A/N

I know its been INSANELY long since I've posted a chapter but things have gotten super busy! And on top of that I have the WORST case of writers block. I promise once things cool down I'll be writing more often. I promise I will see this story through until the end! Now on with the long awaited chapter.

R&R please :)

Chapter 10: 4 AM Snacks & Wake Up Calls

"Stupid memory-dreams," I mumbled to myself.

The blinking light of the clock on my bedside table was nearly blinding at 4:02 in the morning. I sat up after successfully untangling myself from the clutches of Izzy and rolled off of my queen-sized bed. Maia opted to sleep on the futon under the window because she, and I quote, "didn't feel like being subjected to Isabelle's death grip tonight. I laughed at her statement and, of course, got a green pillow thrown at my head by the raven-haired beauty herself. I stretched as I got up straightening my Star Labs t-shirt and lime green shorts afterwords and grabbed a hair tie off of my bedside table before walking out of the room as quietly as I possibly could. After being subjected to nearly 2 hours of questioning by the two of them and Magnus we had pooped out around 2. But of course to this ridiculous eating pattern of mine and that creepy dream/memory 4 in the morning seemed like a fine time for a snack.

As I began to walk down the hallway towards the stairs I tilted my head downwards to put my unruly curls into a high pony tail. As soon as I was done I ran into the wall…or at least I thought it was a wall. Do walls usually say 'ow' when you hit them, I thought to myself. I looked up only to meet a familiar pair of golden eyes. I jumped back, "Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going," I stated sheepishly.

"Its fine Red," he replied, his cocky smirk in place, "I'm used to girls falling for me," I rolled my eyes and walked passed him, starting down the stairs.

"Ha, Ha very funny," I replied knowing he was hot on my heels, "what are you even doing up this late?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he retorted as we reached the kitchen.

I made my way to the fridge as he sat at the kitchen island, "Well if you must know, I just woke up and I was craving ice-cream," I smiled as I took out the mint chocolate chip from the freezer and took two spoons from the drawer.

"Would you think I was lying if I said I wanted the same thing?" he asked as I sat on the chair next to his and handed him a spoon.

"No, but I would say that you have really good taste in ice cream," I said with a smile and opened the tub before placing it in-between the two of us. I glanced at him then to see he was already looking at me and blushed. We hadn't turned on the light but the full moon was doing wonders lighting the room and making him look even more angelic than he already is. I was staring now, but I couldn't bring myself to care, he was perfect…too perfect to even be human.

The moonlight made his hair look paler but it still held its golden shimmer and his eyes stood out against the darkness of the room. The angles in his face were beautifully prominent and it took everything in me not to reach out and touch him. It was then that I realized that I hadn't even taken a scoop of ice cream while Jace seemed to be having the time of his life.

I continued glancing in his direction as we talked about nothing and everything, while sharing my favorite ice cream.

"See something you like Red," he said, I figured I'd throw him for a loop and replied with a smirk on my face.

"What if I do?" I questioned taking a scoop of ice cream and shoving it into my mouth.

"Well I'd tell you the feeling is mutual," he said easily and I stared at him, dumbfounded, I was supposed to throw him a loop! Not the other way around!

"Look Clary," he continued using my name for the first time tonight "I'm sorry for whatever it is that I did with the whole Kaelie situation at lunch, she sort of caught me off guard," He left his spoon in the almost empty tub and rubbed at the back of his neck.

"Um," I began dumbly, "It's fine, it just seems like she's always trying her hardest to get under my skin, in any way she can. I guess I can't really blame you," I smiled and look towards him our eyes locking, the intensity in the room was palpable as we stared at each other. Soon my hand had dropped the spoon into the tub and fell against Jace's with a small click.

There was a look in his eyes that I couldn't quite place as I unconsciously reached towards his face and placed my hand on his cheek. I was shocked that he hadn't stopped me and even more shocked when he started leaning forward. However, for some reason I didn't stop him and I didn't want to. A few seconds later we were mere centimeters apart. It wasn't long before our lips connected. He stood up and effortlessly placed me onto the top of the kitchen island, never breaking our connection while just barely missing the tub of ice cream.

