Author's Note

I'M SO, SO SO SO SO SORRRRYYYYYY!

School resumed a month ago and even though it's not halfway through the semester yet, I'm bombarded by school works! As of writing, I have one exam to review for and two papers to finish :( I know I should learn to manage my time properly but I really suck at it and I sincerely apologize for not updating for such a long time.

Believe me, not being able to update frustrated me as much as it frustrated you. But let's all forget about that because I have finally posted Chapter 28!

Anyway, some of you may have noticed that I changed my username, not that it has something to do with the story, though. I just thought you should know.

I'm sorry if it's not much or if it's too short. To be honest, I didn't have enough time to have second or third proofreading so I apologize in advance for grammatical or spelling mistakes.

Here's Chapter 28! Enjoy! (I'm sorry I couldn't think of a good title)

OOC Alert: This is a fanfiction. If the characters in here don't act the way that they do in the books, I take all the blame. After all, characterization is one of my biggest flaws as a fanfic writer. So if you don't like a different Jace or Clary (and the other characters by Cassie Clare), I suggest you do not read this story.

Disclaimer: The Mortal Instruments and all its characters all belong to Cassandra Clare. I merely borrowed them for this story. The plot and everything else in this story is all mine, though.


Arrhythmia

Chapter 28: Surprises

-CLARY-

Mom knocks on my door right as I'm about to go to sleep.

"Hi, Mom," I greet as I open the door for her. We sit on my bed.

"How are you my dear?" Mom asks me as she softy rubs my back.

"I'm fine," I reply. Then, "About Jace and me playing in the rain, I started it. I'm sorry."

She smiles at me reassuringly. "It's okay, dear. Though, can I ask you something about your friend, Jace?"

Feeling a little bit nervous, I nod.

"Is he your boyfriend?"

I feel the blood rush to my cheeks as I quickly shake my head. "No, Mom! We're just friends, like Simon and me."

Mom's brows knot together. "Honey, you can always tell me things."

"Honestly, Mom, Jace is not my boyfriend."

She smiles a little but I can tell she's not fully convinced. "Clary, it's not like your dad and I established a rule that you and your brother can't date until a certain age. It will be okay for us if you have a boyfriend so long as you still have your priorities straight. You said Jace is your math tutor, right? Who knows, maybe dating him will actually help improve your grades."

This is one of the worst conversations I have ever had with Mom. It's so embarrassing. "But… I wish you would just believe me that Jace is not my boyfriend." I swallow. "Mom, I will never lie to you about these things."

Mom hugs me to her. "I'm sorry, honey. It's just… you were so closed-off before; you kept hiding in your shell. And it excited me that you started making friends. With Jace, I just noticed something when you're together and I mistook it for something else."

Understanding suddenly dawns on me. I only now realize how seriously worried I must have made my parents. There I was, sixteen, a junior in high school, so afraid of socializing, no friends near my age. I keep thinking that Jace has such high walls but all this time, I failed to see mine are higher.

And I let him in.

Then I catch the last part of what my mother said. "Mom? What are you talking about noticing something else?"

She clears her throat. "I just see the way you look at him." She shakes her head. "I guess I got too excited. I'm sorry, honey."

"I have a crush on him." I blurt out the words without looking at my mother. "Um, I… actually like him." And I like him more and more with each passing day.

"Oh, honey." Mom holds my face so she can look at me and I notice she's trying hard not to say something. "If there's one thing I learned when I was your age, it's to never let a boy wonder if you like him. If you like someone, you tell that person. Whether you get rejected or not, trust me, it's worth it."

"Mom!" I know I'm blushing again.

She smiles and tilts her head. "What? How do you think your dad and I got together?"

I blink in surprise. "You asked Dad out?"

"Not really." Her eyes go dreamy then, obviously thinking of the past. "I told him I liked him just before he was going to ask me out. Well, all of our embarrassment aside, we worked out." She's still smiling but I notice a hint of her sadness in her eyes.

