"We've got to show the team that new move we worked on," Jonathan said. His green eyes were animated but Jace could tell he was not quite as enthusiastic about having Jace at the school as he was only a week ago, before they ran into each other at Selene's. Still, they met early, before school started, so Jonathan could give him a full tour of the school grounds and its various wings. He noticed Jonathan looked rather awkward, about to bite off his tongue, when pointed out one of the best hookup spots in the school and gave Jace a cautious look. Jace was resolving himself to a frank but uncomfortable conversation with Jonathan, to reassure him he would gladly stay away from any redheaded women in Jonathan's life when a loud crash of dropping books and a falling body drew Jonathan's attention.

Jace didn't bother to turn, he could tell it was nothing serious, and Jonathan didn't seem much concerned about it either until the air around them was cut clear by the sound of a crystal voice. It exuded a purity and strength that had him swiveling around to investigate its source.

"You stay away from him. He doesn't deserve to be treated this way. He's not a toy to play with," it rang out and his eyes scanned the hall until it rested on the exact shade of red that had him so deplorably transfixed months ago, except this time it was not a sleek and shining mass that moved in one sweeping drape but instead a messy pile of curls gathered on top of a bun that threatened to explode. And this flaming head of hair was the crown on top of a little girl. He could only see the back of her but she was short, easily a foot smaller than him. It took another quick scan up and down her body, well hidden behind an oversized fraying denim shirt and unbecoming baggy jeans to detect she was well formed. He could see it from the hint of hips and only a tight and prime muscled butt could possibly make the impression hers managed in the blaringly unattractive and shapeless jeans she wore.

He couldn't help moving toward her. He had to see this creature, the owner of that damnable hair and the wildness to it only added to its attractions. He wouldn't have guessed that. He had honestly thought Seelie's sleek mane could not be improved but now he knew that was not true. There was something more to her. Something he couldn't describe but the way she stood, straight and determined to defend a hapless victim, he knew she was brave and strong and good and he didn't understand it. He didn't understand why it mattered but it sucked the air out of his lungs.

He was standing next to her now but she didn't notice him, her eyes locked on the boy she berated. Jace peripherally noticed it was Raphael, one of the football players, a good natured fellow and one of the best players on the team. And then he noticed the victim. Well, now this made a little more sense. A fairly large troop of Xavier transfers had arrived together. Jace was not among them but he was pretty sure he saw Simon within the group and it appeared Raphael had volunteered to help with a tour for the new students. Jace knew Simon well enough from their time at Xavier's to easily imagine Simon had probably made some inadvertently grating and offensive remark that brought out the beast in Raphael. Hell, he wanted to knock the dork off his feet every time he mockingly called Jace, "golden boy." But all of that was background noise in his head and hardly took up more than a second of his thoughts. This girl was center stage and when he finally got a good look at her face, everything else seem to blur away. Was she real? Was he real? Was this a dream? This face would haunt him. This face looked like something he might have imagined from a fairy tale, intensely clear emerald green eyes that sparked with spirit, framed by long copper lashes that seemed to change from a translucent blond to an orange auburn as it reflected the light, flawless peaches and cream skin, an adorable button nose with the barest touch of freckles across it and her lips formed a rosebud, perfectly made to be kissed often and repeatedly. He couldn't take his eyes off her. A dizzying rush went through his head. For the first time that he could remember he didn't know how to act. He wanted to say something, make her turn those amazing eyes on him but his mind drew a blank.

"Clary, what is going on?" Jonathan. Jonathan stood directly across from him and seemed almost as absorbed with this … stunning creature as he was. Except he knew her. He called her Clary.

"Nothing. No big deal," Raphael offered. "I'm sorry, Clary. I didn't know the geek was your friend." A thick desire in his voice broke into Jace's reverie and he briefly turned his gaze away from her to observe him. Yes, he saw her too and he wanted her badly … but that couldn't happen. He couldn't let that happen. Goddamn it. Everyone knew her. Of course they knew her. She's not a transfer from Xavier's. There was no way he could have missed her if he had ever laid eyes on her before.

"I'll see you later. I am sorry. Don't be angry," Raphael continued plaintively.

"Well, you should really apologize to … to …" He could happily listen to anything she said. Was he losing his mind?

"Simon. Simon Lewis," the gangly cartoon character cheerfully spoke up.

Oh God, even Simon. Even Simon had it together better than him.

"Yeah, whatever," Raphael barely acknowledged Simon then walked away.

Jace was glad to see him go. He didn't want this obvious rival here. A rival who already had an advantage over him. He knew her.

"That's just rude." Even her griping was cute.

"Like I said. Used to it. But I appreciate your help," Simon responded and finally Jace had a thought. Something to say that would draw her attention but wouldn't come out a desperate plea. Something that would show her Simon was a buffoon, that he was by far worth her notice more than Simon.

