All rights to TMI go to Cassie Clare. Thanks for your positive feedback for the last chapter, I appreciate it! Something crazy happened with the formatting of this chapter, so thanks to the reviewers who let me know - I re-uploaded it. Naturally, the one time I trust FF to upload correctly because I'm in too much of a rush to check it, it is all messed up.

I want to say that bullying is never, ever okay or acceptable - I don't care what the circumstances are. People don't deserve to be demeaned, teased, or treated badly. If you see it, do something. Speak up. And if you or someone you care about are struggling, reach out for help - from parents, siblings, friends, teachers, strangers, or professionals - from anyone. People care, I promise. In this chapter, a reality is faced. Many bullies never face consequences by schools, police, etc. And that sucks - it definitely shouldn't be that way, despite the fact that it often is. But don't worry, I'm sure Aline will get hers in this story!

We sat at a dimly lit table in the back of the restaurant. Before I even spoke, I ordered a desperately needed margarita. Jace was staring at me, clearly waiting for me to start the conversation.

"So, is the trial over? How were you able to leave?" He hadn't really been around since our movie night the previous week because of the trial and I'd missed him, despite my mental protests otherwise.

"The jury began deliberating this morning – yeah, there is court on a Saturday – New York City has 6 day court week. I was just waiting around with the other attorneys on the team for a verdict. As long as I have my cell phone in case the jury comes back, it's fine for me to leave. So it was actually a good time for you to lose your temper," he said with a smirk. I rolled my eyes, sipping my drink. "You gonna tell me what happened?"

"That psychotic bitch happened!" Just thinking about Aline made my blood boil.

"What did she say?"

"She… she said I was only with you because you were a good fuck. She, uh, mentioned your sister. And some other nasty things about you. So I gave her a right hook she won't soon forget just like my Uncle Luke taught me to."

"You didn't have to defend me or my family, you know. I'm a big boy." His golden eyes were wide and sincere.

"I don't doubt you are." I smirked at him. "But she's lucky I only punched her. I was so on edge and she just pushed me right past my limit. I mean, between fighting with Izzy – you remember the text conversation you and I had a few days ago, well it's still tense and awkward with her – and not seeing you I was totally on the edge of losing it before she opened her big fat mouth."

"Not seeing me set you on edge?" I could hear the tinge of laughter in his voice. He was trying really hard to control it though. I felt the blood rush to my cheeks as I nodded. "Good… I missed you too, Red." The blush got even deeper as I grinned and his smile widened.

"I also didn't know that she and Cami are cousins… Aline, I mean. They're related. Did you know that?"

He shook his head. "Nope, I only met Camille a couple of times when she came to visit. But I guess that explains why such a nice girl hangs out with such a lunatic."

I bit my lip, wondering if I should try to dig deeper into his past with Aline. I decided to ask when my curiosity got the better of my sense of decorum. "So, I um, I have this question. And I think it may be rude for me to ask, and it may upset you, so I don't know whether to ask it or not…"

"Why didn't Aline get in trouble for what happened with Cecily?" I nodded. I swear, sometimes I think he can read my mind. "Well, my parents," he said the word with such disgust that I nearly flinched, "didn't want to cause a 'scene' so they didn't press the issue with the school. And when I brought the letters to the police, there was no law on the books protecting against that type of behavior. Basically, when she did what she did, it wasn't illegal, just disgusting and heinous. That's why I became a lawyer, to help change the laws to protect others from people like Aline… bullies with no moral compass. People who don't feel bad for ruining, or even ending, other peoples' lives.

"I ended up temporarily at a firm, but I'm leaving in March to become a prosecutor for the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office. And I'm thrilled that recently a law was passed making it a felony to bully and cyberbully a person into committing suicide. I did some pro bono work helping create the legislation. With my grandmother's help, I founded the Cecily Foundation to raise awareness of the issue."

I was in awe. If it had been me, and Jon had died because of Aline, I'm pretty sure I'd be rotting in jail at that very moment for killing her with my bare hands. The fact that Jace was able to channel that pain and hurt to do a bigger good was amazing.

