So, I'll be honest, I have hit a tiny bit of writer's block, I have a few vague ideas of what I want to happen but it's the process to getting there that's stumping me a little bit, haha. Ha. Ha... yeah.

SHAMELESS SELF PLUG: I've started a new TMI story, one that I've been thinking about for a little while, it's rated M, mostly so I have a bit more freedom with language, scenes and stuff without constantly worrying about whether Admins will delete it(I have been through the forums so many times about this story!). In any case, that's there, but don't worry, this is my main project xo

But now, onto shoutouts! Marmaids, reppinda5o3, maayan21051, reemarie36, TisITisITheSaltiestFry, LOVERGIRL, Angeliel, ReadingManiac, Tuffin, cait418448, DarkSunshineKnight and our lovely Guest! You are all the reason this chapter is even here, and why I keep writing.

So, now that's all done with-Enjoy the chapter!


Jace could hardly believe what was happening to him. He had told himself at the start of the year that he would just keep his head down and get through it, no attachments, no friends, and a girlfriend definitely wasn't part of it. However, when he looked into Clary's eyes he could feel his whole body swell, he was both proud and humble. Clary was incredible and she had chosen him, for reasons unbeknownst to him. She saw something in him and he wanted to her faith to be for something.

"Hey Jace, what do you want to be?" Clary asked him, her eyes both curious and serious.
He frowned slightly and shrugged.
"I don't know, I never really gave it much thought," he answered her honestly.
He saw a crease form on her forehead.
"You've never thought about it?"
"Not really. I'll be honest, when I turn 21 I inherit a lot of money, I've never really had anything to strive for so I always figured I'd live off my inheritance."
Clary nodded as if she understood, but she didn't. She had no inheritance waiting for her. If she ever wanted to leave she had to become something.

"What do you want to do, Clary?"
She looked at Jace to his his face open and honest. She bit her lip.
"I want to be an artist. Have my own gallery, maybe teach kids…" Clary answered, surprising herself with her honesty, normally she didn't tell people what she really wanted to do because they would laugh at her.
Jace smiled at the little smile on her mouth as she spoke.
"I think you'll get there. You're the most persistent person I have ever met," he told her.
She didn't fail to notice the amusement in his voice and she mock glared at him.
"What are you trying to say?"
"That you are the only person that has ever returned after being shoved away so many times," Jace told her.
Clary's eyes softened and saddened.
"You have had such a lonely life," she murmured.
Jace just shrugged.
"It's okay, I've survived," he said dismissively.
"I promise, you will never be alone again, Jace."
He smiled at her and she smiled back, she knew he was telling her in his own way that he was grateful.

"So, have you made any revenge plans yet?" Clary asked him.
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, messing it up.
"I… Honestly… I don't know… I don't know what I want to do… If I act out revenge, then am I just as bad? Do I become the bad guy everyone now sees?" he asked her.
Clary huffed.
"No, you are not a bad guy by any means, and I don't think whoever did this deserves to go scot-free!" Clary responded angrily.
Jace knew she wasn't mad at him and he just reached over and took her hand in his.
"It's okay, Clary, let's just not talk about it. We'll deal with it when it comes to it," he soothed her.
He was upset about everyone now knowing his dirty laundry but he didn't want to ruin this day by talking about it. He just wanted to enjoy the time he had with Clary.
"Do you know who did it?" Clary asked him.
He took a deep breath, two names popping into his mind.
"I think… Verlac and Seelie," he admitted.
Clary stared at him in surprise.
"Sebastian? Why would he do this, he's happy now?" she asked him baffled.
"It's just a couple of things, comments he's made… it's like he's known this whole time and in detention the other day Seelie tried to pick up where Kaelie and I left off and she didn't take my rejection too kindly," Jace said dryly.
Clary frowned. The pair were friends so it was highly likely Seelie said something to Sebastian.
"I promise, we'll make them regret it," she told him, the fire burning in her eyes.
"Clary, honestly. I don't care what anyone thinks of me, so long as you… so long as you believe me," he said to her earnestly.
He saw her eyes soften and he gave her a sheepish smile.
"I don't know, you just—I guess I care," he laughed trying to play down his feelings before he scared her away.
"I care too, Jace."

The next morning Clary skipped into the school. The big banner had been taken down and she felt like she was on a whole new level of happiness. If she had thought she had been on Cloud 9 with Sebastian, then this must be Cloud 20. She smiled even bigger when she saw Jace waiting for her at their lockers.

