Another Chapter! Aren't you guys (and girls) soooo lucky ;) hahaha EnJoY!


"Can I get you anything before I go to work?" Jace asked, concern evident in his features. Clary shook her head, her matted and dirty curls swirling around her head. He sighed in defeat as he grabbed his briefcase, instructing her to slide the deadbolt as soon as he left. It was the same routine as every morning. Jace would wake up before the sun, fix her a breakfast that she'd only pick at. He'd take a shower as she slowly made her way to the sofa, turning on the television but not watching anything. She'd stare out the window until he emerged in a puff of steam. Then he'd leave her alone in the big penthouse. This had been a reoccurring situation for the past two weeks that she'd been here, and now, as Jace pushed through the door with one last worried glance in her direction, she heaved herself up and pushed the deadbolt through its latch, not because Jace told her to but because she was still afraid. Afraid that Jonathon might discover where she was, worried that her father would finally put an end to her disobedience, scared that Sebastian would stalk up another level and have his way with her one more time. She sniffled, grabbing the cell phone Jace had bought for her right after he'd found her. It was the newest iPhone, gold, like his eyes, and it was programmed with his, Alec's, and Izzy's numbers. She'd also entered Simon's, for when she was ready to speak to him again.

Right now, though, she needed someone who understood this pain, this violation, this extreme self-hatred that was devouring her. She hit the call icon next to Isabelle's name, barely waiting two rings before her cheery voice answered. "Hello?" Clary threw her head back against the couch, wondering if she could even get the words to come out.

"Iz…it's Clary," she replied after a moment's hesitation. "Could you come to Jace's apartment?" She heard Isabelle talk to someone off the phone.

"Be there in ten."

Nine and a half minutes later, there was a heavy pounding on the door, followed by Isabelle's voice saying it was her. Clary opened the door, finding Alec standing behind Isabelle. Of course he would have come with her. Jace was the same way. He wouldn't let Clary leave the apartment by herself. "Alec was just leaving," Isabelle muttered as he tried to follow her in. He stopped in his tracks, but made no move to leave. Isabelle shut the door in his face, locking it behind her. "He no longer understands the meaning of privacy," she grumbled, as Alec hollered something about hearing that behind the closed door. "Exhibit A." She flopped down onto the sofa and surfed through the channels before landing on a rerun of Friends. Clary sat beside her, curling her feet beneath her as she fiddled with her fingers in her lap.

"How are you doing?" she asked Isabelle, who's bruises had yellowed, nearly fading into her tan complexion, whereas Clary's were still an angry purple against her pale skin. Isabelle nodded, her black hair falling from a messy bun atop her head. She had on thick eyeliner that flitted out into cat eyes, accentuating her thick lashes and her mysterious dark eyes. She was wearing a fitted blue top with a plunging neckline and some black skinny jeans with black ankle boots. Clary realized this was the first time she'd ever seen Izzy's style, that she'd ever seen her dressed in something other than lingerie. Clary tried to hide the fact that she was wearing Jace's sweatpants and one of his t-shirts, which she was swimming in. "How do you do it, Iz?" Isabelle turned her attention away from friends, furrowing her brow at Clary.

"Do what?" A few bracelets jingled on her wrist as she moved her hand.

"Move on." Isabelle placed a comforting hand on Clary's shoulder, smiling sadly, undoubtedly looking at Clary's frizzed hair, the bags beneath her eyes, the clothes sagging from her thin body.

"I was so angry, Clary. Trust me. I hated myself. I didn't want people to look at me, to see me," she shook her head. "And then I realized that I was giving in. That they'd taken my life away from me, and I couldn't get back the time I'd lost. But I could make the most of the time I had left. So I just stopped feeling sorry for myself. I stopped moping and took Alec's black card and went shopping."

"I knew my bills were high!" Alec blared from the hallway, making Izzy and Clary giggle. Clary absently picked up the plate of fruit Jace had given her that morning and popped a few grapes into her mouth.

"You know what, Clary? We are going shopping!" Clary wanted to groan in protest, but it actually sounded nice to get out of this stuffy apartment, to go with Isabelle and do normal things that normal people do. Izzy shooed Clary into the shower, while she scoured the apartment for Jace's black card, mumbling something about how her brother owed her anyway. Clary stepped into the steaming water, letting the hot droplets race down her skin as she scrubbed her hair with her favorite strawberry shampoo, the stuff Jace had gotten her the first time she'd stayed there. She finished rinsing her body and wrapped herself in a towel, grabbing the sweater dress she'd worn once and pulled it over her head. Isabelle was smacking her gum when Clary returned, quickly ushering out the door and into the car, Alec hot on their heels. "Alec…" Izzy groaned. "This is something we really need to do. Alone." Alec didn't look too pleased as Izzy sped away in her blue Corvette, dodging Alec's red car that followed her by darting down alleyways and taking sharp corners.

