Hello? Anybody there?
I know it's been a long time since I've updated, but I really have been struggling to find the time to write, and to also find the motivation to get back into it.
So I'm sorry for the delay, and I hope you'll enjoy this chapter!

CPOV

I watched Jace walk down the hallway, my eyes never leaving his retreating form till he rounded the corner. My heart started doing little flips in my chest, and I let out a shaky breath in the hope of calming myself down. When my heartbeat returned to normal, I quickly fumbled with my keys to get the door open. With a twist of the key and door knob, I pushed it open, the light from the hallway creeping into the room and allowing me to partially make out a safe route to the bathroom. I had only stepped through, when I heard Iz's voice calling out from within the darkness.

"Well, don't you look darn cheery," She stated. I gave a small yelp, my hand coming up to rest over my heart, which was now thumping like crazy again but for an entirely different reason. I could almost sense her smirking. "How was it?" She asked. An unmistakable 'click' of a bedside table lamp caused the room to suddenly be bathed in a dim, amber glow. My eyes found hers, and I let out a squeal, running to where she sat on her bed.

"It was all sorts of perfect, Iz." I gushed.

Iz inserted comments here and there, as I spent the next hour or so relaying everything that happened, in what I quote: 'precise detail'. She seemed pleased as to what Jace planned, and gave me a supporting hug when I questioned whether she was okay with the possibility of anything happening between Jace and myself.

"You're good for him," she started, her face turning solemn, "it's nice to see Jace actually trying and caring about something… or rather, someone." She grinned. I couldn't help the blush that coloured my cheeks.

"I'm sure he cares about you and Alec," I quickly amended her observation. "Anyway, nothing is official between us yet…" I trailed off, as Iz gave me a reproachful look. "I'm just saying it how it is!" I defended.

"You're right, I guess. But I'm pretty sure things are headed in a certain direction."

"What, doom and gloom?" I joked. That earned me a punch to the shoulder.

"I can tell that he likes you. And I can tell that you like him," she held up her finger as I opened my mouth to protest, "don't even try to deny it, Clary. The sexual tension between the two of you is almost tangible!" I snorted at her comment.

"Right," I dragged out the word for effect. "Sexual tension. Speaking of which, what's up with you and Simon?" I countered, trying to divert the attention to her. It worked.

"What do you mean?" She spluttered. I laughed heartily at her defensiveness.

"You're totally transparent as to how you feel about him. And I can tell that he likes you back." She gave me a shy smile.

"You really think so?" She whispered.

"Of course. Don't tell me you don't feel the crackling sexual tension in the air between you two!" I repeated her words. She let out a heavy sigh, her tone taking on a new edge.

"I've been waiting for him to make the move, but he hasn't asked me out, or anything!"

"Maybe he's just nervous or something. Or if you're that eager to get the ball rolling, why don't you take charge?" She looked at me as though I had just grown another head. "Okay, maybe not then," I amended. "Give the boy a little time."

"But Jace didn't waste any time." Even though Iz muttered the last bit under her breath, I still caught it.

It made me think some more about the possibility of him actually liking me, or whether it was just some sick game that he and Sebastian played. My mind spun all sorts of horrid situations, and I went to bed that night feeling restless.

The next morning was no better. The gnawing feeling inside me grew worse and worse, and I decided that the only way to get my mind off Jace and everything that entailed him, was to go and do some extra dancing. Raking a hand through my hair, I grabbed my bag off the floor, making sure to stuff a new towel inside the bag. Yanking it onto my shoulder, I dart off to one of the empty dance rooms; not bothering to inform Iz as to where I was headed, seeing as though she was completely knocked out.

Easily finding one of the spare rooms available for extra practice on weekends; I closed the door behind me. I flicked on the light switch; the beams overhead flickered slightly before emanating a constant, white glow. I pulled out my iPod from my bag, and connected it to the speakers situated in one corner of the room, pushing play on the song I wanted.

The soft melody started, and I went to move to the centre, rolling my shoulders to loosen them up as I went. The melody picked up slightly, marking my cue to begin. Twirling and leaping, I imagined myself back home, when dancing seemed to be my only focus and concern. I suddenly felt home sick, and incorporated these different swirls of emotions I was feeling into my dance. Doing some chaines, my movements then grew larger as I did a small run to perform a grand jeté. The music was reaching its climax, and I quickly decided to do a spin cycle, catching my reflection in the mirror with every turn. I eased out of the spins, and positioned one leg a fair distance behind the other to help me effectively end my movements.

