A/N: Hi again, guys! I'm so sorry it took me FOREVER to update, I just had a lot on my plate (cruel, cruel math, remember?). This chapter might be good, it might be bad, I don't know, but I hope you all enjoy it!

Also, I realized I forgot this in the last chapter, THANK YOU for reading/favoriting/following/reviewing this story, for making my day, and for never complaining (at least not yet… ;)). I love you all so much, it's almost Clace caliber…

Disclaimer: Cassandra Clare owns everything!

Clary stood in her room, looking at her reflection in the full length mirror Isabelle insisted was necessary in every teenage girl's room. She also insisted she would make Jace install it even if Clary said no.

It had been almost two weeks since that day in the forest, and even though they were pretty much each other's opposite, Jace and Clary had become good friends. The Lightwoods were surprised Jace even talked to her without making a sexist comment every time he opened his mouth (it was more like every other time now), let alone treating her like she was his best friend.

They met up every day in the forest when Clary was supposed to have math with Luke. She'd tried transferring to another class, but that proved to be impossible, so skipping was the best she could get at the moment.

Plus, she got to hang out with Jace.

Jace, who seemed like such an ass when she first met him, but was now one of the nicest people she'd ever met. Jace, who showed her a side of him he didn't let anyone else see. Jace, who made her heart race every time he was near her.

But he was supposed to be her brother now. The fact that they weren't related by blood didn't matter.

Would it really be that wrong? She asked herself, frowning at herself in the mirror.

Yes, it would. And it's not like he'd ever want someone like you, anyway. Look at yourself.

She did. Wild curls of fiery red hair – which gave her the nickname Red Riding Hood, or just Red for short – and green eyes. Tiny frame. Small chest. No curves.

Disgusting.

She turned her face away, and went to sit down on the bed. Clary didn't need any more reasons as to why her parents didn't want her, why nobody did. Sure, the Lightwoods took her in, and Jace was one of her best friends, but they did not know what had happened to her. Surely, if they did, they'd all abandon her, too.

She lay down, face pressed hard into the soft pillow, and cried soundlessly because she wasn't enough.

.o.O.o.

"Clary?" came a voice from the other side of the room, and her heart quickened. "Clary, are you allright?" a heavy body sank down on the bed beside her, and a rough, calloused hand stroked her hair tentatively.

She sniffled, and answered, her voice muffled by the pillow,

"I'm fine. Just leave me alone, Jace."

"Me? Leaving you alone? Never." Jace scoffed. "And it's pretty obvious you're not fine. Come on, tell me what's wrong, Red." He lay down and leaned on one of his elbows, his right hand still tangled in her hair, sending little electric shocks through her body, and she shivered.

"Cold, Red?" he asked, and she just knew he was smirking. But, she had to make sure.

Turning on her most frightening death glare, Clary lifted her head from the pillow. Sure enough, his signature smirk was plastered across his face, and she had the sudden urge to smack it off him.

Jace's lips immediately turned down into a frown. His hand moved from her hair to her chin, holding it in place so she wouldn't turn away.

"Why were you crying, Clary?" he probed, his voice soft and caring.

"I can't' tell you."

His expression hardened, but he still didn't remove his fingers from her face.

"Can't, or won't?"

She looked down at the mattress, unwilling to answer his question.

"Damn it, Clary, why can't you just answer me? Really, just looking at me would be fine, but you can't even do that, can you?"

His voice sounded furious, and Clary cringed. Ashamed, she lifted her eyes towards his again. The sheer emotion in them took her breath way. There was hurt, anger, and an emotion completely foreign to her, but it looked like . . . desire?

No. That couldn't be it.

"If I told you, you'd hate me," she whispered, new tears starting to gather in her green eyes.

He flinched, and this time he was the one to break their connection.

"Red – Clary – I don't know what you think about me, but if you believe I could ever hate you, you're even more clueless than I thought."

A warm feeling fluttered in Clary's chest, and she propped herself up on one elbow, leaning a little bit closer to him, unable for some reason to take her gaze off his full, pink lips.

"Why do you care, anyway? I'm nothing. Just a stupid girl who you decided to befriend for reasons no human on this earth, me least of all, can understand."

He reached up again, this time to cup her cheek.

"Don't you ever say that, Clary." Jace said, his lips now brushing hers. "You're not nothing. You're everything."

And with that, he closed the last distance between them, and kissed her.

His lips caressed hers with a gentleness she'd thought impossible, holding her as if she was a frail piece of glass, afraid of shattering her. The electric feeling she got whenever she touched him intensified by a hundred, and she knotted her fingers in his white shirt.

Just like that, the moment was gone.

He pushed away from her, his golden eyes regarding her with a look somewhere between wanting to rip her clothes off and rip her head off. Most of all, he looked astonished. Astonished and frightened.

"Wha – what the fuck?" he managed to gasp, causing Clary's eyes to water once again.

"I – I'm sorry," she choked out, a few tears already making their way down her round cheeks.

She'd ruined everything. Jace was going to hate her. He'd tell she rest of his family, and they'd hate her, too. No more makeovers in Izzy's room. No more teasing Alec for his glittery boyfriend (who she'd finally got to meet). No more –.

"You're sorry? I'm the one who should be apologizing. I shouldn't have done that. It's just…" he trailed off.

Clary was shocked. Why did he think he was the one who had done something wrong? She was the one who'd . . . wait a minute. He'd kissed her.

He had kissed her!

Clary bit her lip, looking up at Jace, inhaling sharply when she noticed his expression. His gaze was glued to her lips, jaw clenched, and his fists clutched the sheets.

He was looking at her like he wanted to… Clary didn't know, exactly. But she did know that she no longer had any control over her body.

Her hands reached out to grab his shirt again, and his breathing hitched.

"It's just what?" she asked, a new confidence taking over her mind. He wanted her. She was sure of it.

"Damn it," he growled, and smashed his lips to hers again.

This kiss was different, so different. The last one was tentative, questioning, tender. This one was all fire and need, want and passion.

Jace moved one arm over her side, and rolled them over, so he was now on top of her. His hands slipped under her shirt, and she moaned, the feeling of him, of Jace, so intense it was almost comical. She bit his lower lip hard, making him groan, spurring her on even more.

He moved his palms even further up her stomach, leaving a trail of fire in his wake. Clary took a hold of his shirt, and started to pull it over his chest.

"Clary," he groaned and kissed her neck, emitting another moan from her, "Clary we should stop. Izzy and Alec will be home soon with all the stuff for the –" another groan "party."

Clary stiffened. That's right. The Halloween party they were going to throw tonight, the one practically the whole school was going to attend.

She sighed, and reluctantly pushed him off her, which was not a very easy feat considering the fact every fiber of her being was screaming for her to screw the party, screw everyone, and just continue kissing him.

Jace understood, and moved so that he was sitting with his feet placed firmly on the floor. He kissed her lightly again, and said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye,

"So, I'll see you at the party?"

Jace winked at Clary, then walked out of her room.

Jesus.

A/N: I'm sorry if this was really bad, I've never actually kissed anyone, so my experience with that is strictly fictional, so . . . yeah. I LOVE YOU!