Disclaimer: I am not Cassandra Clare.

Chapter 10: New Scars

Clary

I was on my period, and it hurt like hell. My cramps combined with my bruises, was enough to make me want to cry. I didn't want to have to go back to school this week, and pretend I was fine. That I wasn't dying inside.

I turned over on my side, just as Jonathan came in. I pretended to sleep, but that didn't fool him. He threw the covers off of me, and said, "Clarissa, get up right now, or I'll have to get Dad involved."

That got my attention. I scrambled up and said, "Get out, so I can get dressed."

He left, and I got up. I scrambled around, looking for my clothes, ignoring the pain in my stomach. I took a painstaking amount of time on my makeup, then dashed downstairs.

I ran out the door and hopped in the car before Jon/Seb could drive off. He drove fast and it got my adrenaline pumping. As soon as we got there, I stole his keys.

My explanation was, "I have to get home somehow.''

I went through the motions, with only one noteable instance in the art room, where I drew a girl with her face contorted in pain. Beyond that, everything was pretty regular. When school was finally over, I dashed to my car. I had a lot to do today and only so much time to do it.

Jace

I'm on my way to football practice, when Simon texts me.

I think Clary and Sebastian might be dating. Casually bring her up in a conversation, and see what he does. Please

I text back that I will, and get ready for practice. When take a break halfway through practice, I use it. A friend of mine and I sit close to Sebastian and start having a conversation.

"So, are you into anyone," my friend asked.

"Just Clary Fray, and she being the whore she is, decides she date Sebastian and flirt with me at the same time," I said, knowing that I didn't mean it.

What I said, seems to have the desired effect, since Sebastian walked up and said, "What did you just say?"

I started to turn away to text Simon, and that's when it happened.

Clary

When I got home, I decided to go down to the basement to see if Valentine was home. After all, if he was home I'd have to be quiet.

I walked down the steps to the basement. When I got to the bottom, I turned on the light. What I saw horrified me, and I knew it would be burned into my brain for the rest of my life. I turned back around and ran up the stairs. I would never tell anyone what I saw, it was to horrific a burden to put on anyone else. And, besides I'm used to keeping secrets.

Jonathan/Sebastian

I swung without thinking. I was so mad I couldn't speak. He had called my sister, the girl he'd just admitted to trying to seduce, a whore. After, he broke her heart, and wouldn't leave her alone. I couldn't believe it.

He retaliated father than I anticipated,but I was still ready for him. I parried his blows with easy skill of someone who's had been in a lot of fist fights. To my surprise, he parried my bless with the same ease. This was going to be harder than I anticipated, but I would still take him down.

We fought awhile neither of us tiring until Coach Carstairs came out and tore us apart. I still had a lot of energy that I had to keep in while he lectured us on saving our strength and energy for the field, or whatever.

Jace

He took my bait, but it appears he took it a little too hard. He started swinging at me and I seeing back without thinking. He was a good fighter, but so was I. I had gotten into a lot of fights freshman year and never lost the skills I got in those fights.

I wanted to beat this dick more than I've wanted to beat anyone before. I was so mad at him. For taking Clary and her freedom. For being a prick about it. And, finally for being so smug. I put all of my anger about that and more into my every blow, making it harder for him to parry them.

We keep going for awhile, before Coach pulled him off me and started lecturing us. When he finished and we left, I take a shot at him with my words. "Go home now to your little bitch Clary, and whine about all of this. I'm sure she'll make you feel better white trash that she is."

He smarter at that, but said nothing merely filling me off. I didn't mean what I said about Clary of course, but I had wanted to get under his skin. So, I tried using the thing that made him mad the last time. It didn't work, so instead I call Simon.

When he picked up I said, "You're definitely in to something. They're either dating, of he had some kind of feelings for her."

"I knew it," he said quietly, contemplating. We hung up without another word.

I knew we would be looking farther into this in the next couple of days, so I tried to relax. It didn't work. I couldn't get my mind off of her. She just seemed so sad.

I thought more about how she'd been in the past week or so. She'd started wearing long sleeves even though it was only the beginning of October, and if wasn't even cold. I added that to my mental list of things I needed to talk to Simon about, and walked in my door. I went to my room, flung myself on my bed, and slept until the next day.