Chapter 15

Clary snuggled into her blankets, unwilling to face the cold. Thankfully, she wouldn't have to get up until she felt like it, since mid-year break had started.

Clary should have been more excited, but she hated the cold. Plus, Sebastian was gone for baseball camp in Florida, so she wouldn't see him for two whole weeks.

She wasn't as disappointed as she thought she'd be, which caused uncertain feelings in her stomach. She was always uncertain now, when it came to Sebastian: uncertain when she'd see him, uncertain about his behavior towards Jace, uncertain of her own behavior with Sebastian. Was she too nonchalant, or did he find her clingy? Clary felt like she was pulling away from him to give him room, but she wondered how far to pull.

Isabelle would know. Isabelle was always certain of these things.

Clary rolled over and pulled the blankets over her head. And Jace just comes along and makes everything even worse. If she factored in Jace to the messed up equation of her life, she officially knew nothing.

Inexplicably, she was unsure of her feelings toward Jace as well. She wanted to tell herself that she was completely indifferent towards Jace, but even as she thought it, her mind rebelled with images of Jace: unhappy, smiling, pensive. And she could no longer convince herself.

Boys, she thought venomously. They make everything so complicated.

"Trust me, Alec. Girls make everything so complicated," Magnus said emphatically.

Magnus sat cross-legged on the floor with his arm wrapped around Alec's shoulders, looking at him imploringly as he spoke. Isabelle was sprawled next to him, Clary sitting up next to her with Simon's head in her lap. Across from them, Jace and Aline sat awkwardly on either side of Jordan and Maia.

Isabelle had thrown an "exclusive" party, meaning that all invitations went through her. Clary had tried to convince her that Aline and Jace in the same room would be disastrous, but Isabelle just waved her away while reminding Clary that "everyone is mature, and don't give me that crap about Aline. You just want to avoid Jace."

Clary had nothing to say to this, and watched Isabelle stalk away, humming as she arranged the decorations in the house almost unconsciously.

At that moment, the entire group's eyes were turned towards Magnus's persuasive eyes fixed on Alec's uncomfortable face. Their expressions ranged from amused to confused.

"Um, how do they do that?" Alec asked in a strained voice. Isabelle stifled a giggle.

"There's so many reasons! One: they're dramatic; two: they're high-maintenance; three: they're insecure; four: they can be bitches," Magnus explained with a look of complete conviction on his face.

"Magnus, are you drunk?" Simon asked, a little unnecessarily.

"Yes, yes I am," Magnus agreed loudly.

"Thank god Mom and Dad aren't home," Alec muttered. "What could you even get drunk on?" he said louder.

"Someone spiked the punch," Magnus said happily.

Isabelle rolled her eyes. "Who thinks he did it himself?" Everyone nodded in response.

"Hey, Magnus. You're wrong, you know," Aline said.

Magnus turned his head slowly to look at her. "Excuse me?"

"Girls don't make things complicated. It's guys. I mean, nearly every guy in this school is dramatic, certainly insecure, and high maintenance-evidence, you. And guys can totally be bitches too," Aline countered.

"Wha-No," Magnus said, holding out the last syllable.

Clary laughed. "Actually, she's right, Magnus. You basically described yourself and every other guy in the school."

"I don't count, I'm gay. I'm an honorary girl. And would you like to tell me how your boyfriend fits that description? I'm sure you don't want to admit any of his bad qualities," Magnus said with a huff.

"He's an awfully talkative drunk," Simon muttered to Isabelle.

Clary grinned. "Oh, really? Well, Sebastian can be dramatic, especially when trying to impress me. And he's a little insecure about his abilities, in baseball and academically. Plus, have you seen him dress? He's definitely high maintenance in that department. And I'm sure he would take down anyone who tried to hurt me in a bitch fight, no questions asked."

Isabelle whooped while Magnus looked taken aback. "Go, Clary! You just got told, Magnus."

"Shut up, Izzy," Magnus grumbled. "I'm still right."

Alec looked defensive for Magnus. "Oh, yeah, Clary? Let's see if you can show those qualities in someone else. Tell us, how is Jace like a girl?"

Jace snorted. "Watch your language there, Alec. I'm in no way like a girl. But I'm sure that Clary can find no fault in me, can you, Clary?"

Clary stared him down. "I think you're probably the easiest one to find fault with in this room."

"Try." Jace's golden eyes never left her face.

"Okay, so dramatic. Do I even need to explain this? You walk and talk like a diva. Insecure-you obviously are, considering how much attention you always call to yourself. High-maintenance: you need someone to pump up your ego every five minutes or else you'll collapse from the hot air in you whooshing out. And bitchy? All the time."

Clary put all her frustration towards Jace and her feelings into the speech, glaring back at Jace the entire time. She was proud and a little appalled to see that he looked taken aback.

Clary broke her gaze from Jace to see everyone staring at them.

"What's going on there?" Magnus whispered audibly to Alec. Aline's eyebrows were raised, but she said nothing. Isabelle and Simon had identical expressions of shock, while even Jordan and Maia looked up from their absorption in each other to look confusedly at Clary.

Clary looked away, feeling awkward under everyone's gazes. She was surprised to hear Jace's voice: "Well, I don't think those examples were sound enough. All of them were opinion. Alec, you shouldn't count it. She loses."

