We walk into the stuffy training room to see Jace starring down a seriously pissed Paul and Laken. I groan and walk in front of Drake and hiss, "What is going on here!?" to all three boys.

Jace smirks and says, "I was just explaining to these kids that I am the better fighter here!" I scowl at him but Drake says in their defense,

"I doubt that you are that good! I know I could beat you any day." I shut my eyes and know what is going to happen next. I know for sure that Jace is now going to want to prove his skill and I have known Drake long enough that he would never turn down a fight.

"Here. Now. No weapons. Just fists and kicks," says Jace and I see the wicked grin spread onto Drake's face. They begin to walk towards the mat and I say,

"Fighting each other isn't going to prove anything! Just that you are both idiots with nothing better to do with your time!" though they don't seem to care or notice.

Laken and Paul walk next to me and say, "You Jace is fucked… right?" I laugh and nod but keep my eyes on the boys. Jace and Drake circle each other with so much grace and thought that even I am intimidated. They stare at each other in anticipation of the first move. Drake is the first to lunge at Jace but he quickly dodges his fist. Jace grabs on to Drake's outstretched arm and pins in behind his back as he pushes him to the floor.

Drake lies there with Jace on top on him and his arm behind his back and he seems to have given up until his legs come up from behind and wrap around Jace to flip the two's position. I cringe at the sound of Jace's face hitting the mat but keep my gaze locked on the fight. Drake delivers several powerful punches to Jace's face and when he is about to strike again, Jace springs his hand up to stop the upcoming blow. I hear a couple pops and snaps and Drake gasps. He gets off of Jace and cradles his hand in astonishment. Jace just smirks and says, "I told you I was the better fighter."

Drake scowls at him and is about to say something else before I punch Jace in the nose. The blow also hurt my knuckles but I ignore the dull throb and wrap my arm around Drake. I can feel his proud smile shine down on me as I lead him out of the training room, past Laken and Paul who lean on each other for support as they laugh. "That's my girl," says Drake huskily but I do not return a compliment.

Instead I glare up at him as I say, "That was a stupid thing you did back there." I take out my stele and draw an iratez on his broken hand.

"What, defending Paul and Laken and you?"

I sigh and shake my head, "You can defend us all you want but I would rather give Jace and everyone else a reason to leave- not stay. Jace is pissed now and he is going to stick around until he gets the better of you so just… don't do anything stupid!" I walk away from him in frustration and he doesn't follow. That was another difference between Jace and Drake. Drake won't follow me when I am mad or frustrated; he thinks I need my space. Jace would run after me and hold me until everything was alright again, and I kind of miss that…

I walk into the kitchen and see Magnus, Alec, Simon, and Isabelle talking. When I walk in, all attention is put on me. "Clary! Ugh FINALLY you are here! We looked everywhere you know! Magnus even offered to portal us to Bangkok in order to find you! Why did you leave? You left Jace really heartbroken. All he ever did was train and look for you. He didn't sleep, never ate, barely ever when on patrols… he loved you Clary, he still does. Why did you leave?" asks Isabelle with a pained look in her eyes.

I sigh and say back, "Things aren't always what they seem Izzy. And it seems as though Jace wasn't honest with you."

Alec furrows his eyebrows and asks, "What are you talking about Clare?"

I look down at the ground and I say, "I left because of Jace…"

"Darling, why would you want to do that?" asks Magnus.

"H-He cheated… on me." I can feel a few confused and aggravated tears well in the corners of my eyes and I look away, remembering that day.

"What?! No, no way he did that! If he cheated on you why would he go through all that trouble looking for you!? He couldn't have done that Clary!" yells Alec. I understand that it must be hard to believe that his parabaiti did this but it still hurt for someone to think that I was lying about this.

"She isn't lying Alec," says I strong voice behind me. I turn around and see Jace staring at me with a sadden expression etched into his beautiful face. "I did it. I was with another girl that day Clary left. I could try to justify what I did but… I don't deserve it. What I did was wrong and sick! I hate hurting you Clary, even when I don't know I'm doing it. You are everything to me… you are everything."

A few tears drip down my pale cheek and he steps towards me but I don't move away. "Just tell me, tell me truthfully, that you never thought about us after that day. Tell me you never wished we could turn back time and relive those days that we were happy. Tell me that… and I will give up. I will try to move on… I will disappear."

