A/N: Sorry, I haven't posted yet. I was travelling. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: All rights to Cassandra Clare ;-; (I just want my babies. Jace, Alec, and Magnus. Lol)

Clace POV:

First, I stumble, then nearly trip. Gasps echo through the crowd, as my competitor races past me. I don't know what happened. But as if by some miracle, I don't fall. Instead, Jace's gaze that at first made me weak, helps power surge through me. Purely because he looks so worried, and I just have to prove him wrong, I have to. I fumble, but push through, pain shooting through my ankle. I must have twisted it. But pain is the last thing on my mind. It's not even about winning at this point, I just have to show Jace wrong. That he doesn't have that effect on me. Except of course, he does. My eyes narrow at the track and I run, full speed ahead, crossing just before my opponent. Cheers erupt, but I barely hear them. I feel so out of it and all I can feel is Jace's gaze on me. He looks proud, a small twinkle in his eye of happiness. Not to mention, my ankle hurts like hell.

And then I realize he didn't think I couldn't do it, he had all along. It'd been his tactic. Because he knew I would look at him, like I always used to, like he always used to. It was to help me. That sly fox. A wry grin spreads across his face, and I start to smile too.

Everybody's celebrating, it was the last event and people are starting to file out. Out of the corner of my eye, I see our friends making their way down to us, but all I can see is Jace across the track where he'd stopped after handing off the baton. Mixed feelings run through me. I know I shouldn't want it. But I do. Damnit.

No, Clary, I tell myself. No. He's just bad news. But he really did apologize, he really was faithful now, he really didn't want to see her hurt anymore. Truly and genuinely. And I could see that now.

Still, it didn't make the pain fade away. I was jostled out of my thoughts when Simon came up behind me and gave me a hug. Izzy grinned and congratulated me, but her face clearly said, I'm not hugging you. You're sweaty. Which kind of made me laugh a little. I thanked her and Simon. Magnus and Alec congratulated me as well, though Alec was a bit stiff. No surprise there, he and I weren't exactly the greatest of friends. And then Jace was approaching me, approaching us all. There was no escaping him now, it would be too obvious. So I stood there, dread forming in my gut. The reoccurring pain in my ankle reminds me I need to sit down. Simon shoots me a worried glance. "You okay?"

"My ankle," I breathe, clearly in pain. "I think I twisted it." Simon and Magnus help me sit down on the bleachers. Simon runs to go get ice from one of the event assistants. He returns with it right before Jace gets here.

"Here," he handed it to me.

"Thanks," I mumble and apply it to my skin. It's so cold, almost burning me by how cold it is. I grit my teeth and don't move the ice pack.

Everybody begins to congratulate both Jace and I, now. Even Simon, whose voice is hard when he says he congrats to Jace. I don't blame him for holding a grudge against Jace. Simon's like a loyal dog. I've hated Jace for so long, and him, being so protective, hated him too.

"What happened, Red?" Jace asks me.

"Don't call me Red," it was a nickname he used to call me when we used to be together. No way was he getting off the hook so easily. A flicker of hurt passed over his face, but disappeared so fast, I don't know if I imagined it.

He continued looking at me, however. Waiting for an answer. "I twisted my ankle," I muttered. "But I'm fine."

Jace raised an eyebrow, but said nothing more about me being fine or not. "You think you'll be ready for the next competition? Next week is County." I had to be ready. County was everything I looked forward to.

"I'll be just fine." I looked at him directly in the eyes with a cold expression on my face. Why did he care, all of a sudden, anyways? I could feel my hatred returning for him.

Izzy and Simon excused themselves and left for home. Soon after, so did Magnus and Alec. It was just us. And I could hardly walk. Just my luck.

"Well, this has been just great. But I have to go home now, so..." I stood up and immediately fumbled. Jace was there, all of a sudden, supporting me. "I don't need your help," I muttered.

Jace rolled his eyes. "Sure." He didn't let go.

I huffed in frustration and he helped me to my car, a difficult and long process.

"Sure you'll be able to drive home?" he asked.

"I'll be fine."

"You know, Clary, it's not a crime to need help sometimes," he mused.

"I know," was all I said. Then I got in my car and drove away. Thank god it was my left ankle that was messed up, not right. Or I would've have to get a ride from Jace.

A/N: Hell is starting for me, next to next week. (AKA school), so for the first week or two, I may not even be able to start writing the next chapter. Expect a longer wait for the next chapter. The next chapter will be about the County competition. You know what to do. Review, review, review.