Finally, after losing him, they parked and started walking down the sidewalks, window shopping. "That would look great on you," Izzy said of a green shirt and leopard scarf combo that adorned a faceless mannequin. Clary followed Isabelle into store after store until they were each dragging handfuls of bags back to Isabelle's Corvette. Izzy hadn't bought herself anything besides a pair of chandelier earrings and blue stilettos. Everything else was Clary's.

They got back to Jace's apartment, and Isabelle began putting Clary's things into Jace's meticulously organized closet. Seriously, his shirts were coordinated by style and color, hanging in neat rows with all the hangers facing the same way. As Isabelle placed Clary's new outfits on the hangers and stuck them next to Jace's things, it looked like a color explosion. Clary put her new jewelry in the cute jewelry box she'd found. It looked like a golden book. She set it atop Jace's dresser, next to his bottle of cologne. He always smelled so amazing. She snuck a glance at the bottle. Gucci. Of course. "All done," Isabelle said after a few more minutes. Iz loved fashion. It was evident in the avid way she shopped, trying on anything and everything, scrutinizing every detail, not purchasing unless it was perfect. It could also be seen in the small smile she wore as she put everything away. Who smiles when they put away clothes? Especially someone else's? Izzy, that's who. Clary turned to her friend, who was smiling. Isabelle held out a dress to her. It was striped, alternating navy and white. It had thin straps and the back had a cutout in the shape of a heart. It had been Clary's favorite. "Put it on," Izzy instructed, but Clary shook her head. No, no. She didn't feel beautiful enough for that dress. She wanted to wait until she felt like she deserved to wear it. "Cut the shit, Clary. Put it on, or I'll force you into it." Clary groaned and stripped down to her undies, cotton panties and a matching bra, she was so over that lingerie crap. She'd probably never wear it again.

Isabelle helped her into the dress, zipping the back while Clary lifted her hair out of the way. Then, Isabelle rummaged through the Sephora bag, emerging with black eyeliner, which she traced perfect cat eyes onto Clary's lids. She then pushed Clary's hair off her face with sparkling pins and had her step into a pair of red flats. Isabelle smiled as she turned Clary toward her reflection. God, she did look beautiful. She looked innocent and whole. Her green eyes were wide, her waist slim in the dress. She hadn't even notice Isabelle push diamond studs into her ears, but they caught the light and sparkled. Isabelle put her hands on Clary's shoulders. "Sometimes the first step to healing is feeling whole on the outside." Clary nodded, twirling in the dress and loving the way it flew around her thighs. Isabelle laughed quietly. "I should get going. Alec is probably pissed."

"Probably," Clary responded, toying with the hemline of her dress.

"Definitely," Izzy amended, grabbing her purse and dropping Jace's credit card on the counter. "Call me soon. Like soon soon." Clary nodded as Izzy slipped out the door, again leaving Clary all alone. She looked at her reflection again. The afternoon light made her hair color richer, his skin more like porcelain than paste, the freckles a dusting of brown rather than blemishes on her face. She felt amazing. She felt pretty. She felt alive.

She sat on the edge of Jace's unmade bed, wondering how she'd just laid around in it for the past few days. She'd never been that kind of girl. Not before she was sold. She shook her head. She needed to take her life back, to be in control of what she did to herself. She couldn't help being hurt, couldn't help what had happened to her, but she could help herself by being content, by being happy. She deserved happiness. She really did. Maybe she was broken, but she could be fixed. The seams of the pieces would only serve as a reminder of what she overcame, of her strength.

She wished she could help Izzy the way Izzy helped her. She didn't know how, yet, but she would figure out a way soon. She pushed herself off the bed and began to make it, pulling the blankets smooth and arranging the pillows perfectly. She gathered the clothes she'd worn and deposited them into the hamper. Jace had helped her a lot, too. By offering her his home, by feeding her, by giving her the space she needed. He hadn't prodded her for answers, hadn't begged her to talk to him. He waited to speak until she spoke to him. He didn't try to touch her. He didn't try to kiss her, even though she secretly wanted him to. She scratched her head and went to the stove. Maybe she should make him something.

