"The fact is, all gangsters live in dog years. We come up fast in terms of making a name for ourselves, but, once our names have been established on the streets, we are on our way out."

Drexel Deal

He handed me the lit cigarette and I immediately pushed it up my lips inhaling the poisonous smoke. The wind was blowing harder nearly throwing off the hood atop my head. "Are you sure?" I turned to him, licking my lips. It was cold. He was staring at me, his misty eyes painted with worry. To anyone else it would appear that he was emotionless but I knew him well. I knew him like my favorite book.

I tilted my head and pressed a wet kiss on his cheek. "Babe, I have to. You guys don't have to do it if you don't wanta. I can do it myself." He looked around the small room and glanced at the rest of the teens. His lips were formed in a thin line.

"We're gonna do it right?" He questioned them.

Isabelle nodded. Her dark hair was tied in a ponytail, a smile on her face. Her brother placed an arm around her waist in indication. His electric blue eyes almost glowed in the dark.

"Simon." I started and I trudged slowly to where he stood. His glasses made him look younger. I could even remember him as a child. I tugged my jacket from over my head and felt my hair fall down my shoulders. I placed my small fingers onto his face, tracing his cheeks. "You don't have to do this, love. You don't." I laughed bitterly. "You actually have a future." I was surprised to see him grin, a light spreading in his hazel orbs.

"Where you go, I go." He whispered and I felt the beginning of tears in my throat so I leaned into him and let him wrap me in a warm hug. I hoped this wouldn't be the last time. I hoped this would be the best of many more. There was so many things I wanted to tell them all. They were so different. So fascinating. And yet I could not utter a single word of truth. I could not even stare too long. I would simply blink away.

And before I knew it, Jace was there holding me. His hair tickled my cheeks and neck. I smelled his distinct scent. Sunshine. I could feel the hard muscles under his thin shirt against my back. "I love you." He mouthed into my bare shoulder. I didn't say it back but he already knew. He always knew.

I stood with them. And I would stand with them later. And I would stand with them in the end. "Clare-" I pursed my lips and peered to Izzy's direction my eyebrows scrunching in slight confusion.

"We love you. We always have and we always will." Alec was staring at me now, an amused smirk on his face. My brother. The brother I'd dreamed of my whole life and finally got.

I wiped my sleeve across my nose. "I know." I muttered, gazing at the cement ground below me.

I joined them myself. I stepped into their circle when they invited me in. I had nobody else. I was a lost soul. And then I was with them. I didn't need a damn family. I just needed their smiles. Their laughs. Their stupid jokes.

"Let's do this guys." Jace said, chuckling. "Let's kick some ass and get ourselves to the top."

Isabelle cheered, pumping her fist into the air as Simon clapped throwing in a few screams. Alec was shaking his head but I could tell he enjoyed this. He enjoyed it all. I met Jace's eyes and he seemed to be asking me a question. I squeezed his hand and that was it.

We were going to do it. We were going to do it together.

[Review]

[New Story]