"Hey," he greeted quietly.
She gave him a big smile.
"Hey."
She gave him a quick once over and noticed he looked stressed. There was a slight tick in his jaw and his eyes looked tight and unhappy.
"What's up?" she asked, placing her hand on his arm.
"It's nothing," he muttered.
She frowned.
"Obviously it's something," she prodded.
He sighed and then stared straight into her eyes. Clary felt her stomach flutter as his gold eyes captured hers.
"Are you sure you want to be associated with me? With a murderer?"
Clary's eyebrows shot to her hairline. After everything he was still worried…
"Oh no, Jace, we have made a terrible mistake! How was I so blind! I cannot be with you at all! Woe is me!" Clary declared, her voice deadpan and about as sarcastic as she could make it.
Jace levelled a glare on her and she gave him a smirk back.
"Jace, I told you. I don't care," she told him quietly.
He pressed his lips together firmly and faced back to her locker.

"Are you bothered by the whispering and staring?" she asked him softly.
"A little," he admitted, unwillingly.
Clary paused and then an idea sparked in her mind.
"Well, why don't we really give them something to whisper and stare at?" she asked.
"What?" he asked, in confusion.
Clary just smirked.
"Be ready to catch."

She then attacked his mouth with hers. She pressed herself against him and immediately dove her hands into his hair, pulling on it. He growled into her mouth before hoisting her up and slamming her back into the lockers behind him. She moaned softly at the roughness and bit into his lip.
At the feel of her teeth digging in and tugging on his lower lip, Jace's senses went wild. He could feel a burning go through his veins and every spot of skin that connected sent surges of electricity through his body. Her legs were wrapped around his waist and pulling him closer, her arms locked around his neck, tugging on his hair and he enjoyed every second of it. One arm was locked underneath her, to keep her upright but the other was sliding up her back slightly, under her shirt. Her skin felt hot against his hand, but soft. He could also feel bumps, which he knew to be scars from her past and he growled into her at the thought of anyone hurting her. He promised himself that she would never get another scar like that. Not while he was still around.
Clary whimpered as she felt his hand traced the bottom of her spine. His touch sent shivers throughout her whole body and she almost thought her heart was going to burst through her chest. His lips were demanding but soft against hers and she knew she was addicted, she wanted to feel like this every day. Wanted but respected. She drew her head back from his, mostly to regain some breath but that plan went out the window as his mouth began to kiss against her jaw and down her neck. Her breath all but stopped as he pressed his lips to her collarbone. She had no idea her skin could be so sensitive until his lips brushed over her. He made all her little hairs stand on end and she had to bite her lip to stop from making a highly embarrassing noise.

Jace finally pulled himself away from her and looked up at her to see her eyes had darkened to a deep forest green, her skin had flushed a light pink and her lips were swollen from all the attention he had given her. She stared down at him, out of breath and he noticed her cheeks flush a darker shade of red.

"Well, that'll get them talking about something else," she said to him.
He managed a slightly breathy chuckled and rested his head on her shoulder. She swung her legs down from his waist and he held onto her carefully, not letting go until she was firmly on the ground.
"Time to face the music right?" Clary asked.
He chuckled and pressed his lips to the top of her head, she took his hand in hers and walked off to class.

Word about the spread like wildfire and before she knew it Jon was charging up to them and pulling her away forcefully enough to nearly make her fall to he knees. Jace reached out for her but Jon shoved his hands away, hauling her up himself.
"Just what in the hell are you thinking, Clarissa?!" Jon demanded.
Clary opened her mouth to protest but Jon was death staring down Jace, paying her no heed.
"How dare you touch my sister!"
"Jon!"
"Shut up, Clary!"

Jon was livid. He had seen the banner yesterday and now this same kid, one that had murdered his own mother, was now all over his sister! Jon was taking no chances, he had almost lost her once, it was not going to happen again.

"Don't you dare come near her ever again! I will end you," he threatened Jace.
Clary was absolutely furious with her brother, how dare he come in and take over and try to tell her who she could spend time with and who she couldn't.
"Jon! Don't you dare try to control me!" she shouted at him, trying to wrench her arm out of his grip.
His blue eyes blazed down at hers and she glared back with as much intensity, as his grip tightened, nearly to the point of pain.
"It's okay, Clary. I knew it wouldn't work," Jace said quietly.
"Damn straight it's not going to work! You so much as breathe in her general direction and I will show you the punishment you deserve, murderer!"

Clary gasped as Jace went pale. Clary then gave her brother a sharp elbow to his stomach and wrenched herself free.
"Don't you dare, don't you dare say that again!" she spat.
"Clare—no, don't," Jace interrupted, trying to settle her.
He just knew something like this would happen. He knew it wouldn't work. He was stupid for thinking he had escaped life's cross hairs.
"Shush, Jace. I know your story, no one else here does. You are not that, don't let anyone get to you. Not even my idiot of a brother," she told him fiercely.

Jace was takenaback by the sheer passion and tenacity in her voice, and he knew that he would never want to be on the receiving end of her wrath. However, the last thing he wanted to do was wreck their relationship. He knew that Jon and Clary were close and he didn't want Jon to be even angrier at him for wrecking that.

