This is actually 4 chapters in 1, and it is pretty long, but don't be a hater. I'll give this to you, but no more until I get 5 more reviews. I mean it, now, y'hear? Okay, so, this takes place approximately the night of the last chapter, which was in the morning. It's very passionate (not like that, you perv), full of turmoil and some... stuff is revealed. *clears throat suspiciously* Look, you'll know what I'm talking about when this chapter is over. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Cassie Clare is the most fantabulous, spectaculous writer ever! Especially 'cause I'm SO EXCITED for CoFA!

Chapter: Belle

Belle, still furious with Will, crashed into her room. Except, wait- it wasn't her room. Jem stood there, holding his violin, looking surprised, but not displeased, to see her standing there. "Oh, Belle… hi. May I ask why you've burst into my room?"

"Sorry. Wrong room," Belle muttered, turning to leave.

Jem put his violin on his bed and grabbed Belle's arm. "What's wrong? By which I mean, what did Will do now?"

Belle was ashamed to feel tears fill up her eyes. She wasn't usually like this; was it what Will had said, or the soft tone in which Jem asked what was wrong? "He- we were arguing about something stupid, you know how we are, and- and he told me he understood why I was alone. Why no one wanted me, cared for, loved me-" Belle laughed without any amusement, a few wayward tears sliding down her face, "-except a vampire. I've seen Will be rude a thousand times, but never hit so hard below the belt, for no reason other than that he could. It- it hurt, Jem, especially since it's all true."

Jem pulled Belle to him in one swift motion, folding her into his arms. "Hey, now, it's not true. You are wanted here. If you weren't- well, none of us are the type to mince words. You'd know. And as for being loved- you will find someone who loves you, in a more-than-friend way, that is."

Belle pulled away a bit, looking up at Jem. "You- you think so?"

He smiled. "I know." In a fit of bravery that was most unlike him, he leaned in and softly brushed Belle's lips with his own. His silky silver hair ticked Belle's forehead as she deepened the kiss. Anything Will had said or done fled Belle's mind; there was only her and Jem, his hands around her waist, her arms around his neck like a vine, pulling him closer, and her lips on his. After a moment- (or was it a minute? An hour?)- both parties had to pull away to catch their breath.

Jem looked healthier now- his eyes were bright and alert, and his cheeks had a soft rosy hue. They smiled at each other before Belle grabbed the front of Jem's shirt with both hands, pulling him close again. He tangled his hands in her long, silky hair. Belle's legs seemed to melt when Jem slipped his tongue into her mouth, and she was lucky they were so close together or she would have fallen. Later they would worry about how to explain this to everyone- for now it was enough just to be together.

Chapter: Will

Will yelled for Jem, again. Damn him, he still wasn't answering. Time to do this the hard way, then- burst into Jem's room and completely invade his privacy. He took the stairs two at a time, finally ending up outside Jem's room. He threw the door open and proclaimed loudly, "By the Angel, Jem, I've only called you a thousand times. What've you-"

He broke off, his voice cracking. Jem lay collapsed on his bed, still fully dressed, not moving. Will rushed to his side. "Jem, Jem, are you okay? Do you need your medicine? Where is it? Jem, answer me, please!"

Jem turned his head to Will and furrowed his brow. "I'm fine, William, why are you in hysterics?"

Will, though frustrated on the outside, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Jem was alive and well, then. For now. "Because, James, it matters to me if you die, you know. I did swear an oath to protect your life, as you swore one to protect mine. And where else can I find someone willing to put up with me?"

Jem smiled. Will noticed how healthy he looked, how happy. He couldn't seem to stop smiling, his pale cheeks had a flush of pink in them, and he was starry-eyed. His hair was all messed up- it looked like someone had run their hands through it. Jem was always peaceful, calm, content- it was a rare treat to see him truly happy.

Of course it made Will suspicious. He narrowed his eyes. "What's up with you? Why are you like this?"

Jem seemed truly surprised at the question. "Like what? I'm happy, Will, I should think-"

Will interrupted, as he was wont to do. "Yeah, yeah, you're happy. Why? What did I miss?"

Jem sighed. "Does it matter? 'Ours is not to question why-' "

"-Ours is but to answer my question. Tell me, or by the Angel I swear I'll force it out of you."

Jem was genuinely taken back. "Well, if you must know, it was Belle. After you verbally abused her, she burst in here- much like you just did- by mistake, explained what happened and started crying. I was consoling her, one thing led to another…"

Will's blue eyes widened. "James Carstairs… did you sleep with Belle?"

Jem laughed. "No, no, nothing like that. We just kissed… for a long time…" He smiled as if recounting the pleasant memory. Then something in his expression changed, and he looked at Will with ice in his eyes. "Why do you do things like that, Will? Why did you have to torture her? She was really cut up about what you said…"

Will straightened up. "I tell things the way I see them. That was my opinion, and I'm not about to apologize for giving it."

"Your opinion is that she's unwanted and unloved? By whom? Charlotte adores her, Henry seems to like her, and Jessamine doesn't completely hate her. I think. And as for me-" He blushed. "Well, I don't care what you think, Will, it isn't necessarily what everyone else has to think, too. It would do you well to remember that."

