Hey! So I apologize for not updating over the weekend! I was sooo busy I seriously had not a single moment of free time!

Thanks for all the great reviews!

EVERYONE! So I am getting a lot of reviews saying the last chapter was too rushed, guys I have had this whole story mapped out since the beginning! Trust me! It may seem rushed but it is supposed to be kinda like that! You will see. I promise!

Song: "Meant to live" by switch foot. it's a recall good song.

Disclaimer: Jace isn't mine…. Oh….. Dangit…..

Chapter 14: Just The Way Things Are

I started at my shuffling feet, making my way down the hall on the way to lunch. I just couldn't wait to settle down on the soft grass and draw my feelings away peacefully. But of course everything had to end up ruined.

I heard the loud clicking of heels approaching behind me. "FRAY!" a warm hand snatched my cold wrist, turning me around sharply, then the other free hand slapping me, sharp nails leaving small cuts on my cheeks. I looked up to see the cold eyes of Aline. "Fuck you Fray! Who the hell do you think you are freak!" I gave her a confused look.

"Aline I don't-" I tried to tell her, not knowing what was going on.

"Cut the crap Fray. You can't just kiss my boyfriend and expect to get away with it! FUCK YOU. You think that would drag him down with you? NO! now you made yourself out to be an even bigger freak!" I looked to the side to see Jace smirking. Aline slapped me one more time, and I snatched my arm away and ran, tears forming in my eyes, laughter booming. I cant believe he set me up. I thought that Jerk actually might care.

I ran down the stairs to the grass, sinking down against the wall, my head in-between my knees, loud sobs, rocking back and fourth.

I remained like that for a few minutes, how could I be so stupid?

"Clary?" I heard a voice nearing, and someone sitting beside me. "I-I'm sorry.." I looked up to see the dark apologetic eyes of Izzy. I sobbed again and she pulled me in. "My brother's a jerk I know. I don't get why he does these things."

"T-Thank you" I muttered in-between sobs. I felt her smile, she leaned back, our faces meeting.

"What are friends for?" she said with a smile, causing one to spread across my face despite the tears falling down. "Hey… do you want to come over to my house after school? Jace shouldn't be home until late."

I nodded. "ya, I-I would really like that."

"Good." she said with a smile.

"Um. I don't want you to lose your rep or anything.. S-so, um, do you just w-want to pick me up somewhere or, or something?" I asked nervously.

"If you want…" she said skeptically. "where at?"

"Umm…" I thought for a second.

"I will pick you up twenty minutes after school at the library." She stated, standing up. I nodded. "I have to go, but I'll see you later. I nodded and she left.

I smiled despite the silent tears dripping down my cheeks. I actually had a friend.

I ditched the rest of the day, not able to face him. I know I shouldn't give them the satisfaction of letting them know that they broke me, but now, I don't really care. My life was already shitty enough.

I sat in the library bathroom stall, crying and drawing. I drew pictures of myself, pictures of Jace, pictures of Jace and me. I hated him, but yet loved him at the same time. My life was just a mess.

Before knew it my phone startled me by buzzing wildly. I flipped it open to see a message from Izzy.

"Where are you? I have been out here for ten minutes."

Oh shoot I was late. I jumped up, grabbing my stuff and throwing it into my bag, running to the mirror to wipe the tears from my eyes and then running out of the bathroom then out the library doors. Outside I found the black lexus. I slowly made my way to the car as Izzy rolled down the passenger side window.

"Hurry and get in!" she yelled out, sunglasses covering her dark eyes.

I sped up, running to the car, throwing the door open and jumping in. as soon as I was in the car she sped off. I was looking around the car amazed.

"what?" she asked me, I snapped to her

"Oh, uh, I-I've just never been in a car l-like this." I told her.

"Really?" She exclaimed shocked.

"Uh… ya…" I said quietly. "U-um…. Can I turn on the r-radio?"

"Sure whatever you want." She laughed.

I pressed the radio on, and flipped until I found a song that I knew. Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus

"Good choice." Izzy nodded and smiled at my decision. She turned the volume up and we sang along as the chorus approached.

" 'CAUSE I'M JUST A TEENAGE DIRTBAG BABY! YEAH I'M JUST A TEENAGE DIRTBAG BABY! LISTEN TO IRON MAIDEN MAYBE! WITH ME!" we laughed as the song calmed after the chorus and she turned the volume down a little bit. I was smiling like crazy.

"What's up with you?" she asked laughing.

"Nothing." I said, a huge smile on my face. "I just I-I haven't listened to music in forever."

"You're kidding!" she exclaimed, I nodded. "No! why?!"

"No radio in my house, I ride the bus everywhere, and I don't have an MP3 player!" I exclaimed.

"I'm buying you one." she stated.

"No! Izzy don't really! I would feel bad!" I exclaimed.

"Fine Fine. But whenever you want to listen to music, just come to me." she told me, I nodded.

The song wrapped up just as we pulled up to the lightwood house. I took a deep breath.

"You're sure Jace isn't home?" I asked.

"Yes! He should be with Aline, Alec is over at his 'Friend' Magnus' house, and my parents are working. It's just us." she explained.

I sighed and nodded, getting out of the now parked car and following Izzy into the house. We went in through the large garage door, there was a small room that looked like it was used for a workout room and a spiral staircase that led up to the house which seemed even larger and nicer than the other time I had been there. We entered into another room and walked through the door into the large kitchen. I looked around in awe as Izzy walked over to the fridge,

"Coke or Root beer?" I looked over at her, she had the fridge open to reveal two soda boxes.

"Uh, C-Coke." I responded and she tossed it to me and grabbed herself a root beer. Then the shut the fridge and walked over and into the huge pantry and emerged with a bag of chips, shutting it with her foot.

