Jace POV
I nodded and smiled as I made my way down the hall. Summer may have been over, but at least I was returning to a place where I was King. I found Sebastian and Jordan leaning against my locker laughing at something on Seb's phone. Unsurprisingly, it was the photos of Clarissa.
"What are you going to do when you see her?" Jordan asked. "Call her out on being a dirty slut?"
Sebastian smiled wickedly, "Did you hear she banged half the football team?" he said in disgust.
"At least you got her first," Jordan laughed, "Hey Jace, you gonna get in on that?" I rolled my eyes and smirked.
"I don't do sloppy seconds, especially yours." I looked pointedly at Sebastian. He stared back at me narrowing his eyes, and then we busted out laughing.
On my way to class, Kaelie found me. I sighed, the clingy ones were the worst. I'd tried to shake her off before school ended, hoping she would get the hint, but apparently not.
"Hey, how was your Summer?" Kaelie asked, latching her arm around mine, "I didn't see you." She whined.
As we entered the class, I was about to throw her off when I became distracted by fiery red curls sitting in my seat. Kaelie froze beside me, and I slipped away, slowly I approached my desk. Her head was bent down, and she was focusing intently on the drawing in front of her. It took her a minute to realise I was standing there. When she finally looked up, my first thought was, she is more beautiful in person, my second thought was of disgust. Who does she think she is?
"You're in my seat," I growled. She stared at me then leant back, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realise you were five." She said sarcastically. Anger pulsed through me, nobody spoke to me like that. I looked her over then and leant down until our eyes were level.
"From what I hear, that desk would have to be disinfected before anyone else can use it." I slightly tilted my head, "What do they call you? Dirty Slut?" she stared back, clenching her jaw. I got a thrill from her reaction. "You want to know what I call you?" She didn't break eye contact, but that only encouraged me. "Clarissa, wouldn't want to risk her." The class erupts into laughter, and I moved away, taking a seat on the other side of the room. A satisfied smile on my face.
The rest of the week was rather uneventful, and to be honest dull. Clarissa was in two of my other classes, English and history, but there hadn't been any separate incidents since the first day. She always came in right before the bell went and was first to leave. It amused me to think that she was avoiding me, but I was growing bored. If things didn't liven up, I'd have to change that. Clarissa "wouldn't want to risk her" had taken off and was being used all over school. Usually, I'd feel at least a little sorry about it, but she unsettled me in a way nobody else ever had, and that angered me. By Thursday, someone had graffitied her locker. It was kind of disappointing how easy it was. I only had to say one word, and everybody took it upon themselves to do my dirty work for me, whether I wanted them to or not.
On Friday things changed, in the worst way possible.
"Good Morning everybody." Mrs Branwell sang as she made her way into the class. I was in the speciality music program with Jordan. We had a band. "Today I'll be placing you into your partners for the remainder of the year." Jordan and I fist bumped. "I've chosen your partners based on the audition tapes you applied with, I have chosen your groups based off of voices I think complement each other while being challenging." She moved to her desk and picked up a list. "This could be anything from different creative styles to voice range." She began to read out the names. I wasn't particularly worried, being King of the school meant that I had everybody in the palm of my hand, everyone except, "Clarissa and Jace." I was in shock. Was she fucking serious? I was expected to work with the diseased riddled whore in the only class I gave a fuck about!? No, no this was not going to happen.
"Move into your groups, and I'll bring around a worksheet designed to help you get acquainted with your partners." Students moved tables as Mrs Branwell came around handing out sheets. "Jace, why aren't sitting with your partner?" She asked as she reached my desk.
"Isn't there any way I can work with someone else?" I pleaded, turning on the charm. She frowned.
"I'm afraid not Mr Herondale, aside from the fact that everybody else is paired up perfectly, yours and Clarissa's voices complement each other beautifully. If it is the difference in styles that are bothering you I'm afraid I can't help, that is part of the challenge." I shifted in my seat.
"It's just that Clarissa and I don't get along well, and I'm afraid she'll bring down my grade." I try the puppy dog eyes.
"She has only been here a week," She looks at me disappointedly, "Maybe if you get to know her it won't be so bad, don't judge a book by her curls." With that Mrs Branwell left. What a strange and infuriating woman.
I stalked over to Clarissa's table-our table now-and threw myself in the chair. I turned my hard gaze to her as if it was all her fault, and tried to ignore the uneasy feeling in my chest.
"I'm going to make this hell," I growled.
