I'd already ordered food by the time Jace came back into the milkshake bar. His face seemed tense, his jaw clenched. He squeezed into the seats opposite me, resting his hands on the table. He was tapping his fingers again, in rhythms as though counting.

"Everything okay?" I asked, resting on my elbows. It was as though he'd just realised I was there, he stopped tapping, eyes flicking up to look at me.

"Yeah, fine." Jace said. "Just realised I've got some work due for Monday that I'd forgotten about." I furrowed my brow. Somehow I didn't really believe Jace. Something was bugging him, it was just a matter of what. "What's with the face?" Jace commented. Thankfully the woman with our order turned up before I had a chance to answer.

"2 chocolate milkshakes, chocolate fudge cake and a raspberry cheesecake." She smiled, placing the items on the table as she listed them off. "Anything else I can get you two?" Jace shook his head and she went back to the kitchen.

"Cake?" Jace asked.

"I did say I was hungry. Pick whichever one you want, I'd be happy to eat either." I offered. Jace didn't take long to deliberate, pulling the chocolate cake in his direction. I dived straight into the cheesecake. Two bites in, I realised that Jace hadn't even touched his. "You're making me feel like a pig here." I smiled, looking at his cake. He sighed, picking up a fork, shoving a large amount of chocolate cake into his mouth.

"Happy?" He grumbled through the cake. I nodded, playing around with my own plate.

"So, I know it's a difficult subject but how did you meet Sebastian. School?" Jace asked, I was taken aback. This again? "I promise none of this will go any further than between us." Jace reassured me. I suppose it was helping to get it off my chest. What harm could telling him the miscellaneous information do? He knew the most of the important things anyway.

"Yeah, he went to art school too. He was a few years older than me though. We met on a project." I said, taking a drink.

"A project?"

"Well yeah. You would get set a group project and you would have a mentor from a higher year. Sebastian mentored me on one of my projects."

"What does he look like?" Jace asked and I looked at him confused.

"Why?" I asked, filling my mouth with cake.

"Just curious." Jace shrugged. "I'm picturing him in my head looking a bit like Simon." I shook my head.

"Not at all." I found myself laughing. "He was tall, sort of about Jon's height. His features were quite dark but he sort of gave off a vibe of trust. He was easily likeable, he came across as someone you could really rely on to be a nice guy. Which is weird looking back now." I frowned. It was true though.

**FLASHBACK**

I felt like I was going to be sick. The idea of being paired up with an older student was extremely daunting, I knew the whole purpose was for us to extend ourselves and learn from them but I couldn't help but feel inferior. Last year when I'd done this, my mentor had pretty much denounced my work and decided to run with their idea instead. I'd spent the 3 months like a glorified PA. Looking at my schedule, I sought out the gallery room which would host our finished piece and where I was to meet my mentor for this project. They were late. Always a good sign. Finally the door opened, a tall, slender guy walking in. Surely he'd gotten the wrong room? I'd never been paired with a male mentor before. His hair was dark, swept back from his face. His eyes were equally dark, but strangely warm. He smiled as soon as he crossed the threshold, placing his folder down at the door. He crossed the room in three strides, holding his hand out enthusiastically.

"Hey, I'm Sebastian – are you Clarissa?" He asked, shaking my hand. I blushed lightly.

"Hi Sebastian, it's just Clary."

"Oh sorry, Clary it is." He smiled, indicating for me to sit down. He sat down next to me, pulling forward some of the paper that was strewn on the table. "So, what do you want to get from this project?" He asked, his eyes staring into mine, making my stomach churn all over again.

"I get to choose?" I asked, surprised.

"Of course." He laughed, brushing his hair back. "I'm simply here to lend a hand and maybe teach you something new. It's up to you what we create, it's up to me to help you do it." He smiled, handing me the paper. Now that I had the opportunity, my brain had went blank. I hadn't expected this. I laughed nervously and he smiled reassuringly. "That being said, I can still help you with the creative process." He smiled, pulling part of the paper towards himself, starting to brainstorm. Before I knew it, we were sharing the same piece of paper, brainstorming together. The paper was full to the brim with scribbles, doodles and sketches. Sebastian took a moment to sit back, reading the various ideas in front of him.

"You're really creative Clary. We could do any one of these ideas and it would turn out great." I smiled, my cheeks flushing. Sebastian suddenly looked anxious. "This is going to sound really strange but just hear me out, okay?" He quickly retrieved his folder from the other side of the room, fishing through it for his sketchpad.

"Okay." I shrugged, as he returned to his seat.

"I feel like I should tell you the context before I outright ask you. I'm a portrait artist, it's my specialty." He rambled as he flipped through his sketchpad, showing me various sketches he had done. It didn't lack variety nor talent. He had sketched old people, young people, men, women, children – all in fantastic detail, their eyes almost standing out from the pages they were drawn on. "I would really like to sketch you, only if you want too that is." He smiled, nervously.

"Of course. That's fine." I smiled, flattered. It wasn't the first time I had been asked and I didn't think it would be the last, it was a common request at art school. Sebastian started gathering his pencils together, opening his sketchpad to a fresh page, I laughed. His eyes shot up.

"You don't have anywhere to be, do you? I thought I'd just do it now, while you're working on the project." I shook my head, smiling.

