Stop It

"Where the hell are you going?" Jonathan asked as I made my way to the front door. I wasn't dressed special for the party, black jeans, a cotton tee with some graphic print, and my ankle high boots to fight off the chill in the air. I had my hair shoved up into a ponytail which made the ends wave down the middle of my back.

I shrugged on my jacket ignoring Jonathan's question. I wasn't exactly on speaking terms with him. He had sent me over the edge, and I just wasn't in the mood to deal with him, or his currently missing father. I hadn't seen Valentine since I told him I was moving out yesterday, and that man loves caressing his weekends away.

I opened the door to leave and Jonathan yelled, "Hey answer me."

I glared over my shoulder. "To some fucking party. Happy?" I shot then slammed the door behind me. I stomped to the elevator and down to my waiting taxi where I also snapped at the cabby when he asked for the address.

The ride to the Upper East side took long enough that my temper subsided just enough to where I could handle it. It was just after nine o'clock and the sun had long since dipped below the horizon, the city glow lighting the streets. Mark was waiting for me outside the four floor made over warehouse, leaning against the the outer wall below a well lit window so he was easy to spot. For a second time he greeted me with a hug, and again I didn't return it, but he didn't seem to notice as he led me inside the building and up four flights of packed stairs. It looked like the whole school did show up, and they all stunk of alcohol. When we made it to the top floor Mark, I think absentmindedly, took hold of my hand and pulled me into a slightly less packed corner of the huge flat. Pop techno music was blaring from speakers I couldn't see making Mark lean in real close to speak to me.

"Thanks for coming." He smiled down at me. The room was hot and the closeness of all these bodies only made it hotter.

"Yeah, no problem." I said unzipping my coat. It only offered a little of relief.

"I thought maybe you wouldn't come because of that rumor." He admitted as I pulled my jacket off all the way and dumped it over a half wall.

"Rumors are just talk." I said looking around the room for something to do. I spotted a familiar crop of pale blonde hair waltz in and head towards the kitchen. Looks like Jonathan came to party with the rest of the school.

"Yeah I know, but words can hurt." Mark said and he took my hand again. I tore my eyes away from Jonathan's retreating figure and down to our linked hands. Was he really doing thing? Mark Blackthorn to me, Mira Tyler? Something had severely shifted in the universe for this to be happening.

Mark was leaning in closer and closer and I was panicking.

"Wanna dance?" I blurted out. He stopped his decent on my face and looked at me blankly for a moment, then his friendly smile spread across his face and I breathed a sigh of relief.

"You dance?" He teased.

"Anyone can sway their hips and toss their arms around." I smirked as we made our way out of the corner and to the general location of the dancing teens. Mark chuckled at me as we began our quick movements to the fast beat of the music.

He wasn't flashy or really that good at it, but it was fun. We pointed out people from our classes that clearly had no rhythm and who was drunk off their ass. For a moment I forgot about my anger and that I had to move out of the loft, but as Mark spun me out like some feverish party girl ballroom dancing to pop music, I saw Jonathan flirting with Clary Fray and it all came crashing back. I continued to dance with Mark as I watched the two of them whisper to one another and Clary blush. My hands were at fists at my side but I kept dancing.

The happy atmosphere around the two of them didn't last long as Jace Lightwood came storming out of the kitchen and hauled Jonathan to his feet by his shirt. I stopped moving as I stared at them. This was only going to end one way. Bad.

"Mira?" Mark called over the music. Jonathan pushed Jace away and they yelled something at each other that I couldn't hear. Clary just sat in her chair watching on in awe.

Jace took the first swing, and it hit Jonathan in the side of the face. That was like setting off a bomb. They began grappling and knocked over a lamp that caused everyone to turn and watch the fight. I was about to charge forward to stop it but Mark grabbed my arm stopping me. He was watching the fight with a dark expression and shaking his head like he was telling me no. If I couldn't do anything Mark should have done something as their team captain, but he didn't.

"Mark let me go!" I said trying to pull free from his hand but he wouldn't let go.

"Just stay here." He said looking down at me. His mismatched eyes full of seriousness and something else I couldn't quite place. "You don't have to do anything for them."

"I know I don't have to." I replied yanking my arm free finally.

Turning back to the fight I saw I was too late. Magnus had showed up and separated them, Alec holding Jace back. Mark and I were too far from the fight itself to hear what they were yelling over the chanting and complaining audience around them. Magnus tried to get between the two blondes but Jonathan pushed him aside. Then suddenly Clary was finally on her feet doing something to stop the conflict. She was defending Jace, even though it was she who was flirting with Jonathan. Magnus muttered something and began dragging Jonathan towards the door, clearly throwing him out of the party.

