Choices

Chapter One: The New Kids

"Clary, it's time to get up. We have to be out of the house in an hour and a half." yells my brother Jonathan while he bangs on my bedroom door.

Ugh. Another first day of school; the only difference is the grade level. However, there is a benefit to a new grade level, at least I'm getting closer to being done and out of that hell hole.

I close my eyes again, I think I can afford a couple more minutes of sleep before I have to get ready to start my day.

*.*.*

It feels as if as soon as I close my eyes my brother is banging at my door again. "Clary! You have a half an hour, get out of bed!"

WHAT! I jump out of bed and run into my bathroom; Passing my chuckling brother who let himself into my room without my permission —typical. I give him a quick glare before closing my door, only leaving it open a crack so I can hear him speak.

"Hey, don't be mad at me Clare Bear, I tried to wake you up an hour ago. It's not my fault it takes a blow horn in your ear to wake you up. You can thank Dad for the deep sleep gene you have. You couldn't wake that man up even if your life depended on it." Jonathan says while laughing.

Valentine- My father. I don't think there is a man more protective of his wife and children than himself. Sometimes I think he is psycho by just how protective he is—but I know it's only because he worries. I swear that part of the reason why I have never been in a relationship is the fact that he scares any boy who is within a five meter radius of me. Nonetheless, I love my father despite his over-protectiveness.

"Ya, ya. I'm not sure if you can tell Jon, but I'm not really in the mood right now for your teasing let alone talking." I said as I try to brush my hair. Long curly hair is not easy to tame in the morning, and having a hair color that closely resembles fire makes me an easy target for Jon and other people teasing. After attempting to tame the "red beast" (what I like to refer my hair to sometimes) I put on some mascara—good enough. I run back into my room, rushing pass Jon who is no longer standing by my bedroom door but is sitting on my bed, passing his truck keys back and forth in his hands.

"Awe, don't be like that Clare Bear, you should be happy! You have one more year of school after this year and I graduate this year! I'll be out of the house attending university and you won't have to deal with my ' over-protectiveness that will shrilly make you a forty year single women with seven cats.'" Jon air quotes and repeats my words in a horrible attempt to mimic my voice.

Aside from my father being part of the reason why I will never be in a relationship is also because my brother is just as bad. They act like the stereotypical father and older brother but ten times worse—it's horrible.

"You out of the house; I thought happiness like that only happens in movies." I said as I once again leave the bathroom I was just in from changing into my school clothes. Ripped blue jeans with a white shirt and a dark blue sweater; I put on my grey converse and I'm good to go. A normal but stylish outfit for a regular person like me—perfect.

"Don't say that Clary" Jon says as he comes up to me and gives me a bear hug "you will miss me." I frown. He's right, I will miss him. Even though he may be over-protective, he is still my big brother and his over-protectiveness only shows his care for me and my happiness.

I have to be honest with myself as well. It's not that bad having a over-protective father and brother. I'm not even interested being in a relationship right now. I figure that after high school is best, this way I can focus on my schooling and I won't have to worry about some boy twenty-four seven.

I hug him back. "I will, but come on; I don't want to be late on my first day back to school." I said as we break the hug. I grab my book bag and head down stairs into the kitchen where my mother and father are drinking their morning coffee and chatting between themselves; probably flirting. They are so into each other that sometimes Jon and I feel nauseated by their flirting and kissing. But their happy, and that's all we care about.

"Morning! Clary sweetheart, you may want to take something to go to eat this morning while Jon is driving you both to school, you don't want to be late!" My mother says as she comes around the counter to give me a morning kiss on the cheek. Almost everything about me comes from my mother. My red hair, green eyes, shortness in height and my artistic skill are all thanks to her.

"Shoot! I should get going too, I don't want to be late for work. Maybe we shouldn't talk in the mornings anymore Jocelyn. Once we get talking, we don't stop." My father says as he too comes around the counter and gives my mother a kiss on the lips. At the same time Jon and I groan "Ewww" which only makes my parents smile. Valentine gives Jon a quick hug and tells him good luck on his first day back to school. As he turns to face me he stops and looks at my outfit. "Clary dear, you have holes in your pants."

