Chapter 10

JPoV:

I'm kicking myself right now. Literally kicking myself. In the head. Repeatedly. With spiked boots.

God how can I be so STUPID. How could I just kiss her and then walk away. Doing it, literally, made me want to throw up, but I have to be away from her. Why, you ask? Well, I'm afraid. Yup. Go ahead and laugh your ass off. Jonathan Christopher Wayland is afraid. I want to tell Clary so desperately how I feel about her. I just wish I knew if she feels the same way.

I need to clear my head. There's a pounding against my skull that I need to relieve and I turn to the best remedy I can think of. Piano. Not many people know that I play piano. I like to keep it to myself mostly. It's practically the only thing that the press doesn't know about me. I run the list of people who know I play, in my head: Alec and Izzy, since they are practically like my brother and sister, and… Clary. Right, I forgot, she walked in on me messing around on the shabby piano in the music room of our old high school.

I cross my bedroom and run my fingers lightly over the keys of my sleek, black Yamaha keyboard. It's definitely not as nice as the beautiful black grand piano that I left behind in L.A., but it will have to do. I turn the keyboard on and plug in my headphones so no one will hear me playing and then I close my eyes and begin to play. I let my fingers glide swiftly over the keys letting the melody fill my ears. I feel my headache start to lessen I smile slightly as I lose myself in the music.

CPoV:

That bought of drowsiness doesn't last long. I know it's stupid, but just that one night made me so comfortable with Jace's body next to mine that I can't fall asleep anymore. I know, I know. It was one night. But it felt natural and comfortable and I'm aching to feel his arms around me again. I toss and turn and eventually heave out a huge sigh and throw the covers back. I shiver slightly as the cool air comes in contact with my bare legs—my short sport shorts doing nothing to keep them warm. I try to burrow further into the thick NYU hoodie I'm wearing—one of many I might add—and ultimately failing, I settle for rubbing my hands up and down my arms quickly to try and warm them up.

I make my way slowly down the stairs and start toward the kitchen, but a faint light catches my eye. A light coming from Jace's bedroom… I silently walk towards it and find the golden boy, illuminated by a small desk lamp, playing the piano. I know for a fact that he doesn't do it often, especially not while other people are around. He looks completely comfortable, his long, slim fingers flying over the keys. I can't hear a single note—I chalk that up to the large pair of headphones he's wearing—but I know that whatever it is, it sounds beautiful.

I've only heard Jace play the piano once and I was absolutely astonished by how natural he looked playing. Leaning against the door frame, I just watch him. His eyes are closed and a small smile is present on his full, pink lips. His shoulders are totally tension-free, his biceps rippling slightly as his hands fly back and forth, crossing over each other in perfect coordination. In this moment, he looks at peace. He looks purely Jace. And I smile.

JPoV:

I'm starting on my second song, playing something from Bach, and I crack my eyes open for not even a millisecond when a flash of fire stops me in my tracks. I lift my hands up abruptly and pull the headphones off my ears, turning to look at her. She seems startled by my suddenness.

"Hey," I say and she frowns.

"Jace, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. I was just kind of passing and I saw your light on—"

"It's fine, Clare," I laugh. She lets out a sigh of relief. "What are you doing up?" I ask. I thought she'd be asleep by now.

"Couldn't sleep," she replies simply, climbing onto my bed and pulling her knees underneath her chin. "What about you?"

"Couldn't sleep," I say, mimicking her words. She nods slightly, resting her head on top of her knees, and wrapping her arms around her legs.

"Have you really read my books?" the little red-head asks turning her emerald eyes on me skeptically. I chuckle breathlessly as I remember some of my friends back in California giving me crap about reading Clary's books because they were 'chick literature' or some shit like that. I remember telling them to fuck off because she happened to be a close friend of mine. Friend…

"Of course, Clary," I reply sincerely. She ducks her head down but not before I catch a wide smile stretching across her face. I think I also detect a faint blush on her cheeks. "They were amazing," I add making her look up and roll her emerald green eyes at me, a faint smile still present.

"Yeah, well…" she trails off, huffing out a small laugh. "I've seen everything—every show, every movie—you've ever appeared in, no matter how small the part," she says matter-of-factly, surprising me. I didn't think she had seen everything… I move to sit next to her on the bed, the plush mattress sinking underneath my weight. We're so close that I can smell her strawberry scent again and am immediately filled with warmth that floods my entire body. We sit in a comfortable silence for a minute, just enjoying each other's presence.

