A/N: And here we are with another chapter! Thanks again, everyone, for being so incredibly supportive. I love you all! :3

Chapter 20

(Evangeline POV)

I could scarcely believe that dinner turned out to be as fun as it did. Here I thought that I was getting into an awkward date with Simon, and it transformed into so much more.

Hanging out with Clary, Jace, and Simon was shaping up to be even better than spending time with them individually. It was great, we were all having such a wonderful time. I didn't mind that my date with Simon was interrupted, even though we agreed afterward to have a do-over with just the two of us.

But that was going to be tomorrow night. Tonight, I went back to the Institute with Jace and we talked on the way. Being around him wasn't as uncomfortable now, especially since he apologized to me and everything. Now we talked about the double-date and how much fun it was. Yet, as we walked, our conversation slowed and eventually stopped entirely. We pushed on in comfortable silence.

The night was colder than I thought it would be. I had dressed up for the occasion, so I was wearing a nice but nonetheless short blue dress that Izzy had gotten me the other day. I hadn't thought to bring a coat, even though it was fall. I found myself shivering as Jace and I walked side-by-side on a sidewalk.

Every now and then, I caught him glancing at me. Apparently he noticed that I was cold, because at one corner, he grabbed my shoulder to stop me. I looked at him, curiously, and found him peeling off his leather jacket. "Jace, what are you doing?" I said, but I got my answer. He held out his coat to me. "W-what?"

"Take it," he said, his expression unreadable. "I can see that you're freezing. Come on, just put on my coat already."

"Okay," I said uncertainly. I reached out to take it, but he surprised me again. Jace, still holding the coat, stepped behind me and held it out. I knew exactly what he was doing, because my servants had always done the same back at home. "Are you sure? You don't have to."

"Yes, I'm sure." The ghost of a smirk appeared on his handsome face. "Here."

He shook the coat for emphasis, so I told him, "Fine," and reached my arms one-by-one back behind me, threading them through the worn and large sleeves of his jacket. Instantly, I was warmer, even though the coat was so big on me. Then I became abruptly aware of how close Jace was to me, standing only a step or two back. I could feel his presence, almost, electric and very present. I knew that I should take a step forward, or walk away, or something else, but suddenly I couldn't make myself move. My feet were glued in place to the sidewalk, and all I was really aware of was Jace standing behind me.

I felt hands on my shoulders, and I shivered even though I wasn't cold. I became fully aware of the leather jacket, and it felt heavy. Just as heavy as Jace's hands on my shoulders. I wanted to turn around and kiss him—oh, how I wanted to. But then I realized what was going on.

I turned around, all of a sudden regaining control of my movements. "Jace," I said, turning to face him. He was staring intently at me through those beautiful golden eyes, his expression once again unreadable. I abruptly felt embarrassed at my own actions and feelings. Here we were, walking home from a great dinner and now he seemed to forget all about Clary again. Not that the two of them were dating again, because they weren't, but it was too soon. And I wasn't ready, as much as I wanted to be. "No."

He jerked his head back with an expression of great perplexity and mild revulsion. Had anyone ever told him no before? The way he was acting suggested the opposite. "What?"

"You heard me," I said faintly, my emotions swelling. "And what do you think you're doing?"

Jace's face contorted in frustration, and he made a strange, strangled kind of movement. "I don't know!" he snarled loudly, his hands going to his hair. But he wasn't acting angry at me; rather, he seemed to be directing it all at himself. "I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm going mad!"

I was moved with pity for him, pity and sympathy. It was horrible to see him like this. I went over to him very calmly and gently took his hands, removing them from his hairline. Carefully, I put them back at his sides, but did not let go. "No you're not," I told him. "You're absolutely not going mad."

"How do you know?" he murmured down to me. We were so close, our bodies practically touching from the proximity. And I was still holding his hands. All things considering, I probably shouldn't have been, but I didn't want him to hurt himself. "I'm a horrible person. All I ever do is hurt everyone. See? I was about to do it again."

"You weren't going to hurt me," I said knowingly. "Don't be absurd."

"Sure I was." His lips barely moved when he whispered. And his eyes bored into mine, seeming to search my very soul. "I was going to kiss you again, even though I know I shouldn't."

I gasped, my stomach filling with butterflies and a shiver traveling down my spine. "Jace…"

His eyelashes, under the light of the streetlamps, cast long shadows down his cheekbones. "Would you mind if I did?"

Automatically, I gave an almost imperceptible shake of my head. How much harm could it do? My previous thoughts of embarrassment were long gone.

He smirked slightly before leaning down and resting his lips against mine.

(Clary POV)

My walk home with Simon was quiet, quiet and satisfying. However, there was an undeniable electricity in the air that was very concerning to me. I decided to break the silence and ask him about Evangeline. "So, you and Evangeline seem like you're getting along."

"Yeah, I guess you could say that," said Simon. "She's a nice girl. A bit naïve, though, if you ask me. But that's part of her charm."

"Yeah, I understand," I told him. Evangeline was very innocent, which only added to her overall beauty. She was like a delicate flower, with her pretty pale skin and luminous sapphire eyes and such. Awhile ago, I would have envied someone like her, but I was now confident enough in myself to be able to admire her without jealousy. Evangeline was a completely different kind of pretty, like a female version of Alec or something. "That was a great dinner."

"It was," he agreed.

We walked on a few more steps in silence. "You know, I, uh, appreciated your apology," I said.

Simon glanced at me, a sweet and kind of sad smile on his face. "You too." I found myself recalling our night together, when we pressed up together in Simon's bed and I tried to forget everything. It hadn't worked, but I still remembered all of it. And those very memories sprang into my mind as I looked at Simon, and I could feel my cheeks darkening. "Clary? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," I lied. "Everything's fine."

But all I could think about was my night with Simon. He wasn't a lover like Jace, who was kind of aggressive and seeking. Instead, Simon was gentle. Sweet. He had held me when I cried afterward, assuring me that everything was going to be alright. I was used to Jace and I loved his passion, but Simon's compassion had been a breath of fresh air.

"Clary…" he said disapprovingly, moving to stand in front of me. "I know that something's wrong. What's going through your head?"

I stared up at him, so tall in the moonlight. We were standing near the side of a building, bricked over and covered in graffiti. Simon's warm brown eyes stared into mine, searching for an answer, and he moved a hand up to smooth my crazy red hair.

"I'm not telling you what it is, but it's definitely not convenient," I whispered. What would be convenient would be to swear off men for the time being, and eventually find some nice guy to settle down with. I had thought that guy would be Jace, but he wasn't really the settling-down-type.

"Just tell me."

I looked into Simon's eyes, hardly believing what I was about to do. Instead of opening my mouth to explain it to him with words, I pushed him against the brick wall and pressed my lips against his.

A/N: Is it just me, or is it staring to feel hot in here? ;) xoxo