**Disclaimer: No… I don't own MI… if I did Aline would not be in it and Jace would never have been with that skank in the first place! **

A/N: Hello, as you can see I have FINALLY managed to put in a disclaimer! I'm feeling the love from your reviews and I want you to keep them coming. They really do help inspire me. I must admit, that this is my favourite story to write (as much as I enjoy writing Fuel to the Fire). But I think that everyone has a favourite, you know? And I just pour my heart and soul into this one. So, I hope you like it!

P.S. I was going to keep this story in Jace's POV as much as possible since F.T.T.F. is mostly Clary but this chapter doesn't feature that much of that. So, please let me know what you think. I want to know what YOU think! Yes, YOU! Leave a review telling me your opinion on the matter and I will heart you forever.

Playlist:

Breathless - Alex Goot (Amazing song! Listen to it.)

If only they knew – A Rocket To The Moon

Heavy Lies the Crown

Chapter 3

The American's secret meeting

Clary sat down in the auditorium, in the exact same seat that she'd been in the first time she'd heard Jace sing. It was hard to describe how good he was at singing. Because even though his voice was divine that wasn't the thing that had drawn her to him. It was the raw emotion behind it. To that, she could relate.

She had heard someone at an American award show say that even though Taylor Swift was not the best "technical" singer she sang with a lot of emotion, and depth and that was part of why she made an amazing artist. She'd never really thought about it until now. It hit her that the walls that Jace had built around himself as armour, disappeared as soon as he sat down by that piano. It was probably the reason he didn't perform in front of people… or so she assumed.

Clary found herself strangely saddened by it. For some reason that mattered to her, she was a sensitive person, she knew that. Innocent. Maybe, it was just that, because she was such a naïve and caring person, she couldn't help but wanting to help Jace.

At least that was what she hoped it was.

For now, all she could do was sit back, try and relax, and wait for Jace to come.

She curled up into a ball in the red velvet chair, hugging her arms around her knees. Maybe Jace wouldn't show up. After all, what would he want to do with someone like her? She was pretty ordinary, not the ugliest but not the prettiest girl in the world, not the dumbest but definitely not the smartest... The one thing she had that was truly special about her was her singing. Even with that, what mattered to her was not the teachers praise or the other students' jealousy. It was the fact that it meant something to her.

"Clary?" A deep voice came from behind her.

Clary looked over her shoulder and saw Jace approaching her, slowly descending down the isle. She noticed that he was wearing black soccer shorts and navy hoodie. His golden curls that hung to just above his shoulders were mussed but still managed to look amazing. His face that was supporting a black eye still managed to look handsome.

"Hi," she whispered, not moving from her position. "So you came."

Jace's mouth twitched. "You thought I wouldn't?" He pushed his hands into the pocket of the hoodie and sat down next to her.

Clary looked out at the stage before glancing over at him. "I don't know," she admitted, shrugging her shoulders. "I don't really know much. Not anymore anyways…"

She could feel Jace's gaze on her for a minute before he replied. "I know the feeling." He said, looking away.

She bit her lip, fighting the urge to ask him what he meant. But she knew that he wouldn't tell her anything. In fact, he would probably just shut her out even more. She decided to make an attempt on a different subject. "Where are you from in the USA?"

Jace smiled, it was a small one and it barely lasted half a second but it had still been there. "New York," he answered. "Upper East Side."

Clary's eyes widened, she knew that Jace must have been rich. Red-gate academy was not cheap to get into unless you were there on a scholarship like she was. But the Upper East Side was pretty damn exclusive. Back when she was younger and living in New York she lived in Brooklyn. "Oh." She murmured.

"Yup," he replied quietly. "And it's even worse than you could ever imagine it to be."

Clary let out a small laugh. "I don't know. I never did see the problem of having a lot of money, but then again, I'm not rich." It was a half-truth, really.

"You wouldn't like it," he said, conviction in his tone. Then he looked at her, his captivating golden eyes catching her green ones. "Trust me."

Clary's breath caught in her throat. Even when- no, especially when Jace wasn't even trying look good he was looked amazing. She could see the fire burning behind his tawny eyes. The sadness, the hurt and the anger. She wondered why no one else seemed to see it. She could only guess that no one looked closely enough to find it, and those who did see it only wrote it off and one thing. Trouble.

"Why did you come here?" She asked, turning her gaze down towards her knees. "To the school, I mean."

"I-" Jace began but then seemed to think better of it and said. "My grades weren't good enough. It was this, or summer school."

Clary could sense that he was holding something back but she didn't push him.

"Why did you come here?" He asked curiously.

Clary's heart skipped a beat. Why had she asked him that question? Of course he'd ask about her! And she wasn't ready to tell him. She quickly untangled her limbs from each other and stood up, turning her face away from him and brushing past him. "Umm, I came for singing, and I should go… get some sleep. We have assembly tomorrow."