Her eyes return to me. "But I know how shy you can get sometimes, honey. You don't have to tell him you like him if you don't want to."

Again, I speak without giving much thought to it. "He already knows, Mom."

"Oh." She then realizes what I'm implying. "Oh, honey. It'll be okay."

I bite my lip. "Um, he actually said he cares about me."

Mom's eyes brighten a little. "That's good, dear." She stands up and I follow her. "Just remember that whatever happens with you and Jace, I will always be here for you, my baby." She hugs and kisses the top of my head. "Good night."

"Good night, Mom." I murmur against her.

But even after she has long left my room, I still can't fall asleep. I keep thinking of Jace and our date and how I wanted to be trapped in the moment when we danced and played in the rain.

I keep thinking of how happy I am that we're friends… and how I'm starting to really, really, really like him more.


Mark Blackthorn surprises me in Trigo today as I receive a note from him that says Jace will be waiting for me after school outside the school.

I stare at it for a few seconds before putting it in between my notebook's last page and back cover. Making sure that Mr. Graymark's back is still turned to us, I quickly glance toward the back of the class only to see Mark smirking and just in time, another note arrives.

I'm surprised by how quickly I recognize Jace's handwriting even though I only ever saw him write numbers. Hey, we have no practice today so don't scold me! I'll wait for you, okay?

I place it with the first note. Before I can look at Mark again, Mr. Graymark turns to us and starts his lecture.


I guess my lesson for today is that Mondays are full of surprises. On lunch, I see Alec already waiting for me in our table.

"Hello." I place my lunch on the table as I slide into my seat.

"Hi." Even as he smiles, I can't help but notice the deep worry lines around Alec's eyes. "Long time no see."

"So, how have you been?" I carefully ask, not sure of what to say.

He shrugs. "Can't wait for September."

A question I should have asked long ago comes to mind. "Wait, why are you waiting for college? I mean, why did you, um, stop?"

He stiffens. "Let's talk about that another time."

I nod. "Okay."

"I came here today because Jace said you asked about me last Thursday."

I quickly swallow the bite of sandwich in my mouth. "I missed you, I guess."

Alec smiles. "Me, too." He eyes me carefully. "Do you want to tell me something?"

I shake my head quickly, still too embarrassed to ask the question that has been bugging me since Jonathan raised it.

He raises an eyebrow. "Well, I have something to tell you." He leans forward and whispers, "It's a secret, though."

Alec doesn't wait for me to swear or promise to keep his secret and says it all the way in his low whisper. "I had a crush on Jace for five years."

I jerk back and stare at him, disbelief probably painted on my face.

He leans back on his chair, the ghost of a smile on his lips. "It's true."

I can't believe this. I'm so glad I didn't have the guts to ask him if he likes me – that would have been embarrassing! "Um, so… you're saying you're bisexual?"

"I don't think that would be the right term. I don't – can't – like girls in that way." He looks away. "The truth is, after we started having lunch together, I thought I liked you that way. I thought I could but I couldn't. I'm so sorry, Clary. I was trying to see if I can like girls too and I kind of… I really like you but when I saw you and Jace holding hands when we went dress shopping and I didn't feel any jealousy, I realized I only like boys."

That is pretty much all the explanation I need. If only I can tell Jonathan so he'll stop teasing me about Alec… I shake my head. It's not my secret to tell and I don't want to break Alec's trust.

"I see." I reach across the table for his hand. "It's really okay, Alec."

He shifts his eyes to me and smiles a little. "I'm glad I'm finally able to tell you. I'd really appreciate it if you keep this between us, though."

Oh. Does that mean Jace doesn't know?

Before I can promise, Simon enthusiastically comes to us. "Clary! I need to tell you…" He trails off when he realizes I'm not alone.

Actually, Simon doesn't only trail off, he freezes on his feet and his face has this funny panicked face as if he's caught doing something illegal. "Um…" He gulps as he nervously looks at Alec. "Please don't hurt me!"

