Chapter One

It was a midnight, Jace laid awake in his bed with his hands behind his head. The room was completely dark except for a crack of light that showed underneath the door. A night-light that had been installed in the hallway for his little brother Max. Normally the light helped him sleep but lately it had been keeping him up.

He was thinking about her. He couldn't stop thinking of what went wrong. Was it because of him? He thought to himself. It had been weeks since their breakup and Jace hadn't slept well. He would lay awake in bed most nights. It was difficult for Jace to deal with it because she had been the first girl he ever cared for. The truth was Jace usually was the one who broke things off. Jace played the conversation in his head over and over whenever he closed his eyes.

"We need to talk, Jace." she said with her arms folded.

"Ok" He said.

"This isn't working for me."

"What do you mean this isn't working?"

"I mean this relationship." She said

"So," Jace stated, "you want to talk about us?"

"Jace, I think we need to go our separate ways. You know see other people."

"Wait your breaking up with me. I thought you loved me?"

"I do love you, Jace. Its just that I think you love yourself more then me."

"Well I do look good don't I?"

"See that's what I'm talking about." she exclaimed pointing her finger in his direction.

"I'm sorry if you don't like it. What do want me to do?" Jace said throwing his hands up.

"I don't want you to do anything. I just think we need to see other people. I'm sorry Jace I can't deal with this anymore." She said walking off. Jace stood there in disbelief. He couldn't believe what just happened.

Jace was startled awake when a knock came at his door. He must have dose off to sleep. He looked at the clock on his nightstand. It read 2:30. He wondered who could it be. Jace hoped it wasn't Isabelle for she had a habit of waking him up early, but this was really early even for her. Rolling out of bed he answered the door. It was Max. He was a small for his age. His pajamas were too big for him. His hair flopped at the sides of his face and his glasses were slightly crooked on his nose. Max looked up at Jace with his brown eyes.

"What's up, buddy?" Jace said patting him on head.

"I heard a noise." Max replied.

"A noise?"

"Yes."

"Max, it was probably just your imagination. Go back to sleep." Jace said rubbing his eyes. He started to close the when Max stopped the door with his hand.

"But Jace!" Max insisted. "It came from the kitchen."

"Max, please you need to go back to -" Jace broke off when a loud crash came from downstairs. He grabbed his baseball bat then lead Max down towards the kitchen. They crept slowly toward the kitchen. Jace was up front and Max trailing behind him. It was dark in the kitchen as they entered Jace held the bat at his shoulder when something in the shadows jumped on the counter.

Clary walked up the stairs to Luke's apartment after hanging out at the movies with her friend Simon. They had planned on being home before two but their movie ran a little late. Simon had been Clary's best friend since they were kids.

Her mother only allowed her to stay out past midnight if there was no school or on weekends. Other than that she had to be home at midnight and no later. In the summer they would stay out late almost everyday sometimes until 3 o'clock in the morning, although tonight had been a Friday it was no exception.

Clary and Simon had gotten home around 2:30. Simon always walked Clary to the front door before he went home.

"Thanks, Simon." Clary said.

"Your welcome, Miss Fray." Simon said with a smile.

"So what's the plan for tomorrow?"

"I don't know. I guess we could just wing it if you want."

"Well I should probably get inside." Clary said shyly.

"Yeah" Simon said shuffling his feet. "Good night Clary."

"Good night Simon."

Simon kissed Clary on the cheek then walked down the street. That's how it was every night. It wasn't that Simon didn't like Clary he did. It was just he was in love with her. He had been since he became interested in girls. Clary watched him leave until he disappeared around the corner, and then turned to unlock the door.

Jace and Max jumped at the movement. It looked at both boys with glowing eyes then hissed. Jace turned on the light. "Church," Jace said, "you stupid cat." He swatted the air to shoo the cat away. It jumped off the counter then ran into the other room. Just then Maryse came into the kitchen.

"What is going on in here?" she said.

"Church was on the counter." Max said looking up at her.

Maryse slipped a piece of his hair behind his ear. Then looked around the kitchen. She shook head as she rubbed the bridge of her noise.

"I told Isabelle to make sure the kitchen was clean." Maryse said crossing her arms. Yawning "I am going to have talk with her in the morning. Go back to bed Jace." Turning to look at him. "You look like you could use some sleep."

Jace was about to say something instead he turned and headed back to his room. Maryse took Max back to his bedroom before returning to bed herself. The next morning Jace heard Maryse scold Isabelle as he walked passed the kitchen. He heard Maryse tell her she had to clean the kitchen before she attended her studies with Hodge. Jace knew Isabelle hated cleaning the kitchen she would protest it every time, but her mother always insisted if it wasn't done she would take away privileges. Jace was in living room when Isabelle found him. He was packing his books in his backpack.

"Jace!" Isabelle yelled.

"What?" He said startled dropping his notebook on the floor.

