Here we are! I love the music in the first song. You should listen to it when you read the first part. I want to say I am amazed at the support I am getting through your reviews! They inspire me to keep writing this story... So enough with the author's note!

You know the drill - blah, blah, blah (I own nothing!)

Chapter 8:

**Chapter Songs:**

The Funeral by Band of Horses

A Message by Coldplay

I have never seen a more beautiful sight. A soaking wet Clary standing barefoot in the rain with her face turned up toward the sky with her eyes closed and small smile on her lips. I drift closer to her until I'm standing right in front of her. She lowers her head and gazes right into my eyes. I can't do anything but stare deep into her emerald green eyes. I don't think she can be more beautiful. I was wrong. Her smile lights up her face and my heart stutters in my chest.

"Don't you just love the rain?" she asks me quietly, holding her hands up letting the raindrops pool in her palms.

"I usually don't stay out in it like this, but it's not so bad." I say, still mesmerized by her presence right now.

"I do. I like to think the rain washes away the sadness and leaves me clean. Sounds stupid, doesn't it?"

"No. It doesn't sound stupid at all. If it helps, then why not." I say shrugging. "I wish you never had to feel any sadness. Do you want to talk about it?"

She sighs and shakes her head. "No, but I think maybe it's time I did." She glances back at the ocean and then back to me.

"I know somewhere we can go if you want." I offer, reaching out my hand. She looks at my hand for a second and places her tiny hand in mine. My whole body fills with warmth from her touch. I pull her forward and lead her to the bottom of the rocky cliffs at the end of the beach. When we were little, Alec and I found a small cave inside one of the cliffs. We used to hide in there from Isabelle. I spot the opening and pull her in after me. I sit down on the soft sand and she sits close by me. Our knees touching. She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.

"I met Simon when I was 4 years old. He moved in next door to us and I made him be my best friend the first day I met him." She smiles a small smile remembering this. "From that day, he was with me. It was always me, Jon, and Simon. He walked me to school every day until we graduated high school, he went on vacations with us, and was with us for every holiday." She pauses and closes her eyes and squeezes them tightly. I know this is the part of the story that is hard for her so I reach over and place my hand on top of hers and lace our fingers together and give them a squeeze. She opens her eyes and looks at me. Her eyes are shining with tears. "A little over two months ago, I was at school taking some art classes and studying at the library for a research project I had to do. It was getting late and I really didn't want to walk all the way home. So I called Simon, knowing he would drop whatever he was doing and come get me." She swallows hard and looks through the opening of the cave. "A car ran a red light and hit Simon on the driver's side, killing him instantly." Turning back to look at me with tears streaming down her face, she says, "If I hadn't called Simon that night….if I would've walked home like I was supposed to….Simon would not be dead. He wouldn't be buried in the town cemetery and his name would not be engraved on a headstone."

I pulled her to me and wrapped my arms around her waist and she buried her head in the crook of my neck. I held her for a long time, rubbing my hand down her back in what I hope is a soothing gesture. Hell, I've never comforted someone before. I never wanted to before. After a while, she pulls back and looks at me with swollen, red eyes. "I'm a mess." she says. "A complete mess."

"You're not a mess. It's not your fault what happened to him. You can't blame yourself. The guilt will eat at you until you can't stand it. Would he want you to blame yourself for what happened?"

"No, he would tell me to suck it up and move on. Be happy. I just don't know how anymore, you know?"

"You just have to let yourself do whatever you think will make you happy. No more doubts, just take a deep breath and go for it." I say, trying to make her feel better, but as I say the words out loud, I realize I need to listen to my own advice.

We stare at each other for a few seconds. She searches my face for something, I don't know what. A look of determination flashes in her eyes and before I can process it, she slams her mouth onto mine and kisses me. This kiss is filled with pain, grief, and a little bit of hope. I kiss her back with as much emotion as I can muster. We break apart, breathing heavily just inches away from each other.

"I think you may be right, Jace Wayland." she says, and with that she stands and walks out of the cave.

o.O.o

The rain ends and when Jace and I walk back to the house, Maryse and Robert are leaving to go to some annual cook out with a neighbor, leaving all of us plus Max. After talking with Jace and letting go of some my grief, I feel a lot better. As the Lightwood's are leaving, Jon walks over to me and Jace.

"She got you to walk around in the rain I see. She's always loved the rain." And then quietly, he adds, "Are you alright, Cherry-bear?"

I hug him around the waist and he squeezes me back. "Yeah, I think I am."

He plants a kiss to the top of my head and looks at Jace and gives him a slight nod and smiles.

The rest of the night, we play board games and video games together. I really enjoy spending time with Max. He is so similar to Simon, it almost feels like he's here with me now. I smile at that. When it gets late, Alec tells Max it's time for bed.

"Ok. Can Clary tuck me in?" Max asks.

Everyone looks at me and I quickly get over my shock and smile over at the little boy.

"I would love to, Max."

He gets up and grasps my hand and pulls me up the stairs to his room. He climbs in the bed and I pull the covers up around him.

"Clary?"

"Hmm?"

"You were sad earlier and now you look happier. I'm glad. Jace always makes me feel better, too."

"Why do you think Jace made me feel better?"

"Because you love each other." he says around a yawn. I stare down at the boy as his eyes close. I shake my head, remembering that he's just a kid. Don't be stupid Clary! What does a kid know about love? In fact, what do you know about love?

I turn off the lamp beside the bed and quietly leave Max's room. When I close the door and turn toward the stairs, I bump into a warm body.

"Jace! You scared me! Um, he's asleep." I say thrusting my thumb toward Max's room.

"Thanks. You must be pretty special because Max took to you instantly. He's always so shy around new people, but you….I don't know, he acts like he's known you forever."

