I usually don't put song lyric breaks in my stories but I freaking love the song Beautiful Drug and it just about inspired this whole fanfic not just that select part of this chapter. So I do recommend playing the song, because I feel like it sets a vibe.

"Sit wherever you want, but do sit down so that we can get out of here." Jace ordered, checking off another name on the attendance list. He stood in the front of a large travel bus. One of several that were rented to transport the Seniors to Coney Island on that sunny Friday morning.

Clary's telling red hair came up the steps next. She had her curls french-braided back into two pigtails that revealed the diamond stud at the top curve of her ear and two small silver hoops in each lobe. Those bright green eyes were already prepared for the sun, and covered by dark glasses held in white frames.

Jace gazed down at her St. Xavier sweatshirt, that she had taken the liberty to cut and crop herself, and high-waisted jean shorts. With his pen, he reached out and popped the large bubble of gum that she was working on. "I don't think those shorts would pass inspection, Miss Morgenstern." He warned. Students were allowed out of uniform for the fieldtrip. But were expected to wear official school logo attire, along with following other appropriate guidelines. That denim that hemmed right under her full ass-cheeks was pushing it.

"They're comfty." Clary stated with a shrug, already headed to the back of the bus.

"I'll give them a nice inspection." A male student piped as he swatted Clary's ass with a hard palm. She immediately flipped around and reached over the seat, snagging the kid's collar. Her other hand wacked him twice across the head. "If a girl puts it out there, you have permission to look, not touch!" She violently scolded.

The boy's head of light blonde hair flinched under her beating. "Mr. Lightwood, did you see her just fucking hit me?" He complained.

"Yeah, and I'm going to do it next if you touch her again!" Jace barked. "Sexual assault warrants the physical, Nate. Now, everyone, keep your hands to yourself before I reinstate corporal punishment."

"Oh, come on, Lightwood." Nate, the handsy teenager, prodded. "Don't act like you haven't slapped an ass or two."

"Only after they beg." Jace deadpanned, checking off the last students, causing the bus to erupt in amusement. He snorted and rolled his eyes, just as Camille climbed upon the bus.

"Did I miss something?" She purred. Her breasts stretched the fabric of her St. Xavier Staff polo shirt that matched his own.

"Just putting my foot in my mouth, as usual." Jace replied. Camille giggled taking a seat next to him as the driver pulled away from the curb. Peeking over his seat, Jace spotted Nate still making crude gestures to Clary and the middle finger she sent right back. He chuckled to himself, before turning his attention to the pretty, age appropriate, blonde next to him.

When they arrived at Coney Island, Jace's group huddled around him at the entrance as he passed out wrist bands. The students included Clary, Simon, and two other friends of hers that knew about him before he started teaching at the school.

"Alright, don't do anything I wouldn't do, guys." He jokingly advised, while personally strapping a wristband to Clary's dainty freckled wrist. "Check in as two, but I'll be around."

The other teenagers began to head off in the direction of the rollercoasters. "You, be good." Jace muttered in playful warning, just to Clary.

Her eyebrows drew together as she back-stepped away. "But I thought you said, 'don't do anything you wouldn't do?" She countered before giving him a grin.

Jace shook his head, as she ran off to catch up with her group and then he headed over to the other teachers. He talked and roamed with some of his coworkers for a while. Although generation wise, he could probably find more in common with his Seniors. Eventually, he parted ways along with Camille and the two of them found their way to the carnival section, where they played tedious games to win cheap stuffed animals. Jace played the games for entertainment. It was Clary who kept the collection of prizes.

At one booth, Jace knocked down enough pins earning him a mere football sized stuffed banana with a ridiculous cartoon face. Camille clapped her hands excitedly and he couldn't help but notice the way her boobs bounced along. He handed the stuffed prize to her and she accepted it graciously.

Around two in the afternoon, Jace told Camille that he would meet back with her soon. And he headed to the ice cream parlor where his group arranged a check in. He sat down at a table with two vanilla cones. Just minutes later, Clary came sashaying around the corner and he held out a cone to her.

