By the Angel

Chapter 7

I inwardly groan as he follows me all the way to Mrs. Roberts class.

"You know, when I said do what you want, I didn't think you would follow me, " I say taking my scrapbook out of my bag and placing it on the table. I turn around to gather all my supplies and when I get back Jace is pawing through my book.

"Jace do you have no boundaries?" I say getting heated all over again.

"Not when it comes to you, apparently."

I bite my lip to stop a smile from spreading across my face. I promised myself I wouldn't be one of his girls, one of his conquest but here I am all but having to wipe the drool off my chin. He's just so damn charming, it's annoying. I sit in front of him watching him leaf through the pages, hoping he likes them, forgetting again how I'm supposed to not care what he thinks.

His fingers freeze on a page, I lean over to see what has captured his gaze.
"You drew me?" He asks astonished.

I snatch the book out of his hands utterly humiliated.
Damn it, Clary
How could I forget I sketched him? At least he didn't see the other nine, I drew of him. My infatuation is slowly developing into an obsession.

I put my hands in my face as I try to get myself together. I shouldn't feel embarrassed, I should feel nothing. Why the fuck don't I feel nothing?

I feel rough hands pulling mine, gently uncovering my face as he kneels before me.
"If I had one artistic bone in my body, I would wield that skill to draw nothing but you. The pages would be filled with your fiery red hair that haunts my dreams, those emerald green eyes that see right into my soul, your flushed cheeks," he rests his fingers on my cheek sending sparks everywhere his fingers touch and in that moment I know I'm gone.
I lean into his hand, giving in to him like a fool.

"That I find myself wanting to stroke, " he finishes huskily.

He starts to lean down his lips hovering over mine and I don't stop him. I want his lips molded against mine, I want to lose myself into his kiss, into him.

"Finding inspiration in unorthodox ways I see."

I jump away from Jace like he's burned me and judging by the warm sensation I feel spreading throughout my body maybe he has.

"Hey Maia, I was just giving Jace some pointers on uhh..... Art," I finish lamely.

"Maia?" Jace asks

" It's MS, Roberts to you. Only my most promising pupil is permitted to call me by my first name."

I smile at her, she's been my art instructor for four years now and she's amazing. The fact that she lets me use her classroom as my safe space to work on my sketches and paintings is a favor I will never be able to repay.

"So, " Maia says, " is your entourage staying?"

Before I can tell Jace to leave or beg him to stay he speaks up.

"I'd like to Yeah."


Maia smiles," very well then, if you need me Clary dear I'll just be finishing up a few things at my desk."

Jace takes his seat beside me as I turn the pages making sure to hide the other drawings of him.  When I find a blank page, I set my pencil to the middle of the paper and let it be my guide.

But instead of being in control I'm sucked into the darkness. I'm trapped in that black pit of despair. I can feel my hand moving faster and faster as that night comes rushing back to me. Suddenly I'm that scared helpless girl again.


****************
Jace's POV


Dread engulfs as I look into Clary's eyes.
Maia jumps out of her chair and is at Clary's side in a moment. "Clary he's not here, he's not here," she repeats.

The pencil in her hand snaps in half and for a moment I think she's back in reality but then her eyes glaze over, a look of sheer horror frozen on her face.

"I'll be back I need to get something for her, just watch her okay? Try not to make it worse."

" How can I avoid that?" I ask but she's already out the door. I only thought I was frightened when Clary was in that ring but this? I'm so fucking terrified.

"Clary," I plead as I kneel before her setting my hands on either side of her cheeks.

Panic starts to set in as I gently shake her with no response. I reach for my backpack pulling out my bottle of water. With a prayer to the angel that this works I splash it in her face.

She blinks once, twice, relief washes over me as she looks up at me for an explanation.

I throw my arms around her, despite her protest she hugs me back. I bury my face into her neck, the mouthwatering scent of blossoms and what can only be described as sunshine waft over me as a few tendrils of that fiery red hair covers my face.
She gently pushes me, and I release her, though it almost kills me to do it.