Simon doesn't give Alec and me time to react as he starts rambling. "I swear I was just trying to comfort her and I thought she'd like Mom's homemade cookies because they always cheered me up. I really didn't mean for her to stay late in our house. And I promise I tried telling her to stop coming to our house every after school but she kept on insisting and coming. Please don't kill me! I swear I have no dark motives on your sister! I'm just trying to be a good friend to Isabelle."

Alec's smile disappears and his expression hardens. "What. Did. You. Just. Say?" I had expected him to shout but his cold and low voice is even scarier.

Simon is still trying to catch his breath but he's quick to catch on. "Oh, crap."

I slowly stand from my seat. "Um, Simon, I think you're going to need my chair. I'm done with lunch, anyway." To Alec, I say, "Bye. See you around."

I give both of them hopeful smiles, wishing that they will both be good after they talk.


I'm walking in the hallways when I bump into Simon. "Hey, how did your talk with Alec go?"

He gives me a weak smile. "Fine, I guess. I expected him to hurt me or something but instead, he thanked me. We planned something and hopefully, Isabelle will still talk to me." Simon looks at me apologetically. "I'm sorry I never told you about it. It's just I promised her never to tell anyone."

We turn and begin to walk to the main doors. "It's okay, Si, I understand. It's wise not to break the trust of someone you like."

He shrugs. "I broke it now."

"Yes, but you did the right thing because Alec is her brother."

Simon nods. "I guess so. I'm really sorry, Clary. We should chat again sometime soon just so I can catch you up with things."

"Sure." I'm instantly reminded that I haven't told Simon that I had another date with Jace. And now I don't think I'll tell him about it at all. I feel like Jace and I should keep the date to ourselves and though I can't really ask him not to tell others about it, at least I'll do.

"By the way, Alec asked me for your number. He said he was planning to ask you yourself before I arrived at your table at lunch. It's okay that I gave it, right?"

I smile. "Of course."

We talk about today's lessons as we walk through the halls until we exit the building where we see Maia waiting. "Can we talk?" She asks Simon eagerly without so much as greeting me.

Simon shoots me a look and I shrug. He smiles and he and Maia walk away together, Maia talking energetically.

I'm just about to look for Jace when he appears as if out of nowhere, walking over towards me. "I assume M told and gave you the note?"

I nod. "So, do you have something to tell me?"

"I just thought maybe you'd like to hang out?"

Hang out?

"I have homework in Trigo."

He smirks. "All the more reason we should hang out. Let me help you." When he sees me hesitate, he adds, "Please? Please?" His puppy eyes are back.

Now I'm sure he knows he does that when he says please and uses it in his advantage. "Fine."

One word and his face lights up, making him even more handsome than he already is. "Let's go."

I follow him to his car and once we're inside, he asks me where I want to go.

"The local library?" I suggest.

Jace chuckles a little. "You're making sure we're going to study, huh?"

I smile at him. "Of course."

The drive from the school to the local library is short and Jace decides that we should save our talking for later. He turns on the radio and I silently hum to Charlie Puth and Meghan Trainor.

We're silent as he parks his car and as we go inside the library. It's only when we're seated that he speaks. "I quit as an LRC mentor."

I'm just laying out my notebooks and paper and pens on the table. "Why?"

He shrugs irritably. "I keep getting booked for sessions with girls who obviously don't need tutoring. Apparently, they heard I'm a mentor so they kept requesting for me. I even tutored someone I had Trigo class last year."

I study his face that is tinged with annoyance. "You should've thought of that before you applied as mentor."

"Right." He looks at me. "So will you stop going there?"

"Huh? No, why?"

"I can be your tutor."

I blink. "And for what cost?"

"Nothing!" He smiles. "We're friends, and friends help each other, right?"

I roll my eyes, as if that can slow the beating of my heart. "Okay."

Jace Herondale just offered to be my tutor!

