For new readers: I update about every one or two weeks.

The final play performance is this chapter! Also, the story will be about 30 (or 28) chapters for those of you who are wondering.

Chapter Twenty One

"Clarissa Fray," a deep voice bellows from outside my door. "If you don't come out in the next five seconds, I'm going to break this door open and drag your skinny ass out here."

Ugh.

I grab one hasty look in the mirror, meeting a girl with dead eyes and a rat's nest of messy red hair, before grabbing my bag and throwing open the door.

"Goddammit, Sebastian," I glower. "Can't you just give me one minute to get ready?"

Making a face, my brother leans down and picks out a white piece of paper stuck somewhere in my hair. "Call time is at 5 right? That's in 10 minutes, and Mom's flipping shit. And what have you been doing? Sleeping in the trashcan?"

"Something like that," I mumble as I get in his car. Schoolwork aside, I've been spending the rest of my time moping about Jace, mulling over how badly I screwed up, and how I was going to win him back. A girl, even a heartbroken, messed up girl, couldn't just stand back and play the victim.

Mom waves a tearful goodbye, telling me she'll arrive at performance time with flowers and shit. Great.

The next thing we know, Sebastian's careening into the student parking lot. Thank God the lot is mostly empty, because he drives like the Headless Horseman.

"Thanks," I say as I get out of the car, and he grins at me.

"Go get 'em, Clary. I'll see you later."

Then I'm stumbling into the backstage of the theater, where all hell is breaking loose. Valentine spots me in an instant, and a relieved grin breaks out. "Clary! Glad you're on time."

"I know right?" I answer his statement with mock surprise, not missing a beat. "I was planning to be fashionably late and arrive in an hour or so."

Both of us laugh. I'm not sure what's changed – and maybe just nerves – but we seem to get along better these days.

"You need your makeup done," Valentine says, looking around. "Where's Magnus?"

"I'll go find him," I volunteer, glad for a reason to escape. Being around Valentine is bearable now, but I want some more time to process what just happened.

Ten minutes later, and I'm still searching for Magnus. There's an abnormal lump in some curtains pooled together in the shadows in one corner, and I yank it open, leaping back with a gasp.

Two heads peer back at me, one cat-eyed, the other a bright, piercing blue.

I stand there in shock, not even bothering to wipe off my deer in the headlights expression.

Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood. Were just kissing. In a corner.

They were…?

Huh.

That's actually…kinda cute.

"What do you want?" Magnus asks warily, shooting a look at Alec.

"I thought you dropped off the face of this planet, Bane," I say quickly, trying to cover up for the faux pas and shock. "I need my makeup done."

Magnus gives Alec another apologetic look, and leaning down, brushes his lips softly against his. "I'll see you later, love."

Alec stands rigid, eyes hard as they glare at me. He shakes his head vehemently in disgust, and I drop my gaze, shuffling behind Magnus. He's not mad at this, he's mad at what I did to Jace.

Magnus sits me down in front of a mirror with more glitter than I'd ever seen in my life. Just as he's about to pick up the brush, he leans down and growls in my ear, "You're not to tell anyone what you just saw. Alec isn't ready for other people to know this yet, clear?"

I nod, closing my eyes as he begins his magic.

…

By the time everyone's ready, everything is all set up, there's thirty minutes until the play begins. Standing in front of the mirror, I take in my reflection, not recognizing the girl who stares back.

Face, caked with makeup. Eyes bright, excited, nervous. Dress billowing out, like royalty.

When Aline texts me, I don't hesitate to open the door for her to sneak in.

"Wow," she whistles when she sees me "Don't you look voluptuous tonight."

"What?"

She grins. "Just trying out some new vocabulary. Been prepping for the SATs. I figured since Raphael's so smart, I should try and get on the same level as he. Did it not work?"

I can't smother a smile. "Just stop talking."

We settle into a comfortable silence as she looks me over appraisingly, eyes welling slightly with tears.

"My little girl's growing up," she says while I make a face. "Everyone's going to be so amazed by you. I can't even express how proud I am."

I shake my head, watching as red ringlets fall loose from its pins. "Not everyone."

"He hasn't said anything yet?" She asks softly. I've already filled her in on the details.

Biting my trembling lip, I shake my head, blinking hard to stop the onslaught of tears. "He's been avoiding me." I sink down to the ground and pull her with me. The dress spills around us like a pool. "What am I doing, Aline?" I whisper.

"Shh, shhh." Aline's pulling me to her chest, petting my hair softly. "Focus on the play first. One thing at a time."

"I can't," I cry, my voice muffled by her shirt.

She continues stroking. "You'll get through this, Clary. I know you will."

But those words are more for her benefit than mine.

…

The thing about pain is that it nulls fear. The moment the play begins, I'm blinded by bright lights and flashing cameras. The stage fright fades seconds later, however, when I see Jace ambling on stage, decked and shining in all his glory. He commands the audience, who falls in love with him immediately.

All I can think about is how beautiful he is, how great he is…and how he's not mine anymore.

I robotically go through my lines, performing with fake passion and enthusiasm. The whole time, my mind screams for Jace.

It's not until the awkward kissing moment do I feel a slight flutter of nervousness beginning in my stomach. As the actors party away at Capulet's house, as the seconds tick closer and closer to the scene, the butterflies erupt into a full scale tornado. Jace's eyes finally dart over to meet mine for an instant, and in that second, I've made up my mind to do something gutsy I would never have done weeks ago.

I'm a trembling mess as I step into the light.

My heart won't settle. I see Jace coming towards me, his whole form drifting as if in a dream. It must be the lights, but nothing seems real. He pretends to sneak over quietly, reciting his words and my mouth moves but my ears don't respond. There is only the thundering drumbeat of my heart.

Then he's in front of me, and he's leaning in. His face is already deliberately turned but I can't let this moment pass. I can't, I can't, I can't.

My hands dart out and frame his face, turning it toward mine, and before I can think twice, before I can see his eyes, his expression, I kiss him.

I'm not scared anymore. I'm not scared of Seelie, of the Juniors' taunts, of everyone in the audience seeing.

I feel free, like a bird escaping from its cage.

Jace jerks against my lips, shocked. Kissing on stage is something he would do, not me. The kiss is so light I wonder if I'm dreaming. When I pull back, I see his eyes, still open. He's staring at me, eyes wide, blazing, and brilliant.

"Dost thou love me?" I whisper above the deafening roar of the crowd. The words are magnified on the microphone so the audience can hear, but it feels like there is only me and Jace. "I know thou wilt say "ay," And I will take thy word."

The catcalls and hollers have all died down, but Jace is still silent. By now, the backup would have directed the lines into his earpiece, but Jace stands mute. He's staring at me, looking at me like he did on the Ferris Wheel, like he's actually seeing me.

I can't meet his gaze. My fingers clench in the folds of the dress. I don't know what I want him to do – a nod, a smile, a sign that he's forgiven me.

He's still searching my face when I raise my eyes to meet his, and then he gives a tiny, almost imperceptible shake of his head.

Dun dun dun…what will happen next? SORRY FOR THE CLIFFHANGERR :)

Also I transferred some lines from the later part of Romeo and Juliet to this part, so that the story would fit better together. (The Dost thou love me part comes later, not after their first kiss)

The second half of the play is the next chapter! REVIEW