Chapter Three

Author's note: Goodness! Thanks for all the reviews! Each of them is like a bubble of joy that bursts insides me! Haha anyway I want to thank Heimarmene for a really funny idea she gave me! Hint: it has something to do with Charlotte and Sophie! You'll see! Hahaha

Amanda woke up to a knocking at her door. She kicked away the covers and went to the door. She opened it a little to see who it was. It was only Sophie, Amanda let open the door wider and let Sophie in. Sophie was carrying a large creamy white rectangular box tied with a satin beige bow.

"What's that you've got there?" she asked curiously as Sophie set the box on her unmade bed. Amanda went to straighten the bed a little bit but Sophie chuckled and arranged the bed in the blink of an eye.

"Goodness, you're fast!" exclaimed Amanda impressed at the agility of Sophie's bed making.

Sophie laughed openly. "Years and years of practice," she said with a slightly sad look in her eyes. "Anyway, this box is a gift from Miss Jessamine as a welcome present. She hopes she and yourself can be very good friends," said Sophie with a rolling of the eyes and Amanda couldn't help laughing herself.

"Well, let's open it!" she said and signaled Sophie to come and help her with the present.

Sophie untied the satin bow and Amanda lifted the card box lid that revealed white tissue paper which she unfolded in a blur. Folded carefully inside the tissue paper sat the most gorgeous dress Amanda had seen. It was of a very soft silk and like its wrappings, white and beige. She took it out and placed it over herself. She looked at Sophie for a response and she got an excited smile that told her the dress was beautiful.

"Shall I wear it today or should I leave it for a special occasion?" asked Amanda.

Sophie thought about it. "I think you should leave it for a special occasion… but be sure to acknowledge the gift to Miss Jessamine or she might get offended that you're not wearing it."

"You're right," said Amanda and Sophie took the dress from her hands and hung it in her wardrobe. "Well, I'll take a shower and be right downstairs for breakfast."

"Sure Miss Amanda," said Sophie turning towards the door.

"Sophie," called Amanda giving her a playful smirk. "You can call me Amanda just like you do with everyone else. I don't mind. We're Shadowhunters, we're family."

Sophie got teary eyed and Amanda rushed to comfort her. "It's alright," sniffed Sophie. "But I'm not a Shadowhunter," she said pointedly. Amanda looked at her directly in the eyes. "But you're as good as one," said Amanda brushing a strand of hair from Sophie's face. "Now go on, everything's fine right?" she finished seriously with a warm look in her eyes towards Sophie whom returned the look with a grateful smile. She left behind Amanda's door that closed with a small click.

At the breakfast table Jessamine was sitting next to Will and she kept glaring at him every five seconds, by the look on his face he was enjoying it. Charlotte stood next to Henry telling him something in a low voice, he just nodded. Jem was sitting on the table laughing at Jess' and Will's charade. They look so… happy, though Amanda with an air of melancholy. She was wearing a pale blue dress, nothing special like Jessamine's gift to her. She walked towards the table and sat next to Jem. He smiled affably at her, she forced a smile. She didn't want to sound nasty but she usually couldn't stand people like him, people that seemed so calm and happy no matter what was happening. It made her stomach curl with… jealousy.

"Good morning," said Jem with that smile of his.

"Morning," said Amanda and she could tell Jem noticed her uneasiness.

"Is everything alright?" he asked genuinely preoccupied.

"Not every girl beams at the sight of you first thing in the morning," interrupted Will with a sly look on his face and Amanda couldn't help giggling which made Jem looked towards here slightly accusatorily.

"Same goes to you, my friend. Just ask Jessamine," he said with a tone exactly like Will's but it wasn't the same. With Will it was more… attractive.

Will raised an eyebrow at Jessamine but no matter how much she disliked him she couldn't deny he was gorgeous. And if she did deny it, well, the blush on her cheeks gave her away.

Charlotte sat on Henry's right and Tessa walked slowly to the table. She was wearing a gray dress that didn't do much for her but when she saw the look that passed between her and Will a wave of jealousy surged inside her and she couldn't help but burst.

"Than you for that marvelous dress you gave me Jessamine!" exclaimed Amanda with a smirk playing on her lips. "It's far prettier than some drab gray rags I saw Sophie washing."

Jessamine apparently didn't take the hint and just beamed at her. "Why, your welcome! Anytime, Amanda. That's what friends do."

Amanda looked at Will and she saw him exchange a look towards Will. Jem stared at Will with an I-told-you-so look and Will just rolled his eyes. Amanda scrunched up her nose in confusion and just stared at her plate. What had come over her? She wasn't usually that nasty. She knew not many people loved her but she learned to live with it. She knew how people were and she tried her best to stay away from their path.

Sophie entered the room with a food cart and she began to hand out plates. Their breakfast contained boiled eggs, toast, bacon, English muffins, sausages, bread rolls, French toast and orange juice and coffee. It all looked delicious.

"Bon follàin," said Amanda and everyone stared at her. "It's how you say…" she thought hard, she didn't remember a formal translation for bon follàin.

"It's like bon appétit," said Charlotte smiling warmly at Amanda while helping herself to a serving of French toast. "Strange but we don't have a formal translation for it."

Amanda smiled and everyone chorused: "Bon follàin!" she laughed joyously.

Everyone ate and talked and laughed, something Amanda wasn't used too back home. It was usually just her father and herself at completely ends of a long dining table while he read the paper.

"So, Amanda," began Will with one of his smiles. "Have you seen much of London?" he asked.

"No, as a matter of fact I haven't," she said with a disappointed smile.

Will's eyes got wide. "Then what are you waiting for? We should go sightseeing this afternoon. What do you think?"

She looked at Charlotte. "I think that sounds like a nice idea," said Charlotte a little tentatively.

"That's because it is!" exclaimed Will. "It's settled then, be sure to be ready at six o'clock."

"Wait," said Charlotte. "I think we should all go," in case something happens."

Will rolled her eyes. Was that the third time he'd done that? asked Amanda to herself. She was paying too much attention to William, she thought. "Come on, Charlotte noth—" he began but Charlotte interrupted him. "It's all of us or no one," she said reproachfully.

Will heaved an exaggerated sigh but complied. "Fine. But who's going to watch the Institute? What if the Clave contacts us or something?"

Charlotte thought about it for a moment and hated to admit that Will was right. It was Henry who spoke. "I'll stay," he said in a cheeky voice. Charlotte looked at him with sad eyes. "Besides, I have things to work on."

Charlotte sighed and it was her turn to comply. "Oh, alright."

Will broke out into a huge grin directed at Amanda and he winked at her. She couldn't help laughing. All of a sudden, Tessa flew away from the table in a blur of gray. Amanda couldn't help laughing even more.