~JACE~

Ever since we saved Simon from that nest of vampires at The Hotel Dumort, I'd been doing nothing but thinking why I went to save him. Sure, Clary asked me to go with her to help, but I could have easily said no and taken her back to the Institute, where we could have watched her and made sure she didn't go. So the only thing to do now was make Simon mad and to make him hate me…then I would be fine, because he'd leave, and I wouldn't think about him so much.

So that leads me to where I am going now, after my little outbursts in the dining area; the Institute's garden, which is full of herbs and flowers that help with demon poison and whatnot. But my favorite part about the garden is the flowers that only open when its midnight. It's where I feel the calmest...not to mention the soothing aroma of all those flowers...I am right down the hall to where the spiral staircase is that leads up to the garden, when I hear running footsteps and heavy breathing.

Its probably Clary or Isabella...seeing how Alec went off to go do...Alec-y things...and Simon wouldn't come talk to me on his own...

But when I saw who it was it had me dazed...how did he find me, further more what did he want...

"Jace, what is your problem?" Simon demanded, with a huff of frustration.

"Isn't it obvious?" I asked, "I want you gone..."

"Then if you wanted that, why did you help Clary save me from those vampires at their hide out?" he asked, matter-of-factly. He had a point …Why did I really help Clary go to said hide out and get him back? Was it to make Clary shut up because she didn't seem to want to give me some peace ever since she was brought to the Institute, or was there a deeper hidden meaning that I still don't know of yet? Finally, I decided to go with…

"Because …Clary asked me to, and I wanted to kick some ass if any hassle was brought up..." This seemed to upset Simon slightly, but only slightly. Now, he was still angry, but he didn't look pissed off, so that's good I guess...So to try to make him madder, I just acted calm and cool, just to spice things up.

"Well, I came to say thank you...," this caught me off guard and Simon noticed with what seemed like a twitch of a smirk, "...for saving me. We both know Clary would have been killed on her own, and with you there it made her chance of living even better, and for this I thank you, because I don't know what I would do without her..."

After what he just said I felt a small tinge to my heart...but why would this hurt me?

"Uh, yea whatever, now can you let me be? I kinda want to be left alone right now..."

"Oh, yea, sure I can do that" and with that, Simon left down the hallway probably to his new room here, which by now I have made my way to the stairs to head up to the garden where its quiet and free of people. That is, except me, but I don't count because I am going to be quiet anyways.

So now I have been up here for a while waiting for midnight to pass by so I can see my flowers...when I hear someone coming up the stairs.

Who the hell could that be…?

"Hello? Who's there?"

"Just me..." It was just a little above a whisper, but I could still hear it and tell who it was.

"Alec, what are you doing up here?" I asked frowning and eyebrows forward.

"I just came to see what you were doing, and how you are. I heard you left, barely touching your dinner...care to explain?" he asked with the most passionate, caring voice I have ever heard from someone...I know why he does it, but I just don't return the feelings I feel bad sometimes, but it's not my problem.

"Nah, not really, just didn't feel all too hungry..."

"Well, I don't believe a word of what you are trying to pull of as the truth...so I brought this..." He pulled the bag that was hidden behind him out into view; tacos...from the Mexican joint down town...he knows its one of my favorites when I "don't feel hungry".

"Thanks, you're a good friend. God, someone would be lucky to have you as a boyfriend" I said with the highest of respect and matter-of-factly. But I noticed he tensed up some, I guess he might have noticed what I meant by someone...

"Yup, she...wi-will be o-one lucky gi-girl..." he stuttered; yup he noticed, but he is only covering it up, but I won't talk about it...it's his business whether he tells me or not...

"So lets' eat," I demanded, seeing how he still had the bloody tacos in the bag and not handing them to me, well, handing mine to me.

"Oh, yea, sure let's, I'm starved, and I bet you are to, I get you your favorite with some side dishes that seemed interesting and a large coke to help wash it down."

"Ha-ha, thanks, what time is it? I forgot my phone in my room before we went out today"

"It's like five minutes to midnight...why do you ask?"

"Midnight is the time the flowers open up, and they are what I love most about this garden. I like to wait for them to open because they help calm me with their beauty."

"I see, do you mind...if I...could possibly...sit up here and watch too?" even though it was dark, I could tell he was blushing, but that's fine.

"It's fine. I don't mind, gives us some time to really talk and hang out, and whatnot, wouldn't you agree?"

"Y-yea, we haven't ha-had much time to talk or anything for some time now...what is it you want to talk about?"

"Whatever you want to...I don't mind, tell me what your life has been like this past year...if you don't mind me asking," and he didn't, I guess, because he just opened up, telling me how this year has been, who all he has talked to, and who all he has met., and what he wants to improve on in battle. But then he stopped, and I looked at him about to ask him why, I noticed one of the flowers beside him start to come to life, shining a light of a light blue color, and there are so many of them it lights up the room even more than the light of the moon outside, and also more than witchlight. It's magnificent; I could stay like this forever, if I didn't have to sleep or eat or any of that...I would just be content with just this...

"Woooowww…" Alec's face was lit with admiration.

"Now you know why I like it up here so much...but let's still talk; I still have food to eat..."

"But you ate all the tacos...how could you not be full?"

"I didn't eat earlier, remember? So it kind of just built, now talk and if will eat..." and with that gentle command, he continued on like this until he was done with his tacos as well and moved on to one of the side dishes.

"So how has your year been?" he asked around a sip of coke.

"Um, not bad, I guess, it's just...different now...that we have to worry about Clary and that mundane..."

"His name is Simon...don't be so rude. He may save your life one day."

"HA, him save my life? As if."

"You never know. There's a lot we don't know about him, and I bet if you were nicer to him he would open up to you a bit more, and you two could be friends."

"Well that will never happen, but I like that your so positive," I said while standing up, "Thanks for the food. I think I am going to go to bed...tomorrow we can do this again. My treat." I said and extended my hand to help him up off the ground. Once he was up he just nodded, and I left for my room.