AUTHORS NOTE: Thank you so much to everyone who has been reviewing, it honestly makes my day to know people are enjoying or even reading my fanfic! Would also be interested to hear suggestions or predictions... Anyway, enjoy reading fellow fangirls/boys :)

CLARY POV:

"Mum? Are you okay?" Clary asked, slightly alarmed. She had returned from her shift at Luke's bookstore to find Jocelyn sitting at the kitchen table, a glass of wine and an empty bottle in front of her. She was staring blankly at the wall in front of her, which was decorated in a large portrait Jocelyn had painted the year Jonathan had died. It was of the three of them; Clary, Jonathan and Jocelyn. Jocelyn had skillfully captured each of their personalities onto the canvas so their souls seemed to shine through their trademark green eyes. After Jonathan had died, they had taken down the painting because every time Jocelyn had seen the painting-Jonathan smiling down at them, she had burst into tears. Like a dam breaking down again and again. Clary understood, it was a reminder that those familiar green eyes would never look at them again and they would never see that signature smile crack his face one last time.

"Hmm?" Jocelyn stirred as if just realizing Clary was there. "Oh, yes. There's stir-fry on the stove if you're hungry, sweetie."

"Thanks, Mum," Clary called over her shoulder as she wondered into the kitchen, dropped her keys and poured a glass of water.

When Clary returned to the living room, she found that Jocelyn was no longer sitting at the table, but asleep curled up on the couch. Clary carefully draped a blanket over her small, frail body and tiptoed up stairs with her dinner in hand and bag slung over her shoulder.

Clary changed into her most comfortable pajamas and climbed into bed, opening her laptop onto Netflix. It was a Friday night and nothing sounded better than binge watching an entire season in bed. It was the perfect end to a long, tiring week. Her eyelids were growing heavy and sleep was drawing her into its open arms when a violent crashing sounded. A wailing siren cut through the peaceful night like a knife, momentarily startling Clary as she jumped and her laptop toppled over. It was probably just cops chasing down some idiot boy racers. With that thought in mind, Clary let her eyes close again, shutting out the wailing of sirens that seemed to be drawing nearer…

Clary awoke to rain pounding on the aluminum roof and grabbed her phone from her nightstand. It was blowing up with notifications; Clary had multiple missed calls and the group chat was buzzing. Confused, Clary unlocked her phone and clicked on the group chat, scanning through the most recent messages.

Maia: Where is Clary at?

Tessa: Probably still asleep.

Maia: Is there anything we can do Iz? Jordan and I are sending our love xxx

Izzy: Thanks guys, I'll let you know how they are when I get updates. Alec is still unconscious.

Very confused, Clary quickly typed: What is going on? Why is Alec unconscious?

Clary clambered out of bed, yawned, and pulled across her curtains. Her phone buzzed with a notification at the same time she saw it. Rain was pouring down the window like fat tears, but beyond that, further down the street, Clary could see where a car had crashed into a telephone box and lay in a crumpled heap. A mess of broken glass from the both the phone box and the car littered the street, police tape encircling the damage.

Clary looked down at her phone:

Izzy: There was a crash. Alec and Sebastian were in the car.

They weren't accepting visitors until the afternoon, so at three o'clock, Simon picked Clary up along with Magnus who insisted on seeing Alec. Izzy was waiting for them outside of Alicante hospital and Clary wrapped her in a bone-crushing hug, not letting go of her as she led them through the hospital corridors to the waiting room. Jace was slouched in an uncomfortable looking armchair, his eyes glazed over, zombie-like. Clary noticed he was still in the clothes he wore to school the previous day.

"Robert and Mayrse are seeing him now." Jace spoke, not meeting any of their eyes. "He's had a concussion and needed stitches but he's okay." Izzy smiled weakly and Clary squeezed her hand. She couldn't help but think how familiar this situation was.

"Do they know what happened? Was it anyone's fault?" Clary spoke and Jace finally met her eyes.

"Sebastian was driving Alec home but they crashed into a telephone box. The passenger side where Alec was sitting got the most impact-" He got cut off as Robert and Mayrse returned, smiling softly at them but eyeing Magnus suspiciously.

"Hello Clary, good to see you." Mayrse said tersely as her and Robert sat down beside Jace. "You can see Alec if you want, he's down the corridor, second to the left," she said, pointing where they came from.

