Chapter 14

Jace had been at this school all day and prior to his first thoughts about mundane there wasn't actually any clear stereotypes, sure different groups had their own thing like some played football, some were clever and attended science clubs in their lunch hour, others wore black and listened to people screaming down their earphones and then others walked around capturing everything on a canon camera with a flash. But just because all these people did these things didn't mean they were stuck in them kind of groups. They had other things about them, they did other things and they were friends with other people. Everything perception the shadow world had about these types of people was wrong, they weren't all stuck in these schemes and groups. Of course some individuals were often popular than others but this was typical of everyone even in the shadow world this was the case.

Jace had just come out of his last class of the day and it was history. Clary had been preparing and taking her exam practically most of the day, he'd seen her at lunch for a brief 10 minutes before she rushed off and left him with Simon. He'd wanted to go to Alec and Isabelle but when Clary had left them at the table he got surrounded by people who wanted to meet him and ask who he was, Simon told him he had to get used to this because it wasn't everyday a guy who looked like and angel randomly walked through the doors of the high school.

Jace sat on the bleachers inside the school gym he'd agreed to meet Simon and Clary here before going to Alec and Izzy.

Jace's phone bleeped in his pocket, he pulled it out he saw a text message on the screen. Jace had changed the settings on his phone so that when a text was delivered it couldn't be read unless the phone was unlocked. He'd done this so his father or Jonathan couldn't see who he was in contact with or what they were talking about. When Jace went back to the Wayland manor he spent a lot of time slandering his father and Jonathan to Alec and Izzy. He didn't tell them every detail he left a lot of it out so they didn't get worried about him but he said enough that allowed him to vent his anger.

The text was from Alec.

"Update me. You should be here by now"

It was a classic Alec Lightwood text, short and snappy a little blunt and very vague. Probably how he'd reply in person, when you read it you can just hear his voice in your head.

"No sign of any trouble. Be there soon" Jace text back, he looked down at the screen and waited for the text to be sent.

"So, you're the new guy everyone's raving about" A voice called up to Jace. He'd never heard it before in his life but then again he'd never even seen any of these people in this place before. Jace took his eyes from his phone and picked up his head and directed it towards the direction of the voice.

A guy was stood at the bottom of the bleachers, he had a head of a muddy brown hair and his eyes were a golden hazel. He had a chiselled face shape with high cheek bones and a sculpted jaw line. He was dressed in a white basket ball uniform with the number '02' on the back of his shirt and a picture of a leopard on the front.

"I guess I am" Jace replied after glancing him up and down, this was a very guy thing to do for some reason they got all primal when they met each other.

"Jason right?" The guy asked, he gestured his head a little to the left like he was trying to figure him out. He began climbing the bleachers towards Jace. The tone of his voice sounded quite friendly.

"Jace" Jace corrected.

"I'm Quinn, I'm the captain of the basket ball team" Quinn held his hand out towards Jace, shaking the hand of another male was viewed as a gesture of friendship or greeting in the mundane world. Shadow hunters didn't really shake hands, they made friends through battle and if you didn't battle together why was there any need to be friends.

"Do you play any sports?" Quinn continued his interrogation on the new guy in the school as he reached out and shook his hand. He'd heard quite a lot about this guy already but none of it was actually about him he was this mysterious stranger that rocked up near the end of the year nobody else knew who he was or where he'd come from not anybody important anyway. But for some reason he was the word on everybody's lips especially nearly every girl in the school. He'd just spent an entire practice listening to the cheerleaders fawn over him as they tried relentlessly to stalk him on any social media he could find. They were unsuccessful, what kind of guy who looked like this and had become insanely popular after one day didn't have social media. In fact what kind of any teenager didn't have social media? Quinn was trying to suss him out.

"I'm not particularly a sports person" Jace replied lowering his hand after the other male let go. Each of them both had a pretty sturdy grip, Quinn hated to admit it but this kid was stronger than him and he wasn't a sports person. Quinn would have thought with his strength and the bruising on his face he was a boxer or wrestler of some sort.

