Hey guys! So school finally ended for me and since I'm now not being bombarded with finals, I decided that I would write the next chapter for you nice fellows :)

Oh, and someone pointed out to me that a negative plus a negative is not a positive, but rather a negative times a negative is a positive. Well, you know, it's not like I'm in advanced math in my classes or anything. Psh, 'cuz then I would've known that... *nervous laughter*

Disclaimer: I don't own anything and I rather not infringe.


Chessboard Chapter 9: Redheads and Their Tempers...

Clary's POV

It's been a long day. The devious planning, plotting, and executing of the plan that I had so deviously planned and plotted took a lot out of me. Add on the stack of unnecessary homework and lingering feeling of jet lag, and you've got yourself a day that drags on for a millennia. I sigh and plop onto my comfortable bed that must've longed for my presence the whole day. Or, you know, the other way around.

I know I'm going to have to plan for tomorrow and I know that don't want anything to surprise me, but I just don't feel like I have enough energy and power to do such things that seem like their another millennia away. I yawn, rather loudly I might add.

I'll just think of something tomorrow morning.

I find myself slowly drifting off into a dream state.

And then, I fall asleep.

.oOo.

Crap. Fucking, crap.

I can't fucking believe that Jonathan let me oversleep. That little fucker.

I stop and rub my palm against my forehead. I'm quite the curser when I'm mad aren't I? Maybe it's true that redheads have tempers. Maybe it's the fact that I haven't had breakfast or my usual cup of coffee. Maybe it's both of those combined to make an uglier truth. The world, or I, will never know.

Quickly, I hop onto my motorcycle and discreetly speed towards the school, swerving here and their to avoid hitting cars. I'd say I'm a decent driver while rushing but then, I'd be lying.

Once I get to the parking lot in front of Raziel High, I shut off the engine to my motorcycle and swiftly walk towards the entrance. Since I'm late, I suffer the consequence of having to find a parking space a considerable distance from the school.

Ah great, they're halfway through first period already. I take a mental note to accidentally hit Jonathan over the head and accidentally kick him where the sun don't shine. I really should check up on that "redheads have a temper" thing soon...

I walk into the office and up towards the secretaries desk. I read off the name plate placed carefully on her desk and smile sweetly at her, exactly the opposite on what I feel.

"Hello Ms. Reed. I'm so sorry I'm late. My stupid alarm clock-" A.K.A Jonathan,"-hasn't been working quite right for a while now." Actually, more like since forever.

Ms. Reed smiles right back at me. Oh, that god awful red lipstick is smeared all over her teeth! I hope my cringing isn't too noticeable.

"It's okay dear. Please just sign in on the clipboard and head on onto class." I again, smile at her trying to hold back my disgust and walk over to said clipboard.

"It looks like little Miss. Perfect isn't so perfect anymore." Oh dear god, please help me. I sigh and hang my head in defeat.

"Hello, Jace." What was my plan again? Oh wait, I don't have one. I mentally facepalm myself.

"So, how's your morning going?" he asks. I look up to see him grinning at me. Wait...

"So much better now that I've seen you." I grin right back up to him, though in my mind, I'm not-so-gently kicking myself in the ass. Trying to calm myself, I repeat my newly found mantra in my head.

Go with the flow, go with the flow.

Oh dear lord, but what do I do? I'm still not much of the girl that knows how to seduce guys. I guess the old Clary in me still lingers around. Why in the world did I ever think up this plan?

"Yeah I guess so, huh. Seeing me just brightens up your whole day." Oh now he's smirking that...infamous Jace smirk.

"I guess that means you'll be seeing a lot more of me then. Don't want to see you sad, don't I?" And...he's still smirking.

"Well, I don't want to deprive everyone of...you..." I trail off.

"Oh don't worry. It won't only be for your enjoyment." I stare at him wide-eyed, which, by the way, is not the way I'm supposed to act.

"What, are you implying that I would enjoy it?"

"That's exactly what I'm implying."

"Yes, but your implication is clearly wrong."

He sighs. "You know, denial is not only just a river in Egypt..." I feel my eye start to twitch. But before I could get too mad and release my inner redhead temptress onto that pretty little golden head of his, I grab my stuff and stomp away from him. As I stomp I hear a hearty chuckle behind me.

Why didn't I keep my cool at least? I didn't even accept his not-so-subtle invitation of flirtatious advances. Stupid, stupid, I whack my head in my palm repeatedly. It made me look uninterested. But wait, it also seemed like he looked interested in me...

Wait a second. What?

No freaking way. He did look interested in me. I grin. I can actually take this to an advantage on my part.

Jace looks like someone who likes to play a good game of cat and mouse and I know for sure that not many people say no to him... I also know that he's very persistent on the things he does, from known experience of the many, many years of teasing and taunting and all that gist.

All I know for sure is that I'm kind of glad that I didn't think up a plan last night. And I'm actually glad that I ran into Jace in the office. I know now for sure the only direction this plan is going and it's forward.

The game of cat and mouse amuses me a bit, though I'd have to switch it up a little. But Jace, unknowingly will not know that he is not the cat in this game, but I would. I'd be the one to pull all the strings but I'd be playing the part of the mouse.

Or, in other words, I'll be playing hard to get.


So, did you guys like it? If did, then please tell me by reviewing :) Do you want me to do Jace's POV next chapter or no?

If you guys have any ideas you want me to put in, please review or PM me :D