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The next morning Clary caught herself looking in the mirror longer than usual. Today, Isabelle had set out to conquer a new horizon and had straightened every strand of flaming red hair. It fell like a fiery curtain down her back and lightly brushed the sides of her cheeks.

She didn't overall hate the look either.

Her make-up was simple, as was the green army jacket she wore over her paint spattered tank top and skinny jeans. Isabelle and Magnus had even opted to let her wear her new pair of white oxfords; she felt more like herself today, than she did yesterday.

Isabelle stood back and put her hand to her chin, cocking her head to the side as she stared at Clary who stood awkwardly in front of her. Magnus, also, wore a face of deep contemplation. The clock in the corner of her room ticked loudly as both fashionista's cocked their heads in the opposite direction at the same time.

"I have to say," Magnus paused as if for dramatic effect, like he needed it, today he was wearing electric blue skinny jeans and eye shadow to match. Plus, Clary was pretty sure, when they had first arrived, she had swallowed a sparkle or two when she hugged Magnus. "I really like this look."

Isabelle's hard expression softened into a grin. "My thoughts exactly."

"It's very—" Magnus started.

"Chic with a mixture of a—" Isabelle said as she turned to Magnus with excitement in her eyes, her midnight black hair pulled up high on top of her head.

"Laid back nonchalance with just a hint of—"

"Old fashion flare."

Isabelle and Magnus both smiled at each other before pulling the other into a tight hug. "It's perfect!" They yelled.

"Darling, you are absolutely brilliant!" Magnus said as he leaned in to kiss both Isabelle's cheeks.

The exotic beauty smirked as she turned each cheek and lightly placed one back on Magnus's. "I couldn't have done it without you."

"I know."

They both laughed as Clary watched in amused horror. Isabelle and Magnus had grown closer as the days grew longer. It was a no brainer seeing as they were the only two into the group who even bothered to be fashion forward. Or took the time to learn the new trends; it was only fitting they would hit it off, though Clary had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that never was a good sign.

She shook it off as she cleared her throat, grabbing both the sparkling boy and gorgeous girl's attention. "I just want you to know, that was super creepy." Clary said with a hand on her denim clad hip. "I was waiting for one of your heads to turn in a complete 360 next."

Magnus chuckled before lifting his messenger bag and threw Clary her winter pea coat. She put it on in a haste following the two teens out her bedroom door and down the hallway to her kitchen, where Simon sat at her dining room table.

Simon had, suspiciously, decided to leave for her house 30 minutes earlier. Something he had never done before, usually he got to her house only a few moments before the warning bell in their school and barely could make it through the busy streets to get to their school on time. Clary had a sneaking suspicion that she knew what had him in such a tizzy.

And her name was Izzy.

Clary laughed out loud and ignored everyone when they turned to give her an odd look as she walked to the fruit basket on the table and grabbed her morning apple. She slightly wrinkled her nose as she turned to look at Simon, he had swept his hair away from his face (something she had always urged him to do but he never did) giving him a boyishly handsome complexion. His brown eyes were warm and trusting. He was your typical boy next door.

Clary wrinkled her nose further.

Your typical boy next door who had used way too much Axe.

She was slightly worried about Simon. He was sweet and almost, naïve, in a way. He was the boy that you committed too. He was the boy who bought you flowers because he could or made you soup when you were sick; the type that would sit with you all day and watch bad, girly flicks because it made you happy. He was every parent's fantasy for their daughter; handsome, smart, kind.

He was an all American good boy, who just needed to find that all American good girl.

Isabelle Lightwood was not that girl.

She was a vixen. She was a man eater. Not to get Clary wrong, she liked Isabelle a lot. She thought of Isabelle as her friend in an odd sort of way. She really was, sort of, like the first girl best friend Clary had ever had. But she never wanted Simon to get hurt and that's all Isabelle could do to him.

Hurt him.

She was the type of girl who took a guy for the ride of his life, only to have the lease expire too soon. She would chew you up and spit you out and still have you begging for more. She was beautiful, dark and complex. Isabelle had walls no one could cut down; she put them up to protect herself. And she would rather hurt someone else before she let them get to her.

