"Hello, class. I hope you´re all very excited to get started on our project for this trimester."

Mr. Blackthorn stands in front of the class as he picks up a stack of paper from his desk. He wrongly takes our silence as confirmation, and continues.

"As you know, I have already chosen the pairs. If you would all go and sit at the same table as your partner, we can get started."

Most of the class is already seated with their partner, so this doesn't take too long. Mr. Blackthorn starts passing around the paper. As he reaches our table, he looks up at us, smiles, and says: "Ah, Mr. Herondale, Miss Fairchild. I expect your papers will be very interesting. I never pair up couples, but I thought it would be fun to have a little experiment, don't you agree?".

Uhm… What?

Jace and I are silent, both looking at our teacher, but he seems to be waiting for our reactions.

This must be a joke. Mr. Blackthorn doesn't usually crack jokes, but he must be feeling jolly today.

"You´re kidding, right, Mr. Blackthorn?" I ask him warily. "You think we´re—"

"Yes, Clary, I do believe it would be interesting to see." He interrupts me. "My decision is final. You two will be the first couple ever to start the pair project together."

Uhm, what? Where in hell did he get that idea?

"I´m sorry, Mr. Blackthorn." Jace says with a smile. "I believe there´s been a little misunderstanding."

Mr. Blackthorn looks at him questioningly. "A misunderstanding? About what, might I ask?"

"Well, Clarissa and I aren't together, sir."

He looks at us, clearly confused. "Really? Well, excuse me. This must be awkward… Did you break up?"

"Sir, we´ve never been together at all. Ever." I say pressingly, just to make sure he gets the point.

His look of confusion deepens, and then turns to one of embarrassment. "But I thought… I clearly remember something… Did I…" He mutters to himself, his hand tapping his chin.

Jace, who apparently thinks this situation is amusing, smiles. "No worries, Mr. Blackthorn. Little Red and I are more than happy to work together on this project."

I glare at Jace, with all the irritation I can muster. Which is a lot. God, why had he ruined this? This is the perfect opportunity to try to switch partners with another couple. Any other couple.

"Good, good…" Mr. Blackthorn mutters as he turns around and quickly shuffles away. When he´s out of hearing distance, I turn back to Jace.

"Why did you say that, you idiot! We could have gotten other partners!"

He feigns looking hurt as he answers, but I can see the underlying enjoyment. "Clarissa, do you have to be so hostile? Consider my feelings hurt." He crosses his arms as he turns away from me.

I sigh. He is the biggest baby. "Yeah, okay, sorry, Jace. I know we are both looking forward to these wonderful few months of being stuck with each other even more than usual."

He turns back around. He grins. "Well, Haystack, I really don't mind. I always want to be stuck with my secret girlfriend."

"Of course, babe, I want to be stuck with you too, forever and ever." I deadpan. I´m pretty sure there´s some bile threatening to come up at my words. "But, seriously, where did Mr. Blackthorn get that idea from? He actually thought we were dating."

Jace thinks about this for a moment. "Hm, I don't know. Unless…" he grins at me and sighs dramatically. "You haven't been telling people I´m your boyfriend behind my back, now, have you? I mean, I totally get why you´d do it, but think of all the other girls! They´ll be so heartbroken they´d off themselves."

I try to calm my temper by counting to ten in my head. It works, though only a little. "No Jace, I haven't. You might be so surprised by this your head will explode, but I´d rather marry Godzilla than have you as my boyfriend."

He rolls his eyes at me. "Oh, yes, I´m sorry. You want Sebastian, now I remember."

I grit my teeth. "You promised not to talk about that-" I start to say before he interrupts me.

"But really Midget, have you never, swear on the angel, ever wanted me to be your boyfriend? That´s like, almost impossible." He challenges, raising his eyebrows.

I had wanted that once, actually. Jace had been my first crush ever, but I was only eleven then. And an idiot. What a low blow, bringing in the Angel. Can´t break the vow, of course. Though I´m almost considering it. His ego will inflate so much, the earth will spin off it axis.

I have been quiet for too long.

"What? You actually have!" He exclaims. He looks surprised, even with his giant amount of arrogance. I, of course, blush scarlet. Jace recovers himself first and leans over, squeezing my cheek patronizingly. "That´s adorable, Fire. I totally get it. You just couldn't withstand my charm. When was this love for me born, exactly?", he says, grinning.

He´s enjoying this way too much. I try to make my blush go away so I can answer with some dignity.

I square my shoulders and look him in the eye with the bitchiest look I have in my reportoire. "It was a long time ago Jace. We were eleven at the time, I didn't even know anything about boys then."

"Oh, and you do now? You´ve been keeping stuff from me. Learned them from Sebastian?", he asks snidely.

"No! I just mean I didn't even like you that much. You were pretty much the only guy my age I knew. Wasn't like there was much of a choice. And it only lasted about a week anyway." I wave dismissively. "You were quick to remind me what an idiot you are and I changed my mind.", I say with s sugary-sweet smile.

Jace scowls at me and raises a disbelieving eyebrow. "So you claim you were only into me because you didn't know anyone else?" He snorts. "That´s just stupid. No, I know you were simply blown away by my incredible looks and charm."

I roll my eyes at him. If it makes him feel good to believe that, who am I to burst his bubble? "Yes. Your charms are utterly irresistible. I think about you every second of every day, just hoping you will turn around and kiss me. I would murder puppies just to be with you. Happy?"

He just sighs. "Well, I hope you can at least control yourself around me. We´re going to spend lots and lots of time together these months."

And just like that, my mood darkens again.

"I´ll come over this afternoon, so we can get started, okay? Just make sure you´re able to keep your hands of me. Or don´t." He winks.

I gag into my hand and give him the stink eye. "Sure. Looking forward to it already." Heavy sarcasm.

This amuses him, apparently.

I´m going to smack that grin of his face if he keeps being so annoying.

"Me too, Lover. Very, very much."

He snickers at my glare.

I keep my mouth shut for the rest of the class. Talking to Jace generally makes me want to rip his face off, and since I don't think Mr. Blackthorn will approve of that very much, silence seems like my best option.