(Keep in mind I started this chapter Thursday and finished it Sunday.)

Sorry, guys. These last two weeks have been crazy. The last Grey's has me still sobbing, and it ended over two hours ago. So, you know, read this and enjoy it. *cries into a pillow*

~Megan (Mermaid12108)

Blue, white, orange, and purple crashed together in a dizzying blur. Bodies slammed into each other with an audible smack as they collided. I watched as Jon starched the ball from a player in orange and purple, running across the field with it. With the entire opposite team running after him, he skidded to a stop. Grass and dirt flew into the air, but I wasn't paying attention to that. I held my breath as he threw it to Jace. Jace caught it above his hand and flung it at the goal. And it flew through. The crowd roared, standing up and jumping, clapping their hands, pumping their fists. I cheered along with them, a giant, stupid grin on my face. The Eastbay coach threw down his clipboard, glaring at the crowd and then turning his anger on his team. I smirked, ignoring my brains protests. We'd won.

We'd made it to state.

{•}

The game may've been over, but winter break was just beginning. Dad had taken him and Jon to a really nice ski lodge to celebrate the victory. Of course, he'd conveniently forgotten a ticket for me. So it was just me and Netflix this winter break. Before he'd left, Jon had said that he had a surprise for me on Christmas. I was eagerly awaiting it, but of course he wouldn't tell me where/what this surprise was, so I just had to wait. When I heard the doorbell ring, I waited for it to ring again just to make sure I hadn't watched so many Hallmark Christmas movies that I was hearing things. When it rang a second time, I kicked my legs over the side of the bed, shuffling towards the door. I opened the door a crack, looking through the crack. When I finally saw who was out there, I felt my stomach drop out from underneath me. Swallowing, I opened the door fully.

A smile broke across his face when he saw me. I couldn't hold back my own. It was one of those weird, cheeky, I'm-showing-teeth-but-then-again-not, smiles.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, leaning my head against the side of the door.

"So, my parents we're gonna take us on a family trip to Hawaii—cool, right?—but then Jon told me you were chillin here by yourself, and I had to make a decision: Hawaii or a hot girl in jammie's. His eyes trailed my body from top to bottom in a slow crawl. I felt heat spread up every inch of my body, making me curl my toes and bite my lip. "I'm so glad I made the choice I did." Jace said once his eyes has made it back to mind. My heart constricted as all of his words played over and over again in my mind. He'd called me hot. I was standing here in my hot dog pj's, and he'd looked my up and down and called me hot. I stepped aside and gestured him inside. Thankfully, my room was the messiest part of the house. He strode in, with and arm full of DVDs and the other full of food. Trying to hide my grin, I followed him. He displayed the DVDs on the coffee table. "Pick one." He said.

Shaking my head, I looked at all of them and then pointed to I AM LEGEND. He nodded approvingly, popping it into the DVD player. As the previews played, he popped the popcorn. I grabbed a carton of milk duds and one of sour patch kids, snuggling under the quilt my mom had made me. I was barely able to concentrate on Will Smith's iconic scene when it played. I was too busy trying to figure out what in the hell Jace was doing here. I came up with about a million idiotic theories, but then one struck me dumb. What if he was here because he wanted to be?

Oh, shit.

There went the butterflies again.

Biting my lip, fought the tiredness. I hadn't really slept, thanks to my binge watching habit, and Jace's warmth lulled me into a calmness that I didn't even know existed.

{•}

When my eyes fluttered open, the house was much darker than it had been what seemed like seconds ago. The TV was at the main menu of I AM LEGEND, but the sound was muted. I shifted a little, and then froze, all muscles locking up. What I was laying on? Yeah, so not a pillow. More like Jace's lap. I had fallen asleep on Jace's lap. Cheeks flaming, I sat up. Part of me wanted to snuggle back into him and instate another hour of sleepy time, but the annoying voice in the back of my head advised me not to. Nothing to make me look more like a four year old then falling asleep on Jace's lap. I shifted a look at him as I chewed on my thumbnail. His face was smooth, peaceful. I'd never really seen him like this; completely at peace. His chest rose and fell with his even breaths, as he exhaled through his slightly open mouth. Some curls covered his eyes, and I had to tuck my hand underneath the blanket so I didn't brush them away. His eye lashes fanned across his cheeks, casting light shadows across the tan skin beneath them. My breath caught in my throat as those eyelids fluttered. I tried to lay down and pretend that I was sleeping, but on the way there, I kind of became gravity's bitch. As in, I rolled right off the couch. "Omfh!" I grunted as I hit the ground.

"Clary?"

I closed my eyes and silently said words that would burn someone's ears off.

I pushed myself up, letting out a breath and opening my eyes. I tried to think up and excuse. Tiny earthquake, maybe? Yeah. Right. An earthquake that only affected one person? Real believable stuff right there. Giving up, I sat my rear end on the couch with a tiny huff. "What time is it?" I asked, even though there was a clock right freaking in front of me. Fail.

But Jace checked his phone anyways.

"Wow." His eyes widened, probably because it was one AM. "Guess I better head home."

Please don't. "Okay."

On the way out, he waved at me. "See ya later, C." And then he left, shutting the door softly behind him.

Well, at least he hadn't rustled my hair. I tried to refocus on the Buffy marathon I was currently sporting on Netflix, but all I could think of was Jace's lap. I groaned, face planting into one of the pillows on the couch.

Dammit.

I think I might be falling for the boy.

Dammit.