Full Summary: Clary's Mom always wanted her to be a model at her Dad's agency. But when Jocelyn lost her battle, Clary left the modelling world behind her and concentrated on being an artist instead. And when her father's best model can't make it to a shoot, she is forced to step in and she reluctantly agrees, just this once. When she meets the gorgeous Jace Herondale, and his equally gorgeous older brother Will, she finds them being the fearlessness and the strength she needs to get her past a mysterious new threat to her life. She just knows that, one day, she will have to choose between the two.

*EDITED CHAPTER*

Hey all! So it's me again! If you haven't noticed already I have rewritten the first four chapters of this story in my new style of writing and now I'm getting back to continuing with it. It will be a little tough getting them out at the minute, because of exams, but those finish pretty soon (I should actually be revising right now in preparation for them, and yet here I am). So welcome back to my old readers, and a big hello to my new ones! Now, let's finish this story together, shall we?

QUICK NOTE: Clary's height is a bit taller than she is in the books, but she's 5 years older and still a lot smaller than everyone else. I've had to up everyone's height for the model aspect of the story, and remember, it is Luke who is the modelling agent so that's how Clary will get her jobs!


'I can't live my life always backing down,
I got to do this right, them make it make a sound,
Cause I'm not here for nothing,
At least I can say I stand for something.'
All Signs Point To Lauderdale - A Day To Remember


"Clary, come on! For me?"

I looked up from my drawing and regretted it almost instantly. Izzy was showing her famous big puppy-dog eyes in a bid to get me to do whatever she wanted, and dammit, it was working.

"No! You get us in trouble every time and leave me to deal with it! Why should I go ahead with one of your insane plans?" Izzy's plans were crazy, and the both of us usually ended up being completely out of it by the end of the night, which was a polite way to say that we were drunk out of our minds.

Izzy widened her eyes further, if it was possible, and I found myself staring into the bottomless pits that were my only weakness. She gestured towards her face. "We both know you're going to agree, Clary. Can you just say yes already? I'm starting to get face cramp."

Sighing in frustration, I blew out a breath and tapped my pencil sharply against my forehead. "Fine, fine! But," I said warningly as Izzy whooped and flopped backwards on my bed, "if I come home drunk again you can be the one to explain why to my Dad."

Izzy rolled onto her side and propped her head up, using her hand as a pillow. "You get drunk of your own free will," she said accusingly, gesturing with her free hand. "I just provide the liquor."

"Exactly," rolling my eyes as I pointed my pencil at her face. "It happens practically every weekend! I don't understand where you get all this energy from."

"It does not happen every weekend. You make me sound like an alcoholic."

"You're kidding right? Don't you remember last weekend? And the one before that? And the one before that? The list goes on."

"Yeah, yeah, it happens all the time, I get it. I don't literally force it down your neck though."

"Maybe so, but you don't give me a lot of choice either." Izzy grinned at that; her whole face lit up as she did, her dark eyes glinting with excitement.

"Don't worry, I've arranged everything for tonight, and I'm positive that you're going to love it."

I narrowed my eyes. "You better not be taking me to another male strip club again, Iz, or I swear to you now I'll gouge out your eyeballs and eat them so you won't be able to look."

Izzy put her hand to her chest in mock horror. "You can't seriously be telling me that you didn't enjoy that hot show the night of your 21st? Because I'm sure we both enjoyed it."

I shook my head to clear it of the dancing guys that had suddenly appeared in my mind and threw my pencil at Izzy's face, narrowly missing her nose. "I remember it well, Iz, and I remember the way you were practically drooling over them in desperation."

"Clary, we're young!" Izzy exclaimed, frustrated. "We're allowed a bit of freedom once in a while, and they're being paid to show off their super hot bodies. I was just enjoying what my hard earned money could buy for me."

I grinned at her, loving how easily I could wind her up. "Bet you would've liked to take some of them home, though."

Izzy sighed and closed her eyes, covering her mouth with her hand. "Maybe I did, maybe I didn't," she mumbled, and my smirk widened.

I turned back to face my sketchpad, huffing when I realised I'd thrown the pencil I was using at Izzy. I tilted the paper, angling my head slightly to look at the soft lines, annoyed that they weren't as soft as I would have liked.