"Thank you," Clary said, her gaze flicking back to Jace who was still looking at her, before the four of them trooped down the corridor to Alec.

He was sitting propped up in bed; his head partly bandaged and face drained of colour, making his Lightwood ink black hair and blue eyes stand out startlingly.

"Hey Alec," Izzy rushed over to him and started carefully and affectionately smoothing his hair. Magnas stood unsurely in the doorway but Alec smiled sheepishly at him and Magnas came to stand at the end of the bed beside Clary and Simon.

"How are you feeling, Ally." Izzy whispered and fluffed up his pillows.

"I'm alright, bit of a sore head but they put me on some drugs so I'm fine." He attempted to crack a smile, but it must have hurt because it turned into a grimace. "It's okay, Izzy. Izzy, I'm fine." He reassured her as she continued to make a fuss but eventually resigned and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"How long are you staying here?" Clary asked. His gaze flicked to her, piercing Clary with the startling blueness of them. Through them, she could see a slight shock; shock that she cared. Clary had grown up with Alec, he was like a brother to her in a way. How could she not care?

"They want me to stay for a couple more so the doctors can keep an eye on my head and give me more drugs. I'll be in bed for a few days at home though".

"At least you'll miss that calculus test." Simon said lightheartedly and Clary affectionately looped arms with him, instantly feeling warmth through his gamer's sweater and a familiar comfort that put Clary at ease.

After a while the doctor came in and asked them to leave. They said goodbye to the Lightwoods and Jace, except for Izzy who was staying with the group. They sprinted to the car under pulled-up hoods doing little to shelter them from the monstrous downpour, and pilled into Simon's van. Clary called shotgun and powered up the car heater.

"Anyone keen for Taki's?". After a chorus of agreement, they texted Tessa, Maia and Jordan to meet them for a group feast. Half an hour later, the table was full of its usual suspects and the newcomers were being filled in on the situation at the hospital. Clary was only half listening, but looked up briefly when Tessa walked in with Jem.

"Hey," Tessa smiled softly, a slight blush coloring her cheeks as everyone glanced at Jem, giving Tessa raised eyebrows.

"I invited Jem to join us." Tessa said, stating the obvious. She tucked her hair behind her ears – something Clary had noticed was her nervous habit - and slid into one of the remaining seats opposite Clary.

"Hey, everyone." Jem said warmly and sat down beside Tessa. Clary noticed the waitress at the table beside theirs admiring him with a glint in her amber coloured eyes. She smoothed down her long, strawberry blonde hair before approaching their table.

"What could I get you guys?" She purred, still looking at Jem. He had been mid conversation with Tessa, but smiled warmly at the waitresses, oblivious to her keen eye.

"I'll get an orange juice thanks,"

"Make that two," Tessa added and the rest of the table placed their orders.

Clary couldn't stop thinking about they way Jace had looked at the hospital. It had been full of worry, concern, tiredness, and something that made him a lot more human. It was foreign to see Jace like that, but lately nothing was, as it seemed. In fact, everything seemed different, a bit off. Alicante was usually a peaceful, suburban town that had a consistency to it that satisfied Clary.

"And she'll have the Oreo pancakes with a large coffee with a butterscotch shot." Clary blinked as she heard Simon recite her usual order and watched the amber-eyed waitress turn on her heel after scribbling down their orders.

A while later, her coffee got placed in front of her and Clary watched as steam tendrils rose from the blue ceramic mug, dancing in swirls that disappeared moments later. Something about this comforted Clary and she wrapped her hands around the mug, slowly lifting it to her. The welcoming warmth seeped through her hands and she parted her lips to the comforting taste of bittersweet butterscotch. Minutes later, the caffeine was running through Clary's veins and the world was starting to come into focus, become less fragmented. The amber-eyed waitress returned and laid plates and bowls of food that created a beautiful, chaotic aroma. Clary nibbled at her Oreo pancakes and tuned into the conversation.

"Mr. Starkweather called Jem and asked him to learn Will's lines, be his understudy just in case Will isn't up to it." Tessa was saying to the table and smiled at Jem who smiled back at her.

"Will would never miss a chance to be under the spotlight," Jem laughed, "I'm more filling in for when he's away."

"Where's he going?" Maia asked from the other end of the table where she and Jordan were sharing cheesy nachos.

"He's… Got some family stuff to deal with." Jem said. The table nodded, no one enquired any further.

