Hey everybody! I am so sorry for skipping an update week, but school completely took over my life for a little while. I honestly would rather wait an extra week and give you guys a chapter I took my time on than throw together something just for the sake of having it done. So... thank you very much for your kind reviews and the follows and favorites. I love knowing what you all think! And thank you for your patience and inspiring words. So enough rambling.. Please read, enjoy, and review :)

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

-Jace-

"Favorite color."

"All of them."

"Come on, you have to have one color you like better than the rest."

"I'm an artist Jace, I use loads of colors. It changes with the day or my mood."

"Oh? And what's today's color."

She takes a second to think it over. "Gold." And I'm grinning like an idiot, yet again.

"Any particular shade?" I ask, even though I have an inkling of an idea of the answer.

Clary takes another second before responding. "There's this guy at school whose eyes are the strangest color of gold. It's fascinating."

"Yeah, I think I know the guy," I ponder, "it's honestly unfair how good looking he is."

Clary snorts adorably before saying, "it's a shame his ego's the size of Manhattan. Next question."

"Fine. Favorite food."

"Hm, before or after experiencing those coconut pancakes?" Clary muses as her head still rests on my chest. We haven't moved in what seems like forever but still isn't long enough.

I smile for what seems like the thousandth time today even if Clary can't see it. She's been resting her head on my chest while we ask random questions about each other.

"Before. Obviously nothing compares to them since your first mouthgasm." Clary groans into my chest like the word has some kind of double meaning. Well, I mean, I guess it does. But Clary's so… innocent. It's too amusing not to pass up seeing her flustered.

"First of all," she mutters, still hiding her face in my chest, "that still isn't a word. I checked."

"Clary," I gasp out in fake offense, "have you no trust that I would never tell you a lie? I told you that a mouthgasm is a legitimate word, it's like food porn." And with that, I get the intended reaction. She whips her head up so that I'm staring into glowing emeralds and a face that has turned the rosiest of reds.

"Where do you come up with these things?" She asks exasperated.

"Have you honestly never heard of the internet? I mean really, my girlfriend needs to be educated on important things like this," I joke, but the smile I get takes my breath away.

Girlfriend. Clary Fray is my girlfriend.

And I kissed her.

And it was simple.

And it was perfect.

And it was mindblowing.

Not in the sense that we were overcome with passion, but that I've never kissed anyone and actually felt something. With Clary, all I'm ever doing is feeling, whether it's physically or emotionally. The idea terrifies me.

I haven't loosened my grip around her waist since our kiss and she hasn't made a move to get off of me, so I don't move. I just savor the moment for all that it's worth. I sigh contentedly as Clary rests her head back on my chest and starts tracing patterns on my shirt and shoulders with her finger. It amazes me how calm it makes me.

"You know, I don't think I've ever seen you this relaxed before." Clary comments as she continues doodling on me.

"I'm always relaxed," I tell her with my eyes closed.

"No," she continues, "that's not true. You always are tensed, ready with some witty remark or arrogant comment. It's nice to see this side of you." Only Clary would be able to see right through me, another thing that terrifies me. She sees through my exterior into me, looking through that carefully guarded shield I put up for everyone else.

"How do you do it?" The question slips out, and honestly, I don't even regret it.

"Do what?" She stops her doodling.

"How can you see things I try so carefully to keep hidden?"

The confusion on her face coupled with her trying to lift herself off of my chest tells me she misunderstood what I meant. "I- I don't mean to. I thought you were showing me." She leans away from me, but I just tighten my arms around her and gently pull her back down to me.

"You see, that's just it. It's not a bad thing Clary. You're right, I do show myself to you, and it scares me how much I want you to know me." She opens her mouth to say something, but I don't give her the chance. I capture her mouth with mine.

And then we're kissing.

Just like before, it's like nothing in the world is happening except Clary and me. Nothing else exists except for the two of us on the couch in her living room.

I didn't think that feeling I get when touching her would come across with kissing her, but boy was I wrong.

Kissing her is all of that feeling channeled.

It's electrifying.

This kiss is longer than the last. Slower. It's like we're trying to memorize each other's lips and everything else that comes with it.

She gasps right before I kiss her, like she's surprised.

She tastes just like she smells… vanilla.

She runs her hands up along my chest until they are tangled in my hair.

She-

Before I can finish my thought, I feel something vibrating in my pocket. Clary pulls away and smiles at me like I'm the only thing in her world.

And I love it.

But my damn phone keeps vibrating in my pocket and it won't stop. I groan and loosen my grip on Clary until my hands are placed softly on her hips. She laughs before rolling off me. "You should answer that."

"I really don't have to," I say mischievously as I pull her back for a quick kiss before she pulls away again.

She laughs again, but it's subdued with the passion I see in her eyes. I don't think I'll ever get tired of it. "Jace, seriously, what if it's important."

