Hey guys! Welcome back! LOL sooo I've got a little something to share with you today! haha I wrote this chapter in Jace's point of view as well :) But here's the catch: There's a poll on my profile and I want you guys to vote! If you do, then I'll post Jace's POV next week! YAY! haha well here's chapter 14. Enjoy!

5am. The sky was beginning to light up. The sun was rising. It was beautiful. You could hear the birds singing, the colors splashing. It was actually kind of funny. Everything seemed so peaceful and nice. But in reality, it was the exact opposite.

Someone's morning was beginning just as my night was about to end. Hopefully.

My iPod ran out of power so, I plugged the charger in and got dressed into the night clothes Camille had brought me from home. I was willing to try and get at least a couple hours of sleep but as tired as I was, sleep wouldn't come.

Anna Nalick's Catalyst was playing itself over and over in my head. Exhaustedly, I hummed it to myself like a lullaby. And each time I did, my eyes would flutter shut and I would slowly drift into Dreamland. But then, I would see something horrible that would make me jump back into vile, unbearable consciousness.

But the weird thing was, most of the things I saw had no relevance to what was going on. The first one, I could understand. It was a demon from Constantine. But the second time, I saw the Evil Bird from Black Swan who in fact wasn't scary. At all.

I was just so tired. But here I lay, sky getting brighter and brighter. Sleep was so far behind me, it hadn't even reached my radar.

So, I tried a different method. I didn't particularly like the method considering some of the things that happened today. Well, I guess it'd be yesterday.

I took a deep breath and thought back a couple of days. Jace had invited me over to tell me the information he found about the painting.

I remembered the way his hand lingered gently on my knee, the way he smiled and the way he looked.

It was like everything had changed. One second, I was looking at him as a friend. A friend who I relied on. We needed each other. We still do.

And then, it was like something had turned on inside me. My heart began to pound, sending me into an adrenaline rush and I couldn't seem to keep still. His hair was absolutely amazing. It looked like he did nothing to it but it looked perfect. And his biceps popped out of the sleeves of his shirt and his eyes were gorgeous. They were like a cat's in the dark.

I could feel myself begin to relax. But I didn't like that. I hated that Jace had that effect on me. He made me weak. I wanted to be angry with him but by thinking of his beautiful face, it was nearly impossible. Not completely impossible. Just nearly.

But the picture of him was still there. And the weakness began to consume me as I began to make exceptions for him. What was I mad at him for? I was the one who lied, not him. I just used him pushing me as an excuse. He barely even touched me in the first place.

And before I could stop myself from giving in, I fell asleep.

It had only felt like a couple of minutes when Jace gently shook my shoulder.

"Clary?" His voice was soft. "Are you awake?"

I almost pretended to be asleep. I wasn't ready to face him. Not while I was still deciding whether I had forgiven him or not.

But for some strange reason, I peeked my eyes open. The first thing I saw was his muscled arms. And I knew I was done for. I hadn't even looked at his face and I was already beginning to feel awkward.

My body was melting by looking at him. But my mind told me it was wrong.

"Please, get up. Mom says it's time for us to go."

His voice was so soft, like he was afraid I would break if he were too loud. And his hand, never left my shoulder. His body heat sent a sort of comforting feeling inside me that made me want to go back to sleep. But my mind told me again about how I should get rid of these mixed feelings.

"What about Luke?" I said lightly. "And Simon? And Maia?"

"You can call them on the way. But we really need to go. It's important."

Reluctantly, I looked up at his face and nearly lost it. Those cat-like eyes were gleaming with sadness. It made me want to hug him and tell him I was sorry. But I wasn't sorry. I did nothing wrong.

Well, you kinda did if you think about it, my mind chastised me.

I cleared my throat. "Ok."

After a short moment, Jace got up from the bed and left the room to give me some privacy.

I sat up and looked at the time. 7:15. Two hours and twelve minutes of sleep. Great.

I sat there on the edge of the bed, building up the energy to get up and get in the shower. When I finally did, I threw on some ripped jeans and an old tank top I didn't know I still had. Too hot for summer but I couldn't care less.

I didn't wash my hair. But when I looked in the mirror, I wished I had. My hair was still curled from my date with Jace but it was all clumped together and frizzy from last night's flopping around.

I painfully ran a comb through my hair before putting into a ponytail.

I checked to make sure everything was in my bag for the third time in a row. I was so tired, I couldn't remember what I had and what I didn't.

After a long yawn, my body just gave out. I had to sit back down. My head was pounding and there was an ache in my stomach. I couldn't tell if I was about to throw up or if I was hungry.

I wanted to go home. As much as I didn't get along with my mother, I knew I could always go back home. There was just something about being in my room. Comforting I guess.

But I couldn't even go back there. I had never felt more alone in my life.

So, when Jace comes back and stands in the doorway and looks at me with those special eyes, I broke.

