Walking down that hallway, Paige couldn't help but feel nostalgic. This would be her last September with a new semester. By the end of this school year she'd graduate with a bachelor's degree, majoring in childhood development with a minor in business. It sometimes felt like just yesterday that she'd first attended classes in this building.

Jon was back in school as well, though he was commuting a bit farther than her to get to Waterloo. It was crazy to her that there was only one school in the whole country that taught Optometry in English. Still she was so proud of him for going back to finish up his schooling. Though Paige suspected that no one was happier Jon was back in school than his mother who had already thanked her on the phone twice for convincing him it was a good idea. Jon had blushed adorably when he heard what his mother had said. Just thinking about it brought a smile to Paige's face.

But now was a time for listening, not smiling. Paige sat down in the chair she'd likely end up sitting in all semester - despite the fact that there wasn't assigned seating - and tried to pull her mind back to the present with moderate success. She was pretty sure she got the gist of the lecture at least and if not she'd just go through the chapter in the textbook again before a test. No problem. Boring part of the day accomplished.

Now onto better things. Like time with her boyfriend. Since Jon lived with Jace they often had accidental double dates where the three of them and Annika all hung out together. Though when Paige called them double dates both Jace and Annika corrected her at the same time, reminding her once again that they weren't a couple. The friends with benefits concept Paige just did not understand, but if they were both happy with the set up she wasn't going to judge, though she felt sure no matter how many times they told her, she was still going to use the wrong word for them without meaning to.

To be fair to them there was quite a difference between the way Annika and Jace hung out as opposed to the way an actual couple spends time together. They never sat with their arms around each other, never kissed casually in a group setting, or did any of those little things couples did. Those everyday little things that showed that people cared were absent with Annika and Jace, though she suspected care was the wrong word. They were very clearly friends, good friends even, but there was something missing.

Most of the time Paige hung out at Jon's, but tonight they weren't going to Jon's place, but rather hers. Alec was having a big get together for no reason other than the fact that Alec could now afford it. Between buying his car and catering a 'welcome back credit card' party, Paige hardly knew how Alec had any money left. He did have parents richer than god, so she assumed that was how.

Everyone was coming tonight including Jordan, which would make this the first time she'd seen him since they'd broken up in December. It felt like a lifetime ago now, but thanks to Jon she wasn't even finding the whole thing uncomfortable. She couldn't even bring herself to worry about it, not with him around. She and Jon had been on their first date only about three months ago, but Paige had this feeling like it didn't matter how short a time they'd been together, Jon was gonna be the one.

"What's with that dopey grin on your face?" Jon asked her from the driver's seat of her own truck. She'd lent it to him this morning to commute to his classes since her's were in walking distance, with assurances that he'd pick her up after class.

"Just thinking about you," she replied, grinning at him.

"I ain't worth that dopey look," Jon answered, seriously.

"Says who?" Paige disagreed with a frown. She could tell from his tone that he actually meant what he'd said and she wanted to make sure to change his mind.

"Says me," Jon said.

"You know for a very smart guy you are awfully stupid," Paige said smiling up at him with all the affection in her eyes she could muster as a way of trying to convince how wrong he really was.

"Oh shut up and get in," Jon laughed. Paige did just that, getting into the passenger seat and closing the door behind her.

"This truck isn't half bad you know," Jon said, as he began driving. "When you told me you'd put me on your insurance so I could use it to get to school I figured you were just trying to get rid of it. You know, an excuse to get yourself a new car, but it's pretty great."

"This truck doesn't look like much but it drives smooth," Paige agreed. Then she laughed and added, "New car, with what money? I'm an unemployed student, remember?"

"That's what debt's for," Jon laughed.

Paige turned to him with a very serious look on her face. "We have enough debt with student loans," she said firmly. "No other debt. I don't want to be still paying things off when I'm 80. Got it."

"Got it," Jon agreed. "Geez I was kidding."

