(***A.N: Cassandra Clare owns The Mortal Instruments not me. Please do not copy this story and claim it as your own***)

Chapt 1: The Return

"So how was your summer break in London with your cousin?," Isabelle Lightwood, my best friend, grinned, walking up to me, and looping her arm through mine as we walked down the hallway, "I'm so jealous that you got to go to London for 3 whole months."

"Don't be. Tessa's boyfriend annoyed me the whole time," I deadpanned, glancing up at her, and my lips turning slightly upwards into a half-smirk, "I always thought Jace was the most annoying person in the world, but I think I found someone even more irritating than Jace."

"Nobody can be more annoying than Jace." Isabelle countered, raising a perfect eyebrow up at me in dubiety, and walking into our classroom.

"Oh yeah?," I intoned, raising my eyebrows up at her in challenge, and glancing up at her, "Has Jace ever climbed up a tree, got stuck up there, refused to come down because blood-thirsty ducks were swimming in a river 20 feet away and the London Police had to be called to get him down?"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!," Isabelle guffawed, slapping her hand against her thigh, and sitting down on a chair next to me, "That is hilarious."

The one laughing is my best friend, Isabelle Lightwood. We have been best friends ever since Kindergarten when one of the boys made fun of me for my short height. Izzy had strutted straight over to the kid where he was building something with blocks and kicked the blocks before coming back towards me. She did get her playtime taken away for a week for that, but she assured me that it was worth it and we've been best friends ever since.

We are complete opposites but people never see one of us without the other. Izzy had long, silky, straight black hair and brown eyes. She was tall and had a slim figure that made every girl jealous, which she wasn't afraid to flaunt how gorgeous she was by wearing short skirts and dresses. Whereas I was short (5 feet to be exact) with unruly carrot red hair that went down my back. I always wear jeans, stretch pants, and T-shirts with my green sneakers. Izzy was the type of girl where all the guys knew she was waay out of their league, while I was her short friend that was cute and easy to talk with (I was more the type guys would consider good friends than dating material).

My friends and I graduated high school last year, so my mother, Jocelyn, and my step father, Luke, agreed to let me live with my cousin, Tessa Grey, in London for the summer as a graduation present. Well, technically Luke isn't my step father because my mom and Luke are too stubborn to admit that they love each other, even though everyone can see that they are in love with each other.

My cousin, Tessa Grey, was a tall, beautiful, gorgeous, and intelligent girl, who was a year older than me. She had curly, brown hair that flowed down her back and grey eyes. Unfortunately, I only see her at Christmas since she lives in London, which was why she and I decided back in 9th grade that I would save up my money to come live with her for summer in London when I graduate high school. Which is exactly what I did and now I'm back for my college classes.

"You wouldn't have found it funny if you heard the lecture my aunt, Charlotte, gave us afterwards," I grumbled under my breath, scowling playfully, sitting in the chair beside Izzy, and grinning at her, "I also saw your cousins, Gideon and Gabriel, while in London."

"Seriously?," Izzy repeated, a wide grin plastered on her face, and a mock-pity look came onto her face, "I feel sorry for you. I can't imagine how surly those two were the whole time."

"Actually, they weren't grumpy at all," I cited, tapping my finger to my chin, and recalling my amazing stay in London, "In fact, they had smiles on their faces the whole time I was there."

"Are you sure we're talking about the same cousins?," Izzy questioned, raising an eyebrow up in skepticism, and looking at me with a shocked expression on her face, "Because the ones I'm talking about are sour as sour pickles."

"They're the same cousins alright," I chuckled, shaking my head in amusement, and smirking slyly at Izzy, "Although, I'm pretty sure they were happy because of their girlfriends."

"ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!," Izzy mocked-fumed, a small tick mark appearing on her head, and she wailed dramatically as she smacked her head on the table, "HOW CAN THOSE TWO KNUMBSKULLS GET GIRLFRIENDS WHEN I DON'T HAVE A BOYFRIEND?!"

"There, there," I mocked, patting her back with my hand, and smiling innocently (while internally rubbing my hands together like a villain) as she glared at me, "You can always date Simon."

Luckily for me, our Professor walked in before Izzy could reply.

TO BE CONTINUED…