All she would do was break Simon's heart.

And that was all it would take to break Clary's.

Simon clapped his hands together and jumped from the dinner table. He swept his eyes over Clary quickly and she did a playful twirl as Simon let out a whistle. "You're looking mighty fine, Ms. Morgenstern." Simon said in his knock-off country voice. "Jace Lightwood isn't going to be able to resist."

Clary could feel Isabelle's eyes digging into her back. Maybe, she was wrong. Maybe Isabelle was falling for the all-American-boy charm after all. She quickly glanced at her exotic friend over her shoulder; her face was stone giving nothing away. But she knew; sharing a quick glance with Magnus was all it took. Maybe, they could work out.

After all, didn't they say opposites attracted?

Clary smirked as she buttoned up her coat. "I'm only trying to befriend him, not seduce him."

Simon got a wicked gleam in his brown eyes as he moved closer to her. "You know, we could use that to our advantage—"

"No."

"Just hear me out—""

"No."

"Clary—"

She turned back toward Simon her hand on the front door knob. "Simon," She gave him a hard look, trying to convey the mixed feelings see had about this already. "No."

Isabelle let out a wicked, humorless, laugh as she moved past Simon and toward Clary. "Isn't it all the same thing anyway?"

Clary frowned as she watched Isabelle and Magnus walk toward the Lightwood's SUV, trying her best not to let what she had said bury its way into her brain. She didn't want that seed to plant and grow there.

She sighed as Simon moved passed her and waited on the front step for her to finish locking the door before walking together with their heads down. Clary sighed and sucked in a deep breath before sending herself into a fit of coughs. She waved her hand in front of her face as she winced at Simon. "When you got up this morning, what look were you going for?"

Simon gave her a wary look. "I don't know. Handsome, cool, suave, successful."

"Overpowering?"

Simon frowned at her question. "What? No."

Clary smiled as they reached the van, Eric lay in the back totally and completely passed out. "Well, that's all I'm getting from you right now." Simon looked at her confused. "How much Axe did you put on? Enough to cover a continent?"

A rogue blush spread out on Simon's cheeks as he lifted his blue button down shirt and sniffed it. "No!" He said in a panic. "I didn't know how I was supposed to put it on so I shook it; a little too hard I suppose because the top flew off and the next thing I knew I was standing in a puddle of 30 dollars worth of Axe."

Clary threw her head back and laughed as Simon pulled away from the curb, keeping the windows down the entire ride to school.

Clary felt like a large rock had taken refuge in her stomach, all day she had been trying to make the clock go by slower. To make the minutes go by just a second slower, to make the inevitable come a little later. After sitting for an hour in her physiology class, letting all the information about the respiratory system go through one ear and out the other; she moved on to her A.P Psychology, where she sat between the Lightwoods and chatted lightly with them; before disappearing into her own world, where angels soared and flew. She could be anything, do anything.

All she needed was this blank canvas in front of her; all that white just begging to be colored with her own form of words. This was her diary; this was where her dreams took flight. Clary let her eyes close, a small smile taking over her face as she let her fingers speak for her. Say the things she couldn't bring herself to think about; couldn't bring herself to even consider.

Her fingers twitched and twirled as her hand danced across the sheet of paper before her. This was art; this was where she could be herself. This was…

Jace.

Clary let out a squeal before she snapped the gold pastel in her hand. This wasn't right; this wasn't what she had been picturing. This was Jace. This wasn't her dreams…this was her nightmare.

Before her, colored golden and sharpened with black charcoal outlines, was Jace Lightwood.

Her enemy.

Her target.

Her confusion.

What was her mind trying to tell her? That this whole plan was wrong? Was that why he has harsher and dark with black? Or was that his own demons she had colored in? Did her mind see something her eyes didn't? Was it saying that he wasn't all bad but also good? Is that why she had made half his face in gold with that sweet smile he had flashed at her once, while the other held that devilish smirk that quickened her heart beat?

Or maybe it was absolutely nothing?

That feeling in her stomach told her it was something. But not something good.