She pulled off her sunglasses and gingerly placed them on his face. "For me?" She gushed, taking the cone. "Why thank you, Mr. Lightwood." The girl used his professional title more than his liking and he was sure that's precisely why she did it. Clary's mouth opened and suctioned around the swirled tip. The ice cream smoothed between her lips and her tongue licked them clean.

"Where is my ice cream, Jace? Only Clary gets a treat?" Aline, Clary's other friend, needled as she walked up behind her.

"Unfortunately, I'm the kind of teacher who plays favorites." He affirmed. Clary stuck out her tongue at Aline's pinched smile. The dark-haired girl gave her a hip check and then funneled inside the parlor with other students.

"So, are you ready to come play with me?" Clary prompted. Her tongue flicked out once more along her top lip, licking away the sticky white cream.

Jace watched her, his intense eyes hidden behind shades but his loose jaw on full display. He cleared his throat suddenly. "What did you say?" He asked again, his mind wandering.

Clary gave him an odd look. "I want you to come play with me." She restated, completely unaware of the way her innocent words sounded like naughty suggestions in his ears. Or maybe she did it on purpose. He really couldn't tell anymore. "What about the Funhouse? I love that one, and its innocent enough."

Her other friends came back out and sat down, with food or snacks. Jace looked around and didn't see many other students in the vicinity so, he sighed. "Alright, Cutie. But then, I told Camille I would meet back up with her."

Clary plucked her sunglasses back with a grunt. "Whatever, Casanova." She said and started walking across an intersection of rides. Jace threw out their trash and then followed her.

She waited for him at the entrance, walking circles in the "Barrel of Love." Jace stepped in, looking down at her, walking backward steps that matched hers. Her green eyes, taunted him. "Ready?" Jace smirked in confirmation.

"Get set, Go!" She chirped, all at once, and they both bolted from the barrel into maze of mirrors, Jace on her heels. Their reflections raced along with them, switching angles as they haphazardly hurried through the optical illusion. Jace tried to squeeze past her, but unrelenting, Clary cut him off racing forward. Only to collide, hard, with her own warped reflection.

After her initial cry of pain, she laughed hysterically trying to pick herself up. Jace laughed openly along with her and knelt down to heave her back to her feet. "Are you okay?" He asked politely.

"That hurt." She giggled. Her face flushed with a dash of embarrassment. Jace shook his head, grinning like a fool, and dragged her out through the correct turn. It opened into a black lit area of dangling punching bags and twirling contraptions.

"Okay, you go first this time." Clary hesitated, butterflies coming to life in her chest. She looked down and saw Jace still had his hand wrapped around her waist. In fact, his thumb was running along the bare skin above the button on her shorts. She peeked up at him behind her. "Can I help you, Mr. Lightwood?" She prompted.

Jace was looking down at his hand on her abdomen. "Your skin is soft." He stated, his voice subdued.

"Putting it out there is an invitation to look, not touch." She reminded softly.

Jace's eyes darted to hers. The whites of his eyes practically glowed in the black light. "Then, tell me to stop." He challenged. He turned her in his arm and this thumb warmed her skin as it traced along her waist line to her back. He backed her deeper into the room. Thin, foam, punching bags batting their shoulders until her rear bump a low metal railing.

She tried to control her breathing, as well as the pulse in her core. But his teasing touch and predator gaze had her resolve slipping. She reminded herself that this was again part of their game. He was teasing her, taunting her, just as she did to him. She reminded herself that jumping his bones would not be received well. But that didn't mean she couldn't persuade him to jump her.

Clary raised her brows, looking side to side. "Are we about to have sex in this funhouse?"

Jace snorted, dropping his hand. One of his eyebrows drew up curiously as he wondered through the dangling obstacles. "Honestly, what has given you the idea that we will ever have sex?"

Clary followed behind him and when she came through the throng, she bumped into his hard chest once more. Arms crossed, he smirked down at her with amusement.

"Besides the look on your face?" She retorted, stepping around him to step on the level changing floors.

"Awe, the curse of being stunningly attractive. I hate to break it to you, but I always look like this."

Clary continued onto the metal discs on the floor, ignoring his words as he followed dutifully behind her. "Besides that, I'm thinking of it as manifest destiny." She confessed, spinning in small circles on the disc. "If I insist it will happen, then it will. I got my kiss, right?"

