City of Rising Stars

Ch.13 Love is in the air. EVERYWHERE (Anna's POV)

   I was dreaming of cornfields and endless blue skies like people usually do. But unlike normal people, there was a soft, beautiful, but eerie melody in the background. I immediately recognized it but didn't know the name. I suddenly woke out of my dream, but was conscious that the music was still playing. I decided I was going to figure out who was playing that infernal racket and keeping me up, although I hated to admit I was enjoying it just slightly. I walked down the halls of the institute, the candles now glowing in sporadic sparks. I came closer to the music, and was surprised it was coming from will's room. Will doesn't play classical. I thought. No way. Not my will. So if I wasn't will... Jem. It was Jem. But before I realized it i was already stepping through like a madwoman. Jem immediately said, "Will. Will, is it you?" "No, it's me. Anna."
"Hey Anna," Jem said as he set down his violin.
"Hey," I said nervously. I've never really talked to Jem without anyone in the room. But now, just the two of us, I noticed things I've never noticed before. I've always thought Will and Jem were robot copies of each other. But now I realized Jem's eyes were a beautiful emerald green color, like the color of the fields I dreamed of. His lip was a heart shape, and his tooth had a slight chip, a relic from one of the many fights we had over the years. His mop of blond hair was tinged with more red, like Clary's. He had that kind of grin that lit up his whole face, like Will.
"You're staring at me."
"No, I would rather call it looking at you observingly." I said slyly.
"Admiring what you see?"
"That's such a Will thing to say," I laughed.
"You can't expect anything else. I am Will's twin." Jem grinned
"What are you guys talking about." Will said. I've always hated how he could come in even without me noticing.
"Nothing. Your parabatai just walked in because she heard my music in a dream."
"If she heard your music in her dream then it was a nightmare."
"You know me so well Will." I grinned
"I'm going back to bed. Good night." He saluted and left too quickly before I realized. I was talking with Will's brother. What has gotten into me?
Jem's POV:
"Please tell me you weren't taking sexual advances on my parabatai Jamie."
"Don't be an idiot Willem. She's the one who came to me, and besides, your parabatai is meant for you."
"Oh come off it Jamie. You like her. I can tell." Will said. It scared me how well he could read my face.
"Ugh, fine. I think she's pretty. I like her. But I don't know." I knew I was rambling. I hated talking like this to Will. He either makes fun of me or smirks. He didn't do either this time.
"Jem, my parabatai isn't taken. So if you want. Take her. Know that if you break her heart, she has the ability to kill you with a variety of weapons. And so do I." Will said the last sentence with a smile and smirk.
"Oh I know. Anna really is something. That's why I think you guys are so good as parabatai."
"If Anna doesn't return your feelings, don't mope to me about it. Go to Tess or something. Listening to your problems is boring. Yet amusing. But the boring cancels out anything amusing."
   I walked down to Anna's room the next morning. Nervous ball of nerves. Sputtering over myself. Why do girls do this to me. I thought. Turns out I didn't need to go to Anna's room because I literally bumped right into her in the hall. I cursed to myself
"Easy there, don't want you out of commission when we fight demons." Anna said lightheartedly.
"Oh god. I'm the worst."
"I don't disagree." Anna started walking away but I had to do this. I pulled her arm.
"Anna, I was hoping that we could take a day trip to my favorite place in New York."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"Because..."
"Because what.?"
"Oh fine I'll go with you. But if Will wants me I leave."
"All right Anna. That can be arranged . Let's go."
   (Anna's POV) We were walking through the streets of New York with glamour runes on, obviously. We were walking and I realized belatedly we were walking in the direction of the Brooklyn bridge.
"Jem, what are we doing here."
"Oh you know, just chillin."
"Why couldn't we do that at the institute?"
"I like it here better."
"Oh Jem, I'll never understand you."
"Maybe I don't want to be understood."
Beneath all my acting. I was starting to realize that I really liked Jem. He wasn't like Will. In fact, he was the complete opposite. But something about him was just magnetic. I couldn't help being drawn to him.
I suddenly realized Jem's face was so to mine, so close he could kiss me. I was more surprised when he did.
"What are you doing?" I sputtered.
"I'm sorry, oh god I'm sorry. That was bad. You don't seem happy."
"Why me Jem?"
"I don't know. I thought you could tell. I like you Anna. When you came in my room yesterday I thought maybe you felt the same way. God, that was terrible. Sorry I've never kissed anyone." He sounded almost bashful.
"Well, I think we can do better. So start over. I'm erasing that memory."
"I don't think that you could change history Ann."
"Of course you can, besides only you and me would ever know. I'll never understand you Jem."
"Maybe I don't want to be understood."
He leaned in, hands at my waist, cupping my face, and gave me a slow, passionate kiss. I ran my hands down his back and he wound his hands in my hair.
"BRAVO!!!!"
"Will! What the hell! Did you follow me?" I shouted
"Of course I did. Watching you two is amusing. And it's better then listening to Tess and Will 2 talk."
"Will 2?"
"I'm the original. He's the second."
"Of course Will. Of course." I sighed. So happy. Thinking of the way Jem's lips felt on mine