Will, predictably, stormed out. He slumped against the corridor wall, trying to ignore the feelings inside him. It wasn't that he hated Belle, but he couldn't tell anyone that, much less Jem. He wondered how much Jem would hate him if he confessed that he was in love with Belle.

Chapter: Jem

Jem lay on his bed for a long while after Will stormed out, just thinking, about anything and everything. He felt strangely disconnected from his body, but it wasn't unpleasant in the least- rather, it was interesting.

It was then that his eyes snapped open- he didn't know he had fallen asleep, let alone that he was dreaming the disconnected from his body thing. Although, it did make more sense that way. Jem wondered if he was possibly going crazy, or was it something else? With a sigh he stood up and walked over to his mirror, staring at his reflection. He saw his unnaturally pale skin, his silver hair messy from where Belle had run her fingers through it, his silver eyes filled with something he couldn't quite name. He also saw the dark circles under his eyes, the little white scars that snowflaked his skin, his frail build. He looked like someone trying hard to pull it together when everything was falling apart, though he was not.

Love does strange things to you, he thought. I can't eat, I can't sleep… No wonder I look such a mess. Belle didn't seem to care, amazingly; that was what he loved about her, one of many things. Her eyes, her smile, her laugh, and especially the way she held him. She held him the way one might hold the one they love, tight and strong– she didn't treat him like the fragile piece of glass that everyone saw when they looked at him.

Jem remembered every detail of the kiss that was only- how long ago? How long did he sleep? He remembered the tears that clung to Belle's long black lashes like tiny diamonds, the happy flush to her cheeks after the kiss, the feel of her soft lips opening beneath the pressure of his, the way she clung to his shirt like she would die if she let him go.

However… he was no fool. He saw the way Will looked at Belle, the sad look in his eyes when she turned to Jem rather than him. He knew that the people Will seemed to hate most were the ones he cared about most, which is why he was always rude to Jem, who would always forgive him. Belle rarely forgave and never forgot, something unfamiliar to Will. Jem felt equal measures of pleasure and guilt- he was delighted that the girl wanted by others belonged to him; but he was depressed that it was his best friend, brother really, who had feelings for Belle.

What am I supposed to do?

Chapter: Belle

A knock on her bedroom door woke Belle at some ungodly hour of the morning. She stood slowly, stretching and rubbing her eyes with the palms of her hands. She straightened her pajamas and opened the door, wincing at the sudden bright light. At first all she saw was the silhouette of a tall, thin boy in black. Expecting Jem, she was surprised to see black hair, rather than silver. Will.

Belle sighed. "What are you doing here, Will?"

"You're awake," Will said, surprised.

"I am now. Well? What do you want?" Belle asked, annoyance in her voice.

"It's about earlier, what I said to you. I-"

"Let me guess. You talked to Jem, didn't you." It wasn't so much a question as a statement, because Belle already knew the answer. "Look, it's sweet of him to do this, but I don't want your apologies unless you mean them."

Will shook his head. "I did talk to Jem, but I wanted to do this. I shouldn't have said all that. I just wanted to talk…"

"Do we have to do this now? It's-" She glanced at her phone. "One in the morning. I'm tired, and I just want to go back to sleep."

"I'd rather it be now," Will insisted.

Belle groaned, but stood aside to let Will come into her room. He did so, for once without a sarcastic grin, and sat down in a chair by her window. Belle sat back down in the bed with crossed legs. "What," she asked rather crossly, "is so important that you had to wake me up this early in the morning to talk?"

Will swallowed. "It is actually about Jem."

"What about him? Is he okay?" Belle was concerned.

"No, no, he's fine. Well, same as he was earlier, anyway. It's just that… You and him… It won't work."

Belle stood up, shocked. "You woke me up to tell me that Jem and I shouldn't be together? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Will stood too, matching her furious tone with his own fierce one. "What's wrong with you? He's sick, he shouldn't be-"

"Shouldn't be what, Will? Happy? Are you just angry because he has a chance to be happy and you don't? Because he has a chance to have a real relationship instead of just sleeping around with hookers? Because- because- I don't know, okay? I don't understand you, I'm not going to pretend that I do, but are you jealous, Will?"

"Jealous of what? That he's stuck here with no one but you instead of going out and having fun? I wouldn't wish that on him. I wouldn't wish that on anyone, in fact." Gone was the caring, concerned person who had politely knocked on her door. In his place was this, Will at his worst, his already unkind persona undoubtedly heightened by alcohol.

"Get out." Belle's voice was a low growl. Her hands were clenched into fists at her sides and every muscle in her body was tense. Her green eyes narrowed into slits. When Will didn't move, she hissed again. "I told you to get out of my room! I want you as far away from me as possible, do you understand? I care about Jem more than anyone, and I'm not going to hurt him."

Will stormed out, slamming the door behind him. However, instead of going back to his room, he leaned against Belle's bedroom door, sinking down until he was sitting on the floor. He heard Belle inside, saying, "I'm not going to hurt him," though it sounded like she was trying to convince herself.

"I know," Will whispered, making sure Belle didn't hear him, "I just don't want him to hurt you."

Yeah, Will fell HARD. Ouch.