Simon sat at the kitchen table wallowing into his cheerios. It had been weeks now that Clary had looked at Jace as if he was the only person in the world for her. Simon had thought about maybe trying to make her jealous but after seeing them together at bowling he knew it was hopeless. Clary was lost to him and he had never even told her he loved her. Loved her for the last ten years no less. Everyone else seemed to know though. In fact the people Simon had just met at bowling yesterday had figured him out in an instant… so why didn't Clary know? Maybe Clary didn't want to see it which just confirmed what Simon already knew. She didn't return his feelings.

Simon scooped up a spoonful of soggy cheerios and put them back in the bowl miserably, marveling at how he had managed to put so much misery into such a simple action.

"Simon," his mother, Elaine said from the kitchen. "I can feel the storm clouds from here. Stop it."

"Sorry mom," Simon said drearily. A moment later she came into the dining room probably because he hadn't managed to put any happiness into his voice. His mother sighed as she looked him over.

"I always told you that Clary would break your heart," Elaine said with her hands on her hips. "I just wish I had been wrong."

"Me too," Simon said his gaze still fixed on the ever liquefying cheerios.

"What about that girl you drove home after bowling?" Elaine asked.

"Izzy?" Simon said.

"Yes her."

"She's Alec's sister."

"So?" Elaine said. "Why don't you spend some time with her and stop thinking about Clary?"

"Doesn't really work like that," Simon said. He knew he would be thinking about Clary even if he was with Isabelle.

"Well you need to do something besides mope into your soggy cereal," Elaine snapped. "Go outside and hang out with your friends."

"My friends are Clary," Simon said with a sigh. "I usually just hang out with her."

"Then make some new friends," Elaine suggested.

"Simon make new friends! Shocking!" Of course it was his sister. Rebecca, or Becky, had entered the room with a sketch pad in her hand. His sister was brilliant as far as Simon was concerned.

After his father died and his mother sank into depression Becky had been there for him. Simon had many happy memories of Becky making his lunches and helping him with elementary math homework. Elaine had snapped out of it eventually and Becky had transitioned smoothly back into just his big sister rather than a surrogate mother but Simon would never forget what she did for him. Rebecca was graduating this year and Simon was going to miss her terribly when she went off to art school in September.

"I could make new friends if I wanted," Simon said defiantly to his sister.

"Well there was that one girl who took a fancy to you at school if I recall," Becky said. "Maia I believe her name was."

"What are you talking about?" Simon asked with a sigh. His sister must be teasing him.

"Don't tell me you didn't notice!" Becky said. "She stares at you in the hall. And I saw her watching your locker once like she was hoping you'd show up there."

"Are you serious?" Simon asked. He remembered Maia. She was his age and they had a few classes together but aside from that he hadn't noticed much about her.

"You are clueless," Becky said shaking her head. "Why don't you ask her out?"

"I was her partner in Chem once," Simon said. "But she barely spoke to me."

"I wonder why," Becky said with false surprise.

"You think it's cause she likes me?" Simon asked, still skeptical this was a possibility.

"Of course!" Becky said. "What's not to like?" She grinned at him.

"Yeah cause I'm a catch," Simon said sarcastically. "A nondescript, scrawny, nerd with glasses who's in love with his friend. The whole package."

"Nerds are cool," Becky said, still grinning at him. "Or hadn't you heard?" Simon stuck his tongue out at her.

"It's settled then," Elaine said. "Simon you are not allowed to stay home all day. It's Saturday. Call Maia and ask if she wants to go to the park or something."

"The park?" Simon said incredulously.

"Is that not a cool first date place anymore?" his mother asked.

"I did get her number when we were Chem partners," Simon said absently. He still had no intention of calling her however.

"Why would that mean you swapped number?" Becky asked narrowing her eyes at him.

"Cause we met up outside school a couple times to work on it."

"Ha! I bet she just wanted to give you her number," Becky said. "You are unbelievable sometimes you know."

"Thanks?" Simon said, tentatively. He was fairly sure that hadn't been a compliment though.

"That's it! No more sulking!" Elaine said in her most impressive mother voice and Simon knew there was no point arguing. "And no more Clary till I see you smile three days in a row! Now out!"

