Simon used to love Valentine's day, but that wasn't the case anymore. Now, he was very single and very bitter about it; this stupid holiday was just another reminder that he'd failed to get the woman he loved to return his feelings. To add insult to injury, Clary had started going out with someone else only hours after they'd broken up. The fact that the guy she'd picked over him was hotter than a Greek god had in no way improved Simon's sulky mood. He was therefore surprised that seeing Jace and Clary making out in the cafeteria actually made him feel worse. How was that even possible?

The weeks since Simon broke up with Clary had consisted mostly of trying to avoid looking at couples, (especially Jace and Clary) hanging out with the few friends he had here that weren't Clary's friends first, (otherwise known as Eric), doing homework and finally going to class. Eric was the only member of his band from back home that had decided to come to this school. Eric hadn't done it for some girl though, because Eric wasn't stupid. He'd actually been interested in a program here.

Simon stared at his phone, wondering who it was that he wanted to talk to. His sister had a boyfriend and was busy with her life at the college closer to home. And calling his mother on Valentine's day was so not going to happen. Simon was pathetic, but he wasn't that pathetic. Eric was out with his girlfriend and Simon suspected even all his friends back home were busy as well. Besides, he hadn't talked to them much since high school grad.

There was no one to call. Simon set his phone aside and pulled his laptop over. He'd been using homework as a distraction and therefore had none left to do. So, Simon decided the time was right for a depressing movie. Kids dying of cancer sounded about right. Simon started the movie titled 'The Fault in Our Stars' and sat back to watch it. However, he couldn't force himself to get more than halfway through it. It was simply too romantic; it hit too close to home. Simon ended up going to bed early, just to get Valentine's day over with. This horrible mood did, however, help him make a decision. After exams, he was going home. He should never have followed Clary here in the first place. His stupid naive hope had gotten him into this mess, but it was time rational thought got him out of it. It had taken a broken heart, but Simon had learned a valuable lesson.

The next morning, Simon tried to put Valentine's day behind him and focus on getting through his classes. This seemed to work, although his life became very monotonous. School work and the mundane aspects of daily life meant that February faded into March. Exams were at the end of April and though time seemed to be slowing down rather and speeding up, Simon could see the light at the end of the tunnel, that was leaving the school in which Clary regularly made out with Jace in the cafeteria.

"Simon!"

He knew that voice. He'd do anything for that voice, but he knew he shouldn't turn to see her. After all, he knew which blonde she'd be sitting next to. Nevertheless, Simon turned and sure enough, there was Clary.

"Come sit with us!" Clary called to him. Simon looked down at the lunch tray he was holding. He was seriously considering skipping lunch when Clary called to him again. He stood frozen holding his tray, torn between going to her and running for the hills. But, with a sigh he started walking toward her. Could one be whipped and yet not in a relationship?

"Hey," Simon mumbled. "You don't have to do this Clary."

"Do what silly?" Clary asked. Jace was sitting beside her while Magnus and his boyfriend sat across from her. Simon couldn't quite remember the boyfriend's name though. "I want to eat lunch with my friend, who I haven't seen in a really long time." The word friend hurt, but not as badly as he'd expected. Simon looked at Jace and found there the normal reaction to Clary's crazy. Jace didn't look happy that Clary wanted her ex to join them.

"This isn't really appropriate," Simon told her. "It's okay. I'll just eat on my own."

"You don't have to," Clary said. "You are welcome here."

"I don't think Jace wants me here," Simon said. Clary turned on her boyfriend and elbowed him in the ribs.

"Ouch!" Jace whined.

"Jace is fine with it," Clary told Simon. He couldn't help but laugh. He'd missed her crazy antics.

"Alright," Simon said, giving in. Somehow, he always gave into Clary. For a moment, he wondered if he always would, then everyone moved over and Simon found himself sitting next to Clary, with Jace on her other side.

Simon had clearly interrupted a conversation, which now continued where it had left off.

"Have you finished the homework yet?" Clary was nagging Jace.

"If I say yes will you agree to come over tonight?" Jace asked.

"That depends if it's the truth or not," Clary replied, then she turned to Magnus's boyfriend as if for confirmation.

"He did the homework," the black-haired man replied.

"See!" Jace exclaimed. "You believe Alec, right?" Simon pretended like he hadn't just learned Alec's name as he started eating his lunch.

"This idiot has been far too motivated to do his homework since you started not coming over if it wasn't done," Alec laughed.

"You know if I hadn't," Clary replied. "He'd be flunking half his classes, right?"

"Oh don't I know it!" Alec laughed.

"Hey now," Jace muttered. "Not half. I do want to stay in school you know. My scholarship goes poof if I flunk out."

