Sorry for the delayed update and all that jazz.

Jace's POV

Beep. Beep. Beep.

What on earth is that god awful noise?

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I clenched my eyes, trying to return to my previously occupied thoughts before that noise interrupted.

Beep. Beep. Be-

I slammed my fist down, remembering where that damn noise had been coming from, and felt instant relief as I crushed my alarm. It was short lived as I realized I had literally crushed it into pieces that were now scattered along my side table and across the floor.

Well, guess I was going to have to ask Maryse if we had any spare digital clocks. Probably not, seeing as that was the third one I had crushed in two months. I wasn't exactly a morning person to say the least.

I opened my eyes and stared up at the spinning white ceiling above me. I placed a hand on my forehead and sighed in defeat as I waited for the world to come to a stop again. A certain red haired beauty had haunted my dreams again last night.

Quick images of her smiling and laughing danced across my vision, tempting me to once again search every crease and crevice of my guarded mind until I returned by her side. The image of her running down a path scattered with trees was burnt into the back of my eyelids. A flowy long dress hung loosely from her fragile body, equal parts silk and lace that was a shade darker than her emerald eyes. The creamy pale skin of her legs was visible through a slit in her ruffled skirt, silently begging me to catch her in my arms and feel her soft touch.

I stood stunned momentarily, watching the girl as she laughed openly and slowly placed more distance between us, until I broke from my trance and pursued her trail. No matter how fast or how long I ran, I never seemed to get any closer to the beauty. I cried out, begging her to wait for me, but my voice was a mere whisper in the wind.

Suddenly she stopped laughing and spun around, her face paler than usual and fear visible in her doe like eyes. My heart clenched painfully in a desire to comfort her and take away all her sadness. She clutched at her stomach as a scream escaped from her rosy lips and she collapsed to her knees.

I pushed myself harder, adrenaline rushing in my ears as I tried to close the never ending distance between us. I watched helplessly as her hands came away covered in blood, the front of her corset stained, before her eyes grew cold and lifeless. As her head bounced off the ground, a hooded figure stepped out from behind a tree, a soiled knife clutched in his left hand.

All that distinguished her attacker was short raven hair that whipped around violently in the wind and bottomless black eyes that shone out from beneath the hood. Before I could do anything to avenge her death, my alarm had gone off, breaking me from my fantasy world.

As I thought back to the dream, I realized how unnerved I was. The girl was obviously Clary, and despite the fact that I knew it was just a night terror, I couldn't help but loath the masked figure. I refused to entertain myself with the idea of discovering his identity any further and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. I headed for my attached bathroom, knowing that a shower would be all I needed to clear my head.

I couldn't help but glance out the window with a worried expression. Irrational relieve washed over me as I spotted Clary still safely curled up in her comforter, a small smile on her lips. She really should invest in some curtains, but I certainly wasn't protesting. I liked the small glimpses into her life it allowed me when she thought no one was looking. God I sounded like a complete stalker.

I shut the bathroom door behind me and stripped my clothes off, throwing them into a wad in the corner. I slid the sliding glass door open and stepped under the shower head after I had turned the knob until I found the perfect degree. Hot water pounded off of my skin, loosening the stress between my muscles and clearing my head of all thoughts. I leaned my head against the cool tile wall for awhile, one arm holding me steady.

Finally, after fully relaxing, I started my usually routine of scrubbing and rinsing, making sure to soak up every last bit of the warm water until it ran cold. I turned the knob and got out, wrapping a towel around my waist. The mirror was a little fogged up, so I turned on the vent and brushed my teeth absentmindedly for awhile.

As usual, my thoughts drifted to none other than Little Red. I noticed she was starting to become an addiction, and it alarmed me slightly, but not as much as the realizations I had underwent last night.

It started when I had to carry her out to our secret getaway and I realized that I was enjoying her head pressed against my chest and I didn't want to let her go. Then she looked at me with the most understand expression ever, like she could see through all my facades and games to the real me hidden behind all of those walls, and I noticed how well we fit together with her legs casually wrapped around my waist and my hands resting on her hips. If that wasn't alarming enough, then she really threw my emotions for a curveball when she kissed me. She kissed me.

It wasn't like the other times, when I was the one who initiated things. This time it was all her. It was in that moment, when her fingers were locked in my hair, tugging on the wet curls and her mouth was gently covering mine that I finally faced the facts.

I like Clary. A lot. And it scared the living shit out of me. I didn't care about girls. Hell, I hadn't even had a real girlfriend before. Girls were just fun things to pass the time, but Clary wasn't like that.