The first thing I felt was heat, it spread from my lips to the tips of my toes. Then his hands moved and he wrapped his arms around me. I could still taste the mint chocolate chip ice cream that lingered on his lips, mixed with something else that was undeniably…Jace. Wait! I though to myself. What about Sebastian?! Aren't we dating? !I mean we only had one date but still! Why can't I pull away from him!? Why don't I want to pull away from him!?

But Jace was so different from Seb. Where he thought that I was as fragile as porcelain Jace gripped my hips and deepened our kiss as my hands ran through the softest hair I had ever felt in my life. His curls tickling my fingers as he reached for my hair and took out the hair tie before running his hands through the fiery red strands.

We parted soon, or rather I may have pushed him back slightly, and looked down, "I'm sorry," I said, breathlessly "I wasn't thinking."

"Don't be sorry Clary," he said and grabbed my chin lightly so I could look at him. I wondered if he felt the way I did during that kiss. All of that electricity heat that I felt still surging through my body.

"But you have a girlfriend, and I think I'm seeing Seb now," I stated never looking away from his beautiful orbs, and feeling the heat rolling off of him in waves.

He chuckled, "I don't have a girlfriend, and I highly doubt that one date counts as seeing someone," his hand left my chin as he ran it through his hair. "Do you really like this guy Clare? Because if you do then I won't get in your way," He pushed a stray lock of red hair behind my ear then.

I hesitated for a moment, "I do, and I'm trying to do things right with him," I replied still not looking away.

The look on his face made me want to take back everything. It was anger and sorrow mixed into one, along with an emotion that came and went in a split second he looked away from me then before replying, "Well if it doesn't work out, you know where to find me."

With that he pushed himself off of the counter top and turned his back me before walking out of the kitchen and leaving me sitting there realizing, for the first time, just how cold this counter top was without his warmth. I hopped down and turned to the tub of ice cream that led us there in the first place. It was melting now, the two spoons sinking lower and lower as the green dessert went from a solid to a liquid.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair before taking the two spoons and placing them in the sink, telling myself I'd wash them in the morning so Claudia wouldn't have to. I put the top at the almost empty ice cream tub and shoved it back into the freezer before exiting the kitchen and heading back to my room.

When I got up there I looked at the clock again, 4:56 AM. I sighed again and laid back down next to Izzy on the bed.

"Hmm, Clary?" She mumbled, and I saw her glance at the clock, "What are you doing up?" She questioned, rubbing at her eyes.

"Just had to go to the bathroom, Iz," I told her. I hated lying to her but for now I had to keep this to myself. She went back to sleep after that, but not before mumbling something incomprehensible. Finally, after my mind stopped racing, I was able to drift off to sleep as well

~•~•~

"CLARYYYYYYYYY!" Someone shouted, right next to my ear. Whoever it was would definitely feel my red-headed wrath. I sat up and glared at the nuisance that interrupted my sleep.

Maia.

"What the hell, Mi!" I shouted and she laughed at me, I just kept glaring.

"C'mon get up Clare, we're going out for a late breakfast," with that she yanked off my covers and dragged me out of the bed, but not before I caught a glance at the clock, 11:16. Well at least I got a solid few hours without anymore weird dreams, I thought as I walked over to my closet and changed into ripped jeans, a black sweatshirt with my brothers number on the back along with our last name and the school logo on the front (an angel holding a cup and a sword). I slipped on my favorite pair of black high top converse before shoving some money and my debit card into my pocket along with my phone.

I took a few more minutes to put my hair into a high pony tail and walked out of the room and down the stairs. Everyone was waiting in the living room when I got there, watching Spongebob Squarepants. This is why I loved my friends, simple things like watching Spongebob together on a Saturday morning before all going out for breakfast was what set them aside. I smiled at the scene before Jon noticed my presence.

"So Elmo finally decided to join the rest of the Sesame Street gang," he stated smirking and everyone looked in my direction, with Jace sparing a glancing before looking back to the tv. I frowned inwardly before shaking it off, or at least trying my best to do so.

"So I guess that make you Cookie Monster, right Jon?" I smirked back as he rolled his eyes.

