Hey guys, it's good to be back. I've been pretty on and off about writing this chapter. For one, I didn't know what to put. I didn't know whether I wanted to forward the story, or bring Jace's perspective into it. After much consideration, I think that Jace's (much needed) perspective would be more appropriate and that I think you'll agree with me as well after you read this chapter.

I watched as she picked up her coffee and headed towards the door, her hand reaching out to the knob. A phantom force took hold of me and before I could stop myself I sputtered out, "Clary!"

She didn't seem to hear me so I reiterated, "Clary, wait!"

She turned around, an expectant look on her face. I took a step closer to her, making her back up further and cross her arms tightly over her chest.

A beat of silence passed between the two of us and she drew her lower lip between her teeth.

"I-I was wondering if you wanted to go on a walk through the park?" Wait, did I just stutter? And the park; why did I say the park? Almost everyone who knows me will know I hate parks, especially because of the ducks. Bloodthirsty little beasts! I shuddered.

Both of her coppery brows rose in disinterest, "And why - pray tell - would I want to go anywhere with you?" Her hands resting on her slender hips. I almost choked on my own spit, where did this new calm and collected Clary come from? And why was I the one acting all flustered?

And before I could think, I wrapped my fingers around her wrist, feeling her pulse. Surprisingly, this calmed me into forming a coherent sentence. "Because I want to talk, and you don't really have a choice".

She reluctantly agreed to meet somewhere more quiet and secluded and led the way to her car. My heart leapt and I had to mentally curse myself for acting like a teenage girl obsessing over Twilight.

Three Days Later

Even after this time, she still hadn't made a move to talk to me or even look in my vicinity. Whenever I'd pass her in the halls, she never looked my way and my heart clenched every single damn time.

Damnit Herondale, this is what you get for showing your feelings to a girl. This is what you get for letting your walls down.

This was the mantra I chanted to myself all throughout lunch as I watched her interact with everyone else, even Rat Boy. I'm not usually one to be glued to my cellphone but this was an exception. We couldn't even have our witless banter, so what was I supposed to do?

When the lunch bell rang, I gathered my stuff and shot one last glance at her back, not expecting her to turn around. And then she did. She fucking did. She locked eyes with me making her face and neck turn practically vermillion.

I had to stop a flush from creeping its way up my face, and instead felt a muscle in my jaw twitch. Before I could spill my heart out onto the linoleum floors, I turned on my heel and headed to APUSH. My least favorite class.

I could sense her presence behind me and my suspicions were confirmed when she yelled, "Jace!" Jeez Clary, yell any louder and the population of Japan will be able to hear you.

She caught up to me and tugged hard on my jacket. "Jace, god fucking damnit, look at me!" She said in between frequent pants.

Slowly, as though moving through molasses, I turned my head to look down at her. I schooled my face into a look of indifference that I had perfected over the years.

In the coldest voice I could muster, I taunted, "If you wanted to chase after me Cherry, all you had to do was ask."

"Jace," she all but growled, her full lips pulled back into a sneer. "Don't fucking play any games with me. Just because I don't give you the time of day like all the other bimbos at this godforsaken school, doesn't mean you need to give me the cold shoulder."

Was she being for real? I was the one that was giving her the cold shoulder? I wanted to tip my head back and laugh. Was this some kind of sick joke the universe had planned for me?

Instead I gritted my teeth, and let out a long sigh. My eyes roamed over her face. The smattering of freckles across the tops of her cheeks like a copper galaxy, her emerald-green eyes and thick lashes framing them, and her beautiful mouth. That damned mouth.

That mouth was my undoing. That pair of lips were my first. I had memorized those lips in my sleep. Her sweeping cupid's bow, the plumpness of her lower lip, how it reddened when she bit it. They were the most stunning pair of lips I'd seen my entire life.

How did she not know? That she was my savior and my damnation all wrapped into one incredibly gorgeous package? Honestly, it was beyond me.

