A/N: Well, here's a new story for you! I've had this sitting on my iPad for a while, so I thought I'd share it!

I know I haven't updated Twisted Scars in a while. I've written a good amount of it today, and I'll update ASAP.

Remember to let me know what you think. This chapter is really short, but the next one is twice as long. I'll update in the morning for that one. It's really late, and I have to get up early for work but...this fic just needed to be shared!

Chapter 1: The Challenge

The warm wind blasted in twenty-four year old Jace Herondale's face as he made his way to the apartment that he was sharing with his two friends. He climbed up the old cement stairs to the door and opened it. The smell of lasagna hit him as soon as he entered. "Hey, Jace. Is that you?"

"No, it's the Kaiser." Alec Lightwood rounded the corner. He had an apron tied around his slim waist. His black hair was tossed in a meaningful disarray and his blue eyes were shining. He rolled his eyes sighed. "Dinner's almost ready, and as usual, you didn't help with any of it."

Jace smirked. "Well, this gorgeous body," he gestured to himself, "cannot be trapped in a kitchen." He pointed to Alec's apron. "What the hell is that thing?"

Alec scowled and tore off the apron. "At least help me set the table." Jace shrugged and followed his best friend to the kitchen. Magnus, Alec's glittery boyfriend was sitting on the couch next to the kitchen. "Oh, come on, Magnus," Jace said exasperatedly. "I just cleaned the couch yesterday. Do you have to clutter it up with your glitter everyday?"

"It's called fashion, Jace darling," Magnus responded.

"Barely," Jace muttered. Magnus glared at Jace and went to set up the table. Alec shook his head. "Do you have to upset him?"

"Does he have to mess up everything?" Jace asked.

Alec rolled his eyes and said, "Whatever. Just sit down."

The three of them sat together at the small dining table, eating Alec's food. "So," Magnus said, "how many girls did you crush today."

"Just one," Jace said with his mouth full. His best friend shook his head.

"You need to settle down."

"Settle down?" he inquired quizzically.

Alec sighed and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Jace, you're wasting your life away. I can let you ruin yourself."

"Alec, I'm fine," Jace said.

"New girl everyday?" Alec said. "You have never had a steady relationship. Soon you'll be a ninety year old grandma with a thousand cats."

Jace wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Like Magnus?"

"Watch it, Blondie," Magnus warned. "You might just wake up with glittery pink hair if you keep this up."

Jace opened his mouth the retort but Alec cut him off. "Seriously, Jace. Settle down, cut down the clubbing, and live life."

Jace scooped up the rest of the lasagna onto his plate. "I'm fine the way I am, Alec."
Alec watched his friend worriedly. "No you're not."

"He's ruining himself."

The boy sat in the dark, looking at the stars through his window. His cell phone was pressed against his ear, and he spoke softly, so he wouldn't wake the sleeping body next to him.

"What do you want me to do?" The girl on the other side asked. The boy sighed in frustration, rubbing his forehead. "We need to bring them together," he said.

"I'll get her to Java Jones tomorrow at eight," the girl said. The boy clicked off the phone and continued to stare out of the window.

"Where are we going?" Jace complained. Alec sighed as they walked down the darkening sidewalk. The wind had gotten chillier. Alec took Jace out of the house for a while.

"Just shut up," he said. "We're almost there." A small street corner café had its lights on at this time. Alec opened the door and ushered Jace in quickly. The heating in the café was on, immediately warming the two boys. Alec looked around, taking in the scene. An old couple sat in a back corner drinking tea, a teenage boy with about ten piercings in each ear sat in front of them. A woman was drinking coffee while typing on her laptop,taking advantage of the free wifi—"Alec!"

A tall girl called out to him. She had long, straight, ink black hair that ran down her back that matched his own uneven hair. Her eyes were a charcoal black instead of blue. Their features were the same. Both had the same slender eyebrows and soft mouth. They were definitely siblings. "Izzy," Alec said in relief.

"Izzy?" Jace was puzzled. Isabelle Lightwood broke out into a smile. "Jace!"

She ran up and hugged them both tightly. "How are you guys?"

Isabelle lead them to the already set table. Four iron chairs we set at each corner of the table. Isabelle sat at one chair with Alec across from her. Jace took the seat next to Alec.

"So," Isabelle said, leaning on her hands. "What have you been up to?"

"Well—"

"Ugh, Izzy I don't know why you insist on coming here. They always run out of coffee cups." Jace sat up abruptly and stared at the girl moving towards them, juggling two plastic cups. The girl looked back at him, peering at him through flaming red waves. Her green eyes widened in shock. She grew rigid and dropped a cup.

"What the hell?" she said.

"Clary?" Jace said incredulously.

"Jace?" she echoed back.

Both of them turned to glare at their respective best friends. "Alec!" Jace said while Clary said, "Izzy!"

The two siblings looked at each other. "Her?" Jace said to Alec. "I know you wanted me to settle down, but her?"

"When you said you wanted me to date, I didn't know you meant him," Clary said to Izzy.

"Clary," Isabelle said firmly,"sit down." Clary glared at Jace and sat down. Jace plastered a lazy grin on his face. "Going to Simon's band practice would've been better than this," she muttered.

"Believe me," Jace said. "If you want you save your pretty little ears, you have better things to do than listen to Rat boy's crappy music."

"His music's not that bad," Clary retorted.

"Yeah, it is," Isabelle responded weakly. "You are in no position to talk right now, Isabelle Lightwood," Clary said. Alec opened his mouth to speak. "You too, Alexander."

Alec slouched down into his chair, looking genuinely afraid. Clary stood up, threw a hateful glance at Jace, and stormed out the door.

Jace sat back blissfully with a smirk on his face. Isabelle sighed and ran out of the café shop.

"Jace, you ruin everything."

They had paid the bill and were walking home. Stars shone overhead. The night was crisp and cool. Jace stared ahead, his face completely emotionless. "She was the one who ran out," he said defensively. "Not me."

Alec sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm telling you, she might be different from before."

Jace sighed. "Alec, I can't do it."

"Jace," Alec said. "You doubt your charms entirely."

"It's just—" Jace sighed, frustration running through him. "It's Clary," he finally said. "She hates me."

"You don't know that," Alec said thoughtfully. "Maybe she's what you've been looking for. Just give it a try. I just want you two to be friends."

Jace looked into Alec's pleading blue eyes and let out a breath. "Fine. I'll give it a shot."

Alec grinned and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Great. Let's start tomorrow."

He walked ahead of Jace, not waiting for him to catch up. Jace stood silently on the sidewalk, staring at the beige cement below him. He thought about what Alec said. Maybe he did need to settle down. He looked at the twinkling sky above, his gold hair falling back with the movement. He had to try. The short girl with the flaming red hair and leaf green eyes was his project. His goal.

A smirk grew on his angular face, the concept setting in. She was the prize. The only thing standing in his way.

She was his challenge.

A/N: Love it? Hate it? Want more? Want less?

Next chapter should be up soon.