I huff out before pulling out my phone and looking at the number.

I press the answer button. "Yes Alec?"

"Where are you right now?" He asks. Alec and I talk on the phone all the time, but our conversations never start out like that.

I glance over at Clary who is now sitting at the other end of the couch. I sit upright as well and pull her over to me until she is resting against me with my unoccupied arm wrapped around her. "That's a random question. Where is my state of mind currently? My physical location? My progression through life?"

"Don't be cryptic Jace. I just got home and I thought you'd be here to surprise, but," he sighs, "obviously you're not." I stand a little bit straighter.

"Wait. Your home right now?" At that, Clary glances up at me, a small smile on her face.

I can imagine Alec's eye roll as he says, "that is what I just said."

"Are you staying long?" I ask, trying to hide the hopefulness in my voice. I may have fooled Alec, but Clary gives me a look that tells me I'm not fooling her.

"Magnus and I are heading back later, so you should come home soon before we head out."

"All right," I say as I start to get up, "I'll be home in half an hour." We say quick goodbyes and then I'm tucking my phone back into my pocket. As I stand, Clary does as well.

"My brother decided to visit without mentioning it," I tell her as I wrap my arms around her waist again, "I have to go."

She smiles up at me and wraps her arms around me as well, saying, "it's okay. If it was Jon I'd be hightailing it out of here." I smile down at her and give her a quick kiss before letting go.

"You can come if you want," I add as the thought occurs to me. I want her to meet Alec, even Magnus.

She reaches up and pecks my lips. "Maybe next time. Mom and Luke should be home soon and I think I need to explain the whole 'detention' situation." Right. I wonder if Maryse and Robert got a call too.

She releases her arms around me and I do the same as we walk toward the door. "I'll see you tomorrow then? I can pick you up if you want."

"That's okay. It's not like I live far away. Plus, I don't want to ditch Simon."

"Then I'll meet you in the parking lot," I state so there's no objection.

As she opens the door I turn back around to give her one more kiss. She wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me closer to her, trying to deepen the kiss, but I pull away. Her face is flushed again and the look on her face brings a smirk to mine. At this rate, I'll never get home. I head out the door before I get completely distracted by Clary, who seems to be a pro at it.

"See ya tomorrow," I say with a wink.

As I walk into the living room, I'm smiling like a fool thinking about Clary. I'm so wrapped up in thoughts about her that I don't even see the figure lounging on the couch.

"Well look who decided to join the party," the voice comments while sitting up.

I give him my trademark smirk, "It's never a party until I arrive Magnus." I take a moment to look at my brother's boyfriend and all of his extravagance. I had told Clary about Magnus and his outfits, and I was not exaggerating. They're always… interesting. He's wearing neon yellow skinny jeans with a black sequined shirt. His eyes are traced in what I assume is eyeliner and his black hair is covered, and I mean covered, in sparkly glitter. It's hard to even see the blue tips that are spiked up in every which direction. "Did a glitter bomb explode on you or something?"

He rolls his eyes, "Oh Jace, always the creative one with your remarks. As a matter of fact, I just bought this new glitter spray. I tried getting Alec to use it, but he refused," he trails off completely unaware to why Alec would refuse. Where Magnus is loud and colorful, my brother is quiet and modest.

Polar opposites.

But Alec is finally happy. I will be forever grateful to Magnus even if I don't admit it to him. Before Magnus, Alec kept his sexuality a secret and he was never truly happy. Izzy and I had guessed as much, but he would never admit it. And then Magnus came along and changed everything. Alec came out and our family stayed the same. Magnus is an interesting character to get used to since he is so different from Alec, but he was welcomed openly by the family. Robert had a bit of a hard time at first, but he's come around. Magnus and Alec have been together for two years, and it's nice to see my brother relaxed, and well, just happy.

"Well, it looks good on you," I comment before thinking. The shock on Magnus's face is almost immediate.

Before he can say anything though, the door connected to the kitchen swings open and my brother, as raggedy as ever, comes into the room.

If you ever compared Alec, Izzy, Max, and I, it's clear who the adopted one is. While I'm all blonde hair and gold eyes, those three have raven black hair and either blue or black eyes. Alec's blue eyes make him stand out amongst his neutral colored clothing. Maryse always calls them the heart stoppers. Magnus even mentioned how that was how Alec caught his attention.

"Jace! You're back!" He says as he comes over and we exchange a quick hug. I haven't seen him since school started, which granted, has only been a month or so, but a lot can change in a month.

Trust me.

My own smile is mirrored in his face. He turns to Magnus, who is still looking at me in shock, like I just spit fire out of my mouth. "Mag, are you okay?" Alec asks while walking over to him.

"Alec darling," Magnus says while still looking at me strangely, "I think there's something wrong with your brother."

A smirk comes across my lips as Alec turns to me confused. "Why do you say that? You're not ill, are you Jace?"

