The next day at school, I did my best to avoid Jace. It was clear he was still mad about yesterday. When our eyes met in the halls, his would turn hard and cool, and a smirk would turn up the corner of his mouth. It wasn't until his coldness made a reappearance that I realized he hadn't been giving me nasty looks for quite some time now. Looked like I had just wrecked any progress I might have made with him with my rudeness yesterday.

He also seemed to be having a dandy time making comments about me to his friends. At least, that's what I assumed he was doing, based on the looks they would keep shooting me.

"Wow, he's really getting into it today," Simon said, watching Jace murmur something to his friends that made them laugh and glance in my direction. They stood crowded together in the hall, gathered across from my locker. Simon's eyebrows drew together in confusion. "What did you do to get his panties in a knot?"

I sighed and put my head in my hands. "We got in a fight," I mumbled.

"That's not unusual, is it?"

"No. But I think I genuinely offended him this time."

Simon looked at me, impressed. "What did you say?"

I didn't think Simon would like to hear that Jace was angry that I'd so abruptly left the civil conversation we'd been having. Or that we'd been in laughing fits on the floor yesterday. That would suggest, at least to Simon, friendship. And that would not make Simon a happy camper.

"It's not important," I muttered. Simon frowned at me, obviously sensing that something was up, but to my relief he didn't press it.

I should have used the opportunities Jace presented to me to smile and turn the other cheek and, well, flirt. That was my job. More than once, I saw Sebastian watching me intently, practically ordering me with his eyes to get on with it. But I couldn't bring myself to even look at Jace. Everything that had happened yesterday had me feeling strange around him, different—like something unnatural had passed between us.

At lunchtime, Sebastian casually slipped me a note as he was walking past my table, so discreetly that even Simon didn't notice. I opened it under the table and my stomach clenched uncomfortably.

Are you going to do it or not?

Sebastian was getting frustrated with me. But surely he didn't expect this to come easily for me? It didn't take a genius to see that I was not exactly experienced in this field of action. And the fact that it was Jace I was trying to suck up to didn't make it any better.

I was just about ready to scribble on the back of the note, Not, and pass it back to him when the bell rang for the end of lunch. As Simon and I were throwing away the remnants of our food, I glanced out the window and then did a double take.

Two cop cars parked outside. A few other students noticed and pointed them out to their friends. I felt a cold sweat break out across my forehead. Were they here for me? I could swear I saw someone in the passenger seat, turned and staring at the school. Right at me.

I turned away quickly, certain my face was white as a sheet, and my resolve strengthened again.

Jace was the only person who could possibly know who was behind his attack. I needed him to tell me. Even if that meant putting aside our rocky past, I had to suck it up and just do what I had to do.

I crumpled up Sebastian's note and tossed it in the trashcan. I wouldn't need to write a reply; he'd see my answer soon enough, acted out right in front of him.

I was jittery and impatient for the remainder of the school day. I drummed my fingers on the top of my desk, glancing at the clock every ten seconds or so, which only made each class go slower.

Finally, when the last bell rang, I sprang out of my seat and zoomed into the hall, my eyes already searching the crowd for Goldie Locks.

He wasn't hard to spot, surrounded by his fan club, tall and golden and, well, Jace.

I stuck out my chin and started toward him, shouldering past the people that stood around him like a cult around their leader and trying not to blush as all eyes turned to me.

I stopped in front of Jace and met his eyes. I could sense Sebastian watching me, but I didn't dare look at him.

"Can I talk to you?" I asked, forcing my voice to sound strong.

He looked startled by my intrusion into his inner circle. "I…guess," he said, probably too surprised to say no.

"Thanks," I said, and with that I grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him away from the others. I caught Aline daggers at me, and half expected her to blow fire out of her nose and fry me to a crisp.

Instead of flinching away from her sparking fury, I brushed past her with a curt, "'Scuze me." She looked positively insulted, like I had just spit in her face.

I towed Jace down the nearest hallway, which was virtually deserted, and released his wrist immediately.

"What do you want?" he asked, sounding wary and hostile.

I took a deep breath, prayed for strength, and said with as much sincerity as I could possibly inject into my voice, "I wanted to apologize."

His eyebrows shot up. "Apologize?" He seemed amazed.

"Yes. For the way I acted yesterday. I was in a bad mood and I had just had a pretty crappy day. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. I'm sorry."

He looked speechless, a rare occurrence for him. "You're…sorry," he said, like he couldn't quite understand what I was saying.

I sighed impatiently. "Do I have to spell it out for you?" Realizing this might come across as unfriendly, I added, "I felt awful about it all day today and all of last night. It was totally uncalled for."

Jace continued to stare at me. After a long, awkward moment, he said, "I think you should check into a hospital. You're not well."

"I'm trying to be nice," I said, attempting and most likely failing to keep the annoyance out of my voice.

"It doesn't become you," he said.

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. That's all I wanted to say." I turned to go, but he reached out and caught my arm. When I glanced at him, I was surprised to see concern on his face. Did he actually think I was sick?

