"Hey, you planning on bailing?" I said bumping my shoulder against Simon's.
"Geez Fray, don't do that" he replied gasping slightly. I laughed and turned looking at the school building. "Our last first day, how do you feel?" Simon asked holding his hand out.
I shuffled closer and spoke into his hand/microphone "I feel the same I do every year, that this is gonna suck."
He snickered and started walking, beckoning me to follow. "This year will be great, you'll see. I just have a good feeling". I stared at him for a few minutes admiring his optimism and we lapsed into silence. As we entered Simon automatically headed for his locker before I pointed out that without timetables there was no point getting any books.
The bell rang and we headed toward 218 Hodge Starkweathers administration class with equal looks of dread. He hated students and it was never a good way to start out the day. We entered and took up a couple of seats toward the window. Simon gave me a long look.
"You look tired".
"Gee thanks" I replied haughtily "I was up late sketching, thinking out ideas for art class" I said.
Simon rolled his eyes and nodded but before he could reply we were interrupted by the sound of a bag slamming down and a groan. I looked round and grinned.
"Hey Maia" I sang.
"This is so gonna suck" she replied.
"That's what i said!" Laughing I asked how her summer was. She only rolled her eyes and explained how being trapped at her grandmas house in the country didn't count as a holiday. After swapping summer stories and agreeing a Java jones after school would be the perfect pick me up we were shushed into silence.
"The start of another year of your education, for some the very last.." said stark weather his eyes lingering on Kaelie, a very below average student who showed disdain for school entirely. She scoffed in response before fetching her phone from her bag. The teacher opened his mouth to continue his start of term speech when the door opened. Everyone's head swivelled in wonder, even kaelie and her gang weren't late for starkweather.
In walked two of the most attractive people I had ever seen, first was a girl with long silky black hair, dark eyes and a body to die for, she was extremely tall and i noted the heels she wore. She smiled dazzlingly at everyone. The person behind her was taller and muscled with gold hair, eyes and skin. Everyone in the class was staring open mouthed including, clary noted with amusement: Simon.
"Hi I'm Isabelle and this is my brother Jace, we're new!" She said excitedly to hodge. He sighed at the interruption.
"Yes I know. I've had a look at your timetables. Aline raise your hand you will escort Jonathon to his classes today and Clarissa you will take Isabelle".
I jerked in surprise at my name and Simon nudged me til I raised my hand. Isabelle beamed and weaved her way to me.
"You know, I prefer to be called Jace" said the new guy before making his way to Aline who was grinning.
"Hi, Clarissa right?" Isabelle asked.
"Yeah, but you can call me Clary, everyone does. And these are my friends Simon and Maia" I said gesturing to each of them in turn.
"Nice to meet yous, I'm so glad I have someone to show me around all day, does this mean we are in the same classes?" As she finished the sentence timetables were thrust onto the table in front of me. A quick glance at both mine and Isabelle's showed we did share the same week. Noticing this too she nodded in satisfaction.
"Your hair is amazing by the way is it natural?" Isabelle said she reached forward as if to grab a strand but stopped midway and pulled her hand back. "Sorry people say I can be a bit full on".
"Her hair is natural and never mind that what's with your brother?Yous are both gorgeous but yous don't look alike.." said Maia.
I internally sighed, Maia was very blunt and comfortable asking anyone anything I however was not and watched Isabelle closely, she was intimidatingly gorgeous like someone who would find friends with Kaelie and Aline not me and Simon.
She looked slightly uncomfortable for a second before saying. "My family adopted him when he was ten but for all intents and purposes he's my brother" she said rolling her eyes. "He can be a bit of a jackass and a player so I wouldn't get too intrigued, but he's very good as a brother and a friend...when he wants to be."
Maia nodded "cool" was all she replied. At that point the bell rang and I said "well looks like we are headed to...English isabelle. see you in science" I said to Si having already committed our matching subjects to memory.
Me and Isabelle walked down the corridor. "So where did you move from and how did you end up here?" I asked.
"Ugh id tell you where we came from but the town was so tiny you wouldn't know it, New York much more my speed. My parents are real estate agents and got the opportunity to work for the same firm right here, not really something they could pass up on" she replied. I chuckled I couldn't imagine someone like Isabelle stuck somewhere with a small population.
