ALL CHARACTERS BELONG TO CASSANDRA CLARE (JACE, IZZY, CLARY, ETC)

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Chapter 3:

CLARY POV

One week had passed since Clary had begun working at the Angel's. And, honestly, she loved it. There was nothing better than the rush of excitement and the thrill of being on stage. It was promiscuous, and not something Clary would normally do; but she had felt so alive on that stage the first night. Now, she couldn't get enough.

The thrill of men fawning over her was boosting her confidence. The fire returned in Clary, and that fire had been away for too long. Since Clary regained her confidence, she had become a new woman. There was so much that had changed from the old Clary to the new Clary. And now that she was making very good money, she was going to file for divorce from Sebastian. However, with this newfound confidence, she was still being cautious. Clary had already planned on leaving her new address out of the divorce papers. There was no way Sebastian was going to find her and drag her back to hell on earth.

Simon, Jordan, and Maia didn't question Clary's late nights. And Clary was grateful for that. She wasn't ashamed of her job, but she knew that Simon would refuse to let her work there. And Clary didn't want to leave Angel's. She loved it, and all the people there. Yes, including Jace. The annoying and arrogant blonde was growing on her. Last night, after a late shift, Jace had walked Clary to the apartment building. He had insisted that he would feel better knowing she was safe. Clary was thought it was very sweet, and in a friendly manner that was appropriate. But, Clary couldn't help but wonder if it was more. Jace was gorgeous, and he knew it. There was no way Clary could resist him, but she was going to try. She wasn't ready for a relationship yet.

It was Halloween night, and the club was having a themed night. Clary had let Isabelle plan her outfit, and Izzy was coming to the apartment to help her get ready. It wasn't until Izzy knocked on the door that Clary realized that Simon and Jordan were going to ask many questions.

Clary answered the door and gave Izzy a warning look. Izzy and Clary had a secret language through looks. Such as, 'there is a creepy man over there' or 'look at that guys mustache what the hell is that?'. It was something learned only after a few days together.

"Hey Izzy, come in." Clary said, giving her a look that said 'don't say anything about the club'.

"Izzy, this is Jordan and Simon. They live here, and I am crashing on Simon's spare bed." Clary said pointing to Jordan and Simon respectively. The boys were drooling over Isabelle's naughty cop look. They seemed to snap out of their daze when Izzy giggled.

"Hey guys, well I'm going to get Clary ready for the themed night. See ya." Izzy said, and rushed Clary into the other room. Clary showed Isabelle the walk in closet she had taken over. Clary had bought a cheap vanity with lights surrounding the mirror and put it in the walk in closet. She used the closet so she wouldn't take up the bathroom.

"Now wonder you don't like Jace. You have Simon. I had no idea you had a boyfriend. And he is so cute." Izzy said in a rush. Clary burst out laughing after she understood Izzy's rant.

"Simon and I are best friends. Nothing more, and yes he is completely aware of that." Clary said. Izzy looked at her in a 'I don't believe you' look, but just shrugged.

"So you wouldn't mind if I gave him my number?" Izzy said, looking at Clary and assembling her materials on the vanity.

"Yes, Izzy! That's perfect! Simon needs a woman." Clary said with a smirk. Izzy blushed a light pink and smiled. The next hour Izzy spent teasing and taming Clary's hair. Isabelle straightened Clary's hair and teased it to add volume. Then, Izzy used a light brown smokey eye to bring out Clary's green eyes. Finally, she added baby pink lipstick and some blush. Clary looked at the woman in the mirror, and she was beautiful. Not sexy, but simply beautiful. The small amount of makeup brought out her natural features, and she loved it.

Izzy helped Clary get into her greek goddess costumes. It was a white short and flowy dress. The dress had two single gold braided straps that continued down the dress and wrapped around her waist and back gently. The dress ended about mid-thigh, and Izzy found the perfect brown and gold gladiator wedges. Clary looked completely alluring. After thanking Izzy, they left the apartment and headed for Angel's.

"What's your next move, Clary?" Izzy asked. Clary knew what she was talking about, but the question shocked her. They hadn't talked much about her past, but she knew she needed too.

"Soon I will be able to get a good lawyer and file for divorce. I don't even care about the money; I just don't want to be tied to him. I want nothing more to do with that man." Clary said coolly. It was true. Clary no longer wanted to be tied to him. She didn't want the Verlac name anymore, and she couldn't wait to get rid of it.

"Clary, I haven't known you for long, but I am proud of you. Most women can't move on from something like that. They blame themselves and all that bullshit. They even make excuses for those pathetic excuses of men. It disturbing. Jace's real mother killed herself because her husband abused her. That's why we adopted him. My mother and father couldn't leave him with that disturbing man." Izzy said. Clary stopped in her tracks. So Jace had a bad past too? Clary knew that something in his life had made him the way he is. But, she never expected in to be so similar to her situation.