I stopped my train of thought before it could get to a place it hadn't been to in years.

"I'm only talking to you if you're gonna give me an answer to the question I asked you in the car. Until then, we're not enemies but we're not friends either. If you don't want to put any effort into this, then I won't either."

I turned around before she could see the raw emotion in my eyes. If I didn't know any better, I'd say I heard her breath catch at that last statement. But maybe my mind was all out of whack from being so forward with someone, especially Clary.

~.o.0.o.~

As soon as I got home, I slipped into some workout clothes and headed down to the gym in the basement of the Lightwood's house. I dragged a standing punching bag from out behind an old dresser that Mayrse didn't use anymore and caught a glimpse of my fingers. My nails were bitten down to the quick, an old habit. I guess I picked it up again once Clary made me so anxious.

What the hell was she doing to me? I just had to get her out of my system once and for all.

I pushed the bag around until it sat in the center of the training mat and took a few steps back. Exercise has always been a good release for me, and is a great way for me to clear my head.

Mayrse wasn't fond of me using the punching bag since it really destroyed my knuckles, but I needed this. I needed the pain to distract me from those forest green eyes that plagued my every thought. Anything other than her.

I then proceeded to punch the shit out of that bag. I punched it until the blood from my knuckles had splattered onto the bag and my breath came out in shallow gasps. I even threw in some jabs and kicks for good measure. After being completely stolen of breath, I collapsed on the floor and laid there, panting.

~.o.0.o.~

A quick trip to the shower released the rest of the tension of my body and I watched, mesmerized, as the blood dripping from my hands slipped down the drain in a swirling pattern.

The mirror directly outside the shower was fogged up with steam when I came up to it. I ran a hand through my damp hair, not caring how it looked, and slipped into some clean clothes.

After a few moments of contemplation, I decided going to the library and finding something to read would get my mind off the whole Clary debacle. Walking down the hallway, I heard the footfalls of someone else coming from Izzy's side of the house.

Intrigued, I peaked around the corner and saw Clary running in all her glory in the tiniest towel I'd ever seen. I might've died on the spot if not for her crashing into me.

It took her a moment to realize who she was on top of, giving me a moment to take her in. Her damp hair was in scarlet ringlets, some strands clinging to her porcelain skin, others dripping water. The towel wasn't giving her much covering, given how thin it was, and I could feel everything.

The dips and contours of her body pressed against mine felt like a key turning into a lock. Her eyes widened as she realized the compromising situation we were in and scrambled to get off me. Without a second thought, my arms around her body, securing her in place.

"Well Cherry, look what we have here. If you wanted to become more than friends, you should've just said so," I said, trying to regain some semblance of calm. "You know you don't have to get my attention in just a towel, although I'm not saying I don't mind."

On the inside, alarms were blaring in my head, telling me to stop before things got ugly. But I couldn't resist. Why does she have to look this good? Why did I have to ruin it? I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so-

She tried to leave, pressing parts of her body against me that she probably shouldn't. Fuck! I tried to keep a moan from slipping out, but failed.

My voice was rough. "Ya know, Cherry."

She silenced me, placing a slim finger onto my lips. That one action brought the both of us closer together, her scarlet hair creating a curtain around us. Shielding us from the outside world. She bit her lip, bringing my attention to them.

The closer our heads came together, the more our breaths mixed. Until our lips were mere centimeters apart. The world seemed to stop as we got even closer, the universe urging them together.

My hands went to her shoulders, and I moved my head up to meet hers. When there was physically no space between our lips, they brushed, and it seemed as though some sort of electricity flowed between us.

Before we could go any further, Isabelle came barging in. "Clarissa Adele Fray, what do you think you're doing?"

Clary turned around to see my sister out for blood, brandishing the curling wand in her hand like a sword.

Thank you guys so much for reading! Please leave a review, or tell me how you're all doing! (Or maybe both) It's great to be back!

Love,

BlueAries03