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Disclaimer: I do not own anything regarding The Mortal Instruments series.

-Clary-

1, 2, 3, 4…

I count to sixty. Sixty seconds. One Minute.

I try to calm my heart beat down, try to clear my thoughts enough that I can form coherent sentences.

I'm still standing in the exact same spot that I was when Jace left me when Izzy comes through the door Jace had left through.

Jace.

"Clary, are you ready?" She asks, giving me a strange look. I must look flustered. The heat I felt when Jace was near me has died down, leaving me tingly, and wanting it back at the same time.

You look absolutely stunning.

"Yeah, I'm fine Iz," I say as a newfound blush surfaces on my cheeks thinking about Jace's words and how close he was to me. How close his face and his lips were to mine.

"Well," Izzy says with a smirk, "I'm glad I kept your makeup minimal, with all the blushing you've been doing." This leads me to blush even more and glare at Izzy.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I mutter out as I walk past her back into the living room.

"You're a bad liar Clary Fray," Izzy sings in an annoyingly high pitched voice, following me into the room. I choose to ignore her teasing and my eyes immediately scan the room, looking for the boy who has me so, so confused.

But he's not there, and I can't help the disappointment that washes over me.

My god. Jace Lightwood, what are you doing to me?

Maryse and Max are still in the room, and upon our reentry, Maryse mentions that Jace went to go pick up Kaelie and that he told Maryse to tell us that he'd see us at the dance. Even more disappointment washes over me at the thought of Jace spending all night with Kaelie. I can't even deny the fact that I wish it was me.

I don't know what's going on with me. Never, never, have I felt like this with anyone before. And of all people, it's Jace Lightwood. It's not even the fact that he's a player anymore. It's the fact that I know he doesn't care for me, that he couldn't possibly care for me the way I'm starting to feel for him.

He'll break my heart. Izzy has said just as much about why I should stay away from him.

He's Jace, and he has been with so many girls, who I can only imagine are beautiful, and I'm Clary. There's no comparison.

Now I think that I don't need to push Jace away to avoid his advances, I need to do it to protect myself. Protect my heart, protect my feelings, and protect myself from being hurt.

He just told me I was beautiful because of what Izzy did, making me look like this. That's the only reason.

We say our goodbyes to Max and Maryse, and I tell them how nice it was to meet them. Izzy brings me through the kitchen toward the back of the house and out the back door where her car is located. And though I shouldn't have been surprised by anything at the Lightwood house, I'm shocked yet again.

"What are those?" I ask, pointing to three small warehouse type buildings located further back behind the house. The land back here is endless. It's like we're looking at farmland, which I still don't understand with us being within thirty minutes of New York City.

The buildings kind of look like storage units, but I can't tell from here. "It's just stuff for Mom and Dad's work," Izzy comments as we head toward her car. Izzy has never said much about her parent's job before.

"And what do they do?" My curiosity gets the better of me.

Izzy shrugs her shoulder, "just some stuff for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I'm not really sure what, it's kind of boring." Leave it to Izzy to be completely oblivious to something not involving fashion or a cute boy. "It's basically storage, I guess. I haven't been in them in forever. Jace, Alec, and I would explore them when we were younger."

I let it go, because clearly Izzy's mind is somewhere else. We slide into the front seats of her car, and head back towards the school where the dance is being held. Izzy rambles on about everything ranging from how great we look and how guys will be following us around like lost puppies, to how Meliorn said he'd meet her as soon as she got to the dance. She had texted him saying she would meet up with him there and not to worry about picking her up. She was surprised at how he seemed kind of upset about it. I guess it wasn't going to be much of a girl's night after all.

Izzy continues with her rambles, and I nod or hum my agreement at the appropriate times, but I am really only half listening. My mind wants to keep wandering to Jace. He truly looked perfect all dressed up, and those darn butterflies start fluttering again at the thought of seeing him at the dance.

And dancing with him….

I wonder if he forgot, or if he doesn't want to now, because he didn't mention it at all since yesterday. I try not to think of the disappointment I would feel.

"Clary, are you even listening to me?" Izzy huffs out in frustration.

"Sorry, what?"

"What did Jace say to you after you practically flew out of the room after that picture? He ran after you as soon as you left, and don't tell me you forgot something in my room, because you didn't." Her gaze pierces me. There's no getting out of this.

"I- Um- He just-," I sputter out, not sure what to say.

Izzy starts laughing. "Wow. Forget I even asked," she says with a wink, "although, that was pretty much the same response I got from him when I asked him the same question."

I had been staring at my feet, face burning, when I turn to look at her with surprise. "Really?"