Jace stood up after her. "Assembly?" He questioned cocking an eyebrow. Clary couldn't help to be jealous of that, she'd never been able to do it herself and it just looked so damn cool!

Clary nodded. "Yes, every week we have this huge thing where all the students gather," she gestured the auditorium, "in here. We have these little competitions to make us more competitive. And believe me. It works." She said, rolling her eyes.

Jace looked at her, genuinely curious. "Are you going to be in it?"

Clary gave a little snort. "Depends…"

"On what?" Jace said in a daring tone that forced Clary to repress a shudder.

"Whether I feel like kicking every ones asses without even trying." Clary said, returning the arrogant smirk that he'd used on her. Then with a last look at him she turned away and moved down the isle towards the exit.

"Sit with me!" She heard Jace call.

She glanced over her shoulder at him, confused. "What?"

The corners of Jace's moth twitched. "Tomorrow. At breakfast."

Clary gave him a swift nod before walking out the door without a second glance back.

…

Jace sat down in the cafeteria, not so discretely looking around the room, searching for a certain redhead. He could almost feel every ones eyes on him, but for once he didn't care. It really didn't matter what the other students thought about him, it only mattered what she thought. And hopefully, she wasn't thinking bad things.

He knew that he was being selfish, befriending a girl that, no matter how happy and carefree she seemed, had problems when he could barely even keep himself together. But every one had issues, right? He could see that other people might not see it like that. Because, when you first see Clary you see a delicate flower, fragile and in need of constant protection, which might be true physically but after speaking with her, getting to know her just a little bit better, he found out that she had a strong mind. She was brave, foolishly so, standing up to Sebastian for Alec's sake. Even though he never asked for it in the first place. She was an amazing friend, no one that Jace would deserve to know.

Yet, when he saw a glimpse of fiery red hair he didn't move out of his seat and walk away like he should have. Instead he pulled out a chair and gestured for her to sit.

Clary flashed him a bright smile before taking the seat. "Hey, Jace."

Jace flashed a winner grin before replying. "Hi, Red-Gate!"

Clary let out a musical giggle and Jace couldn't help but laugh with her. "Red-Gate?" She asked.

Jace snorted as if this was a no-brainer. "Well, duh! Since you are the most talented person in this place I figured I would give you the title. Plus, you have red hair." He explained slowly as if speaking to a child, when really it was him who was being immature.

"Oh," Clary said sarcastically nodding her head. "I see… so I can call you New York Asshat?" She smirked, not anywhere close as menacingly as Jace could but she did okay.

Jace pretended to be offended, placing a hand over his heart in outrage. "How dare you!" Then he winked. "And, yes, I know my ass is super fine."

Clary gave a little exasperated laugh. "You really are something, aren't you?"

Jace's smile faded a bit when he answered. "Oh, you have no idea."

Clary shot him a questioning glance but she didn't say anything. Jace was grateful for that, for some reason she always seemed to know when he didn't want to talk about something.

"So…" Jace drawled, noticing that she didn't have a tray of food in front of her. "Aren't you eating anything?"

Clary shook her head. "Nope, I'm in the assembly and we get to eat breakfast later, we're what you would call VIP."

Jace grinned. "So I'm finally going to hear you sing."

"I guess you are," Clary replied, looking straight at him. "Prepare to be amazed."

…

Simon Lewis was many things, dedicated gamer, dedicated student and dedicated friend. Friend, he reminded himself as he approached the table Clary was sitting at with… Jace? Simon frowned. He stopped walking and watched them in a shocked silence. Clary was giggling, a fair red colour he'd come to know very well rising up her cheeks. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Jace laughing, his golden eyes glued on Clary, watching her with something like wonder in his eyes.

Simon also noted the way Clary looked at Jace, almost dazed. Just like all the other girls in the school looked at Jace. But Clary wasn't any other girl. She was Clary Fray the best singer at the school, in Britain, according to Simon at least, and even though he was sure Clary had never told anyone, he knew that she was nervous every single time she got up on the stage.

As Simon turned around to return to his room, the one he shared with Jace, he though about ways that he could outshine Jace. What did he have that Jace didn't? Awesome looks? No. Good fashion sense? No. Brains? Yes. But being smart wasn't a great asset. But singing on the other hand… Yes, today Simon would show Clary just how talented he was. Then, maybe she would forget about Jace.

Not at the assembly though. He would have to do it sometime he knew for sure that Clary would be listening…

A/N: Ugh, Simon, why are you so dumb? (I know that's totally how you just said that in your head.) Anyways … Thank you guys for your awesome reviews! Now I have a favour to ask… I have a lot of singers in mind for what I want Clary to sing but what do you want? If any of you pick one of my favourite's I'll be sure to give you a shout out in the next chapter! Remember REVIEW to make me UPDATE FASTER! See you next time!