Clary groaned and let her head hit the desk, the echoing bang alerted others of her uncomfortable position but she couldn't find herself to care.

And just like that, Jace had ruined her art class.

Maybe her painting class would be better.

Her painting class hadn't been any better.

She had spent the whole hour staring angrily at the canvas, it was plain and blank. She was having serious artist block, but that was only because she had hindered her abilities. She silently cursed Jace Lightwood and his chiseled features. He was the perfect model, which was the only reason she was so keen on drawing him.

Right?

Needless, to say by the time 5th hour came along Clary was agitated and annoyed. She stomped toward her seat in the very back of the room and put her head in her hands. She was angry at Jace but not for a reason where she could actually be mad at him. She raked through her head over and over again just trying to think of some reason, other than the fact that he was the only thing she could draw, to be mad at him about before she shook her head.

She wasn't acting like herself at all. She was acting like Aline or Kaelie, trying to think of something just so they could be mad at their boyfriends. What had gotten into her? She was slowly going out of her mind! They hadn't even started to go undercover yet and already she was cracking under the pressure.

"There's my favorite, Gingersnap." Clary whipped her head up and glared, which took Jace completely by surprise because he took a moment to blink before he shook his head fast. "I meant there's my favorite, Juliet." His uncertain face disappeared in an instant as he took his seat in front of her.

Clary couldn't believe he actually called her something other than an insulting endearment, she guessed that last statement was as close to an apology as she was ever going to get. She couldn't believe he took it back. Obvious, neither could Alec as he slowly sat down to Clary's left blinking. She didn't know exactly want to say as all the anger she had felt earlier drained from her body. She shook her head, in an effort to clear it, her silky red hair moving with the motion. She groaned before putting her head in her hands again. "I'm sorry, it's not you. I'm just not having the best day."

She felt a light tugging on one of her red strands; spreading her fingers apart she looked through them at Jace. He smiled at her softly and she felt that jump in her heart again as it started to try to climb up her chest. His blonde curls seemed even more unruly today and her fingers twitched with a need to straighten his curly loops. "Well, I'm here now. So it's only bound to get better."

Clary let out a laugh before letting her fingers drop completely from her face. "Yeah, thanks for the laugh. I needed it."

Jace glared at her with that devilish smirk, one corner of his lips pulled up higher than the other. "I wasn't kidding."

Clary leaned in, the buttons of her jacket digging into her stomach from the force she was putting on the desk in front of her. "I know," She flashed Jace her own smirk, not being able to raise her eyebrow; she twitched it at him instead. "That's what made it so funny."

Alec let out a roar of laughter beside her as Jace leaned into her slightly, she pulled back feeling him staring deep into her eyes. Her skin began to erupt in goose bumps as her body unconsciously responded to him. He looked like he was getting ready to say something, not important but definitely cocky, as he lifted an eyebrow before he stopped.

His mouth slowly began to close as his eyes seemed to drink her in. He reached a hand out and lightly let one of her fiery red strands glide across the palm. He stared at the strand transfixed, like it held all the world's secrets. "You straighten your hair."

"Huh?" Clary said breathlessly. Jace was so beautiful; he captivated her as he brought his unnatural eyes up to meet hers.

One side of his mouth pulled up, not in a smirk, but in a small grin; giving her a peak at the endearing chip on one of his pearly white teeth. "Your hair." He watched her as the strand fell back against her cheek. "You straightened it."

Clary felt the blush creeping up her face, knowing she was turning as red as a tomato in front of the most gorgeous man in, perhaps, all the world made her face even hotter. "Um," She cleared her throat before she started to twist her fingers nervously together in her lap. "Yeah, thought I'd try something new for a change."

"Change is always good." Jace smiled at her a little more devilishly now. "But I find it's never as good as the original."

"Alright, Class!" Mr. Jericho clapped his hands together, alerting the room he was about to start the lesson and making Clary jump in her seat. She shot him a look before returning her stare back at Jace, who threw her a quick wink before turning around.

Oh, sweet baby Jesus.

Her heart may have melted a little.

Along with her brain.

