Thanks for the reviews! Didn't make it to 150, but we got pretty dang close! Hurray! :D
Time to look into Jace's head now.

Read and review, like always. :)

Another Secret

-Jace-

A few minutes after I left Pandemonium, I heard the clamor of the heavy, metal back doors swing open and slam shut, followed by light footsteps.

"Jace?" a female's voice echoed through the alleyway.

It was Clary. I never pegged her as the type to follow someone after a dramatic exit, not that I was complaining.

I saw her shadow run out and into the street I was on, quickly glancing around for any sign of me. Faded light from the lampposts weren't doing her any favors. The subtle jerk of her head meant that she noticed me sitting on a bench near the bus stop.

"Jace," Clary breathed, catching up to me. I nodded and gave her a half-wave. She tentatively sat down on the space beside me. After a beat of silence, she said, "You remembered. The glass carousel. Your gift."

"'Course I remembered. You looked at it like it was Heaven on Earth during that one time we went to the mall. And I told you I'd get it for you, didn't I?" I replied softly.

"Thank you. It's still as beautiful as before. I'll, um, make sure it doesn't break or anything," Clary fidgeted with her hands. I felt her shiver and I had a hunch it wasn't from the cold.

I did the only thing I could to fill in the awkward silence. Explain.

I'm crossing the school campus to reach Sebastian and his group of brain-dead followers. What does he want now?

"Ah, Lightwood," he greets me.

"Actually, my name is Jace. Too hard for you to say?" I smirk.

"Okay, I'll cut to the chase. Shelly Verlac's my cousin," Sebastian deadpans.

"I could tell by the last name and similar shitty personalities. Must run in the family, huh?" His beady black eyes flicker for a moment. Looks like I've struck a nerve.

"You dated her, right, Jace? You went out with her a few months back?"

"Sadly."

"See, here's the thing. I had a sister. She died. I had a mom. She ditched me. I have a dad. He's a good-for-nothing drunk bastard. Shelly is the closest thing to family that I've got. Do you know what you did to her?" Sebastian asks me, a sick smile on his face. He answers for me. "You stood her up four times and then dumped her through a text. I think it said, 'Not working out. Breaking up with u. C u at school tmrw,' or something like that. She called me up, sobbing about her broken heart."

This is getting uncomfortable. I shift my eyes around and respond with a simple, "Okay."

"'Okay?' That's all you have to say? Well, the thing is, I'm not okay with that. I couldn't speak to you around the time of the incident due to the fact that I was in juvy last year. I'm not anymore, though, and I excel at revenge." Sebastian pounds his fist into his palm.

"You want to fight? Really? Alright, whatever floats your boat. Pick your time and your place," I muse, crossing my arms. Despite the fact that he's a couple years older and a former jail prisoner apparently, I'm not intimidated at all by him.

Sebastian pauses for a minute and the creepy pedophile smile is back. "Wait, that's not going to effect you at all, is it? You get in fights all the time, so it won't make a difference. But what about Clary? Probably isn't used to physical contact at all, right? I can change that. I've got a new bed in my basement where no one will hear her scream. That sounds good."

I see red. Is he really threatening to rape Clary? Now, that is a demented person right there.

"I strongly suggest evaluating the state of your mental health, Verlac."

"And I strongly suggest that you do what I say or someone else will be going all the way with Fray. Don't worry, she'll enjoy it eventually. I'll make her," Sebastian grins sweetly. "Did I even tell you why I went to jail? Case of sexual abuse against me. Some girl I was 'acquainted with' squealed. But that won't happen again since I'll make sure Clary shuts her mouth."

"Don't touch her," I hiss.

"Then break-up with her in the cruelest, most humiliating way possible. Tell her she's nothing to you. Your relationship is a lie."

"What?"

"I want Clary to feel the pain that Shelly did. And you can feel what I felt, just by watching your girl crumble into tears. If you tell Clary beforehand, or if you're not convincing enough, well, my bed is lonely, Lightwood."

