Spurious [Sequel To Open Your Eyes] *editing*

[18] Twenty Seconds Of Courage

A/N: Thirty Seconds to Mars- bright lights (either to the side or top)

Claire:

'Jace!' I never knew that I could make such a tragic and desperate sounding scream as I raced over to his fallen body. My choked out sobs mixed with his strangled breathing as I gingerly placed his head on my lap.

'Let me--let me go get help.' I begged as he cupped both my hands in his. He only smiled and wiped at the heavy stream of tears falling down my face.

'Shhh, Clairissa. It'll be okay.' He whispered. I couldn't stop the hot tears coming down my face as my breathing started to shorten from the sheer panic I was in.

'Hey, do you remember the first thing I said to you?" He questioned, trying his best to hide the pain from his badly bruised and stabbed body. I hiccuped and nodded my head as I moved some of the hair out of his face.

'Ya. You said that your hair matched my eyes, and that meant that I should definitely say yes to going on a date with you.' I replied, not helping the small smile grow on my face as my tears slowly started to subside.

He let out a short and strained chuckle. 'Yup and you told me that I was a werido and it took me like five other tries till you finally said yes.'

His face turned more serious, almost like he was afraid that he wouldn't get a message clearly across to me.

'Clairissa Hope McCall, I love you. I know you don't believe in love at first sight, but I knew it the moment I first saw you. And I need you too do something for me. Can you do that?' He asked, his voice becoming more hoarse and strained.

I let out a low whimper and shook my head up and down feverishly. 'Be happy Clairissa. Find someone who will love you as much as I do, because that's what you deserve. I want you to remember that I'll always be happy as long as you are.'

I couldn't help it anymore, it felt like my whole chest was caving in on me. It felt like everything was crumbling into a million tiny pieces--and I couldn't do anything about it.

My head fell down to his chest and I felt him press his lips to my head. 'No one will ever love me as much as you do, Jace. What am I suppose to do?'

He gently lifted my head up, and I could tell it was causing him alot of effort to hold on this long. But I knew he didn't want to leave me alone, despite the strong demeanor on his face, I knew he was as scared as I was.

'Trust me, some guy will be lucky enough to fall in love with you.' He smiled weekly. 'You won't even realize it when you fall too, but he will. And he'll unknowingly smile because he sees it on your face'

The warm smile stayed on his face while the grip on my hands slowly started to weaken. Until they fell lip on his chest. It felt so horrible and no matter how many sharp shallow breaths I took, the pain just didn't ease away.

'Jace! Jace, please don't leave me!" I cried out, trying to desperately apply more pressure to the biggest of his wounds. But it was no use. I saw the light leave his once bright eyes till there was nothing left.

Till I was left alone.

I jolt up, breathing heavily in hopes of calming myself down. The door to my room is thrown open showing my mom with a baseball bat in hand.

She glances around the room, and noticing my disgruntled appearance, rushes over to me.

"Claire, what happened? I heard a yell and something break. I thought someone was trying to break into your room." She tells me, watching as I push my matted and sweaty hair out of my face.