{Jace POV}

"Do you have a date with him?" I asked. There was only a second of hesitation from her before she nodded. I'd thought I'd been prepared for her answer, considering I'd been the one to tell her to ask him out, but I was wrong. My hands involuntarily clenched into fists and I felt angry for some reason I couldn't figure out. I mean, could it be because Sebastian, my best friend, was willing to cheat on a girl he sees every day, one he was supposedly crazy about? Was it because I never thought he'd do something like that to anyone? Or was it something else entirely? I uncurled my fingers and thought about it for a minute, but I couldn't think of any plausible reasons why Clary and Sebastian having a date, after I suggested it, pissed me off.

"You okay?" I looked up to see Clary staring at me, her head tilted to the side. Her curtain of thick hair spilled over her shoulder and I suddenly started thinking about the first time she'd woken up, when she sat up and the blanket fell away from her naked body. My cheeks got warm and I turned away to look over the water before she could read what I was thinking in my eyes.

"I'm fine," I replied. I stood up and brushed my hands off on my jeans before I held one out to her. She wrapped her fingers around mine and I pulled her up, holding onto her hand for a second so I knew she had her balance. She looked down at the rocks, where a few pieces of her boat that still hadn't been washed away by the waves sat, baking in the sun.

"Are you okay?" I murmured gently. She shrugged and walked away, leaving me standing alone on the rocks. I watched her until she reached the edge of the trees, where she turned back to me and beckoned with her hand that I follow. There wasn't really much else for me to do, so I ran to catch up and we walked back to the village and then to our separate rooms in silence.

I hadn't been asleep for long when I heard something outside the window, a creaking like someone was walking across the deck. I leapt up and stood on the balls of my feet, prepared for anything. No one had ever been attacked here before, but as kids, we'd been taught how to defend ourselves in these situations. Then, out of the darkness, a female voice called my name, breaking the tension in my muscles. My body slumped a little as the adrenaline that had been surging through my system left.

"Jace?" At first, I thought it was Clary, but after a second I could tell that the person's hair was too light and straight to be Clary's. With a little more thought, I recognized the voice, and furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. What was she doing outside my room in the middle of the night?

"Kaelie?! What the hell are you doing here?" I asked, relaxing my defensive stance. She disappeared around the side of the house without a word and I followed after a moment's hesitation.

"Were you going to attack me, Jace?" she asked playfully, but I treated it at a serious question. I wasn't feeling very playful towards Kaelie at the moment.

"Maybe. I didn't know it was you," I replied, leaning my elbows onto the railing. The forest at night was beautiful. It was one of those things that just got prettier every single time you saw it. The trees all casted off a jade green glow in the moonlight, and if you knew where to look, you could just see the bright colors of fruit in the darkness like splashes of paint on a black canvas. Birds and insects chirped silently, too quiet to keep anyone awake, and the sound of small animals scurrying through the underbrush was soothing in a way nothing else could be. Millions of stars littered the sky and I stared up at them as I waited for Kaelie to tell me what she wanted to tell me. I had a feeling it was something I didn't want to hear. Like an excuse for how stupid she was being by smoking that shit.

"Look, Jace," she said after a few quiet moments. I felt her hand on my shoulder, but I was too tired to shrug it off. When I didn't make a move to step away, she tightened her fingers, and I sighed. "I'm sorry about what you saw. You're right; I'm such a hypocrite. After all of the things that happened to you and your family, even thinking about smoking the weed was stupid. And I'm so, so sorry." I looked down at her, not sure I believed what she was saying. I knew she was sorry for me having seen and getting so upset about it, but I wanted her to be sorry for doing something so completely stupid. And I wanted her to promise me she'd stop. So far, I wasn't convinced that she would.

"When did you start?" I asked, my voice still husky with sleep. I cleared my throat and resisted the urge to move away from her when her hand moved up from my shoulder to cup my cheek. It was way too intimate for my liking, and I didn't want to get her hopes up. But I had a feeling she'd get hurt and stalk off if I pulled away like I wanted to. So I sucked it up and held still as her thumb traced my bottom lip.

"Not long ago. About the time when that girl got here." I turned sharply to look at her and her hand fell away from my face.

"What does Clary have to do with any of this?" I asked, my voice sharp in the darkness. Kaelie looked away from me and shrugged her shoulders.

"All the guys our age are, like, obsessed with her. Even Sebastian. And it bothered me. It bothers me."

"Please, Kaelie, tell me that jealousy did not make you start smoking that shit." She didn't answer but I took it as a confession. "That's fucking stupid. Sebastian has been in love with you for years." She shook her head and exhaled angrily.

"Fine, but what about you?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" Her question caught me off guard and I met her pained gaze. She was staring at me with her blue eyes filled with anger and tears.

"Why, after only knowing her for a few weeks, do you like her? But after knowing me for years, knowing how I feel about you, you still don't like me!" she said so quietly I had to lean forward to catch it. I stood up straight and stared at her. Her eyes were shiny with tears and her hands were clenched into fists by her sides.

"I don't like her," I said. I was too shocked to say anything else. Suddenly, I had no desire to hear what she'd come here to say anymore. I had a feeling I wasn't going to like it, and that it might get her in trouble if the wrong person overheard.

