The fact Simon had a date at all was a shock to him. The fact he had a date with Isabelle, one of the most popular girls in the school, was hard to believe. But the most mind blowing part of this whole thing was still that Isabelle had asked him out!

Dating wasn't really his area of expertise. This would actually be his first ever date and Simon was half expecting the whole thing to be a joke. This warrior princess was probably going to stand him up and make him the running joke at school thereafter. At least the year was almost over. Then again Izzy had told Simon about her father's cheating and Simon suspected even Jace didn't know about that. But maybe it was just easier to tell a stranger something like that and Izzy didn't really like him much.

Simon had to confess- even if Izzy was just interested to stand him up she was still more interested than Clary.

Paying at least a little attention to anything other than Clary was slowly teaching Simon that when a girl liked you she looked at you differently than Clary looked at him. Differently than his sister looked at him.

"Huh Simon?"

Simon jumped. He had been spacing out, staring at the inside of his locker, lost in his thoughts.

"Yeah?" Simon said turning around to see Maia standing shyly beside him. "Oh hi Maia."

"School's over on Wednesday," Maia said. Simon wasn't sure what to say to this. It was true but it also wasn't a question. "And I was wondering… I mean will you be busy much after school ends? Besides exams I mean."

"Not really," Simon said as he finally pulled books out of his locker. Lunch was ending soon and he should probably head to class.

"Do you wanna hang out sometime over the summer?" Maia asked.

"Sure," Simon said. See! He could make new friends. New friends came to him.

"I mean," Maia said. "Do you wanna maybe go to dinner with me? Just the two of us?"

Why was his sister always right?

"Sure," Simon said without thinking. Wait didn't he have a date with Izzy? Why had he said yes?

"Great!" Maia said. She looked so happy Simon decided he wouldn't regret his crazy thoughtless response. It was just a date after all. It wasn't like he had promised to marry anyone. "How about Thursday?"

"Sure," Simon said and again her face lit up and she blushed slightly. It was hard to tell though because of her light brown skin. He had only noticed because of the thin scar that ran down the side of Maia's face. While the rest of her face blushed her scar didn't.

She turned, still smiling, and ran off to class. Simon gathered his books and headed down the hall. Simon usually liked school but with two days left all the teacher had left was exam review. While he sat in his boring classroom spacing out at the teacher his mind drifted to the strange situation he found himself in: a date with Izzy on Wednesday and a date with Maia on Thursday.

Well at least he wasn't thinking about Clary… oh wait now he was.

Simon hit himself in the head with his text book as he exited class but it didn't help to remove Clary from his thoughts.

His last class of the day had both Clary and Jace in it. Simon knew it would be the longest hour of his day since it always was. He would end up watching them gaze at each other rather than watching the teacher and he knew it. This was the only reason Simon had come to hate English class. Every since Clary had been transferred into his school English had been his least favourite subject.

When Simon had first found out he and Clary were finally going to be going to the same school he had been so excited. He had thought that classes together and walking home together would change the way she saw him or he would have at least gotten up the courage to tell her how he felt. Neither of these had happened because she had met Jace and Simon's world had crumbled.

When school finally ended Simon met up with his sister so they could head home together. The van he had borrowed from his friend Eric to get him and Clary to bowling last Friday was now back to being Eric's mom's van and therefore out of his reach.

"So how was your day?" Becky asked him as they started walking. Simon saw a glint in her eyes and knew she wasn't just asking to make conversation.

"Maia asked me out," Simon said. "But you already knew that didn't you?"

"Yeah," she said, giggling. "I told her to do it."

"Why?" Simon asked.

"Cause I knew you wouldn't." She had him there. "So what did you say?"

"I said yes," Simon said. "Though I probably shouldn't have."

"Why?"

"I have a date with Izzy," Simon said.

"The girl you drove home from bowling?" Becky asked. Simon nodded. "You didn't sound enthusiastic about going out with her when mom brought it up. I thought you didn't like her?"

"She is way out of my league," Simon corrected his sister.

"But you have a date with her," Becky stated and Simon knew she was asking how.

"She asked me out," Simon said. "I was too stunned to say no."