"Debt is not a joke," Paige siad. "The country is drowning in it, and people are living on it. There is a disaster coming."

"Don't tell me," Jon continued, "You had economics this morning."

"Maybe," Paige replied. "Doesn't make my point any less valid though."

"True," Jon laughed.

The distance from the university to her place wasn't far. They had already turned onto the street, and Jon parked on the side of the road before getting out of the truck. If they'd come right from Jon's place, or the university they'd have probably just walked.

"The party has arrived," Jon said as he entered the apartment. Paige could almost hear his sister roll her eyes.

"That would explain why you're the first to arrive," Magnus offered.

"Don't encourage him Magnus," Clary groaned.

Magnus just laughed and continued ignoring her. "Drinks are along the wall there, food in the kitchen, help yourselves guys."

"Don't mind if I do," Jon said grinning as he disappeared from her side to attack the food stations. Paige chuckled. So food motivated.

Just then Paige was pulled into a big hug by Magnus. "How are you, darling?" Magnus asked. "It's like I haven't seen you in ages."

"I live here," Paige chuckled.

"Technically yes," Magnus agreed. "But you aren't home anymore."

"Not true," Paige firmly objected. "I was here just two nights ago, remember. Alec bought those four steaks home from work for dinner."

"Let me rephrase," Magnus chuckled. "You never come home alone anymore."

"Okay you got me there," Paige laughed, feeling warmth rise to her cheeks as she blushed.

"Alec and I have missed your baking," Magnus smiled at her.

"And right you should," Jon chimed in as he re-appeared with a plate full of food.

"And I believe it was you that took it away from us," Magnus said, narrowing his eyes at Jon though Paige could tell he was just teasing.

"That I did," Jon grinned, like he was being accused of the best thing ever. Paige couldn't help but laugh.

"We are gonna need some more guests soon, Magnus," Paige observed. "Before the jokes get old."

"Speaking of old jokes," Magnus began, and Paige already knew she regretted bringing up the topic. "Why is six afraid of seven? Because seven ate nine."

"You've done it now," Clary sighed.

"It's hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs," Magnus continued. "Because they always take things literally." He was trying not to laugh at his own puns as he continued. "Hear about the new restaurant called Karma? There's no menu - you get what you deserve. Oh oh and I just heard this one the other day: The furniture store keeps calling me to come back, but all I wanted was one night stand."

"Okay I'll admit, those last two were good," Clary said in a resigned tone.

Paige leaned over to whisper to Jon. "Let's escape before we get stuck here listening to puns with Clary."

"Oh come now," Jon chuckled. "His puns are funny." Paige looked at him with as much incredulity as she could summon. "Don't forget that thanks to my sister I've known this guy since primary school, and there are only two ways to survive his puns: love'm or leave'm."

"I vote for the later," Paige replied in a whisper as she slowly pulled her pouting boyfriend away from the situation.

"Clary will catch you up on the pun status later, I'm sure," Paige told him once they were out of earshot of Magnus and Clary. "I need a break."

"Paige doesn't like puns, huh?" Jon asked with a snigger. "The things I still don't know about you could fill volumes."

"As if," Paige replied with a dismissive wave of her hand. "That's probably the one thing you don't know about me."

"Oh I very much doubt that," Jon said easily with a smile. "You are far too interesting to be so easily understood."

"Where is Alec anyway?" Paige asked, trying to ignore his attempts to put her on a pedestal she didn't deserve.

"Kitchen," Jon answered. "He was there when I collected snacks."

"Snacks?" Paige laughed. "You had a plate full of food. I'd call that a meal."

"A light snack," Jon amended.

"It's a good thing you have the metabolism of an energizer bunny," Paige chuckled.

"Oh don't want a fat boyfriend, huh?" Jon chuckled. His tone was joking, but Paige could hear the underlying insecurity in his voice. She stopped walking and turned to face him.

