Through the Shadows

Chapter 2

Clary felt weird thinking so, but as she walked towards him, she couldn't help but think about how good looking he was. 

Her boyfriend was without a doubt an attractive person. He had brown skin, dark brown hair that could be considered black to the common eye, and grey eyes that Clary constantly found herself getting lost into. His build was muscular, but not too muscular, and just tall enough to where Clary had to stand on her toes whenever she wanted to give him a kiss. It would have been a peculiar combination of features for anyone to consider on a person, but he made them into something so beautiful. 

Yet, as Clary made her way to a practical stranger, she noticed that he was different than an average attractive person. To Clary, all his features added up to make him look almost angelic. His blonde hair, grown just enough to notice the soft curls. He was just as muscular as her boyfriend, but slimmer. For some reason, everything about him made Clary feel safe.

As Clary got closer to him, she instantly noticed the eyes looking back at her were an amber color, almost golden against the light. Now that she was closer to him and could observe him more carefully, the thought that she would also have to stand on her toes to kiss him popped into her head. 

Clary Fray! What are you thinking?  she thought to herself as she realized, even with the great familiarity, she didn't know anything about him or who he was.  

She couldn't help but notice that those same eyes that held what seemed to be admiration just a few seconds ago, now held confusion and worry as Clary got closer. She noticed him look behind him and then back at her, as if the idea of her approaching him was something unimaginable. 

"Sorry, I didn't mean to spook you." she said, as she noticed him take a step back as soon as she'd found her way right in front of him. 

"You can see me?" he asks.

What a ridiculous question, Clary thought, but quickly shoved that thought aside as she realized it was a genuine one. 

"Of course I can see you." she responded. 

He looked around, as if not knowing what to do with himself or his thoughts and without another word walked away, leaving the building. 

Startled by his reaction, Clary was uncertain what to do, but becomes even more confused as she finds herself rushing towards him, as to not lose him. 

"Hey!" she shouts, as she sees him in the street outside of the art exhibition, walking away fast enough to make Clary realize he didn't want to be reached. Walking even faster as he heard her.   

"Hey, I'm talking to you!" Clary shouts even louder. 

Without realizing, Clary lets out a sigh of relief as she saw him stop in his tracks. As if talking to him was something that she needed to do. 

"Don't I know you?" she asks as she reaches up to him. "From somewhere?"

As if he'd become lost in her eyes, he catches himself and quickly answers, "No. I don't think so."

Trusting here instinct, Clary instantly responds, "No, I do. I definitely do. I-"

And it was as if the information just popped into her brain, but had always been there to begin with. She could finally think of a name that would fit with this familiar person standing in front of her. 

"You're Jace, right?"

And with that phrase, Clary saw all the pain in his eyes leave and become hope. 

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm Jace." He responded with a smile forming. 

"I'm-  I'm Clary."

He lets out a small laugh at her introduction, as if it was common knowledge. 

Clary suddenly notices something that she hadn't been given the chance to before with all the commotion. 

"What are these tattoos on your neck?" Clary asks as she brings her hand up to them. 

Jace turns his head away, but quickly finds himself looking back into Clary's eyes, finding hers to be just as lost in his as he was lost in hers. They both begin to smile and after a while Jace responds with caution, not wanting to upset the Angels by telling her everything they made her forget.

"I'm afraid that's a secret I can't tell you." Jace responds with a smirk on his face, trying to mask the fear of speaking to Clary after so long. 

It was unexplainable how she could see him. Maybe the Angels have given her another chance, he thought. But he couldn't risk losing her again because he told her too much. 

Clary let down her hand in disappointment to the answer to her question. Playing along with his smugness, she responds with the same smirk he gave her, "What kind of secrets could you hide behind some tattoos?" 

"Many."

Clary rolls her eyes, as she would with an old friend, causing both of them to laugh. 

For Clary, although she knew nothing about him other than his name, it was as if she was talking to a lifelong friend. Jace, however, rejoiced in this moment, a million thoughts in his head, realizing that he might get the love of his life back. 

The sound of a voice other than each other's interrupted both of their thoughts, both whipping their heads towards the direction of the shout.

"Clary? Oh, there you are!" someone said as they made their way toward Clary. "I was looking for you all over the building and couldn't find you."

For some reason, Clary found herself speechless and turned to Jace. Jace became quick to notice, that even with the glamour rune, they were also staring at him. Jace, even while surprised he could be seen, took the opportunity to help Clary not get into trouble, "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm afraid that's my fault. We got caught up in our conversation. I didn't mean to get her in trouble. I hope you won't give her a bad grade for this."

They let out a chuckle and respond, "Oh no. I was just worried about Clary. I guess the way I said that could give the impression that I was getting mad at her for leaving her art to fend for itself, but I'm not Clary's professor or anything."

Jace's heart sunk with the next words that came out of their mouth. 

"I'm Matteo, Clary's boyfriend."