She hopped off the discs just as Jace began twirling across them. "Clary, I am six—" He started but she quickly cut him off.

"Six years older than me, yes." Jace hopped onto the metal platform with her. She rolled her eyes as she turned around to climb the asymmetrical ladder. "News flash, Jace, you're the only one that cares." She drawled.

"I'm also your teacher." He pointed out, watching her figure climb.

"Only until May." She grinned as he climbed up after her.

"And I helped raise you." He huffed.

"Oh, please!" Clary scoffed. "I don't think teaching me how to play beer pong really counts as 'raising' me." Tubes secured to the floor and ceiling spun in their way. Clary jumped on to one, and twirled around with it, just for fun, before slipping down the dark, hidden slide.

"What would your brother say?" Jace urged, just behind her, as he spilled out of the slide and into the shallow ball pit.

"You know..." Clary sighed, pretending to backstroke through the plastic balls. "It's good that we're discussing all the obstacles now. Get them out of the way early."

Jace stood up. Chuckling, he grabbed one of her ankles and dragged her along to the edge. "Actually, I'm just trying to make you see reason. Let you down easy."

Clary scrambled to her feet. "Well, that's just rude, Mr. Lightwood. Let me have my fantasies. You should be flattered that you star in them." She admonished, leaping from one square peg to another. "Speaking of..." Her pace slowed and she spun on her tip toe to face him, head on. "Where is my poem?" She questioned, sweetly.

Jace blinked at her with a perfect poker face. "What poem?"

Still suspicious, Clary batted her eyelashes. "The poem assignment you graded and passed back, oh, so, recently. If you remember, mine were quite erotic. So, where is my last one? Because I only got two back." She coaxed, stepping into the second "Barrel of Love" that led out the exit.

Jace braced an arm above his head and the revolving barrel, and watched her from under it with a patient smile. "You must have misplaced it." He articulated.

Clary smirked, knowingly. "Maybe." She sang, before exiting down the last steps. Jace easily stepped through and strolled behind her as she skipped ahead and did a cartwheel up to Simon, waiting there for her.

She was like her own little bundle of energy and joy that Jace wanted carry with him. Keep in his pocket. Wrap around him. Be inside of... He slammed into that thought as if it were an actual brick wall, and came to a sudden halt. Jace cursed himself under his breath, at war once again to his budding desire for his little red-head.

"There you are." Camille's voice drifted in as she approached him. "The band is about to start, I think." She pointed in the direction behind her to a large stage.

"Sounds good. Let's head over there." He agreed, eager for the distraction.

"Jace!" Clary's cheerfully called his name, strolling up to him, as she simultaneously undid her French-braids. "We're going to play the carnival games. And you know I can never win anything." Jace saw her friends already headed that way. Clary smiled, gleefully, with sweet pink lips and shook out her unruly curls. "I need you."

Jace exhaled. God, he wondered if she knew what words like that from her lips always did to him. Before he could respond, Camille put in, "Oh, we spent time over there earlier. Jace won me a little prize." She showed it off with a little shake.

"Oh." Clary piped, flicking down her sunglasses, suddenly. Effectively cutting off a glimpse into her mind. "Cool."

Perplexed, Jace watched her walk off without another word. He sensed her sudden mood change with the hair that stood on the back of his neck. He muttered to Camille that he would join her over by the band in a second, before jogging to catch up with Clary.

"What was that? Why are you mad?" He questioned, falling in step with her, though she didn't look at him.

"I'm not mad. Why would I be mad?" She badgered. Clary came up to one of the carnival booths and handed the host some cash in exchange for three rings.

Jace chuckled, watching her try to toss each ring over a row of bottles. "Because you're doing that denial thing you do, when you're mad." He provided.

Clary missed all of her tosses and with a huff, stomped over to the next booth. She handed the next man cash in exchange for three baseballs. In fact, it was the same game that Jace had won earlier.

"That's ridiculous. Why would I be mad, just because you took our Coney Island tradition and gave your stupid game-prize to someone else? You sound crazy!"

