So, surprise, I'm not dead. I know I've neglected all of my stories, but I've been so busy and have had no time to write lately unless it's for school. I still have three more weeks (cries) but after that I'll be stress-free, aside from work and running, and ready to write. I need to finish Scandals and Secrets, I really do, but I had more inspiration to write this story. So, sit back, grab some chicken nuggets, and enjoy!
Good morning, Upper East Siders!
The leaves have begun to change, and the credit card expenses have started to pill up, which can only mean one thing… The first day of Constance Billard's for our favorite Park Avenue Princesses.
Spotted: I storming out of the Morgenstern's penthouse. How's your reconciliation with the UES' new it girl, I? Worried she'll usurp the monarchy?
J, blowing off steam in Central Park. My, my, my, what's gotten you all hot and sweaty, J? Maybe you and I should invest in anger management classes, or perhaps each other?
Gossip Girl can already smell the dramatic school year ahead.
Xoxo
Clary had no idea what to wear, what so ever.
Standing in her large walk-in closet, sparsely filled with things her Mayrse Lightwood sent over last night from her personal stylist, and the clothes Isabelle picked out for her before their fight, she gazed into the floor length mirror.
So many "what-ifs" swirled in her mind. The Internet gossip site was already calling her an "it-girl", which is probably what got Izzy so upset.
Clary sighed. If that's how she was going to be perceived, that's exactly what they were going to get.
Jace was far passed confused when the Lightwood limo rolled up in front of his town house, and only Isabelle stepped out. Where was Alec?
"He got a lift to school with someone else." Isabelle responded to Jace's silent question. She ran a polished finger along the door of the car, stopping on the trunk, where she then hoisted herself up to sit on it. Crossing her legs, Jace could see the sides of her, erm; behind that the short plaid skirt Isabelle was donning did not cover. Her lace stocking and black heels left just enough to the imagination, while her sleeveless chiffon shirt, charcoal vest, and loosely tied red tie did not.
Isabelle only ever dressed like this when she was trying to seduce someone.
Jace had to admit that Isabelle was hot, with her long brunette curls, mischievous eyes, and her legs for days, but her tendencies for manipulation and revenge always set him off.
"I was hoping you would ride with me today?" She asked, lighting biting her lip. Jace hated himself for getting in the car at the simple bat of an eyelash, but he could say he hated what went on once Isabelle pressed the dividing button between the driver and the backseat.
He knew that, even with her lipstick staining his own lips and messed up hair, he would rule St. Jude's this year, and nobody, not even a short redhead with hypnotizing eyes, would stand in his way.
Isabelle smacked her lips with satisfaction.
Jace had gotten out of the car first, stares following him as he exited the Lightwood limo, while Isabelle stayed behind to fix her "sex hair" and smudged makeup.
Jace was too easy, falling for Isabelle's simplest tricks of the trade, but she knew deep down they both needed that and were eager to jump at the first attractive offer they saw.
She would never admit it to the world, but Simon Lewis, a simple, new money Brooklynite, had completely shattered her heart. She seemed to be losing everyone in her life.
Isabelle shook the thoughts out of her brain. She couldn't get soft now, not with revenge right around the corner.
She fired off a quick text to the tip line, and waiting, a small smile crossing her lips.
Phase one of her plan was set into motion, and nothing was stopping her now.
Only 7 AM and I already have my first tips. Let's read what they said…
Spotted: J and I taking my advice, getting hot and heavy in the backseat of the Lightwood's limo. Where was big brother A when this all happened? And what about C? She and J.C. arrived on campus in style this morning, seeming oblivious to the power struggles all around them. Better watch out, Morgensterns, trouble is brewing, and we wouldn't want our favorite pair of siblings found dead once the gunfire ceases.
Jonathan was furious.
Why did Jace Herondale get everything? Everything that Jon wanted for himself…
While the "Golden Boy" had been pining after his sweet little sister all these years, Jon had darker, more scandalous desires. He wanted Isabelle, the reigning Queen of Constance.
Iz didn't just let anyone into her bed, or storage room closet, back of a limo, you name it. Her suitors all had to have certain qualities- tall, rich, and handsome.
Jon met all of those standards, and yet, they only had a brief fling last year after her breakup with the worthless rat boy.
Why the Isabelle Lightwood would go after someone as nerdy and inferior as Simon Lewis was far beyond Jonathan, but it pissed him off.