He's been tutoring me before but this time feels different.

Jace silently moves his chair closer to mine. "Okay, so, you first try to answer it by yourself then I'll check if it's correct."

"Don't you have any homework to do?"

He sighs guiltily as he reaches for his bag. "Alright. But my homework is an essay and I can't promise I'll come up with anything right now."

It's my turn to smile. "I can help if you want."

"Nice." He smirks and his eyes show there's something he's not telling me.

"What?"

"You'll get mad." He's still smirking.

"Seriously, Jace, I know it has something to do with me."

He shakes his head. "Honestly, Clary, I think you're going to hurt me if I tell you."

I drop my pen on the table. "Just spill it."

"Fine." He eyes me carefully. "I just thought that with us helping with each other's homework… we're like friends with benefits."

"Jace!" I hiss, sure that I'm already blushing.

He shrugs. "See, I know you'll get mad."

"Why would you put it that way?" I whisper-yell. "That's… that's inappropriate."

He puts up both his hands in front of him. "Sorry. Now let's get on studying, okay?"

I nod and turn my head to my notes, all the while trying to not be too distracted that Jace will be studying beside me. Things are really starting to change with Jace lately and I'm not sure what to make of it yet.


As it turns out, Jace is better in math than writing but even so, he finished the introduction of his essay with only minimal corrections and help from me. I, on the other hand, am lucky to have him teach me because I still can't quite grasp the technique to answering our new topic in Trigo.

Jace is discussing how the right answer comes to be for the third time but I'm only half paying attention now. As my ears are on what he's talking about, my eyes and hand are busy finishing a doodle of Jace.

"Are you even listening?" He says as he drops his pen on the table.

I sigh. "I think it's just too much information for a day." I slide the piece of paper to him.

He makes a sound but after he sees my doodle, his eyes dart to me. "Is this supposed to be me?"

I nod, my heartbeat starting to increase its rhythm as I see the corner of his lips already tugging into a smile.

Jace looks at it again and lets his lips curve into a smile. It's a simple one, a mini version of him with a leg bent in kicking a ball upwards. "It's not as good-looking as me but this will make do."

"I'll take it back, then." Sighing, I try to snatch the doodle from him but he tightens his hold on it.

"Hey! I didn't say I didn't like it! Let me keep it."

"Okay." I let go of the paper and he tucks it inside his notebook.

"You know, this is the first thing you've ever given me."

Now that he mentions it, I realize it's true. All this time he has been giving me things but all I have given him are intangible ones. "Then take good care of it, okay?"

He nods, still smiling. "Sure. Should I bring you home now?"

I look at my watch and nod. We proceed to clearing our things when my pen rolls off to the floor. Jace bends to pick it up but I stop him. "Let me."

As quietly as possible, I crouch down my seat to retrieve my pen. When I look up, Jace's eyes meet mine, merely a few inches away. I blink but even as I try to lean back and put some distance between us, I can't.

He has trapped me with his eyes.

"Jace?"

He doesn't answer. Instead, his gaze travels down from my eyes to my cheeks then to my lips. I swallow, my heart beating fast. Why do I feel like he wants to kiss me? And more importantly, why do I feel like I want him to kiss me?

I close my eyes as he leans closer. Is this it? Am I going to have my first kiss with Jace? In a library? People might see us!

Suddenly, my mind is telling me to push him away, to stand up and leave but I can't, I can't I can't. Before I can do anything, I feel something warm and soft, not on my lips but on my right cheek.

I open my eyes just in time to see Jace pull back, slightly smiling at me.

"Have I told you you look cute when you blush?"

"W-What was that?"

He looks me in the eye. "I'm going to be honest here, Clary. I've wanted to kiss you these days but…" He shrugs. "I guessed a kiss on the cheek would be more welcomed."

I don't reply because I don't know what to say.

He tilts his head. "Are you mad right now?"

I shake my head no.

"I'm sorry?"

