PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU READ THIS CHAPTER!

At this point in the story, around a month and a half has passed since the attempted bank robbery. I sort of confused myself with how much time has passed, so I hope this clears up any confusion you may have!

As well, I have a favor to ask of you all, but I'll leave that for the end of the chapter!

Clary's POV

I bury my face into Jace's couch pillows, aware that I'm being overdramatic—but there's no way I'm letting him get his way with this one.

I look up to see Jace with his palm on his forehead, clearly past the point of annoyed. I have to give him full credit for keeping his cool, I guess you would have to, being a cop and all.

"Clary,' he lets out a calming breath before he continues. 'It will be fun, we will drink, dance, laugh, it'll be great!"

"Jace, I don't know if I'm ready to be in a room full of people yet." I sit up once I say this, finally saying what I wanted to for the last hour since he asked me.

"It's the Policeman's Ball Clary, you couldn't be any safer." I let out a soft giggle at this. "Come here." He pulls me off the couch. I slump my shoulders forwards, showing my distaste for having to actually get up. Jace takes one of my hands and places it on his shoulder, then takes my other hand in his as he places his other on my hip. A shy smile formed on my lips as I realises his intentions; turning into a full grin as he starts to hum a low tone as he slow dances with me.

"You know, you can be really sweet sometimes." I say as he spins me before lowering me into a dip.

"I thought I was always sweet?" He fakes an innocent look- making me roll my eyes. "Will you please attended the Ball with me?"

"You make it sound like we live in a Disney movie."

"Clary!"

"Okay, okay, I'll go with you." I laugh at his impatience, it's sort of fun to get him all riled up.

"Great!" He grins a tooth filled smile. He leans forward slightly, making a quick glance at my lips, indicating his intentions. I was completely ready to help him fulfill those intentions when I heard my phone vibrate on Jace's coffee table.

I giggle when Jace groans as I step away from him. Once I take a quick glance at the caller ID I mentally face palm myself for spending so much time with Jace and so little with everyone else.

"Simon, I'm so sorry I haven't called you!" I say once I answered the phone

"Ahh, don't worry about it Morgenstern, it's just been a while that all." He says as lightly as possible despite some tension seeping in.

"I know, I feel guilty, let me make it up to you.' I look my watch quickly. 'How about dinner tonight?" I look up at Jace after I said this, only to see him giving the look of 'Well, this is news to me.' I give him an apologetic shrug and focus back on Simon.

"Ya, actually that would be great, how about at the Gramercy Tavern, around six?"

"I'll see you then." I hang up the phone and turn to Jace—who is still in the same position. "I'm sorry, but I'm going to head out a little earlier today." His features soften as he notices my tense stature. He breaths through his nose and steps towards me, placing his hand on my cheek.

"It's okay, just don't forget that the Ball is this Friday, it's formal as you may have already guessed. I'll pick you up around seven on Friday." I frown at this, there's still six days until Friday.

"I won't be seeing you until then?" My eye-brows come together in confusion. Has cutting our day today short really bothered him so much?

"Unfortunately not, work has been getting pretty intense lately and I need to focus on it for the few days."

I place my hands on his chest, observing at how small they look compared to the size of his chest. "What are you doing that's so important?" I asked, regardless of the pit in my stomach telling me I already know that answer.

"Trust me, it will just be tedious to you." He says with a quite chuckle. He makes a move to step back, but that only causes me to fist my hands in his shirt.

"Jace, if we are going to be in a relationship with eachother, you need to me honest with me." He looks down at me, thoroughly examining my words and the never waving expression of determination that is fixed on my face.

"Clary, I can't. It will only stress you out and you don't deserve that." He says, his eyes begging me to just drop the subject—but it's something I cannot do.

"Jace, leaving me in the dark is stressing enough. I was one of the hostages in the bank, I think I deserve to know what happening with the case." I softly say to him, praying he understands the anxiety I have been getting of not knowing. He waits a moment, trying to find the right words.

"We believe that there will be another robbery attempt at the same bank, within the next four weeks." My hand flies to cover my mouth. In all my nightmares, I never expected it to be another robbery; maybe about the search for the other suspect, but never another robbery—and so soon.

