Red and orange leaves littered every inch of the ground as Simon walked home from class. It was early October and Simon was getting used to school again, the routine of going to classes, doing homework, seeing his friends, and practicing his music. Eric had easily agreed to have Jordan join their band once he'd heard the guy sing. The only challenge now was getting Jordan to sing something other than depressing love songs. Simon had to admit that even he wasn't that hung up on his ex, though Simon suspected it helped quite a bit knowing his ex had never really loved him romantically.

Twice now Simon had seen Clary in the halls, and though he'd smiled back at her when she did, he was glad she wasn't being as weirdly friendly as usual. It seemed that the last time she'd meddled in his life, had actually been the last time like he'd wanted. Simon did hope to be friends with her again someday, but not now. Now he had a very needy roommate to take care of, or rather clean up after. Simon was by no means a neat freak, but he had to admit, even he wasn't fond of his roommate's mess, and couldn't blame Jordan's ex for disliking it either. Simon supposed it was different dating a messy person than just rooming with one, but if this didn't get better soon, he was going to have to do something about it, even if that something was cleaning while his roommate was asleep or out.

Entering the dorm room, Simon turned away from the disaster on his left and headed right to the clean side of the room. With a sigh, Simon got out his homework. He was in his second year now and had to start thinking about what he wanted to major in, which was a daunting prospect to say the least. Simon was worried that if he picked a major he was interested in rather than one with a specific career in mind, that he'd end up as the most educated employee at a fast food joint. But if he picked one based on a job in mind, and then hated the job, he'd be stuck just the same. He still had a year to figure it out, but somehow a year didn't feel like it would be very long. All the same, Simon didn't want to be stuck in genetic classes forever. He was halfway through his major non specific essay when Jordan arrived home.

"How was class?" Simon asked his roommate half out of interest, and half out of a desire to turn away from his homework.

"No idea," Jordan sighed, before collapsing on top of the pile of clothes that covered his bed.

"Please don't tell me you skipped class to stalk your ex," Simon sighed, pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose. This guy needed a twelve step problem, not that Simon was complaining, since every moment with Jordan made him feel less and less pathetic about being hung up on Clary. At least Simon wasn't pining. He'd accepted his miserable fate.

"No," Jordan admitted. "I just spaced out at the wall and thought about her the whole time."

"Try actually taking notes," Simon advised. "You don't have to listen, just copy and paste with your hands. That way you can at least study for tests." Jordan laughed, though it quickly turned into a groan.

"You either have to talk to her or give up," Simon stated after a moment's silence.

"I can't give up," Jordan replied quickly.

"Okay, then speak to her," Simon reasoned, but Jordan just shook his head.

"I can't take the rejection right now," he argued. "I need to come up with a way for her not to reject me before I talk to her."

"Oh is that all?" Simon sighed. Jordan covered his face in a pillow, and Simon suppressed a smile. It wasn't always like this. Most day's Jordan was actually functional. When they weren't practicing band with Eric, they often watched movies together; Simon was working on turning his roommate into a Trekie, though with only minimal success. Jordan didn't seem to understand the brilliance that was Captain Picard. He had better luck getting Jordan to watch Sense8 on Netflix, though he suspected that was mostly for all the sex scenes rather than the amazing storyline, characterization, plot points, and cinematography. However, Simon refused to give up. If anyone could turn someone else into a nerd, it was Simon Lewis.

Simon had felt sure about his decision to return to school when he was at home, but once he actually set foot on campus, he'd second guessed himself to the point where he'd almost turned right back around and went to become a lump on his mother's couch. Simon laughed at the thought. Thankfully this thinking only lasted a few minutes. Today he was happy with his decision to return to school. Despite his disgust at Jordan leaving dirty cereal bowls everywhere, he did count his roommate among his friends. Simon was enjoying his classes even with the looming threat of selecting a major hovering over him. It was true he hadn't hung out with Maia much since school started, but he knew it was only because they were busy. Maia had declared her major as Business Management and was dealing with a new course load. Through texting, Simon had learned Maia's roommate had already taken Maia shopping twice.

