Baha, so, glad to see that the majority of you guys liked the fact that they're together. Figured I'd put something good in since only problems have been happening and it took me so long to update that you guys deserved them to finally get together. Also, a couple people were asking me if I'm done this fanfic, now that they're together- but no, im not. I have more things I want to work with, and I like this storyline and my characters. (:

And, here's chapter 12!

Warning: this chapter /does/ contain swearing. sorry if it offends you. (:

Chapter 12

Clary ~

I could see the grin split his face as soon as I said it. His hand went to my waist, pulling me close to him and pressing his lips against mine. I put my hands around his neck in order to stay steady. It was the kind of kiss that made your knees melt and your stomach fill with butterflies.

"Jace! Clary! I'm ba-" Isabelle's voice cut through as she walked into the kitchen and froze. I pulled a part from Jace, my cheeks beat red as she looked between the two of us. Jace was still grinning as he looked back at her.

"Hey there, Izzy."

She paid no attention to his greeting, "You." She said pointed to me, "A-and you." Her finger moved to Jace. I could see her eyes widen as she put the two together and waited for Jace to confirm it.

He gave her a small nod, pulling me closer to him as if to emphasize the point. Her eyes grew even wider than before and she squealed, jumping up and running over to Jace, throwing her arms around him. Then she hugged me.

"Oh, you have no idea how great this is. This is just..." She squealed again. When she pulled away, her eyes were sparkling, "I'll give you two some space then." She stepped away with a small smile painted on her lips.

"Give them time for what?" Asked Alec, walking into the kitchen and throwing his jacket over one of the chairs.

Isabelle turned to him, "They are an item." She grinned and gestured to Jace and me. He still had his arm wrapped around my waist.

Automatically, Alec's eyes narrowed, "What?" He turned to Jace, a look of what seemed like almost hurt flashing across his features, "Are you serious?"

"Yeah, I am." Jace looked at him steadily, "One hundred percent."

Alec's jaw tightened and his throat worked as he clearly fought to stay calm. Without saying anything more, he turned on his heels and stormed away. A couple seconds later, a door slammed shut.

Isabelle sighed and gave me an apologetic look, "He's just shocked." I nodded, although I knew it had to have been something more- he had been genuinely hurt.

Jace ran a hand through his fair hair, "no kidding." Silence settled over us, broken only when Isabelle started giggling again.

"I'll leave you two alone then," She said, a sly smile on her face. She turned and left, a hand in the air as she fluttered her fingers in a lazy wave, "Place nice, Jace." Although it was meant for him, I found myself blushing.

Now left alone, Jace reeled me in and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. I looked up and laughed at his expression- he was grinning childishly, and his eyes seemed to glow.

I placed a hand on his forehead, "Your fever's dropping. Rest now and you should be good for school tomorrow."

He rolled his eyes, "always so serious."

My cheeks puffed out in response, "Lies."

"Not lies." He disagreed, but didn't protest when I started urging him to his bedroom again, "alright, alright. If you wanted me in bed so bad all you had to do was ask."

Now it was my turn to roll my eyes, "Sleep, Jace. Or you won't be able to go to school tomorrow."

He sat on top of his blankets, "not really looking forward to the place- more of who's there."

I flushed and stepped out, "Sleep." I repeated.

"I know, I know."

The next morning, I couldn't help but smile like an idiot as I went through my morning routine- shower, hair, teeth, and slight makeup. I skipped breakfeast.

Grabbing my backpack, I shouted over my shoulder, "I'm leaving now. Bye, mom!" There was only a muffled noise in reply, the sound of Jocelynn sleeping soundly. I sighed and hopped down the steps of my apartementm freezing when I saw who was waiting there.

"Hop in." Jace grinned and gestured for me to get in his car. I glanced around. Usually, I walked with Simon, but after out fight I wasn't sure. So I got in.

Jace~

I knew what to expect as I pulled into school. By my usual parking space, a couple girls sat down on the curb, no doubt waiting for me.

And by a 'couple' girls- I mean thirteen.

Stifling a sigh, I pulled in, watching them perk up instantly as I did so. Clary just looked around, eyes wide.

"Hold on." I muttered, jumping out of the truck and shutting the door.

"Jace! Hi!" Aline came over with a huge smileon her face.

"Hey." I nodded at her, then went around to the passenger side. The girls looked at me in confusion.