"What are you drawing anyway?" Iz asked, my mattress springs creaking behind me as she moved. I looked back at her and handed over my sketchpad, her face softening slightly as she traced the lines with her finger.

"I'll tell your Dad what's happening, okay?" she said, her voice quiet. "I'm sure he'll be fine with it."

I shot her a look as I took my sketchpad back from her, setting it back down neatly on my desk. I knew she was right though; Isabelle Lightwood was my best friend, and yet she spoke more to Luke in an hour than I did in a day, although most of it was work related since Luke was her agent. But still, Luke hardly ever found time for me anymore, always far too busy with his modelling agency that I almost thought that was his daughter rather than me.

Luke Garroway was huge in the modelling business; he was a fantastic agent and was exceptional at his job. A year ago I was in the business too, doing shoots with Izzy whilst Luke looked on with pride. But that was before my Mom.

"Speaking of Luke," Izzy said, sitting up and stretching her arms above her head, yawning. "I have a shoot in an hour, and I'm positive Luke will kill me if I'm late to another one."

"What's this one for?" I asked, genuinely interested. I didn't model anymore, but I liked to know what was going on with Izzy, and some part of my heart was still invested in the business.

Izzy waved her hands around as she stood up, slipping on her shoes. "I think it's a new perfume, though I'm not really sure. I need to start listening to Luke when he tells me what I'm supposed to be posing for."

"Maybe? You might have agreed to doing a full naked shoot without even knowing about it." I laughed as Izzy shuddered in disgust.

"I hope not! That is not a part of the modelling business that I want to venture into, thank you very much."

I snorted. "Like you don't love it when boys ogle you, with or without clothes."

"If there was a way for only the hot ones to see it, then I wouldn't mind so much," she said. waggling her eyebrows suggestively. "But anybody can pick up a magazine nowadays, and I do not like the thought of just anyone perving on my private parts." She bundled up her coat in her arms and swung her bag over her shoulder, rooting through it for her car keys. "Anyway, everything's already arranged for tonight. We're going to Pandemonium."

I felt my smile drop as my face fell. Not Pandemonium. Anywhere but there.

Izzy must have read in my face what I was thinking, because she wagged a finger at me, shaking her head. "You need to move on, Clary. I'm taking you there tonight to help you do that! I can't help you get ready tonight because I'm shooting until seven." She glanced at my clock to check the time. "Make sure you wear something that can break hearts tonight; you were a model once, I'm sure you can figure out how to dress for a club."

I raised an eyebrow as she winked at me, but gave up when I realised that I'd failed. I'd never been able to raise just one eyebrow, and it frustrated me to no end. "Why am I aiming to break hearts?"

"To show that asshole exactly what he threw away," she replied, as she pulled open my bedroom door. "I'm coming for you at eight; make sure you're ready!"

I opened my mouth to reply but the door had already shut behind her, so I scowled at the wood instead. The last time I went to Pandemonium, I witnessed my boyfriend kiss another girl right in front of me. It felt like a slap in the face, and had hurt me so much I hadn't left my bedroom for a week, not even letting Izzy or Simon in.

Everyone thought me and Sebastian had made a good couple, and a couple of years of dating had made me think so too. But clearly he had been more interested in other girls and had broken my heart.

I sighed and rubbed my hands over my face. I couldn't give him the satisfaction of thinking about him, of letting him consume my every thought. He would love it if he knew I was still doing it after 8 months.

My phone vibrated against my leg, breaking me out of my thoughts completely. I pulled it out and answered it without looking at the name.

"Hey Jon," I said impulsively, spinning round on my desk chair. "What's up?"

A deep chuckle came from the other end of the phone and I grinned. It was nice to hear my brother laugh, especially since he'd moved out and it was so rare I heard from him anymore. It made living in a massive house with only Luke to keep me company very lonely.

"Did you even check the caller ID before you picked up? I'm pretty sure you have psychic powers you know."

"Nah, I just always know when you're calling me," I replied. "It's our sibling telepathy."

"I'm sure it is," he laughed. "At least I can hear your voice this time and not just heavy breathing and moans."