"You know I really did miss you, Jace?" Clary asks out of nowhere making me jump. I turn to look at her and decide to poke some fun. I arch a golden eyebrow and put on one of my famous smirks.

"Who wouldn't, Clare-bear?" I ask pompously and she scoffs and smacks me in the arm.

"I mean it," she insists.

"Seriously, Clary, I know. I mean, who could forget this face?" I ask making a gesture to my head. She makes an impatient noise and smacks my arm again.

"Jace! I'm being serious," she says much quieter. For some reason, that gets my attention and I turn to fully face her, leaning my head to the side a little. "I think about that day all the time…the day you left. I remember telling you and everyone else that I was happy to see you go. Th-that I wouldn't miss you." She pauses and I catch a silent tear rolling down her cheek. Without thinking, I reach out and swipe it away with my thumb, looking down at her intently. "And then you left…and I felt…" she trails off looking for her words, "Hollow. Like a part of me was somewhere else and I tried to tell myself that it was nothing. It couldn't be you because you…hated me."

My eyes widen momentarily and my hand shoots out to grab one of hers—releasing it from her grip on her thin legs. I lace our fingers together and she gives me a look of such confusion that I find myself needing to tell her everything. So I start.

CPoV:

"I never hated you, Clary," Jace says in all seriousness. I pretty much gape at him. The pressure of his hand in mine is enough to drive me crazy.

"B-b-but," I stutter, "You—you made my life hell. You teased me mercilessly every day for years—"

"I loved you, Clarissa. I just didn't know how to deal with the emotions…so I said the first thing that came into my mind," he says. Ohh, I remember.

"Carrot," I snort. He snorts in reply, then looks back at me intently.

"I loved you, Carrot," he says quietly. "I still do… if you'll have me." I don't even hesitate in my reply, thinking about all the new feelings that I've just discovered for the man sitting in front of me and how genuine and strong they feel. How right.

"I love you, too, Jace. Of course I'll have you," I say with absolute finality. Shock passes over Jace's handsome features.

"R-really?" He asks in disbelief. I give a small smile and nod slightly, looking up into his swirling, mesmerizing, golden eyes, which seem overcome with happiness at the moment.

Faster than I can process, Jace crushes his lips on my own with the desperation and longing of years of feelings locked away. I respond immediately, untangling our intertwined hands, only to tangle both of mine in his silky curls. He moves his strong hands to my waist and pulls me into his lap. Our lips move together in perfect synchronization and his are so soft…

I feel his tongue trace my bottom lip and I gasp into the kiss giving him the opportunity to explore my mouth. Our tongues swirl together deliciously and can't think straight at all. His hands can't seem to stop moving either and it's driving me crazy in the best possible way. He runs them down my sides and legs and then makes his way back up and then tangles them in my hair and then caresses my face and then he moves them back to my waist. Far, far, far too soon, I feel myself running out of air and I want to scream at my lungs for not being stronger. Apparently he feels it too because we pull back at the same time.

Jace rests his forehead against mine and stares into the very depths of my eyes. I'm staring back—green on gold. We're both panting slightly with giant goofy smiles plastered on our faces. After a moment, he leans forward and kisses my nose. I huff out a laugh and blush profusely, despite the heated situation we were both just in.

"You don't know how long I've wanted to do that," he whispers. We crawl into his bed and I'm finally starting to feel a heavy drowsiness. Jace tucks my small frame against his sculpted chest and sigh in contentment as he places a small kiss on my forehead.

"Good night, Clary, love," Jace whispers into my neck.

"Good night, Jace," I reply. With his arms around me, I'm finally able to relax as I sink into the comfortable feeling of his touch. It's not long before I'm slip into one of the deepest sleeps I've ever had.

A/N: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! It's CLACE! Finally! Ahhh! Okay so that was chapter ten and I hope you all enjoyed it! Big plans for the movie... muahahahaha! I feel like I took a really long time to write that chapter... if you guys felt that too then I'm really sorry :( Don't forget to reviewwww! It makes me happy! :D Okay I think that's it!

Until next time, my lovelies!

~MG

p.s. If anyone has either heard of Kristan Higgins or has read any of her books tell me in a review! I just want to know in anybody knows her!

Disclaimer: The Mortal Instruments and all its characters belongs to the magnificent Cassandra Clare ;)