CHAPTER 5

Hello my loves! First official new chapter!

I'm not into stories that have Clary just accept jace after he realizes he's fucked up- so I'm making it harder on him so he has to work for it.

Hope you like it!

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Clary POV

When I woke up in the nurses office, my mind was flooded thinking of what had happened. I lifted up my hand and traced the edge of my nose with my fingers. Wincing a bit, I looked over to the nurse and coughed, and she looked over and smiled.

"I'm glad you're up. The the blow to your nose wasn't that bad, rather your head slamming into the locker that did you in."

I felt my nose again. She was right. Though it did hurt, I could tell it wasn't broken. Sighing, I sat up and ran my hands through my hair.

"You definitely have a concussion, but to test the severity I'll need you do do a few tests for me. You were only out for a few minutes, so that's a good sign. The boy who brought you, Jace, just left a minute ago."

I fiddled my hands in my lap. I wondered why he was the one that brought me here. Shrugging off the butterflies that seemed to light up my skin when I heard his name, I did the tests the nurse required.

I had a mild concussion, and couldn't drive which really pissed me off. I had lucked out my not having my nose broken but that relief was short lasting when I learned I couldn't drive.

I called my mom, and the dial tone rang in my ear. As I was waiting for her to pick up, I thought about Jace. Unease settled on my shoulders, and relief swirled in my stomach. I was grateful for Jace bringing me to the nurse. Maybe that meant that he would be at odds with Sebastian, and the latters torment would cease. The cause of the unease I felt couldn't be placed. There was just something strange about Jace. His gold, piercing eyes sometimes seemed like they were telling a story that his words weren't.

I was snapped out of my reverie by the sound of my mother's voicemail.

I glanced at the nurse, and she was looking at me with mild concern.

"No worries," I stated, "I'll call my friend. He come get me."

The nurse nodded.

I called Simon, and he picked up after two rings.

"Clary?" his voice sounded flustered, "are you okay? Izzy told me what happened today."

"Yeah, Si, I'm fine. I have a mild concussion and I can't drive. I was calling to ask if you could pick me up."

"Absolutely," he replied. "I'll be there in 5 with Izzy, maybe she can drive your bike home."

Laughing under my breath, I consented. I wonder how Iz would do riding my bike.

Thanking the nurse, I walked out of the office and into the hallway. Opting to wait inside because of the cold New York fall air, I took a seat on a bench near the exit.

Relentlessly I tried to push jace out of my mind. He did what anyone else would've done for me, so why was it on my mind? Why was it different?

I told myself to snap out of it. Just because he's a decent human being doesn't make him special.

I heard Simons old Volkswagen pull up before he even texted me. He really needs a new muffler.

Izzy got out of the passenger seat and I pointed her over to my bike. As I slid into the front seat, Simon looked at me incredulously. "You're not even gonna show her how to work it and stuff?" He asked.

"What, are you worried about her?" I said, chuckling.

"No, I'm worried about your bike."

"Ehhhh, it'll be fine."

We pulled out and Izzy followed us rather unsteadily. By the time we reached my house she was grinning.

"Ya know, I don't think I'm half bad at that." She said through her big smile.

"What do you think about me getting one of those bad boys Si?"

Simon looked at her warily. "Okay but I'm not going on it with you."

Izzy just rolled her eyes. Before she got into the car, she doubled back to me and stuffed a slip of paper into my hand.

"I almost forgot. Jace told me to give you his number." She said. I inquired as to why, and she just shrugged and said that I should text him.

Confused, I thanked Simon and Isabelle for the ride, and walked inside my house.

It was nicely decorated with lots of art. Not very large, just cozy. I called out for my mom, and when I got no answer, I decided she was probably at an art fair. There were a few moving through town in the next week. In fact, there was one in two weeks that was "very prestigious", as my mother had described it. She had a huge smile on when she told me about it. It was a great honor that she and I were invited, and I was excited for my mom. She might get noticed by a big buyer.

Looking down at the slip of paper, I thought for a minute. I took out my phone and typed in the number and sent a quick text asking why he had wanted me to have it.

Within a minute, I felt my phone buzz in my back pocket, and I could just feel that it was Jace.

Instead of looking at it I headed upstairs and got changed into some joggers and a plain grey t shirt. I put my hair into a pony tail, like reading his text was going to be some workout and I needed to be prepared.

Sliding my phone out of my pocket, I read the text.

Jace POV

My hands twitched as I sat on my bed. I laid back on my pillows, then sat up again. I couldn't get comfortable. It had been five minutes since I sent

Meet me at Takis at 5:30 -J

Either she was a ridiculously slow reader, or she was ignoring me. I didn't even think about the option that maybe she was busy doing something. I always was a pessimist.

I heard my phone ding and I jumped up and read her reply.

You seem awfully sure that I'm not busy, but as it happens, I'm not. I'll be there. -C

I smiled. She was always so witty.

I walked over to the mirror and started preparing what I was going to say.

