Okay, well, I apologize greatly for the fact that I haven't updated in forever. My computer has been messed up lately, and so we needed to buy another. Anyways, until we get a new one- the updating will be quite slow.

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS MOVIE UPDATE: Cassandra Clare & the producers have given us our Isabelle and Simon. They've casted Alec as well, but due to his schedule, they are unable to release who it's going to be (however- we do know that he's british).

Isabelle: Jemima West.

Simon: Robert Shehan

Chapter Thirteen

Clary ~

I don't know how I managed to go to school for the remainder of the week- everyone but Isabelle and Jace seemed to glare at me with accusing and pissed off expressions. But somehow, I managed to pull through the other four days until I collapsed in Jace's car on Friday.

"I don't know how your other girlfriends did it," I confessed, after a half an hour of him asking me what was wrong, "It's so... hard."

He gave me a small smile, "I knew it would be difficult." He sighed and ran a hand through his bright blond hair, "If this is too much for you..."

I cut him off almost immediatly, "No, I'm fine." I didn't want him thinking I couldn't handle myself. He gave me a doubtful look, but after a minute he just shrugged and started up the car nonetheless.

Before we could pull out, his cellphone started ringing- blasting his ringtone, highway to hell, by ac/dc. Glaring at it as if it were it's fault, he answered it with a harsh tone, "Yes?" Almost at once, his gaze softened. "Oh, hey Alec. No, we're just leaving. Yeah, Clary's with me." He glanced over at me and pulled the phone away from his ear, "Alec's catching a ride. You mind?"

I shooked my head no and looked out the window as he continued his conversation, nearly jumping when the back door opened and Alec hopped in with a quick, "Hey Jace." He nodded back at his step-brother and turned out of the highschool.

I hated the awkward tension that always seemed to hang around me and Alec. Ever since he found out Jace and I had been dating, he hadn't spoken a word to me. Of course, this also meant he hadn't been outright hostile, but ignoring me wasn't exactly the best way to approach this either, especially if he had a problem with it.

So when Jace announced he was stopping in to get pizza, because "he'd rather suffer through greasy under-cooked diseases then have another night with Isabelle's cooking", I stayed back in the car with Alec. Once Jace left, he rose an eyebrow at me, "Why are you staying?"

"Oh, now you speak." I grumbled to myself. From the rear-view mirror, I saw Alec's bright blue eyes roll around. Irritation sparked through me as I twisted around and faced him, "Alec, what is your problem?"

"My... what? What problem?"

"Yes. Your problem. Ever since I've been dating Jace, you haven't said a word to me- and before, I could have sworn you had no problem talking to me. So, what is it? Are you into Jace or something?" The last part had slipped out, only meant as a joke, but Alec paled.

"Don't ever say that again." He said darkly. My head spun.

So does that mean that... that he likes Jace? He's his brother isn't he?

"Fine." I turned back to the front and waited for Jace to come back, all the while mentally slapping myself. If he hadn't liked me before, figureing out his secret crush on his step-brother would definitley make him hate me.

Good going, Fray.

Jace ~

I couldn't tell for sure, but when I got back into the car, two boxes of- supposed -pizza's in my hand (although really, by the way they were making it, I wouldn't have been surprised if I opened it to find it was just a pool of grease in a box, a couple of soggy crust's floating here and there), the atmosphere was different. Alec sat in the back seat, silentl fuming, while Clary was sitting ridged in the passenger.

This is weird. I thought. It took me less time then usual to drop Clary off at her house, giving her a quick kiss and a good-bye before spinning off to my own house. I couldn't help but notice Alec's stony expression as he stayed in the back seat.

The fact that he stayed in the back seat was another weird thing. Alec hated the back seat, and normally jumped at the chance to sit up front. But he stayed there until we pulled into the driveway. Then he got out and slammed the door.

"Hey, wait." I climbed out quickly and jogged up in front of him, crossing my arms across my chest, irritated, "What the hell was that?"

"What the hell was what, Jace?" He snapped. He pushed his dark hair away from his eyes and tried to get past me. I stopped him.

"That. The whole, 'I'm-so-pissed-off' thing. It's not like you."

"How would you even know what the real me is? It's not like you ever paid attention to me anyways." Alec sounded upset. And whiney.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I uncrossed my arms and stared at him in bewilderment, "I'm your brother- of course I pay attention to you."

"You are not my brother." He shouted, "I don't want you to be. I want you to look at me the way you look at Clary. I want you to open your eyes, and stop being so goddamn blind to everyone else around you for a change."

I stared at him, letting out a sigh, "Is this about your crush on me?" He looked taken aback.

"You knew?"

"Of course I knew." I scoffed, "There's nothing about you I don't know. Because, well, I apparently do pay attention to you." The fact he had ever thought I didn't pay attention to him was still irritating to me. Why on Earth wouldn't I?

"Why didn't you say anything?" His cheeks were flushed, bright red, as he stared at me in a mixture of anger and doubt.

"Because, what's there to say? I'm with Clary, you're with Magnus. And I'm not into guys the way you are. Besides, you don't like me that way- you just think you do." I could almost visibly see the control break in his eyes.

His hands clenched at his sides, "Screw you, Jace Wayland. Go to hell."

I shrugged, "My ship's already setting sail down there anyway. No need to hasten the trip."

Apparently sarcasm wasn't the way to go with him, not today. His eyes narrowed down at me. With a quick hesitation, he stepped forward. I half expected him to throw a punch. Instead, he did the opposite.

He kissed me.

Instantly, I backed away, "Alec. What the hell?" I was angry. What the hell did he think he was doing?

"Now tell me I don't like you that way." He growled, pushing past me and walking into the house.

Staring after him, hands curled into tight fists, I let out a growl of frustration and pulled out my phone, sending a quick text message to Clary:

Come here. Please.

Then I sat crosslegged on the pavement, a little ways away from the house, and waited for her. The conversation with Alec rang through my head.

You're not my brother. Thinking about it stung.

Technically, he was right. We weren't brothers, not by blood anyways- but I had always figured he didn't think about me as a friend anymore. Or a crush. I had thought he refered to us as brothers too.

Apparently not.

Stifling a sigh, I put my chin in my hand and waited for Clary to come, like she always did.

okay, so I dunno' what was up with Jace in this chapter. He seemed very... un-Jace-y. Probably because I haven't written him in a while. Sorry

But yay! Jalec! (for those of you who don't know- Jalec is Jace&Alec's shipper name).