"Wow." I couldn't keep the amazement out of my voice. "I can't even lie, that's kind of amazing. Like, really amazing." His cheeks and ears got pink.

"Thanks," he mumbled, uncharacteristically humble. When our food arrived, we ate happily, talking about less serious subjects such as the awful wedding dresses Camille tried on and Alec's latest late-night rendezvous with Magnus (in Jace's kitchen). When the meal was over, it was well past 7 pm and Jace checked his email before informing me that the jury had been sent home until Monday. Then he invited me over to hang out, since Alec was on vacation with Magnus. I accepted – I didn't have anything better to do, since I'd missed seeing my mom and Cami already (I texted them and said they we'd meet for brunch tomorrow instead). A night hanging out with Jace sounded really great.

I'd been to the apartment many times with Alec and Izzy, but I'd never been there with Jace, and it all felt unfamiliar suddenly. I shifted my weight from foot to foot as Jace led me to the kitchen to gather popcorn and beer for our movie night. Movie night was turning into a weekly tradition, apparently.

As we settled in and began some comedy that I wasn't really interested in, my thoughts drifted to Jace. In such a short period of time, he'd become one of my best friends. He seemed to just understand me. And I had to admit that he wasn't the arrogant playboy that I thought he was when we met. I maybe had a teeny, tiny, miniscule crush on him. Maybe. When I took the risk to glance at him, I saw that he was already staring at me, a contemplative look on his face.

"What are you looking at?" I asked, blushing.

"Do you ever think about that night we kissed?" Well that was random.

"What?" I was admittedly startled.

"The kiss – do you ever think about it?"

"… No." I lied through my teeth. I thought about that damn kiss all the time. But it was for the best.

He paused the movie and looked at me with appraising eyes. "You're lying." It wasn't a question, it was a statement. "Want to know how I know you're lying?" I nodded. "I think about it every fucking day. I dream about it. I've been trying so hard to be your friend. I didn't want to scare you off – I know you 'don't do relationships.' But I really, really like you, Clary." His hand ran through his long blond hair, messing it up adorably.

After a minute or two of complete silence, I finally responded. "Jace, I don't even know what to say." Clever, Clary, very clever. He moved even closer to me, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Just tell me the truth."

"I… I do think about it. But you've become one of my best friends, and I don't want to lose that."

His eyebrows knitted together adorably. "It could be worth it, you know. To take that risk." He moved so close that our knees were touching. His hand raised and tucked a piece of my hair behind my ears. I felt his breath fanning my face. "We could… try." Then he leaned in further, pressing his soft lips to mine. All argument for why being with Jace wasn't right flew from my mind. He sucked my bottom lip into his mouth, making me moan with want as I crawled onto his lap and straddled him. His arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer and ensuring that our hips met sensually.

When we finally broke apart, Jace leaned his forehead against mine. We were both breathing hard, our hearts stuttering. His eyes smoldered with lust – his normally tawny eyes were nearly black with desire. "I want you," I mumbled, and he just stared at me, running his hands up and down my spine under my shirt. Then his lips met mine again.

We broke apart only for a few seconds for Jace to slide my shirt over my head. His tongue ran across my neck and down to my collarbone, which he then began peppering with kisses. I released my hands from around his neck and reached behind myself to unhook my bra before slipping it down my arms.

His hands went to my chest, kneading my breasts with just enough pressure before twisting my hardened nipples between his fingers. I was grinding down at the perfect angle, ensuring that his cock rubbed my clit deliciously through my pants. His mouth made its way down my body, circling each nipple in turn as we continued grinding against each other. The familiar pressure building in my stomach was welcome as we broke apart so I could slip Jace's shirt off. Within seconds, we were chest to chest again. My breasts dragged against his hard, muscled chest. I was experiencing sensory overload. My clit was being rubbed with each move we made against each other and my nipples were teasingly rubbing against Jace's chest hair.

