Disclaimer: I don't own the Mortal Instruments or any of the characters.

Jace POV

It's a month after 'the kiss'. I still cannot believe it. Sure, Simon explained the "accidental" aspect of it…but they kissed. I had hoped that Clary's first kiss would be from me. I mean, it wouldn't be my first kiss, but it would be hers…and it would be the first kiss that meant something to me.

That made me sound like a real player; didn't it? A bit of an indecorous truth, I would call it.

So, fine, maybe I am—was—a player…maybe I have had too many girlfriends? But, that's entirely the old me…

"Mr. Wayland?"

"Huh?" I snap my head up to look at Mr. Smith. Right, I'm in science class.

"The answer to question four, Mr. Wayland?" I unconsciously shift my eyes to Clary across the room. She, like every other one of my classmates, is staring at me. "We're waiting Mr. Wayland. Here's a hint, you may try opening your textbook." Right, so he can catch me not paying attention in class.

"Right…about that…I forgot it in my locker."

"Really? Because I happen to see it on your desk in front of you, but unopened." The class responds with stifled giggles.

"Oh, well…this is my fake science textbook."

"Is it, now?" Mr. Smith asks, more amused than angry.

"Yes! It is!" I respond immediately. "You see, I have heard stories of a textbook thief…and I figured, hey, if I have a fake textbook, the robber will steal the fake one and I'll still have the real one. Only, it turns out, I'll get the two mixed up!" I give him a half-hearted laugh, praying that Mr. Smith will have a sense of humour.

"Fine then, I guess you'll have to share with another person."

"Looks like I will. I guess that's the price of being too careful."

"Very well, you may share with Mrs. Morgenstern; she can help you with the answers too, with one of the top marks in the class." Does Mr. Smith know something that he shouldn't? Or does he just naturally have the ability to make his students despise him?

I whip open my textbook. "Oh! Look at that! I actually took the real textbook! Oops, sorry for the confusion…no need for me to switch seats Mr. Smith!" I see the rest of my classmates keep their eyes on their own books, hiding their smiles. A lot of people heard about Simon and Clary's kiss the day after it happened—Kaelie apparently told everyone, no exaggeration—and about my jealousy—though I don't remember confiding with anyone about that.

"Well, I still believe you'll need help for question four, which you still haven't answered." I quickly flip to the page number on the board and find question four.

If Object A is a sphere, with a diameter of 6m, and a force for 50 N is acted upon one point of the surface, what is the total pressure acted upon the object? I read in my mind.

"Uh…forty two?" I respond with absolutely no bearing to the actual answer.

"I'm sorry Mr. Wayland. Please move to the seat beside Clary." Mr. Smith gives me a smile, get that smile off your face you evil, evil man. "Okay class, finish up that page up to question eleven and then you're done for the day!" I reluctantly walk across the room sluggishly, feeling everyone's eyes boring into my head. I can feel their smirks and giggles from a mile away.

"Sorry you got brought into this." I say calmly as I sit beside Clary. She stiffens beside me and continues looking down at the assigned questions. "You don't have to help me if you don't want to."

Another silent response.

"Cool." I take out my questions and begin to work—or try to, because all I can think is why Clary would stiffen. Surely she must know Simon explained to most of the school the kiss was an accident, and more people would believe a popular, athletic guy like Simon than a pretentious, spoiled brat like Kaelie…right?

Clary POV

Why, oh why do I have to be the smartest in the class? Mr. Smith is a downright devious man. What was he thinking? Didn't he see the rest of the class suppressing their giggles? Doesn't he at least have half functioning ears that can catch the latest gossip?

I sigh internally and discretely look to my side. Jace is working on a question, his eyebrow furrowed at the centre, obviously concentrating.

After me and Simon broke apart from our kiss, I had seen Kaelie standing there, smirking. Beside her stood an enraged Maggie. My response was a mix of confusion as to Kaelie's expression, and impulsive explanatory urges towards Maggie.