When she got up to him, she crossed her arms across her chest and tapping her foot. Jace thought Isabelle was very beautiful when she was mad. He looked at her. Her eye borrows were closed together and her breathing was hard.

"You ratted me out."

"I did not." Jace said returning to pack his backpack.

"Yes you did." Isabelle scolded.

"Izzy, your crazy." Jace said slugging his backpack over his shoulder. "I'm going to class."

"I'm not done talking."

"I am" Jace smirked at Isabelle then walked off. Isabelle growled between her teeth. She grabbed her bag and followed Jace to the library.

The library was on the top floor of the Lightwoods three-story home. Large windows on either side let in the sun, which gave the room a natural light. There were four student desks in front of a large executive desk. Each desk had a desk lamp mounted in the surrounded the library; which books upon books of every genre from encyclopedias to general reading. Some of books were bound in leather while others were paperback or hardcover. Some new, some as old as Hodge, there were even books in other languages, too.

Jace and Isabelle were avid readers and spent most of their time in the library when they weren't helping their parents in the restaurant. When they both arrived, Alec and Max were already seated at their desks. Isabelle took her seat while glaring at Jace.

Jace and Isabelle went on back and fourth. Alec thought Jace was going to hit Isabelle for minute but then quickly shoved the thought out of his mind. Hodge walked in the library to find Isabelle and Jace in a shouting match. Hodge was an elderly gentleman who was a good friend to the Lightwoods. He dressed in a suit everyday. He grey white hair was neatly combed and his loafers were polished to a shine.

Hodge interrupted the twosome, "Alright that is enough both of you. "

"Can we explain to certain people not to blame others for chores they didn't do?" Jace asked Hodge while looking at Isabelle.

"It's not my fault you ratted me out." Isabelle replied.

"I didn't rat you out, Izzy!"

"Enough. Now sit down in your seats so we can get to today's lessons." Hodge scolded.

"Yes, sir" They said together taking their seats.

"Now please turn to page 240 in your history books." Hodge instructed them.

"What's so important about the civil war?" Jace asked Hodge.

"For your information the civil war was an important part of American history." Isabelle said to Jace.

"I wasn't asking you Isabelle."

"Well I was answering your question." She replied.

"I don't care." Jace said rudely.

"You don't have to be rude."

"Oh shut Izzy."

"No you shut up Jace"

"Enough!" Hodge bellowed. "If you two interrupt my lesson again both of you will be cleaning the bookcases with a toothbrush."

Isabelle sank back in her chair. She turned slightly to Jace and stuck her tongue out at him. Jace smiled then leaned forward. Then said: "Don't stick your tongue out unless you plan on using it." He said quietly.

"Gross" Isabelle said disgusted.

Hodge finished the day's lessons without any further interruptions from Isabelle and Jace. When they were all dismissed Hodge called to Isabelle and Jace to stay. He wondered what they had been fighting about for it seemed very unusual for them. Normally it was Alec and Isabelle arguing over something. Hodge asked both of them to tell him what was going on.

Jace told him that Max heard a noise in the kitchen last night. They went to investigate and found Church on the counter. Jace then stated that their mother Maryse came down because the two boys were out of bed. Isabelle looked at Jace in disbelief as he told his story.

Hodge nodded stroking his bread. "So Maryse was the one who noticed that kitchen had not been done."

"Yes" Jace answered. "I didn't rat you out Izzy."

"OK," Hodge throwing his hand to stop them from arguing again. "Isabelle why didn't you clean the kitchen last night like you were suppose to?"

"I was tried." She said. "I would've done in the morning anyway." bowing her head to at her feet.

"Next time let's do our chores when were told to do them alright." Hodge said. "Remember blaming someone else only puts the blame on you. You both may go."

Jace and Isabelle left the library quietly. Isabelle didn't speak to Jace for the rest of the day; which made him happy. He didn't like having to listen to her annoy him. Jace headed for the training room. It had not been used very often, but Jace liked coming in here because it helped him blow off steam. He had taken karate lessons when he was little.

The training had weapons of all styles. It even had mats laid out on the floor. Jace loved to practice with the weapons his favorite was the swords. They made him feel powerful and dangerous. He threw his backpack down on the floor then slipped his off shoes and socks off. He stripped his sweater off and threw it on to his backpack. Jace practice until it was time for dinner.

After dinner he decided to go out. His favorite spot to hang out was a club called Idris. It was the only club in New York that allowed teens 15 and up inside. Though you still had to be 21 to drink. Jace like the place because there lots of hot girls, tonight there were plenty of them.

One in particular was sitting next to a dark blonde boy with glasses. Her red-flamed hair was tied back in a ponytail. Jace watched her for a while. She was beautiful. When she turned her head he saw that she had green eyes that looked like emeralds. He thought about what he would say to her perhaps he would shot her one of his pick up lines, but which one?