"You left him speechless Clary," is the only other thing she says on the matter, and then she lets it go, a surprising action coming from Izzy.

"Hey, what did you tell him when we went into your living room before?"

She glances over at me with a mischievous smile etched on her lips. "Oh nothing, nothing at all."

I don't even try to argue that, but my curiosity is screaming at me to find out more.

The rest of the car ride goes uneventful and we arrive at the school a little while after the dance officially started. We make our way into the gym area, where music is blasting through the walls and the open doorway. It looks really dark in there with colorful strobe lights flashing all over the place.

A boy comes straight up to us just as we enter the gym and starts speaking with Izzy. I guess this is the infamous Meliorn. I don't pay attention to what they're saying though because I am too busy scanning the busy gym for a certain blonde haired boy. They exchange words, and then Izzy sighs, turning towards me.

"Will you be okay if I go with Meliorn for a little bit?" I can't tell if she's unhappy with this, but I imagine she feels bad after talking about having a girl's night. I've had a lot of fun with her so far, getting ready and everything.

"Of course Izzy," I partially yell because of the loud music, "go have fun! We can hang out later." She smiles at me, and I can see that part of her does want to go with Meliorn and dance, or well, whatever they want to do, so I give her a nudge toward him, and that seems to do the trick.

As she heads onto the dance floor with Meliorn, I look around to all of the students to find a familiar face. I look to the middle of the dance floor, and my heart plummets to the ground. Kaelie is there in the gaudiest pink dress I have ever seen, with Jace, and I guess what they're doing can be called dancing, you know, if we were in a strip club or something. Kaelie's back is pushed against Jace's chest, and she is moving against him like any boy would want a girl, especially a girl like Kaelie, to do.

I'm reminded again at how different I am to girls like Kaelie in this aspect, or every aspect. I could never do that.

It's clear that they have the attention of a lot of students, both guys and girls, but all I can do is stare at Jace. If I didn't know better, it looks as if he's… bored. He looks like he wants to be anywhere else but where he is at that moment. He glances up from where his eyes were staring at the ground in front of him, and those metallic eyes meet mine, locking me in his gaze.

If I had thought he wanted to leave Kaelie's, um, dancing before, I'm certain of it now as he lifts his hands from where they were wrapped around her waist and whispers something into her ear. Then, to the shock of everyone who was watching them, starts walking towards me.

"Hey," he says as he steps right in front of me.

I smile at him, and cleverly respond with "hey" as well. My heart is racing faster than normal again.

"So, don't think I forgot about that dance," he smirks as he takes another step closer to me, and I can feel my temperature rising again.

I harness my emotions and actually remember that I have a witty side, and smile while responding, "you know, I'm pretty sure I never said yes to that."

I get that heart stopping genuine smile as he laughs. "Yes, but you also didn't say no, so I plan on getting that dance by the end of the night."

"Jacey," an obnoxious voice whines from behind Jace. He turns around and steps to the side so that we are standing side by side in front of Kaelie, whose dress up close can only be classified as slutty. "We didn't finish dancing," she complains as she looks from him to me, her eyes narrowing as she scans my appearance.

"Nice dress, now you really do look like a carrot." Seriously?

Before I can respond, Jace does for me. "Don't be stupid Kaelie, her hair's red, not orange."

Oh god. Thanks Jace. That was definitely going to be my response. I look at him giving him the 'are you serious' look to which he just shrugs. Before any other dumb comments can be made, I end the conversation.

"I'll see ya later Jace," I say as I see Maia and Jordan sitting at a table on the opposite side of the gym. Kaelie just continues to glare at me since Jace's intellectual comment.

I move to walk past Kaelie, but the heat I had felt at the house is now around my wrist and I look down to see Jace's hand wrapped around it. "Hey, don't forget, okay?" He asks with sincerity.

I roll my eyes trying to cover up the twists in my stomach and the pounding of my heart.

"I don't think you'd let me if I tried." He gives me a wink, and then lets go of my wrist. Kaelie grabs that same hand and pulls him toward her and brings her lips to his before he even realizes what is going on. My heart twists in a different way… jealousy. Her hands move to each side of his face holding him to her, and she kisses him like any guy would dream of. He jerks away, surprise written all over his face and whips his head toward me. I don't know what I look like, but he must see that I'm not upset, not that he would care.

Kaelie's just being Kaelie.

And yet, I am jealous. Congrats Kaelie, it worked.

Kaelie looks straight at me, and confirms what I already know. This is a show for me. I'm not that petty, so I give Jace a small, tight smile and head toward Maia and Jordan.