We walk down the hall and stop outside my room.

"Are you going to sleep now?" Jace asks.

"Yeah, I think so. I'm pretty tired." I say looking down.

Jace bends down and kisses me on the cheek. "Goodnight, Clary." he whispers.

I reach up and cup his face and place a soft kiss on his lips. "Goodnight, Jace." I say and go in my room and close the door. I go to sleep with a smile on my face for the first time since the accident.

o.O.o

I wake up feeling something tickling my face. I slowly open my eyes and see an inky black head leaning over me.

"Ugh. Isabelle! What in the hell are you doing?

"You were having some sort of dream so I leaned closer to hear what you were mumbling about." she says with a shrug. Like it's perfectly normal for her to be in my room in the first place.

"No, I mean why are you in here this early in the morning?" I ask and glare at her.

"Oh. First of all, it's not that early and second, I came to get you ready for the beach."

"It's the beach, Isabelle. You put on your bathing suit, sunscreen, throw your hair up and you're good to go." I say as I climb out of the bed and walk to the dresser to get out a bathing suit.

"Nope. That's not it at all. Come on. Sit down and let me work my magic on you. Jace will be drooling all day after I'm done with you." she says with a devious smile.

I scowl at her but sit down where she pointed. As she gets to work on the tangled knots in my hair I ask, "Isabelle? What was I mumbling when I was dreaming?"

"I couldn't tell most of it, but there was one thing I heard clearly."

"What was that?"

"You said 'Jace'."

I blush and try to remember what I was dreaming about but I can't. Instead my thoughts drift and I wonder how Jace will act today. Will he be the nice, attentive guy he's been the past few days, or will he be the douche I met in the laundry room that first day?

When Isabelle finally finishes with me, she pulls me to stand in front of the floor length mirror. My red curls are coiled perfectly and down my back. My face has sunscreen and a little bit of eyeliner and mascara to make my green eyes brighter. She put me in a black bikini with a short blue jean skirt with frays at the bottom and nothing covering the top. On my feet there are black flip flops. I have to admit, I look pretty good. Will Jace think so? I smile at Isabelle and notice for the first time that she is ready also. She too is wearing a bikini. Hers is navy blue paired with a short white skirt and navy flip-flops.

"We're pretty hot, yeah?" she says coming to stand beside me in front of the mirror. If only I wasn't three inches shorter.

"Yeah, we look great. Thank Isabelle." I say turning and hugging her. She seems surprised at first but hugs back and beams at me. We grab our beach bags and head down the stairs to the kitchen for breakfast. We walk in to see Jon and Alec placing the food on the table. I walk up to Jon and hug him good morning.

"Morning, dew drop. Did you sleep well?" he asks just as Jace walks in.

"Dew drop? Is that what we're calling you now?" Jace asks coming further into the kitchen. I release Jon and step out from him and look at him about to make a remark about the nickname, but stop short when Jace's eyes grow big and his jaw drops. His eyes rake over me from my face to my toes and back up to my eyes. I smirk at him, knowing Isabelle got the reaction she wanted out of Jace. A throat clears nearby and I glance at Jon who's looking at Jace with a glare.

Jon steps in front of me, blocking Jace's view and says, "Stop looking at my sister like that!"

I shove Jon out of the way and glare at him. "Jesus, Jon! He's not looking at me 'that way'! And besides, I'm a big girl and I don't need my brother taking up for me."

"I will always take up for you no matter how big you get, shortcake." Jon says smiling at me.

I roll my eyes and go make a plate and sit down next to Isabelle who was watching the whole scene. She turns to me and grins. Winking at me, she starts talking to Jon. I bite my lip to keep from smiling and begin eating.

After everyone finishes eating, I get up to take my plate to the sink. Just as I'm about to put the plate in the dishwasher, I feel hot breath on my neck.

"You look amazing. I hope you don't mind if I stay close by you today. I'm going to have to protect you from all the guys that will no doubt be trying to hit on you with the way you look right now."

"Yeah right." I snort and turn around to face him, narrowing my eyes. "And like I told Jon, I'm a big girl and can take care of myself."

"I'm sure you can, but what kind of person would I be if I didn't keep creeps away?" he asks with a big grin on his gorgeous face.

"Keep creeps away? Hmmm….maybe you're right . I may need you to stick close. You know, just in case." I say, attempting to flirt. I hope this is flirting! I walk out of the kitchen swaying my hips a little on the way. As I round the corner, I let out a breath. Oh my God! I don't know what I'm doing!

I rush up the stairs to Isabelle's door. I knock quickly looking back the way I came to make sure no one is coming. The door cracks open and Isabelle takes one look at my flushed, frantic face and throws open the door wide.

"Clary? What's wrong?" she asks with worry in her voice.

"Isabelle….I don't know how to do anything. I don't know how to flirt, or be seductive, or. . . ." I trail off and take a deep breath letting it out slowly to calm my racing heart.

Isabelle takes my hands and pulls me to the bed and sits me down. "Clary, honey. You seriously underestimate your God-given talents. Did you see Jace's reaction to you this morning? And you didn't have to do anything but look at him. Now tell me what happened?"

"Well, he said I look amazing and that he should stay close by me to keep the creeps away from hitting on me. And I said maybe he should just in case. Then I walked out of the kitchen." I say blushing again.

"Damn, girl. I wish I could've seen his face! Seriously Clary, you don't need to worry. Trust me."

I smile and we go to meet everyone to go to the beach. Here we go….

Aww...I love all of these characters! Isabelle's such a good girl friend and Jon can't stop being overprotective and then there's Jace. Oh Jace! *sigh* Tell me what you think of Clary opening up (finally)!

Until next time. . . .