Hey guys! I know I haven't updated for a looooooong time but I'm back. I will be finishing this story because of you and I want to thank you for the reviews so far. Since I won't be updating every week but every other week (Finals are up) I will try to make the chapters longer. This one is the longest so far.

Enjoy and don't forget to review! You make my day! :)

Also my Beta hasn't gone through the chapter yet so don't be harsh on me. I didn't want you to wait any longer. :)

Unexpected

Chapter 7

I was sitting on my desk counting the minutes till the clock reached 5 so I could go home. I wasn't looking forward to a visit to the venue Alec came up with but it had to be done. The invitations were done I just had to send them out and as far for the girls dresses they were already picked. I though still hadn't picked a dress and Aline made feel awful for not finding it already. I still had two good months to go. How hard it would be?

Minutes were going by very slowly. Nothing new came in. I still had some forms to proof and sent but that could be done tomorrow. So I brought out my wedding notebook. It was a gift from Aline and it had the title The Wedding Notebook. It's supposed to help you organize your wedding. I checked my list of things.

"What are you doing?" I looked up to find Sarah. She was trying to see what I was reading.

"Nothing. Just checking my grocery list." I lied. I hadn't told anybody at the office that I was getting married. Not that I didn't want them to know... it just never came up and I wasn't really close to anyone except maybe Sarah.

"Honey this isn't the grocery list. This thing is covered with pink and white ribbons. Are you sure it isn't anything else?" she eyed my notebook.

"Well..."

"Oh, my God! You are getting married aren't you?" she squeaked. "I can't believe you're getting married and didn't tell anyone. You are in big trouble missy." She grabbed the notebook and took a look at it. "Definitely getting married," She said with a huge smirk on her face. I took my notebook back.

"So who is the lucky man?"

"His name is Alec."

"Does he have a good looking friend?"

I smiled. "I don't think that you would like lawyers."

"What? Lawyers are my specialty." She laughed. "Congratulations girl. I hope you'll live many happy years with him." she said serious now. Sarah was married for 15 years before she found out that her husband was cheating her with another woman.

Suddenly I wasn't sure about my future. "I will."

I drove through the lightly lit streets to find an empty apartment. Alec was still at the office. He had called earlier and told me he would be late. He rarely stayed late for work so it seemed weird now without him. I decided to make us a wonderful dinner. My cooking skills weren't much of a skill but my skills at picking a restaurant were excellent. I picked up the phone and dialled the Chinese restaurant just a few blocks away. I placed my order and decided I would go and pick it up. I needed a walk after all those hours sitting in that uncomfortable chair.

I changed into my sweat pants took my keys and strode out. The streets were filled with people trying to get home as soon as possible. Smells came in from the restaurants nearby and teenagers showing off with their skateboards. Our neighbourhood wasn't bad but Alec wanted us to move. Get our own home somewhere out of the center of New York. It may take him 1 hour or so in the mornings to get to work but he said it would worth it. He didn't like the craziness that existed in downtown.

I hurried down the block plugging in my ears my ipod blocking out every sound. I chose the playlist that was filled with classic piano pieces and my fingers started to move with no reason. I made a note to maybe tonight sit down and try to play. After all it's been a year since my parents died. A hand was placed on my left shoulder and I started panicking.

I turned around ready to face whoever it was when I saw a familiar face.

Jace smiling at me, "Hey, sorry if I scared you."

"Almost." Smiling back at him. I was relieved it was him. I wasn't prepared for an encounter with some creepy guy.

"Taking a walk?" he said looking over my appearance. I soon realised what I was wearing and tried to smooth down my hair which I had pulled up in a loose bun.

"No, just going to pick up some food. I... am at a friend's place not far away. We were watching a movie and got hungry." I was very close at revealing him where I lived. "Going home?" I asked in attempt to learn where he lived.

"Nah," he said and we walked together, "I have a friend in this neighbourhood that I wanted to visit but he's not there. I guess I'll try calling him."

"How's Maia? Haven't seen her for a while."

"She's driving me crazy if that's what you're asking but other than that fine."

"Driving you crazy for what?" I asked him.

"She wants to go to this movie and I don't... wait a minute. Do you want to come? I don't know if I can handle this alone." He said looking at my profile.

I wasn't sure if he wasn't able to handle a movie or not and my guess was that he was using Maia as an excuse to drag me along. But the thing was that I wanted to go.

