Chapter 2 - Clary's P.O.V.

I walked up to my locker, pulling my bright red hair into my jacket and pulling my hood on top, as many people were doing, to divert attention away. I also wanted to remain hidden from Jace. Apparently, it didn't work.

"Oh, look!" He laughed, pointing at me. "It's little Midge."

My friends made a wall around me. I was constantly picked on, but nobody picked on them, God knows why.
Iz stepped forward, standing less than a meter away from Jace, pointing at Jace, accusingly. "I don't know who you are, or what you've done to my brother, but I don't like it." She put down her hand, resting them both on her hips. Then, she narrowed her eyes at her brother and said the one sentence that probably shocked the whole school. "I didn't know you could be so horrible to someone you used to call your 'best friend'." She shook her head, whilst gasps ran along the hallway. I ducked my head, cheeks burning a hot ruby. Alec tucked two fingers under my chin and lifted my head. I glanced at him and his head shook with miniature jerks, too small for anyone else to see. I nodded slightly, to show I had understood. His eyes softened and he removed his fingers. Everyone was still focussed on Iz as she was still telling Jace off. Not that he seemed to be listening. On the contrary, he seemed to be smirking at his sister's yelling. Sighing, I reached forward and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. She glanced at me and sighed as well.
"Alright." She replied to my unspoken request. "But," she whirled on Jace, "I'm not done with you, yet. This discussion will continue."
"And I'll look forward to it, ma petite sœur." He added the French.
Iz looked at me with a pleading look. I raised an eyebrow, knowing what she wanted. Her pleading look intensified. I nodded. Iz whirled on her brother and slapped him hard across the face. "That's for Clary." She said, simply, for linking arms with me and we both walked off. Behind me, I could hear the groans of a voice that once complimented me, but now taunted me. Jace.

I thought a bit about Jace as I walked to my first class. Jace Herondale was Iz and Alec's cousin, but after his parents died, they took him in as their own. Jace was effectively their brother. But, that didn't bother me. They were all my friends. Until they weren't. But, I was going to rectify that. All I needed was a year.

I walked into English. I plopped down next to Maia.
I was one of the lucky ones. I had all my lessons with my best friends. In English, I had Maia; in Home-Economics, I had Iz; in Maths, I had Alec and Jordan; in Art, I had Iz (she wanted to keep me company); in Photography, I had Iz; and in Computer Science, I had Simon.

"So, Maia, how're you and Jordan going?" I asked. Jordan and Maia had only become exclusive recently, but that didn't stop them from making out all the time.
Maia blushed. "Well... um..." Unfortunately (for me), Maia was saved from having to answer when the teacher walked in.

After an hour of Mr Murphy droning on and on about how next year they'll be doing this, that and the other, I trudged over to Computer Science. I pulled out my sketchbook, ready for another lesson of boredom. Two more lessons came and went in much the same way.

Finally, it was Lunch.