"Is it just you and jace or...?"
"Nope, I have a brother Alec, he's a year older studying law at college, he already lives here so that was a major draw to this place and I have a 9 year old brother Max who is frightfully adorable" she gushed.
I kept asking more questions about Isabelle and her family and they're last town to prevent any awkwardness but she seemed very interested in asking about me. I told her how I had an older brother Jon who was also at college and how my mother Jocelyn had split with my father and was remarried to my stepdad named Luke who was her friend forever and explained about how I'd known Simon since we were about 5.
She gave me a knowing smile. "Oh so your mum married her lifelong friend does that mean you and Simon...?"
I burst out laughing "no no no, me and Simon it would just be..so wrong, he's like my other brother. I love him just not like that. What about you isabelle any special men?"
"Call me Izzy! It must be nice having someone that close, I've had friends but never anyone I was that close to or knew for so long apart from my brothers. And no I'm pretty single right now, I feel like guys ..underestimate me or want me for my looks you know?"
I could understand how that happened to Isabelle but it didn't to me so I just shrugged and smiled.
The teacher soon started class and I tuned out.
A few classes later we headed toward the cafeteria for lunch, Isabelle had surprised me by being very nice and quite smart, however I was still apprehensive. I plopped down next to Simon who was deep into conversation with his friend Eric. As Eric caught sight of Isabelle his jaw slowly dropped alerting Simon of our arrival. I sniggered internally.
"Hey" he said "Eric this is Isabelle she's new and in clary's classes".
Isabelle smiled at him in confusion as he just continued to stare, I snorted and clicked in front of his face causing him to stutter a quiet 'hello' and give his attention to his food. Maia and her boyfriend Jordan arrived at that minute greeting us and pulling out food.
"Sitting with us today, Jordan how nice" said Eric jokingly.
"Yeah well I'm getting tired of Kaelie climbing over the new guy it's sickening. No offence of course" Jordan replied nodding to Isabelle.
She sighed and glanced around "oh well I'm sure Jace is enjoying it. I'm isabelle by the way and I'm starving, just going to join the queue, anyone need anything?"
Everyone refused so she danced off alone. Eric muttered a wow watching her leave then his face dropped. Looking over I noticed Kaelie had approached Isabelle and was speaking rapidly with a huge -fake- grin plastered to her face. Isabelle quickly disengaged from the conversation and Kaelie looking disappointed sauntered back toward Jace.
When Isabelle came back Maia asked "what was that?".
Isabelle carelessly threw a look over her shoulder before replying. "She wanted me to join her and her friends over at that table but I don't know...I get a bad vibe from her she seems too fake so I said no" she wrinkled her nose slightly.
Eric said wow again.
At the end of the day Simon and I walked isabelle out to the car park, she had graciously declined simons offer to accompany us to Java Jones by explaining she couldn't concentrate on anything but finishing decorating her room and unpacking boxes.
"You don't know how long it took to find this outfit this morning" she said waving her hand at her outfit which consisted of a short black dress, knee high boots which had at least a 5 inch heel and a small jean jacket. Many guys glanced as she did this but if she noticed she didn't acknowledge it. "Well thank you so much for today Clary you've saved my life and if you don't mind I think I might need to be your shadow for at least the rest of the week then you can get rid of me if you want." She said a hint of uncertainty in her tone.
I laughed "I'd love to keep helping you! Meet you here at 8:45 tomorrow?"
"Perfect" she grinned waving as she walked toward Jace who stood at the entrance to the parking lot with Kaelie hanging onto his arm.
"Let's go" I said to Simon tugging him toward the school gates. "You know I've had zero coffee today right".
He looked at my incredulously pressing the back of his hand to my forehead. "I'm surprised you've been so nice all day."
"Yeah well.. Isabelle is really nice huh?" I asked.
"Nice...?" Simon asked in a strangled voice. "Yes she's nice".
"And gorgeous and surprisingly down to earth, I know. Wonder how long she'll sit with us before realising seelie and her posse are more her type."
"Don't be so negative, I don't think she'd get along with them.. she's too nice. Where's Maia?" Simon said.