I didn't get to express either of them.

At that moment, Maggie said,

"Of course I believe you Clary. 'Simon and I are just friends'." Maggie mocked me in a high pitched tone. "What a wonderful friends you are." Then she stormed off before I had a chance to respond. So much for me fixing her hatred towards me.

Immediately after, Kaelie walked off with Cathy, who seemed to be the one who started it all. At least Simon and I had an explanation—it was all an accident.

A sound of a shrill bell ends the period and signals the beginning of my spare. I grab my bag and head towards the dorms, flopping down onto my bed. I had fitness tonight, but I could sleep for now.

Honestly, I'm not one bit tired. I do, however, want to escape into an endless lucid subconciousness where none of my worries will bother me. When my social life affects me dreams, that is when I'll go crazy.

Sounds a little weird, doesn't it?

I think that I' m only worried about two people's reaction to my kiss; Jace and Sebastian. Jace, because…I don't want him to judge me or get a misunderstanding of what happened—plus Simon is one of his closest friends. Sebastian because he and I are really close friends and I feel that if he takes the kiss the wrong way, it'll ruin everything.

Luckily, when he found out, he went straight to me, and asked,

"So…you and Simon…" Immediately I explained, with no lies, how it was an accident and I think Sebastian immediately understood. We then continued our normal joking around, talking and, of course, working our butts off with Coach yelling at us to push ourselves harder.

I really hope that this kiss won't cause a huge toll on my entire social life…I mean, a lot of girls like Simon, and the fact that he and I both just had our first kiss together seems like big news—so far—in the school.

Now the question remains: was it a good kiss?

I roll onto my other side and try to replay the moment through my mind. Was it? I mean, I have nothing to compare it to—first kiss, remember? But...if I had to say, I'd say no.

It was hard, awkward, stiff; we were both unprepared. Obviously, it wasn't intentional, and we both had never thought of doing such a thing together. Ever.

Even if Simon has had a crush on me, he would never have such thoughts; I am definite.

Shifting once again, I scan my room and try to forget the evening of Halloween this year. Questions of uncertainty ran through my head, but I try to suppress them. No point in contemplating the useless, right? Whatever happens, will happen.

Simon POV

Her hard lips were resistant against mine, and likewise were mine on hers. Clary pushed away from me two seconds into our 'kiss' and was wide-eyed and blushing. I was pretty sure I was blushing too. I had never imagined kissing Clary.

I knew that before we pulled apart that this kiss was not legitimate. I mean, I knew I couldn't brag about it, but I had also realised that this means nothing between us—if anything, it was going to be something negative.

I may have wanted to get to first base with Clary, but not like this. Because of a push, a pathetic set up of Kaelie's in a desperate attempt at any sort of retaliation against someone obviously above her.

"Isabelle, may you please come up to my desk?" Our math teacher calls up Isabelle and she gets up from the seat beside me.

I perk up my ears, while pretending to work on our newly assigned work, trying to listen in on the conversation.

"Isabelle…your math marks are below the class average…" Our teacher—Ms. Jones—starts.

"Well…that's not too bad. Some people have to be below the average—it's the mean of all the numbers in a data set. Unless everyone has the same mark; then the average will be the mark we all have." Isabelle pauses, suppressing a subconscious smirk. "I'm good enough at math to know that."

"Yes, but Isabelle…we're talking a low enough mark to need to pull you out of skating." Isabelle's face drops into a frown, obviously concerned.

"Oh, I'll…pick it up. Sorry."

"Isabelle…you'll need your average to go up ten percent to meet the standard before the final exam. If your mark is not high enough by next semester…you may be suspended."

"I try studying, Ms. Jones, I really do…but sometimes I just don't get the numbers."

"Would you like a tutor?" Immediately feel an urge to volunteer. I'm the best in the class…Isabelle and I are friends…it's perfect. She can start to see my feelings…and maybe her feelings towards me—hopefully.

"Sure…Will you choose him or her for me?" She asks slowly.