"Happy Friday. " Mr. Jericho said with a large smile on his face as he straightened his tailored vest. "Today's an exciting day. Not only is it the last day before Christmas Break—"The class let out an excited cheer. "It's also the day you'll be getting assigned your lines for the Romeo and Juliet reciting." The class's cheers turned into groans and Mr. Jericho let out a laugh. "Oh, it not so bad—"

"It's horrible." Sebastian said as he dramatically let his head fall onto the desk in front of him.

Mr. Jericho shook him off as he flashed a handsome smile. "Nonsense, it's going to be fun!" He turned and walked to the back of his desk grabbing a handful of sheets of paper and looking far too enthusiastic to be safe. "When I say you're character, come up and retrieve your lines." He glanced down quickly before lifting his head with a over-bearing smile. "Come on down, Romeo."

Jace stood in his seat and glided to the front of the room, Sebastian let out a wolf whistle as Jace shot him the finger behind Mr. Jericho's back.

"Juliet."

Clary stared at the desk in front of her in fright, somehow accepting her lines made it all the more real. She could feel her stomach dropping and she began to feel hot, like a spotlight was being shined right on her head. She could feel all the eyes in the class digging into her, from girls who wished they had raised their hands to males who looked at her with contempt.

Suddenly, being invisible didn't seem so bad anymore.

She lifted herself from her seat wondering why Mr. Jericho hadn't called her name again, seeing as she had taken at least a minute to actually rise out of her seat. Just as she was about to accept her fate, a sheet of paper fluttered onto her desk. She frowned at it for a moment actually contemplating that the paper had floated all the way from Mr. Jericho's hands and on to her desk.

She sat dumbfounded before she looked up at Jace, who gave her a quick smile and twisted in his seat. His back was no less attractive than his face as she watched the cords of his muscles tense before relaxing before tensing again.

She wondered absentmindedly what had him in such distress as she looked down at her line; before her eyes widened.

Act 1, Scene 5

It glared at her from where it sat in be bold letters on the top of her page. In the number of lines, their weren't much, only a few before Juliet and Romeo part but first…they kiss.

Twice.

She wouldn't have to kiss Jace?

Would she?

Was the school legally allowed to do that?

Why did the thought of kissing Jace make her excited and nervous all at the same time?

She was in trouble now.

Jace turned in his seat, she could feel his unusual eyes digging into her but she refused to lift her head and meet his gaze. Would he be disgusted? Did he regret making her his partner?

"Are you trying to stare a hole through the page or just trying to make the sheet spontaneously combust with your mind?" Jace's voice rained over her like sugar and sank deep into her pores like a drug exciting her blood and making her heart pound.

She lifted her head slowly letting the waterfall of red hair move away from her face. He was smirking at her but something in his gaze looked forced, there was a sharpness in his eyes she had never seen before. I made him look human.

Clary timidly smiled, setting her hands into fists in her lap to keep them from shaking. "I have to go with the second option."

Jace dropped him smirk for a moment, blankness took over his face like a wall was being destroyed in his mind, letting out an emotion that he hadn't meant too. He quickly covered it up with his trademark smirk as he leaned back in his desk. "Ah, well it won't be that bad. Many girls would love to be in the position you now find yourself in."

She had seen the sharpness, she could recognize it now. Jace may have tried to block it out he couldn't. She saw the emotion that had flickered across his face.

Hurt.

She, Clary Morgenstern, had wounded him, Jace Lightwood. She couldn't help but feel a quick strike of thrill go through her.

The feeling made her so giddy she laughed, which probably wounded Jace's ego more. That thought made her laugh even harder. Jace looked at her a moment in confusion before replying a bit flatly and frostily. "I see nothing funny about this and I know funny."

Clary took a shaky breath as she put her hand to her heaving chest, Jace's eyes followed it making her sputter and choke before quickly dropping her palm. His eyes turned back to her with a heat she hadn't expected. "That's not why I'm laughing." Clary barely mumbled out as she was struck once again by the beauty that was Jace.

Jace frowned and tilted his head a little, something she noticed he did quite often when he was confused. "What?"

