Sorry guys! Another internet-less weekend :( Should have connection this weekend though so I'l be able to update on time! Sorry for the one day delay!

BUT, this chapter is introducing a new plot... the other story will continue on, just alongside this one. Let me know what you think!

(and sorry for the shorter chap...)

ENJOY! :D

"I should have been able to guess..." I choked into the phone that I was holding to my ear, "I should have known. You don't know what it was like…"

"Oh, man," Jonathan murmured, "I'm so sorry dude. I promise you if I were there I would bash this Sebastian prick for you. It sounded like you really liked this girl."

"It was all just… fake…"

"I know, man, I know," he soothes through the static on the phone, "It's ok. It was a dick move, and you shouldn't blame yourself for anything."

"Even Simon…"

"Pfft!" A new voice erupted through the line, "He sounds like a wuss anyways!"

Usually, the humorous banter of Magnus would have at least raised the tip of my lip, but not today. "Cut it out!" Jonathan hissed, "This isn't the time."

"They all just left…" I whispered my mind unable to focus on anything that John or the others were trying to say. My memory wouldn't let go of the moment that everything had crumbled.

"Jace," Jordan said, "Please just chill out. You're making us worry. This really isn't like you."

I felt tears prick at my eyes. "I don't even know what 'me' is these days. I don't know what I am."

There was an eerie silence from my friends. Finally Magnus chirped, "Well lucky for you, we know exactly who you are! You're cocky, arrogant, smart-ass Jace, who annoys the hell out of everyone, steals all the ladies, and even sometimes the boys, from me! You're a prick, an asshole, an – "

"Okay!" John burst, "That's enough!"

But despite it all, a smile was tugging at my lips. It was a small one, but it was there. It didn't do much, but it lifted the crushing weight of embarrassment and hurt by a fraction. I was so thankful for them. "Thank you, guys. Really, you guys are great."

"Okay, now I'm really worried." Jordan grumbled, and grunted in a way that made me think John had elbowed him aggressively.

"Seriously, dude – " John began to say, but was cut off when my phone buzzed in my ear.

I stuttered out a shocked apology and made a promise to call John back later before hanging up. I missed the call, but I went to check if it was a number I had saved. It wasn't. Fear bubbled up in me. I almost cringed away from the phone as though it were a living thing. What if it was Seb, or Jack, or Alec, or even Clary…?

Stealing myself and my nerves, I took a deep breath and called the number back. It barely had time to ring once before the line picked up and a small, familiar and frightened voice filled the line, "J-Jace?" Cece whispered.

"Cece?" I exclaimed, "Is that you?"

"Yeah…" she whispered, "I was scared when you didn't pick up…"

"I'm sorry, Ce," I replied, happiness flooding through me at the sound of her voice – my little sister Cece who I had left behind when I moved here. Although something in it seemed off… "I was on the phone with John and the others."

"Oh, ok," she said timidly, "It's ok…"

Something in her voice turned my stomach cold. "What's wrong, Ce?" I asked, images of our step-father rising in my mind, "What did he do to you?"

"N-nothing," Cece stuttered, "It's just that… Mum is here…"

"What?" I exclaimed in pure shock, "What do you mean? Why? What's happening?"

"I don't know!" Cece whispered, "She just arrived ten minutes ago and is in the kitchen talking with Valentine…"

I swore under my breath. "It's ok. She'll be leaving soon, right? Do they sound angry?"

"No…" Cece answered, "I can't hear anything."

I swallowed, nerves pinching all over my body. "Ok… Ok, Ce, just promise me you'll stay away for a while."

There was a short pause, before her quite voice added, "He hasn't… you know… hurt me since you left. He doesn't get angry as much."

The words coming from her tore at my heart. "I know… God, I know. I hate leaving you there. He shouldn't touch you if I'm not there, but why won't you just come back with mum. Please, Ce…"

"You know I can't," she argued, her small voice sounding firmer and more feisty, "Someone has to look after him."

I sighed in resignation. There was no point in arguing with her on this. She had a soft spot left for him. My last trace of hope or pity for him had been smacked out of me many years ago. And, I thought, so had my mum's. But obviously not if she was back at that house…

"Jace," Cece squeaked, "I have to go now…. I think mum is leaving."

I let out a heaving sigh. "Thank goodness. Thank you, Cece. I promise I'll call your more often now. Things have just been pretty crazy here."

"It's ok," she replied, "I'm looking forward to talking to you more. I love you, Jace. Bye."

"I love you too, Ce," I got out before the dial tone clicked into silence.

I waited up that night, listening for the usual crunch of tires coming up our driveway. I knew that if she had been at work, my mum should have been home by now. I couldn't help but worry as the minutes ticked by into hours. Somewhere around four in the morning was when I dozed off, unable to keep my eyes open any longer.

That morning was Saturday. I slept for a total of four hours and twenty-six minutes, then lay awake for another hour, stressing. I got up and wandered through the house, chewing at my nails. Mum still wasn't home, and anxiety clawed at me.

My whole weekend was spent waiting for my mother to arrive home. I kept thinking that I heard her tires in the driveway, and that she would burst through the door at any moment, blonde hair falling from its usual braid and the regular tight smile pulling at her lips. I imagined her wrapping her arms around me and comforting me, easing the pain of the heartbreak of the past couple of days.

But she never came. I never got another phone call from Cece, and whenever I tried to call the number back, it would ring out. Saturday morphed into Sunday and my mum still didn't arrive home. I spent my days waiting for her, but all I ever got was a phone call from a doctor.

Thanks for reading guys! Hope you like... or hate... this new story line :) See you next week