Title: Chemistry

Prompt from Luvmortalinstruments: You could do a story about Clary and Jace getting locked into school together one night and that being the first time that they talk but not the first time they've noticed the each other.

Rating: K

Clary Fray has been in at least one class with me since I moved here at fourteen. I noticed her right away. Her red, curly hair and bright green eyes constantly haunts my dreams. She is beautiful in an unconventional way. She's short with porcelain skin, delicate curves, and freckles. I can't get enough of her. But she has no clue that I exist. I mean, I'm sure she knows who I am, everyone at school knows who I am. I'm Jace Wayland, quarterback, student government president, and all around golden boy. But she doesn't know me.

Clary, on the other hand, is an art nerd. She surrounds herself with people like Simon Lewis, self-proclaimed video game geek, and Magnus Bane, high warlock of glitter. Neither of which is my kind of person. But Clary is different. I want her. I bet you're thinking it's because of her looks. And it is, to an extent. But I know her. I know that her brother, Jon, graduated a few years back and is now in medical school. I know that she is an artist of the highest caliber – she always has that damn sketchbook with her. I know that her mom, Jocelyn, is also an artist. I've even been to a couple of her exhibits. I know she has no interest in being popular. I know Luke Garroway, our chemistry teacher, is her stepfather.

I actually know Clary really well. There's just one catch: I've never actually spoken to her.

So when I entered the chemistry classroom after football practice to get my textbook and saw the beautiful redhead sketching at one of the lab tables, I sucked in a breath. It was the chance I'd been waiting for. To approach her as Jace – nothing more, nothing less.

"Sorry, I didn't realize anyone was in here. I just need to grab my book." Great, what a perfect opening line. Idiot. Why was I so nervous around her?

"Oh, uh, I'll just go then – I just come in here to draw sometimes. I don't want to be in your way or anything," she murmured, closing her sketchbook.

"No!" I exclaimed before calming down. "I mean, no it's okay, I'll just grab it and leave you alone." She nodded, opening her book and continuing her drawing. I lingered, slowly making my way to the back of the classroom. Taking a glance out the window, I noticed it was storming pretty badly. It must have just started after practice. Oh well. Before I reached the end of the classroom, the lights went out as a huge lightening strike reached the school.

"Shit," I heard her whisper. "I think the electricity is out."

"Yeah, it's fine. Let's just get out of here. I can, uh, drive you home, if you don't have a ride, I mean." She laughed and I couldn't help but feel a little bit disappointed that she didn't take my offer seriously.

"Sorry," she said, sobering up. "I'm not laughing at your offer. Thanks. It's just, we can't leave. We're locked in unless the lights come back on – most likely until tomorrow unless someone comes and lets us out. So you're offer was a bit ironic.

"What!?" I screamed. She couldn't possibly be serious.

"A few months ago, they installed these new electric doors. If the power goes out, the doors lock down. The manual override is over in the maintenance shed out by the football field."

"Shit." I couldn't help but echo her earlier statement before sliding into a seat next to her. I pulled out my cell phone and attempted to call and text my best friend and cousin, Alec. Apparently my signal was totally decimated because of the storm.

"I don't have a signal either," she commented, making eye contact with me for the first time.

I sighed. It looked like we could be locked in for a while. "Well, we might as well get to know each other – I'm Jace Wayland."

"I know. Everyone at school knows you."

I smirked. "You know, it's customary to introduce yourself when someone else does…"

"Clary Fray." It's not like I didn't already know that, but it was nice to hear her say it. "So, Jace Wayland actually cares about schoolwork? That's so different than what I've heard!" She was teasing, I could tell by her tone. But it still stung. I'm a straight-A student but I still struggle with the meathead jock stereotype. Even if I get accepted to Yale, which is my dream school, all I'll probably hear about is how I should have gone to a school with a better football program.

"Yeah, well you can't always believe everything you hear." It came out much harsher than I intended it to.

She grimaced. "That's true – I'm sorry. I mean, who would think someone like you would ever want anything to do with someone like me?"

I cocked my head, surprised to hear her speak so frankly. "What do you mean?"

"Seriously, Jace, are you lying to me or yourself? You're Jace Wayland, popular golden god. I'm Clary Fray, art freak, broken girl, and general nerd. So I really don't get why you're talking to me right now – I mean, besides the fact that we are locked in a school together." Clary was barely making eye contact. I laughed.

