Just a little filler since I haven't updated on a while.

Chapter Song(s):

Every Breath You Take~The Police

Oblivion~Bastille

Where Does The Good Go~Tegan & Sara

Hunger~Ross Copperman

Stand By You~Rachel Platten

Talk Me Down~Troye Sivan

I stared at myself in the mirror, at the cheer uniform that made me look even paler than I was. Maybe it didn't, maybe it's because I was seconds away from emptying my stomach into the sink. I swallowed back the nausea and started to pull my hair up. I told myself that I could do this, that it would be okay. It was just a game. But it didn't feel that way.

I eased the door of the gym open, my heart pounding in my chest. Every instinct told me to run, but I couldn't. I had to do this. I followed the other cheerleaders put onto the field, getting in my position. Camille had been kicked off the team, and I had a new base. I would be okay. I stopped dead a few steps into the gym. I turned around, pushing through the double doors, heading toward the locker rooms. I pressed my ear against the door, hearing my muted voices. I eased the door open, slipping through and into the smelly locker room. I peered over a column of lockers, spying the source of the voices. Jace sat on a bench, talking to one of his teammates. "Okay, see you out there, man." His teammate said, heading out the exit toward the field. Jace started to stand, and I walked out from behind the lockers. He looked up at the sound of my footsteps. "Hey," he said, a smile lighting up his eyes. Before I could stop myself, I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around him & burying my face in his chest. "You okay?" He asked, smoothing a hand over my hair. I squeezed my eyes shut, inhaling his scent and letting his presence calm my pounding heart. "I don't know if I can do this." I whispered. "Look at me." He said. I stayed plastered to him, unmoving. "Clary, look at me." He said sternly, lifting my chin up. I opened my eyes, what I saw stealing my breath away. His eyes were a bright golden color, an emotion churning in them that I couldn't quite decipher. "You can do this. You shouldn't have to, and if I could punch your dad without getting expelled, I would. It might just be worth it." He said, shaking his head. Protests rose the the tip of my tongue, but they got stuck somewhere on the way out when he placed the tips of his fingers to my lips. "I can see you're about to say something, but don't, okay? Just listen." I would do just about anything if he kept touching me like that. "You can do this. I know you can. It may seem impossible, but you're strong. Okay? You. Can. Do. This. And I'll be right there. I won't let anything happen to you." His hand moved to my cheek, and I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes. "Okay." I said. "I can do this."

{•}

I made my way to my spot, plastering the fake smile to my face. The beat started, thundering through my feet. I looked over at the waiting band of football players, catching Jace's eye. He winked at me. A real smile crossed my face, and I took a deep breath, backing up into Helen's arms. She lifted me up, and I took my first stance, drawing in a deep breath and letting it out slowly. I've got this. And I did.