Last time I saw you guys, Laurel had been admitted into the Institute and recently healed by a Mister Magnus Bane! Jace has a problem, and he thinks Laurel can help. What do you all think that problem is? And why Laurel? ENJOY THIS NEXT CHAPTER MY SWEET MANGOES!

"Knock knock," said a familiar voice as he opened the wooden door.

Laurel rolled her eyes and frowned as Jace walked in, his golden hair damp from a recent shower.

"Someone doesn't look happy to see me," he said with a pout.

"Shut up Jace. Just because you got stuck taking care of me doesn't mean you actually have to. I would sure like it if Isabelle were here over you," she said angrily as she looked out the window of her bedroom in the Institute.

"Yeah well Isabelle's with Alec and they're out doing who-knows-what," he said as he plopped down beside her on the bed she was lying in. She held the covers closer to herself since she was only wearing a flimsy camisole and athletic shorts.

"Ouch," she muttered, her shoulder still sore from the attack the other day. Ravener demons may be stupid, but when you get attacked by six at a time, it's sort of difficult to fight all of them off.

"Sorry about that," said Jace, not really sounding sorry at all.

"Did you need something?" she growled at him, growing impatient with the golden-eyed boy practically sitting in her lap.

"Nope," he replied with a shake of his head. "Just needed something to do."

"Well could you hand me my book then? It's on the nightstand," she said as she pointed to the book.

Jace picked it up and started looking at it, keeping it right out of her grasp.

"Jace give it!" she exclaimed as she tried to grab her book. She winced at the pain in her shoulder and gave up on trying to get her book back.

"Romeo and Juliet? Who knew you were such a romantic?" he questioned as he handed the book to her. She snatched it from his hand and flipped open to the page she was at. She looked back at him and he was looking at her expectantly.

She shrugged. "I think it's a good book. Shakespear's always been my favorite writer."

"I guess. A bit depressing for a love story, don't you think?" he asked as he stood up and started unwrapping her shoulder. The bandage had a large spot the color of crimson on it. She bit her lip as Jace began to place a new bandage on the wound.

"There we go," he said as he finished bandaging her shoulder.

"Thanks," she muttered before returning to her book.

"Why do you hate me?" he asked curiously.

"You're an arogant ass with no respect for anyone or anything," she stated simply, as if she'd always known the answer to the question.

Which, as a matter of fact, she had. Ever since she met Jace, she just disliked him. She didn't exactly know why, but after having known him for a while, she had a bunch of reasons.

"What if I told you I didn't hate you?" he asked her, his amber-eyes looking into her dark brown ones.

She looked up from her book and kept a straight face, even though she was quite surprised. "Really?" she asked him. He nodded his head and lazily ran his fingers through his curling golden hair. "Okay, okay. You may not be an ass but you're still pretty arrogant."

"Fair enough," he replied, throwing his hands up in mock surrender.

She couldn't help but smile as he took his seat back beside her. She could feel the warmth of his body and she could smell lemon soap. Her eyelids began growing heavy so she laid her head back, expecting to hit the pillow but instead landing on Jace's muscular chest. He stroked her hair and she went to sleep quickly, feeling content just lying there with his hand running through her hair.

O.O.O.O.O

Jace lifted Laurel's head up from his chest and set it down gently on the soft pillow. He walked out of the room and shut the door quietly before turning around and bumping into Clary.

"Hey Jace. What were you doing in Laurel's room?" she asked, her red hair pulled into a ponytail.

"Isabelle wanted me to watch her. Speaking of which, what are you doing back so soon? I thought you were meeting up with her and Alec."
Clary shrugged her shoulders. "Do you want me to look after her? I'm sure you have lots of stuff to do."

"It's fine. I don't mind taking care of her," he said as he nodded towards the room Laurel had been staying in.

Clary unsuccessfully attempted to raise an eyebrow but said nothing.

"Don't look so surprised. I'm trying this new thing where I try not to be an arrogant ass all the time-Just most of the time."

Clary rolled her eyes and walked down the plush carpet hallways toward the library. Jace walked back into Laurel's room to see her waking up and rubbing her eyes groggily.

"Good afternoon Sleeping Beauty," said Jace as he drew the curtains completely back, bright sunlight flooding the room. "You hungry?"