"You should thank your girlfriend then," Alec chuckled, still laughing at Jace. "For your continued enrollment in this school." Simon thought he rather liked Alec. Jace grumbled but didn't argue further.

"Alec," Magnus spoke for the first time since Simon had sat down. "Are you done with your tray?"

"Yeah," Alec said, but just as Magnus reached for it Alec scooped up both his and Magnus's lunch trays and carried them off saying, "I got it."

As Simon was looking from Magnus to Alec, he noticed something different about them. From their body language to their tone of voice, something had changed. It was almost like Magnus was treating Alec with revelry. Simon couldn't understand it, but he also couldn't describe it any other way. There was something unspoken going on between those two, Simon was sure of it. Though just as soon as he'd had the thought, Simon reminded himself that it was none of his business. Magnus had become Simon's friend during the course of his and Clary's relationship, but now that they were split up Simon wasn't really sure where he stood with Magnus.

"Magnus," Clary whispered once Alec was out of earshot. "Seriously!" Magnus mumbled something, but didn't look up from his hands.

"You are worrying Alec," Jace told him. "Would you guys just talk already! This is getting ridiculous!"

"Yeah like you two are so perfect," Magnus scoffed. Alec appeared at that moment putting an end to Jace and Clary's harassment of Magnus.

"What did I miss?" Alec asked as he sat back down.

"Well we should really ask Simon something," Clary smiled. "I fear we have been ignoring our guest."

"I'm fine," Simon said quickly. He was actually enjoying just observing while he ate. It was at least a bit more distracting than being in his own thoughts. That is, as long as Clary and Jace didn't start making out or anything.

"How's Eric?" Clary asked him.

"Fine," Simon replied. He didn't know what to say. After all nothing was really happening in his life.

"Have you gotten anyone else to join your band yet?" Clary asked. She seemed determined to include Simon in the conversation after ignoring him before.

"Nope," Simon replied. "But we aren't really looking."

"I think you should look," Clary said brightly. Simon had never seen Clary happier. A part of him hated Jace, for obvious reasons, but Simon was also strangely grateful for the stupid blonde. At least Clary was happy even if Simon couldn't be the one to make her so.

"Nah," Simon said. "We don't do much with the band anymore. I am probably gonna change schools after this year."

"Oh," Clary said, softly. Her shoulders slumped and she looked so genuinely sad Simon actually felt bad.

"Well the rest of the band is back home," Simon explained. "And you know I only came to this school for you anyway."

"Yeah," Clary said sadly. "But if it means anything I'd like you to stay here."

"You don't fight fair," Simon muttered under his breath.

"You're my friend," Clary said smiling at him.

"Kick a guy when he'd down," Simon muttered again. He had no idea if anyone could hear him but it felt good to say what he wanted either way.

"On that note I have class," Alec said standing up. He turned to say goodbye to Magnus. Simon couldn't tear his eyes away as he watched the awkward way in which Magnus didn't quite pull away from Alec's goodbye kiss. They were all silent as Alec walked out of the cafeteria.

"Arg!" Magnus said dramatically as his head hit the table.

"Talk. To. Him." Jace said as if speaking to a retarded person. Magnus must have been frustrated because he flipped Jace the finger. Simon had never seen him do such a thing before.

"Magnus!" Clary exclaimed.

"I am not taking relationship advice from Mr. One-Night-Stand," Magnus replied as he too got up from the table and left.

"I'm sorry," Clary said and Simon wasn't sure if she was talking to him or Jace. "I don't know what's wrong with him."

"This is what happens when you try to ignore a problem," Jace said. "Though I still don't see it as a problem. I mean they are just being ridiculous."

Simon couldn't stop his curiosity at the new gossip. "Did something happen?" Simon asked.

"Alec said the L word early," Jace said. "And accidently let it slip that his parents are loaded."

"That's it?" Simon said slightly disappointed by the quality of the gossip.

"As I said, ridiculous," Jace sighed.

"Well if Magnus hasn't said he loves Alec in return it might not be so ridiculous," Simon replied. Clary avoided Simon's gaze after that and Simon knew her well enough to know she was feeling guilty. A part of him was rather pleased about it, though he also wished she wasn't upset. Really, his thoughts made no sense right now.

"Thanks for eating lunch with us," Clary said softly as she made to stand up a few moments later. Simon just nodded since 'thanks for inviting me' didn't feel truthful and 'you're welcome' was no good either.

"Woah," Clary said, holding both her arms out to steady her. Next her hand was at her temple, her eyes closed. She seemed almost dizzy.

"Are you alright?" Jace and Simon said together.

"Yeah," Clary said. "Just thought the room was spinning for a second." She shook her head a little and stood up straight. "But I'm fine now."

"You sure?" Jace asked again.

