Title: I should tell you

Pairing: Isabelle/Simon

Summary: "The words were on the tip of her tongue. She wanted to let them spill like out like wine from a tipped glass. But her brain just wouldn't cooperate with her heart and all she could do was stare at him across a chasm that felt as wide as the Grand Canyon."

AN: The lyrics that you might see scattered through this fic are from Rent, the song I should tell you. The song from Rent and the characters and world graciously and brillantly created by Cassandra Clare are not mine and no copyright infringement was intended…thank you.

Chapter 1:

I Should Tell You I'm Disaster
I Forget How To Begin It

Isabelle stood outside of Simon's door bouncing lightly from one foot to the other and trying to decide whether or not she should knock. She groaned a little and mumbled to herself, "This is ridiculous, just knock and get this over with." She squared her shoulders, flipped her long glossy black hair over her shoulder and knocked firmly on the door to Jordan's could hear footsteps, light like a girl? Not Maia though her footsteps, like all werewolves male or female were even lighter as if she barely touched the floor. A moment later the door opened and a young woman stood there with a pleasant smile on her face.

For a moment Isabelle felt a flash of something…was this the jealousy that everyone was always talking about…an emotion she was rarely in touch with and it took her utterly by surprise. The flash faded quickly because she could see the resemblances to Simon etched in this girls face. Isabelle smiled, almost against her own will. "Hi, is Simon here?" Isabelle asked.

Simon's sister, Rebecca, smiled, "Yeah, he is here. Right now he is changing clothes, would you like to come in?" she asked stepping out of the doorway.

Isabelle nodded her assent and walked inside. The apartment looked as it always did; it was clean enough considering two teenage boys lived there. It was sparsely decorated except for the magazines that were arranged on the table haphazardly and the hoodie that was thrown over the back of a chair.

"Sit," Rebecca urged. "Simon shouldn't be long."

Isabelle smiled, "That's ok, I will stand"

"I am so sorry," Rebecca said slapping herself on the forehead, "I am so rude." She put her hand out, "I am Rebecca…"

"Simon's sister," Isabelle interjected, "I thought so, you look alike…you and Simon."

"You are…?" Rebecca asked.

"Oh, sorry," Isabelle said, "I am Isabelle; I am a friend of Simon's."

"Nice to meet you," Rebecca said.

Isabelle noticed how genuine Rebecca seemed. She had that earnest look about her…the same one Simon had…that look may not have been what drew Isabelle to Simon but it was one of the things that kept her hanging on. "You too," Isabelle said politely and was surprised to find that she meant it.

"Bec…" Simon called as he entered the room running a comb through his hair. "Have you seen my…" he stopped when he saw Isabelle, "keys…" He smiled at Isabelle, "Hi, "

"Hi," Isabelle replied feeling her heart melt a little at the sight of his smile.

"What are you…what… is something wrong?' Simon asked.

"No," Isabelle told him. "Nothing is wrong…I just wanted to talk to you."

"About?"Simon prompted as he pulled his jacket on.

"Nothing…it can wait." Isabelle assured him with a grin.

"Rebecca and I are going to get some coffee and talk….Do you…" Simon stuttered.

"Would you like to join us?" Rebecca interjected giving Simon a pointed look.

"Oh no," Isabelle said, "You two need time to…you know...talk or whatever. Just spend some family time, you know?" She turned and started for the door.

Simon touched her shoulder and she looked back. "I will call you when we are done," he said quietly. He looked at her face as if trying to read her expression, "Are you sure nothing is wrong? You look…weird?"

"I am fine," Isabelle told him again. "Call me later?"

Simon nodded and Isabelle left. Her heart was pounding and her pulse was racing. This was hard…too hard…she couldn't tell him. She just had too much to lose.

Simon and his sister were walking side by side drinking coffee out of Styrofoam cups. It was a chilly night but a nice night. They decided to walk while they talk, it felt better than sitting in some coffee shop where 10 people could overhear them chatting about the fact that he was vampire and all his friends were either werewolves or demon hunters.

"So," Rebecca started with a smile, "Who is the girl?" she asked with a tone.

"What girl?" Simon replied, he decided plausible deniability was his best bet.

Rebecca chuckled, "Cute," she said. "The girl, you know which girl. Isabelle…the tall, gorgeous super model looking thing that walked into your living room tonight. You know, black hair, big eyes with a figure that makes the rest of us want to sit in a closet and hide from the world."

"Oh her," Simon breathed for once being glad he was a vampire and didn't blush. "That's Isabelle Lightwood, she is a shadow hunter."

"That is what Clary is, right?" Rebecca asked.

Simon nodded, "Clary is dating Isabelle's brother, Jace."

Rebecca smiled, "And who is Isabelle dating?"

"Not me, if that is what you are implying." Simon retorted.

"Hmm," Rebecca snorted but didn't say anything.

Simon stopped walking and eyed his sister, "What is that about?" he demanded.

"What?" Rebecca asked attempting to make her face look impassive.

"That noise you made, that snort thing…what was that?"Simon asked.

"Well…" Rebecca started. "The girl is obviously into you…I just assumed…."

"What do you mean she is obviously interested in me?" Simon said.

Rebecca giggled, "It was written all over her face."

"I don't see it," Simon told her. "I mean I do think she cares about me but not…" He shrugged and trailed off.

"How do you feel about her?" Rebecca asked.

"I like her," Simon admitted, he knew he that was an understatement but he didn't feel comfortable telling his sister that he was wildly physically attracted to Izzy and that he believed he was falling in love with her to boot. "But it's complicated. Isabelle and I had a thing but I messed it up."

"Messed it up how?" Rebecca demanded.

Simon groaned, "I…well…I kind of was dating Isabelle and this other girl Maia and neither of them knew it and then they found out.

"Oh Simon," Rebecca sighed. "I thought living with two woman all your life would kill the man part of you?"

"What?" Simon laughed.

Rebecca chuckled, "I thought living with your mom and sister…having a female best friend…would have taught you to respect woman."

Simon felt himself getting angry, "I do respect woman…I made a mistake, ok?"

"I am sorry," Rebecca said. "That's just…what you did was ugly little brother."

Simon wanted to defend himself, "I never made promises to either of them," Simon pointed out. "We weren't exclusive…. At the time Izzy acted like monogamy would kill her anyway and Maia was recovering from this really crappy thing…."

Rebecca shook her head, "They still deserved to know the truth. You're lucky either of them even speak to you."

Simon felt his anger deflate, "yeah, I know I suck ok?" He realized what he said and laughed, "Pun was un intentional"

Rebecca made a face, "I hope so." She cleared her throat, "So you like Isabelle and want to be with her but you're afraid she doesn't want it because you screwed up the first time."

Simon nodded, "Not to mention she is a shadow hunter and being with me would be frowned upon by the Clave."

Rebecca shrugged, "I still think you should tell her how you feel, I think that is why she came to you tonight. "

Simon was deeply lost in thought as they continued walking. After everything that had happened could he and Izzy actually make something work and was it worth the risk?