But I decided to play hard to get. "Well... I don't know. I have things to do and... when is it?"

"We can go tomorrow."

"Mmm..." we were outside of the Chinese place and we came to a stop, "let me get back to you for that." I said and went into the restaurant. Jace stood outside of the place for awhile as if deciding what to do but sighed and left.

I reached my apartment and all the way there I was thinking about Jace. It just took a few minutes of him to make him get stuck into my mind. I dropped the food on the kitchen counter and went to the office room. I sat on the bench in front of my piano. I carefully placed my fingers on it and started playing without thinking. I played slowly at first, notes reaching my ears talking me by surprise. I didn't play anything in particular just random pieces flexing my fingers over the keyboards. And all this time I had a smile on my face.

I didn't hear Alec coming in but when I noticed he was standing by the door frame I stopped playing and turned to find a wide eye open Alec with a slightly smile on his face.

"I thought I would never hear you play again." He said half smiling.

I shrugged, "It just came to me." I said my smile broad.

He came and gave me a hug. "Thank you." He said and I hugged him back.

Later on when Alec and I were finished eating, Maia called.

"Hey, Clary. Jace told me you wanted to see the movie too. I am so excited! You're gone love it!"

"I never said I would come." Alec raised his eyebrow quietly asking who it was.

"Oh, come on Clary. You said you wanted to hang out with me sometime and this is sometime."

"Emm... I don't know. When is it again?"

"Tomorrow and you're not saying no." I searched my mind to see what I had to do tomorrow. Alec and I had to go see the venue he picked up. After that I suppose I could go.

"Is there a late show?" I asked her.

"Sure there is! That's the perfect time for the movie. See you tomorrow!" and she hang up. I realised that we handed arranged where we're going to meet and she didn't tell me where was the cinema place was either.

"Who was it?" Alec asked raising his head from his paperwork.

"A friend from the office. I kind of told her I wanted to see a movie and now she expects to me to come along."

"Do I know her?"

"No, no. She just moved to New York and I wanted to show her around." It hurt that I lied to him. But why did I lie? If he knew I was going out with Maia and Jace I didn't think that it would bother him. I knew Isabelle would mind and that's why I didn't tell anything to her or Aline. I made a mental note to ask her what's going on with her and Maia.

"That's nice of you." He said and placed a kiss on my cheek and guilt sank in my chest.

"Yeah. I think I'm going to sleep" I said and went into our bedroom.

"What do you think?" Alec said when we arrived at the venue. The actual room where wedding was going to take place was breathtaking. The walls were light gray with white patterns on and a few tables were covered with the green linens I had picked. They were covered with some extra stripes of brow-gold fabric and the blue lights dimmed the place.

"Wow. This place looks beautiful. How did you manage to make the tables?"

"Aline helped with those ones. She said it would make the decision easier for you."

"So basically you have already booked the place and wanted me to approve?" he looked elsewhere.

"Maybe."

"Alec." My voice warning and a bit of frustrated, "Why on earth did you think that I would say yes. We haven't checked any other places yet."

"But look at the place Clary. It's perfect for the wedding and it's in our price range." I looked at him hard and sighed.

A lady come and introduced herself. She was the manager of the venue and she came to make sure if we needed anything.

"Is this how you imagine the reception?" she said with her blonde wavy hair falling into her face. She pushed them away.

"Almost." Alec said confident, "We just need the center pieces for the tables."

"You surprise me Alec. I thought you had already picked those too." I mocked him.

"No, I left that job for you." He said his voice calm but mine was beyond calm.

"I can't believe you went behind my back. I thought we would decide together on everything wedding related and you just went along without even..." He grabbed my hand and took me away.

"Could you excuse us for a moment?" he said to the lady.

He let go of my hand, "Clary would you give me a break? I was trying to do something nice for you. I have noticed that you spend a lot of hours out on the streets planning this wedding and I wanted you to feel safe by knowing we already have the venue booked. The least you could do is thank me." Placing it like that he made me feel guilty because the reason I wasn't home all the time wasn't because I spend my hours trying to plan my wedding. But it was rather because I spend them with Maia and Jace.

"Ok, I am sorry. I guess the pressure has gotten me." Oh yeah, that's what was it.

"Can we go now and try to think of ways to make this place better? I am sure you would like to bring Isabelle and Aline to see it and help you with the decorating stuff."

"Yeah, sure." I grunted.