He holds my hands and looks at me pleadingly. I have to be truthful here. I can't let him believe a lie. "I sometimes… still wish… we could go back." I see him sigh and he leans his forehead against mine and whispers,

"I'm sorry, I love you. I'm sorry, I love you. I'm sorry, I love you," but I don't say it back. I just stare at him and wait for him to move away so I can catch my breath again.

"What does this mean? Are you coming back with us Clary?" asks Simon hopefully.

I look away from Jace and back at Simon. "I don't think so… I can't leave now. I hate saying it but… you aren't my only family anymore, Si. I need them and I like to think that they need me too. I can't."

"You have to come back! You can't just stay here with these people! You barely know them!" shouts Izzy in protest.

"I have known them for over a year! They take care of me and I take care of them! They took me in and they help me!" I say in defense.

"This isn't just because of them is it? Is this because of him? That Drake guy that always around you. Your boyfriend," says Jace with malice.

I nod and say, "I never could hide a secret form you…" He takes a deep breath and begins to walk out of the kitchen but says right before he leaves,

"I'm not giving up on you just yet Fray." And I catch the smirk that creeps onto his lips as he leaves.

I leave the kitchen and begin walking back towards my room when I hear Megan yelling at Aaron, "Well do you LIKE her now!? Is she better than me now?! Clearly you must have a thing for her or you wouldn't be so defensive against her. I see the way you look at her Aaron! You hardly ever even talk to her so why the hell do you think she likes you?"

I know it is rude to snoop but I can't help it as I lean closer to the door. "I don't like her like that Meg! She is like a sister to me, you know that."

"That's strange, guys usually don't look like they want to kiss their sister all the time, now do they?!"

I hear him sigh and then a couple of footsteps begin to approach the door so I silently slip around the corner and roll my eyes at the drama. Meg probably thinks he has a thing for El… classic. I walk the halls of the institute with no particular place in mind until I crash into Drake. "I was looking for you!" he yells as he gently grabs my arms.

"Well, you know… just taking a walk."

I see a small smirk form on his face and he says, "I want to apologize. I shouldn't have fought him. I should have walked away. Can you please forgive me? PLEASE!" I giggle and nod and he smashes his lips against mine and I react immediately- though this kiss is different from all the others. This kiss is like an ask for permission. I don't know what permission it needs but based on the way Drake pulls me closer to him aggressively, I think I get the hint. I pull away from him but I pretend like nothing is wrong and I smile and press my forehead up to his.

I can tell he is confused and a little let down but I pretend not to notice that either. It almost felt wrong kissing him. A week ago I would have gone with it, hell- we probably would be in a different situation right now, but Jace was here now and that shouldn't change anything but it does. I am so torn and I want to blame Jace for all of this- for my feelings, for Drake's actions- but I know they aren't because of him. I loved Drake, right? Of course I did! I love Drake, I love Drake, I love Jace. Wait! No! Ugh!

Drake notices the war going on behind my eyes and asks me, "Is everything okay?"

I look up at him and give him a reassuring smile. "Of course I am. You are here, that means I'm okay."

He gives a goofy grin and says, "That's really cheesy."

I kiss him again and say, "That's what I was aiming for."

I can feel his chest vibrate with laughter and he kisses me again, forcefully and urgently. I return the kiss- trying to convince myself that I want this- but that nagging hesitancy stays in the back of my mind. I am so focused on trying to stay focused that I don't notice when Drake pulls me into his room. He begins clawing desperately at the back of my sports bra and when he slips his hand underneath the back strap, I stop. "Drake… I," but he cuts me off.

"No Clary, I shouldn't have pushed you. I am so sorry. I don't want to hurt you."

I give him a reassuring smile and say, "You couldn't hurt me if you tried." I peck him on the lips once again and say, "Okay, well I am going to shower by myself. I will see you later."

He nods and leaves the room and I undress and hop into the shower. When I get out, I wrap myself in a black towel and go out to my room. I walk in front of my closet and open it to reveal a selection of black, leather, and lace. I am busy contemplating a red leather jacket or black leather pants when I hear my door open and close again. I sigh and say, "Drake, I told you-" but when I turn around, it isn't Drake. It's Jace.

"J-Jace…" I say- startled. "I was just getting ch-" but he doesn't allow me to finish as he smashes his lips against mine.

A/N: Yay! Okay, I wanted to thank someone that goes by the user-name Mimi-Marie34. I had kind of forgotten why I was writing this story in the first place- until I read some your story 'A Generation Later' so thanks if you are reading this.

Thanks for reading! R&R PLEEEAAASSSEEE! PPPLLLEEEAAASSSEEE! PPPLLLEEEAAASSEEE!