"Did Isabelle cook?" she asked him when he came to the side of the bed and started helping her up.

"Nope," he replied as he got her to her feet.

"I'm starving," she said with a grin. They walked to the kitchen and she took a seat at the table.

"Doesn't look like there's anything in here. I'll just go and pick up some take-out," he said after searching through the nearly-empty refrigerator.

"Sounds good," Laurel replied.

"What do you want to eat?" he asked, but she seemed to not have noticed. Instead, her thoughtful brown eyes roamed his face and torso, as if studying him the way Clary used to. At least, before. . .

"Well?" he asked her as he put his jacket on. This wasn't the time for those thoughts.

"Well what?" she asked, her brow furrowed.

He laughed. "I'm thinking your shoulder's not the only thing that got injured yesterday. I wanted to know what you want to eat."

"It doesn't matter, just whatever," she said with a shrug of her shoulders. She winced and he looked at her with his eyes slightly narrowed. She shook her head and played with a strand of hair that had fallen in front of her face.

"I'll have Clary stay here with you. I know you guys don't hang out much so this'll be good for you two." Jace zipped up the leather jacket he had on, knowing that it made his hair look like the electrum wire Izzy's whip was made from.

"Sounds good."

As if on cue, the redhead bounded into the kitchen. Her hair was falling down around her shoulders as if it had already fallen out of the ponytail she'd had it in when he'd seen her only moments before out in the hallway, and she was wearing a t-shirt and jeans.

She still looked beautiful, in Jace's eyes.

"Where are you going?" she asked Jace, taking notice of the leather jacket he was wearing.

"To pick up some take-out. Could you watch Laurel while I'm gone?"

"You know, I'm not a child. I can watch myself." Laurel folded her arms over her chest.

"I know you're not a child but I don't want you running off and doing something stupid." He waved good-bye and walked out of the kitchen leaving Laurel and Clary alone, as much as it pained him to do so.

O.O.O.O.O

"Is your shoulder okay?" Clary asked, taking a seat at the table.

"Still pretty sore. I wish Magnus' whole healing thing would work a bit faster," she replied, a slight tone of annoyance in her voice.
Clary nodded in what Laurel thought was sympathy. "I'm sure you'll feel better soon."

"I hope so," muttered Laurel. Her mind stated to wander again and she remembered the faint scent of lemon soap and Jace's delicate yet strong fingers as they ran through her hair. The thought of her lying on his muscular chest sent a shiver through her.

Clary gave her a confused look. "Are you cold? Do you want me to go get you a jacket?"

Laurel shook her head and heard footsteps moving through the kitchen. She turned around, expecting to see the golden angel she'd been daydreaming about but instead finding Isabelle. Her ebony hair was in a messy bun on the top of her head and she was wearing a red tank top and shorts. Yet, for some reason, she still looked like a freaking supermodel.

"Jace back yet? I'm starving," she announced as she took a seat at the table with them. Clary shook her head and they sat in silence for what seemed like ages. Finally, Jace walked into the kitchen holding a brown paper bag filled with take-out cartons.

He handed Laurel a carton, his fingers brushing over hers ever so lightly, lingering there until she let out the breath she'd been holding in. Their eyes locked for just a second but she broke the gaze to take a seat at the table.

She ate in silence as Isabelle, Jace, and Clary shared stories and laughed. Jace was rfecalling the time when Clary had fought off a ravener demon all on her own, and how she'd stolen his sensor to shove it down the creature' throat.

"I'm gonna go to my room," she said softly before setting down her container and walking to her room, shutting the door behind her. She laid on her bed and waited for sleep to come. And when it did, her dreams were of golden angels that smelled like lemon soap.

SO YES! Jace still has feelings for Clary! I wanted to have some aspects of the book included in my rewrites and we all know that our golden boy still had a thing for his ginger "sister" after COB!

Buuuuut, is it possible that he's growing feelings for Laurel, as well?

DUN DUN DUHHHHH!

WE SHALL SEE!

Anyways, THANK YOU FOR READING MY LITTLE MANGOES! I LOVE YOU ALL SOOOOO MUCH!

Lots of kisses and yummy fruits that are actually references to reproductive organs,

~Lanny