Tears began to stream down my face and I was making pathetically squeaky noises. Nothing was under my control anymore.

"Clary?"

"Go away," I said in a shaky voice.

I heard him step inside the room. "Is this about our fight? If it is, you know I-"

"It's not!" I said a bit too loudly. "Just, please leave. I'll be down in a minute, alright?"

But Jace didn't leave. He continued to stare at me. I could feel his eyes. But I refused to give in. I didn't meet his gaze.

I held back a sob as I swallowed and said, "Please, Jace. Leave me alone."

He stood there for a while. I actually thought I would have to physically kick him out. But eventually, he did leave which only made me cry harder. I didn't know what I wanted. When he showed up I broke down and when he left I just felt more alone.

I let myself cry for a few minutes before I forced myself to stop and pull myself together.

I wiped the tears away and grabbed my stuff. I probably looked worse than I already had. But I didn't care.

When I went downstairs, I kept my head down, afraid I would run into Jace or worse. His mom. She seemed like one of those people who felt the need to comfort and refuse to stop until the person is healed.

And I really wasn't in the mood.

We silently climbed into Maryse's minivan. Luckily for me, Jace sat in the passenger seat and I sat directly behind him so he couldn't sneak a peek at me.

With my iPod fully charged, I turned it on and somehow was able to find sleep again.

I don't remember dreaming anything which was good. I think I would lose my mind if I had one more nightmare about demons.

When I woke up, I felt rested. And although the same amount of stress was still on my shoulders, just waking up with a fresh start made me feel like I had a better grip on things.

I was lying in a tempurpedic bed with silk sheets and mahogany bed frame. Trés chic. I guess this was the Institute Maryse was going on about.

I sat up and cringed when I felt the thin line of drool sticking to my face. "Ew."

After wiping it off, I found a note on the bed.

You fell asleep in the car so I carried you inside. When you wake up come meet us for dinner. I want to introduce you to everyone.

-J

Rolling my eyes, I crumpled it up and threw it in the trash. There was no use in introducing me. I was leaving.

I pulled out my phone after searching in my bag for at least a half hour and called Luke.

"Clary, where the hell have you been?"

"Hello to you too, Luke," I answered with a smile. It felt good to use sarcasm.

"Your mother and I have been so worried about you!"

"Clary! I'm so sorry, baby," Jocelyn said in the background, "Please, come home to mamma."

I sighed. "I'm at the institute."

"How'd you get there?" he asked.

"My…" I cleared my throat and forced the word out, "friend's mom took us."

"Which friend?" Luke asked apprehensively.

"His name's Jace. We've bee helping each other out, trying to figure out the whole Shadowhunter thing. And last night we got attacked so his mom drove us to the Institute. She said we'd be safe here, but I don't wanna stay here. Take me home."

"Maryse?"

After everything I said, that was the only thing he caught. "Yeah, how do you know her?"

"It doesn't matter. But she's right. You're safe there."

"Luke, I'm not staying here. I don't know any of these people!"

He chuckled. "I bet you've locked yourself in your room without even getting to know them."

Ok, so maybe I was locked up in my room but that wasn't my fault. "I thought you said home was the safest place for me."

"Well, I've changed my mind. The Institute is more safe."

I groaned. "Luke, please."

"Clary," he said mimicking my voice, "please."

Clenching my teeth, I growled a reluctant "Fine" and then I hung up.

And so it was decided. I wasn't going back home. I'd never be able to run to the confinements of my room. I was forced to take care of myself.

After realizing this, I grabbed my sketchbook and began to draw. I drew the things I saw in my dream, the sky at five am, anything to keep me distracted. It was until I had reached the last page that I had to go out and get another one.

At six, Jace knocked on my door but I quietly got up and locked it. Then I returned to the bed.

"Clary? Are you still sleeping?"

I rolled my eyes but didn't answer.

He tried to open the door and found it was like. "If you're awake, come down to the dining room. Dinner's ready and everyone's eager to meet you."

Sure, they were. Who else would want a complete stranger in their house? And how did Jace even know these people?

I heard Jace's footsteps travel back down the hall again.

By eight, I was starving. I should've gotten something to eat while it was offered to me but for some reason I decided to stay locked in my room. And I didn't want to leave now. I didn't want anyone to see how petulant I was acting.

But I came up lucky a half hour later.

I was adding details to one of my older drawings when I heard a consistent scratching at the door.

I thought about ignoring it. But it just kept going and going so finally, I opened it.

There sat a blue Persian cat that looked like it was glaring at me. He turned around and began to walk down the hall. When I didn't follow him, he hissed.

Awkwardly, I closed the door behind me and followed the cat. I thought I was going to get caught but I didn't.

Man, this place was huge. It felt like I was walking down one of the never-ending corridors at my high school.

When we descended a flight of steps, I wished Athena had given me here gold rope so I'd be able to find my way back through the labyrinth.