"Lets go." She said walking out of the kitchen and up the stairs. I followed her down the long, familiar hallway that was filled with plain white shut doors until we reached the one that ha 'IZZY' painted on it in bold black and red letters. She pushed open the door, throwing the bag down on the floor and flopping down on her bed. I glanced around the room. It was painted a crimson red with black curtains on the windows. She had a large black bed pushed against one wall, a black couch sat at the end of the bed, a plasma TV on the wall before them.

"Are you coming?" she asked, looking up at me, stuffing potato chips in her mouth. I nodded. "Shut the door too please!" she said quickly as I stepped in. I did as she said, gently putting my bag on the floor beside hers. I watched as she jumped onto the couch, patting the space beside her. I walked over and sat down, opening my drink and taking a sip.

"So." She began. "I'm sorry but I just have to know. What's going on with Jace?" my eyes grew wide. "Oh! I'm sorry! Sensitive topic?"

"N-No it's ok." I took a deep breath. "Honestly, I-I don't even know. H-he was so nice when I w-was here, b-but it was all and a-act. How I feel about h-him? I-I hate him, and like him a-at the same time. But he ha-hates me, so y-ya."

"I don't think he hates you." she responded. "I think he's confused about you, just like you are about him. You know, after you left, he sat in the guest room the rest of the night. He actually slept in there. didn't even come down for dinner." she said with a chuckle. "Anyways, wanna watch TV?"

I nodded and we found a movie to watch for the next few hours. Safe Hsven, I think it was called. It was good, I guess, but Izzy was crying like a baby. It was actually kind of funny.

The credits had just began and Izzy was crying wildly when we heard someone bounding down the hall and the door burst open.

Izzy what are you cr-" He stopped talking when he spotted me and I looked over to see Jace.

I jumped up and turned to Izzy. "I-I have to go."

"Do you want me to-" she began but I cut her off.

"no I will just ride the bus," I said quickly.

"Why is she here?" he choked out standing in the doorway.

"I'm just leaving." whispered, grabbing my stuff and pushing my way past him. He followed me.

"Wait." he called, grabbing my wrist and pulling me into the guest room, slamming the door behind us.

"W-What do you want?" I choked out.

"Listen I'm sorry I told Aline." he said looking apologetically into my eyes.

"Why'd you do it?" I asked him seriously.

"I don't know. I just, I just am really confused and wanted to hurt you because I thought I still hated you and thought it would clear things up, but it just made everything worse." he explained.

"well you hurt me." I stated.

"Ya and that hurts me!" he exclaimed, my eyes wide with shock. "Listen I don't know how I feel about you ok! I don't hate you, but that's all I know right now."

"I still hate you." he looked down at his feet. "b-but at the same time I don't hate you… s-so I guess you could s-say I'm confused too."

He took a deep breath. "I-I think I may like you, like as in more that I ever thought I would, but I don't know.. I'm just really…"

"Confused. Ya I-I get it, I am t-too." I choked out.

"Listen, could we just try being like, friends or something first? Please? Just to figure things out?" he questioned.

I nodded. "o-ok."

"But, we have to stay secret friends!" he exclaimed, causing me to roll my eyes. "Just for now! C'mon it will make things easier and you know that."

"F-fine." I agreed, causing him to smile.

"Good." he smiled.

I looked at the time. "b-but I really do h-have to go."

"Why?" he asked.

"I just do ok!" I yelled.

"fine." he said. "Just let me drive you."

Not wanting to argue I agreed and followed him out to his motorcycle.

"No, t-there's no way I-I'm getting on t-that thing." I told him.

He rolled his eyes and smirked, handing me a black helmet. "c'mon Fray it's perfectly safe. I promise I'll be careful."

In response I snatched the helmet from his hands and put it on my head, buckling the strap. I was about to sit down when he stopped me.

"One second." he said, running over to a small coat closet and grabbing a leather jacket out, handing it to me. "It's safer." he assured me.

I took that from him and put it on. "Why do you guys have so many of these?" I questioned.

"We're big on leather." he said, crooking his head. "It looks pretty good on you." I rolled my eyes as he chuckled and sat down, patting the seat behind him, I slowly sat down.

"W-what do I do n-now?" I asked

He grabbed my arms, wrapping them around his waist. I sat there stiffly. "Don't be shy!" he exclaimed. "Just relax and tell me your address." I told him where I lived and watched him punch it in on the GPS, then we left.

As we rode, I laid my head on his back, closing my eyes and just enjoying the ride. It was nice.

When we got to my house I got off the back of the motorcycle, taking the helmet off and handing it to Jace.

"Thank you." I told him, starting to take off the jacket.

"no! keep it! It's an extra!" he smiled. "oh and welcome."

"No I really, really can't. but thanks." I smiled.

"he gave me his famous Jace Wayland smirk. "see you tomorrow Clary." I smiled and turned around, walking into the apartment building.

When I walked into the door, my mom was already home. Shit I forgot to text her.

"Where the hell were you?" she demanded.

"M-mom I'm sorry! I-I was at someone's house working o-on a project and f-forgot to text y-you." I choked out.

Her hand slapped across my face, leaving a red mark. "I've had it with your pathetic stuttering you stupid twig bitch." she slapped me again. And then about ten more times. "And that's for being late. Now get out of my sight you useless girl."

I nodded, running to the bathroom, tears forming in my eyes. I made two for sure friends today, but that didn't change the fact that my life was such a sad excuse for a life. I got the razor out, sighing in relief as the blood seeped down my arm. This is just the way things are.

Tada! Sooo I shall try and update tomorrow and I hope you liked it!

Reviews make me smile!

-Karissa