"Guess what, Sebastian- I'm not going to do it. See, I don't take orders from dicks. And I think I love Clary, okay? What I felt for Shelly was nonexistent and what she felt for me was probably a chance to boost her popularity. Dumping her was nothing. You of all people, Mr. Manwhore, should know how it feels to be in pointless relationships. But Clary? I won't crush her like that. Although, I doubt you even know what love is," I reply defiantly, internally stunned at the realization that I do love Clary.

"Suit yourself. Just don't expect Clary home by midnight," he winks.

I turn away, my thoughts racing a mile per minute. He never said I couldn't tell her afterward. I'll do what he wants and just talk to Clary later. Explain that our break-up was fake. That Sebastian threatened her. I'll tell everyone at the party, too, so that rumors can't spread. She'll have to forgive me then. Hopefully.

"And Jace?" Sebastian calls after me, but I don't stop walking. "I do know what love is. To love is to destroy and to be the one loved is to be the one destroyed."

-The Day After the Party-

Clary's house is deathly quiet. And empty. The little trinkets that Mrs. Fray puts in their front yard, like the windmill, frog statues, and flags, are gone. Weird. She wasn't at school today for some reason, so I'm apologizing to her now.

Yesterday was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Watching Clary run out of the party, crying, was torture. I wanted to just hold her tight and tell her I didn't mean it over & over again. Shelly looked like she won the lottery.

Once a bitch, always a bitch.

I ring the doorbell and wait patiently for about two seconds before aggressively pressing the button repeatedly. No one's coming. What's going on?

I realize I'm stepping on a piece of card-stock that has words- a notice -typed on it.

To whom it may concern,

The Fray family, previous owners of this property, have moved.
We apologize for the short notice to any of our friends. We never got to say our proper goodbyes!
We've moved to New York due to a job opportunity.
Sorry for the inconvenience.

- Jocelyn & Clarissa Fray

...What? No. Clary can't have moved. It's barely been 24 hours and if she did, then... God, she probably thinks I'm a soulless dick. That might be the last thing she ever thinks of me. I feel a tear trickle down my cheek and swat away at it.

The girl I love is gone. And she probably doesn't even love me back at all.

Clary and I sat on the bench in quietness after I stopped talking. The chilly 11 p.m. air caused our breath to turn into puffs of white clouds.

"So that's why you did what you did. You thought Sebastian was going to hurt me, and you did what he asked," she broke the silence.

"Yeah. I was going to tell you I didn't mean anything I said, but you were across the country. Look, I know it's not a very good reason, but I don't react well when an asshat threatens to rape my girlfriend," I shrugged with a wry smile.

"You loved me?" Clary asked abruptly.

"I do."

"Oh."

More tension-filled silence.

"Do you still..." I began.

"No, Jace, I- I don't. Not anymore. Even if you didn't mean to hurt me, you did, okay? I cried over you. I lost sleep over you. I ripped pillows and attempted to punch walls over you. Things can't just go back to the way they were before. I don't think they ever could," she murmured, shaking her head.

"I get it. It's okay," I said, even though that was a monumental lie. Despite my calm demeanor, anger swelled inside me. I never stopped loving her for four years and she wouldn't even give me a chance.

"Anyways, thanks for telling me. And I'm sorry I wouldn't listen before. Could we... Could we just not talk about that party anymore? It's behind me now. I know the truth. I want to forget it," Clary said, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear.

"Sure."

At that moment, I mentally built up a wall to protect myself from her. From now on, I'd be 'normal Jace' like she wanted. I wouldn't be the guy who still had feelings for her after all these years. Or at least, she wouldn't notice anymore. It was a barrier between us. Clary didn't like me, and I wasn't going to pressure her with whatever I felt.

"We should get back to your party. The second reason I came was to make sure Alec and Magnus didn't get too crazy on the dance floor. Plus, you've got cake," I joked with her.

"What happened to the Jace who refused to eat anything that would effect his body?" Clary laughed.

"Please, woman. My body," I gestured to my abs, "can survive a few slices of cake." She rolled her eyes but smiled anyways. I helped her up from the bench and we walked back to Pandemonium, teasing each other the whole way.

Yep. I had a new secret now. I still loved Clary and I always would.