AN: Updated and edited Chapter One. If you've read the original story, please reread. I've changed it a lot. Read and Review :)

-Casper

Turns out, downtown New York in the summer is not the best climate for pale, redheads.

Clary, John and Simon had arrived in New York two days ago. By the end of the first day, Clary's skin was a deeper red than her hair, and that's saying something.

The three had spent their first two days unpacking and attempting to settle into their teeny tiny apartment. Clary and Simon would have lived comfortably in the shoe box, but Clarys big brother John, seemed to have brought to whole house in his suitcase.

"John!" Clary shouted in annoyance. Her brothers elephant like footsteps came thundering down the hall. His silvery head poking into her room a look of panic on his face.

"What's wrong?" His eyes darting towards all corners of the room looking for something that would explain his sisters shout.

"This! This is what's wrong!" Clary was holding up a beaten up old tennis racket that looked like it had seen better days. "Why, may I ask, did you bring your tennis racket from seventh grade?!" She pointed the racket in an accusatory manner toward John.

"Why wouldn't I? It's a good racket." He snatched the object from Clary's hands passing it fondly between both hands.

"Why on earth would a marketing major need a tennis racket John? We can barely fit our clothes in these tiny closets, we don't to take up space with your junk!" She threw her hands up in the air exasperated with her brother.

"It's not junk. It's sentimental Clare. It's not like I'm asking you why you need so many bloody sketchbooks." He left the room, racket in hand.

"It's art!" Clary collapsed on her bed, reminding herself murder was illegal.

Clary hadn't intended to be moving in with two boys, who both happened to be massive hoarders. Simon, she could handle, there were worse things than an obnoxiously large comic book collection. Her brother on the other hand, as much as she loved him, was dreadfully irritating. Her parents had insisted he join Simon and Clary on their move to the big city, stating they "might need help from someone older." Clary knew what they really meant, if John didn't leave with Simon and her, he probably wouldn't leave their small hometown at all.

John was smart and quick witted but horribly lazy. So Clary, being the good sister and daughter she was, let John tag along on her big adventure hoping he might find himself too.

Despite her brothers antics, nothing could ruin her mood, NYC was everything she dreamed of. She and Simon went to tour her campus yesterday and Clary had never been more excited to start school.

She had been dreaming of going to NYC since she turned 12. She was suppose to go with Jace... but you can't always get what you want.

Isabelle would be arriving in a few days and Clary couldn't wait! She was desperate to have another girl around. Even if that meant Isabelle making Clary her own personal barbie doll.

Clary had started the morning off early, wondering the big city streets around her apartment. She had already found a small coffee shop only a two minute walk away from home that was a replica of their old hang out "Java Jones" It was small and cozy, with mix matched chairs and couches, bad poetry, and a distinct smell of coffee and vintage books. The waiter, Matthew was cute too. Maybe a few years older than her, possibly 23? He had dark hair pulled back in a bun (Which was totally weird where she was from, but apparently in New York this was perfectly normal?) soft green eyes, and a shy smile. He had asked Clary for her number when she had stumbled in that morning. Feeling brave, she gave him a flirty smile and typed her number into his phone. What a morning. She had wondered into different shops and bookstores, and felt herself feeling very at home. Maybe New York was her forever.

Clary spent the whole day exploring with Simon and John, they found a millions different places to add to their list of future adventures. A grimy looking club named "pandemonium" had stood out to John, who insisted they go there some night before classes started. Clary wasn't keen on clubbing, but it was a new chapter, she should take a few risks she thought.

By the end of day three they finally collapsed into their now completely unpacked apartment around nine. Feet aching from roaming the city streets. Clary was beyond tired when she got to her room. She curled up into her fresh sheets and smiled to herself. This was it. She was happy.

**Next morning**

Clary's tired eyes fluttered open when the light coming through her thin curtains shone on her now less burnt face.

"Clary!" Simon sing songed through her door. He popped his head in a lopsided grin gracing his features, his glasses slightly askew. His very messy bed head making her smile despite the fact he had just interrupted her very peaceful moment to herself.

"Morning sunshine" he grinned, flopping down on the bed beside her. Clary, as Simon knew was not a morning person, but on this particular sunny morning she decided maybe she'd give it a try.

"Morning Lewis" she smiled back, slightly groggy. She rubbed her eyes, and turned to him. "What time is it?"

"Around ten I think, oh hold on I'll check." He snatched Clarys phone from the bedside table and turned it on. A little green message bubble lit up the screen.

"Who's Matthew Fray?" Clary shot up and snatched the phone out of Simon's grasp looking at the text herself, "You free today?" it read. Followed with many cute emojis that made her smile.

Simon rolled his eyes. "Clare, you've got this really creepy smile on your face and it's kind of freaking me out. I'm gonna leave you to whatever it is you're doing but hurry up, there's coffee in the kitchen" That caught Clarys attention.

"What kind?"

"Black-like your soul" he grinned, walking away from her.

"You know me so well" she rolled her eyes and followed him out into the kitchen. The strong smell of coffee invaded her senses, she felt ten times more awake.

"Ah- shortcake is awake" John smiled at her. She rolled her eyes and stole his mug and wrapped her fingers around it loving the warmth.

"I could write a list of reasons living with my brother is torturous-"

"Hey!" John yell, holding his hands over his heart in mock hurt.

"But- at the moment, the free coffee is making me appreciate you a whole lot more, keep it up John." She closed her eyes and sighed, the way girls do when they drink something hot. Why Exactly they do, she did not know. Simon sat beside her at the tiny, circular kitchen table.

"You didn't answer me Fray. Who's this Matthew guy?" Simon smirked, knowing John was sure to be curious now. Clary blushed and avoided eye contact with her overprotective older brother.