"Hanging with Jordan she told me in Math I forgot to pass on the message, just you and I it seems. Want to stay for dinner tonight?" I asked bumping into him.
"Absolutely" was his reply.
Jace.
"Who are they?" I asked as Isabelle approached me nodding to the red head and brown haired mousey looking boy she was with moments ago.
"Clary and Simon, they're very nice and you could've come over and been introduced anytime I was with them all day" she said crossing her arms.
Kaelie made a very unladylike noise and said. "friends with them? Why? They're so weird"
Isabelle just stared at her coldly until she said a quick goodbye and left. "So that's how you get rid of her, interesting". I said while Isabelle dragged me to the car.
"I'll introduce you tomorrow I'm sure you'd like them, they're not so.. bimbo-ish".
"Bimbo-ish?" I questioned putting my key in the ignition. She shrugged and leaned against the window claiming tiredness. I drove the unfamiliar streets home, it wasn't a long drive and we lived on the outskirts of the city so it was relatively quiet.
"How was your first day anyway?" Isabelle said stepping out the car.
"Fine, Kaelie will be a good way to pass the time." Isabelle rolled her eyes. I knew she disapproved of my sleeping around but I was young very good looking and girls were too predictable these days.
"Don't you ever want to find someoneeee" she said drawing out the last word.
I shrugged nonchalant. "Well yes Iz one day but for high school and college the bachelor life is my style." I puffed out my chest making her chuckle.
"I could get used to this!" Isabelle exclaimed looking at our new home. It had two stories and was huge, obviously old fashioned but had been done up in the past few years giving it a modern appeal, it boasted 7 bedrooms most with en-suite, a huge living room, dining area, kitchen and movie room. I murmured my approval as Isabelle entered the house, as I stepped in Max my little brother barrelled into me talking a mile a minute about his new school, new friends and new room.
I ruffled his hair and followed him into the kitchen where Alec stood.
"Why are you here, where's mum and dad?" Isabelle spoke up. Alec sighed.
"Do you ever listen?" He replied.
She shrugged and walked over to Max hugging him and asking why he hadn't been to ask her how her day was. "It was really good" she was saying "I made a nice new friend called Clary she's going to show me around this week, I think you'd like her."
Clary.
"Wow Jocelyn, that was amazing as usual, thank you." Simon addressed my Mum. Suck up.
"Anytime Simon, Clary are you finished?" She replies taking the plates from the table. I pushed mine toward her watching as she smiled at Luke on the way to the kitchen. I watched her in awe, people always said we looked alike, same red hair and green eyes but there was something more beautiful and ...striking about my mum. Especially when she looked at Luke so happy.
The day her and my father announced their divorce no one was exactly surprised they had bickered for years and now that I've seen her with Luke I know what real love looks like. My father Valentine had quickly left moving state, he occasionally messaged me and my brother Jon on social media and sent birthday and Christmas cards of money but that was about all the communication we had.
"Have you spoke to Jon, Mum? He was thinking of coming home this weekend."
My mother looked over at me sympathetically. "Oh honey I'm sorry he's swamped with school work at the moment, he was going to call tonight at some point to explain to you he might have forgot" she said looking at the clock on the wall.
"Oh, that's okay I guess he'll come another time". I fought to keep the disappointment from my voice but the look Simon was giving me showed I wasn't a good actress.
"Well I hate to dine and dash but my mum will be wondering where I am". Simon said.
I looked at the clock now too and noted it was 8 much later than I expected. "Sure I'll walk you to the door" I said getting to my feet.
I held the front door open one arm out to give Simon a departing hug. He swooped in and kissed my cheek uncharacteristically. "You know Jon would be here if he could, he misses you too".
I frowned and muttered goodbye promising to meet Simon the next morning. I dragged my feet upstairs to my room before starfishing the bed letting the disappointment set in. Jonathon had moved into a dorm around a month ago and promised to come visit every second weekend so far he hadn't showed. Although I knew it was selfish and he was probably having fun I hadn't been apart from him for this long before.
I rolled over and pulled my sketchbook and a pencil toward me, folding my legs into a basket I started to sketch.
Around twenty minutes later I set the pad down admiring the sketch of my brother. Huffing I threw my book to the floor and lay back flicking the tv on before letting sleep overcome me.