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Disclaimer: CASSANDRA CLARE OWNS THESE CHARACTERS.

Chapter 13: Set up

CLARY WAS WITH ISABELLE, TESSA, JESSAMINE AND CHARLOTTE, painting a mural. They had to do it for extra credit and as punishment (with the exception of Clary) since they had a 'paint war'. They wasted $50 worth of equipment… Oops…

"I cannot believe this." Isabelle muttered.

"Hey, be thankful Clary's here." Charlotte said.

"Yeah, if she hadn't done the outline… we'd be screwed." Jessie added.

Clary drew the outline of the dragon on a wall of the art department since she was… well, the best artist in the school. It had to be a dragon because they were basing this course on medieval myths.

"You're welcome guys." Clary said in a sarcastic but also sincere way.

They had done their time for the day (forty-five minutes each lunch time so they only had twenty five minutes since they were allowed to leave classes ten minutes before) so they walked down the staircase.

They walked to the dining hall and Clary saw Jace, Jordan, Maia and Daniel were in there.

"Ugh, what are they still doing there?" Clary said. She was very open with her feelings toward Jace and his posse but mostly Jace. They were always so loud and annoying and they think that they rule the world.

They walked inside and sat at a table farthest away from Jace's table.

Izzy sighed. "Clary, you don't even know him that well."

"Yeah, you've, like, never talked to him." Tessa said.

Clary rolled her eyes. "Not never."

"The school's masquerade ball is on Saturday! Which is tomorrow! Do we all know what we're wearing?" Jessamine asked. "I'm wearing a yellow princess dress!"

"I'm wearing a royal blue mermaid dress." Tessa said.

"Red dress with three foot slit." Isabelle said.

"That sounds like Isabelle Lightwood…" Charlotte muttered. "I'm wearing a dark purple halter neck dress."

"Clary, what about you?" Izzy asked then the others looked over at her.

"Gold sequined floor-length dress. Sweetheart neckline." She answered.

"Sounds fabulous!" Jessamine said.

-PAGE BREAK-

Clary got ready for the masquerade ball. It was an annual thing for all the students of the school.

Alec and Isabelle were taking Jonathan and Clary to the Hall for the masquerade.

"It's so beautiful!" Isabelle said.

"Well, I'm gonna go look for Magnus." Alec said, already walking away.

"Hello, miss." Someone said. "It seems your dress suits my mask and tie." He stated.

"So it seems." She couldn't see colours very well because of the lighting in the Hall but she just went with it.

"Would you like to dance?" He asked.

Clary considered it for a moment. "Why not?" Then I took his hand and he led me to the dance floor.

A slow song played and he placed her hands in his and his other hand on her waist and she put her hand on his shoulder.

"You look absolutely beautiful in that dress." He said twirling her around.

Clary smiled and he pulled her into him and she rested her head on his chest.

"You're really sweet." She muttered into his chest.

"You wanna step outside?" He whispered.

The mysterious boy felt her smile against his chest. "Okay." She replied.

He led her to the door, holding her hand in his.

They went to the side of the building and the boy grabbed her shoulders and kissed her. It was rough but full of passion and lust. He was about to add some tongue into the kiss but she pulled away.

"Hang on a second." Then before he could register what she was doing she took his mask off.

Clary pushed him back as if it was a reflex then dropped the mask in surprise.

"Clary–" Jace started.

"Don't. Okay? Just don't." She took her mask off and put it in her purse and was walking away when he grabbed her arm.

"Clary, I don't understand why you hate me so much."

"You don't…" She took a deep breath and slapped him.

He sighed and opened his mouth to say something.

"You don't know why I hate you. Well, I'll tell you why. You bullied my brother. You drove him all the way to cutting himself and I shouldn't hate you? You, Daniel and Jordan. All of you are monsters."

She yanked her hand away from his and walked toward the streets. She didn't have the energy to go back to the dance.

Clary felt a presence beside her.

"Clary, that wasn't me. That was just Daniel and Jordan. I didn't–"

"Don't you dare. Don't you dare try to make up a lie." She spat.

He placed her hands on her shoulders and stopped her.

"I'm not lying. I tried to stop them, okay? I really did then one day I find out that he moved away with your uncle to the countryside and I couldn't help but blame myself for not trying harder. I'm sorry Clary. Daniel and Jordan are still guilty about that."

She slapped him again.

"No. Okay? You don't get to say that you're guilty or you're sorry because you're not. I haven't seen my brother in a year because of you. He doesn't even wanna be anywhere near here because he is afraid of all of you!" Clary closed her hands into fists then began whacking Jace's chest. He didn't move away, he just took in all her anger. "You. Are. All. Monsters. You horrible people!"

She had tears forming in her eyes, mostly because of frustration.

Jace still had his hands on her shoulders so he pulled her in and gave her a tight embrace no matter how much she struggled in his arms.

She began to cry.

"Shh. I'm so so sorry." He began to stroke her hair in a comforting way.

She pulled away from him and ran despite his calls.

-PAGE BREAK-

It had been two weeks since her confession to Jace about why she hated him and his group of friends so much.

But maybe she only hated his friends. Maybe her hating Jace was just a defensive mechanism so that she won't show her true feelings for him.

Her train of thought was interrupted when there was a knock on her door.

She cleared her throat then said, "Come in."

"Honey we have to get you ready for the Founder's Party." Jocelyn said.

"Oh, hooray another party." Clary said deadpanned.

Her mother sighed. "This is an important event, Clary."

"I know, I know."