It had set in more outside; the world was a murky grey and it had begun to hail on the roof of the diner. No one felt like braving the storm, so they ordered a round of warm beverages. Another butterscotch coffee sat in front of Clary and the wind whistled against the windowpanes, like the persistent cry of evil straining to get in.

The storm had died down the next morning, but had left damage in its wake. Tree branches littered gardens and streets, and drains were clogged, leaving big puddles everywhere. Clary spent too long in the shower, dressed in black jeans and a cream cassimere sweater, and then ran down stairs with her bag in tow. She grabbed her flask, tied her green converse and wrapped one of Jocelyn's scarves around her shoulders before she noticed she had a text from Jace.

Would I be able to catch a ride? Mayrse took my car to the hospital this morning and Izzy's went with her.

Surprised, Clary quickly thumbed a response as she took a piece of toast from Luke. A few minutes later she was out the door and in Simon's van, watching Jace emerge from the Lightwoods. Dressed in his usual black attire, he saw them waiting and jogged down Mayrse's well-kept garden path, flowers dropping unhappily from the weather. Clary quieted Simon's protests and disbelief before Jace got in the van.

"Morning." Clary tried for a halfway cheerful tone.

"Morning," Jace replied as Simon backed out of the driveway, still shaking his head slightly.

The ride was filled with small talk, but it wasn't too awkward. Clary asked about Alec and Izzy, they talked about the calculus test and the storm, until the pulled through the school gates. Jace was trailing after her and Simon on their way to their courtyard when she sensed him abruptly stop and she turned around. Jace had spotted Sebastian from across the corridor and had tensed. His hands formed tight fists at his sides as Sebastian casually sauntered over. Clary noticed he had a few stiches on his jawline, but apart from that he appeared unharmed from the crash.

"Sup, man," Sebastian nodded to Jace in greeting. His smile faltered as he noticed Jace's expression.

"What's up, bro?" Sebastian persisted, playfully punching Jace's arm in that way boys do. But Jace just stared at him in a stony silence that lasted a moment too long.

Suddenly, Jace swung and his fist connected squarely with Sebastian's jaw.

"Oops, my bad," Jace said through clenched teeth.

Sebastian let out a startled cry. Then, his surprise quickly turned into anger. People had noticed the action and started to gather around them to form a curious crowd. The two most popular boys at Alicante High, fighting off - it was an occasion not to be missed.

"What the hell was that for, dude?" Sebastian growled passive aggressively, wiping a trail of blood from where Jace's family ring had punctured his skin. The crowd had formed a larger swarm; phones were recording and an excited mummer swept through the corridor. Clary and Simon stood frozen at the edge of the mass, which encircled Jace and Sebastian in a ring.

"That's for driving drunk, you bloody idiot." Jace spat at him, pure hatred flashing his features and turning him cold. Clary was suddenly hit with shocking understanding.

Jonathan.

Why Jace didn't drink, why he barely ever drove, why he would be so pissed at Sebastian for driving drunk when that had been Jonathan's fate.

"It's not like anyone died." Sebastian said, oblivious and Clary gasped knowing it wasn't going to end well. And Clary was right; that was it. Jace threw himself at Sebastian, full force, and the crowd went crazy. Phones were extended high above heads to get a good view of the fight as Sebastian got to his senses and started fighting back. Clary pushed her way through the frenzied crowd that were now egging on their favourite boy. She ran up to them, pulled at Jace's thin black T-shirt and screamed for them to stop.

"Get out of this Clary!" Jace hissed, narrowly missing a round of punches. Suddenly Clary felt a white hot pain as a fist connected with her outstretched hand.

Jace's face flared with a sudden animalistic fiery range and he kicked Sebastian with such a force, it knocked him off his feet and sent him flying against the wall of the corridor. He crumpled to the ground with a sickening thud.

"Don't you ever touch her again." Jace seethed, spitting a mouth full of blood at Sebastian's feet. An image suddenly flashed through Clary's mind of Sebastian's hands over her at the party. She shuddered and pushed back the memory.

Jace didn't look at her as he abruptly turned away and pushed through the crowd, who had began chanting his name, the sound bouncing off the corridor walls and making Clary feel horribly enclosed and trapped. Clary made to follow him, but Simon grabbed her and held her in the safety of his comforting, familiar arms. She didn't protest and she also didn't try to stop the tears from spilling down her cheeks as she cradled her injured hand.

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