Jon snuck a glance at his sister, mentally approving her outfit. She blended in with the other Constance girls, but still managed to stand out in her white tank top, black leather skirt, shimmering jacket and a skinny black tie. Jon knew from her lack of headband and surplus of heeled, suede booties that Isabelle did not have a hand in dressing her. This was all Clary.
If Iz couldn't see what was right in front of her, then how could she ever possibly know how to rule a school? Maybe it was time for a change in leadership, and Jon knew just the girl to cause a political coup.
Sebastian Verlac could smell drama from a mile away, so when Isabelle Lightwood approached him in first period, a class they couldn't possibly share, he wasn't too surprised.
"Hey, Iz. Tired of Herondale already? We both know who could show you a better time." Sebastian purred in Isabelle's ear. She pushed him away and rolled her eyes.
"Please, Seb. J is just a prop in my latest production. I'm here to talk business." Izzy's eyes glinted with the sweet, sweet look of revenge, piping Sebastian's interest.
"A new scheme? Count me in." Sebastian said with a coy smile. This ought to be good. "Who's the victim?"
Isabelle clenched her teeth, clearly fresh off another rampage. Sebastian idly wondered how many girls were sobbing right now trying to clean yogurt and coffee off their first day off school outfits, or screaming, "tights are not pants!" at each other.
"Clarissa Morgenstern thinks she can waltz into town and take over from me? Just because she has all the guys panting after her cheap behind, besides my brother and hers, does not mean she's the new it girl! God, everyone is treating her like some shiny new toy!" Isabelle complained, stomping her foot a little and she ranted.
Sebastian nodded, piecing the puzzle together. That's why Isabelle slept with Jace this morning, for revenge against Clary. Though, Clary didn't know enough about the Upper East Side yet to even read Gossip Girl. She probably didn't get the updates.
If Isabelle wanted to really hurt the girl, she was going to have to play even dirtier.
"So where do I play into this?" Sebastian asked, feigning ignorance. They both knew what he needed to do, and that he did it all the time.
"Have your moral values changed over the summer at all?" Izzy batted her eyelashes at Sebastian, twirling a piece of chocolaty hair.
"Please, Lightwood. I think you know better than that." Sebastian scoffed, earning him a vengeful smile from Isabelle.
"Well then. I think we have ourselves a plan.
The bus ride from Maia's loft back to the Upper East Side was a long, bumpy one.
Simon cursed himself for staying the night at her place to study. Sure, she was the smartest girl in their grade and also one of the most free-spirited, but the backache Simon was enduring from sleeping on her thrift store couch was not worth the few extra points on his SAT.
Not that he really needed it, anyways. His practice tests were off the charts, and there was no way Morgenstern or Herondale were going to get accepted into Harvard, Dartmouth, or Yale with their work ethic.
But they're legacies, a little voice in the back of Simon's mind chided him. He told the voice to shut the hell up.
Simon was no longer flat broke, as his family was when his sister Rebecca began to look at colleges. He had a surplus of possibilities that Becky didn't.
Still, based on her brains alone, Becky had gotten a full ride to UCLA, far away from the Upper East Side, far away from Gossip Girl.
She had been a joke at Constance, but never seemed to care. Her scholarship was giving her the best education money could buy, thus giving her a bright future. She didn't care about the mean girls or the hierarchy.
The complete opposite of her brother.
Simon worked hard to keep up with his born rich friends, but found he always felt a little awkward at dinner parties or brunches. He always picked the wrong fork, or let his elbows momentarily hit the table. He laughed at the wrong jokes, and spoke at the wrong moments.
He would never quite fit in with the social circle he called his friends, but at least he was talked about.
That's why Simon found Maia so attractive when they had first met. Sure, she had golden brown hair that fell into perfect curls and an infectious personality, but the fact that she took her inheritance and basically gave it away to those who needed it more, not caring at all about the petty things, is why Simon stayed with her.
But as time went on, Simon found her Mother Theresa act get a little old.
He knew that Isabelle Lightwood still had feelings for him. He saw it in her big brown eyes every time the group got together, but she was a pretentious bitch who only cared about attention. She ran Constance with an iron grip and had no idea how to let loose.
Simon felt a solid body hit his, sending him back a couple feet. Thankfully, his books were kept in a tan messenger bag, one his step-dad had gotten him, saying he needed to keep up his appearance.