But then he said, in a low voice, "You haven't told anyone about the party, have you? Or about…my condition?"

I looked at him for a long time. In all honesty, I had almost totally forgotten about my promise to keep the party a secret. A voice in my head pointed out that if I were to tell the cops that there had been a raging party going on at the Pandemonium Club that night, I would no longer be their only suspect. It would draw the attention away from me. I might even be forgotten in the scurry to find out who had attended the party, and who Jace had been with that night.

But I'd made a promise. It was probably unbelievably stupid of me, but I couldn't bring myself to tell.

"I haven't told anyone," I said.

I didn't miss the relief that flickered across his eyes, or the breath he let out. "Good."

And with that he turned and strode quickly away.

Well. At least I'd patched up the mistake I'd made yesterday—hopefully.

When I emerged from the hall and spotted Jace, once again surrounded by his swarm of followers, Sebastian caught my eye. He nodded slightly at me, a small smile on his lips, and I felt my cheeks growing warm. I turned away and headed in the other direction, hoping that I could master this flirting thing soon, before I found myself locked in a jail cell.

When I reached the diner, I was surprised to find Luke sitting at the counter, reading what looked like documents in a folder, his face furrowed in a frown. He didn't notice me until I was standing right next to him.

"Hey, Luke," I said, and he looked up, swiftly closing the folder so that the documents were concealed.

"Hello, Clary," he said with a warm smile, deftly shifting the folder underneath his arm. I didn't miss the movement. "How was school?"

I shrugged. "Same as it always is—torture."

Luke chuckled. "I was a little teacher's pet when I was in school," he said ruefully. "I don't think I ever disliked it."

"That sounds like you," I said, smiling. I looked meaningfully at the documents he had just hidden. "What's that you're reading?"

I saw the shift in his expression, and he sighed. "Should have known I couldn't get anything past you. They're just…some legal documents. I'm sprucing up my knowledge."

My gaze didn't waver from his. "Are you trying to build a case for me?" I asked softly.

Luke took off his reading glasses and rubbed his eyes. "Yes," he said after a long pause. "It shouldn't be too complicated. There's no proof against you, after all. It shouldn't be a problem."

"There's also no proof to support me," I pointed out. "And no one else was with him that night. At least, not after he left the party. Not that we know of."

"Party?" Luke echoed, his eyebrows drawing together.

Oh, crap. I had not meant to say that.

"I meant school," I said quickly, remembering what Simon had said about me being a terrible actress. I tried to keep my face smooth and innocent. "You know, saying school's a party, just making a joke." I attempted to smile, but Luke didn't return it.

His light eyes searched mine. "Clary," he said slowly. "If there's anything you aren't saying, you need to tell me. Anything could help."

"Hmm, nope," I said brightly. "Nothing I can think of. I'd better get to work."

I ducked around the counter and sloppily tied my apron on, keeping my back to him. I could have sworn I could feel his gaze on me, trying to sift through my thoughts and pick out the truth.

What are you doing? my head screamed at me. Are you insane? Just tell him! Stop protecting Jace and cough it up!

After Jace had just talked to me about it that afternoon? That just didn't seem right.

Know what else doesn't seem right? Being interrogated by the cops because every other person that might have been responsible for Jace's injury was probably at that party. You had nothing to do with it. Who cares if you get them in trouble? They've made your life miserable the last few years, anyway.

I hurried into the back room, battling with my own brain and needing to escape Luke's scrutiny. That was all true. I didn't owe any of those people favors, least of all Jace. In fact, he owed me a favor. I had only agreed not to tell about the party if he would agree to do his best to remember the events that had occurred the night of his attack, and he hadn't exactly been doing a wonderful job upholding his end of the deal.

I plopped down onto a cardboard box with a heavy sigh. Why did things have to be so complicated?

I was being stupid by not telling. But I'd made a promise, and I hated going back on my promises.

A thought struck me, and I sat up straight. What if knowing about the party didn't hinder me, but helped me? I wouldn't have to tell anyone about it. I could deal with this on my own. All I had to do was find a guest list, and that would narrow it down, at least a little. Then with a little snooping, maybe I could find the one who was really responsible…

Who are you, Nancy Drew? that annoying voice scoffed in my head. You aren't a private investigator. What makes you think you'll be able to solve this?

I wasn't sure I would be able to solve it, but where was the harm in trying, really? Waiting for proof that could save my butt to drop from the sky wasn't helping me so far. Why not see what I could uncover?

Excitement started to build up inside of me. I could imagine myself finding Jace's attacker, my name cleared; I'd become the girl who had caught a criminal. That would change my life. I wouldn't be plain old Clary who worked in the diner anymore. I'd be something… more.

Trying not to grin stupidly, I stepped back out of the storage closet. The moment I set foot in the eating area, however, I stopped dead, the smile dropping instantaneously off my face.

Two police officers were standing just inside the door, and both of their eyes had just landed on me.

In answer to a question, I update about every five days. During breaks from school, I'll update more often. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!