'No one woman needs that many clothes,' Maia had texted him while bored during shopping trip number two. 'And she says she didn't even bring half her wardrobe to school. This girl is crazy. lol.'

'Well my roommate spends half his time pining for his ex,' Simon had replied.

'At least that might involve ice cream,' Maia had texted back which made Simon laugh. The more Simon got to know Maia, the more he liked her as a person. It was funny, but somehow being friends with Maia was making him realized how Clary had looked at him all these years. Despite meeting her for a blind date, Simon couldn't imagine actually dating Maia. He valued her as a friend, but more didn't feel right somehow. Speaking of valuing friends, Simon was making a point to spend more time with Eric outside of band practice. If his summer of disillusionment had taught him anything, it was how important it was to keep up with old friends.

"Sounds like your roommates needs to get back out there worse than you do," Eric said when Simon met up with him for a study date in the library later in the week.

"Yeah," Simon replied with a laugh. "He makes me feel far less pathetic."

"You aren't pathetic Simon," Eric argued. "Honestly if I'd just broken up with the only girl I'd ever loved who had never loved me back, I'd be in way worse shape than you."

"Thanks," Simon smiled. "That is actually wonderful to hear."

"Anytime man," Eric replied, then turned back to his books and groaned. "I am regretting this decision already. Why did I take Statistics?"

"Because you secretly want to be Data from Next Gen?" Simon offered.

"Because I am secretly stupid," Eric replied. Simon laughed lightly and they both got back to studying until they were hungry and decided it was lunch time.

As Eric and Simon walked into the cafeteria, Simon spotted Jace and Clary eating in the corner. Clary was smiling, and Simon had to admit he was actually doing alright. The summer away had helped for sure, and Simon could be happy that at least Clary was happy. Though if that blonde fool ever hurt her, Simon would find some way to punish him. He knew he couldn't take Jace in a fight, and at the moment had absolutely no idea how he'd punish Jace if the need arose, but that didn't matter. Simon would find a way if needed.

Despite his lack of patheticness today, Simon still sat in the opposite corner of the cafeteria as his ex girlfriend. He forcefully put Clary from his mind as he and Eric talked about their next band practice. Last year they had renting space to practice for a few hours at a time, but that was rather expensive. This year, since Eric was living off campus, they had started practicing there.

"Maybe if we put a good song in front of him, Jordan would just sing it," Eric suggested.

"I am sure he could even make the most cheerful song in the world depressing," Simon laughed.

"Oh speaking of depressing," Eric remarked. "I have a date tomorrow."

"And this is depressing how?" Simon asked.

"Because I am going to mess it up," Eric explained. "I always do."

"If you want advice, you are asking the wrong guy," Simon replied. "Seriously if there is a class for losing women, I'd be teaching that one."

"That isn't fair," Eric replied. "You lost one woman. If anyone is going to be teaching that class it's me."

"You had what like two bad first dates in the last few months?" Simon began.

"Tomorrow makes three," Eric replied. Simon leaned forward and playfully hit his friend in the head.

"No negative thinking," Simon told him. "That is probably why they don't go well."

"Yep, I'm gonna die alone," Eric replied in a strangely perky voice. Before Simon could tell his friend off for his happy tone, they were interrupted by a slightly familiar female voice.

"I was wondering if I'd ever run into you," she said from behind Simon. Judging by the open mouthed expression on Eric's face, this woman was stunning. Simon turned and his mouth fell open. Not only was this woman sex on legs, she was also his elevator girl. Simon hadn't gotten a good enough look at her in the dark elevator to really describe her to others after the fact, but here and now, there was no mistaking who stood before him.

"Came back to school after all, huh?" she remarked. Simon just nodded, speech suddenly a foreign concept to him as his mind flashed back to when he'd held this woman's breasts in his hands. He could remember so well the strange tingle on his skin when she'd trailed her fingers across his stomach. Simon remembered how insecure he'd been at the time that his stomach was squishy, and in no way resembled a six pack, but it hadn't stopped her from touching him. Simon remembered how fast his heart had been racing that day as his breathing quicken, the phantom feeling of her one leg wrapped around his hip.