Clary's heart went out to Jace, and she immediately wanted to know more about him. She had been too quick to judge him, and now she was feeling guilty about it. Clary and Isabelle entered the club and waved to Jace and Alec who were setting up the bar. They went to their separate dressing rooms to rid of their jackets. They met up on the back of the stage, and readied themselves for the performance. Isabelle and Clary had been working on a routine to "Shadows of the Night" by Pat Benatar. It was ironic to say the least, but it was a classic song.

The song began, and Clary and Isabelle strutted onto stage. They immediately threw themselves into the routine. They executed many difficult pole moves. They slid down the pole with hands wrapped around and feet placed on the outside of the pole. All the while, lip syncing and showing off their body.

During the last chorus of the song, Isabelle and Clary simultaneously strip off their outer layer of clothing, revealing a second outfit. Isabelle was now wearing a black lace corset and black underwear with fishnets. Clary however, was wearing a white silk and lace corset with gold spandex underwear. The men were howling and whistling while the girls were readying for their last steps. Clary and Isabelle switched poles, leaving Clary facing the bar. Jace was staring at Clary with a small smile and a lustful spark in his eyes. Clary blushed at Jace's awe. And while she swung around the pole upside down, she felt a familiar buzz in her lower abdomen. Her body needed his attention.

Isabelle and Clary were finished with their routine when a man curled a finger, motioning for Clary to come to him. He was holding what looked like a twenty dollar bill, and Clary reached for it. But as she stood up to walk away, the man grabbed her arm tightly. Clary whirled around to meet black eyes that shook her to the core. They were so similar to Sebastian's that her hearts steady pace quickened. Panic rose within her, as he was trying to speak to her. But, she was numb. She couldn't hear anything around her. All she could feel was fear.

She broke out of her trance when the man finally released her arm, but not by choice. There, was the blonde boy dragging the man out of the club and cursing at him in a loud and angered tone. But, Clary didn't wait around to thank him. She hurried to the end of the stage and grabbed her robe. She ran back to her dressing room with tears flowing down her cheeks. Clary slammed the door to her dressing room, and lay down on the red velvet lounge couch. Her head was pounding with irrational thoughts. Her heart was pounding so fast, and she swore it was pleading to beat slower. But, Clary couldn't control it. Her sobs tore apart her body, and became uncontrollable. Her lungs screamed for air, but she couldn't comply.

Suddenly, arms were around her. Clary expected it to be Isabelle, but when she turned her eyes meet golden orbs. Clary's crying stopped with comfort and consolidation. Jace was rubbing small circled with his thumb on her arm. He was whispering sweet nothings and comforts into her ear. Within minutes, Clary's panic attack was gone. She could finally breath and her lungs ached for air.

Clary was staring into Jace's eyes, and she could see the concern and lust in his eyes all at once. Clary was going to thank him, but his lips crashed onto hers. His soft pink lips seemed to have melted into hers, like they fit perfectly together. Their lips moved together in sync. Jace nibbled and licked Clary's lips trying to coax her into letting him in, but Clary was reluctant. Could she trust him?

All those thoughts flew out the window as she opened her mouth. His tongue explored her mouth. He massaged her tongue with his, and searched her entire mouth, trying to memorize every part of her. Clary moaned softly as he detached his lips from hers, and his lips found her neck. It was pure ecstasy what this man could do with his mouth. But, when Jace rolled Clary over so he was hovering over her, Clary froze with panic. She wasn't ready for this at all.

"Jace get off me." Clary tried to say with force, but it came out more pleading.

"What?" Jace said as he flew off of Clary's body.

"Get out." Clary growled. She wasn't angry at Jace, but at herself. This had gone too far. She couldn't trust anyone but herself. She couldn't let another man into her life, she wasn't sure if she could trust another.

"But, Clary…" Jace said pleadingly. His sad eyes looked at her.

"You aren't going to get laid by me just cause you saved me from some handsy costumer, now get out." Clary said, anger rising in her voice. This wasn't going to happen. Clary couldn't let anyone in. Her heart was broken and damaged; she was a sinking ship. The least she could do was spare others and let herself drown.

Jace left her dressing room, and Clary composed herself. There was nothing more she wanted than to run after Jace and apologize, but she couldn't bring herself too it. Clary needed a new outlook on life. She needed to be more guarded and collected. She needed to stop falling apart all the time, and have someone else pick up the pieces. For years, she had been too weak, but that was over now.

Clary got dressed with her new life and new attitude planned in her head. She gathered her things and left her dressing room. She said a short goodbye to Izzy and Alec, but ignored Jace.

"Clary, please." But, Clary didn't even acknowledge him, because if she did she would fall apart. She would take back her plan and beg for forgiveness. And that, was something she wasn't going to do.

Clary walked swiftly past Jace without so much as a goodbye and left the club. It was only midnight and she walked home in the deafening silence. Clary had been through many tragedies and hard times throughout her life, but she was going to be okay. She told herself that over and over again in her head as she walked back to the apartment. And as she lay down in bed that night, she told herself on last thing before letting sleep overwhelm her. That, she was going to fight. That, if she was going to drown, she sure as hell wasn't going to give up without a fight.