Jace quirked a skeptical eyebrow. She was doing that crazy deflecting thing she also did when she was angry. She heaved the first baseball, rattling the tower of pins but nothing fell. "It's really not a big deal, Babe. I can win another for you." He offered, watching her second throw go wide. Jace was halfway caught between thinking that Clary's reaction was ridiculous, and thinking that none of that mattered, he just needed to fix it.

"Don't bother." Clary growled, chucking the last ball. To her adorable surprise, it crashed perfectly into the tower of pins and they all collapsed to the ground. Clary beamed with pride and Jace grinned along with her. The booth host appeared to be equally affected by her smile, because he loudly congratulated her and handed over a stuffed banana three times the size as the one Jace had earned.

Clary removed her sunglasses once more, revealing her smug eyes. "Well, well, looks like I don't need you anymore, after all."

Jace's smile dropped right from his face, in shock. Her words dowsed him like a slow working poison that he knew would fester and torture him far past that moment. His mother's warning echoed in his ears.

"And it looks like mine is bigger." She added, oblivious to his hidden distress. Aline called for her from across the plaza and with only a small shrug, she darted off to catch up with her friend.

Jace watched the two girls race toward the large stage where a small crowd was gathered. He could hear the bass from the music of the band pulsing in the air. He followed, dragging his feet, and the closer he got to the stage, the song grew, until he recognized it as Beautiful Drug by Zac Brown Band.

In the center of the crowd, a circle had seemed to form, while a few pairs of students danced and jumped around. Making his way to the rim, Jace was not surprised to find Clary was one of them. Jace crossed his arms and smirked, watching her and Aline clasp hands and twirl each other.

Clary's fiery locks, flitted around wildly, like real flames. And her eyes closed as her head tilted side to side. So entuned with the music, as if the song was actually moving through her, molding her to its melody.

'She's lets her hair down

And all of mine stand up

Can't help but stare now'

As the cover band sang out the lyrics, Jace huffed an ironic chuckle and glanced down at the goosebumps that had risen on his forearm. And then from the corner of his eye, he spotted Clary's giant stuffed banana in the arms of a little girl with two missing front teeth. She watched Clary and the other students with excitement, hopping up and down herself.

Jessamine sauntered up next to Jace then. "She's certainly one for being the center of attention, I see." She remarked, seeming less entertained by the dancing students. And that was the thing, Clary wasn't the only one in the circle dancing around but, as Jace skimmed the audience, he didn't doubt that Clary had most of the attention.

"I don't think she even notices." Jace muttered, just as entranced by the dancing before him. And he didn't mean only right then. Clary did not seem to notice the way she so subtly stood out, in general. The way she drew in attention.

'You're such a beautiful drug

Can't get enough

Addicted and I'm dying for a hit of your love'

The fast beat music slowed, transforming into a building ballad and as it did, so did Clary. Her arms extended reaching up to heavens and swaying. They twined back down messing her hair, before tracing along the rest of her curves that swayed and rolled with the melody. Jace watched, mesmerized by each slow movement. And all at once, everyone burst with energy, as the song's tempo exploded once more.

'Going out of my mind

Staring at you

Burning up in your fire, that I've fallen into'

As entertaining as watching her was, Jace felt disappointed that he could not dance with her. That as the cover band played more songs, he couldn't sweep her up and spin her around with familiar comfort. It set his nerves alive with apprehension, the fact that being around Clary felt natural. Holding her against him felt natural. All the ways he wanted to secretly touch her, felt natural. Yet, that's exactly what seemed so wrong about it.

Because this wasn't their first visit to Coney Island. It wasn't the first time they had danced to the music from the stage. The first time, it was summer before his senior year. Jonathan's parents had taken them and a couple of their other teenage friends to Coney Island for a day. While the older kids headed off to do their own thing, Valentine and Jocelyn took their young daughter to play. When they eventually all met back up, Clary was jumping around in a throng of people. Jace spotted her and ran in, scooping her up onto his tall shoulders, where she could see over everyone. She clapped along to the stage music and Jace shifted from side to side, dancing along with her as he held on to her dangling ankles.