"I'm glad," Elevator girl continued. "I did jilt you in that elevator after all." She grinned at him raising her eyebrows, and Simon realized with sudden clarity that if the lights hadn't come on, she might have gone way further in that elevator than he'd realized.

She pulled a pen from her purse, and a moment later she was holding his arm. Simon barely had time to register that she was touching him before she pulled away. Simon slowly looked down; she'd written a series of numbers on his palm.

"Give me a call if you want another go," she winked at him, blew him a kiss, then walked away.

Simon stared after her dumbfounded. Had that just happened? And why had he been such an idiot as to again forget to ask her name! Heck, even if he'd said a single word, that would have been useful. He just hadn't expected to see her again, not even after coming back to this school.

Simon turned back to Eric who was looking at him like some kind of god. Then Simon remembered he'd never told Eric about the elevator incident.

"What the hell was that man!?" Eric asked, his eyes wide with shock.

"Umm," Simon began. "I was trapped in an elevator with her once. She got bored and made out with me, then the lights came back on."

"Why the hell would you keep something like that to yourself?" Eric exclaimed. Simon had told Jace about it just a few days later, but honestly, the whole experience had felt a bit like a dream.

"I don't know," Simon replied. "It sounds kinda like something out of a corny tv show or something. I might have half believed I imaged the whole thing."

"Well, you definitely didn't imagine that," Eric said, firmly. "I am your witness."

"Urg," Simon groaned as he let his head fall and hit the table. What the hell was he supposed to do with her number? Should be call this woman up and let her have her way with him, or keep his pathetic virginity in tact and watch the next girl he liked leave him for a player like Jace?

"You make no sense," Eric stated. Simon had to admit his friend had a point.

"What did Izzy want to talk to you about?" For the second time in less then ten minutes their table had a visitor Though this time, Simon knew who it was before he lifted his head from the table to see Jace looking down at him.

"So her name is Izzy," Simon said, casually. He was still feeling rather too stunned about the whole encounter to register more than that.

"What are you talking about?" Jace asked, confused.

"That was the girl I made out with in that broken elevator last year," Simon explained.

"What?" Jace asked, clearly shocked by his news, his eyes wide, and his voice sharp.

"Last March," Simon tried again, in a monotone voice. "I talked to you about the crazy player girl who made out with me in the broken elevator. Did you forget?"

"No, I mean what… that was Izzy!" Jace exclaimed. Simon just nodded, totally non-plussed. Jace sat down at their table, clearly needing a minute to process this information.

"Don't tell me," Simon groaned. "She's your ex."

Jace laughed, awkwardly then said. "No, she's Alec's little sister."

"Alec's your roommate right?" Simon asked. He vaguely remembered meeting Alec last year when he'd slept on the floor in Jace's dorm.

"Yep," Jace said. "Oh man, this is weird." Simon just shrugged. He was sure it was weirder that his ex girlfriend's new boyfriend wanting to be friends with him, but decided not to mention this.

"Be careful Simon," Jace warned. "That woman is a heart breaker."

"I think I know a thing or two about heartbreak," Simon replied coolly. "And that is rather rich coming from you."

"I-" Jace stated. "Okay, I deserved that one. Just be careful okay. I know her because I used to be her."

"Yeah yeah whatever," Simon sighed. This was just the strangest conversation ever and he really didn't want to be talking about this with Jace.

"Hey Simon?" Jace began, and just his tone had Simon on edge. "Can I ask you something about Clary?"

"Depends what it is?" Simon said wearily.

"She's been acting kind of different lately," Jace explained.

"How so?" Simon asked though he was sure he'd regret it.

"She doesn't want to go out and do things, and she keeps surprising me with lingerie," Jace continued while Simon wished the ground would rise up and swallow him whole. "It's not like I'm complaining, but it's odd. She usually just wears hoodies and stuff right."

