So because I'm getting a lot of "OMG PLEASE UPDATE SOON!" comments, I decided to give you guys this little teaser. I hope you all show your gratification by leaving me long comments describing what you think about the story so far and where you think it's headed. I already have my ideas of where I want this story to go, but I love reading other people's theories–especially when they're really close but not really. I don't expect to really update this sooner or later since I'm still writing my other story (I hit about 30,000 words; 14 chapters; 150ish pages! Isn't that an accomplishment?) plus I have a growing mountain of schoolwork–which can either result in more updates or less. This is why I need summer :/

Rate/Review/Tell me your theories/Comment/Favorite/Subscribe/Whatever it is you do :)

Clary was just about to slip into R.E.M. sleep when, all of a sudden, her shrill ringtone went off. She moaned, turning on her side to see that it was about…

2 o'clock in the morning.

Fantastic.

Her fingers groped the nightstand next to her bed and she pulled herself up when they stumbled upon the small vibrating device. She ran a limp hand through her wiry hair and grumbled "hello" when the phone found her face.

"Clary? Is that you?"

She froze up and straightened up, a sudden drop in the temperature causing her to feel more alert.

"If this isn't Clary, can you at least tell me who you are?"

"This is Clary," she blurted out, then clamped a hand on her mouth. There was no way Jace was on the other end of the line. It was impossible; in all the time they'd shared together, she hadn't once mentioned the fact that she had a cellphone, let alone her number. And then Clary remembered another thing–how did Jace even know her name? She sifted through her memories, but found none when it came to introductions aside the first meeting–but besides that, he was the only one who introduced himself. So where was he getting all this information from?

"Are you okay? You sound like you're choking on something."

"How do you know my name?" She shot back, her voice rising with fear. "And how did you get my number?"

"I heard your name being announced," Jace answered calmly. "I felt that asking for your name after our first encounter would be awkward as it is, so I just figured I'd wait until someone else said it. And I got your number because I know one of the judge's daughter and requested for it. Why? Am I being too forward for you?"

"Oh." Clary felt the need to push him for more answers, like why he was glaring at the ink-black haired girl, but her brain always shut down after 11 and she had no patience or the willpower to ask anymore. "So what do you want?"

"A night out, if it's not too late for you."

"I thought I get to choose the next d-hangout?" Clary felt her cheeks flush when she almost called it a 'date'.

"I'm not taking that away from you," Jace answered in that cocky tone of his, as if he knew that she knew he was just trying to pressure her to make the hangout now. But Clary knew better. "You can still choose whenever you want to."

"Good to know."

A pause.

"So what are you up to now?" Jace prompted. Clary closed her eyes and leaned back against her headboard and imagined Jace, all sharp angles and golden hues, in the same position as her in his own bed…

"What are you doing now?" Clary deflected. She imagined the corner of his mouth curling up in a lopsided smile and bit her bottom lip. She had to restrain herself from reaching over and picking up a pencil by fiddling with her bed sheets.

"Nothing. Why?"

"Can we meet up somewhere?"

Clary sat on her front steps, her trench coat keeping her warm enough even though the hem swirled around her ankles with every passing breeze. She pulled it around herself tighter anyway and picked up the steaming hot cup of coffee she had made for herself a few minutes ago.

Jace had yet to arrive. Clary didn't let herself fret, though. The city was a big place, and getting lost was a given if you didn't know how to navigate around it, especially at night. She knew inviting him over was stupid, but she was left with no other options since she didn't know him well enough and wanted some alone time to get to know him.

However, her patience was starting to wear thin. Sure, she was in no hurry since tomorrow was Sunday, but it's not like she didn't have work for her other classes. Right when Clary stood up and was about to put her key into the lock, she heard someone cough from behind her. Whipping around, she saw Jace and felt herself calm down almost immediately–then panic again.

He was wearing what Clary was noting to be his "typical attire": faded blue jeans, a non-descript crewneck t-shirt that subtly showed his defined lean muscles underneath, a zip-up sweater with his guitar bag slung over his shoulder. Not for the first time, Clary pondered the bag's contents.

"Whoa," Clary gasped, almost dropping her coffee. "Hi there?"

"Didn't mean to startle you," he chuckled, his hands in his jeans pockets. "So can I come in or am I not welcome to?"

"You can," Clary said warily as she jimmied the lock and stepped inside. When she turned around, she observed Jace as he navigated his way through her house, her arms folded high across her chest. She stopped at the threshold of the kitchen as he perused her refrigerator's contents and raised both her eyebrows as he held a sausage in between his teeth when his arms became too full with sandwich ingredients.

"And what do you think you're doing?" Clary smiled despite her serious tone when the sausage fell out of Jace's mouth and she waited for Jace to put everything down on the counter before speaking again. "Are you making a sandwich at almost three in the morning?"

"Why not?" Jace continued making his sandwich as he spoke, never taking his eyes off his task until it was completed. He took a bite, sucked on his thumb and held out the sandwich for Clary, offering her a bite. "Oh c'mon, it's not like I have rabies or something."

"And how am I supposed to know that?" Clary said in disdain, crinkling her nose in disgust. "You have terrible guest manners, just so you know."

"What are you talking about?" he asked around a mouthful of food. He leaned against the counter across from Clary and began to purposefully chew with his mouth open. "I took etiquette classes when I was younger, so I know how to be polite."

"Yeah, for dogs," Clary countered and narrowed her eyes when Jace smirked. "So what do you want to talk about now?"

"I have a few things in mind," Jace said after swallowing the remains of his barely-recognizable sandwich whole. He looked at her dead in the eye and Clary felt the air in her lungs escape her when Jace added, "But you're going to have to come with me first."

So tell me your theories!