AN: Sup guys! Sorry no update Monday, my project took longer than expected. Meeeeeee asked if there would be Clace, and yes, there will be, but it'll be gradual. Clary has some trust issues for reasons you guys aren't aware of yet ;), and quickly jumped to conclusions. Even though he didn't really do anything that bad, she thinks he lied to her and doesn't like her, so it'll take a while for him to win her over and convince him he has no bad intentions. She has her reasons after some bad experiences. However, that doesn't mean here won't be hints of Clace here and there until they're in a relationship, a stray hug or an awkward kiss on the cheek.

Suzalicia: Thank you! I'm really glad you like it! That said, don't not do something you enjoy just because you think you won't be good at it! I bet you're a great writer, and I'd be interested in reading some of your stories!

Meeeeeee: Yup, there'll be Clace. (Refer to AN above.) I hadn't really thought about adding in Malec, but I love Malec and really really ship it, so I'll definitely consider it! Hints of it in this chapter, but I'm not sure if it's going anywhere.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS. YOU PROBABLY DON'T EITHER, UNLESS FOR SOME REASON CASSANDRA CLARE IS PERUSING FANFICTION. IF SO, HI MS. CLARE!

Disappointment is kind of slow, I discovered. It happens immediately, but when you realize you don't have enough money for the thing you tried to save up for, or that you have to go to your cousin's wedding instead of prom, or that things didn't go as well as you planned, it's a twinge. It's a twinge, and then a milliliter, and then a drop, and then a gallon, and then a bucket, and before you know it there's an ocean hanging over your head, dousing you with worries and disappointment until your brain is jumping from conclusion to conclusion and you've painted a completely fictional mental picture, but one that you fully believe. It encompasses you, even if you didn't care all that much in the first place.

Jace blowing me off didn't bother me that much at first. But suddenly after what seemed like less than an hour my brain had gone from "He doesn't like you, he's just being nice." to "HE HATES YOU AND WAS USING YOU." It was pollution, and I needed desperately to think about something other than that. Maybe I wasn't thinking about it all the time, as I had better things to do, but stupid little reminders were everywhere. The stitches lining my abdomen, although I was told they'd be taken out in about a month, were a constant reminder, one I couldn't escape. And reminders of Jace led to reminders of other things, unpleasant things, that I'd much rather not talk about or even mention.

The worries bounced back. They did not disappear, nor were they forgotten, just temporarily not occupying any brain space for mere minutes at a time. So, I was in need of a major distraction.

I was pretty bad at coming up with distractions, but luckily I had a vigilant best friend to know when I was feeling upset and to be there when I needed him to be. In return, I did the same for him. So when he suggested we go get coffee and just hang out, I jumped at the chance, probably too enthusiastically.

"Hey, Clare. Since you've been back, you've seemed a little down. I don't really know what's wrong, but I know I want you to feel better. So, I thought we should go get some coffee and talk about stuff! It'll get your mind off of things. I can call the whole crew if you want. Jordan, Maia, Magnus, all the rest." he mentioned to me one afternoon a few days after I got home.

"That's sounds great! Thanks, I really appreciate it. Can we bring Magnus? No offense to Jordan and Maia, but they can be a bit gloomy sometimes and Maggie has always been great at cheering me up! I would like to see Jordan and Maia sometime soon though, it feels like it's been forever. Maybe this weekend?" My already crumbling facade had just been quickly obliterated, but it was replaced with a bit of optimism. "Jace who?" I thought.

"Sure, I'll call him." Simon replied.

So, an hour later after a painfully tight hug with Magnus that ended in me being covered in glitter, our little trio was sitting in a coffee shop enjoying ourselves.

"Mags, how are things with you and Andrew?" I questioned my green and yellow eyed friend.

"Hm, not great. I'm thinking of breaking up with him. It was fun at first, but he likes to pick fights and that gets annoying quickly. Besides, it's only been a few months so it's better to end it now before either of us get too attached." A bell chimed, signaling that someone was walking through the door, but I didn't pay much attention to it. "Never mind, now I know I'm breaking up with him." He not so discreetly pointed towards where two people were deciding what to order. I couldn't see one as they were standing behind the specials board presumably reading it, but the other was hard to miss. His jet black hair was striking, and he seemed familiar, but his back was to us so I couldn't see his face. "That guy is definitely something." Magnus clarified. The person in question turned around, but they still didn't seem to see us.

"Magnus, that's Isabelle's brother Alec." I informed him, having just noticed the blue eyes and tattoos after he turned towards us.

"Great, Izzy can put in a good word for me. Should I call him over?"

"No, I don't think he likes me much-" It was too late, for Magnus was already flagging a confused Alec and his companion over. What I was met with when they reached the table was exactly what, or should I say who, I had trying to avoid. Next to Alec stood the person I had been hinting about for days, the person who my thoughts of had tortures me. In movies, people are always coincidentally bumping into people. In movies, it's cute. This was not cute. In front of me stood the one and only Jace Herondale.