"So she likes you!" Becky said in her rarely used gossip voice. "Oh! This is exciting."

"Glad your wish of living vicariously through your little brother is finally being fulfilled," Simon said sarcastically.

"No silly," Becky said. "I am just glad to see you not moping after Clary."

"Great," Simon said, flatly. "I hadn't thought about Clary since English class. Thanks."

"Sorry," Becky said.

"Her and Jace were doing the gazing into each other's eyes thing again," Simon complained. "Man I used to like English too!"

"Focus on your dates," Becky said. "Forget about her for a while."

"She's also my best friend though," Simon groaned. "I just don't know how to separate that from everything else."

"That's easy," Becky said. "Just fall for one of those other girls and you'll forget all about the redhead."

"I guess," Simon sighed as they entered the house.

"That does not look like a smile Simon!" Elaine scolded him. Didn't most parents punish their kids for things like drinking and getting bad grades? Why did his smiles seem to be such an issue? Can't a guy wallow in peace?

"He has two dates!" Becky said. "So we can stop harassing him."

"With two different girls!?" his mother asked. Simon nodded. "You be careful there son."

"Okay mom," Simon said, rolling his eyes as he walked past her and up to his room. He dumped his bag down on the floor then went over to his bed and laid face down.

Only moments later his phone went off.

'Simon!' Clary texted. 'I am going over to Jace's but I have told mom I'm at your place so if she asks that's where I am okay?'

Simon stared miserably down at the message. He could tell on her it was true but she would only be hurt and sad if he did. And she would still love Jace.

'Okay,' Simon replied.

'You're the best,' Clary texted. 'Thanks.'

Simon tossed his phone on top of his school bag and laid back down on the bed. At least there were only two more days of school left before this silly year ended. Though Simon had a feeling this summer wouldn't any better. He was sure somehow he would become the constant alibi for where Clary was. Simon wondered if Jocelyn would figure it out at some point. The women was fooling herself if she thought she could deter her daughter from Jace.

Simon rolled over and got up. He shouldn't wallow. He had dates to think of. Random confusing dates that he half expected to be disasters but dates nonetheless. He had quite enjoying making Isabelle laugh at bowling night. She was quite an interesting person. Maia was very different from her but they were both very independent beautiful women and therefore probably too good for him.

Maia's scar had been the subject of gossip when she first arrived but it was common knowledge now that her brother had given it to her. Her brother, Daniel, didn't live with them anymore. Once her parents had learned how he abused his sister they had sent him away. Simon couldn't image having such a negative relationship with a sibling but Maia was strong and kind despite this. It was clear to anyone with eyes that Maia's parents support of her over her brother had meant the world to her.

Simon had never been on a date and thus had no idea how one went about preparing for such a thing. Simon decided he was in no mood to worry about this at the moment and turned on his laptop for a good Netflix marathon.

After a few episodes he was called down to dinner. His sister teased him about his great dating achievements even though he had yet to go on a actual date and his mother fretted about how he shouldn't go out with them both at the same time and that she had raised him better than that. Simon ignored her. If even one of this dates went well he would call it a win.

Simon escaped dinner once the plates were clean and went back to his laptop. He ended up watching Xena Warrior Princess and was on the third episode when he realized why he was watching it. Simon could totally picture Izzy doing these epic stunts. She had the look of a fighter somehow. Someone who stood up for what they believed and never left a loved one behind.

Great so now she was the fairytale princess and the warrior queen of his fantasies. How was he supposed to date a fantasy? A fantasy no less that had asked him out! Him! Little nerdy no one who sits alone on his laptop watching old TV after school rather than have a social life.

Maia at least seemed like a person of the more datable variety. She had a lot in common with him actually. He did remember he laughing at his jokes when they were working on their Chem project together.

Eventually Simon went to bed though not until he had found out what happened after the season finale cliffhanger. He had probably stayed up too late but it was better than leaving the plot point in such a state. It's not like he really need to be awake at school tomorrow anyway.