I rolled my eyes and blew out a sigh. When me and Sebastian were still together, I'd butt-dialed Jon in the middle of an intense make-out session, and he'd stayed on the line for 5 minutes before I realised I could hear him laughing. It was something he liked to bring up on most occasions.

"I wish you could let that go. What's up anyway, oh brother of mine?"

"Like I'd ever let something that golden go?"

"Jon," I said warningly, and I could practically see the smile on his face as he chuckled in my ear.

"Fine, fine. Anyway, I was wondering if you wanted to meet me at Java Jones. We could go for a coffee during my lunch break, considering we hardly get to see each other anymore. Sound good?"

I checked the time and, seeing it was only quarter to one, said "Sure. When can you get there?"

"I get off in 15 minutes, so I'll meet you there?"

"Yeah, sure. I'll get our drinks in and see you soon."

"In a bit sis," he replied before hanging up. The receiver buzzed in my ear, and I smiled as I shoved my phone back in my pocket, stretching my arms out in front of me. I hadn't seen Jon in a couple of weeks, and though we spoke everyday, we jumped at the chance to meet up. It was so rare that we got days like today, when I wasn't spending all my time at university working on my latest assignment and Jon could actually take his lunch break outside of work.

I rooted through my shoes and pulled on an old pair of converse, before grabbing Jon's old university jumper that I had claimed as my own. I shoved my iPod into my pocket and trekked along the empty corridors to the front door.

I didn't bother saying bye to Luke. He usually wasn't around, too busy with his precious business to wonder what his only daughter was doing with her life.

I jammed my headphones on and pulled open the front door, zipping my hoodie up to my neck as I stepped out into the cool autumn air. It was growing colder now winter was approaching, and I preferred it when it was much warmer.

I bobbed my head to the music and found myself thinking about when I'd first moved to New York when I was just a kid. The city terrified me back then, but now I just felt cramped into a small space with no freedom to move. Ever since my Mom I'd found myself hating each new day a little more than the last. The only thing that really kept me going was my art and my friends, but even they were too busy with their own lives that it was rare we got together anymore. Izzy was continuously doing shoots, Simon was busy in his dream job testing video games, and Jordan and Maia were too wrapped up in their new married life to find time for me. They all had jobs they loved, made themselves a life they wanted, when all I wanted was to move as far away as possible and never come back.

And honestly? I was wondering if I would ever find where I fit in.

~ AABTSATF ~

I shouldered my way into Java Jones, inhaling the bitter scent of coffee that I was used to. This was mine and Jon's place, a place we found together when we'd first arrived in New York and one where we both sought refuge if there was ever something too much going on our lives.

The warmth of the shop felt nice after the chill of the wind, and I shrugged my way out of my jacket, heading towards an empty booth in the back of the shop. I was so far into my mind that I didn't notice the solid wall of muscle before I was sprawled across the floor, pain blooming in my shoulder.

I shook my head to clear the dizziness from the impact, pulled off my headphones and looked upwards, staring at what, or rather who, I'd walked into.

He was freaking gorgeous.

I'd done my fair share of shoots with male models, but none of them close to this guy, not one. He had the kind of body that made you want to do anything he asked for.

He was tall, a lot taller than my short figure, and his skin was much too tanned for someone who lived in a city. Golden blonde hair curled around his ears and flopped forward, obscuring his eyes. He had a tattoo curling around his bicep, some interlocking symbols in black, and I could tell easily through his shirt that he had muscles. Big ones.

I was very aware that my mouth was opening and closing like a goldfish, being unable to form a thought. I was happy to blame that as a reaction to the impact, as well as being the reason as to why my cheeks were so warm.

"Do you want to watch where you're going, little red?" he said, plucking at his now coffee stained shirt with disgust. "These shirts aren't cheap; I expect dry cleaning money."

I shut my mouth with a snap. Clearly he was one of those guys who thought they were God's gift to women, one who thought he could make me roll over and give him anything he wanted. Well, he was going to get a shock to his system.

"You could at least say please," I replied, hauling myself up and brushing the dust off of my knees.

"And why would I say that?"

"Oh, you know, manners and all that," I said, cocking my head to one side. "Just out of interest, are you always this arrogant?"