I stretch my arms out while saying, "Healthy as a horse."

"No," Magnus says, "he actually complimented me. I thought I'd throw all of my glitter away before I saw the day where Jace Lightwood said something nice."

Apparently Alec agrees with that statement, because he looks at me with his eyebrows scrunched together. "Uh, are you sure you're feeling okay?"

"Hey," I say as I raise my hand to my chest, "I am capable of being nice."

"What about being nice?" Izzy asks as she strolls into the room.

"We think Jace hit his head or something. He's not ill, and he just said he liked my glitter," Magnus says with a look that has become amused, like he has just realized something. "Or… there's a girl."

Alec snorts at that, "Mag, there's always a girl."

I roll my eyes at both of them, knowing Magnus is on the right track. "Or… I can just be nice. Why is that so hard to believe?"

"Or...," Izzy adds while moving to stand next to Magnus, "there is a girl. A certain short, red headed girl." She smiles like she's won a victory. "How was detention Jace?"

I glare at her, but before I can make a snide remark, Maryse walks into the room. "What about detention?" Ugh, the school didn't call her like they had called Clary's mom. I guess since she punched Sebastian that was reason for a phone call.

"Nothing," I remark nonchalantly, "I may or may not have had detention today." Maryse fixes me with her own glare. "It was for a good reason though."

"And what," Maryse asks with her arms crossed in front of her, "could possibly be a good reason for getting detention?" She moves to stand next to Izzy so that all four of them are in a line in front of me. It's like I'm about to be lectured.

Izzy beats me to it. "He and Clary got into a fight with this ass at school," she says to no one in particular. Maryse fixes her with another glare at her use of profanity. "What?" Izzy says innocently. "He is, and I guess Clary punched him. I'm so proud of her," Izzy comments with a prideful gleam in her eyes.

"Who's Clary?"

"What happened with Clary?"

"Is she the one turning you soft?"

All three questions come from Alec, Maryse, and Magnus all at once.

Before I can answer any of them Max walks into the room. "What about Clary?"

I tilt my head to the ceiling and take a deep breath. I had not planned on coming home to be interrogated by my entire family. At least I know Robert's at work and won't come butting into the conversation.

"Okay," I say as I stare at the four people in front of me. Max moves to stand next to me. It's us against them. "No, I am not ill. I did not bump my head. I am capable of being nice if I want to be Magnus. Maybe it has something to do with a certain red head. Detention was great Izzy. Lots of fun. And Maryse, the guy deserved what he got, and it's done and over with."

I say it all in a rush before I can be interrupted.

Magnus opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off.

"And Clary is my girlfriend."

And that is what does the trick. All of their mouths drop as if I had just said I was running off to the circus and wearing a unitard for the rest of my days.

I just fix them with another smirk. Maybe Clary is changing me, but I guess my confident smirk is not one of those things. Izzy opens her mouth and closes it a few times like she wants to say something but it not sure what to say. Alec and Magnus look like they're having trouble hearing what I just said. Maryse just smiles at me knowingly.

"I'm a good wingman."

All five of us whip our heads to look at Max. "What did you just say Max?"

He reaches up to push his glasses back up on his nose before saying, "I said I'm a good wingman."

"Why do you say that sweetie?" Maryse asks with a smile on her face.

Instead of addressing her, he turns to face me. I can only imagine how confused I must look. "You said I'm your wingman, right Jace?"

I smile and give him an affectionate pat on the head, "That's right little guy."

"Well, when Clary was here for the dance, I was talking to her in the hallway. I told her she's special to you and that she should forgive you," he says like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "I didn't think I was being a wingman then, but I thought about it afterwards, and isn't that wingmen do? They tell the girl what the guy thinks about them and give them advice?"

And I thought Clary was the only one who can leave me speechless. Max managed to leave a whole room without words.

He continues on, "Obviously I was being a wingman since she forgave you and now she's your girlfriend." He looks from me to the other four, and smiles spread across all of our faces.

"What?" He asks as his face scrunches in confusion.

"Max," Izzy says while shaking her head, "you are an absolute genius. You managed to get Jace his first actual girlfriend."

"Actual girlfriend? You mean he hangs out with girls? I thought Jace believed girls had cooties," he says as if I was the ten year old and he was the eighteen year old.

And that's when everyone bursts into laughter. To my relief, nobody comments on my player status to my little brother, which I am grateful for. I don't want Max to know about that, but I do want him to know about Clary. That's why I've told him about her, not even thinking he would say anything to her. I always joke with him about being my wingman when he asks why I don't ever have a girlfriend. I'm touched that he actually did it. He helped me with Clary.

He turns back to me. "What's so funny?"

I don't say anything. I just bend down to lift him up and throw him over my shoulder where he erupts into squeals and giggles.

"Max Lightwood, you are the best wing man a guy could ask for."

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