"Whatever," he replied, "anyways we're taking your car —since it seats four— and Alec's truck," I nodded and everyone got up, ready to go.

"So who's riding with me?" I asked as we walked out and I grabbed my keys from the table near the door.

"Me!" said Izzy, Simon and, Jon. I was slightly disappointed when Jace didn't speak up, but he'd been uncharacteristically quiet all morning.

"So I guess that means the rest of us are riding with Alec," Jace said coolly and was soon out the door with the rest of us. I sighed again, thinking about last nights events as I locked the front door. Well a trip to Taki's would certainly lift my spirits.

~•~•~

It was only about a 15 minute drive to get there, and when we did I couldn't help but smile. Taki's had always been my favorite restaurant since I was little. Sure the fact that my parents had money meant that I could eat at some crazy expensive fine cuisine restaurant whenever I felt like it, but I never really wanted that. This diner always felt like home, especially when I was with my friends.

When we got inside it was fairly empty, but then again it was kind of late for a place like this. We walked in and the usual woman, Tessa, was there to greet us at the door with a warm smile, and happiness in her big gray eyes.

"Hey guys!" She began, beaming brightly, "It's good to see you all again. Table for 8 right?"

"Nine actually," I told her throwing a thumb over my shoulder in Jace's general direction. She followed the gesture and her eyes widened.

"Jace!" She exclaimed, "No it can't be my Little J," she smiled as Jace walked towards us smirking, "How come you didn't tell us you were coming back for a visit?" She questioned before they embraced.

"Well I figured Will would tell you, since I am staying for good this time," He sighed dramatically and raked a hand through his hair as they parted. "but you know how scatter-brained he can be," they laughed in unison.

"That's true," she stated, "Gosh, I'll have to give him a piece of my mind when I get back there," she laughed again and slowly the gears began to turn in my mind. Will was Jace's cousin, which meant Tessa is Jace's legal cousin. I wonder why they'd never talked about him?

They talked idly for another minute before Magnus decided it was time to step in, "Hey guys, sorry to break up this adorable reunion but we're hungry Tessy," everyone else nodded their agreements, and with that he gave his best puppy dog eyes and Tessa let out a soft giggle.

"Sorry guys, I'll show you to your table," she replied and picked up 9 menus then walked us to our table. We, of course, needed the biggest table —which meant pushing together three smaller tables— in order to fit all of us. I sat on one side of the table with Izzy and Maia to my right and Jace to my left. Jordan sat at the head of the table, next to Maia, and across from her sat Jon with Simon to his right and Alec and Magnus next to him.

Tessa handed out our menu's and told is that someone would be over soon to take our order. Sitting so close to Jace did nothing to help my already fuzzy psyche. I could feel the heat radiating off of him , and it took me right back to last night when our cool kitchen turned to a sauna, just because of him. I hadn't realized that I had been so deep in thought until Iz waved a hand in my face.

"Earth to Clary," she said, staring at me curiously, "You okay?'

"Yeah, I'm fine," she gave me a look that said, 'We are definitely talking later' and let it go for the moment.

"Anyway, what are you getting?" She asked, and I had just realized that the waitress was staring at me —her name tag said Lily— along with basically everyone at the table and I flushed under their gazes.

"I'll take the coconut pancakes and a coffee, please. Black," I muttered a "like my soul" under my breath as I handed her the menu. No one seemed to hear me, except for Jace who chuckled. After she walked away I turned to him as everyone else began to chat about Magnus' party that was only about a week away. He looked at me and smirked, I couldn't help but blush, once again.

"I don't think your soul's black," he said quietly and, if even possible, my face got even redder.

"Thanks," I said smirking right back at him as my color returned to normal. Just that two second exchange made all the difference. I didn't feel like he hated me after yesterday, like things could go back to normal, whatever that even meant for us in the first place.

The rest of our late breakfast went off without a hitch. We made some progress on the party and it was going all according to plan, the paint and black lights were going to be here by Wednesday. That really only left us and what we were going to wear since the guests were already invited. Of course Magnus and Isabelle couldn't wait, this had to be their favorite part. I cringed at the thought of having to be their life-sized Barbie. But I guess when it came to doing things with my friends I couldn't help but smile.