Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or anything else of that sort, other than my plot line. (its weird saying this…I haven't written fanfic in such a long time!)

A huge thanks, as always, to everyone who even reads this! More hugs to those who add it on their favorites or story alert or reviews. They make me very happy. Anways, without further ado. Sorry in advance for the POV changing constantly aha.

Chapter Two: Better This Way

Clary POV.

Saturday morning, I woke up with the best dream ever. Okay, not the best one ever since that was when involved me being famous for my art, that had unicorns and rainbows everywhere and all that good stuff. But it came pretty damn close to it.

It seemed so real, like I could actually touch it. Opening my eyes, I got up in bed, wiping the sleep off my eyes. When my eyes adjusted to the room, I saw what was in my dream – the green top with the long sleeves that had holes in them lying on a pile on the floor.

I stared for a second, unbelieving. Then I realized that it wasn't a dream. It was real. And it happened to me.

Still, I felt like I was still in my dream as I went over to my bathroom to splash cold water on my face. Opening the door, I still saw the clothes exactly where they were, heaped in a pile in the corner.

Finally, I just pinched myself, but I still didn't wake up.

That's when reality slapped me in the face. Jace liked me. Jace freakin Lightwood liked me. I repeated those happy words in my head, feeling as free as a bird.

Now I did not have to restrain my heart.

Jace POV

When I finally wrenched my eyes open, I immediately closed them again. The pulsing throb of my head was enough to make me want to roll over and sleep it all off. I knew I shouldn't have drank so much yesterday.

Turning to my side, I felt something dig into my arm. Curious, I moved a little and picked it up. A green ring.

Immediately, I turned to the side, expecting to see a girl there. When I didn't, I calmed down a little. So I didn't sleep with yet another girl. That was good.

But how did the ring get there?

I racked my memory, but it came up empty. Damn alcohol. I don't know why, but I wanted to find the person who had this ring. They meant something to me.

Immediately, my mind went to Clary. Her emerald green eyes were like the stone set in the ring. That is also when I remembered I invited her. I rolled over, punching the bed."Shit shit shit shit," I said, repeating it over and over.

Why the heck did I drink if she was coming?

I backtracked. How did I even know she came in the first place? She might have been crept out by an invitation sent to her house, with her name, without knowing who it was. For all she knew, I was some rapist who lured in girls that way.

But something in my gut told me she came. Or that could just be my stupid heart, wanting to believe in its stupid happy ending that's never going to happen.

I'm just some jock player to her.

Still, I clutched the ring in my hand, my fingers covering it completely. I will remember.

There was a warm, petite body next to me, not quite touching but enough to feel the heat radiating from her body.

I looked up, but it was felt like I was attempting to see underwater. I was drunk.

But I could see enough to see, bright green next to me, set on fire that was bright red.

When I woke up the next morning, I knew for a fact that the ring was Clary's. I smiled, already thinking about the possible things I could do now.

Clary POV

I want to say that I was all cool and confident going to school on Monday, but it was the exact opposite. I was nervous and jump – basically, a total wreck. I did not know how I was going to face Jace.

With my luck, he will remember. But something told me if he was able to puke, that he would most likely not remember anything. Of course, unless he had a high tolerance, which would not be coming as a shock to anyone.

Frustrated, I ran my fingers through my air. Just act natural Clary, I told myself. You do it all the time. Another voice in my mind answered, look how well you do with that.

I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. When Izzy came to pick me up, she didn't say anything. I hadn't told her I was invited to the party. Thinking back, I realized that I had not seen her there.

"Hey Izzy, what were you doing the night of Jace's party?" I asked, interrupting the song playing on the radio. Iz stopped tapping her finger on the steering wheel.

"How do you know he had a party?" she asked, glancing at me for a second before returning her eyes to the road.

"I uh, got invited," I said, pretty sure my face was as beet red.

"Oh," she said, seeming a bit shocked. "Wait," she said, putting the pieces together, "you went there?"

I think my face got redder. "Yeah, why not?" I shrugged, like it was no big deal.

"You don't seem like the type to go to his parties," she said, "no offense"

"None taken," I responded. "So why weren't you there?"

"I was doing something else," she vaguely answered.

"Oh?" I raised my eyebrows in question, even though she wasn't looking at me.

"We're here!" she announced, parking before swiftly getting out. "I need to go to my locker, so if you excuse me..." she trailed off. I watched her retreating figure, before going to my own locker.

The first bell rang just when I shut my locker. That meant I had five minutes to get to class. I saw a figure leaning casually next to the lockers near mine.

Shit, I thought, wondering what Jace was doing here. Maybe one of his friend's locker was here, or perhaps his latest girl toy.

Apparently not, because one he saw me he straightened up. "Hey," he said, that one word making my heart thump faster in my heart. I hope he couldn't hear it. What he said that Friday night ran through my mind.

"Uh, hi," I stupidly responded. If I was Izzy, I probably would have said something along the lines of fuck off, but I wasn't brave enough to say that to him. Sometimes, I wished I had Isabelle's courage.

"Is this yours?" he asked, opening his closed hand, which I had not noticed before. Probably because I was too busy staring at his face. And trying not to act like an idiot.

In his hand was ring, emerald green. The same one that I had worn to his party. How did he have it? "No," I said, injecting confusion in my voice. I started to walk away.

He caught up easily, stopping me by a touch on my elbow. I yanked it back, moving away from him. "Look closer," he urged.

I looked at the ring; it was mocking me. "It's not mine," I insisted. "How would you have my ring anyways?" Again, I attempted to walk away.

"Why don't you answer that?" he responded, his golden eyes peering into my eyes. The second bell rang shrilly, saving me from drowning in them.

"I have to get to class," I said before taking off before I could answer that question.

Luckily, I was able to avoid Jace for the rest of the day, even when we had the same class. Somehow, I couldn't bring myself to tell him I was there. Besides I figured that it would just be a silly dream to him in a matter of a few days.

Jace POV

It was weird, I thought, lying in my bed, that Clary was avoiding me all day. Sometimes, if I was lucky, I would see her glancing my way. Perhaps it was a coincidence, but perhaps it was not.

I tucked my hand under my head, staring at my ceiling. It was dark, with only a waning moon providing dim silvery light. I could barely make out the objects in my room. I found it hard to try to not worry about the things I probably said.

Most likely, judging from the way Clary acted around me now, I messed things up. Big time. But I had to know what I did so I could redeem myself.

A part of me thought it was better this way. Our school was a pain in the ass. Horrible, backstabbing bitches made up the school, no one as pure and good as Clary. If anyone even suspected that I liked Clary, things would get nasty.

For the most part, everyone left her alone. But express any interest in her, or worse yet date, and they would taint her like how humans taint the Earth. And it was bound to leave its mark.

Still, I wanted her, no matter what was better for her, there was always going to be that burning to touch her, to kiss her.

But it's better this way, I told myself.

If it sucks, I apologize, I didn't check over this aha. Too lazy to and also, this is really short I know. But I feel really bad that I haven't updated in forever and I just typed this out from sudden inspiration. As always, tell me what you think!

~Icyfirelove3

P.S. part of the reason why it's late is because I've been on tumblr ^_^ if you don't have one, its like Narnia guys.