"You're supposed to say sorry for spilling my coffee all over my brand new shirt, and that is the only apology that I'm expecting to come out of this conversation." He waved his empty mug at me to emphasise his 'point' and brushed the other hand through his hair so his eyes were visible, and that's when I almost lost the ability to form a coherent sentence. They were honey coloured, almost gold, and if he wasn't trying to rile me up so much I probably would have melted into a puddle of Clary juice at his feet.

"So you expect an apology but I don't get one?"

"You were bound to hit the floor," he shrugged. "That's not my problem."

"Did your mother ever teach you how not to be an ass?" I asked him, glancing at the clock to check the time. Jon would arrive any minute.

He smirked again, his damn perfect mouth tilting up at the corner. "As much as the topic of asses excites me, my neck hurts from looking down at you."

I glared at him, affronted. Comments about my height hit a nerve with me; I knew I was small but did people have to bring it up so often?

Refusing to acknowledge the it, I pulled a crumpled $10 bill from my pocket and held it out to him. "For your dry cleaning. Are we done here?"

"Not in the slightest," he replied smoothly, reaching for the money, when we were interrupted by a very loud, very shrill "JACEY!"

I stifled a giggle as his face contorted into an expression of pure disgust when a girl flung herself at him, pushing her boobs out so far that her back was arched into him. The way she was looking at him was not a look of general affection between a couple; it was clear that she wanted him right there and didn't care who was watching. It was a look so raw, so full of lust, that I felt like throwing up.

It was then that she looked at me and wrinkled her nose, like I was something stuck on the bottom of her shoe. "Who are you and why are you talking to my boyfriend?"

I crossed my arms, the forgotten money screwed up in my hand. "I didn't really want to talk to him, if that makes you feel better. Not like I care, of course."

"Ew," she whined, clawing at 'Jacey's' shirt. "You'll catch something if you stay around her mu-"

"I'm sorry," I said, cutting her off, suddenly pissed off. "In my whole life I've probably slept with less people than you have in a month, and I'm the one who carries the disease? I don't think so."

Her face contorted and she lunged for me, only stopped by Jace's arm around her waist as he pulled her back, laughing. The people sat at the tables close to us were laughing too, hiding their faces in their mugs, where other people were watching us with disbelief on their faces. It made me very aware that I was making a scene, and suddenly I wanted nothing more than to shy away from the attention.

Jace was whispering in the girl's ear, either attempting to calm her down or promising her something for her troubles later on; either way, I didn't much care. She huffed in frustration and, with the dirtiest look I've ever received, flounced out of the shop, slamming the door shut behind her so that the little bell above it jangled noisily.

I sighed heavily as I watched her go, and then turned back to Jace, who was stood watching me intently with a smirk plastered across his face. "What?" I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest. "Are we done now?"

"You've got some fire in you, Scarlet," he said, ignoring my question. "It's surprising, coming from a girl of your size."

"Are we stating the obvious now? In that case, you have a dick, albeit not a very big one."

His smirk got impossibly wider, and I curled my hands into fists to stop them from shaking. "Even so, I can do some pretty great things to a girl using it. Maybe I'll show you some time."

"I think I'd rather impale myself on something than have it anywhere near me, but thanks for the offer."

I turned to walk towards the counter and jumped when I felt the heat of his hand on my arm. My pulse quickened under his touch, and I felt heat flare into my face, a rival, I knew, for my bright red hair.

"Just remember, Scarlet, that I can impale you too. I'll see you around." He let go and I heard his footsteps toward the door, and then the jangle of the bell as he let himself out. I didn't turn around for fear of him seeing my blush.

I slid into a stool at the counter and wrapped my headphones around my iPod before folding my arms down on the wood, resting my head on them. Jace had reminded me of Sebastian, not in the way he spoke but in the way he carried himself, and in his cocky, arrogant attitude that I used to find sexy. Now it was just plain annoying. But still I felt like he'd left an imprint on me when he'd touched me; his skin felt so hot on my arm that I knew I'd feel it for a week, and I would definitely remember his honey eyes.

"Hey."

I started and looked up to see a girl smiling at me from across the counter. Hauling myself up, I let a flicker of a smile ghost across my face. "Hey."

