This story is based off the phrase "Some people are like Slinkies; not really good for much, but they bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs."
All of these wonderful characters (to whom I will try to do justice) belong to Cassandra Clare.
Gabriel says some things in this fanfiction that I didn't enjoy writing and hope you don't enjoy reading. I'm sorry if it offends or upsets anyone.
Also, this is my first attempt at fanfiction. Please forgive my mistakes, but feel free to point them out.
"So, are you planning on actually showing up to any of your classes this year?"
Jem and Will were sitting in one of the window alcoves on the second floor of the old building of the University. Will looked at his friend, who hadn't even looked up from his class outline, studying his intentions.
"I might," Will replied. It wasn't that he didn't like learning things, he just didn't like class. Will often skipped and went to sit in the library instead. Jem knew this, but still tried to get him to attend the classes he was at the university to take. Jem had tried several things the year before; he'd reasoned, he'd asked nicely, he'd bribed, he'd even tried to threaten, but then he hadn't really expected that to work to begin with.
"I won't try to force you. This year, if you fail out, it will be no one's fault but your own." Jem said. He wasn't angry or exasperated, he just stated it as fact.
Will nodded in acknowledgement, but turned to start out the window. They sat like that for a while, Will staring into space and Jem reading about his classes. Neither boy moved until a loud voice interrupted their companionable silence.
"Oh, how lovely. Everyone's favourite couple, all tangled up in a window seat together. Adorable."
Gabriel Lightwood was a prick and pretty much everyone knew it. Unfortunately, that didn't stop him from being able to get under Will's skin.
"Oh, so we're taking the gay angle today, are we, Gabriel?" Will said, rolling his eyes. Jem stayed silent, but looked slightly uncomfortable.
"Well, well, it's clear who wears the pants in this relationship." Jem, whose cheeks were already slightly pink from Gabriel's first comment, now turned a darker shade of red. Will stood up, indignant on his friend's behalf.
"What the hell is your problem, Lightworm?" Will spat through his teeth, trying to control himself.
"I don't have a problem. There's just no way that the two of you are just friends when I'm sure you swing both ways and when we both know your friend over there is a twink."
Will went at him before he finished his word.
The two boys wrestled and punched their way down the short hallway. They were fairly evenly matched, but Will, even in his anger, was the tactician. He moved the fight forward, keeping his destination in front of him and behind Gabriel. When they were finally in place, Will dodged Gabriel's punch, throwing him off balance, and then tripped him as he tried to regain it. Gabriel slipped and started to tumble down the stairs.
Will figured that the fall wouldn't hurt Gabriel. Much. Nothing permanent, at the very least. Gabriel would only have a couple of stairs before he hit the landing. Will walked off in the other direction, off to find Jem, with a small smile on his face. That smile was short lived, though. Around the time he thought Gabriel would stop tumbling, he heard a shriek followed by more crashing. He knew that the shriek hadn't come from Gabriel.
Will ran back to the top of the staircase to see what had happened. Sure enough, Lightworm was lying on the landing, but he was staring in horror down the other flight of stairs. Will ran past him down to the main floor, where he found a girl, curled into a ball on the ground.
"Are you okay?" He breathed, afraid to be too loud or scare the girl further.
Will heard the girl moan softly as she stretched out her legs. She turned her head to look at him. Her eyes meet his.
"I've been better," she says honestly.
Will lets out something resembling a laugh. She wasn't dead, she wasn't unconscious, and she seemed to be alert enough to joke. He stops laughing as the girl raises her eyebrows.
"Sorry," Will says. "Where are you hurt."
"Kind of… everywhere, but I think my arm got the worst of it. Will looked down at the girl's wrist, and sure enough it had begun to swell and was a very tender colour of pink.
"We should probably get you to the infirmary."
The girl nodded, but then closed her eyes leaned her head back against the stone wall. After a moment, her wide grey eyes opened again, and she moved to stand up. Will helped her up carefully, and was ready to leave for the infirmary with her, until he remember Jem.
Will looked at the girl, and shot her an apologetic look. "Thirty seconds, I just need to check on my friend." Will raced back up the stairs. "Jem!" He yelled, running right past Gabriel for the second time. He reached the top of the stairs, and there was no one in sight. "James?" Will called. There was no answer. Will sighed and ran back to the girl.
Will looked at her, and she looked back at him.
And then she passed out.