Clary swallowed before clearing her throat. "I wasn't laughing at what you said. I just thought of something, that's all."

Jace's eyebrows stayed furrowed. "And what was this "thought" that sent you into flying hysterics?"

Clary shook her head with vigor. No way was she telling him what she thought, she'd find herself in quite a pickle if she did. Instead of answering him she dropped her head and let her hair make a curtain between them. "It's nothing."

"Well, it seemed to be something."

"It's not important."

There was a pause as Jace let out a breath, it make her hair flutter and drift before settling back on top of her head. "Everything you think about is important."

It wasn't his words, odd in their own way, that made Clary lift her head. No, it was the softness of his tone and feeling of his eyes that made her do it. His stare had dropped to her hands that sat in front of her. Her pale skin flawed with calluses from her pencils and the colorful splatters of paint.

"Now, that everyone has their lines. I'd like you to meet with your fellow cast mates to go over them." Mr. Jericho said as he cut through Clary's clouded brain. "Recite them as much as you can, meet after school at any free time you have to make sure you know them by heart."

Sebastion frowned. "Wait, are you saying that this is homework? Like for over break?"

Mr. Jericho smiled. "That's exactly what I'm saying."

The class let out another groan as the bell went off. Clary shoved the paper into her backpack without any regard before standing and slinging it onto her shoulder. She was about to head for the door when she felt a hand on her arm.

Static shocks shot up her arm as Jace quickly dropped his hand. Did he feel it too? Those sparks? Or was it all wishful thinking?

Jace handed her his phone, slinging his own much less filled, backpack over his shoulder. "Put your number in."

She did it mechanically and without much thought as she handed it back to him. "So, you'll text me when we can meet to recite the lines." She tried to sound nonchalant about it, but she could hear the tremor in her voice at the thought of practicing kissing Jace.

He threw a look over his shoulder at her as he headed for the door. "You'll see."

And with a wink, he was gone leaving her standing confused and hormones out of whack.

What did he even mean?

She found out what he had meant when she saw Isabelle strutting toward her locker after school. She was exchanging her pastels with psych book seeing as she had a pound of homework to do. She frowned into her cluttered locker thinking of her foggy state of mind when Jace was around.

How was she supposed to get under his skin when he was in the process of getting under hers? He was the enemy; she was supposed to hate him. She had before.

Hadn't she?

Why was it that when she was standing alone her heart could agree with her mind on the matter of Jace Lightwood. He had done so much evil, to good people. He had hurt her friends and watched as they were ripped apart. She tried to gather the images of Jace hurting her friend in the front of her mind, fuel her need for vengeance. But when she thought about it, she couldn't actually think of a time when Jace had assaulted her friends. She had seen Aline, Kaelie and Seelie do it time and time again and not to forget Sebastian, who just this morning slammed Simon into his own locker.

Jace ad just sort of watched, laughing with them. But that was just as wrong, doing nothing was the same as bullying. But if that was the case, she should have been extracting revenge on Isabelle and Alec too. Her mind and her heart were getting jumbled together; it was leaving her confused and empty.

She needed to talk to Simon about the whole plan thing.

"Hey," Isabelle said with a smirk as she handed Clary a white sheet of paper. "Nice work." She gave her a sly wink before placing something soft and fragile in her hand.

Clary frowned in confusion as she flipped the plain white paper in her fingers over, feeling her heart leap out of her chest and her stomach drop to her feet filling with those foreign butterflies that she had never felt before.

My Juliet, will thou meet me? Will thee accept a Montague's offer? No, will thee accept mine offer? I have not a name but like thy rose, I shall always be thy's.

Your darling, handsome, and over-all wonderful,

Romeo.

P.S Nurse will tell you all you need to know.

"If you call me, Nurse, I will hurt you."

Clary laughed at Isabelle as she lifted the deep, red rose to her face and breathed deeply. It was fresh and lovely, she felt her heart quicken as she smiled softly.

She grinned at Isabelle, who smiled back.

Maybe, talking to Simon about the whole plan thing could wait.

Thy: Your

Thee: You

Thou: You

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