A/N: i cannot believe that i did this! i seriously have had this chapter on the doc manager for 20 days and i never put it on the story... idiocy level has just shot to 100 and i have lost many IQ points! i am so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so sorry! i can't make this up any other way than to give you this chapter-
I reel back from his kiss almost immediately. It was true- I had felt a spark of familiarization and warmth but the only thing I could think of was Drake. How could I do that to him? He has never cheated on me and every time I look at him, it's like we're falling for each other all over again. He stares at me with those golden eyes that appear to have a little more spark to them and I just look back in utter astonishment. "J-Jace… I can't."
His face falls and he says, "But why? I know you Clary, and this isn't you. The Clary I knew was-"_
But I don't let him continue. "Jace, that Clary died a long time ago. That Clary was frail, and weak- this Clary is different. I can't really explain it, but let's just say- you have no idea who I am anymore. I could never do this to Drake… he has never hurt me… not like you did."
"Clary, I should have told you the truth when I got here… that girl I was with that day… she was nothing to me. just listen, I didn't sleep with her because I wanted to, I did it because I had to. You were being threatened. That girl was a leader of the Bronx vampire clan and she said that if I didn't do what she wanted, she would kill you. I know, I know, you can handle yourself but Clare, you were barely training and you wouldn't stand a chance against them. I love you Clary, I always have and always will."
I didn't want to believe him, but the truth was plain on his face. Still, Drake. "But Drake-"
"He can't love you like I do."
"That's a little unfair!" I shout at him.
"But it's true! Has he ever hold you like I held you? Or kiss you like I just kissed you? Do you love him?"
I don't say anything, instead I just walk past Jace and into the hallway. "There's my girl!" I hear down the hall. I turn around and fake a smile as Drake picks me up by the waist and forces me to wrap my legs around him. He kisses me jaw and I giggle.
"Drake!" I yell in a childish voice. He laughs and pull away and I see that mischievous grin he always gets when we kiss. "Let's go do something," I say.
He raises an eyebrow and asks, "Us, as in me and you? Or us as in me, you, El, Paul, Laken, ect…"
I roll my eyes and say, "No! Just me and you!"
He smiles and kisses me again and says, "I'd like that."
We begin walking towards the door when we hear El scream, "I know you aren't leaving without us!"
I can feel Drake groan and I smirk as I see El, Meg, Paul, Laken, and Aaron. "Yeah, I need a new pair of red pumps," says Meg with a look of distaste on her face.
"Well, come on then!" yells Laken and we run out of the institute. Meg and Aaron walk in front of everyone holding hands and whispering sweet things into each others ears. El stands very close to Laken and swings her hand very near his in an attempt to hold his hand but he is too focused talking to Paul. I stand next to Drake and he rubs circles in my palm. We walk past a house that seems to be on fire. There are caution signs and tape all around the perimeter and firefighters rush frantically to put out the flames. I hear from a police officer that no one else is inside but I can see Paul go rigid and white as he stares into the heart of the flames.
Paul has always been nervous around fire- even candles- but I never asked why. This time though, I do. "Drake, what happened to Paul before he arrived at the institute?" He sighs and holds us back behind the group so we can talk.
We begin walking again and he tells me Paul's story. "Paul came to the institute when he was 12. He had ran away from his home and when we arrived, he was hurt- bad. He had massive cuts all over him and bruises- but the worst of all was the burn across his back. He had told me that he got that because he spilt paint on the garage floor. He was being abused since he was 5 and ever since… he can't handle fire. It took him about a year to even pick up a knife without hesitation."
"That's awful…"
"Yeah, it is. But he is safe now." I smile at that.
We catch up with the group and walk a couple more minutes until I hear the ugly snarl and smell the sickly stinch of a Drevak demon. I see it's burning tail whip around a corner and nudge Drake towards it. He nods his head and we all start creeping towards it, seraph blades at the ready. We round a corner and see a whole group of demons ready to attack. We all spring into action.
I begin to slash one demon with my blade and it whips its tail around my ankle. I fall to the ground but just as it is about to crush me with its fangs, I stab it in the roof of its mouth and it disintegrates. I notice the dead silence that follows and I look around. My heart stops as I see everyone gathered around Drake, who is lying I a pool of blood.
A/N: Sorry it took so long for me to update. I have been in Tennessee for the weekend and haven't gotten a chance to update. Please review!