"Oh." It was all I was capable of saying. How insane would someone have to be to actually follow through with another robbery after the first one failed; and at the same bank too! The impractical- mastermind behind all this surly was dropped a few times as a child. God how awful, someone having to go through what I had to. As awareness hits me, my eyes go wide as my breath catches in my throat. What if I'm in the wrong place at the wrong time again, oh God, what if it happens again?

"Hey, now." He pulls me into an embrace as he sees my horrified realisation. "From what we know, it's not until the end of the month, we believe the 24th." He steps away to look at me. He scratches his head as if he wasn't sure how I was going to take what he was about to say. "I was actually trying to figure out a way I could get you to spend a couple days at your mothers or brothers. But, you knowing what's happening may be a little better. Now you know just to stay away."

I was silent for a pregnant moment. How could I say anything? I was devastated. It would seem like moving on with your life is only for the weak, and those who live with heartache, unease, and devastation are the only ones who survive.

To love is to destroy.

It was something my father said to me once after returning from his second enlistment from Afghanistan. He and some of his friends had their day off when their base camp was attacked. Out of two-hundred and fifty people who were stationed at the camp, only fifty- five survived, my fathering being one of them but none of his friends. He wasn't the same man when he returned, he went through depression and anxiety. But he made it through it. He found himself under all the scars and self-loathing he received from that day. He got better, he became the man I knew before he left for his second tour. He was able to live. He was even able to serve his country one last time before he died.

"Jace, I'll be okay." He raised his head at my statement. Looking into my eyes, he understood perfectly. Deep down, he knew I would be okay, I just needed some time.

o.O.o

"Simon! Hello!" I grin from ear to ear as I see my best friend already seated at our table.

"Clary, God I've missed you." He stands up to give me a hug—a hug I have missed dearly. "So how have you been? What has been keeping you tied away?" I blush slightly. I had no idea how Simon would deal with the idea of me having a boyfriend so soon after the robbery. I never did a lot of dating in my life, the longest relationship I had lasted for six months, and that was when I was in a stable mind set.

"I've been seeing some actually." Best to just get it over and done with.

"Really? Clary that's great! It's kind of ironic, I've met someone too." I tilt my head to the side at this news—ironic indeed.

"What, I thought you were "done" with relationships after Ashley?" I chuckle slightly at the memory. They dated for less than two weeks, but he was sure she was the one despite the fact that they lacked common interests in every topic.

"You know,' He begins to say, letting out a dramatic sigh. 'I thought so too, but I have a pretty good feeling about this one."

"Well, what's she like?" I asked, completely intrigued with this conversation.

"Umm, she's very intense." He lets out a nervous laugh as he says this. Nervous, he must really like her.

"That's good, someone to keep you on your toes." He slyly laughs. He must really like her.

"Anyways, what about his guy? What's his name?"

"Jace."

"The same one from the hospital?" What?

"I don't know what you're talking about Simon." Was Jace there?

"The cop right? Ya, when I got to the hospital, your mom and brother were already they talking with him. He had said that he riding in the ambulance with you." Oh.

"I knew he drove with me, I guess I just assumed he left afterwards."

"No, he was with you for about twenty hours. I wouldn't be surprised if he stayed with you longer had he not been called into work. To be honest, I wasn't totally sure how I felt about him at first. He made a comment about walking through Hell, and his hair still looked perfect." I giggled at this comment. "But if he makes you happy…I'm sure I could live with some of his egotistical comments."

I giggle again. "Ya, he makes me happy."

Alright guys, my favor. If you could give me one piece of constructive criticism, what would it be? I really want to work on my writing skill and if you guys give me something that would help, it would also help this story.

A very important question. I need to know if you guys would like me to write a little erotic scene? Just let me know if it's something you guys would want, if you guys don't tell me to write one I don't think I will, so let me know!

As well, there won't be another update (move like very unlikely that there will be) next Sunday, so I hope this was long enough to hold guys over for the next little while!

Thanks for reading!