The cat led me to what I assumed to be the kitchen. No one was in it but I decided to get what I wanted quick before someone saw me.

I'm not sure how the cat knew I was hungry but I was glad he did.

I grabbed two granola bars and an apple and then the cat and I booked it back upstairs. I thanked the cat once I was back in my room but he just hissed at me again.

I closed and locked the door and shoved the granola bars down my throat.

The next morning, I realized that I had to face everyone. I couldn't keep myself locked inside forever. I wasn't sure how I was going to do it, considering I had no idea how to get around.

But it made things easier when I found a note by the door.

We need to talk.

Meet me at the library. Church will show you the way.

Jace

Wasn't that always the girls' line? And who was Church?

I picked out something to wear and then took a quick shower in the adjacent bathroom. Man, this mansion had everything.

I put my hair up into a sloppy bun and opened the door and found the cat again. So, this was Church.

"Hey, Church."

He hissed in reply.

"You're a very cranky animal."

Church began to walk down the hall again and I followed him.

We went the same way to the kitchen but instead of turning left at the bottom of the stairs, we turned right.

We passed the dining room, a room that looked like a gym and then Church stopped in front of a pair of double doors.

Church walked away then, leaving me standing there like an idiot.

I took a deep breath, preparing myself for the worst. Jace was probably mad. Not only did I ignore him, but I ignored everyone else which was completely disrespectful. He was going to chew me out, I knew it.

So I walked in with my head down and shoulders slumped.

Jace lifted his head from a book he was reading and looked at me with an apologetic smile. Something I wasn't expecting.

I gently closed the doors behind me and took a slow step forward.

"Clary." Jace put his book down and stood up. "I almost thought you wouldn't come."

I shrugged. "Well, I did."

I sat down on the couch across from his chair.

"I wanted to say I'm really sorry for what happened Saturday night."

I shrugged. "I'm the one who lied." It came out more bitterly than I intended.

Jace furrowed his brows together and looked down at his hands. Then he looked back up at me. "I know I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. And I shouldn't have touched you. But believe me when I say that I'm terribly sorry."

I kept still and tried not to let any emotions cross my face.

"You're still mad?"

I rolled my eyes. "No, Jace. I'm just looking at you like this because my face is frozen from Botox."

Jace sighed. "I know it was horrible, what I did. But that was a lot of stuff you laid down on me. I needed time to process it."

I stood up and waved my arms. "For the love of God, Jace! Don't you get it! That's not what I'm mad about!"

"Then what is it?" He was trying to stay patient but I wasn't helping by screaming at him.

My voice was shaking and I could feel the tears building up again, but I held them back this time. "I know what I did was wrong. I should've told you from the start and I know I should've given you more time to think it all through. But the things you said to me Jace, oh my God!"

Jace stared at me with a surprised face. "What?"

I tried to contort my voice so it would sound like his. "It's just a stupid date, Clary. It doesn't matter!"

"Are you kidding me?" Jace was getting angry now. "That's what you're upset about?"

"If I was so unimportant then why did you find it necessary to ask me in the first place?"

Jace scoffed. "I was mad! I didn't mean that, you have to know that!"

"I don't care! Don't you ever talk to me like I'm a lowlife! I was only trying to protect you, to make our night special! And then you hit me! If you ever lay a hand on me again, I'll rip you to pieces!"

Jace's face was priceless. If I wasn't so angry at the time, I would've laughed. "I'm sorry."

"I'm tired of you saying that," I growled.

"Well, what else would you like me to say?"

Good question. But I didn't know.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down. "Look. I don't want to leave things like this between us. But these demons and whoever's watching us knows that we're each other's weaknesses, don't try to deny it. And they possibly know where we are now. We need to stick together for our lives' sake. So, let's start over and just try to cooperate with each other."

Jace swallowed and smiled a little. "I think I'd like that."

"But don't think that I'm still not mad at you. Because I am."

Jace only nodded.

"Do we have a deal?"

"We have a deal."

I faked a smile and then made to leave.

"Wait, Clary, where are you going?"

I gave him a confused look. "To my room."

"Don't you want to meet everyone?"

I tried to fidget. "You don't think it'll be awkward, do you?"

Jace rolled his eyes. "I can always count on you to worry." He walked up to me and I waited for him to take my hand or wrap his arm around my shoulders. He always did that when he walked me out of his home or if we were wondering around. But he brushed past me and the energy he was giving off made me feel like he was mad.

But when he turned around, he smiled. It was a tight smile. A forced smile. "You coming?" And his voice was friendly. But it was all strained.

"Yeah." I followed him down the hall.

Things were bad. Things were very bad.

Uh-oh. Seems like there's a little tension between the two lovebirds. *cue music* Wah, wah, waaaaaaah. Well I guess all the best love stories have glitches.

Don't forget to vote on my poll!

And review!

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