"Then why do you spend all of your time with her?" She crossed her arms over her chest.

"I don't have a choice. I said some really mean things and hurt Clary's feelings, so my mom is making me teach her how things work around here."

Kaelie didn't look convinced at first. She just stared at me, her lips pursed. Then, seemingly satisfied with my answer, she stepped closer. I was too stunned to do anything when she threw her arms around my neck and slammed her mouth against mine, or to react to the noise I'd heard behind me. Then a sudden thought flew through my head.

Was I angry earlier about Sebastian and Clary's date because he was cheating on Kaelie? Was I jealous? Did I have feelings for her? I found myself kissing her back, one of my hands in her hair and the other at the small of her back. But it didn't feel right. It was just a guess, considering I didn't have one, but it felt like I was kissing my sister. And I knew right then that I didn't have any feelings for Kaelie. I didn't like her any more than a friend. Thank God, I thought to myself.

I moved my hands to the back of my neck so I could grab her arms and gently untangle them. "Sebastian," I whispered when she tried to kiss me again. She stopped and I stepped away, putting a few feet in between us so she couldn't reach me.

"Should I break up with him?" she asked me but I shook my head, without needing to think about it. There was absolutely no hesitation on my part before I answered her question.

"No. Stay with him." She looked at me in confusion and I sighed, knowing I needed to tell her the truth. But I also knew it would hurt her, so I said it as gently as I could. "You should be with someone who can return your feelings," I murmured. I heard a hitch in her breathing and I sighed again. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You can't help it." She turned around and walked away, and I stayed outside for a few minutes before I went inside and collapsed onto the floor. I wasn't tired anymore, so I just stared at the ceiling above me. Thoughts of Clary and Kaelie and Sebastian and my mom and my dad flooded through my head, keeping me awake.

Why did Kaelie choose now to come after me? And why couldn't she be happy with Sebastian, who was absolutely in love and completely devoted to her? Even though he was a little weird and could be inappropriate at times, along with his extremely odd sense of humor, he was a great guy. I was sure that if she gave him a chance, Sebastian could make her happy. Why wasn't that enough for her? It would be for other people, so why not Kaelie?

And if I didn't have feelings for Kaelie, then why the hell did Clary's planned date with Sebastian bother me so much? I'd put her up to it, and insisted even when she tried to talk me out of it. Did it piss me off so much because I thought Sebastian was better than to say yes, considering he had a girlfriend? It didn't take me long to realize that that wasn't true. I wouldn't have told Clary to go after him if I thought he'd say no. So what was it? Was I feeling an involuntary overprotective, big brother type of thing towards Kaelie?

After about ten minutes, thinking about everything without getting anywhere got to be too much, and I jumped up and left as quietly as I could. My mom was still sprawled out on the bed, with her hair hanging over the edge. If I looked close enough, I could see that her black braid was streaked with grey. It hadn't been a few years ago, but taking over raising me and taking care of everyone in the village after my father left had taken its toll on her. She was still beautiful, but her face was a little more lined and there was a little more pain in her eyes than there had been before.

My feet carried me away from my mom's and my room and I found myself at the door leading into Clary's. I peaked in and was shocked to see the bed was abandoned, the blankets thrown back like they'd been kicked off quickly. I scanned the room, thinking she was just standing around somewhere, but I noticed that she was gone, as was my father's guitar. And I knew where she was. I climbed down the ladder and followed the familiar trail down to the beach, where I knew I'd see Clary playing the guitar with her back to me. Just like she had been earlier.

For a few moments, I stood just inside the line of trees leading onto the beach and watched her. She rocked slightly from side to side as she played, her head bowed over the guitar in her lap. She was so tiny. It was hard to believe she was sixteen. I easily towered over her, even though I was only just a year older.

I walked all the way up to the rocks and stood behind her for a few seconds, neither of us speaking. Finally, she broke the silence. Her voice was low and soft, and she didn't even look up from the ocean as I stood over her.

"We keep meeting like this."

Why, oh why, does Clary going on a date with Sebastian upset Jace so much?! He does't have feelings for Kaelie, so what on Earth could be the reason? ;)

SPOILER ALERT!: The next chapter will be a bit emotional for Clary. Just because I felt she needed to get it out of the way, you know? Jace had his big breakdown moment, and now it's Clary's turn! So BEWARE! :D but . . . I won't be able to post that chapter until Monday, August 20th, so you have time to prepare yourselves. Haha, just kidding, no preparations will be necessary. It's not that bad, but I felt I should warn you anyway.

So, this is the last chapter I'll be posting for the next week and a half or so. I wish I could update while I'm on vacation, but I really won't be able to. There's no possible way to get wifi. We'll be in a car the majority of the ten days. :( I know, I'm disappointed, too. Sorry, but I promise I'll make it up to you as soon as I get back. :)

Anyways, here's chapter ten for you! And do you know what would make me really happy when I get back? Some reviews waiting for me, maybe? And, hey, you never know. That might encourage me to post more chapters for you after I come home :)

P.S. Speaking of reviews, I cannot tell you how totally amazing you guys are! Every time I read a review, I can't stop smiling for, like, half an hour. They make me feel so awesome, and when I read them, I write faster than ever, because I get eager to post another chapter! So, please, keep them coming. That would be fantastic ;D