"I watched all that. The girl's supposed to be my colleague here and yet she continuously acts like a child, but you put her in her place. I wish I'd have done that days ago."

"Well, that makes me feel much better about insulting her in front of this many people," I said, tracing the lines of the oak counter with my finger.

"You definitely shouldn't feel bad about it. Think yourself lucky that you don't have to work with her."

My face cracked into a grin. "I don't think I would have lasted two hours."

"Oh believe me, I barely last one," she replied with a wink. She held out her hand over the counter, her eyes lighting up. "I'm Tessa. Tessa Gray."

"Clary Garroway," I said, grasping her hand lightly in mine with a smile. "It's nice to meet you. I haven't seen you working here before, are you new?"

"I haven't lived here very long, me and my fiance just moved here from London. I took this job on a couple of weeks ago."

"But you don't sound English," I said, trying to detect the accent in her voice.

She chuckled. "Oh no, I'm American. My family moved to England when I was 11, and I studied over there. I took a degree in English Literature and that was how I met James, through our love of books. He's always wanted to travel, and I wanted more than anything to come home, so here we are."

"That's amazing! It must have been so different studying in a different country."

"It was, but I loved everything about it. The English just do things so differently; if I'd have stayed here I doubt I would have been 'courted' the same way that James did it."

"Oh yeah, you won't find any chivalry here," I chuckled as we laughed together.

"So I've noticed. Anyway, what can I get you, Clary?"

"Just two coffees please, one white and one black."

"Coming right up!"

She disappeared behind the counter to make the drinks and I turned on my chair to face the door, watching for Jon to come in. I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen him, because things always seemed to get in the way of our plans, either due to his work or my college. But I needed to see my brother today, someone who I could trust beyond everyone else, because I needed some normalcy before the wreck I was sure to become later on at Pandemonium.

The sound of cups hitting wood made me spin back round to face the counter as Tessa set my coffees down. "Two coffees."

"Thanks," I replied, pulling the money meant for Jace's dry cleaning out of my pocket and handing it to her, but she shook her head firmly. I raised both eyebrows questioningly.

"On the house," she elaborated, grinning. "I hope we can be good friends Clary," she added as she turned to her next customer, smiling as I made my promise to see her again soon. She really was pretty; a little shorter than Izzy, with brown hair pulled up into a bun and blue-gray eyes, and best of all, she acted like herself instead of putting up a front to hide behind like most of the girls I knew. I could imagine Jon dating someone like her.

"Clary!"

Shaking myself out of my thoughts, I leapt to my feet and grinned as Jon scooped me into a bear hug. "I've missed you Jon! I feel like I haven't seen you in forever."

Jon pulled back and put his hand on my head, ruffling my hair affectionately as I tried to push him off. The happiness I felt being around him, the only person I could (biologically) call my family lit me up inside, like the sun bursting through clouds. Jon was my rock, and the big brother I looked up to.

"I know, Clare," Jon said, beaming. "How's Dad?"

At the mention of Luke my sun turned into a thunderstorm. "Luke is work. It's all he ever does."

Jon nodded knowingly. "And how are you? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, everything's fine," I muttered, pushing the mug of creamy coffee towards him and wrapping my hands around my own black one. "Coffee?"

Jon laughed, though I could still see the concern etched in his face. "God-dammit, Clare-Bear. I should have gotten here first!"

I waved his comment away, sitting back on my stool. "You pay every time. Besides, I earn money too." Even though I didn't have to pay, I added in my mind.

"But I earn more than you do," he replied playfully, elbowing me in the side as he sat down next to me.

I grinned. "I know you do."

After what had just happened with Jace, joking with Jon was just what I needed to cheer me up. Jace and his arrogant self had brought up memories of Sebastian that I didn't like to remember, usually depicting him with his arms around another girl all those months ago, but even then he shouldn't have been able to get to me so much. I'd put up a wall that was hard to get behind, and yet he he had started to worm his way through my defenses faster than anyone ever had.

And then it hit me, why the encounter had bothered me so much.

Because I recognised the girl completely.

Aline Penhallow. Sebastian's cousin.

They were back.


Follow, Fave, Review!

See you in the next one.

~ TheGrandGiftOfSilence