"Clary, I don't want to cause trouble," he said to her urgently.
Her eyes softened at him.
"You are not trouble," she reassured him.
She could see the distress in his eyes and she wanted to kill her brother for putting it there. She levelled her eyes on Jon and he was glaring straight at Jace.
"Clarissa, you are not safe with him," he told her in a level, scary calm voice.
Jace felt a slight twist as he knew Jon's words were right. Flashes of his mother, Cecily, Annalise, Nyx and his father popped up and he shook his head.
"Clary, you know he's right," Jace whispered lowly.
Clary whirled around at him, her green eyes flashing.
"Cut the horse crap, Jace. We went through this already. Whether you like it or not, you're stuck with me, there is no place in the world I feel safer than when I am with you!"
"Stop being an idiot, Clary! He just told you he didn't want you!" Jon snapped.

This time Jace glared at him as Clary faltered slightly.
"That is not at all what I said, Jon. There is no shadow of a doubt that I very much care for Clary—"
"Don't you say a word to me, Herondale," Jon growled, threateningly.
Jace was shocked as was Clary.
"If you won't come with me now, I'll tell Dad," Jon told her severely.
Clary smirked, her Dad, being a chief in the Police Department could easily pull Jace's records and view them thus proving Jace's innocence.
"I'll tell him myself," she shot back, shocking Jon.
He hadn't expected Clary to turn that back on him.
"Fine. Tonight," Jon forced out.
"Easy," Clary snapped.

An awkward silence settled over the trio, until Clary grabbed Jace's hand tightly and pulled him along, not even saying good bye to her brother.
"Clary, I don't want to come between you two," Jace insisted quietly.
"You're not, his stubborn pigheadedness is," she grumbled.
"Clare—"
"No, Jace. I don't care what anyone says. I know you. I may not know your favourite slice of pizza or your favourite movie, but I know your heart, I know your goodness. You are not any of the things you tell yourself that you are. You are kind and good and someone to aspire to," Clary said to him.
Jace was surprised and touched.
"Supreme," he said after a pause.
She gave him a quizzical look.
"My favourite pizza," he clarified.
Clary smiled at him.
"Cheese," she responded.
He smiled back at her, just barely feeling like maybe it could work.

Lunch came around slowly for Clary. She had offered for Jace to sit with them again but he denied saying that he thought Jon would have his head but insisted that she spend time with her friends. She had reluctantly agreed and now she was sliding in next to Isabelle.

"Hey guys," she greeted everyone.
Isabelle and Magnus both looked up at her curiously.
"Word on the grapevine is that you are dating Jace now?" Magnus asked.
She smiled and nodded.
"Grapevine is, for a change, right," she answered, taking a bite out of her apple.
Isabelle exchanged looks with Simon before giving her a tentative smile.
"Is he… y'know… safe?" she whispered.
Clary stopped chewing and studied her friends closely. They all seemed to have the same worried and hesitant look. Apparently they had heard about her blow up with Jon.
"Yes," she said shortly.\
"Are you sure? Because I mean, he is kind of weird and he has such a temper," Isabelle continued.
Clary felt her own temper rising, but forced herself to keep a lid on it, knowing her friends were only concerned for her welfare.
"I promise he isn't going to stalk me and stab me in my sleep," she said harshly.
"Shooting seems to be more his style," Magnus quipped.

Clary had enough. She had heard it from Jon and now all her friends were against her.
"You know what, since you guys are all going to be judgemental and pissy and believe a banner over your best friend, I'm going to go sit with my boyfriend. When you want to find out the truth instead of believing a rumour, you know where to find me," Clary said coldly.
She stood up and saw the smug smile on Seelie's face and before she could stop herself she was continuing.
"And when I find out exactly who provided this article and who posted it everywhere, it will not be pretty."
She enjoyed that faint flicker of worry on Seelie's face and the choking noise Sebastian made. She turned on her heel and made her way over to Jace with her bag of food.

He looked up at Clary slid in next to him.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" he asked her quietly.
"They're being stupid so I decided to leave them. When they're ready they'll come over," she assured him.
Jace's face darkened slightly as guilt swelled. Now she was fighting with her friends; he really was making a mess.
"Clary, you—"
He was cut off by Alec dropping into the seat in front of him.
"Hey," he said quietly.
Clary looked up at him and he smiled and nodded at her. Jace saw her smile broaden and it made him feel a little bit better.
"I don't care about whatever's happened, so long as nothing happens to Clary," Alec told him quietly.
Jace felt a tidal wave of relief and gratitude for the tall, dark haired boy in front of him.
"I promise," he told him seriously.
Alec's blue eyes bored into him for a moment before nodding and turning back to his sandwich.