"Well what kind of person are you? What's your thing?" Quinn quizzed he took a seat next to Jace.

Jace analysed this guy who was clearly trying to work him out, Jace knew he looked like the athlete pretty boy type of guy so this guy would of found it strange that he wasn't actually an athlete. Jace had to take precaution to this situation, this guy was the captain of the basket ball team and he seemed pretty popular with in the school and if the popular captain mundane kid was suss about you this would indicate a lot of people would be. Jace tried to play this as mundane as he could, as much as he hated trying to fit into the group of mundane they were all trying to identify him as. He'd have to, to blend in with these people.

"Girls" Jace said as cool as possible, he was cringing inside but it sounded better than slaying demons even if it did disgust him. He'd never normally say anything like this ever. He wasn't shallow, don't get him wrong he knew girls thought he was attractive and he did like girls attention and he did like attractive girls but that wasn't just what he was about.

Quinn nodded at his reply with a smile on his face like he was satisfied with his response. This was something Quinn could relate to he'd had his fair share of practically over half of the girls in the school, he was the most popular guy in the school of course he had.

"Have you noticed your fan club over there?" Quinn asked Jace pointing to the other side of the gym where twelve girls all sat on a bench looking over in their direction. Jace looked up at where the guy was pointing, the girls all looked away when they realised they'd been noticed they giggled to one another as they huddled around covering their faces. Jace found this all so easy, Jace would hate to be a mundane but it would be nice to have these kinds of problems instead f the pressures of saving the world day in and day out. Jace loved his job but going to mundane classes and having girls stare at him seemed like a nice and calm life something he could get used to. Obviously he'd probably never repeat this to anyone and his was the most ridiculous thought he'd had in the past few days but it wasn't as bad as he'd expected it to be. A blonde girl who sat in the middle of the rest of them didn't look away she just looked right at him, she picked her hand up and waved at him a little. Jace waved back to her, she was the head of the team Jace assumed and obviously not short of male attention she was very confident and rightly so she very pretty.

"That's Amber Chelsea, She's the most popular girl in school but she's seriously crazy you don't want to go there. When I broke up with her she stole my car and crashed it into her own house" Quinn warned Jace. Jace wasn't interested in her he'd seen so many girls like her before, and heard so many similar stories. Jace noticed Simon entering through the door in the corner of his eye, he got to his feet and Quinn followed.

"Look man, I'm having a party tomorrow at my place. Come and bring your friends or whoever with you" Quinn remarked putting his hand on Jace's shoulder.

"Thanks but urm..." Jace began looking at this guys hand on his shoulder. Jace had never been to a mundane party, he'd never actually really been to a party not a high school one anyway. The parties at the Institute or in Idris were just boring formal dinner parties that you had to wear a suit to, and never would his father let him drink alcohol. Neither would the Lightwoods of a matter of fact. He'd been into clubs but only with work.

"Just think about it, if you need my address just ask anyone" Quinn insisted, he removed his hand from Jace's shoulder.

Jace nodded, and left Quinn he walked towards Simon who was stood with his arms folded with his usual scowl and unimpressed look.

Simon waited impatiently for the blonde demon slaughtering crazy kid to finish talking to the most popular guy in school that arse whole Quinn Oliver the guy every girl wanted to date and the guy every guy wanted to be. Quinn was an extrovert and his kind of people, the individuals in this school that made the top cut and were considered popular they were exactly the same as him. Only primarily concerned with the physical and social environment but didn't exist on their own. When the high school hero's eventually get released into the real world, they eventually fall from their pedestals flat on their faces with no one to pick them back up. This is when most high school superiors learn what it's like for the rest of the world. This was Simon's belief anyway.