Still, I'm wordless.

"Do you want us to leave now?"

I nod.

"Are you ever going to speak to me again?"

I nod but still don't speak.

Jace sighs. "Fine." He starts to put his things in his bag and I do the same. We exit the library in silence.

It's only when he starts driving that I finally find my tongue. "I'm really not mad at you."

He heaves a sigh of relief, I guess. He gives me a quick expectant look, question in his eyes.

I look out the window, already feeling myself start to blush again. "I just… You just surprised me." And kind of tried to give me a heart attack. "But I'm not mad." It dawns on me that I just indirectly told him it's okay for him to kiss me.

On the cheek, at least.

Yet?

My goodness, why am I thinking of this?

"That's good," Jace says as he keeps his eyes on the road. I sneak a glance at him and see the ghost of a smile.

We go back to being silent as I go over through my thoughts. There's no doubt that I'm starting to really like Jace more than before but I'm still uncertain about him. Us being friends is not that stable and easy going yet and me wishing for more will clearly jam things up.

I decide to not dwell on my feelings for Jace too much. That area is still quite unclear. For now, I'm certain of one thing though. "Jace?"

"Yeah?" He instantly replies.

"I think it's okay now."

He's still looking ahead. "What's okay?"

I take a deep breath. "I… I forgive you."

His head quickly snaps to face me. "Pardon?"

"Eyes on the road!" I squeal, then turn so I won't have to look at him even though he turns his head back to the front again. "I said I forgive you now."

Jace doesn't speak for a full minute before he says, "Thank you, Clary." He falls back into silence for a few more moments before speaking again. "Will I still pick you up tomorrow?"

My heart jumps a little. "If you want to." What I definitely won't tell him is that part of me wants him to. The truth is, part of the reason why I already forgave him is I don't want to doubt any more moments we share.

I want to know if there will be differences. I want to know if we have really grown into being good friends.

"Okay. Can I pick you up earlier than usual, then?"

"Why?"

"I want to grab some breakfast outside of school."

I dare to ask him, "Why don't you have breakfast at your house?"

Jace shoots me a quick smile. "I don't like the cooking in our house."

I debate asking him to elaborate his sentence but he speaks again. "So is it a yes or a no? Can I pick you up earlier?"

I sigh. "But why do you have to pick me up? Why don't you just go and have breakfast first before picking me up?"

He also sighs. "Fine, I'll tell you. I don't like having breakfast at home because Mom usually wakes up late for work and I have to eat alone and I get bored."

I suddenly ache a little for him. "Okay then."

"Thanks." I don't have to look at him to see the smile on his face.

We continue to talk the rest of the way to our house. He tells me about his favorite childhood memory when he was five and he wanted to take a spaghetti bath for his birthday and how his dad allowed him, much to his mom's chagrin. In return, I tell him of when I wanted to have a tattoo of Donatello when I was twelve, making him laugh.

He pulls up in front of our gate and turns to me, his tawny eyes staring into mine. "Clary, do you really mean it? Do you really forgive me?"

I nod, though I'm surprised he that he brings it up again.

"We're still friends?"

"Yes."

He closes his eyes and when he opens them, he smiles at me. "Thank you."

I'm confused by this sudden scene. When I told him not too long ago, he acted so nonchalantly. Why does he want reassurance now?

"Um, see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah." His smile is still there but I can see him trying too hard not to frown. "Bye, Clary."

"Bye." I smile at him as I exit his car.

As I watch his car drive away, I can't help but think of today and our study session and his kiss on my cheek and my forgiveness and the frown on his face. I did the right thing forgiving him, didn't I?

I shake my head. Maybe Jace is just tired.

-End of Chapter-


Have I told you we're nearing the end?

Don't worry, I already have an outline for the sequel! ;)

Please review! :)

I'll try to update before this month ends!

I love you all!

xoxo,

i.m.

[All Rights Reserved | September 2016]

[isabelamay Copyrighted ©]