I didn't want to just bend her over and bang her like a screen door in a hurricane. Okay, so maybe I did a little. Our chemistry and the sexual tension in the room were always undoubtedly high, but I wanted so much more. I wanted to make her laugh. To kiss her. To call her mine. To hold her hand. To wipe away her tears and to make her smile.

Oh god, I sounded like one of those sappy love struck teenage boys. Hell, I was beginning to sound like Izzy. I didn't care, though. It was all true.

But then I asked her why she kissed me and she said it was just a thank you. No big deal. Nothing to stress over. And I instantly felt my heart sink as the walls went up again. Of course she wouldn't like me back.

I mean, yes, I was insanely hot and god-like, but that was only looks. I was vane, and selfish, and rude, and ignorant, and a complete asshat to put it in her own words. Clary wasn't artificial, so I knew my looks would only get me so far.

We were never going to happen and I needed to get that through my head, but that didn't mean I couldn't still have some fun with her. Clary didn't seem to protest our friendship too much, so I would just have to settle for being friends and caring for her in only those ways.

Clary's POV

"Clary darling, do you mind checking the mail? I forgot to get it yesterday and the bank mailed over some paperwork I need to file at work today." Jocelyn asked from somewhere upstairs as I exited my room, actually ahead of schedule for once.

"Sure." I chirped, in a surprisingly happy mood due to my once-in-a-million-years good hair day. I had woken up at 6:30 with this determination so look nothing short of perfection. My hair was molded into slick curls using my wand Izzy had gifted me and I actually tried with the makeup today, giving myself a light smoky eye with thick eyelashes and a pink lip. My leggings were black and sparkly, catching every ray of light and bouncing them back off in an array of colors. To finish off the look, I shrugged on a cyan button down that was a size too large for my frame, but made the look casual enough for school.

When my mom saw my outfit this morning, she hadn't hated it like I expected, but rather told me that some chunky jewelry and solid ballet flats would add to it nicely.

I skipped down the stairs gleefully and threw open the front door, strutting out my front door with more confidence than I had ever had before. I checked the mail, stuffing envelopes and magazines into the crook of my arm before turning around. Delivering them to my mother, I grabbed my book bag and keys to go pick up Mia, since Jordan had to serve a morning detention for calling Coach Black a prick.

After I had put my belongings in the car and started the engine, to cool down the inside -it was abnormally hot for a late August morning- I decided that I would surprise Izzy with a quick visit to see if she approved my hard work.

I climbed the steps and knocked on the door urgently, not wanting to fall behind schedule if I was going to have to drive across town to big up my best friend from her apartment. I was met with a confused Alec as I hugged him briefly before asking where his sister was. "Upstairs in her bathroom, I think."

"Okay, thanks." I sped by him, nearly running into Max. I grabbed the youngest Lightwood by his shoulders and spun us around shortly before kissing his cheek. His face turned a bright shade of red. "Hey, Maxi!"

Before he could even reply, I was already halfway down the hall and bursting through the bathroom door. Izzy let out a terrified scream and I laughed mercilessly as I took in her short sequenced skirt and neon pink Victoria's Secret bra. A shirt was slung across the shower rod and makeup and hair supplies were scattered across the counter. "Clary, you scared the shit out of me!"

After she took in my look, a brilliant smile lit up her beautiful face and she squealed loudly, wrapping me in a tight hug shortly before grinning again. "Oh my God, Clary! You look so gorgeous! Finally my fashion advice is rubbing off on you. Did I buy that shirt?"

"Izzy, you bought everything." I reminded her with a knowing look and she just laughed as she finished curling her hair.

"I suppose you're right on that one." She looked at me through the mirror. "Is there a reason that you're here? Not that I don't love you and all, but I have to leave in like ten minutes and I still haven't ate."

"Just to show off my beautiful ensemble and to make sure you actually make it to homeroom today." I teased her lightly as she pulled on her shirt, which was a low cut pink v neck that synched at her waist, making her flawless figure appear even more enviable.

"Hardy har har." Izzy stuck her tongue out at me childishly and pushed me out the door. "Better get going. Wouldn't want to become a truant like me, would we?"

"Yeah, because I'm such a goody two shoes." I scoffed at her, rolling my eyes as she slammed the door shut. I turned around abruptly and was preparing for the short trek back to my car, when I ran into none other than Jace.

"Clary?" He asked, his eyebrows drawing together in confusion. I allowed myself to briefly appreciate his toned physique and tanned skin scandalously clad in only a thin pair of tight boxers that hung low on his hips, before meeting his gaze as if nothing had happened.

"Good morning to you, too, Blondie." I chirped as I passed him, not wanting to be late despite Izzy's teasing remarks.