Memories like that, made him happy. A simpler time. Before lost loved ones and adult responsibility. Back when he viewed Clary with the equivalence as one sees their friend's puppy. Obviously adorable, entertaining, fun to play with. A simple affection for something small and innocent. But say, the more time you spend with that puppy, it becomes clear that you're her favorite? And so, you embrace that responsibility because the power of a puppy dog's eyes is a true thing. That puppy might as well be yours now. You feed it, bathe it, walk it. All metaphorically speaking.

And then, one day, you look around and realize that those big, green, puppy dog eyes that you've been so enchanted by, don't belong to a puppy at all. But a pretty girl, with pretty lips, and pretty curves. Whom likes to snuggle in your lap, and always smells like strawberries and wild flowers. Whom knows that you like taking care of her just as much as she likes being taken care of by you. Well, at that point, it all just feels very... Natural. And yet... One does not romance their puppy.

After a while, Clary and her friends traveled off, back to the roller coasters, his little red-head never giving him a glance. Instead, Jace grabbed some more food with Camille. Her company the only thing keeping him from being a terrible chaperone and buying a pint of beer.

Once the sun set, Camille departed to rally her group of students for the bus ride home. Jace went off to do the same but first he stepped quickly inside the arcade building, hoping to earn one more prize.

Eventually, everyone made it onto the bus, drained from the long day. It was a quiet, dark, ride back. Students whispered in the back and white tinted lights glowed from various cellphones. Camille sat across the aisle instead of directly next to him, giving Jace room to stretch out.

Taking out his phone, he shot off a text to Clary, whom he hadn't a chance to speak with since before the concert. 'Still mad at me?' It read. Jace rested his head back on the window, and through the crack in the seats, he could spy her there, all the way in the back. Her cheek smushed and resting on her fist. The glow of her phone illuminated her face as, he could only assume, she read his message. And then she looked right at him with her small secret smile. As if she already knew he was watching her.

Clary didn't text him back. She merely touched the tips of her thumbs as well as the arch of her fingers together, to form the shape of a heart. And Jace simply smirked back at her and tucked his phone away.

Once they arrived back at the school, all Jace wanted to do was grab Clary's hand and pull her in a cab and take her home. But in reality, he had to wait with the other chaperones until all of the students had departed in their respective rides. And so, he watched Clary get in a cab with Simon, instead.

Finally able to leave, Jace made it back to the apartment not too long after. Only to find Clary asleep on the couch, still in her clothes and shoes. He chuckled, grabbing each of her sneakers and untying the laces. Clary stirred, rubbing her eyes, as he pulled off her shoes one by one.

"I wanted to wait up for you." She mumbled.

Jace ignored her and bent down, sliding an arm under her back and then knees to easily sweep her up bridal style. She tugged herself close to him with a soft mewl, the slender arch of her nose pressed under his jaw, making his muscles flex around her and his breath stagger.

He carried her to her room, gingerly laying her atop her still made bed. And as he made to pull away, she clung to the bared skin of his forearm, her hold gentle but firm. "You should crash in here, since we're so exhausted." She lamented. But even in the dark, he could hear the smile in her voice.

Jace laid down next to her for the moment, his arm still pinned under her back. "I'm not that exhausted." He snorted. "And your brother would be livid if he found me in here in the morning." He murmured. Idly, he slid her soft hand down his forearm to hold it in his. His fingers traced curiously with her small ones, exploring the delicate skin. Feeling emboldened by the quiet darkness surrounding then, he brought her wrist close to his mouth, his lips dusting the velvet skin with the lightness of a feather.

"It's not the first time he's caught us in bed together." She maintained. However, her voice sounded airy, breathless.

Jace groaned, placing her hand down. "Do not make that out to be anything than the innocence it was." He scolded. He assumed she was referring to the night he held her while she cried herself to sleep in the hospital. That was the only time she had slept in his arms.

"Is it no longer innocent, Jace?" She mumbled but it was smug. She was once again on the verge of sleep. So, instead of answering Jace laid quietly beside her, letting his eyes adjust, and listening to her breaths. There was something so profoundly beautiful about her. Otherworldly, like she belonged in the fantasy land of a story book. Especially when she slept. She looked like a snoozing little fairy, or perhaps a cursed princess waiting for her kiss.