"Well, be ready by six. That's when all the guests are coming." Then Jocelyn was out the door.

Clary made her way to her wardrobe and opened the door. She walked inside and found her other dress hung up. She had a lot of formal dresses since her school loved to host decade dance and season formals then there's the Founder's Ball and Alicante pageant. And with her being the daughter of a member of council and Founder of the town it was mandatory that she attend all Founder's events and parties.

She sighed, taking the dress and hanging it on the hook on the back of my bedroom door.

She took a quick shower, put on my silk robe then blow dried her hair trying to straighten it by just using a brush. Clary turned her curling iron on and waited until it was hot enough and curled her hair. She put the sides into a waterfall braid and did her makeup which was just mascara and eyeliner and peach lipstick.

Clary put her orange-salmon flowy dress with a sweet heart neckline and a thin jeweled belt. Then found her silver five inch peep toe heels. She decided that she didn't need a purse since the party was at her house so she held onto her phone in case someone called her.

It was 5:23. The most important guests, meaning the council members and the Founder's decendants were already downstairs.

She walked down the three flights and saw Isabelle was already there.

"Clary! I've been looking for you!" She was wearing a light blue high front low back dress with a white leather belt that had a darker shade of blue leather flowers.

"Fashionably late. Sorry." She said.

"You were late to your own party? It's at your house." She raised an eyebrow.

"Emphasis on fashionably," Clary grumbled.

Isabelle eyes Clary's dress then her eyes lit up. "You look amazing!"

She chuckled. "Thanks, you too."

They walked around the house which was basically set up as a museum of the properties of the original Founders of the town. There were photos and jewelry in glass cases. This annual event was always held in a Founder's descendants mansion. It was to appreciate those who founded the town two centuries ago.

Lottie and Jessie arrived when Izzy and Clary were in the middle of taking the tour. Izzy disappeared somewhere with Tessa who they found with William, a relative of Jace who could be cocky but also kinda at times.

Izzy and Tessa said something about going to the backyard which was a huge maze of hedges with a fountain in the centre.

Unfortunately, it was a party for Founder's descendants so that meant that Jace had to be there. She'd seen him around and couldn't believe he had to be in her house.

"Miss Morgenstern," It was Sophia, her maid. "Miss Isabelle Lightwood and Theresa Gray are speaking in the gardens."

"So?" She asks.

"It's about you."

"Oh. Go on then Sophia, I'll deal with it." She left Clary, Jessie and Charlotte.

"Clary, do you want us to come with you?" Jessamine said.

"No, I got this."

Then Clary walked to the door outside. There weren't much people in the maze and I heard the two girls.

"She's too proud." Isabelle said.

"So, you're sure Jace loves Clary?" Tessa said.

What? Clary thought.

"That's what Jordan and Daniel says." Isabelle said.

I cannot believe that Isabelle has been talking to Jordan and Daniel! Clary thought.

"Shall we tell her?" Tessa asked.

"Clary will just use him. You know she hates him."

"Or does she?" Tessa considered then they walked away.

"Jace is in love with me? Do I really hate him? Or am I just lying to everyone. And to myself…" Clary walked through the maze hedges, not even sure what to make out of what she had herd and not understanding her thoughts.

-PAGE BREAK-

JACE POV

Jace walked out into the garden. He saw Clary come out side earlier but she probably wasn't there anymore.

He heard someone say his name and walked closer to the source of the voice. It was Jordan.

"So, what you're saying is Clary loves Jace?" Daniel asked to clarify.

"Yes. She's just saying she hates him as a cover for her true feelings." Jordan confirmed.

"Isabelle told you?" Jordan nodded. "Well… what are you gonna do with that information?"

"Isabelle was considering confronting Clary but she's too proud. We don't even know if the love is requited in Jace's point of view." Then they walked away, shrugging.

"Clary loves me. I do love her. Sweeet." Then Jace wanders around in the maze, thoughtfully.

-PAGE BREAK-

CLARY POV

Clary was sitting on the wall of the fountain, dipping her hand into the water creating small ripples. She was staring at the stone lotus flowers on the top of the fountain.

"Hey," She gasped, jumping slightly. Looking up she saw just the person who had been on her mind.

"How long have you been there?" She asked, not greeting him back.

"A while." He answered simply then took a seat at the stone bench right in front of me.

"Why did you say anything?"

"Well, you looked too mesmerised by the water and like you were thinking. So I just let you."

He then sat beside her.

"I'm glad you're not hitting me with your fists right now." Clary smirked and blushed slightly.

"Well… don't count on it."

"You know, I heard something tonight."

"Oh? What about?"

He took a deep breath and looked into her emerald eyes.

"I love you, Clary." He said suddenly.

She turned pink. "I – um…" She cleared her throat. "So it's true?"

Jace looked puzzled. "What is?"

"I heard Isabelle and Jessamine say that you did."

He nodded then stood up to sit beside her.

"It's true." He whispered.

She turned to look at him. "You're afraid."

"What of?" She asked, trying to hide that he was right.

"That I'll break your heart the moment if you let me have it."

"Jace… You've known this for longer than you've let on. You already have it."

He looked at her lips, up at her eyes which were full of sincerity then back to her lips. Then he kissed her.

"I'm sorry." He said into the kiss. "For everything. For not telling you who I was in the masquerade party. For not defending Jonathan."

Clary pulled away. "Shh, it's not your fault. I'm sorry for hating you the way I did without even bothering to see things in your point of view."

He gave her a smile. A genuine one.

"I love you." He whispered.

"And I you."

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Love you all ~ Liz Ashley