"Mira?" Mark put a hand on my shoulder, but I paid it no attention as I shook it off.

I had to go. I had to leave. I had to go after Jonathan. Everything in my mind told me not to and that it was just a stupid idea, but I had to. I just had to. So I ran. I elbowed people out of my way and hurried towards the door Mark had brought me through when we arrived. I past Magnus as I began down the stairs, he was cursing in some foreign language. I checked every face as I descended the stairs but Jonathan was no longer in the building. I rushed out the front doors and scanned the dark streets spotting him stalking down the sidewalk. I ran after him, but he had a big head start and had longer strides than me.

Panting and irritated I screamed, "JONATHAN CHRISTOPHER MORGENSTERN. Stop!" And he did.

In fact he turned on his heel and began storming towards me. When we finally came face-to-face I didn't give him the chance to yell at me for using his whole name.

"You idiot. What the hell did you think you were doing? Fighting like a bunch of kids!"

"Me? What the hell do you think you're doing coming after me yelling my name? I've told you you have no right!" He fought back towering over me.

"THEN QUIT MAKING ME WORRY YOU STUPID BASTARD." I said punching him in the chest. "So what if your parents don't care, that doesn't mean no one does. Just stop doing stupid things! Stop it!" I yelled punching him over and over again. The cold night air made each blow sting my fingers but I didn't stop. I was too worked up to do anything else but spew what came out of my mouth and let my eyes prickle with the emotions I didn't understand.

He grabbed my wrists stopping my assault. His hands were warm despite the cold, and it reminded me I was only wearing a t-shirt and jeans. I was freezing. "I didn't ask for you to care." He said darkly.

"It's not like I choose to." I shot back and he shoved my wrists away. I stumbled backwards as Jonathan started walking away again.

"Jonathan Christo-" He spun back around and clamped a hand over my mouth. His eyes were full of hate and I knew I had pushed his last button and he was going to detonate like an atomic bomb.

"Shut up. You understand? I hate that fucking name. Say it again and I'll kill you." He hissed as he slowly removed his hand from my mouth.

"Then stop walking away, and listen to me." I said wrapping my arms around myself to keep warm. "I'm tired of your careless attitude. You're gonna get yourself kill one of these days."

"And if that happens it doesn't concern you." He stated flatly. There was an eerie calm around him now. I didn't like it.

"It would." I shot back.

"And why is that?" He glared down at me.

"Because I'm the only one that cares!" That's when I noticed it. I was crying. Actually crying. Tears were streaming down my face and my throat felt tight. Why am I crying now? Over Jonathan. I'm so pathetic.

When I looked back up at Jonathan his face was hidden in shadows. I was shaking from the cold and the silent sobs that raked through me.

"Your boyfriend is coming." Jonathan said turning away from me again.

"Mark is not my boyfriend." I growled.

"Why don't you just shut up and date him. I don't need or want your sympathy." Jonathan stated as he began walking away.

All I could do was stared after his blurred figure. He had said everything perfectly clear, and so had I. There was nothing left. That little hope that I had been hanging onto, that maybe Jonathan would understand he's not just some sexual tool and someone did care, would get through to him and maybe I could still live at the loft. But no. That hope was crushed into a fine powder on the sidewalk of New York City.

"Mira, thank god I caught up to you." Panted Mark as he came running up behind me. "Here's your jacket, you must be freezing."

I turned around trying not to sniffle or show that I was crying but it was harder than I thought. I wiped at my eyes but the tears just wouldn't stop.

"Woah, what? What happened?" Mark asked startled.

"N-Nothing." I stammered.

Before I knew it my face was pressed to his chest, my jacket was thrown over my shoulders and Mark was holding me very tightly. For some reason it made me cry even more. I felt so lame, and weak breaking down like a stupid girl on the side of the street that I cried harder and clung to Mark like a life raft. I cried until my stomach hurt, but Mark never let me go. Not when his hoodie became damp from my tears, not when people past us staring, not even when it seemed to be so late that the party just down the street began turning down the music because of the hour. He was there, and kind, and caring, but he wasn't the one I wanted to be there.

"Ungrateful little bitch!"

And thus we have a cliff hanger. What will happen to Mira and Mark? Will Mira move out? What's Jonathan's mother planning, and what's up with Valentine's sudden disappearance? COMING SOON