Jace was proved wrong within the first few minutes of their date in Rio, itself. As soon as they left the island, Clary's mood seemed to get steadily worse. She refused to look at him and when she did, she did not meet his eyes. Even when they got off at Rio, Clary just followed him without comment.
It was in stark contrast to their last date in Paris, when they had freely talked about everything and anything. The Clary who he had met last night at dinner, seemed to have disappeared leaving behind the shell of a person who refused to even talk to him for more than a few seconds.
They had been walking around the city for the better part of the afternoon, when Jace decided that it was time for lunch. He found a quiet, little, out of way cafe, reminiscent of their first date. As he ordered their food, he couldn't help but stare at Clary.
She was still the same beautiful girl she had been when he last saw her. His biggest regret will remain the years of radio silence between them. He talked to Alec and Izzy, atleast initially, but Clary he never contacted. He never could gather the guts to do so. He didn't know what he had hoped. That they would have a clean break? He would break her heart and she would let him back in whenever he came back?
It was then Jace realised how badly he had hurt her. She had opened her heart to him, told him she loved him. And he had left her. Now here he was after almost half a decade, and he wanted her to forgive him? He hadn't even bothered to apologize to her, ever. He couldn't do anything about the other things, past was in the past. But he could do his best to make it up to her now.
"Clary?" he began hesitantly, and she finally, finally, for the first time looked at him. Truly looled at him. "I wanted to apologise."
She just continued staring at him, her expression unreadable.
"For, you know, everything. I am sorry I left without a word. I care about you so much. Its been years, and yet I could never forget you. You were always there, in my memory and in my heart. Always. I tried to call you, so many times. In the beginning, I literally begged Izzy for information about you. I, shit, I am so sorry. I was horrible to you. And I broke your heart. And I don't deserve shit. But maybe, you could forgive me? And we could try again?" Jace knew he was rambling, but he was unable to stop.
Clary finally smiled. The first real indication she had given him all day.
"I am done." she said, pushing her plate away and signalling for the bill. "We should go."
And they were on their way. But Clary's mood had changed. As they made their way through the crowds of tourists, Clary slipped her hand into his. Jace heart soared. She was more talkative, and more receptive to his conversation then.
Jace even convinced her to pose for pictures. Hell, he even let her take the camera, and click pictures of him. Normally, he hated being in front of the camera, butseeing the glint of mischief in her eyes, and her bright smile, which for so many years had made regular apperances in his dreams, rendered him unable to say no.
As the sun set, the two sat in the shade of a huge tree, eating ice creams. The second stretch if the day had been infintely better than the first, playful and relaxed. Both of then unwillin to acknowledge the elephant in the room.
"I heard your exhibition was beautiful." Jace said suddenly "the one you did after the trip. Both Magnus and Izzy told me the same thing. I told you, you are insanely talented."
Clary blushed. And Jace realised how much he had missed making her blush.
"Thank you. I never did tell you this, but I loved the photos you took. I paint a lot of things, but it was the first time someone captured me. It made me feel...special. Like I mattered. And I appreciated it alot. So, thank you."
Jace smiled. "Like someone wise told me once, I like beautiful things and you are beautiful."
They sat in silence after that, looking at the setting sun.
"I was heartbroken, you know." Clary said, after the sun had set, "I hated you. You were the guy who was supposed to be my Prince Charming, but you left. I kept waiting for you to come back, call but you never did. But with time, I realised one thing. You may have been mine at that moment, but you were always yours. You had every right to go and fulfill your dreams, your ambitions. And if we were meant to be, we would meet again. One day."
Jace just looked at her, drinking her in.
"You were my first love. My only love actually. Last night, Izzy asked me why I forgave you that easily? I told her there never was anything to forgive. You left me, I know, but if you hadn't, if you had stayed...well, then I would never have been able to forgive myself. I would forever have been the girl who kept you away, forced you to waste your potential. And I never wanted that. We would have ended hating each other. Loving you for one month and then letting you go, was better than having you for a longer time but potentially being hated by you."
She looked heartbroken, defeated and worn. Jace wanted to hold her and wipe the look from her face. But he knew he couldn't. Not without permission atleast.
"I need a hug, right now." she must have sensed his inner battle.
So, Jace hugged her. They stayed like that, wrapped up in each other as the moon came up, and the streets filled with people going to one of the numerous clubs in the city.
As they drew apart, their faces were inches from each other. Once again, it was Clary who bridged that gap.
Kissing Clary was like coming home after a long and tiring day. It was a breath of fresh air, it was heartwarming and passionate all at once. It was heaven and hell. It was perfect.
As they broke apart, Jace couldn't help but smile.
"Hey!" he whispered against her lips.
She just threw her arms around him and brought her lips back to his.
As Jace had predicted, by the end of their tour of the city, both of them were too tired to back the long journey back to the island. So they had to content with staying at a hotel.
Jace booked the best suite he could find in the city for the night. It wasn't particularly huge, just two bedrooms and a dining. But it was sufficient for just the two of them.
"So, which room should we take? Right or left?" Jace asked, cocky.
"I will take that one" Clary said pointing at the one to the left "and you take that one.", she finished gesturing to the other one.
"Wait, as in we are sleeping in different rooms?" Jace asled, confused.
"Yes." She said with a wink, and with that she went into her room and shut the door.
"I can't believe it!" Jace muttered staring at the door.
Dinner was quite the lively affair. Jace had taken her to one of the best restaurants in Rio. And in true Clary fashion, she just had to remark on each and every dish or drink she tried. She really was perfect.
Later he took her to a club. And he was pleasantly surprised to discover that she was a brilliant dancer, lethal, graceful and dangerous. If Jace had it his way he would keep her there forever. But after seeing more than a few guys checking her out, and some of them even buying drinks for her, Jace's inner possessive asshole came out to play.
Now Jace wasn't a particularly jealous person. He knew he was a catch and if a girl cheated on him, it was her loss. But Clary, she was something else. Seeing the guys flirt with her or try to get her attention, made Jace want to grab her and kiss her till she forgot all about them. But Jace knew she wouldn't like that, and he had messed enough as it is, so he just grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the club.
He took her to an ice cream parlour instead. Where she got the biggest ice cream she could find and then absolutely refused to share it with Jace. So, once she was finished Jace got one of his own, and steadfastly ate it, looking her in the eye the entire time and not allowing her even one spoonful.
Or atleast he tried. Because once she gave him her best pouting face, Jace was gone. He just pushed whatever was left of the ice cream towards her.
If things going this way, he knew he was going to be more whipped than Alec.
Clary must have thought of the same thing, because she grinned evilly. "Magnus and I are going to have so much fun."
Jace just groaned.
That night, as he went to sleep in his room, he realised something, the girl next door has him falling head over heels. Sure, she had always been special. But this, this was different. This was an all encompassing love. This was possessiveness, a stubborness that she was his and he was hers. In that moment he knew, he will never leave her again. He also knew that he will spend the rest of his life making it up to her.