All characters belong to Cassandra Clare. I only own the plot.

Chapter One:

Jace POV:

It's been three years since I killed my mom. Although it may not be my fault, I still live with the guilt every single day. She was the only family that I had left. My dad died when I was 10 years old. He left my mom and I a huge amount of money when he died. I live on my own now, but my aunt and uncle check in every now and then. I'm in my senior year of high school and I can't wait to get out of this school. I don't have many friends. After the accident I shut myself off. I couldn't bare for anyone to give me their sympathy, I didn't deserve it. I don't deserve anyone after what happened to my mom. I deserve to be alone, and to be hated.

Clary POV:

Sometimes life is really unfair but nobody needed to know just how unfair it was. My mom died two years ago. It was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Although my father and my brother don't see it that way. They blame me for everything. Thank god I met Isabelle because without her and her family I don't think I would be able to make it through without them. They are the reason I didn't fall into a deep depression after my mom died and after my father and brother turned their backs on me.

"Clary, come on! I don't want to be late for school! It's our senior year, and we're going to rule the school!" Izzy called from downstairs.

"Correction, you will rule the school. I will be the art girl that everyone sees you with." I called back. Izzy was the most popular girl at the school, but I was far from it. I hid in the art world as much as possible. It was my escape, it helps with the grieving process.

"Well, I still don't want to be late! Alec is going to meet us there; he has to check on our cousin first. Make sure he goes today."

"How is your cousin?"

"Who knows. He doesn't talk to us all that often. I miss him. He was over all the time before the accident."

"He's just having a tough time. He'll get there again."

"I doubt it. It's been three years."

"People all grieve differently Iz. He is just taking his time. You have to respect that and when he does finally come around be the same Izzy you were before. He doesn't want to have your sympathy or your empathy, he just needs his space."

"Three years is enough space. You didn't take that much time after your mom died."

"That's because I had you, and my art. He heals differently. What exactly happened anyway?"

"Nobody knows. He won't talk about it anyone. All I know is that his mom died in a car accident." My mind started to come up with all the possibilities of how I could get him to open up.

"Maybe he just needs someone to talk to."

"Good luck with that. He hasn't had a friend in three years. He kicked everyone out of his life after it happened." I didn't care that she wasn't excited about my plan, but I was going to try and get Jace to open up. I knew kind of what he was going through. For the first year my father and brother made me believe that my mothers death was my fault, and it wasn't until I met Izzy that I knew that they were wrong. Although Izzy doesn't know how my mom died she still helped. We hoped in the car and made our way to school. Izzy and I didn't have homeroom together so we split up when we left out lockers. After about 5 minutes of sitting and sketching in homeroom Jace walked in. The only seat that was left was beside me. Operation get to know Jace was going into fill affect.

"Good morning Jace." I said and smiled at him.

"Hey." Was all he mumbled back. This might be harder than I imagined but I was not a quitter and I wasn't giving up. The bell rang and I slowly gather my belonging.

"See you around Jace." I smiled and walked away. He had a puzzled look on his face, I guess he was used to people ignoring his presence but I wasn't going to let that bother me. The rest of the day passed uneventful and Izzy dropped me off at home. My brother was away at work and so was my father. It was great to have the house to myself. They have been giving me the cold shoulder for the past two years. I cranked up my stereo and started jamming while I painted.

One way that I processed my grief was painting. It helped me get out all of my emotions and made me feel really relieved. It was painting and jamming for about two hours when I heard the cars pull up. I immediately stopped the music and made my way downstairs.

"Clarissa, what is for dinner? We are hungry." My brother stated as he walked in to the kitchen.

"I was just about to start making hamburgers."

"Good girl, now after dinner clean up the living room. It's filthy." My father entered after my brother. God, was it so hard to hang up your own jackets. Tonight was going to be a long night.

Dinner ended and I was left to clean up the kitchen. Once that was done I started cleaning the living room. It was about 11 at night and I was going to head up to my room when my father called me back to the living room.

"Clarissa! This is unacceptable. This house is so dirty."

"Why don't you clean it yourself father. Since I'm never good enough for you anyway!" I was trying my hardest to stay calm.

"This is women work Clarissa. Your mother always got it right."

"That's because she would do anything for you, I on the other hand refuse to be treated like a slave anymore. I'm done."

"Now now Clarissa, you can't be done. You are my daughter."

"Good one, you gave me up as a daughter after mom died."

"That's because you killed her. How could I have a murderer as a daughter?" I was getting furious, and Jonathan was sitting on the couch laughing.

"I didn't kill her. We were in the wrong place at the wrong time dad. I wasn't responsible for her death." Tears started to form in the back of my eyes.

"You were there because you needed to be, if it weren't for you, your mother would still be alive and I might still love you." I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed my jacket and walked out. I hated him and I hated how he made me feel.

Jace POV:

It was around 10:30 at night when I decided to take a walk. I haven't been able to sleep since the accident. The doctors told me I had insomnia, so I walk around and find a bench to sit on and people watch. Strange people come out at night. I take a seat on a bench outside of some house, and I could see into the living room as I saw a familiar red head cleaning. She left but a minute later she was back talking to a man that I believe is her father. They look to be in a conversation that quickly escalates to a fight. Another boy who looked to be a couple years older was there as well laughing. She soon stormed out of the house and started walking down the street. I looked after her to see where she was going until she walked into an ally. I decided to get up and follow her.

When I got to the ally I saw three men approaching her. They soon had her cornered and pinned up against the wall. Before I started walking towards her, they slapped her. I took another step and once they heard me they immediately take off running. I walk up to her to see tears coming down her face.

"You okay?" I ask and she slowly wipes her faces of her tears.

"Yea, just trying to get to my friends house."

"It's not safe to walk in these ally's at night."

"I know, it's just the quickest way to her house and I need her." She was still crying so I did something I never thought I would.

"I'll walk you if you really need to get there."

"Uh, thanks, but honestly its just a couple more blocks. I'll be fine." She starts walking away.

"Are you sure?" I thought I'd give it one more shot.

"Actually, I'd really like the company." She smiled and I made my way over to her. We walk silently to her friend's house, which happens to be Izzy's. As soon as we are in front of it, I go to say goodbye.

"See ya." I don't even give her time to say anything before I turn around and make my way back in that general direction. What the hell did I just do.