I do not own the rights to these characters, they were all created by the ever-awesome Cassandra Clare. However this particular story is of my creation. SO enjoy.

CHAPTER ONE

Okay so this is the first chapter of Clary and Jace's journey. I am not sure how long I will carry it one for, but I hope you all enjoy. This is my first FanFic story, so don't forget to give me your opinion :)

CLARY'S POV

"It's one thing to accuse my friend of stealing," my eyes narrowed, "but it's a whole other thing to accuse me of asking him to do it."

His eyes widened at my aggressive stance. Moving back slightly, he put his hands up in mock surrender. "Whoa, easy now." He looked between me and the boy I'd shifted behind me. "All I said was I thought I saw you tell him to steal it, I never said anything for sure."

"Well you certainly put the idea in his head, now didn't you?" I gestured absently to the shopkeeper who was standing a few feet away, arm crossed over his chest. For reasons I couldn't fathom, he seemed amused.

The man sighed. "Look,"—he turned his body toward the shopkeeper—"I was wrong in my assumption, I should not have accused these two..." I could practically see him swallowing his pride. "...of thieving from your store."

Feeling satisfied, I nodded at him and turned to face the shopkeeper. The man was large, likely over 6 feet and had shoulder the width of a linebacker. He also had a huge smirk on his face.

"Look, it's just a little sucker, barely 10 cents, not enough for you guys to take 20 minutes of my time for this debate." He blew out a breath that smelled heavily of tobacco. I tried not to cringe. "Listen, how about you three just leave and then the problem will leave with you, OK?" Without another word, the shopkeeper tightened his apron and moved to his counter, where a few annoyed customers stood waiting.

Once the shopkeeper was out of earshot we continued glaring at each other.

"Uh Clary?"

The voice took me out of and tense state, looking away from the guy I turned to look at my best friend Simon Lewis. "Ya Simon?"

He held a mixture of shock and embarrassment on his face. His deep brown eyes looked curiously from the shopkeeper to his accuser—who was still standing silently in front of us. "Can we just go back to your house? I don't want my mom hearing about this and I'm sure you don't want Luke to find out."

That made my anger deflate quickly. I was supposed to be home over thirty minutes ago, as I'd promised Luke I wouldn't miss dinner. Luke was my stepfather, he married my mother last year after she'd awoken from a coma that she'd been in since I was little. After a terrible car crash that had taken my father from me, Luke had taken care of me during my mother's entire hospital stay. He's really been the only father I've ever known. And I hated disappointing him.

"Okay." I gave one last parting glare to the guy who was watching the entire exchange silently. "We can probably catch the seven o'clock bus if we go quickly."

Not bothering to say one more word, I hooked my arm with Simon's and we rushed out of the store. The bus stop was still a few blocks over and we had less than two minutes.

"Shit!" I breathed, leaning forward and resting my hands on my knees. Simon and I watched the lights from the bus travel around the corner. "When's the next one?"

Breathing heavily, Simon pushed up his glasses and squinted at his watch. "Not for another...thirty-five minutes..." He gave me a sheepish look.

I growled slightly. If hadn't had to deal with that guy in the shop we never would have missed the damn bus. Just thinking about him made my hand curl into fists.

Then a car honking took me out of my reverie.

"Hey, do you guys need a ride?"

My hands tightened. Looking up I couldn't help but glare at the guy. Of course it was him. "Screw off." I muttered.

Simon looked at me in shock. "Clary, he's offering us a ride." He said it as if it were the holy grail.

"Ya so? Without him we never would have even been in this mess!" My whisper turned into a shrill.

The guy cleared his voice. "I can hear you."

My eye flashed at him and held his. His eyes looked like they were a light shade of brown but I couldn't be sure in the dimly lit street. "What's your point?" I could feel Simon shift uncomfortably beside me. I wasn't usually this rude to strangers, but this one really pissed me off.

"Listen, I am sorry I accused you two of stealing." His tone seemed genuine. "And as a way of peace offering, just let me get you two where you need to go, it's the least I can do." He held my gaze, and for a moment I forgot Simon was standing only a foot to my side. Then I blinked and reality set in.

"No thanks," I said pertly, straightening to my full five foot three. I pushed my red hair from my face when a sudden gust of wind blocked my sight. "My friend and I don't want anything from you."

Simon cleared his voice.

I turned to look at him, almost forgetting he was there. "What?"

"If I may..." He gestured towards the car.

I shrugged in reply.

Looking uncomfortable, Simon moved towards the car. "I believe what my friend is trying to say is, yes, we would love a ride."

Opening my mouth, I was about to say something before Simon unceremoniously covered it with his large hand. I growled but both Simon and the guy ignored me. When I bit Simon's palm, hard, he quickly took it away but gave me a stern look that clearly stated "Behave."

Crossing my arms over my chest I grudgingly walked towards the car, pointedly ignoring the driver. But when I attempted to get into the back seat with Simon, I noticed there was no room. The was a pile of bags covering an entire seat by themselves.

Crap.

Simon gave me a shrug and I glared at him. Moving to the right, I roughly opened the door to the front passenger seat. The guy watched me as I shifted into the seat and took it heavily, stomping my feet on the mat to get the water off, and perhaps some of my annoyance.

"My name's Jace," the guy said, extending a hand that he eventually realized I wasn't going to acknowledge. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the guy grin slightly as he dropped his hand and pushed his car into drive. Then he looked back at me, eyebrow slightly raised. "So, where to?"

So what do you think?
Review if you like and review if you don't! I'd love to hear all of your opinions!

The Next chapter is coming soon, it will be longer than this one :)