I was becoming even more turned on the longer I sat on Jace's lap. He was angling his hips just right, ensuring that his erection was rubbing me at the perfect angle constantly. My breathing began to get harder as he pinched my nipples and brought his mouth to my pulse point, sucking hard. I'd definitely have a bruise there. Totally worth it. The tension coiled in my body as our hips continued to meet.

"Jace," I moaned, unable to restrain myself as his grinding motion sped up. I felt myself getting close, so close.

"Come, Clary," he whispered in my ear before licking it sensually and speeding up the movements of his hips against mine. And I lost it – the tension in my body finally released as my orgasm hit. My grinding motion faltered but he continued, ensuring that he stimulated my clit with each move until I sagged in his lap, my arms tight around his neck and my naked upper body close to his.

"Fuck Jace, I've never been dry humped to orgasm before." I was still catching my breath.

"I guess I'm just that awesome," he teased with a smile.

I slid off of his lap, moving to unbutton his pants, hoping to return the favor. I knew he had to be in incredible pain. I could feel how hard he was beneath me. Before I could slide my hand into his boxers, he grabbed my wrist.

"No, Clary. I'm fine. This was about you. I can be so good to you, baby. Just let me." His eyes were burning into mine. And there we were, staring at each other on his sofa, half naked. I felt tears prickling the corners of my eyes. Goddamn emotions. I was overwhelmed.

"Jace, I, uh, I can't do this right now. I need to think. Please, just give me some time to think." He nodded as I got up, searching for my bra and shirt before placing them back on my body. I was looking for my purse, planning on leaving, when his hand landed on my arm.

"Just don't… don't leave Clary." The sincerity and despair in his eyes hit me right in the gut and I assented, nodding my agreement before curling up next to him again. A while later, through the grogginess of sleep that I was fighting, I felt Jace lift me up and carry me into his bed.

When I woke up, Jace was asleep next to me and I was curled into his side. He was snoring softly, and I couldn't help but study him. He was so at peace, so serene. The hint of tension that I always noticed on his face when he was awake wasn't there. My heart swelled as took him in. I loved him, I knew I did. But I couldn't open my heart to him – I just wasn't capable of doing that. As much as I wanted it to work, it wouldn't, and then we would both be destroyed. And our friendship would be ruined. I couldn't handle that. So I did what I do best… I left.

When I entered my apartment only a few minutes later, Izzy was in the kitchen making a cup of coffee. "I almost slept with Jace, and he said he wanted to be with me," I said, plopping down at the kitchen table. Izzy's eyes widened before she abandoned her coffee and sat next to me, just looking at me with a skeptical look on her face. "And also I'm sorry and I really need you right now." I sighed and then the waterworks started. I was crying. Fuck my life.

Izzy leaned in and hugged me close. "It's okay, Clare. I promise. What happened?" After I told her the entire story, which happened over coffee and donuts, she finally spoke.

"Well, I think you're being an idiot." I glared at her. Seriously, we just made up and she is already being bitchtastic. I guess my glare was a sign for her to continue, because she just kept talking. "Seriously, you have a hot, rich, successful, caring and passionate guy that is completely in love with you and isn't afraid to take a risk with you. And you're willing to have sex with him, but won't give him a real chance. It's a bitch move, Clary. Do you know how many people would kill for Jace to look at them the way he looks at you?" I just sat there staring at my cup of coffee until I had to get ready to go out with my mom, Cami, and her mom.

Throughout the brunch, I was clearly distracted. Luckily, Cami seemed to get that something was going on with Jace and she deflected. I'd never been so grateful to have an almost sister-in-law in my life. After making it through the lunch, and ensuring my mom that Jace and I would be attending the wedding shower in a couple of weeks, I practically ran home, mentally exhausted and confused. I checked my phone – there was nothing, not even a teasing text message.

With the pang in my heart, I finally realized something I'd been denying for too long. I couldn't go on like this. I loved Jace, and I wanted to be with him. I picked up the phone to call him, when there was a knock on the door.