Thankfully he didn't have other surprises for me and we headed home. I was so pissed that I nearly forgot about Maia when she texted me the place and the time for tonight's movie.

"I am going out." I said and headed to the door.

"Are you still mad at me?" he said from the kitchen.

"Maybe." I said and he came closer.

"I am sorry. Is there a way for you to forgive me?" he said teasing me. I wasn't in the mood so I strode out of the door.

The cold air woke me up and prepared myself for... I had no idea what I was preparing myself. I just hoped it wasn't a thriller.

I meet them up before the movie started and soon enough I found out what it was. A thriller movie.

"Are you kidding me?" I asked Maia.

"I thought you liked thrillers. Jace told me so." This couldn't be happening.

"What did Jace tell?" Jace rushed next to us giving us our tickets.

"Why didn't you tell me that we were going to a thriller? I hate thrillers." I stared him.

"It never occurred to me." He smirked and went into room 3 where the movie was played.

"I so hate him right now." I said to Maia.

"They all do at first."

After what seemed like years the movie ended and I was glad that the contents of my stomach were in place.

"Oh man. That movie even scared me!" Jace said laughing as we walked outside from the cinema place.

"Are you kidding?" Maia told him, "Did you even notice the bad effects? And don't even get me started with the poor acting. It was awful." She finished shaking her head clearly disappointed.

"To be honest I wasn't paying much attention but it's a thriller Maia. What did you expect? Oskar worthy movie?" Jace said linking his arms with both of us. His touch fired up my whole body through two layers of heavy coat.

"Yeah, whatever." Maia waived him off and looked at me, " What did you think about the movie Clary?" I searched for an answer.

The truth was I barely saw the movie. I am not that into thrillers and the sight of blood is just….. not right. I don't know why I even agreed to this. I should have left when I found out.

So I mostly occupied myself by trying to hide my eyes from the disgusting parts while Jace tried to make me see. Apparently he enjoyed seeing me suffering. Although he was good enough to let me bury my face into him, when the bad guy or whatever the hell he was, tried to kill that poor college girl.

After that even if I stared at the screen or not it was the same thing. I just couldn't concentrate. I kept thinking how I felt that few moments. My anger towards him was gone. His arms wrapped protectively around me drove away the anger, keeping me into his embrace and with his chin barely touching my head. My face was close enough to his neck to smell him. He smelled aftershave and green soap and something spicy. He even smoothed my bright red hair before I pulled myself in my seat.

I didn't dare look at him after that but I could feel his gaze on me and my cheeks got warm. After that I barely remember how the movie ended. All I could think was his warm body and the hot breaths I felt on my hair.

"Horrendous. I don't even want to talk about it." My heart flattered as Jace stoke my arm with his fingers.

"So I am assuming there is not appetite for some food, right?" I nodded. "Good because I don't think I can handle food right now." Jace said and Maia eyed us.

"You two are pathetic." She said and brought out of her bag the rest of her popcorn. Mine ended up under our seats. "I am so hungry."

Her arm left Jace's arm in order to grab her popcorn living me and Jace tangled up. It felt wrong me and him walking with linked arms looking like a couple but it felt so good at the same time that I had no idea what should I do.

We reached Maia's car and said our goodbyes. I could still see her driving away when Jace spoke.

"Did you come with your car?"

"Yeah, it's not far from here." I said looking down the road. It was very dark and silent. I shivered.

"I'll walk you."

We left his car which was parked just outside the cinema place and walked towards mine. His arm wasn't on mine and I felt something missing. We reached my car and I turned to thank him when his lips touched mine.

At first I was surprised, my eyes wide open, not knowing what to do. But when his lips started to move against mine and his hands cooped my face I closed my eyes and let it happen. It was everything I hadn't felt before. It was slow, soft and sweet. There was nothing urgent into the kiss and he took his time. He depend the kiss. I push him away.

"Wait. You need to know something first." I said but he was taken aback.

"I know I probably shouldn't have done that but I couldn't resist you Clary." He locked his eyes with mine and I could see his desire for me.

"Tell you what," he said after a few moments, "I'll leave it to you. Sleep it over and then come to me and say what you want to say." he said talking backwards steps.

"Jace wait. You need to know..." but he turned his back at me and stomped away leaving me confused. I touched my lips. They were slightly swollen and there was a slightly possibility that I wanted more of his lips. Things weren't going so well.