Disclaimer: I don't think Cassandra Clare is a freshman in college. I am. So I must not be her, huh?

Somehow, the walk to Taki's didn't seem to take forever, like I expected it would. Once we were there and had slid into a booth, there was an awkward silence, none of us knowing how to act around the others on not a one-on-one basis.

After a while, the awkwardness got to me. "I'm going to go to the bathroom," I announced, hoping that by the time I got back, there would be a conversation going on.

"Me too," Aspen added.

When I did get back, the boys were still surprisingly quiet, and for some odd reason they seemed to be very interested in their laps. "What's going on, Jace?" I asked as I slid back into my seat.

He turned around, laughing, with eyes that were not the beautiful ones I loved so much. "Close," he said. "But it's Jaze."

Laughter exploded from the other side of the booth, and I looked up to find Jace nearly doubled over. "You should've heard the confusion in your voice!" He roared. "And then when he turned around, the look on your face was priceless!"

I glanced at Aspen with an expression that said "What have we gotten ourselves into?" She just shrugged, smirking.

Jace and Jaze were still going on and on about how funny my reaction was when Kaelie came to take our orders. They couldn't even quiet down enough to answer her, so Aspen and I shared a cunning glance and ordered.

Fifteen minutes later, two blond boys were running naked down Madison Avenue with antlers on their heads.

One month later...

"The boys are going to be devastated," I pointed out, watching Aspen pack up the last of her things.

She nodded in agreement. "Jaze has been whining for the past week. I don't want to leave my new best friend! We're, like, soulmates! One and the same! Together forever! Frankly, I'm surprised he hasn't broken out into that song from Grease."

I laughed, startled that she knew was Grease was, let alone any of its songs. Even after all this time I was still surprised at what parts of mundane culture shadowhunters knew, and what parts they didn't. "Yeah, Jace hasn't been too pleasant to be around, either. There must be some way they can stay! Surely they don't have to leave. It's not like there are demons elsewhere in the world or anything like that."

"And it's worse when they're together!" She laughed. "Look! Look how much better we are when we're with each other! How can you want to put an end to such amazingness?"

"I'm pretty damn perfect by myself, but with him by my side it's double the perfect!"

"We neeeeeeeed each other!"

"You can't tear us apart!"

"I wish I'd met you sooner so you could be my parabatai!"

"I wish I'd met you sooner so I could marry you without this Clary girl getting in the way!"

"Oh, come on, Clary. You know I love you."

I jumped. "By the Angel, Jace! Just because you can walk silently doesn't mean you should."

He laughed. "I'll keep that in mind."

"What are you doing here?" Aspen interrupted, smirking as she added the last few items to her luggage.

"Jaze is having trouble fitting all his stuff into his suitcase." He rolled his eyes. "He sent me to come get you."

"Of course he is," she replied, rolling her eyes as well. "Tell him I'm almost done here."

"Seriously, though," I said after Jace had left. "I actually am going to miss you guys."

"I'm going to miss you guys too. I kind of wish we didn't have to go, but…" She shrugged. "The Clave gets what the Clave wants."

I nodded. "And it's not unreasonable to ask you guys to go. You're both really good, and I don't think there are many shadowhunters in the Galapagos."

"And if I have to go somewhere…"

"Yeah, exactly." I laughed. "It's not a bad place to be asked to go."

She nodded. "And we'll keep in touch!"

"Definitely! Fire messages, all the time."

"Cell phones are a thing too," she pointed out.

"Well, yeah. And those. But fire messages are just cooler."

She laughed as she tugged the zipper of her suitcase shut. We both stared at it for a moment. "So this is it, I guess."

"I guess so," I agreed. "I almost don't want to hug you goodbye because then it'll be final."

"Yeah…Let's go wait for the boys in the hall."

"'Kay."

We walked slowly, the opposite of eager to part, but when we got to the hall, the boys were nowhere to be seen. Aspen and I exchanged a glance. "Heartfelt goodbyes that they don't feel comfortable saying in public?" she guessed.

I told her she was probably right.

A couple minutes later, the two of the emerged from a room down the hall and made their way over to us. We all stood there silently for a moment, not wanting to make the end real by saying goodbye.

"Uh, so…" Jaze was the one to break the silence. "I guess we say goodbye now."

Jace nodded. "So, uh… it was nice meeting you."

"Yeah. Um, you too."

I dropped my voice as low as it could go. "It was nice hating you for a while until we became inseparable."

They all laughed for a moment before the awkward silence came back. It lasted this time until the doorbell of the Institute rang, signaling that someone had come to pick up Jaze and Aspen.

Aspen took a deep breath before hugging me. "Okay, bye for real this time. I promise to stay in touch."

We pulled away just in time to see Jaze and Jace do one of those stupid bro-hugs where they barely touch each other. I rolled my eyes.

"See you around," Jaze said, sounding like he only half-believed it.

Jace nodded. "Yeah."

Aspen and Jace said a short goodbye as Jaze and I did the same, and then the two of them stepped backward into the elevator, waving in farewell as the gate closed.

"I'm gonna miss them," Jace said after we heard the front door of the Institute close.

"Me too, Jace," I answered with a sigh. "Me too."

So here it is. The last chapter ever of this story. I'm sad to see it go, but it's for the best. I was like a neglectful parent of this guy. Especially toward the end. That was awful, and I'm still sorry. You don't have to believe me, though.

One last time, I just want to express how extremely, immensely, overwhelmingly grateful I am to all of you. If you've stuck with me from the beginning, I absolutely adore you. I don't know how you've managed to put up with me. If you came in somewhere in the middle, the same stands true. And if this is your first time reading this story, thank you soooooo much for reading all the way to the end! You're all amazing. Thank you, thank you, thank you, infinite thank yous.

Reviews will forever and always bring me a joy that you can't even imagine, so if you feel so inclined, type some stuff in that box down there. But no pressure. This is, after all, the end.

Uh, so... I guess I say goodbye now. Love and thanks! 'Kay. Goodbye, then.