I look down at my ripped jeans "I know Daddy, that's how they are suppose to look." I said looking into my father's dark brown eyes. I may look like my mother's twin, but Jon is my father's. Everything from the almost white-blond hair, tall height and muscular build—the only difference is the fact that Jon has my mother's green eyes as well.

"Whatever you say Clare Bear; have a good day at school baby girl." My father says as he gives me a kiss on the cheek and a hug. After he is done with saying his good-byes to me, he returns to my mother gives her another kiss, tells her to have a good day as well. She tells him the same and my father is out of the house going to the office to work on a new case he has— I always wondered what it was like to be in my father's shoes and to be a lawyer. I always wondered how he is always able to stay calm and live a stress free life—well, for the most part calm and stress free.

"Well kids I should get to work as well, have a good day!" My mother says as she gives both Jon and I a hug and heads out the door to the Art Studio that she works at.

I grab a piece of toast and Jon and I make our way to his truck. We sit in comfortable silence all the way to the school while I eat my toast and Jon singing quietly allow with the radio. We pull into the student parking lot alongside Jonathan's oldest and best friend; Sebastian Verlac.

As terrible as it may seem, considering I have known him for many years and he is a close friend with my brother, I never really cared for him. I'm not sure if it is the black hair and black eyes that makes him mysterious or something else, but the mysterious look doesn't really work for him. It always makes me feel uncomfortable. I voiced this to Jon and he told me that I'm probably being over dramatic. He asked me if Verlac as every given me a reason to feel uncomfortable around him and I couldn't answer, because he never has. He has been nothing but kind to me; and sure, I have been nice back but it never has taken way that unease feeling I have whenever I see him. However, more recently whenever we are talking, that feeling of unease has been dulling; but still has never left. I have a good feeling though that it will go way; maybe I'll talk to him more this year.

I was about to open the truck door to get out when Jon grabs my arm and prevents me from exiting. "Clary, before you leave, I want to tell you that if anything happens at all today or any other day at school, tell me and I'll handle it." Ah, there he is, my over-protective brother.

"I promise to tell you Jon, but I think that I'll be okay. Aside from being the big girl I keep reminding you and Dad of, I have a feeling that this year will be a good year." I give him a smile and he smiles back. We get out of the truck and walk to the back end of it. Sebastian comes out of his vehicle and walks over to us.

He gives Jon a slap on the back and says "Hey there Jon! I've missed you man, if feels like we haven't talked in forever." He says dramatically. I laugh at the excitement he gets when he starts to talk to my brother. When he hears me laugh he looks at me and grins. "And hello Clary, always nice to see you." I say hello back and that it's nice to see him as well. Somehow the grin on his face grows bigger when he hears me say this. I don't know how I feel uncomfortable around this guy, his excitement and happiness is a little infectious—you can't help but smile.

"Bro, we texted yesterday and I saw you the day before, it HAS been forever." Jonathan replies, giving Sebastian a slap on the back as well. They go into a conversation so I look around the parking lot at the people who are already here and the ones arriving. I see Jon's group of friends making their way towards us. I spot Kaelie and Aline's group or who I like to refer to as "Slut Gang"; Jon's group usually associates with this group. My eyes keep traveling around the parking lot until they settle on one person, my best friend—Simon. He too is looking around the parking lot until his brown eyes land on me. I grin and give him a big wave. He smiles back and waves. He was about to start walking towards me when he is stopped by a lot screeching sound that is entering the parking lot. A fancy car comes around the corner at a speed that is way above the speed of a parking lot and perfectly parks into a parking space.

I have never seen that car before, must be a new kid. I think to myself. I look over at Jon with a look of confusion on my face. He just shrugs, answering my unspoken question of who is that. Almost everyone is looking at the car when three people step out. One however, the one who gets out of the driver seat caught my eye. He looked around the parking lot with a smirk etched on his face. He kept looking around the parking lot until his golden eyes landed on me.