NEW CHAPTER! :D

Okay...just before we start this, I need to say that NO, I did not wait for 3 reviews like I said I would.

Sorry for the lies, though I doubt you really care.

I really wanted to share this chapter with you all, because I want to know what you think of it. Sorry for any mistakes too...It's 3:11 here...Couldn't sleep at all. So I wrote! :)

Also, to answer a review by cato4thewin, the painting will be revealed eventually. More towards the end of this story, which may be in the next few chapters or in 10 chapters. I'm not sure yet.

Please leave a review at the end!

DISCLAIMER: Cassandra Clare owns all these characters, though I wish I did... Oh well. Read on, my friends!

~'-,-'-,-'-,'-'~

The next note comes just like the others the next day.

I see you don't take well to my warnings, Clarissa. Sad. I don't really want to hurt you, but it seems as if you leave me no choice.

Say goodbye to any kind of life you had, my dear, because there's no going back now.

-Fang

A wave of feeling hit me square in the face.

Anger, from knowing that this was all because of me. I kissed Jace yesterday. That must be it.

There's also fear. The type that numbs your whole body, leaving you feel empty and shaken.

Dread is also present, filling my hollow shell to the brim.

I look at the signature, the curvy lines connecting the four letter word as the bright red ink bled into the thin paper.

"Clary, I need to talk-" a voice sounds behind me, but cuts off as soon she takes in my stiff body, and the paper in my hand. Isabelle closes the space between us and gently pulls the note from my hand. I don't even attempt to stop her. I couldn't if I tried.

Izzy's eyes go wide as she finishes the note and look back to me. She doesn't say anything, but I'm alright with that. I don't want to talk about anything, let alone the note.

There are still people mulling through the halls, seeing how class doesn't start for another ten minutes or so, but any noise is blanked out by my heartbeat in my ears. I'm guessing Izzy notices something about me, either it be the stiffness of my body or some emotions showing through that I wasn't aware of, but she wraps me in her arms and start to mumble things in my ear.

"We'll find out who's doing this. You just can't let this affect you. I know it's scary, but we'll get through this."

She says similar things for the next minute before I notice something. Most people would have said, "You'll be fine." or "It's alright." and "There's nothing to worry about." and other bull along those lines, but none of it crosses Isabelle's lips.

And I'm grateful for that. I don't want to be told that it will "be fine," because I'm not stupid enough accept the fact that nothing will happen, even though I wish to God and His holy Angels that the outcome of all this turns out well eventually.

Isabelle backs up a step and holds me at arm's length by my shoulders. I look at her as she meets my eyes. They're full of sadness, the amount of sympathy practically filling them. I don't like sadness, and I definitely don't like sympathy. To me, it too much like pity.

I don't want a pity-party, but I push out all my thoughts knowing that Izzy won't give me pity. She'll stand by me, help me through this because she knows I won't go to anyone else, but show no pity. Only sympathy.

I still don't like either of them, but I give her a small smile which she returns along with a squeeze to my shoulders. Her hands slide down my arms as she turns on her four-inch heels and makes her way to class.

I watch as she goes out of my line of sight. Sighing, I feel grateful I have Izzy back, even though she never really left.

~,-'-,-'-,-'-,~

You know, I'm starting to hate even coming to school, probably more than anyone else. Especially today. Today is takes number one in the worst day of school poll.

Walking into the lunchroom, the loud noises of students talking, trays being scraped with forks and spoons, and today's tuna fish casserole -trust me, it speaks for itself- bounce off the tile floors and concrete walls.

I look for Jace, or Isabelle, even Alec or Magnus, someone who I know I can trust to be by. After a quick scope of the tables, I see Jace at our normal table. I make my way over to him only to freeze a few feet away.

Sitting on my boyfriend's lap is none other than the head cheerleader-and head bitch-herself, Aline Penhallow. Her dark black hair, almost midnight looking, is pulled back into a half-ponytail, leaving it to rest on her back. She sits with her legs straddling either side of Jace's thighs while wearing some dainty skirt thing that should be banned in all countries but now almost rises up to the top of her hips. Her salmon blouse is pushed up too, exposing her stomach and back. With one hand on each shoulder of Jace's body, I can't help but stare at the sight before me.

Jace doesn't notice my presence only a few feet away, since he's looking into her dark brown eyes. There is no distaste, no anger, and no humility in his eyes, being that what I feel now, but there is no joy, no happiness, or even anything that shows he's having a good time. He looks almost bored.

But his hands say differently.

A hand that had caressed my face as I cried not even a week ago was now on her hip above the folded up skirt. It was the same hand that ran through my hair as we kissed for the very first time that was stroking her bare back with his long pianist fingers, while the other hand, the one that held me close as we danced for hours the night of prom, spans out on her knee, moving up and down her leg.

His hands fuel my distaste, anger, and sadness.

Jace's eyes leave Aline's for a second as he looks up at me. Smiling at my presence, Jace's eyes now fill with joy, but it changes into a cold stare as he takes notice of the hurt I have plainly written on my face.

Jace starts to say my name when, as if someone slaps him, he seems to figure out what is causing my hurt, my anger. The girl on his lap. His hands on her body.

Suddenly, Jace stands, sending Aline to the floor. I don't even have enough in me to laugh, seeing how every other emotion is present in my body at the moment, even though I try. I can't even force a smile.

"Oh my god. Clary, I can expl-" I cut him off there.

"There's no need for an explanation, Jace." I partially spit out his name, not liking the feeling of it in my mouth anymore. He looks hurt, though I don't see why. "I see you've moved on from me. I'm not totally surprised, knowing your reputation. But thanks for telling, or should I say showing, me that we're done."

The eerie silence once I finish is deafening. My voice, surprisingly confident with no breaks in my tone, echoes through the room. I feel everyone's' eyes staring, and no one utters a word as Jace tries to talk again.

After a few attempts, it's clear he won't be able to formulate words. Instead, Jace ends up choking on them. A tear actually runs down his cheek, and I have to resist every urge in my body to wipe it away with my hand.

Looking away from his intense stare, I look at Aline again. She finally got back on her feet, and is now standing a bit to the side with a wicked smile on her face. I will not give anyone, especially this bitch, any satisfaction my humility and pain anymore, so I grin back at her.

Aline's smile falters a bit, but returns to it's smug form. "Congrats, Aline. I know you've wanted him," I nod towards Jace, "for awhile now. Don't hurt yourselves tonight. You'll probably celebrate a job well done with all this." I say, now gesturing to the both of them.

Once again, her smile falls. As if she's deciding against herself, she tries to find something to say back to me. It's probably some snotty remark, so I put my hand up and state, "Don't hurt yourself. I don't want to hear it anyways." I spin on my heel and walk out the double doors leading to the halls.

I almost make it out before Aline finds her voice again, "You can't keep secrets forever, Clarissa." I freeze, almost hearing her malicious grin returning. "Make sure you trust the right people next time."

I couldn't breathe, as if my lungs stopped working.

It made sense now.

How the notes were getting into my locker. How she knew about yesterday. Why she decided today to pull this stunt.

Aline was Fang.

~'-,-'-,-'-,-'~

DUN-DUN-DUNNNNNNNNNNNN!

Hehehe...I feel so evil.

Also, please don't kill me! I know you all probably hate me now, but this MUST happen. Clace must die for a while, though I was very sad while writing it...

Eh, too late now!

That being said, did you guys like it? I hope so.

Pretty pweaseeee review. I love reading them, and they make me so much happier to write for you guys!

Signing off,

Until next time my lovelies!

~shadowwarrior898