that very clear ever since we made out for the first time. I don't give a flying fuck about that. Is it so difficult to accept that we were worried about you?"

"I didn't ask you to worry about me."

"That's not something you ask, Jace!" By that point, her voice was already raised, counteracted by Jace's steady but harsh tone. "We worry because we are your friends and because we know that you love to put yourself in danger. We didn't know if you were hurt!"

"Well, I'm not. And, no offence, Aria, but I don't need you around all day following me and taking care of me. Besides, you wouldn't have been of much use there anyway."

"If you weren't so fucking irresponsible, Jace, I wouldn't worry about you. But don't fret because I won't be anymore. Don't come looking for me if you end up getting yourself killed. And much less when you need to jerk off at night."

"She was attacked by a demon!"

"Maybe she wouldn't have if you hadn't been there!"

At the hearing of Jace's raised voice, Isabelle and Alec rushed into the room to check that everything was okay. Jace was not one to raise his voice when he got mad, he preferred to make his feelings known by literally spitting his words.

"Is everything okay?"

"Everything's great," Jace concluded, practically throwing the book at Aria and storming out of the room under everyone's attentive look. Aria took a deep breath. It was not the first time Jace and her had yelled at each other, far from it really. But she had never felt her heart ache so much before. It was as if Jace, who had Aria's heart in his hand, had squeezed it so hard that it had broken a bit. Aria gripped the book, trying to stop her hands from shaking and herself from going and throwing the thick volume to the boy's head in an attempt to knock some sense into him.

Isabelle rushed to the girl upon realising that she was indeed crying. She did not let any sobs out, at least not at first; her tears were silent, but she broke down as soon as Isabelle hugged her. Alec, on the other hand, clenched his jaw and walked out of the room, likely to go talk to Jace.

"Everything will be okay," Isabelle whispered as she caressed Aria's hair. "You two will fix it soon, you always do."

"I don't– I don't care about it, it's not that– I'm not jealous, really. It's just all the tension, you know?

"It was not your fault. And could anyone blame you if you were? Jealous?"

"Jace certainly could. You know how this works."