I opened it and looked at Clary, who was pressed back into the seat, "Just ignore them." She swallowed and nodded, allowing me to help her jump down.

There was an immediate reaction.

"Is that...?"

"No way."

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

"Jace!"

I turned and rose an eyebrow, "yes?"

A row of angry teenage girls looked back at me, "What's she doing in your car?"

"Getting a drive to school." I answered. They seemed to relax slightly, until I dangled my arm around her shoulder.

"Why?" One of them spoke up.

"Because. What kind of boyfriend makes their girlfriend walk to school?" I asked, grining and turning around, walking away. In the reflection of a car, they stood facing me, mouths dropped in shock. I smirked.

Clary looked around uncomfortably, "Jace, I dunno'..."

"Clary, trust me on this." I murmured back, lacing my fingers through hers. She stayed quiet, but was clearly still nervous as we walked into the school.

Almost instantly, it fell quiet. Voices paused, eyes widened, and then the whispers started. I ignored them and walked to her locker with her.

"Clary, you'll never believe the rumours about you and J-"

I turned slightly to see Simon openly staring at Clary. He didn't seem to see me, his gaze locked on hers.

"H-hi Simon." She looked at the ground awkwardly. His eyes went down to our hands, his shocked expression turning into a glare.

"Okay, so maybe they weren't rumours." He glared at me.

I quirked an eyebrow, "Not everything is always lies," I pointed out, my other hand dangling from my pocket.

"You bastard." He growled, stepping forward.

I smiled back at him, "People call me a lot of names, I'll admit. Although normally they consist of things like 'stunningly attractive' or 'god-like' even."

That seemed to make him snap. With a strangled noise, he flew at me. I let go of Clary's hand and met his fist as it came at me, catching it quickly. In less than a second, I had twisted it and kicked his side, causing him to fall to the floor.

His glasses skid off his face as he fell, landing on the floor with a grating noise. Fortunately, as he picked them up off the ground, they appeared unbroken.

Simon stood and gave me a last baleful glare before whirling around and stalknig off. Clary was frozen in shock, staring after him.

The bell rang them, interupting the awkward silence surrounding the group of students in the hall. Reminding them they had to go to class, they shuffled away, exchanging looks that mirrored Clary's.

I faced her with a steady smile, "Ready to go?"

Clary~

I couldn't believe it. Not when Simon had walked up, and went to punch Jace. Not even when Jace punched him back.

Jace punched him back.

I walked beside him to my first period class, English. Jace gave me a quick kiss and promised he'd see me later, walking back down the hall to his own class.

The rest of the day went by in a haze of names, dates, and the occasional school assignment. When it seemed to be 20 minutes that had passed by, the bell rang and signaled the end of the day. I walked out to my locker like a zombie.

I had forgotten Maia's locker was right next to mine. It was a wonder we hadn't run into each other more often- or a miracle, depending on how you looked at it.

I saw it as a miracle. A short lived one too, I saw, as I spotted her throwing her books into it.

I quickly debated whether or not I should just wait until she left, but then I remembered my arguement with Simon and about talking through the problems. I wasn't a hypocrite.

So I went.

My fingers spun the familiar dial, clicking it open and throwing my books up on the shelf and taking out my bag.

Instantly, Maia tensed. I tried to ignore it, dropping my books into my backpack and closing my locker. Only when I turned away did she speak, "Wait."

I turned slightly and rose an eyebrow, "Yes?"

"How could you do it?"

"Maia..."

"No. Let me finish," She interupted, "How could you go and date the guy who broke my heart? The one guy I cried about for months, and you had to comfort me about? How? How could you?"

I didn't allow myself to pity her. Instead, I seemed to snap, "How could I? How could you? You were the one who dated him, and never told me. The one who cheated on you. You weren't in love with him, you were in love with the idea of being with him."

She looked appalled, "Jace told you?"

"Of course he told me! I just wish you had. No, Maia. I'm not breaking up with him to keep you happy. I'm not going to lie on the ground for you to walk all over me. I'm not going to do that anymore."

"Clary, you think that dating Jace is going to be some romantic fairy-tale relationship? BEcause I can tell you right now, It won't. You'll fight, he'll flirt, and by the end of it, you'll be too messed up to care. Then he'll drop you on the side of the curb, just like he did with me." She was growing angrier by the second.

Shoving all my fury down inside me, I gave her a sweet smile, "Only garbage belongs on the curb, Maia." Then I walked away.