Simon tapped his foot in annoyance and rolled it eyes more than a few times just s make sure Jace knew he was annoyed. He looked at his watch a few times for good measure; he was in the middle of an angry tap and clock watch when Jace had finished clambering down the bleachers towards him. He wore his usual boyish charm and angelic like grace that was making every female in this place swoon over him. He'd stepped one foot in this place and had immediately flown to the top of social hierarchy next to Quinn Oliver and Amber Chelsea, Simon was pretty sure them to had never even seen him before and if they had they acted like he was completely invisible. Not that Simon cared, he wasn't shallow and he had Clary she was a thousand times better than anyone in this place.

"That's not something that surprises me" Simon grumbled when Jace had reached him, he didn't stand around to wait for Jace's reaction to his comment because he wasn't waiting around for this kid a second longer.

"What?" Jace called instantly confused, Jace was pretty convinced that Simon walked around with a chip on his shoulder and hated anyone who made an impression on anyone. Jace walked quickly to catch up with Simon as he steamed off.

"You fraternising with Quinn Oliver" Simon yelled over his shoulder, instantly stopping when he realised he was talking about the poster boy of fame when it came to everyone here. He was almost Cedar Academy's equivalent to the president of the United States of America. He probably eve had his own army of people ready to take anyone out if they bad mouthed him in public.

"Fraternising? Why do you make it sound illegal?" Jace laughed, this guy seriously needed to lighten up a bit it wasn't like he was a member of the circle, by the angel.

"Not illegal, just obvious. You have more than just good looks and popularity in common" Simon scolded, he rolled his eyes.

"What you don't like him either? Now that is not something that surprises me" Jace made a guess, referring to Simons previous comment, Jace found it hilarious he was acting like he was crazy jealous girlfriend.

"Clary was interested in him too" Simon said, sadness curled his tone a little. Jace glanced at him, as he immediately went quite. He seemed a little distracted in his own thoughts. It was clear he had a problem with Clary liking anyone or taking interest in any other guy. It was also obvious to anybody but Clary that he was so painfully in love with her.

"Well, he came over to me he just wanted to invite me to his party" Jace replied trying to defuse the situation and distract him from thinking about Clary's ignorance to his undying crush. Just because Simon thought he was an Idiot didn't mean he was one, Jace knew woman were this whole mystery that not even him or Quinn Oliver could solve so there was no point thinking about them when you didn't need to

What striked Jace about demure people like Simon was why he didn't just tell her, of course she might turn him down but that would be a whole lot less heart ache than him showing it at every second he got and her being so oblivious to it.

"He invited you to his party?" Simon asked exasperated, Jace's attempts of making him feel better clearly weren't working. Of course he was invited, Quinn Oliver threw the most parties in the entire school, and everyone wanted to be at them. So of course he got invited I mean why wouldn't he fits every popular social hierarchy criteria even though he'd never been to high school before in his life and he was this whole other species apparently Simon thought.

"Yeah" Jace announced quietly. He wasn't even sure Simon had heard him because he just walked in silence next to him. After some consideration of whether Jace should try and reason with Simon or just leave it well alone at the risk of making him even angrier at him. Jace felt like he needed to prove to him he wasn't this absolute prick like he believed him to be, Jace didn't care what anyone thought about him but he was obviously going to be stuck with Simon a lot if he cared about Clary as much as Jace believed he did, and it would be a lot easier to put up with without having to explain his every move and action to her little pet lover. Besides he'd shown more than anger in this conversation and Jace was partly responsible.

"Look Simon I get it ok. It's always just been you and Clary and you feel like I'm taking her from you. I understand" Jace finally made the decision. He grabbed Simon by the arm to stop him from walking away and just came out with it before he had a chance to talk himself out of it and let the winy little bitch deal with it on his own.

They'd stopped at the end of the corridor near the art studio Clary had been stuck in all day, there wasn't anyone around. Thank God Jace thought, if anyone saw this it wouldn't be his reputation with the Mundanes that would be lower than hell. If Alec and Izzy or any shadow hunter caught him counselling a geeky emotional wreck of a mundane he'd never her the end of it for the rest of his sad excuse of a life.

"No I don't feel like... how could you understand?" Simon retorted, beginning his reply in anger. Jace gave him a unconvincing look. Who was Simon trying to kid, he could barely make himself believe he didn't care about Jace begin around Clary but he and the rest of the world this was everything but far from the truth.