"Are you okay? Where are you going?" Jace followed after me like a lost puppy, his bewildered face causing a smirk to pull at the corner of my lips. I couldn't help but be equally confused by his odd concern, but I wrote it off as exhaustion from the insomnia.

"I am wonderful. And not that it's any of your concern, but I'm going to school. You know that state mandated torture chamber?" I was feeling especially sarcastic this morning, but it didn't have the desired effect on Jace that I initially expected.

"Can't I go with you?" He asked hopefully, surprising me even further. I turned to tell him no, but one glance at his child like face changed my mind.

"I suppose, but you might want to cover-up a bit. We wouldn't want you distracting all the girls, now would we?" I winked at him as I continued towards the front door.

"I don't need to be half naked to distract all the girls." Jace hollered as he disappeared into his room and I rolled my eyes.

"Hurry up or I'm leaving without you." I shouted, startling Alec yet again as he exited his room.

I waited in the car and scrolled through my iPod. In the end, I decided I needed an anthem for my mood today. I found Falling in Reverse and settled on Good Girls Bad Guys before hitting shuffle and locking the screen.

Jace came spilling out of the entrance a few seconds later and images of last night flashed across my mind. His signature smirk. His lips pressed against mine. His arms wrapped around my waist securely.

A blush heated my otherwise perfectly painted face and I had to turn away as he threw open the door and I casually pulled on a pair of dark purple sunglasses. We didn't speak much on the drive, but it was a comfortable silence as usual with him.

Finally we rolled up to Mia's street and I parked the car, honking once loudly. I realized immediately afterwards that Mia was already sitting on the front porch swing. She made her way down the pathway and went to sit in the passenger seat, almost falling on Jace's lap and causing both of us to chuckle.

"Hey- Jace?" Mia saved herself at the last moment by holding onto the roof of the car. She shot me a pointed look before sliding into the backseat. That lasted for maybe two seconds before she was leaning up, poking her head between our seats and looking at the two of us skeptically.

"Hi, Mia." Jace nodded at my noisy best friend as he winked at me over her head.

"Do you always ride with Clary?" Mia questioned suspiciously, both of us able to see through her casual nonchalance completely.

"Izzy was taking too long." I told her shortly and turned the volume up, hoping she got the idea.

"Ah. I see." Her head bobbed up and down in understanding before turning towards Jace and resting her head on her hand as if he was the most interesting thing in the world. "Do you have a girlfriend yet?"

"Nope." Jace popped the word as he drummed his fingers on imaginary drums.

"Really? I can't imagine why not. All I hear in the hallways anymore are girls talking about how they wish they could have their ways with you." Mia winked at Jace flirtatiously, but I knew her intentions weren't nearly as innocent.

"I'm not really into the whole dating scene." Jace explained, shifting in his seat and placing his feet on the dashboard before I shot him a death glare and he immediately removed them.

"You sound like someone else I know." Mia sent me a dazzling smile and I pressed my foot further against the pedal. "Are there any girls that catch your eye?"

"One in particular." Jace played along, his smile audible through his tone.

"Is she pretty?" Mia latched onto the information like a fish to a hook.

"You could say that." I turned into the school entrance with a sharp gracefulness worthy of a NASCAR race.

"And we're here." I flew into my spot, slamming on the breaks and throwing the car into park. "Now get out."

Mia obediently exited the car, throwing her fingers over her shoulder in a waving motion at us. That girl was luckily I love her or she'd be dead already. "Bye, guys, Thanks for the ride Clary."

I laid on the head rest and let out an enormous sigh. Finally I turned my head to look at a patiently waiting Jace who had my book bag in his hands. "You know, I really like her."

"I'm sure you do." I muttered, snatching my bag and walking away, barely remembering to lock the car behind us.

"But not nearly as much as I like you, of course." Jace bumped me playfully and I scowled at him.

"That's the last time I ever give you a ride to school again, understood?" I informed him slowly; making sure the information had time to sink in.

"We both know that's a lie, Red." Jace leaned in and kissed my cheek as he ran off before I could strangle him. "Have a wonderful day, beautiful."

"Go to Hell, Blondie!" I shouted after him, not caring if everyone was giving me strange looks or not.

Yep, this was shaping up to be a great day.

So, yeah. I'm sorry for leaving you guys hanging for so long, but at least it wasn't nearly as long as my other fanfic Summer Vacation Gone Wild. I have still yet to update Unhinged, but expect one soon.

For those of you who even care enough to read these, I am currently battling depression, and it is a large part of why it has taken me so long to update, but I'm trying to work through it. It's a lot harder than it sounds. Writing used to be one of my biggest passions and I hope to make it one again. Thanks for reading and please leave a review. They make me smile. (:

-ThatHippieChick