Simon's mind went round in circles as he tried to fall asleep. His dreams were full of strong amazon women who wanted to kill him and kiss him at the same time. Then his mother appeared and scolded him for leading these vulnerable women on. He tried to explain to his mother that he was the victim here but she wouldn't believe him. A buzzing noise started to enter the dream but no one but him could hear it. It sounds almost like an insect. It seemed to keep coming closer and closer and soon he was looking around for a giant mosquito. No insect ever appeared and his dream became nothing but the buzzing sound.

Simon was pulled back into the conscious world as he realized the sound was the vibration of his phone when it received a text.

Simon reached over blindly to this bedside table intending to just turn the damn thing off when he read who all the messages were from. If Izzy wanted to talk to him so badly she would text him about a thousand times the least he could do was put his glasses on and read them.

'Simon I know we haven't officially gone on a date yet or anything but I kinda need to talk to someone who knows about my dad's affair and you are it.'

'I yelled at him. Full on asked him about his mistress in front of everyone and he ignored me!'

'Ignored me! Like I was just making trouble for nothing and it wasn't true. But it is! I know it is!'

'I am at Magnus's with Alec cause I didn't want to go home and face father all alone. Mom stayed at the hospital.'

'Oh but you don't know why I was at the hospital. My little brother got hurt. When I came home from school today there were sirens flashing all around my house!'

'My parents won't tell me how or why Max got hurt but I am sure its their fault. Just wish I knew why it was their fault.'

'Simon are you there? Sorry. Maybe I shouldn't be spamming you like this?'

'Nevermind still need to talk. I am curled up on Magnus's couch with a blanket. It was nice of Mangus to let me crash- not that I really gave him a choice or anything.'

'I know I will have to go home in the morning but I don't want to.'

'Alec is snuggled up with Magnus and I am all alone in the living room.'

'I never felt alone like this at my house but I always knew Alec and Max were in the rooms next to me. It's different somehow now.'

'Maybe I just needed to type this all out and it doesn't matter if you answer.'

'No I take that back. It matters. Are you there?'

'You are probably sleeping and I should stop spamming you and let you sleep. Sorry.'

'Totally understand if you want to cancel your date with the crazy text spamming girl.'

'Please don't though.'

'Night Simon. Sorry...'

The time stamp on the last text was less than five minutes ago; Simon was fairly sure Izzy would still be awake.

'It's okay,' Simon texted. 'I don't need sleep. Sorry about your brother. We can talk if you want.'

'Oh I did wake you up didn't I?' Izzy replied almost instantly. 'So sorry! Go back to sleep. I will shut up.'

'Well I'm awake now,' Simon texted. 'So we might as well talk. What's Magnus's place look like?'

'Kinda messy,' Izzy said. 'Though not so much that it's gross. Except maybe for the take out containers. And there's a desk just covered in computer crap I don't understand.'

'How's your brother?'

'Stable,' Izzy texted back. 'That's all they will tell us.'

'I hope he's okay,' Simon typed.

'Me too,' Izzy replied. 'New topic please! I need a distraction. How was your day?'

Yes, how was his day? He had gotten asked out by Maia but Izzy probably didn't want to hear that. He had found out it was all his sisters fault but she likely didn't want to hear that either. He had sulked about Clary which Izzy definitely didn't want to hear about.

'Went to school,' Simon replied.

'Well so did I,' Izzy texted. 'That isn't a very good distraction.'

'Sorry,' Simon typed. 'Guess my life is just boring.'

'It's okay,' Izzy replied. 'Boring is better than my day.'

'My sister teased me a bunch,' Simon texted. 'If that helps.'

'Your sister sounds like fun,' Izzy replied. 'Thanks, it does. Now I can go to sleep picturing Simon getting teased instead of what happen in my day. Much better.'

'Glad to be of assistance,' Simon texted back.

'Thanks for answering,' Izzy texted. 'I should probably go to sleep.'

'It is rather late,' Simon replied.

'Good night Simon.'

'Good night Izzy.'

Simon put the phone back on this bedside table along with his glasses and collapsed into his bed. He wasn't totally sure what had just happened but he was asleep again before he could think any more about it.

Beta read by Rosycat

And sorry sorry sorry for the slow update! Life got in the way or rather a sunburn and my brain being all groggy. Hopefully back to normal/crazy update times now