Simon was half shoved half argued out the door. Both his sister and mother gave him huge smiles as they slammed the door in his face. Simon got out his phone and had actually opened a blank text to Maia before he stopped.

"Hell who am I kidding!" Simon said to his lawn as he texted Clary instead.

'Hey. I'm bored. Wanna hang out?' Simon hit send then started walking to her place. It was a lovely day and the sun felt warm on his skin. It was good to get out of the house even if he wasn't doing what his mother and sister wanted him to.

When he was halfway to Clary's she answered.

'I am at my place with Jace right now. But you are welcome to join us. I wouldn't abandon a bored friend in need. :)'

Simon sighed. Seeing Clary meant seeing Jace like it so often did these days. But that didn't seem to stop him. Simon texted Clary back that he was already halfway to her house and continued on his way. When he knocked on the door Jocelyn answered.

"Oh Simon!" she said. "How lovely to see you." Simon was sure Clary's mother would prefer it if her daughter was dating him. This thought never seemed to cheer him up.

"Clary!" Jocelyn called. "Simon's here. And you have only thirty minutes left." Ever since the first disastrous meet Jace dinner Clary's parents had given her time limits for seeing Jace in their house. They couldn't stop her from seeing him at school but they were doing everything else they could do without flatly saying no.

"But Mom!" Simon heard Clary's voice from down the hall and he felt his heart leap into his throat. Why was he such an addict for this feeling? Why couldn't he just not care?

"Hi Simon!" Clary said beaming at him. Simon loved how much she cared about him but he was very acutely aware of how differently she looked at him compared to the way she gazed at Jace. Clary hugged him in greeting then dragged him into the living room where she and Jace were playing cards.

"Hey," Jace said not looking up. Simon sat in the available chair and tried to follow their game but mostly he was mopping. It was so much worse with them in the room. Seeing the way they looked at each other. Why had he come over again? Oh right because he's an addict.

Simon's phone buzzed and he automatically checked it then smiled despite himself.

'At least Xena has come cool clothes in this show,' Izzy texted.

'Yes she does,' Simon replied. 'And some very awesome fight scenes.'

'I can see that,' Izzy texed. 'But this show is kinda dated. Couldn't you give me a nickname that was less 90s?'

'But TV was good in the 90s,' Simon typed.

'But the screen is blurry, and the special effects are so yeesh and it isn't wide screen.'

'True but in the 90s the content was better.'

'Are you trying to tell me you never watch TV from this century?'

'Not never,' Simon answered. 'Just less often. I guess the Star Wars prequels were technically made more in the early 2000s but we can't count them cause they sucked.'

'Why did they suck?'

'So many reasons. Do you want me to write an essay for you to explain them all?'

"Someone's popular?" Jace sniggered and Simon's head snapped up from his phone. "Who are you texting so rapidly?"

"Izzy," Simon said. He looked down at his phone again but no reply yet.

"Alec's sister! That Izzy?" Jace said, looking at Simon for the first time since Simon had entered the house. "Wait! I remember flirting. At bowling yesterday! Was that flirting I noticed Sherwin?" Simon didn't even bother to correct him.

"I think so?" Simon said, tentatively. A women who looked like Isabelle Lightwood flirting with him still kinda blow his mind.

"Well stop," Jace said. "For your own good. Isabelle will cut out your heart and walk all over it in high-heeled boots. Trust me. I have seen her do it before."

"And you are telling me this because?" Simon asked.

"Trying to be nice," Jace said.

"Why?"

"Because you're Clary's friend," Jace said beaming at Clary now.

"Awws," Clary said. "Thanks Jace." Simon was jealous as hell as he watched Clary gaze at Jace with love struck eyes. "I'm getting up. Does anyone want a soda?"

"I'm good," Simon said, quickly turning his eyes away from her.

"Your mom's going to kick me out soon," Jace said. "So don't worry about me."

"I wish she wouldn't!" Clary said. "It's so annoying!"

"At least they haven't forbidden you from seeing me altogether," Jace smiled at her.

"They wouldn't dare," Clary said as she got up. "They know that wouldn't stop me." Clary hadn't bothered to keep her voice down and Simon knew she wanted Jocelyn to hear her.