"Yes," Clary sighed. The next few minutes consisted of Jace fussing over Clary to make sure she was fine. Simon had rather mixed feelings about this. It seemed Clary was being well cared for by her new not-Simon boyfriend, but Simon so didn't want to have to see that.

"I've got class," Simon interrupted after a minute. Clary said goodbye and thanked him again before Simon hurried from the cafeteria.

Simon spent the rest of his day trying to keep the image of Jace fussing over Clary out of his head. Class was only a mild distraction. Why didn't any of these professors have anything interesting to say anyway? So annoying. Simon tried to get in touch with Eric as he desperately needed someone to hang out with, but no surprise Eric was busy.

The next day Simon was sitting in his dorm room trying to get some homework done when he decided he couldn't bear to see the inside of this tiny room for another minute. When had his life become nothing but class, homework and this room? Gathering up his textbooks Simon went into the main living space to finish his paper. He'd been working for at least a half hour when someone approached him.

"Hey." It was Jace's voice. Simon looked up. "I haven't seen you around here much lately."

"Been hiding out," Simon confessed. It was true. Avoiding Jace and Clary was one reason Simon had stopped taking homework into the common areas.

"Sorry I was so grumbly at lunch yesterday," Jace said.

"It's okay," Simon said. He turned back to continue his homework thinking Jace would leave it at that.

"I was just thinking about you as Clary's ex," Jace explained.

"Well that's what I am," Simon reminded him without looking up.

"But that's not all you are," Jace replied. "Clary says you don't have a lot of friends at this school. Maybe we could be friends."

"You want to be friends with your girlfriend's ex?" Simon said skeptically. "What happened to being annoyed Clary wanted me to join you guys for lunch?"

"I reacted automatically," Jace said. "But Clary and I talked about it and I realized I am in no position to take the moral high ground here. Clary has one ex and I have... well a lot more." Simon processed that, but didn't reply so Jace continued. "I did also try to steal her away from you even if I wasn't quite aware of it at the time. I am a great liar," Jace laughed. "Especially when it comes to lying to myself it seems."

"Are you lying to Clary?" Simon asked. The thought had only just occurred to him. Clary had seemed so happy but if Jace was lying...

"Never," Jace said so decisively Simon was taken aback. His short-lived worry that Jace was deceiving her was gone in an instant. "Before I met her, I'd never even had a crush on someone before. I don't know what love feels like, but I have to believe it feels a little like this."

"So that's why you're being nice to me," Simon said. "For Clary's sake."

"Everything I do is for Clary's sake," Jace replied. "So, you're right, but also you seem like a cool guy."

"Sorry," Simon said. "But we can't be friends."

"Why not?" Jace replied.

"Because the very thing making you happy is why I'm not," Simon explained.

"You broke up with her," Jace reminded him.

"I know," Simon said. Explaining to Jace exactly why he'd broken up with Clary didn't really sound like fun at the moment. It felt like pouring salt in the wound.

"If it makes you feel any better," Jace added. "When you were dating Clary… I'd never been so jealous of anyone before in my life."

"That does actually make me feel better," Simon replied. "Thanks."

"You sure we can't be friends?" Jace inquired. "It would make Clary happy I'm sure."

"And that there is why we can't be friends," Simon sighed. Jace still looked confused and since Jace had been honest with Simon he felt obliged to return the favour. "I'm in love with your girlfriend. Not a great basis for a friendship."

"She is easy to love," Jace replied.

"Yeah, she is," Simon said, surprised by Jace's reaction.

"If you change your mind," Jace added with a smile. "You know where to find me."

Simon stared after Jace's retreating back as he thought maybe he'd been too quick to write off this school. Then he remembered how all his friends were Clary's friends already! Befriending Clary's boyfriend was definitely not the way to fix that. With a sigh, Simon got back to his homework.


Wow its nice to be updating this story more regularly again. :D This whole updating two stories at once thing is SO much more manageable than writing to update three!

If you haven't checking out my new Malec Story "Forgotten" PLEASE PLEASE DO! Its set in the canon after CoHF Epilogue. The third chapter is going up very soon!

What else should I say here... I seem to have slipped back into old habits of barely writing author's notes...

Oh well.. too lazy to add more. Hope you enjoyed the chapter guys! And I hope EVER more you are kind enough to leave a review! ^_^


Sneak Peek Chapter 40

"Go away!" Clary called to him.

"Never," Jace replied. Clary couldn't help but smile at her boyfriend's response. Though she was still glad, when she heard the doorknob turn, that she'd locked the door. "Please let me in Clary."

"I don't want to get you sick," Clary called through the door before she started gagging again, trying to empty her already totally empty stomach.

"I don't care if I get sick," Jace replied but Clary had more than one reason she didn't want Jace here.