A small, freckled covered child clung helplessly to her mother's leg as they made their way towards the gate of what would be her new school. She scoffed. Kindergarten? Why would she want to go to school, when she could have been at home watching cartoons in the comfort of her new "big girl" bed? She looked up at the owner of the pant leg she was so desperately holding onto, her big emerald eyes silently pleading to turn around and take her home. Her mother just smiled sadly, and she let out a small huff of defeat as one of her red curls fell out of their placement in her long, delicate braids.

"Clarissa, darling," her mother's voice sounded as she crouched down in front of the small five year old. "Be a good girl for mommy, and at least try to behave, won't you? It's recess right now. Go find your brother, alright? He said he would play with you."

She crossed her arms in defiance, turning away her head, refusing to meet the gaze of her mother. She was a traitor as far as Clary was concerned. She heard her mother's faint, feeling the familiar press of her lips against her forehead before she stood back up.

"I love you, cupcake. Be good!" her mother, or more so the evil witch, called out before she turned back towards the car Clarissa wanted to be in at the very moment.

Clary drew her bottom one between her teeth again out of habit as a small crease formed between her brows as her eyes roamed over the playground filled with many children, looking for one in particular.

She easily found the pale white-blonde hair boy, noticing that he was surrounded by a group of friends. She shrugged, already aware of how popular her brother truly was. He was too social for his own good. She made her way towards the swings, not bothering to interrupt her elder brother's playtime.

One she was situated on the swing, she looked up to find a pair of eyes staring back at her, identical to her own.

"Clare, why didn't you come over to play?" he questioned, his face holding confusion.

She shrugged. "You seemed busy."

"I'm never too busy for you, Clare-bear."

"Yeah, Clare-bear," a new voice chimed in.

She turned her head to face the person with the arrogant voice, only to be met with golden orbs and hair to match that were the brightest shade of gold she had ever encountered. She had a feeling that gold would become her new favorite color. She flushed, but nonetheless replied with a sarcastic remark.

"And who might you be, one of John's lover boy's?" she challenged, earning a glare from the golden boy, and a chuckle from her brother.

Golden boy just grumbled something under his breath as the bell sounded.

It was the first time they met, and the first time the boy had ever met anyone who could deflate his ego with a simple remark. Most girls in his grade would just attempt to get him infested with their cooties, but she seemed to be not affected by his appearance.

But it wasn't until the following year that they truly could be considered friends.

It was afterschool, and John was sick which left Clary all alone to wait by her mom at the playground in the back of her school. A young, but tall boy, was currently taunting her over her braids. He pulled at them with force, shouting Pippi Longstocking remarks at her. He had also stomped on her glasses, saying she looked stupid. She was in tears, but the boy was merciless.

It wasn't until a pair of arms wrapped around her that she figured out the pulling had stopped. She turned her head, to find none other than Jace holding her, as he took in her appearance, but was instantly relieved when he didn't mention the tracks on her cheeks that previously held tears. He simply just rocked her back in forth until her sobs slowed to a stop. Releasing her lip as a breath followed, she rubbed furiously at her eyes.

"How did you know how to do that?" she questioned before she felt his chest vibrate with a laughter.

After his laughter slowed down, he became quiet. She was about to tell him never mind before he spoke in a small, and sad tone of voice. "I don't know, my dad used to do it for my mom."

"Oh. I-I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice cracking.

He shook his head at her, ignoring her statement. "Are you okay, Pippi?"

She nodded before she slapped him across the back of his head, earning a surprised grunt.

"What was that for!" he shouted, noticing that he held back his anger quite well for a young boy.

"For calling me Pippi. That's what Sebastian was calling me before he started pulling on my braids."

His expression softened to one of understanding, and before she knew it his hands were in her hair pulling out her braids as her red hair came tumbling down to her waist in soft waves.

"Screw the braids, it looks better down," he commented, nodding as if he was proud of his work. "So best friends?"

She couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.

"Only if you promise not to call me Pippi Longstockings anymore."

He was suddenly beaming. "You got it, babe."

"Babe?" she questioned, giving him a look of disapproval.

The small boy shrugged, giving her a devious grin that made even a six year old Clary melt.

And thus, the root of the nickname that belonged only to the same, small framed, freckled covered, pale-skinned, flaming red-haired girl whom Jace would now call his best friend.

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