Jace brought his knuckles to her cheek, petting them down the curve of her jaw, and then the column of her neck. Further down, her lower back bowed over his still pinned arm, exposing the cream skin of her midriff. Just like earlier that day, he ran a thumb along the skin, stroking gently, around her side and over the curve of her rib cage.

All at once, Jace remembered her words about 'touching.' He snapped his hand back, violently, horrified with himself. With a sharp tug, he pulled his other arm out from underneath her. Clary grumbled incoherently and rolled over. Jace hesitated but ultimately relented and pulled the comforter out from under her. Only to drape it over top her snuggled form. Jace dragged himself from her room, with more effort than it should have been, and right into a scalding shower. She was such sweet fucking temptation. He just might lose his mind at some point.

The next morning Jace came out of his bedroom to find Jonathan on the couch in nothing but his boxers, headphones and mic strapped to his head, and game controller in his hand. Jace, apparently, wasn't the only one who needed to start dating.

Fuzzy red curls, caught his attention in the window's sunlight. Clary sat in the open windowsill of the fire escape, cooing to a gray Persian cat. The stray alley cat, they referred to as Church, slurped up the milk from her empty cereal bowl.

"That's probably his third breakfast." Jace commented, heading in the kitchen.

"That's because he's a little player like you." Clary swiftly responded, simpering to the purring cast.

"I resent that."

Clary smirked at him, and sauntered into the kitchen in her oversized t-shirt and little shorts. She dumped her bowl in the sink, before hopping onto the counter and giving him a wink.

Jace dug in the pocket of his pajama pants, and pulled out a small plastic capsule. He gave it a rattle and then tossed it to her. "Couldn't leave the place without your prize." He admitted.

Clary giggled, popping it open. She dumped a small, gold-painted ring into her hand. The cheap metal twisted into a braid and in the center was a green gem stone.

Her face pinched with humored confusion. "What finger do I wear this on?"

Jace moved closer, lowering his voice so that Jonathan could not hear. "How about, whatever finger you're supposed to wear a purity ring. A little reminder for the sex we'll never have, in a funhouse or otherwise." He was teasing her but she sat there very still, studying him with heavy suspicion.

Jace grew uncomfortable under her gaze, wondering if that joke went too far. "What?" He grunted.

Clary snorted quietly, but slid on the little circle. Much to his regrettable surprise, it apparently, went on the ring finger of her left hand. "Very clever, Jace. I shall give you this round." She murmured.

"Pardon?" He blinked at her.

She narrowed her eyes at him, skeptically, but indulged him. "Your words and actions are contradicting, you know. You tell me you don't want me to want you. And yet..." Clary held up her left hand to inspect her new jewelry. "I'm starting to think that's exactly what you want." She mused.

"Oh, is that what a fifty-cent ring says?" Jace deadpanned. Of course, he actually spent at least five dollars' worth of quarters on the vending toy dispenser. Just trying to get the one with the fake, jade stone. But she didn't need to know that. In fact, he was already kicking himself. He only had the intention to appease her. Not give her more initiative to drive him crazy.

"That's exactly what it says." She sibilated. "And I'm grateful for it," Her hand cupped his chiseled chin, tugging him close enough to kiss his cheek, before giving him a little pout. "Even though you don't play fair."

Jace gazed down at her with a wistful smile, his body humming from her touch. He decided to humor her. "What does it really matter if we play fair? It's not like in the end, either of us win or lose this little game."

Clary cocked her head, chuckling, and once again gave him an odd look. Like she was trying to figure out if he was playing coy or really just and idiot. Honestly, Jace wasn't sure himself. "On the contrary, Mr. Lightwood. The game is only over when we both win."

I was super excited for this chapter but I feel like something about it is bland. I couldn't figure out what it was! Maybe not enough insight to the emotion side? But also I don't want to get that deep yet. Because Jace has feelings for Clary but doesn't know really what they are or what they mean, just that they're different. And Clary loves Jace but that's nothing new so she's not hopeless but maybe guarded. And they both hide behind this 'game,' these suggestions that they pretend mean nothing.

Basically I struggled to completely capture that tipping balance of tension between them in this chapter, while still keeping it light. IT NEEDS SOMETHING BUT WHERE? MMMMMMMMMIDK. Please review!