My body felt good, but my mind was still racing a million miles an hour as I went to gather all my belongings. Somewhere in all that thinking, I was able to reach the conclusion that perhaps there was something darker lurking within Sebastian, and that I had to be cautious around him. I didn't know the full story yet, but I was hoping that someone would make things clearer for me soon.

Monday rolled around pretty quickly after such an uneventful weekend. Lazing away in my room as Iz talked my ear off, didn't help my less-than-happy mood. As time for class cut closer and closer, the uneasiness I felt for the past three days didn't dissipate. I quickly made my way for class, not even bothering to get any breakfast. I was one of the first to arrive, and got ready to do some stretches at the barre. I'd only done a few plies, when I heard Jace's voice behind me.

"Hey there, beautiful." He spoke softly. Startled, I let out a little gasp, pivoting around to face him. Was he always this good-looking? I immediately chastised myself for thinking that.

"Hi." I responded.

"What are you debating about in that pretty little head of yours?" He asked, a hand coming up to push a few stray strands behind my ear. We stood for a while like that; me staring at him, and him staring at me. Just as I was about to say something more intelligent than a 'hi', and answer him, Sebastian's figure came drifting up behind Jace.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here; the two new lovebirds," He said a little snidely, his arm coming up to rest on Jace's shoulder. Jace quickly shrugged it off, and gave him a hard glare. "When you have the time, I'd really like to talk to you." He said to me.

"Uh, yeah, sure. How about after class?" I suggested.

"Clary, I don't – " Jace butted in.

"This is between Clary and me," Sebastian cut him off, "I'll talk to you after class then, Clary." He quickly turned on his feet, walking away to his dance partner.

Jace rubbed at his eyes tiredly, but other than a small sigh, he didn't touch on the subject any more.

Class flew by in a blink of an eye, and I stalled behind to talk to Sebastian as promised. Jace whispered a low: "be careful" into my ear as he passed me to head out the door. His closeness caused a shiver to run through my body, and I had a feeling he caught that, seeing as he left with a lop-sided smirk on his face.

"So, what did you want to talk about Seb?" I questioned, as I turned to him, arms crossed in front of my chest. I had a distinct feeling as to where this conversation was headed.

"Look, I didn't want to have to do this and all…" He attempted to sound sorry for me, but I saw no remorse in the way he held his expression. I was getting tired of his antics.

"Just spit it out." I said a little harshly.

"Alright," He seemed unperturbed by my sudden lack of civility. "Well as you can tell, Jace and I have always disliked one another," I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at that. It was the understatement of the century. Noting this, Sebastian corrected himself, "Loathedone another, and that is all because of –"

"Aline." I cut in.

"Yes, Aline. She and I had some history, I guess."

"She confronted me once," Sebastian looked surprised at this fact. "Yeah, she told me some things. Said you did bad things. I don't know all the details, "He looked almost relieved at this, "but I know enough to say that Jace helped Aline through the ordeal."

"You're just going to believe what the pair of them say to you, is that it?" He hissed, his face taking on a menacing look. I shook my head; feeling exhausted all of a sudden.

"Seb, can we not do this right now. I don't know the full story yet, and till then, I still consider you to be my friend." I mumbled.

"You don't get it, do you?" He shouted, frustration seeping into his voice. "Do you want to know why Jace had a sudden interest in you? Why he decided to ask you out, out of all people? Did you not think that he wanted to take away something that I cared about, just because he could? Because then he could throw it in my face?" I flinched back from his words. I hadn't even realised that he had advanced towards me as I retreated back, till I suddenly felt the mirror-wall behind me. "Don't you see? He's only pretending to be interested in you. He's only doing this because I am interested in you."

I shake my head from side to side, as tears begin to well up in my eyes. His hands come up to rest on the glass on either side of my face, effectively caging me in. I look up at him, my vision blurry from the unshed tears, and note the intense look he has. Without warning, his lips found their way down onto mine, pushing forcefully against them. I gave a small gasp, and he saw that as an invitation to slip his tongue into my mouth. I began thrashing and beating at his chest, and somehow managed to clock him in the jaw. I squirmed away from him, and with all the venom in my voice, I said the one thing that Jace had been wishing all along.

"You stay the hell away from me, from now on." I said with menace, before quickly scurrying away.

Chaines: A series of quick turns on alternating feet with progression, or chain, along a straight line or circle.
Grand jeté: Also known as grand allegro. It a technical jump in which the dancer jumps high in the air with both legs open horizontally, almost as if flying.

Hope that wasn't too bad!
Sorry again for my extremely long absence, and I'll see what I can do about getting another chapter out soon.

Thanks for all your support,

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