"I've already got one in mind; Simon." Yes, yes, yes, Ms. Jones! What a wonderful math teacher I have. If my feelings weren't already occupied by Isabelle…they would be for my math teacher. Okay, that sounded weird. I mean…my feelings for her most splendid ways of teaching would greatly multiply into more than just a mutual teacher-student respect; and into a student worshipping the pure amazingness of a superior who is entitled to expand other's knowledge.

Basically, she's now my favourite teacher.

"Simon, would you mind coming here?" I get out of my desk immediately, trying to hide my excitement. I manage to suppress a smile that may hint I had been eavesdropping but the giddy jump out of my chair causes Isabelle to give me a questioning raise of an eyebrow. I smile back innocently.

"Mr. Lewis, would you mind tutoring Isabelle for the rest of the semester? It will only be for two months—I suggest once a week. If you want, I could give you volunteer hours."

"Um, sure Ms. Jones, I would be honoured." I sound like a dork. But apart from my self-conscious worries, I am happy on multiple levels.

Isabelle and I walk back to our desk discussing plans. We decide to meet on Sundays, in the evening.

When the bell rings, we both hurriedly pack up our things—knowing we have fitness next.

"Thanks, Simon." Isabelle gives me a sweet, pretty smile and scurries off.

"No problem!" I call back happily, suddenly aware of how desperate I must sound. Note to self: get Jace to give you lessons on how to be cool before Sunday.

Fitness is as grueling as usual in the evening, and before I know it, Jace and I are fighting for first use of the shower.

"Simon…" Jace whines, "You're more fit than me…so in all fairness, I'm sweatier and therefore, in more of a need for a shower!"

"I'm so glad you finally admit it. Sadly, that also means that I am of a higher prestige so, should be allowed use of the shower first." Jace and I are facing each other at the entrance of our washroom.

"Hey, Simon, what's that?" Jace points behind me and I turn around. "Ha!" I hear him yell as he runs into the washroom right when I turn, slamming the door behind him.

"Get out here and face me like a man!" I pound on the door with my fist, but I know it is too late; Jace has already turned on the water.

"What's that Simon? I can't hear you! I'm taking a shower!" With one kick at the door, I flop back onto my bed, thinking of pranks I can pull on Jace while he's sleeping.

"Yo!" I look up and see Jordan pop his head into our dorm. "We got a notice on the board!"

"What does it say?" I ask, too lazy to check it myself.

"Visiting Day is next week Friday." Jordan gives me a nod then leaves.

Visiting Day. I wonder if Mom and Dad are coming. Probably not, after what you said to them last time.

"Who came by?" Jace comes out of the shower with a towel wrapped around him.

"Dude, you're dripping water everywhere!" Jace returns my worries with a shrug, grabbing some pajamas off his dresser to change into.

"Whatever. Who came by again?"

"Jordan. It's Visiting Day next week." Jace's entire body stiffens and I can see a worried expression on his face. "Ummm, you okay?"

"Huh? Uh, yeah." Jace shakes it off, about to head into the washroom.

"Wait, Jace…I'm pretty sure my parents aren't going to come after what I said to them last time but do you think it's okay if I still meet yours?"

"Um…I guess…sure." I flop back onto my bed, letting Jace change and waiting for a chance to go shower.

Author's Note

I'M BACK FROM THE DEAD!

I feel like my stories are getting worse and worse…I'm just running out of ideas. So, I hope you guys can bear a lack of an update schedule. When I first started this fanfic, I figured I could handle it; apparently not. I apologize once again…but…I still hope you guys will read and review!

Just one question for this chapter;

-should Jace tell Simon about his parents before or during visiting day?

Finally, as said above, I think my writing's getting worse. So, to get to know one of the reviewers better and to improve my writing, I'm going to choose one of you guys to help me edit and write my next chapter! If you'd like a chance to participate, review a 'I'd like to participate' or something along the lines of that. It'll be completely random though!

Alright guys, until next time!