"And I can attest to that," he drawled slowly. "I've seen Simon tripping over himself on many occasions."

And then finally … she turned to him. His heart stopped. And now, here, with their bodies turned toward each other, facing each other, he wanted to bend down and kiss her. He needed to kiss her. He couldn't think straight. He worked to mask himself, settling on a tried and true grin. She would probably think he was some deranged psycho if he let these feelings running rampant inside him show on his face. And then the realization that he was actually feeling something … tremendous … for this girl, someone he had only just met, something more than a desire to bed her, had him dumbstruck but fortunately he was very well practiced at keeping a smooth and careless demeanor. Her green eyes locked on his, so wide and so beautiful and then … she trembled.

"Are you cold?" he asked her. Or can you see that I'm crazy infatuated with you?

She only just stared at him and in a moment she stopped shaking and he balled his hands into tight fists. He didn't think he could stop himself. He was going to take her in his arms, pull her hair down and free and kiss those flawless lips.

"Clary, is something wrong?" Jonathan again but now he had his hands on her and turned her away from Jace to face him.

Jace felt a dull fury rise up in his gut. He glared at Jonathan's intimate grip on her shoulders.

I'm fine, Jonathan. I wish you'd stop worrying." And then she turned her head to rest on his chest while he held her to him and Jace knew if he didn't move away, quickly, something bad would go down. He knocked back into Simon and the two of them stepped back together. He thought he might have to turn and run off when she lifted her head and said, "He's my brother."

Yes! He said his sister was a redhead. Why hadn't he remembered that? Somehow everything flew out of his head at the sight of her. Jonathan had been clearly troubled to hear Jace had a thing for redheads as if he must have known Jace would have an inevitable reaction to her and the way he felt looking at her, Jonathan had never been more right. But this … this was different. His mind didn't even go there … to getting her naked. In fact his mind stopped working altogether. He was all impulse. An impulse to touch her, kiss her, hold her. He fought with himself in that split second. He had to be cool. He didn't know what was going on but he couldn't fuck this up. He had never remotely worried over what a girl thought of him, even those redheads he pursued. He wanted them but it never really mattered. He knew he'd have them. There was no concern over it. Even Seelie, throughout that chase, the most challenging one he had yet encountered, he knew he'd get her eventually but this … he didn't know what this was. All he knew was this mattered. His mind scrambled to figure out his next move. How to stay cool and keep her interested. He could feel a smirk pull up his lips. Something that always worked on girls. They told him he had a sexy smile but the answering look she gave him had his heart thudding heavily. She didn't seem to appreciate this smile at all.

"Why are you smiling like that?" she questioned, her green eyes narrowing but there was no dimming the flashing spirit behind them.

God, she was fucking perfect. Even the way her tiny body seemed to tense as if she would spring at him. He started breathing quicker at the thought, imagining her jumping on top of him, having his arms around her and keeping her locked to him. Shit, he had to say something. "You know, you're a little spitfire. I like girls with spirit."

He had never actually known that to be true but he sure as hell liked her and she sure as hell had spirit. The accompanying grin on his face was entirely natural this time so it stung when the expression on her face turned hot then cold.

"What were you saying about Simon? Did you have a hand in him tripping over himself in one of those many occasions you witnessed?" she accused.

It was not working. Nothing he did or said was working. The first time he met a girl that had his heart pounding and his blood racing through his veins and everything he did or said was wrong.

"Clary, what's gotten into you?" Jonathan drew her attention away and it hurt (it hurt!) to have her eyes fixed on him with disapproval but it pained him even more when she moved them away from him.

"This is Jace. He's the new member of the Alicante Shadowhunters. I told you about him." Jonathan spoke to her in a proprietary way then took a pair of large black framed glasses from her hand and placed them over her eyes.

It was a crime to cover those eyes. Even with the clunky glasses on he could completely lose himself in those eyes but they were a smudgy mess, probably hurting her vision more than it was helping and when she looked up at him without them on he felt certain her vision was entirely clear. He could tell when someone's impaired vision hampered their sight, the way their eyes crossed a little or there would be subtle squinting but none of that had appeared on her face and he had the picture of her face, every heart stopping detail, burned in his head.

Now was his chance. Now he had to make her want him. "Just to clear the air, Red. I don't actually find it all that amusing to pick on clumsy nerds. Adorable, hotheaded little girls are much more my thing." He thought he pitched it just right, playful but clear. You are so my type. But maybe that wasn't enough? He settled back into an uncertain grin, uncertain if he had successfully lured her in and this uncertainty was driving him crazy. He felt a madness bubbling up inside him, a heavy tightening in his chest from the way she gazed at him. She didn't say a word for a long moment but every nerve in his body was wired from her stare. He thought he might fall to his knees and just … worship her. This was fucking insane.