"Just a guy I met. It's nothing really." She rinsed her mug out in the sink and turned to the two nosey boys.

"He wants to take Clary out John." Said Simon, egging John on.

"She should go." Came John's uninterested reply, while he typed away on his laptop. Probably telling Izzy he missed her and she should come to NYC early.

"Um are you feeling alright John?"

"Clary, you've been hiding yourself in your room since ja-He left. I think I'd be good for you to get out there. Just don't do anything stupid." John said very matter of fact. Clarys smile faltered hearing his name. Reminding herself of that awful year.

"You know what? I will. New city, new me." She said walking back to her room. Simon seemed less enthusiastic now and sat back on the couch, flipping through the channels.

Clary skipped back into her room, a grin on her face. Lying on her bed she grabbed her laptop and quickly typed in her login.

"Ok,

I'm finally a collage girl! Whoopee! I toured my campus yesterday and it's gorgeous! And so are the guys ;) And my peers are pretty great too. Classes are starting in a few days but don't worry loyal listeners, I will keep up on updates and new music coming at you soon! See ya soon!

Xoxo,

Fair."

Okay, so we're going to let you in on a little secret. Clary sang. A lot. Clary had started a small cover channel on YouTube under the name "Fair" in tenth grade. She had been moping around for months and her mom finally told her to pick up a hobby to keep her mind occupied. She started the channel just hoping to get her mom off her back and uploaded one video just to see what could happen. She never showed her face of her hair, it would be a dead give away. So she recorded her videos from the lips down, or on angles that only showed her silhouette, and it worked. Her everyday life stayed perfectly normal, yet she had millions of people waiting to watch her latest video every thursday night. Late into eleventh grade, Clary gained major success! She had over 6.3 million subscribers and the numbers kept growing! Of course no one knew it was her behind the screen, not even Simon or John. She was lucky none of her close friends had stumbled across Fair yet, she hoped it would stay that way. She made good money too, but that's not what it was about. She just loved it.

Shutting her Mac, she walked to her closet. She texted Matthew back.

"What do you have in mind?" she said. His reply came quickly.

"A walk in central park, maybe? Give you the real New York experience." He said.

"Sounds great. When?" She asked.

"Meet me at Java at one?"

"See you then :)"

What does one wear on a date in central park with a cute barista? Clary slipped into a simple white, cropped halter top. She paired it with flowy navy shorts. She slipped into tan, lace up ballerina flats and let her red curls cascade down her back. She looked cute, the thought, summery. Grabbing her phone and a small, tan, cross body purse she headed out the door.

**time lapse**

Clary walked into Java Jones at precisely one o'clock. Matthew was behind the coffee bar, slipping off his apron. He noticed Clary and smiled. He told the other barista he was leaving and walked up to Clary.

"Clary! I'm so glad you came." he led her out the coffee shop and toward central park. They walked down the busy city streets, side by side. They happily chatted with each other, and in Clary's mind it was going quite well. Being with Matthew felt easy. He was kind, and funny. He seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say, it was nice. When they finally got to the park they sat under a tree and enjoyed the ice cream Matthew had insisted she try. "It's the best in the city," he had told her.

"So let me get this straight, you've never been to central Park?" He smiled to her.

"Matthew, I've lived here for less than a week." She laughed and enjoyed her chocolate cone. It really was quite good.

"Right, right. And call me Matt."

Around three o'clock Clary found herself still sitting under the same tree, laughing and smiling and feeling better than she had in a long time. Matt glanced at his watch.

"Crap, I was supposed to be back at Java an hour ago." He stood up and held his hands out for Clary, pulling herself up with him.

"Oh I'm sorry Matt."

"Don't worry about it, I'm sure Jenn covered for me. What can I say? Time flies with you ." He gave her a cheeky smile. Clary felt her cheeks warm.

"This is really rude of me to leave you here, do you think you'll find your way back on your own?" He asked, his brows furrowed in concern.

"Actually, I might just stay awhile. I've got my sketchpad with me, and it's perfect scenery for drawing." She told him.

"Ah, an Artist? You'll have to show me you work this weekend."

"This weekend?"

"Our next date." He gave her a cheeky kiss on the cheek and a quick wink. "Until next time Clary." He gave her a wave and jogged off towards Java Jones.

Clary touched her cheek and smiled. It was so nice to feel cared for again. Sure Simon, John, Isabelle and all the others loved her, but it was different. She felt wanted again. Confident. She hadn't felt like that in a long time. She settled under the tree again and pulled out her sketch pad.

She thought about her favourite memory. Her 16th birthday. It was such a good weekend. Jace had surprised her with a camping trip. Most 16 year old girls wouldn't be to excited about a weekend roughing it in the woods, but Clary was. Her and all of her best friends packed up Alecs truck and spent the weekend laughing and singing and swimming. She had been so happy. She sketched until her hands ached. She looked down at her paper a great deal later and smiled in sad remembrance. The drawing was of Clary, Isabelle, Alec, Magnus, Simon, John and...Jace… sitting around the campfire. Giant goofy smiles on their faces. She wanted so badly for everything to be like that again. When they were all happy and no one had left. The drawing was heart breakingly realistic it could have been mistaken for a photograph.

Jace… Every Time she thought she had moved on, gotten past it, the aching realization that she would never quite be over him came crashing down. Her best friend had left more than 3 years ago, and she still missed him and felt the back stabbing betrayal as if it was just yesterday he was banging on her door asking her to go to the park for a game of soccer. She had changed since then. She was 19 now. Yet, she still felt like the 16 year old girl sobbing into her brother's shoulder. Clary was sick and tired of always being left behind. It was time to start over, time to finally forget. She tore the paper out of her book and left it on the ground, leaving it behind.

Leaving him behind.

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-Casper