"I don't care about it the way you are thinking," Paige smiled at him. "I like you for you, I just want you to be healthy." She leaned forward to kiss him sweetly. "You have to live a long time," she added as if issuing an order.

She studied his face, hoping her words had had the desired effect. Paige thought she saw something in his eyes that confirmed it had before he pulled her into a huge hug.

"You're wonderful, you know that?" he whispered in her ear.

"No, but I'll take your word for it," Paige whispered back.

As they broke out of the hug, they heard the door open and new voices. Simon and Izzy had arrived along with Maia. Paige didn't understand why they'd come without Jordan until she heard Maia answer that very question.

"He's still at work," Maia said. "So he said he'd meet us here."

With the addition of more people the party began to take shape. People broke off into different corners, talking and eating. It had been so long since they'd all been together like this and Paige had to admit it was really nice.

Jordan must have indeed had to work late since Tessa and her party arrived before him. It'd been a while since Paige had seen little Lucie and she'd grown quite a lot in that time. Paige wasn't sure if the little girl would remember her until suddenly her name was called.

"Aige!" Lucie exclaimed as she ran over to give Paige a hug.

"Hello sweetheart," Paige cooed as she wrapped her arms around the adorable child. "You've grown so much!"

"But Aige the same," Lucie observed.

"Yes," Paige said wisely. "Grown up's are like that."

"Silly grown ups," Lucie commented.

"I quite agree," Paige smiled, chuckling slightly. "Where have your parents run off to?"

Lucie turned and pointed to each of them in turn, "Da-da, da and Mama."

"You've got a knack for this kid stuff." The voice was familiar, but hardly expected. Paige turned around to see Maia, of all people, smiling at her.

"Hi," Maia said. Paige wasn't quite sure what to say. She'd been expecting an awkward encounter with her ex-boyfriend, but an ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend conversation had quite slipped her mind.

Lucie seemed to get bored with her standing and staring at something other than Lucie. With a room this full of adults, Paige wasn't surprised when she ran off to get attention from someone else. And sure enough she heard Magnus's indulgent child voice just a few moments later.

"I understand if you don't want to talk," Maia said. "I just-"

"No it's fine," Paige interetuped realizing how long she'd remained silent. "I just wasn't expecting…"

"I just wanted to see how you're doing," Maia continued. "I remember when our roles were reversed and I saw you with Jordan at one of these parties. It wasn't super awkward and horrible for me, so I wondered if you were okay."

"That was very thoughtful of you," she said. "But I think we had one major difference in those cases."

"What's that?"

"When you were at those parties watching me with Jordan you were in love with him," Paige stated.

"Yeah I guess I was," Maia sighed. "Though I was shit at admitting it to myself."

"I know what that's like," Paige replied kindly.

"I don't know about that," Maia said skeptickly. "I mean you are like the most self-aware person I know."

Paige couldn't help laughing at this. "Hardly," she chuckled. "Just like you couldn't admit you were in love, I couldn't admit to the little flaws in my relationship with Jordan. If you two hadn't broken us up when you did, I feel sure something else would have. And that might have even been worse, because it would have been dragged out even longer."

"So you aren't mad?" Maia asked.

"I was," Paige replied. "But not anymore, no."

The look on her face must have given her away, because Maia added, "It's because of Jon isn't it?"

"We are a tad transparent aren't we?" Paige chuckled.

"You so are," Maia laughed. "But also Jordan and Jon were good friends at one time and Jordan can see the change in him... and you."

"I didn't know he was stalking me," Paige laughed, sure that wasn't what Maia had meant.

"He's such an awkward little bean sometimes," Maia laughed. "He's seen you in the hallways at school, or the cafeteria or something, and he ducks out of sight."

"Oh wow," Paige laughed. "So does that mean he isn't really working late tonight?"

"No, he is," Maia said. "It's just that he switched with a coworker so that he would work tonight. He didn't want to lie and stay home."

