This chapter is short DX SORRY GUYS! But trust me, things will get much more interesting in the next chapter. That AND this chapter is very important to Lace's (Laurel and Jace) whole dynamic! I wish it were longer but it just sort of came out short DX I'm so sad! LIKE I SAID THOUGH, IT'S IMPORTANT!

THANKS AND ENJOY!

Laurel woke up, her eyes frantically searching around the room as she struggled into a sitting position.

Desk: check.

Converse: check.

Sleeping blond babe: check.

Stele: check.

Her eyes landed on Jace, sleeping in a chair next to her bed, once more and she stared. His blonde hair was falling around his eyes and her fingers ached to move it away. She started to stretch across the bed when a sudden burst of pain shot through her leg and arm. She whimpered and Jace's eyes flew open. Most shadowhunters were trained to be awake at the slightest sound.

"Laurel are you okay?" he asked, already at her bedside.

She nodded her head and bit her lip tightly. He took a seat on the edge of her bed and she rested her head on his shoulder. "Jace? What happened?"

He recounted the evening's events, running his hands through her long hair as he told her about the Raum demons.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked softly. She nodded her head and he held her a bit tighter. She could feel the warmth radiating from his body as they sat there. "I thought you were honestly going to die."

She looked up at him and pushed his hair out of his eyes. "I'm glad I didn't," she whispered to him, her fingers lingering on the side of his face near his ear.

"I'm glad you didn't either," he whispered back, holding her head in his hands. He leaned his head down toward hers and closed his golden eyes, his dark lashes casting shadows across his cheek bones. She closed her eyes and she could feel him moving closer, his breath warming her to the core.

A loud knock on the door drove Jace away, and Laurel's heart shattered just as the once-beautiful moment had.

"Dinner's ready you two," declared Isabelle as if she were announcing the royal family at some sort of event.

Laurel turned to look at Jace but he was already back in his chair, that same lazy smirk dancing on his lips. She could feel the heat rushing to her cheeks and she turned away to face the window.

"Well great, I'm starved," he said cheerfully as he stood up and headed out the door.

"I'll uh, bring you back something Laurel," said Isabelle as she shut the door and followed Jace.

Laurel turned around to look at the shut door, her heart still beating frantically in her tiny chest. When the sound of Isabelle's heels hitting the floor had faded, she laid down in bed, allowing a single tear to roll down her cheek before exhaustion took over.

O.O.O.O.O

Laurel woke up, expecting to see golden eyes but instead finding only darkness. She reached up to her rub her tired eyes and her hand came back wet. She checked the time on her phone: 6:45 a.m. She miserably got out of bed and pulled on some jeans and a black t-shirt with a bunch of band names written on the back in crimson lettering. She closed the door and walked to the kitchen, not expecting anyone to be up. But of course, Jace was there, placing a to-go box of pancakes on the table.

"Glad to know I'm not the only one who will bother to get out of bed in the morning," he said, looking up at her with his tawny eyes.

She smiled half-heartedly and sat down at the table, grabbing a few pancakes from the box.

"So I take it you're feeling well, considering you're attacking those pancakes like a starved wolverine." He smirked and she rolled her eyes.

"Yes Jace, I'm feeling just fine," she muttered as she placed her dishes in the sink. She was about to walk out of the kitchen when Jace grabbed her hand.

"Laurel," he said, keeping a gentle but firm grip on her.

"What?" she snapped, whipping her head around to face him.

"About last night-"

"What about last night? That was really cruel Jace, playing games with me like that." Laurel yanked her arm from his grasp, grateful it wasn't her injured arm, and stormed out into the hallway.

"I wasn't playing games, Laurel," he said after he began walking beside her.

She looked away, refusing to allow herself to be cast under his spell with those beautiful golden eyes and angular face.

"Then what do you call getting ready to kiss me and then storming off?" she hissed, stopping dead in her tracks to face him.

"To be fair, Izzy isn't one to watch other people kiss. I for one don't mind the whole exhibitionist thing but she's always found the idea quite stalker-ish. Or maybe just plain creepy," he replied with that charming smirk.

"Jace!" she yelled, punching him in the shoulder.

He seemed unfazed by her attack and continued talking. "Look I'm sorry. It was a mistake, okay? Are you upset?" he spoke to her gently as if he were speaking to a wounded animal.

She remembered the tears that had fallen down her face and she shook her head. "No. No I'm not upset," she lied, even though her dark brown eyes told a different story.

"Good," Jace replied, smiling at her before he disappeared back into the kitchen, leaving a heart-broken Laurel standing alone in the dim hallway.

So yes! Jace is an asshole xD That's been established! Buuuuuuut, it seems that he still cares about Laurel enough to ask if she's okay.

Ugh, boys -_-'

ANYWAYS

I hope you all enjoy this! I am updating all the chapters, and may have a new one up this weekend! My other story is on hiatus (don't kill me) but I'm trying to write DX

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING I LOVE YOU ALL SOOOOO MUCH AND YOU MAKE ME SO HAPPY WITH YOUR COMMENTS! THANK YOOOOUUUUU MY LIL MANGOES!

~Lanny