CHAPTER 3

It was maybe the first time Jace wasn't thrilled to go on training. But what can he do? Clary was his responsibility. He couldn't let a petty fight of theirs ruin their Shadowhunting reputation in all of Alicante. They may be the country's reluctant heroes, but still, Jace knew that Alicante was expecting much from them. That's why when he saw Clary already busy torturing the dummy inside the training room, he guessed that the day wouldn't be as bad as he thought it would be.

She was wearing her usual jogging pants and white top and tied her hair into a pony tail just like all their other training days. But Jace found something peculiar about her—she was either so determined in training or she was still extremely angry at him.

"You're late." Clary said as she kicked the dummy in its pelvis.

"I tucked in late, sorry." Jace said nonchalantly and removed his shirt and placed it near Clary's towel.

"I already warmed up that's why I already started with the dummy." Clary said as she paced in front of it, fist ready to strike.

"Fine, fine." Jace said and walked over to Clary, trying to decipher her next move.

Then as she was about to strike a punch to the dummy, Jace moved so fast and kicked the dummy off the way and held in his right hand Clary's attacking fist. And before Clary could even react, Jace grabbed her by the waist and spun her down, locking her on the floor. He felt Clary's leg tangle beneath him as she tried to lock him down as well. Jace didn't know how long he was on top of her, but he wasn't complaining. He was getting Clary so furious. And that was sometimes the only way he could get all her potentials out especially when there were no steles involved.

"Fight, Fray." Jace grinned down at her. She retaliated and was able to get on her two feet, shoving Jace out of the way. They faced each other like opponents in a boxing match. If it is hand combat Jace wanted...

Clary smiled mischievously and attacked him. She kicked and punched with all her might but Jace naturally and gracefully avoided every one of them. But once, when he was lost in his own amusement over Clary's fuming, she had directly hit his stomach. Jace winced over the unexpected attack. He saw Clary's satisfied grin in front of him and can't help but smile himself. The rush, the adrenaline, the heat... everything made Jace forget about their issues from last night. And as they used up every ounce of their energy in training, it was Clary who eventually surrendered first.

"I think I had enough training for today." Clary exhaled as she gazed above her where a dangling Jace was holding himself up on the wrought-iron chandelier of the room. "And it's unfair for you to jump like that."

"Well, it's a strategy." Jace shrugged and jumped back down just a few inches away from her."It was a good training though."

Clary nodded and even managed to smile. Then they both walked back to where they left their things. Jace threw Clary a towel and handed her a bottled water. He sat on a balance beam and watched as Clary wiped the sweat from her forehead down to her neck. Until now, everything still felt so surreal for him. He never saw the day that he would eventually open up and actually let someone in his life.

But Clary... Clary was just so different. She was able to make him feel confident about feelings and emotions because, as far as he was concerned, Clary was a very passionate girl. She made him feel that he needed to belong; to be with somebody... and since then on, she had only been his weakness.

Jace wanted to ponder more about the fascinating reasons why he fell in love with her in the first place, but he was suddenly disturbed in his thoughts by Clary herself who spoke and reminded him about their fight.

"Jace, about yesterday." Clary started. "I'm sorry I didn't hear you out. I should have let you stayed in my room."

Jace shook his head and drank again from his water bottle.

"Last night was something we should have been used to." Jace explained. "We tease each other, Clary—all the time. But a lot of people don't know that. And apparently, your blondie friend didn't, so it got over board." Jace snorted.

"Oh, your girlfriend?" Clary replied as she sat beside him on the beam.

"Haha. Yep, my girlfriend." Jace said but quickly added, "You know the kiss didn't mean anything, right?"

Clary nodded. "I know. I just got really surprised that's why I reacted that way. I didn't know I was already making you too jealous."

"Oh, you were making me jealous?" Jace told her sarcastically, "I really didn't see that coming! No, not with the way you dance with other guys. No Fray, not really."

Clary nudged him, "Jace..."

Jace then studied Clary's face as she looked away and noticed a small frown on her face.

"Are you just really trying to make me jealous?" Jace asked.

Jace knew that Clary wouldn't really flirt like that just for the simple reason of making him jealous. But the last few days were totally different and even Simon attested to that as he wanted Jace to stop her from flirting last night at Pandemonium. And just thinking about it, Jace felt a strong emotion inside him that maybe, just maybe, Clary didn't want him anymore and that her actions—her flirting—were already a sign that she's giving up on him.

"Clary?" Jace asked again. Clary took a deep breath and looked back at him, a sad smile on her face.

"I was trying to make you jealous," Clary explained. "I even thought it was some kind of a game because eventually, you started to fight back and flirt with other girls. But I always had confidence in you. I knew you were just fooling around, like me. I have never doubted you, Jace, but what I saw last night, with you and that girl, was something I have never seen in us before... that's why I reacted so badly. It seems so unfair to you, since I started this, but I just feel like there's something missing."

Jace was confused. What did happen last night that they didn't have? It's not like they hadn't kissed yet or stole snuggles and held hands. Jace didn't have any idea.

"I don't understand..." Jace replied, totally at a loss.

Clary held his hand and gripped it gently. "Would you hate me if I say that, sometimes, I miss how it is to be normal?"

Jace looked taken aback.

"Clary..."

"Silly, right?" Clary chuckled. Jace took both her hands in his and firmly held them tight, as if some sort of a reassurance.

"It's just that sometimes, I want to know how it feels like not to worry all the time." Clary continued, "To go to the mall or to Pandemonium without having to look for demons, or fight them. Don't get me wrong, Jace. I enjoy our trainings, but it feels like it's really the only time we get to spend together. You rarely dropped your guard whenever we're outside the Institute and you've always preferred to eat at Taki's rather than on some mundane fast food. Then I gave school another shot. It would've been normal if only I didn't know that Simon was a vampire... And that maybe in some ways I was fooling around with other guys because, well... they never really worry about demons."

Jace didn't know what to say. Was it all this time Clary was keeping this from him? He didn't know what to feel exactly.

"So last night, when I saw you dancing with blondie, I was so furious. And jealous, yes, that she was able to dance with you even before I had the chance to. You two were just the perfect picture of what I wanted to happen for the both of us. You know, just simply... dancing and not caring about the world, even just for one night. Because honestly, Jace," Clary snorted, "You never really danced with me yet."

"Clary... I—I" Jace mumbled, "I-I'm sorry, I didn't.."

"Don't Jace." Clary shushed him. "I chose this—I chose you over the mundane world. This is just me and my silly little dreams. You have nothing to feel sorry for."

"But if it hurts you so bad..." Jace complained.

"What happened to the 'Yes, I'm worth sacrificing for' kind of guy?" Clary kidded.

"This is no time for joke."

Clary stood up and smiled at him. She offered a hand to Jace, who still seemed to be worrying a lot.

"Well, you wanted to know, Lightwood." Clary chuckled. "Now put on that shirt. You don't need to show-off your body to me. I already know you're worth sacrificing for."

And then Jace took her hand and stood up, but quickly held her in his arms.

"If only I know how to make you feel better." Jace whispered in her ear. Then he held her face in both of his hands and stared longingly at her.

Clary grinned at him and whispered back as he kissed her forehead, "You just did."

There would be more explaining and SURPRISES from Jace on the next chapter! XD

Thanks to all the reviews from the previous chapters! I do hope CH3 satisfied you, if not then watch out for the next one! :))