Why should I care who he kisses? Oh, but the jealousy I'm feeling tells me I do.

I spend the next hour or so sitting with Maia and Jordan, or dancing with them, or when Maia goes to freshen up, I dance with Jordan so he won't be alone. I'm having a good time. I haven't seen any signs of Izzy, and I purposely avoid trying to look for Jace.

As I dance with Jordan on the dance floor, the music switches to a slow song and we turn to go get a drink at the punch table when somebody taps me on the shoulder.

I turn around to come face to face with that I boy I saw on the first day of school. Sebastian Verlac. He has just as much of a reputation as Jace does, but unlike with Jace, I get a very uneasy feeling in my stomach.

He has the same look I saw him have that first day too. Predatory. Those black eyes of his remind me of Jon's, but Jon's hold compassion and emotion, Sebastian's look like they want to swallow me whole.

He clears his throat while reaching his hand out confidently toward me. "Clary Fray. You look absolutely ravishing." I can see his eyes slowly scan my body, and I shift my weight from one foot to the other uncomfortably. "May I be so bold as to ask you to dance?" He asks me with the air that he has all the confidence in the world I will say yes.

Again, before I can say a word, someone else does for me, which irks me a little. Jordan takes a step to be slightly in front of me while saying "You know? I really don't think that's a good idea." Their eyes lock, and I can feel the tension thickening between them.

"Yeah Kyle?" Sebastian asks condescendingly. "Don't you already have a girl that's got you so whipped you can't tell right from left without asking her first?"

Jordan's eyes darken and I see his hands clench into fists.

I need to do something before Jordan attacks this guy, so I take Sebastian's hand while saying, "Fine, one dance." Touching his hand though doesn't give me any thrill or any feeling whatsoever. It actually makes me want to let go.

I get a smile that makes me feel off, and I feel Jordan's hand on my shoulder as Sebastian starts to pull me away.

"Clare, I really don't think that's a good idea."

I see the concern in his face, so I try to reassure him, "one dance won't hurt anybody, Jordan."

He lets go and allows Sebastian to pull me onto the dance floor. I wrap my arms loosely around his neck as we start to sway to the music. I try to keep as much distance between us as possible, but he wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me flush against him.

I feel my body tense. I am aware of Jordan's eyes on us, but I feel like somebody else is watching. I turn my head, trying to avoid Sebastian's gaze and meet golden eyes glaring at the two of us.

"It's hard to believe this is the first time we're talking, or well, getting acquainted," he whispers in my ear, and I jerk my head toward his as chills run down my spine. This feels so… wrong. The feeling of Jace's touch has all but faded.

"Yeah," I mutter out as I try to pull away slightly, but his arms are locked around me, "hard to believe."

"How would you like to get out of here with me, huh? I can show you a good time," he drawls as he leans his head toward the crook of my neck. No. I think back to my self defense lessons. Lesson #1: don't panic.

"You don't waste time, do you?" I say with disgust. "I think I'll pass," I practically spit out as I take my arms away from his neck and rest them on his chest, trying to push away. I get about two inches distance before he pushes our bodies back together.

"Come one sweetie, I can't imagine that nerd is giving you what you need." My blood runs cold at the mention of Simon in such a way. Anger flares inside of me at this asshole's insinuations. I need to get away. "Or is Wayland going to give you that. I mean, since you've caught his interest and all?"

Bastard.

"First thing," I grit through my teeth, "his name is Simon, and he's a thousand times more of a man than you ever will be." I push hard against his chest and his grip loosens around my waist. "Secondly? If you ever touch me again, I will kick your ass, and you will be crawling around for a week hunched over with testicles that may not ever function right again, got it?" I shove with all of the strength I've built up from those self defense classes and break away from his clutches.

I start backing away only to bump into another figure. Jordan stands behind me, his hands resting on my shoulders. He must have leapt into action when he saw me pushing against Sebastian.

I'm still staring at Sebastian, who is eyeing me with a gleam in his eye. "Hm, you are feisty. You'd be lots of fun if you loosened up a bit. I can help with that," he smirks as he takes a step toward me, "or I'd be willing to wait."

What a pompous douche bag.

I scoff at him. "Don't hold your breath."

I glance over in the direction of Jace, but he's not there.

"Time to go," Jordan states as he gently turns my shoulders so that I am facing the direction of the punch bowl and guides me toward there as fast as possible.

Now I see Jace, who must have been standing right behind me when I was staring down Sebastian.

How did he get over here so fast?