Clary POV

I fiddled with my hair. Then took off my shirt and put a different one on. Rethinking it, I put the first one back on. Ugh! I didn't understand why I cared so much. I was getting all flustered and nervous. I reminded myself that I was just nervous because for a time, Jace had bullied me. But for some reason I just didn't feel afraid of him like I would Sebastian. I felt exposed. I couldn't place it.

I settled on black high waisted skinny jeans with some rips in them and a dark green tank top. As 5 o'clock was starting to roll around, I remembered that I couldn't drive. I picked up my phone and texted Jace asking for a ride.

He texted back inhumanly fast affirming that he could, and asked for my address.

At 5:15, he rolled up in a dark blue BMW. I rolled my eyes. Not because I didn't like the car- I love cars, and I love BMWs- but of course he drives a nice car. He's a popular jock.

As I got in, he pulled me straight into a hug, which shocked the absolute hell out of me. But I gave into his arms, and let him hold me for a second. When he pulled away, my skin tingled. He stared at me for a minute, then put the car in drive and pulled out down my street.

"Sorry about that," he said swiftly, obviously trying to hide the nervousness from his voice. He looked at me. "I was worried about you," he continued.

"Yeah I was worried about me too," I said, looking at him curiously.

"I'm angry at Sebastian," he said, "and I don't normally get angry at my friends for punching people. Normally it's a bit of a laugh to me but I got very angry. Angry enough to say me and Sebastian Verlac are no longer on amicable terms." He asserted.

"I'm sure he's not very happy with you either, he's not used to people carrying his prey to the nurses office," I replied, taking my eyes off of him and watching houses go by out the window instead.

"Clary I care about you," Jace said bluntly.

A smile curled on my lips and I snuck a glance at him. He was already looking for my eyes and they locked with his. I continued to smile.

We pulled up to Takis, and were seated by a hostess. I ordered, and Jace got the same.

Seelie Queen, a girl who was part of the popular group came to give us our food, sporting a Takis shirt. I had forgotten that she worked here. As she approached, her eyes narrowed and looked between us. I rolled my eyes and looked to Jace, expecting to see the same reaction. Instead, it looked like he was holding his breath.

"What're you doing here with her, Jace?" She said, putting an emphasis on her.

His eyes darted to me and back to Seelie.

"Oh we're just working on a stupid school project. We're partners." He said smoothly. I winced internally.

School project. Right. I should've known.

"Oh," said Seelie thoughtfully, "so you can come over after you're done with your project right?" Jace tensed a bit and snuck a glance at me. I was busy pretending to be caught up touching the condensation on my water glass.

"Maybe another time, Seelie, we have a lot of work to do," Jace replied.

She shrugged and walked off. I felt his eyes bore into me.

I met them. I saw the gold and the little flecks of brown in his iris' and wondered how they could look so sweet, like honey, while so much sour came from his mouth.

"As I was saying in the car," he said, as if our conversation hadn't been interrupted. As if this wasn't just a school project if you were looking from the outside in. "As I was saying, I care about you. I think about you a lot. I think about your red hair and green eyes. I'm not very good at talking but-" His focus was brought to Seelies gaze, that was settled on him intensely. It looked to me like she was starting to think that this wasn't a school project. He sat up a bit more. Tried to look for relaxed. Tried to look like he was bored. His demeanor didn't match what he was saying, as he murmured on about how I was caught in his mind.

I cut him off. I wasn't sure what he was saying at that moment, but I had things to say.

"You can't have me, if that's what you want," I sighed.

"Of course that's what I want and maybe this is just too soon," he continued.

"No it's not that," I replied. Now it was me who looked bored. I felt wounded and hurt, but I wasn't going to show it to him. Not now.

"You want me in private. I don't think you could handle having people know that you're into Clary Fray." I took out my wallet, fiddling with the zipper and looked into his face again. "You want to hang out with me, but only if people think we're just doing a school project. God forbid you hang out with me with your true intentions shown to other people. Your world would end if people like Seelie and Kaelie knew that you think about my red hair and green eyes as much as you say you do. That would just ruin you wouldn't it?" Though my words were harsh, my voice was calm, almost bored. His face told me I was right. I needed out of here. I didn't care for playing a part in his world. I put a 10 down on the table and looked at my barely touched food. I scooted out of the booth and as I did I saw Jaces eyes dart to Seelie, as she was again looking curious. He tried to look composed like I was just saying a friendly goodbye.

"I guess you have time to hang out with Miss. Queen tonight!" I said, putting on a fake smile with all my teeth.

"You know I'm not going to do that," he whispered.

"I don't see why not," I retorted, "you'd just as easily lie to me saying that you're done with hoes as you would lie to them saying we're just lab partners finishing a project."

"Thank you for making this so easy Jace" I said sweetly as I strode out of the diner.

After I walked a block, the tears started rolling down. And they didn't stop.

HOW DID YOU LIKE IT?

XOXO SOPHIE