mother would have berated him for doing so. He had no idea how Lucie Manette – the Lucie Manette gotten a hold of his music. The only person who Jem gave his CD to was… Tessa. And it hit him immediately. Tessa Gray, shy Tessa Gray, who was always away on Thursday nights with Cecily.

Thursday night. The night where Lucie Manette held her segments on the air. Lucie Manette was one of her favourite book heroines, for crying out loud. "Wo zhen de hen ben," Jem muttered, calling himself stupid. How did he not know?

How did he not realize it? Tessa was Lucie Manette. As his own song continued playing, Jem paced around his room, trying to remember everything Lucie Manette said. She offered great advice – advice that Jem now knew was Tessa. And realization crashed down on him. On the night of the Halloween dance, she had said, 'I got to kiss the guy of my dreams.' But that guy couldn't have been Jem. That night, Jem had given her his CD. He hadn't kissed her…

Which meant that he wasn't Tessa's guy. Jem sat on his bed as reality hit him. His heart ached as he realized the truth. Tessa didn't love him. And she never will. Jem couldn't help but bitterly smile. What has she done to make him love her?

But as soon as the question came to his mind, the answer followed it. She was Tessa. It was that simple. It was Tessa that he fell in love with, and it was Tessa that caught his heart. Of all people, he had to choose the one who could never love him back. A silent tear dropped down Jem's cheek.

He shut his eyes tightly as he thought of Tessa, who never truly encouraged his feelings. But she made them stronger, just by being her.

Why did she never tell him though? Maybe… Tessa wasn't Lucie Manette. But Jem knew it was only wishful thinking. He picked up his violin again and played it, pouring every emotion he felt into his song. His mom had told him before that the person that truly understood your music… the person who truly understood what you were feeling while you played was your true love.

Jem didn't know if Tessa understood his music. He was so confused. As his heart cracked more and more, he played louder and louder, until the violin was almost screaming.

Snap. His string snapped and Jem's finger had a little droplet of blood coming out. He stared at the red, contrasting with his light skin, unbelieving. Was this some omen?

The Chinese had lots of omens and superstitions. Was this some sort of sign? Jem didn't know what to believe anymore. But he needed the truth. The stone, cold, hard truth. Tomorrow, Jem decided. Tomorrow will be the day that the truth will be revealed.

And Jem couldn't help but think… tomorrow was the day his heart was going to fully break.

Jem's pale palms were nervous as he walked to his locker. Honestly, he never felt that way before. Compared to his friends, he was always the level-headed one, with good advice. But as his heart raced in his chest, Jem couldn't help but feel anxiety as Tessa and Will walked closer to him.

Again, they weren't speaking, and Jem couldn't help but frown at that. "What's with the silence?" Jem asked when they arrived in front of him.

Will and Tessa shot each other a look before quickly focusing their gazes on Jem. Jem narrowed his eyes. There was always something going on between them, and their secret gazes confirmed Jem's suspicions.

"There's always something going on between you two," Jem said, crossing his arms. His best friend and Tessa both winced. "Guessing you can't tell me?" Jem asked wryly.

"Sorry?" Tessa asked. Jem gave her a small smile. It was impossible to stay mad at Tessa.

"Hey Tessa," Jem said, as Tessa took her Calculus textbook out of her locker. Will looked innocent, but Jem knew he was listening to everything they said. Will was just like that, always careful of his surroundings. Though no one else knew besides maybe Tessa, Cecily and Jem, Will's grades were often the highest, second to only Jem and maybe Tessa.

"Can I talk to you?" Jem asked.

"Of course," Tessa smiled. "You're talking to me right now," she grinned. Jem's heart did a little flop in his chest. "We have fifteen minutes before my class starts."

"Can you follow me?" Jem said, a little more nervous than he was before now. Tessa nodded to his question and followed him as he led her through the crowded hallways. He could feel the burning stare of Will on his back. Will had always become more protective after Tessa's mom died and when Jessamine broke her.

When Will said he was going out with Jessamine and Tessa exited the room, Cecily immediately shouted at him, but Jem refrained from doing so. Will had a reason for everything he did. Jem just didn't know them.

Jem opened the door to the music room and it held it open for Tessa. Manners in a gentleman was something Jem's mom had drilled into his head. Tessa gave him a small smile and entered the music room, clutching her books to her chest.

Jem quietly shut the door behind him before picking up the violin he had placed on a chair earlier on. Jem gestured to the chair for Tessa to sit, and quirking an eyebrow, she did so, putting her hands together patiently. As she laced her hands together, her eyes shot up to Jem, questioning him.

The music room was always Jem's favourite place to hideaway. The instruments that hung on the wall, the soothing olive green colour painted on the walls and of course, the music. Several stacks of chairs were carelessly placed around the room. The only thing not attached to the wall were the stacks of the chairs and the grand piano at the corner of the room. Sunlight filtered in from the windows as the wind gently blew the plants outside.

Jem took in his surroundings, but his eyes seemed to always fly back to Tessa.

But Jem didn't speak. He simply put the bow to his strings and began playing. He shut his eyes as he did so, the notes coming to him immediately. He played of sadness and wonder, love and questioning. An angst filled song. The sun warmed him, giving him strength to continue. The music only got louder and louder as he played, he struggled to reveal himself in his music. Jem had his own walls, though he wanted to break them down through his music. He wanted to show Tessa everything he was feeling through his song. Jem wanted to see if she could understand.

Jem gently opened his eyes as his bow ceased to slide up and down on the strings. Tessa was staring at him, mouth wide-opened. "What did you hear?" Jem finally asked.

"I don't know," Tessa admitted. Jem's heart sunk. "I heard lots of things. Things that reminded me of rain, stars, first love… This probably doesn't make sense," Tessa blushed, but she continued anyways. "I heard things of beauty, of light, though darkness was right behind it…" Tessa seemed to be caught in a trance then.

And so was Jem.

"It was the most beautiful thing I've heard. I heard music like no other. It was like a confession of a sort… though rejection and pain was in there…" Tessa woke up from her trance. "Sorry. Being a lunatic here."

Jem shook his head. "No, no," Jem said, smiling. "You understood."

"Understood?" Tessa asked, pure innocence on her face.

"My music. My mom had always said that the person that understands your music…" Jem hesitated. He didn't want to push the knowledge on her. What if she ran away scared? "Understands you the best."

Tessa grinned at Jem's words. And her glowing smile wiped away Jem's thought about Lucie Manette. The bell rang then, shaking Jem out of his daze. "We better get going," Jem said, offering Tessa his arm. Tessa took it, slipping her hand through it, playfully.

"Calculus sucks," Tessa frowned then, as they exited the music room, the violin left behind.

And Tessa and Jem laughed together as Jem walked Tessa to her class.

But out of the corner of his eye, he saw a dejected-looking Will, hiding in the shadows. Jem blinked again, but Will was already gone. Jem frowned. Why did Will look so miserable?

AWH JEM! So close to understanding... but so far...

BUT THANK U GUYS FOR THE 108 reviews! THINK WE CAN GET FIFTEEN by NEXT CHAAAP?

REVIEWS FOR... Jem's innocence.

REVIEWS FOR... Will's point of view next

REVIEWS FOR... fluff!

REVIEWS FOR... Jessamine bashing ;)