I'm completely thrown by the rage I see in his eyes and the way his shoulders are tensed ready to fight. He's shooting daggers at Sebastian, but he must feel my attention on him, because his face softens when our eyes meet. I glance away as Jordan leads me right by the refreshments table.

Right as I turn to address Jordan, I feel myself being splashed with a liquid from head to toe. I look down to see myself, and my beautiful dress, drenched in an orange liquid, which conveniently smells like punch. I'm dripping all over the place.

My hair. My arms. My dress.

"I think this orange helps with the carrot look. Don't ya think Clary?"

I look up from my ruined dress to see Kaelie smiling triumphantly as she holds an empty punch bowl.

-Jace-

My arms still tingle a little from where my skin had touched Clary when Maryse had taken the picture. This shock of electricity is new to me. I hadn't even touched her bare skin and I felt like she was setting me on fire.

She had to have felt it, because she bolted the first chance she got.

I needed her to know how beautiful she looked. It's more than beautiful though, it's this all encompassing beauty that words can't even begin to describe. And she has it all the time, not just while wearing a dress.

I was nervous when I chased her down the hallway.

Me.

Nervous.

I tried telling her what I thought, how I was feeling, but I'm pretty sure I failed miserably. I got away the first chance I could, avoiding further humiliation.

And then she arrived at the dance.

I watched the emotions play across her face when Kaelie had pulled me in for that kiss that must've been Kaelie's way of making Clary jealous, but it didn't work. Clary doesn't feel that way about me. Even if that small smile she gave me told me that she understood. At least, I think that's what the smile meant.

God I hope so.

She needed to know that I hated every second of it and that I tried pulling away as soon as our lips had met. She needed to know I hadn't expected it.

She needed to know I wanted it to be her.

I stood on the side as she danced with her friends. I gritted my teeth and practically nailed my feet down to the ground when I saw Sebastian approach Clary. I had vowed that Sebastian wouldn't touch her, but I couldn't be possessive over her. She could handle herself. But when I saw his iron grip on her, it made my skin crawl.

That should be me. I should be the one holding her.

I moved with impossible speed when I saw her trying to get out of his grasp, but Jordan had beaten me there. I was seeing red.

Just remember that if you did things right, she'd be your date tonight Jace. You'd have her all to yourself and you'd be the happiest guy in the world. I'm not blind. I see the way you look at her and the way you act when she's even remotely near you. She's changing you. Count this as my payback on my list of revenge. You could have had her, but you don't.

Izzy's whispered words have been ringing in my mind ever since she said that after her and Clary had come out of her room, and I saw the most breathtaking, gorgeous creature to ever walk the planet. I haven't been able to take my eyes off her since she arrived at the dance. She's always beautiful. Every single day. It's just that tonight I see her at yet another different angle. I'm constantly being surprised.

And Sebastian would not hurt her in any way.

As I watch Kaelie fling the contents of the punch bowl onto Clary in what feels like slow motion, I must fly over to Clary, because that's the only explanation for how quickly I get by her side. Jordan flanks her other side.

"What the hell was that for!?" Clary screams, probably both from anger and the overpowering music.

The music stops.

Kaelie's eyes are full of hatred as she says in a surprisingly calm voice, "Let me think, embarrassing me on the first day of school, dancing with my ex," she counts them off on her finger, "oh, and what's that last one? Oh," she snaps her fingers like she's just remembering, "and stealing the attention of my date for the entire night."

At that, the hatred and the stares of the surrounding student body are directed at me. Clary must not have realized who the last statement was about until seeing that I was standing next to her, because I can see the moment that the fury lights up in her eyes.

"You shallow bitch. Those are the reasons for throwing punch all over me!?" Clary exclaims, and I grab her around the waist just as she takes a step toward Kaelie, who probably would have had a good old punch in the face in the next minute or so. Clary's soaking wet, and it's clear that her dress, as beautiful as it is, is completely ruined. It amazes me that my arms start tingling again at the contact.

I lift Clary up easily with how small she is and start carrying her toward the exit of the gym. Jordan doesn't stop me. She repeatedly tells me to put her down as I hear Kaelie yelling toward us. "That's right Jace! Take care of your newest play thing! You'll come back when you see she's just a tease. She'll bore you!"

"Don't flatter yourself Kaelie," I call over my shoulder while still handling a very stubborn and argumentive Clary. That brings a lot of oh's from the observing crowd.

Just as we make it to the exit, I can hear a screaming and quite enraged Izzy coming from the other direction telling off Kaelie with a very colorful vocabulary. I leave them to that, knowing Jordan, or Maia, or Izzy's date, or anybody else will take control of the situation.

My focus is on Clary. And only Clary.

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