"Dude!" Eric exclaimed suddenly. "That's his ex."

"Oh right sorry," Jace said quickly, though not quickly enough since Simon was sure he'd never get the imagine of 'lingerie' in relation to Clary out of his head. "It's just that I wanted to talk to someone who's known her longer than me and… yeah okay, again sorry. I'll get out of your hair."

After a few more mumbled apologizes, Jace got up and walked back to the table where Clary was waiting for him. Simon watched his ex girlfriend greet Jace with a light kiss and did everything in his power to not picture her in a little maid's outfit.

"God, that guy is weird," Eric said with a shake of his head.

"Agreed," Simon replied. "Though the weird part is that if we were just friends it wouldn't be weird."

"I guess, but you aren't," Eric said. "You are... well I'm not sure there is a word to define the relationship you have. If you and Clary had been married, you could call Jace a home wrecker." Simon smiled at the silly tone his friend used, which made the words he was saying all the more amusing. After all, it was funny. For a while now, Simon had really come to believe that Jace actually considered Simon to be one of his friends. It was such a strange notion, and yet Simon found himself oddly moved. Sure, Jace was wildly inappropriate, and sure he was with Clary, but Simon felt sure somehow that if he ever got over Clary, his friendship with Jace would become almost effortless.

"Okay, so aside from the weird guy," Eric began. "What are you going to do about this elevator girl?"

Izzy. That was her name. Simon had to admit he liked knowing her name. It made him feel less like a sleeze bag, though by the sounds of it, their moment in that elevator had meant far more to him than it had to her.

Simon looked down at the thin blank pen lines on his palm. Slowly without really thinking, Simon got out his phone and added Izzy to his contact. Losing her number would only limit his options after all. He would make this decision later.


If you didn't notice the change to the summary, I have decided to start updating this story every Wednesday. If for some reason I get too far ahead I might upload a bonus chapter, but that would be in addition to every Wednesday.

To guest reviewer who said:
I think you could update every Monday just so we have something consistent but, it becomes a lot of pressure so if you think you can't meet the deadline, just stick to what you are doing now. Nobody wants to stress you out about it where the writing decreases a little, if that could happen to you ;)

My reply:
Thanks for your concern and (lol) loved that last line, but don't worry. Actually me wanting to update only once a week is me trying to slow way the hell down. Until now, I have been updating this story at the same time as one or two other stories that always got updated faster than this one. For example, when I cleaned out my doc manager after I finished Royal Dilemma, there were like 10 chapters for RD and only about 3-4 chapters for R&S. I am sure I can updated once a week absolutely no problem. In the last year I have written/published about 650,000 words of fanfic across eight stories. In fact I have written so much this last year that sometimes my hands cramp up from too much typing. One of the many reasons why I have decided I need to slow the freak down. So far this writing ahead and only updating once a week feels like a vacation! I have been playing video games again and actually spending time with my friends. Such a concept! LOL. When I say writing has taken over my life this last year I am really not exaggerating. :)

Please review! Honestly they make my day.


Sneak Peek chapter 60 (To be published July 12)

"Are you skipping for me, Alexander?" Magnus mused as he wrapped his arms around his boyfriend from behind. Alec was standing in front of the stove, but Clary could still see them from where she sat at the dining room table.

"Class was cancelled," Alec explained, then adding in a teasing voice. "Just because I love you doesn't mean I'd skip class for you."

"Is that so," Magnus teased back. "Well then maybe I should find someone else to love." The tone of their voice was so loving as to make their words comical. "Someone who would skip class for me." Alec laughed, then turned in his boyfriend's arms and planted a possessive kiss on Magnus's mouth. Sometimes when Clary watched Magnus and Alec together, she wondered what it would be like to love someone who didn't have such a promiscuous past as Jace. Sure, Magnus had more experience dating than Alec, but it wasn't like he'd gotten lucky with a different girl every weekend for years. When Clary heard them say they loved each other, she couldn't help but wonder if Jace loved her.