"Excuse me?" Clary said in irritation. "Everyone can see how arrogant and full of yourself you are, every day. You think you treat anyone the way you want, without being stopped. How dare you act so superior and cold to m-to everybody? You don't get to treat people like that and get away with it, Jace."

Clary made to move, gently lifting Simon's head and sliding out from under him. She clambered to her feet and stalked up the Lightwoods' stairs. She could hear Isabelle saying, "I'll go with her," before she ran into Isabelle's room and closed the door with a satisfying click. She flopped on Isabelle's bed.

A few seconds later, she could hear footsteps coming up to the landing. Someone knocked on the door gently.

"Come in," Clary called, anticipating Isabelle's bear hug that would make everything better and the wise words of her oldest friend.

The figure that opened the door was slightly taller than expected, with golden hair and eyes that glinted in the lamplight. Clary stared in shock at Jace as he came towards her.

"Clary? Can I talk to you?" Jace said quietly, almost uncertainly. But that can't be. He's always sure, annoyingly so.

"What do you want?" Clary demanded, turning on her side to face away from him.

"Um, well, you've been angry all evening. At me. And-uh, I'm not sure why," Jace said stiltedly.

Clary smiled inwardly at the sound of Jace,of all people, struggling for words. "Well, you've been angry-or something-at me all semester! So I think I have an excuse, don't you?"

"I haven't been angry at you!" Jace said indignantly.

"Well, what do you call ignoring me for most of the time and trying as hard as you can not to see me?"

"Not angry-" Jace started.

"Then what? Disgusted? Can you just not stand me? Is that why you've been acting like this?" Clary rolled over to face him and sat on the edge of the bed, arms crossed over her chest.

"I didn't think you cared," Jace retorted. "When I try to talk to you, you brush me off!"

"When have you tried to talk to me?" Clary asked incredulously. "Maybe once a month, you swallow your enormous ego and decide that I'm good enough to speak to, for five minutes."

"I spent two hours with you last weekend working on that art project!"

"You didn't speak a word until you had to, and then you ditched me the next day! Couldn't wait to get away from me, huh? Sebastian said you weren't even home Monday morning, so where did you go on Sunday that took you all through Monday morning?"

Jace's face closed off. "That's none of your business."

Clary stood up and walked towards Jace. "I knew you were an arrogant jerk, but I think I have a right to know why you left me to do our project alone. I don't care what Aline said about you, you're completely unreasonable and I haven't seen anything like what she said."

"What did Aline say?" Jace asked abruptly. Clary stopped a few feet in front of Jace, a look of uncertainty spreading across her face.

Oops.

"Clary, what did she say about me? Don't believe her. She's just trying to make you angry," Jace said pleadingly.

"Oh, then that just confirms it. I knew she was making things up," Clary exclaimed.

"Yeah," Jace said in relief. Upon seeing Clary's glare, he backtracked. "Wait-what did she say?"

"I don't want to say," Clary said, looking away.

"Clary?" Jace's voice grew soft, persuasive. Clary couldn't help but glance at him, her mistake. His beautiful, sad face was her weakness.

"She-she said that-" Clary drew in a deep breath. "This is embarrassing. Why should I tell you?"

"Because, I deserve to know if it's about me. Now, what did Aline say?"

Jace looked impossibly innocent and curious. Clary's heart melted, but she steeled herself.

How dare he try to convince me by pretending to be something he's not!

Clary scowled. "You're such a hypocrite, Jace. You wouldn't want to hear if you knew what it was."

"Whatever it is, it's not true. I promise," Jace said softly.

"Oh, really? So you don't love me, then." Clary took pleasure in Jace's appalled gaze.

"What?"

"She said that you loved me, Jace. And that's why you two broke up. Because you didn't love her, and she knew it. So you're telling me it's not true? That just confirms everything I've said. Thank you very much." Clary pushed past Jace's body, but he held her back.

Clary looked pointedly at his hands on her narrow shoulders. "Let go of me."

"No-Clary, I thought she was trying to make me look bad. I swear, if I had known she had said that, I wouldn't have denied it."

"Why would you think she was making you look bad? See, insecure. And why wouldn't you have denied it? Are you saying it's true?" Clary demanded.

Green eyes met golden ones, but this time it was the golden that faltered. "I-" Jace began.

"Whatever, Jace. Get out of my way." Clary ducked under his arm and pulled open the door, letting it bang closed behind her.

She was about to descend the stairs when she heard him coming up behind her in three quick strides.

"Clary, wait."

Clary stepped down.

"No, Clary-stop it." Jace grabbed her elbow. Clary tried to shake him off, but as always, his grip was too strong.

"Let. Me. Go." Clary slapped his hand with her free arm, but he didn't even flinch.

"Clary, you don't want to hear my answer anyway. You have Sebastian-I can't take you away from him."

"So you're saying it's true?"

Jace paused. "Well-"

"I'm not going to leave Sebastian for you, you egotistical ass. Just tell me."

"I-" Jace stared at her, and panic flooded his eyes.

"I can't."

A/N: Well, I didn't have homework today... yay! So, another update for you, dear readers.

Thank you for reading and please review!

~Sami

A/N 2: Just to clarify, Jace says the last two words of this chapter :)