"Where did you go?" I ask even though I know it's none of my business but hoping she'll tell me anyway.

She just shrugs her shoulders, I sigh. I should have known she wouldn't tell me, she doesn't trust me yet and I don't blame her, she barely knows me even though it feels like I know her.  She looks down at her sketchbook noticing it for the first time. A look of horror stretches access her features as she rips the page out. Before I can question her on the subject she changes it.

"I'm cold, " she complains and I can't help but smile.

"That's because I dumped a bottle of water over your head."

"You could have just slapped me instead, " she smirks.

I grin as I shrug off my jacket and put it over her shoulders. She gladly slips her arms inside. I try not to dweeb out over the fact that she's wearing my jacket.
That's something that her lapdogs would do, and Jace Wayland is no lapdog.

She grins at me and her emerald eyes shine towards mine. Who am I kidding? If she said sit, I'd sit.

"You know, " I say as I inch closer, that intoxicating scent overwhelming me, "I could have just kissed you instead."

She smiles at me, " I think that would have been more preferable."

"Did you just admit you want me to kiss you?"

"No, " she says slowly, "I said it would be more preferable oppose to having ice cold water dumped over my head. Unless you're that bad of a kisser. It's not a compliment Jace, I just hate being cold."


"Yeah but you hate me less."

She smiles at me again and I can hardly contain my own grin, "Well Goldilocks, if you want to take it as admiration you go right ahead."

"Goldilocks?"

She shrugs, " I figured since you call me Ember its only fitting I find a suitable nickname for you."


"And what a manly name you've chosen for me." I chuckle

"Your ego can handle it." She winks at me as Ms. Roberts comes rushing back in with a gallon of water.
I guess we had the same idea.
She skids across the room stopping in front of Clary.

"Glad to see you're awake, you okay? That hasn't happened in a while."

"I'm alright Maia, I promise"

She nods, unconvinced as she takes her seat at her desk.

"Clary, " I start but she holds her hand up before I can continue.

"I don't want to talk about it."

She starts drawing again, I hope the disappointment doesn't show on my face as I watch her. I can't help but wonder what happened to her but then again maybe it's better I don't.

I know it's bad, I know I'll probably want to kill whoever's on the other end of her torment. If she gave me a name I'm sure I would do just that. So yeah, it may be for the best if she never tells me but I still want to know. I need to know, so I can be there for her, I just hope one day she lets me.

The bell rings and I begrudgingly get out of my chair.
She bolts out of her chair but I easily keep stride with her.
"I don't need an escort to class Jace."

"We're going to the same place remember?"

She groans, "Oh yeah, I forgot you're a stalker."

Her comment stings at first until I realize she's laughing.
"I'm kidding Jace, you're not so bad, " she says as she bumps my shoulder. "In fact," she says stopping mid-stride as she carefully tears out a page from her scrapbook and writes something down. "You can keep this if you want, not that you would want it but..." she trails off.

She hands me the page she drew of me and scribbled in the corner is her signature and the words "To the boy with the golden hair. Xoxo Ember."

I'm so overwhelmed with emotion I can barely speak, in fact, it seems as if the part of my brain in charge of dialogue deteriorates completely.

God Jace say something.
"You don't have to keep it," she goes to grab it from me, but I hold it back.

"Of course, I'll keep it, I'll treasure this forever. I love it Ember, you know I was going to ask you if I could have it. But I didn't want to come off as stalkerish...again."

"I'm getting used to it, Remind me why you call me Ember again? Not that I'm complaining."

"Because you set my world ablaze Fray."

She smiles at me, her cheeks turning the shade of her nickname.

"Go on a date with me Clary Fray." The words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them.

Her eyes widen but her smile remains," You really won't stop will you?"

"That's not in the foreseen future, no."

"If I say yes will you get off my back?"

I nod once, my nerves to wound up to speak.

"Fine Jace Wayland I'll go on a date with you. ONE date."