"Well at least he'd learned about not lying," Paige observed.

"I do wonder though what Jace's excuse for not coming is," Maia added. "Apart from the obvious one: not wanting to see Clary."

"He probably didn't bother with a work shift swap," Paige said. "It's a lot fresher for them than us. Less awkward foolishness, and more open bleeding wounds."

"I'm glad we can talk like this," Maia said, with a kind expression.

"Me too," Paige replied. "With so many friends in common it would get rather complicated to do otherwise. And you can tell Jordan that he need not hide from me in future."

"Will do," Maia chuckled.

"There you are!" It was Jon's voice. Paige turned to greet him automatically with a peck on the lips as he wrapped his arm around her. The arm that wasn't holding his most recently acquired plate of food.

"Alec really went all out with this catered thing," Jon said, clearly very much approving of Alec's choices. "The ravioli is just to die for."

"You know I haven't even been to the food table yet," Paige observed.

"Here, you can have mine," Jon said, easily handing over his plate. "It's my third trip."

"What is this?" Maia said, in mock astonishment. "Jon sharing food?"

"Paige is the only exception," Jon explained with a cheshire cat grin.

"Well in that case I better check out his ravioli," Maia said smiling, and then added, "Thanks for the chat," before turning to move out of earshot towards the food.

"Everything okay?" Jon asked Paige with that concern in his voice she always loved to hear.

"Yeah," Paige smiled. "More than okay. I think we are all gonna get to stay on friendly terms."

"Friendly terms are good," Jon said. "Makes events like this less awkward. Man, it gets bloody complicated having this big a social group who all hang out. So much avoiding and in-fighting. How you remember who is talking to who I don't know."

"Tell me about it," Paige chuckled.

So I finally sat down and went through my old author's notes for this story and WOW do I apologize for slow updates a lot. Shit. That's crazy. Also man do I whine about not getting review like all the time. Yikes! Sorry about that. Us writers can sometimes get so needy. *Shakes head at past self* Review or don't, I can survive either. You may ignore my past, very needy and insecure self. She had issues. LOL

Anyway the point of going back over them was to clean up old stuff that wasn't relevant anymore like that website I barely had a month, that survey from when I decided I should write about writing, and the writing contest that turned out to not be a real thing. (All three of which were my ex's idea...) Anyway I also added (Updates) in brackets to show when stories were complete that I was mentioning as brand new.

I also deleted the references to my giving up writing fanfic since that's so not happening. Me giving up fanfic for original works was (like so many disasters in my old life) my ex's idea. Screw him. Gonna write fanfic till I drop lol.

Also there's another thing I've realized lately. One other thing I talk a lot in the author's notes is how fast I wrote and how I didn't understand how other writers wrote so slowly. Recently I've realized I've found the answer to this question. Slow writers have lives. For years, I hid in my writing from the world, but now that I'm in the world instead of hiding from it, time flys and chapters don't get written nearly so fast. I feel my current update speed is probably much healthier than my old one, even if the old one was fun. ;)

UPDATE: Edited after first upload by Connie Brown

UPDATE: Edited after first upload by CoffeeandLiterature

Sneak Peek Chapter 172

She was just about to find Izzy to tell her when all Clary's attention became instantly fixed on the front door. There stood Jace Herondale who she hadn't seen since the day he'd broken up with her right as she'd realized he was worth fighting for. Suddenly she was frozen in place.

She just stood there staring, hardly remembering to blink as he moved closer.

"Hey Clary," Jace said slowly. "I hope it's alright that I came."

"Of course," Clary said.

"I know Jordan chickened out and sent his girlfriend in to check the waters," Jace laughed a little though nervously. "But you were the one who said it would be okay if we talked so I thought-"

"Yes of course it's fine," Clary smiled at him.

"Great," Jace replied, also smiling.

And now it was time for Clary to say what she knew she would one day have to say since the moment she'd learned of it. The problem was she really didn't want to.