"Yeah, well, besides that. I've wanted to talk to you for a while."

She actually looked me in the eyes then, a skeptical gleam in her stare. We just looked at each other for a while. "Why? I'm nothing special." I leaned closer to her, never losing eye contact. I couldn't resist the urge to tuck a stray curl behind her ears. God, this beautiful girl seemed so… broken. I needed to know her. Really know her.

"That's where you're wrong. You are special, to me." I sighed, slightly shocked that the admission came out of my mouth. I've spent years pining over her, and now it was over. She would shut me down once and for all and it would all be over. I'd just have to forget her. I'm sure I'd be able to move on, eventually. "I've wanted to talk to you for years. Literally, since middle school." The look on her face was a mix between surprise and indignation. She didn't believe me. "No, seriously. That first day, when I was the new kid, I got introduced to the class and immediately tripped and made a fool of myself. You got up right away and helped me up. It probably meant nothing to you, but I never forgot that."

"You… you remember that?" she questioned, cocking her head.

"You were the first person to treat me kindly in a while…" She took my hand, squeezing it. It was like she understood.

"I was actually just scared that you'd see the bruises on my legs if you were down there too long. At the time… at the time, I was still being forced to visit my dad every weekend. He liked to beat me. A lot. And that weekend, he'd pushed me down the stairs. I didn't think about it when I was getting dressed that morning, but I'd worn capris, so my bruises showed when I sat. When you fell right in front of me, I got scared that you'd see them, so I jumped up to cover them. Then I had to cover up, so I helped you up. I'm sorry; I'm not the kind, selfless person you've thought I am all these years." A tear slipped from her eye.

"No, you are. And you're strong and brave, too. I can't believe you endured that…"

"I'm fine, now. My dad is in prison. Not for abuse, but for murder." She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. "I can't believe I told you all that about me."

"My mom died when I was a toddler… breast cancer." I dived into the story that I rarely share. "My dad was an asshole. After Mom died, we moved to California. He wasn't physically abusive, but he treated me like shit and made me feel like nothing – and we were so isolated, I had no idea what he said wasn't true. When I was ten, he died in a fire. I wish I could say I was sad, but mostly I was relieved. I was tossed around from foster home to foster home for a few years. When I was fourteen, my mom's sister, Maryse Lightwood, finally found me. She'd been trying to find me for years, apparently. I moved here to live with her, her husband, and their kids. You know Izzy and Alec, and also Max, who is ten now."

"Wow."

"Yeah, so I get crappy childhoods. It took me a lot of therapy to become the cocky asshole I am today." She laughed, wiping away the last of her tears. And I swear, I've never heard a sound as sweet as her tinkling laughter.

"This got really deep, really fast. Sorry about that. I promise I won't tell anyone," she whispered, finally letting go of my hand.

"It's okay, it feels good to tell you. And don't worry, you're secret's safe with me, too." I took her hand again.

"Listen, Clary..." I was cute off by the lights coming back on. Clary jumped out of her seat, throwing all her stuff in her backpack. She started to leave the room, when I wrapped my hand around her wrist.

"Wait, Clary. Wait." She turned to look at me, once again seeming to be the shy girl she had been a few hours earlier.

"I've really got to go. I was supposed to be home a while ago. And it's a long bus ride."

"Let me drive you." She nodded and I had to work really hard not to do a fist pump at my small success.

After a super awkward car ride, we arrived at the Garroway-Fray residence. Clary let out a breath I didn't know she was holding. "Clary, would you like to go out sometime? With me, I mean?"

She stared at me for a minute. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?"

"I'm not interested in being another of your playthings… maybe we could be friends?" she asked, clearly hopeful.

I cleared my throat, angry with myself for getting emotional. The only girl I've ever actually wanted had just rejected me. It sucked. But she was right. I went through girls like most people go through underwear. And I definitely didn't want Clary to be next on my hit it and quit it list. "Um, okay, friends then."

The smile on her face was enough to make me smile brightly right back at her. "Bye Jace. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye." And she left. I sat there, in the car for a few minutes before driving away.

That night, as I climbed into my bed, I vowed that I would fight for Clary Fray. Because I wanted her, I wanted us. Our interaction had just made that want even stronger. I would prove that I was worthy of her.

AN: I really like this one shot and I may continue it in the future – I would love to see a resolution to this AU. We shall see… for now, on to the next one!