"It's fine." I started working on the project some more. For some reason this was different to any portrait I'd done before. Whenever I looked up and caught Sebastian's eye, I felt myself blushing, my stomach fluttering, a smile emerging. Not only was he insanely talented, he was crazy quick, the picture taking form almost instantaneously. Just as I was expanding an idea on sculptures, Sebastian started to frown, holding the sketchbook away from himself. I only raised my eyes when he seemed to be getting frustrated.

"Is everything alright?" I asked. Sebastian looked at me, rolling his pencil between his fingers, looking at me dead on before tilting his head slightly. He was silent, clearly still in the creative zone. He hopped to his feet, looking right at me, before he clicked his fingers. His hand reached for my hair tie.

"Do you mind?" He asked, I shook my head. His hand pulled the tie gently, my hair falling down to frame my face. He came back around the front, moving strands of my hair lightly before taking his seat once more. Butterflies exploded into my stomach, ideas for the project suddenly the last thing on my mind. Sebastian was hard at work, finishing his sketch and I was trapped inside my head, trapped inside my thoughts.

"Do you want to take a look?" Sebastian said a little while later, dusting off his book. I was suddenly anxious but I couldn't possibly say no. He handed me the sketchpad, and I nervously looked down. I was blown away.

"You've made me look – beautiful." I laughed, amazed by the image. It looked like me but it was so much more than me at the same time. Sebastian smiled, leaning forward casually in his seat.

"That's because you are beautiful Clary. I only drew you as I see you before me. Nothing more." His smile was charming, his eyes inviting. I was speechless. I wasn't sure how to react. "If you really like it, you can have it." He offered.

"I love it, but you can keep it." I smiled, handing him the book back. Our hands touched in the exchange, a spark of electricity shooting through me. Suddenly I was nervous, I started packing up my stuff. "I've really got to go though, my mum will be expecting me." In my haste to escape my feelings, my feet got tangled in my chair, propelling me forward towards Sebastian. He managed to stop me from falling, helping me to stand back up.

"Until tomorrow." He smiled, still holding me up. My heart was thumping through my chest, my words failing me. He let me go and I stepped back, smiling.

"I'll see you later." I walked from the room but as soon as I was out of the door, I ran down the corridor.

"Clary?" Jace's hand was on my upper arm, shaking me gently. I looked back at him, raising my eyebrows. "You spaced out. Did they slip something in your cheesecake?" He asked, running his finger along it before popping it in his mouth. "Tastes fine to me." I laughed.

"I was just thinking." I smiled, rubbing my arms. It was strange to remember Sebastian that way. It wasn't good for me to remember Sebastian in that way, the Sebastian I had fallen in love with. "Do you want the rest of this?" I offered Jace my cheesecake, my appetite having disappeared. He shook his head.

"We should probably get back, Isabelle will probably be thinking I've kidnapped you." He laughed, pulling out his wallet.

"I can get this." I offered, reaching into my jeans. He shook his head.

"Don't worry about it." He smiled, heading to the bar. Once he'd paid, he came back to the table. "Ready?" I followed him out and to the car. My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out without a second thought.

Jon: How is it we set off after you, made a pit stop and still got back before you? I know I'm a pretty good driver, but I'm not that good. Something I need to know about? x

I pulled my face at the text in confusion.

"Jace?" I asked, as we climbed in. "I thought you'd called Jon to tell him we'd be back a bit later?"

"Oh, did I not mention? I tried to call him but couldn't get through so I had to text him instead. Maybe the signal is bad, he might just get it later tonight." Jace said, setting the car up. I nodded before penning a reply.

Clary: Jace was meant to text you. Stopped off to get some food because I was starved. Nothing suspicious, promise (: x

Jon: Are you on your way back now? Isabelle and Simon said they'd wait if so. x

Clary: Yup, see you soon x

"Isabelle and Simon are waiting for us at my place." I commented to Jace.

"Isabelle will be waiting to interrogate you, no doubt."

"I'll just tell her the truth. Well not the whole truth, but the bit about stopping off for milkshake. Not the bit about Sebastian."

"How are you feeling about that anyway? Still fighting the urge to go and see him?"

"Now who's interrogating…" I muttered but Jace shot me a serious look. "No, there is no urge. I'm not going to go and see him. It's as simple as that." I shrugged and Jace seemed appeased. It was starting to get dark when we eventually reached home. My mum's car wasn't on the drive so I assumed her and dad were out. Isabelle almost jumped on top of me when I walked through the door.

"I thought you guys had gotten lost! Or worse…" She glared at Jace as he walked past, he laughed at her, joining Jon in the kitchen.

"I'm fine honestly, I just needed to eat." I smiled, walking into the living room with her.

"Simon and I had one of the coolest experiences ever, didn't we Si?" Isabelle chittered, sitting herself down on the sofa next to Simon.

"Clary you would have loved it. Jon had to run an errand for your mum so Isabelle and I had a look around while we were waiting for him. There was this guy on the bridge selling portraits. We had twenty minutes to kill so we got one. Show her Isabelle, she'll love it." My heart was already beating out of my chest at the mention of the picture. My fears were confirmed when I saw it. It was irrelevant that the bottom of it was signed ' ', I could tell from just looking at the picture that it was his. Simon and Isabelle looked back at me from the paper, their faces smiling, their eyes staring right through me.

"It's lovely." Was all I managed to say, before I headed towards the door. "Excuse me a second, I think I've left something in the car." As soon as I was outside, I broke into a run. I didn't know where I was going, I just knew that right now, I had to be somewhere else than here.

Thank you for reading and reviewing. I hope you enjoy this new instalment! All my love, until the next time ~Sapph