"God, I am so sorry!" A kind female voice apologized sincerely. That piped Simon's attention. The girls at Constance never apologized for anything, especially when it was their fault.
The girl in question was petite, wearing a unique twist on the standard issue "rich girl" uniform. She had the plaid and the tie, but the girl played with it, making it her own. Simon appreciated people who held on to their individuality. It was dead these days.
"Clarissa Morgenstern," the girl held out her hand. "But you can call me Clary."
Simon's hand met hers in a firm shake, meeting her emerald green eyes.
He held back a huge grin. The scarlet haired girl was nothing like the vicious Alpha males that shared her last name.
Jon was the biggest idiot around, but also one of the most well-respected. A respect born out of fear of his father.
Everyone knew Valentine Morgenstern. Don't let the Angelic name fool you, the man was pure evil. His eyes were blacker than the pits of hell themselves, and Simon could only assume his heart was the same. Too bad he practically owned the city.
At least his two children had the bright, glistening eyes of their mother.
Not that Simon voiced any of this too Clary. She would be freaked out on how he knew so much. Simon did his research.
Instead, he simply smiled and said, "Well, I'll be damned. You're the girl everyone has been raving about."
Clary's eyes glinted with confusion. She let out a nervous laugh. "They… what?"
Oh, this was seriously good. She didn't have a clue about the pandemonium she had been causing since her arrival.
"Yeah, you've been all over Gossip Girl. She even has a poll about you and whether or not you're going to be the next Queen of Constance."
Clary bit her lip. "No, that's Isabelle."
Simon laughed. "Well, 87% of her readers disagree. Nobody really likes Isabelle these days. She's too cruel." Simon informed Clary as the sounds of high heels clacked on the hardwood floor of the hallways behind them.
"You have to be cruel to be queen. And you heard Clary, Si. I'm queen. Always have been always will be."
Simon slowly turned to face his ex-girlfriend, Isabelle Lightwood, who looked royally pissed off.
She looked good, despite her murderous glares at Clary and the slight smudging of her berry lipstick. Isabelle gave Simon a once over before setting her sights on the redhead next to him.
"Hi, Clare. How are you holding up on your first day back?" Isabelle simpered, brown eyes wide as she placed a hand on Clary's shoulder.
Clary narrowed her eyes and shook off Izzy's hand. She stepped closer, so that they almost stood eye-to-eye.
"You know, I'm not quite sure how things work around here or how you were raised, but in New Hampshire, we don't go around sleeping with boys you know your best friend is interested in. That actually makes you kind of a slut." Clary stated calmly, though Simon could see that she was anything but.
Isabelle's smile faltered slightly before plastering back into place.
"Instead of being so mad at me, you should be more upset at Jace. I mean, he is the one that came on to me!" Isabelle pouted, causing Simon to roll his eyes. On their journey around, Simon's perhifrial vision picked out the golden form of Jace, watching the girl's showdown with a detached intrest. Asshole.
"I highly doubt that. Jonathan warned me about you, Izzy, and trust me, I'm not one you want to play your games with." Clary warned, turning on her heel and marching away.
Girls and boys alike stared after her, gaping. Clary Morgenstern had just put down the Queen and walked away unscathed.
Sebastian Verlac, another one of Simon's supposed friends and resident scum of the earth, came up behind Isabelle. They both had a lust for murder in their eyes.
Simon gulped. He liked Clary, but if Iz and Seb had put aside their general revulsion for each other to take her down, she didn't stand a chance.
Spotted: a brawl in the hall of Constance-St. Jude's. I's confrontation of C didn't go as planned, for our Queen was knocked down a few pegs. Catch the video Melanine982 was kind enough to send in Here. Thanks, Mel.
While I has been licking her wounds with a certain S.V., C has been staking her claim to the Met steps. Better watch out, I, C is not a force to be reckoned with and won't go down with out a fight.
"You're an idiot, Clare." Jon shook his head, taking a seat a step below his sister.
Clary simply smiled, throwing her head back. The cool September breeze blew her flaming curls around.
"I know."
Well, there you have it, folks! I hope you liked the long Simon POV as a little appeasment for my month long leave. Hopefully I'll write another chapter after dinner since I'm avoiding responsiblities. I also can't spell anymore since my brain is completely fried. I promise, Clace is coming eventually, but what's a good love story without a shitload of drama first?
xoxo, A