Simon watched Jace once Clary was out of the room. It still boggling his brain that Jace was basically indifferent to him. This more than anything made Simon feel miserable. Shouldn't Jace be crazy jealous too? I mean Simon did know Clary better and she always wanted him around. Magnus was still jealous of Jace it seemed so why wasn't Jace at least a little jealous. Would it kill him to try!

There was no visible change in Simon but something snapped inside.

"You know I love Clary don't you?" Simon said.

"Yeah," Jace said casually. "So what?"

"You don't even care!" Simon almost yelled.

"Nope," Jace said.

"Why?"

"Clary doesn't feel the same way," Jace said. "So you aren't a threat." Simon slumped in his chair just a little. "Sorry."

"You are apologizing to me," Simon said shaking his head in disbelief. "Man this sucks."

"Well I do kinda feel bad for you buddy," Jace said. "Clary is an amazing girl. I am so lucky she even lets me be seen with her in public. Especially since her parents hate me."

"At least you know you are lucky," Simon said. "If you took her for granted I might have to kill you."

"No offense," Jace said. "But I am way stronger than you and I totally beat you in a fight."

"Oh I didn't say I'd play fair," Simon said and he allowed himself to daydream a little. Slipping a little poison into Jace's food or maybe a light stabbing. He probably would get killed if tried to fight Jace face to face but Simon wasn't above stabbing him in the back. Oh and the best one, dracula style! Suck his blood till he's dry. The fantasies were bringing a smile to his face.

"But seriously," Jace said, and Simon tried to pull his thoughts back to reality. "You are too innocent for Izzy. Just stay away and save yourself the trouble."

"Thanks I guess," Simon said. To his great relief Clary returned with her soda, effectively ending his conversation with Jace. She took a big gulp before returning to the card game. Simon watched them with a heavy heart.

"Time's up!" Jocelyn's voice rang through the house as she joyfully came to kick Jace out a few minutes later.

"But mom!" Clary complained.

"No buts," Jocelyn said. "If he doesn't go I will call Luke over to kick him out."

"You suck!" was Clary's highly creative reply.

"I'll see you Monday," Jace said sadly as he gave Clary a one armed hug, kissed her on the cheek and headed for the door. Simon heard the door close. Jace was gone but somehow he didn't feel any better.

"Would you like to stay for lunch Simon?" Jocelyn asked.

"Sure," Simon said. He often ate meals here. So much so that he had a usual seat at the table.

"This is nice isn't it?" Jocelyn said as they were eating the sandwiches she made. "Now why can't you date Simon here? I promise not to kick him out of the house."

"I love Jace mom," Clary said. Simon had never heard her use the word love and Jace in the same sentence before. He had known it but hearing it out loud was something else.

"I loved your father," Jocelyn said darkly. "And look where that got me."

"Yeah," Clary said spitefully. "That got you me."

"That is not what I mean," Jocelyn said. "And you know it."

"Yes yes I know," Clary said. "You haven't seen your son since he was three and blah blah story of my life."

"Clarissa Adele Fairchild!" Jocelyn said, with real hurt in her eyes. "How dare you!" Clary didn't reply but got up from the table and stomped off to her room.

"Sorry, Simon," Jocelyn said. Her breathing was still erratic and Simon could tell Clary's words are cut her deeply.

"You are fighting a losing battle," Simon said. "Nothing short of death will keep her away from Jace."

"I am worried," Jocelyn said. "She hasn't known him long and yet… I have talked to some other mothers at the school and he has a reputation for being well… what do kids call it these days? Always with a different girl. I worry he will break her heart."

"I don't think you have to worry about that," Simon said.

"Why would you say that?"

"Yesterday at bowling," Simon said. "Let's just say I know he loves her too."

"Thanks Simon," Jocelyn said. "But that doesn't so much remove my worries as change them."

"I know what you mean," Simon said.

Beta read by the lovely Rosycat. She basically edits a chapter a day for me (sometimes even two) and puts up with me texting her over and over until she responds because needy writer is needy. I doubt there are many beta readers who are willing to edit so much or so often! So please thank her for me. :D

Oh and it has recently come to my attention that most of the followers of this story don't know that I have a bunch of other Malec stories. ^_^ So I thought I'd tell you.