A/N: Hey All!

So I'm writing this from the main computer temporarily, until I get a new charger

So I didn't have much written for this chapter so that's good, now here is chapter 17!

So, thank you Icaughtkira for waiting 2 months for this! (Sorry) :)

R&R

Xoxo

JACE SAT IN CLASS, SQUIMING IN HIS SEAT AS MR HEFAN DRONED ON AND ON ABOUT THE TRUE MEANING OF ROMANCE. Jace thought to himself that Clary did a far superior job at explaining romance and love to than this guy did. But Clary wasn't there.

She hadn't been there all day and that made Jace really anxious as he missed her so much. She had been there the day before and the day before that, but why she wasn't here today, he didn't know.

"Now class I want you to- yes, do you have a question?" Everyone turned to look at who had put their hand up, but Jace didn't need to look to know.

"Why isn't Miss Fray here? Is she sick?" Jace had been asking himself that all day and now he was going to get an answer.

"I don't know why she isn't here." Or not.

"Oh please, you must know since you are covering for her." Isabelle seemed to be getting frustrated with this teacher's vague answers and ventured on with her questioning, determined to get a straight answer, Jace admired that, he wouldn't have asked the questions, only because he didn't want to arouse more suspicion.

Ever since the day they had a massive argument, Jace and Clary had been gaining a lot of scrutiny from the other students in the class. Jace tried to act detached but it never worked. He couldn't help the flutter whenever he saw Clary, he couldn't help anything whenever he saw her and now she wasn't there.

Well, she was still a teacher; she just had a…sick day?

Maybe that was it and this idiot wasn't giving him answers. He'd have to get them himself!

If only English went as fast as it normally does, Jace thought to himself. Then again, at that time, when Clary was the one teaching, he wished it went as slow as it was.

He just wanted out of here so he could make sure Clary was okay. If she was sick, he wanted to make sure she was okay, get her

Anything she needed, he wanted to be there for her, even if that meant holding her hair back while her head was in the toilet bowl.

"Now, I am not sure when Miss Fray will be back, but I am sure, that she would want you to finish off any work left over."

Then—finally!—the bell went, signalling that Jace could get the heck outta there.

Jace grabbed his belongings and rushed out the door, heading straight for his jeep.

Thank the angel I drove to school today!

As he drove, Jace thought of what he might say to Clary, Sure he was going there to make sure she was okay, but she was still a teacher. What if she chastised him about not being at school, or ditching, or asked him to do his English homework? Which was ridiculous, sure he loved her, but he wasn't about to start doing all his homework!

He pulled up outside the familiar building, parking in the guest space and he noticed Raphael's black Mercedes a few spots up from him and instantly he tensed.

So, she took the day off to stay in bed with him!

Jace marched to the building and up the stairs, about to boom on Clary's door when he heard arguing inside.

"I'm sorry, but it's such a huge thing—" A feeble female voice said, to be cut off by an angry male one.

"Either you feel something for me or you don't!"

How dare he talk to his Clary like that!

"Raphael, I'm sorry I just need some time to think. I mean, it is a great thing, but, it is also a huge change."

"I'm sorry Clary; I don't mean to rush you into things." His footsteps approached the door but Jace made no movement. "But I need to know, by Sunday."

Jace moved now, to the little gap under the stairs and listened as the door opened.

"Two days..."

"I'm sorry, but that's all I can give you."

With a kiss to her cheek, Raphael left and Jace stood there for a moment, thinking of what Raphael could mean.

He didn't...

In a panic Jace rushed to Clary's door and burst into her apartment. Clary, who was clearing a table, yelped and dropped the plates and cups and jumped back as the porcelain hit the hardwood floor in a loud bang.

"Jace," Clary said, panting, hand on her heart. "What the hell?"

Jace took in her appearance. Red, dishevelled hair, light up green eyes, a faint flush on her cheeks, neck and chest, her bathrobe loosely tied and now the guilty expression she tried to hide.

"No need to ask what you were up to."

"Jace..." Clary began, bending down to pick up the broken pieces of plates and mugs. Something caught Jace's eye, a black wrapper with the words Trojan in white lying on the messed up couch. Clary looked up and saw what he had and snatched the wrapper up. Regaining her confidence she pushed past him to discard the broken pieces into the kitchen and the wrapper in the bin. Jace didn't want to know where the contents of that packet were, or if it had been used.

"Jace," Clary began again, tying her coat tighter and looking at him in an emotionless mask. "What are you doing here?"

Jace regained his composure before answering, he had been about to go find Raphael. "I was just making sure you were okay, to see if you needed anything, but clearly you're fine and your needs have already been met." Jace turned to leave but Clary slipped in between him and the door.

"Jace, please." Jace looked into her desperate eyes. She didn't want him to leave, but this relationship was a sham.

"Jace, I'm only seeing Raphael until..." She faded out, her thoughts off into another world.

"Until?" Jace prompted impatiently.

"Until he leaves." Something seemed to be ticking in her mind, a plan was formulating, Jace knew it was.

"When?" Though he already knew.

"Sunday is the last day for me to tell him, that I, that I...love him." She whispered that part, and if Jace didn't know any better he would've thought she just made it up, but looking at her, he knew she hadn't, she was telling the truth.

"And do you?"

Clary stepped forward and placed a hand on his cheek. "No, I don't. I only love you, no matter how much I try to fight it, I can't. I'm in love with you Jace."

Jace smiled and then looked around Clary's apartment, a devilish thought coming to mind.

"Why don't you show me everything you did this afternoon and maybe then I'll forgive."

He only had time to see her little grin before picking her up and carrying her to her bedroom.

###

Clary was so thankful that Simon hadn't come home that night, imagine what would've happened. She already had the scene formulating in her head.

"Clary, did you want too—Ahhh!"

He had caught Clary in bed with someone before; they lived together after all, but not with a student.

Jeez that'd be messy.

With Jace snoring lightly beside her, Clary had time to think while looking at his gorgeous face.

His perfectly chiselled cheek bones...

...Raphael's offer.

His perfect mouth with full pink lips anyone would want to kiss...

...Raphael's offer.

His eyes, now closed, a blazing gold, so serious yet so sensitive...

...Raphael's offer.

Okay brain I get it! You want me to think of Raphael's offer instead of Jace's hot-as face and body! I get it!

What Raphael offered was so much, but so little. A life in New York, a life of luxury in New York, a great paying job, his love, a penthouse on Manhattan overlooking the whole island. Everything a girl could ask for… but not love, and not Jace. He was the one stopping her from deciding. She loved him too much, that letting him go was not an option, though it was the right one, the one she should choose.

Sighing, Clary got up and walked to her phone, contemplating calling him. But what would she say? Yes I accept your offer? It's over; I'm in love with my 18 year old English student? She didn't know.

Actually she did, and that was the hardest part. She cared for Raphael, but not enough to go. She loved Jace, too much to leave. So she had her decision made.

Her mind was set; she knew what she had to do.

Picking up the phone and moving into the living room, she dialled his number. He answered on the third ring.

"Raphael," Clary spoke into the phone at a whisper, her mind set on what she had to tell him.

"Clary?" He asked, sounding groggy.

"My answer is yes, I'll move to New York with you."

Bum-Bum-BUM!

So, I planned ahead, there is actually two more chapters and THEN an epilogue, so there will be 20 chapters all together.

So we're near the end...Question for excerpt!

Clary said yes, but will that answer be her final one?

Okay, the playlist and links to outfits for this is on my profile. Check 'em out!

And, you know, Review!

Xoxo