CHAPTER 3

***CLARY***

They sat down in a booth and talked while they waited for their food. Clary learned that Alec was gay and had a MAJOR crush on the second in command at Culturo, Magnus Bane.

They traded stories and learned a lot about each other. For example, Alec had a cat named Church, a little brother named Max, a father who had barely talked to him since he came out of the closet, and a sister who couldn't cook for her life.

"What's your sister's name?", Clary asked, eager to know if she was Aline's coffee girl.

"Isabelle"

Clary grinned, "My friend met her the other day! She got her number at Java Jones, that coffee place"

"Oh yeah, the other night, Isabelle came home practically singing. And believe me, it takes a lot to get her singing"

"Well, Aline deserves a little happiness. I hope she finds it in your sister"

Alec smiled. Realizing that she hadn't asked the question she had been meaning to, she said, "By the way, at work people were looking at you weird and it seemed like they... avoided talking to you. Why?"

Alec shrugged, "I'm not really that social, plus being in section X doesn't really help"

"What's wrong with section X?"

"It like the lowest ring on the rank ladder. I'm usually looked down on or ignored"

"Well", Clary said, "we have a better view than them, so they can suck it"

Alec laughed a little. Looking up, Clary saw their food had come, and they dug in.

***TIME SKIP***

They got back to Culturo and hurried inside, just avoiding the mass of people coming back from lunch. Apparently, Clary wasn't looking where she was going, because she ran into a tree.

She fell back and landed on her ass. Looking up, she saw that she HADN'T ran into a tree, but a young man, maybe a year older than her.

"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine" He reached down and helped her to her feet and she got a good look at him. He had curly brown hair, big coffee coloured eyes, and glasses. He was wearing a green hoodie, open and over a shirt with a quote from The Big Bang Theory, 'Oh gravity, thou art a heartless bitch'. She decided he was cute.

"I am SO sorry for that!"

"I'm perfectly fine, I promise"

He seemed unsure, but nodded. "I'm Simon Lewis, are you new here? I haven't seen you here before"

"Yeah, I'm Clary Fray. Pleasure to meet you"

Simon grinned and flourished a dramatic bow, "The pleasure is all mine", he said. Clary giggled.

"I'm going to head back. Really have to use the restroom", Alec said, from where he was standing awkwardly.

Clary glanced at Simon who smiled, "I'll walk you. Which section are you in?"

"X. Go on ahead, Alec"

Alec turned and practically ran to the bathroom. She turned back to Simon who offered her his arm, "Shall we?"

She took his arm, grinning, "We shall"

AN: R&R