"Well Alec and I... Alec and I are normally inseparable but for some reason he's been really preoccupied and moody. I think there's something up with him" Jace managed to get his words out, he couldn't believe he was divulging all of this to a mundane, he couldn't believe he was telling anyone all other than Izzy she was normally the one who sorted out their issues and they didn't need to tell her she'd just guess. His dad was so right he was such a bitch he really needed to sort out his emotional issues. Jace new he cared about people unlike his father and brother but he didn't realise it extended to telling a mundane. Jace immediately regretted telling Simon, he was just about to tell him to forget and it and get himself the hell out of the place before Simon replied and it was something Jace didn't expect.

"Well maybe its Alec that understands how it feels. Maybe Clary is to Alec what you are to me in this situation" Simon even shocked himself let alone Jace, his tone was soft and little to sincere.

"You think Alec thinks Clary is taking me away from him?" Jace was instantly stunned and not just at the fact that Simon hadn't just laughed in his face. But because he'd never thought about it like that. There was no need for Alec to feel that way because it definitely wasn't the truth was it?

"Seems like it" Simon replied shrugging his shoulders, he wasn't aware Shadowhunters even had feelings then again until yesterday he wasn't even aware of Shadowhunters.

"I didn't think of it like that" Jace mused a little in his own thoughts, he'd forgotten that Simon was stood next to him; he shook his head a little on disbelief.

"You know for what it's worth I know you're just doing your job and protecting Clary" Simon replied a little too wrapped up in the heartfelt moment he'd been having with practically a complete stranger and someone he didn't recall actually liking.

Jace smiled awkwardly.

After Simons last reply the pair of them plunged into absolute silence and it was beginning to feel awkward, and both of them were both freaked out at the fact that they might have been wrong about each other and other one maybe alright, maybe alright was pushing it. That each other weren't what they thought sounded about right.

"You're still a geek" Jace mumbled saving them both from this weird conversation they'd both engaged in.

"And you are still and always will be a dick" Simon replied in a serious tone but he was very thankful for Jace's insult.

And they were back. This time hating each other slightly less but in a mutual unspoken agreement between them both they'd never mention this to anyone ever again.

"What's going on?" A voice called, it echoed down the hollow and empty corridor. Each of them knew the voice all too well.

"Nothing" They both snapped at the same time sounding guilty as sin but none the less would protest this argument.

Clary came into view she was stood leaning out of the Art studio door. Her hair braids had become a little loose over time and her hair really needed brushing Strands of it had become covered in multiple different colours of acrylic paint and he finger tips and palms were covered in a variety of different art materials from charcoal to multicoloured pastels.

"Right..." Clary nodded completely unconvinced, she walked slowly towards them light on her feet.

"Are you coming?" Simon asked happily the way a dog would when it's owner leaves them for five seconds.

"No no, you to go ahead, I need to finish my course work" Clary did a hand waving motion, that her mother did to her when she was trying to get her out of her hair when she was panting.

"Clary you know I can't leave without you. I'm supposed to be protecting you remember?" Jace retorted

"Yeah Clary, we're supposed to be protecting you" Simon corrected

"Yes I remember but I'll be fine and you're only across the road I'm not pathetic I can be left alone for 10 minutes" Clary insisted a little agitated, she just really needed to get her things done and she didn't need to be hovered over.

"Fine but hurry up ok" Jace said a little demanding, he wasn't kidding and he wasn't bothered about being pushy if Clary died then so did he and he wasn't prepared to give up his life at only sixteen it wasn't an option.

Jace and Simon left Clary to finish up both of them didn't like the idea but the quicker she got done the quicker they got to go wherever she'd drag them off to next. Jace didn't have a clue what would happen next because most high students went home after school but not ones who had been missing for a week and then taken back home unconscious. Jace wished he could take her home to Jocelyn, he couldn't even imagine how she would have been feeling all day knowing Clary could be in danger every second.