Chapter 1

"Riiiiinnnngggg!" The school bell woke me from my day dream in math class. I pick up my bag and head out the door to go to lunch.

"Marisa! Marisa, wait!" I rolled my eyes and turned towards my teacher. I think it is unbelievably ridiculous that it is the week after Thanksgiving and my teacher STILL doesn't know my name.

"It's Clarissa, Mrs. Hampton" I told her as she hands me papers.

"Sorry, sweetie. You dropped these on your way out." I mumble a 'thank you' and walk through the halls.

I'm not exactly what you would call 'popular'. Actually, I'm at the very bottom of the high school food chain. I have exactly one friend: Simon. He, too, is at the bottom of the chain, so we decided we would stick together.

I find myself walking through the halls and out the front door. I don't come from a wealthier family, therefore, I have to bring my lunch. I'm fine with that, actually. It keeps me from having to stay in the congested cafeteria lines forever. I walk toward the small tree that is farthest from the school entry. I sit down and pull out my apple and water bottle from the side of my backpack and wait for Simon.

After waiting for him for a few minutes, I pull out my phone. Simon has never made me wait this long before, so I text him and ask if he is coming today. I take another bite of my red apple. After swallowing, I feel my phone vibrate on my leg.

**sorry Clary, gotta make up some work with ms jones. Make it up to you later**

Well, this is just great. I get to sit by myself at lunch. I look up and see the group of 'populars'.

Our football team isn't all that great, so our biggest group of popular kids include the basketball team and the cheerleaders. The cheerleaders are sitting together at a separate table than the boys, which is very odd. They normally all hang out together. The 'head bitch' turns her head and laughs while flicking her long dark hair over her shoulder. Aline Penhallow is the biggest bitch in the school. She makes fun of me constantly, and for no good reason! After she laughs, her ensemble mimics. I watch as Isabelle Lightwood, the prettiest of them all, at least in my opinion, flicks her raven hair over her shoulder just as Aline had.

Why can't I be beautiful like the group of girls before me? Yes, I know what you're thinking. 'Your self-esteem is too low.' Blah, blah, blah. But I'm not even going to lie. I am very short and very skinny. You know that part in the movie The Proposal where Betty White is looking for Sandra Bullock's boobs? Yeah, that's me. My skin is also a problem. Sure, I don't have to worry about acne or anything like that, but I can not tan to save my life and I have freckles; lots of them. To top it all off, I have unruly red curly hair. Because of all of my physical features, I have earned jokes and laughter from the entire school.

Just then, the basketball team start to laugh, too. I see everyone high-fiving the guy known as 'The Golden God' of the school. Sure, he really is cute, and smart from what I've gathered, but he's a total jerk. I'm speaking from my own personal experience, of course. I watch as things get a little serious, then three guys stand up and start to walk.

Sebastian Verlac, a tall, dark haired teen with broad shoulders stands on the left side of Jace Herondale, or as I mention before, 'The Golden God'. On Jace's right stood Alec Lightwood, his raven haired, blue eyes adoptive brother, who is obviously Isabelle's brother. Both Sebastian and Alec were nudging Jace in the gut and pointing at students as they walked around in the courtyard.

I decide that I have spent too much time looking at them, so I stand up and tug on my overalls a bit. I pick up my bag and start walking, but then all of my art supplies fly out of my bag. I quickly gather everything and scurry off to the art room.

"So Aline dumped your ass, huh, Herondale?" Sebastian asks Jace. Jace rolls his eyes.

"Yeah."

"Tough break. Sorry, man." Alec says while patting him on the shoulder.

"No, don't be. It was very mutual." Jace says and Sebastian laughs and high fives Jace.

"So who is your next victim?" Sebastian asks in a joking manner.

"Whoever the hell I want it to be" Jace says cockily.

"You think you're so good, Herondale. You think you can get any girl you want." Sebastian says.

"I don't 'think'," Jace says putting air quotes around the last word, "I know I can."

"How about we put a little wager on that, buddy?" Sebastian challenges.

Jace grins and is about to speak, but Alec interjects. "Jace, don't do this."

"Oh, what's a little bet?" Sebastian asks.

"Deal." Jace says grinning slyly and shaking Sebastian's hand. Alec rolls his eyes. "So, let me just find-"

"Hold up there. You didn't let me finish before you agreed to the bet. You have to make her fall for you by the Winter Ball, and Alec and I get to pick." Sebastian tells him.

Jace feels a slight amount of nervousness, but doesn't let it show. "Fine, whatever. Pick one, then."

"Hmm, what about that one." Alec snickers and points to a girl with blonde hair who is picking her nose. Sebastian barks out a laugh.

"Now you're getting in the spirt, Alec! Hmm." Sebastian looks around. "Oh, hey! There's a good match!" He laughs and points to a slender girl with black hair who is indiscreetly pulling out a wedgie.

"Come on guys..." Jace mumbles out his plea.

"Oh, wait! There! She's the one." Sebastian points to a clumsy leprechaun looking girl who just dropped some of her things.

"Agreed!" Alec exclaims.

"Guys, seriously? Clarissa Fray? Come on, I can at least work with the nose picker and wedgie digger, but her?!"

"A bet is a bet." Sebastian tells him, knowing Jace's pride would keep him from going back on his word.

"Unless you already want to give up and prove to us that you can't get any girl to fall for you." Alec says.

Jace huffs out a breath. "No way. She will fall for me. Hard."

Hey guys! Long time no read! Hope y'all like this new story, it's a lot lighter than the last one! Reviews make me post quicker! Xoxo