And then her shoulders stiffened and she shut her eyes. "Do not call me Red or a little girl. I'm sixteen," she said and then took Simon by the arm. "Come on, Simon. Let me escort you to the cafeteria."

They both lurched away then and she was gone. He didn't know how long he stood there watching her go but nothing registered. Finally they turned a corner down the long hallway and she was out of sight and he felt compelled to follow and … what? What would he do? What would he say?

"Jace?" Jonathan again.

Jace turned to him and he realized Jonathan had the same brilliant green eyes as his sister. They were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen but it was her soul behind those eyes that made them so glorious and had him mesmerized. Wait, what?

"So that was my sister," Jonathan said warily. "As you can see, she's completely innocent. Never been on a date, never even kissed a guy and … she's a tiny redhead, two traits she's not fond of." He chuckled then, "I mean … you couldn't be interested in her even if you do have a thing for redheads. She doesn't know anything about anything. You're probably on her shit list anyway since you called her red and little."

"Wait a minute," Jace foundered. "I'm on her shit list?"

Jonathan looked at him strangely but Jace couldn't think about anything except her. "Well, yeah, I think so. I just told you she hates her red hair and she hates being the smallest person in a room so yeah, I don't think you made a great impression."

"But … she's perfect," Jace could feel all the carefully crafted reserve on his face fall away.

Now Jonathan was frowning. "Well, I think so. I mean that's my sister. I love her." He stood close to Jace, quietly examining him. The frown on his face smoothed away. "Listen, Jace. I've been watching out for her for as long as I can remember. Our parents died a long time ago and she's the most important person in my life."

Jace listened intently, eager for any information that would help him know her.

"I know about you and Seelie," Jonathan's face grew stern but there was nothing hostile about his tone.

"Seelie?" Jace was bewildered by this turn in their conversation.

"Yeah, my girlfriend," Jonathan answered drily. "I mean, we've been going out for a month and that's sort of a record for me. It doesn't matter. I mean that was in the past but she told me you broke her heart, that you've left a long trail of broken hearts behind you and God, I don't care. I mean, I'm a guy. I understand how it is … at our age. We've got hormones and shit but my sister, she's a different story. I'm not standing by and watching any guy, even you, Jace, fool around with her. You understand what I'm saying, right, Jace? Stay away from her."

"Stay away from her," Jace repeated stupidly, not even sure what that meant.

"Great," Jonathan relaxed and gave Jace a pat on the back. "I'm glad we had this talk. I'll catch you later." Jonathan walked off.

Jace stood frozen to the spot. He wanted to get out of here but he had no idea where to go. He wanted to find her. Clary. Make her see. Make her want him. There was nothing else he could do. If he could only get her to feel one tenth of what he was feeling …

"Hi there," a big, busty blonde, bubble gum chewing cheerleader smiled up at him flirtatiously. "You're new, aren't you? Do you need help getting somewhere?"

He felt as if he were submerged under murky waters, as if he were holding his breath and couldn't tell which way was up or down, how to get his head out and draw in some desperately needed fresh air.

"Yeah, I'm a little lost. Not sure where I'm going," he smiled on autopilot. Looking at this girl, he knew most people would find her very attractive but with Clary on his mind, this girl's bright blonde hair, red lipsticked mouth and swelling curves that threatened to spill out of clothes that looked two sizes too small, she looked garish and harsh to his eyes. He felt a little ill when she grabbed his arm and pressed her giant breasts against him while she studied the schedule he was holding in his hand.

"It's your lucky day!" she squealed. "We have the same math class together next period. I'll walk with you."

Oh no, he thought. Wait maybe this won't be so bad. Maybe he could get some … information. "Hey, do you know Jonathan Fairchild?"

She rolled her eyes. "Of course I know Jonathan. Everyone knows Jonathan," she smiled. Her eyes were clearly inviting him to have his way with her.

Ugh. "Yeah, what about his sister?" Jace tried to ask casually.

"Who?" she looked confused.

"Clary. His sister, Clary," Jace pressed her.

"You mean Raggedy Ann meets Mr. Magoo?" she snickered derisively.

"What? No, no," he looked at her incredulously. He would get nothing worthwhile out of her.

"Come on, I'll take you to class and I'll show you the mural Raggedy painted on the way there. She's actually pretty good. At least the poor thing has some talent," she mockingly shrugged.

Jace brightened at the prospect of seeing something she created, something that came from her … shit, what was wrong with him?

"I'm Jace," he said hoping to God she could hear the clear 'let's just be friends' intonation in his voice.

"Oh, I know who you are," she said coyly. It didn't bode well. "I'm Kaelie."