Chapter 14! I'm pleasantly surprised that this story has even lasted 14 chapters! :) I keep on saying to follow, favourite, and review, and that sounds really demanding and ungrateful, and so I wanted to thank everyone for following and reviewing, and for just reading this story. I really am thankful and appreciative to those who have done all these things. It shows that you are enjoying this story, and that makes me incredibly happy! :) I hope that you all enjoy this latest chapter! :) Enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own The Mortal Instruments, nor do I own any of these names and characters.

Jace and I hadn't seen each other for days now, and I felt like he was trying to avoid me. Why, I didn't know, but it just felt unlike him to just stop talking, especially for a few days.

I mean, it wasn't unusual for him to be in a non-talkative mood where he wouldn't speak, text, or call, but that was just for a day, not multiple.

I didn't really have much time to actually ask him about anything though, as I was incredibly busy trying to have a painting completed by Tuesday. It was Saturday, school was on in a fortnight, and I just sat uncomfortably on my couch, listening quietly to the news, while attempting to get something on the blank canvas in front of me.

The problem was, I just couldn't stop thinking about Jace, and doing that girly thing where you analyse way-too-closely the actions of someone, and come up with all these crazy conclusions about how their feeling, but then you end up even more lost, and being self-conscious.

I was acting like Izzy, and that's not something I never thought I'd do. Speaking of Izzy, I may or may not have mentioned, but she hasn't really been talking to me ever since she started going to Simon's regularly, and it wasn't that our friendship was over, or that we'd had a fight or something, it was plainly just because both her and I had other things to do.

The fact that I hadn't even thought about Izzy that much during our separation inspired some guilt, and I knew I had to call her and check how she was, even if it was just to clear my conscience.

I dropped the paintbrush I was holding resignedly, and picked up my iPhone 4. Yes, I needed a new phone. My current one was smashed, and was in desperate need of a storage update.

I went into my contacts, just as I saw, in the corner of my eye, a number above my messages icon. Did that say 21?! I tapped on the icon, and my messages popped up, and sure enough, there were 21 messages, all from Jace.

I frowned slightly, clicking on them. I then proceed to read them, growing more confused by each one.

"Clary, I'm sorry for dragging you to that bar to pick me up, I'm really sorry. :I"

Clary, you've been a bit distant lately. :I

Did I do something wrong?

If I did something to upset you, I'm sorry. :(

If you'll please just respond, I really am sorry. :I

Clare, are you okay? You haven't texted.

I really am sorry Clare, just please forgive me?

I know I haven't come over, but I don't want to come if you don't want me there

If you want me to come over and apologise to your face, please just say the word and I'll be there.

The rest were all just repetitive "Are you okay?"'s. The last message was received just 10 minutes ago. I was about to reply, when the phone dinged and I saw another message from Jace, only just sent. It read:

Clare, do you mind if I come over, because I am. I hope your not mad, and if you are I can leave, but I need to make sure that you're okay. See you in 5.

One word to describe what I'm feeling; confusion. Though I was also nervous, I was confused above all. Apparently, he'd been texting heaps, and I was too busy and lost in my own mind to notice.

Now I had to explain that I had completely forgotten about him, because I was way too stubborn to admit that I'd been thinking about him.

It doesn't matter anyway, like he cares about me, all he cares about is those stupid girls who give him exactly what he wants, the things that I couldn't give him, the horrible part of my brain said.

I heard the doorbell and panicked. I scrambled up from my seat and rushed to the door. I threw it wide open, and there stood Jace, looking as if he'd just climbed through hell, his hair pasted to his face, his clothes ruffled, and his hands clammy with sweat.

He looked nervous as hell, and so to calm him down, I gave him a smile, and told him to sit, while making my way to the kitchen to microwave 2 chocolate hot-cross buns, and prepare a coffee for each of us. I could hear Jace fidgeting with things, and tapping his hands on the table in a wild pattern.

I just smiled to myself. Never before had I seen the Golden Boy this nervous, and it was entertaining to watch.

The smile left my face in an instant, as I knocked over the cup of newly made coffee all over my shirt, the boiling water blistering my skin quickly. I felt as though fire was racing up my chest and arms, searing my skin.

My reaction was to just jump up and down crazily, traitorous gasps and scream escaping my mouth, all thoughts of Jace forgotten. Then I felt arms underneath mine, and I leaned into Jace, the pain slowly fading.

I don't even think that my skin was burning anymore, but I just used it as an excuse to be this close to Jace, to soak in his warmth, and pretend I could feel care in his touch, feel love in the movements of his fragile pianist hands, so gentle, yet firm underneath my arms, practically holding me up.

Maybe I didn't have to pretend though. I swear I could feel some sort of care in his touch, some sort of encouragement.

We were so close, and my desire completely took hold of me, and that's when I made the stupidest decision. I kissed him.

I leaned up at lightning speed, and smashed my lips onto his soft ones. I moved at an impatient speed, suddenly on top of him. He just stood completely still, his surprise showing visibly in his every action.

He didn't kiss back, and I felt a terrible cold find its place in my heart. The tiny fantasy of a dream I had was distinguished, the truth seeping into the very bottoms of my heart, of my bones and blood, sending shivers up my spine, and forcing tears to my eyes.

I froze, then ran, out the door, away from the questions that he would want answered. I ran from the person whom I had given my heart to, the person who would never feel the same way as I did.

It turns out, after I left, Jace stood in that exact position for another hour, feeling dead, fearing that what he wanted between us could never happen now, and fearing that I no longer cared for him, and no longer wanted to be with him.

Was he right? Did I no longer care for him, could I let him go?

Stop lying to yourself, I thought.

I'd never get over this boy.

Well, I hope that you all enjoyed this latest chapter! I hope you are still enjoying this story, and that you will follow, favourite and review.

Continue Writing/Reading, ;)

-Zane Nassour