After rummaging through the refrigerator, all the necessary ingredients for stuffed peppers were spread out on the counter. She tied on the lacy apron that Izzy had simply insisted she buy, or well, that Jace buy. It was four o'clock, so Jace would probably be home in two hours. She began cooking. While she cooked, she thought about Alec, how he cared so deeply about his sister that he kept looking for her, even when the police gave up, how he worried so much that he vowed to protect her. She thought about Jace, how he did much of the same things, how for some reason he still let her stay in his apartment. She thought about Isabelle's strength and will power, and she thought about Simon. Oh, Simon, she thought as she scooped the rice and meat mixture into the hollowed peppers. She dearly missed their friendship, but she just didn't think she could spend time with him, kindle his flames of love that she didn't return. It didn't seem fair. Maybe if she found him someone else to love—the oven timer went off, and she pulled the peppers out, letting them cool a bit before placing them on a plate.

She heard the lock click, and her heart rate sped up as it opened, revealing a golden haired boy in a black business suit. He put his briefcase down without even looking up. "What smells so good…?" Finally, his gaze fell to Clary, his eyes widening as he took in her appreance. She must have looked so much better than she had the past few weeks. "Did you…do this?" He asked, sliding the deadbolt and setting his keys in the tray on the counter. He made his way to her as he took his suit coat off, hanging it on a nearby hook. Clary nodded, but his eyes never left hers to see what she'd baked.

"Izzy came over. She kinda helped me spend all the money you probably made today." Jace chuckled a little.

"I don't doubt it." He stopped about six inches in front of her and licked his lips.

"Shall we eat?" she asked, trying to break the silence. Jace reached down a few plates and grabbed some silverware as Clary sat in one of the stools, kicking her feet back and forth in the air. Jace put a pepper on a plate for her, and she began eating right away, not realizing how hungry she'd been.

"This is amazing, Clary," Jace complimented as he chewed his first bite, small sounds of pleasure escaping his throat. Clary blushed a little at the noise, which made Jace smirk. "You look really nice," he said as he put his plate in the sink. "Are you feeling better?" Clary slid her plate into the sink next to his.

"I don't know. I just kinda decided to stop letting the past drag me down, you know?" Jace nodded, and Clary saw a look cross his eyes. Was it…agreement? She didn't know anything about Jace's past, nothing. She wondered what he was like as a kid. Was his hair the same color? Lighter? Did he have freckles when the sun came out? Did he like sports? Music?

"Good." She nodded, sinking down to the couch, feeling it shift as Jace sat beside her. "Clary, I, uh, I got you something today." Clary looked at him. He never looked so embarrassed before.

"Oh, Jace, you didn't have to. I already spent so much of your money today. I mean, I'll pay you back—"

"No, Clary, really, there's nothing else I'd rather spend my money on." She saw a touch of color in his cheeks. Was he…was he blushing? He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a long, slim, velvet box. "It's nothing special," he mumbled as he looked away, passing her the box. She flipped the lid open and gasped. Inside was a beautiful tennis bracelet, gold inset with green emerald, shaped like a vine.

"Jace…it's beautiful!" She took it out of the box and looped it around her wrist.

"Here, let me help," Jace said, his big fingers steady as they hooked the latch. Electricity sparked against her wrist where their skin touched. "Do you like it?"

Clary felt tears in her eyes. Never before had someone gotten her something just because. She rarely had ever even gotten gifts, besides when Simon bought her things. "I love it." She threw her arms around Jace's neck, reveling in how warm his skin felt even through the dress shirt her was wearing. He wrapped his arms around her securely. She couldn't really move, but she wasn't afraid of him. He wasn't restraining her, forcing himself onto her. He was holding her, showing that for some reason, he cared about her. She felt her heart beat faster when she realized that maybe she cared about him, too. She pulled away, settling back into the couch as Jace turned on the television.

"This is the best show ever," he said of Yogi the Bear, laughing as he asked Boo Boo to steal a picnic basket. Clary smiled a little. She set her hand near him on the couch, willing him to pick it up and lace their fingers together, but he didn't. Maybe he didn't like her. But what could that be described as? He rescued her, let her stay in his house like a bum, was happy when she spent his money on herself, bought her a bracelet. He must have liked her a little. She rested her head against the couch. How had she not noticed she'd fallen for Jace? She'd never really had crushes before. This was a new thing to her. Sex, sex was not a new thing for her. Sex, or rape, was something that she was acutely aware of and actually pretty knowledgeable about. But relationships? She was completely clueless. She wasn't sure she was even ready for that yet, not after finally being free, finally feeling safe again. Maybe she should just revel in the fact that she was her own person again. But that didn't feel right either. Jace, Jace felt right. They way he held her, the way he would beg her to eat, the way he would tuck her in—it all felt perfect, amazing. She twisted her wrist, watching the bracelet catch and shimmer in the light. She looked over, and Jace caught her eye, a small smile playing on his lips, and it was all too much.

Without a second thought, she grabbed his face in both hands and put her lips against his.


Hmmm...drop me a review? Reviewing gets you a night in Jace's bed...Clothes are optional ;)

All My Love

~BallinBlonde21