Disclaimer: I do not own the Mortal Instruments series or its characters.
Clary played with the code on her locker, okay so Jace said press zero twice before typing the code, right 15, left 23, right 35. It didn't work. Clary took a deep breath and tried again, right, left right. Or was it left, right, left?
"Need some help?" Clary removed her eyes from the lock as a female voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Yes, please?" Clary said as she moved back and let Izzy open her lock which opened on her first try. Clary licked her lips a bit annoyed, she thanked Izzy as she put her bag in and took only two books with her.
Add that to the list of things that apparently everyone besides her knows how to do. Right after raising one eyebrow.
She closed the locker and walked with Izzy to class and Izzy immediately started talking, "So since you are going to the game with us and the party after it, the girls and I were thinking of going shopping, do you want to come with?"
Clary lightly scratched the spot behind her ear then pulled a few hair strands back behind her ear as she weighed it over and finally decided on "Yes, but in any case I do need a massive shopping spree, winter clothes. But don't worry I'm not fussy over clothes so I won't bother you and the girls much".
"What? No! Bother me, I am definitely fussy over my clothes and I would love to help update your wardrobe" Izzy said with a hint of excitement.
"It's nothing really just picking out a few sweaters and-"
"Clary, you need to, uumm how do I say this delicately?" Izzy wondered, snapping her fingers as she looked for the words.
"You're not delicate" Maia said as she caught up to the two girls.
"You're right. Clary your clothes are boring, you need my help" Izzy decided on the words, "You can't just put on a sweater and call it 'Winter wear' ".
Clary almost chuckled, "I don't call it that, I just call it 'wear' ".
"Ah" Izzy clutched her chest over dramatically, feigning hurt, "It's worse than I thought, you need my help ASAP".
Maia rolled her eyes, "You're ridiculous".
"Maybe" Izzy shrugged then turned back at Clary with a pleading expression, "But I am right. So what do you say? Shopping spree today after school? It's a short day, we'll all go and you'll let me choose you a new wardrobe?"
Clary looked at Isabelle's expression and she wondered if she really had any choice in the matter, Maia whispered in her ear "It's no use fighting it. Just play dead, it'll be over before you know it".
Clary chuckled then finally nodded and rolled her eyes as Izzy cheered slightly and clapped her hands excitedly. "Maia?"
"Yeah sure why not?" Maia just shrugged, "I'll talk to Aline about it, she's in my class now".
"You don't have Mr Starkweather with us?" Clary asked unsure. She couldn't remember if the two girls were in the class as well, she just knew her, Izzy, Jace and Kaelie were in that class.
Maia shook her head, "Math with Madam Dorothea".
Clary scrunched up her nose, "I have her for third class, principal said I had to apologize to her but I am thinking of just blowing it off".
"Why would you need to apologize?" Maia asked.
"Remember the fight I had with a teacher?" Clary asked and Maia nodded muttering an 'oh', Clary just rolled her eyes, "I swear I feel like a trouble magnet, everywhere I go".
"Now who's being ridiculous" Izzy said rolling her eyes, "It's just a bad day". It's just my entire life. Clary thought with grim sarcasm.
"So do you have a ride or should I text my mom and ask her to drive us?" Clary asked Izzy.
Izzy shook her head, "No need, I've got our ride".
"Okay cool" Clary said as she took her phone out and texted her mom to not pick her up today since she will be shopping with the girls, Maia waved them off as they reached a turn, saying they'll meet at lunch and Clary and Izzy walked into class, taking their usual seat at the back.
Her phone buzzed with a message from her mom: Okay sweetie, you have my credit card right?
Clary thought of her mom's credit card she kept with her on all times since that time when she was 15 and Valentine almost caught up to them and she needed to buy a train ticket to meet her mom at the airport but didn't have enough money so her mom had to drive to her first and then leave which was a time Valentine came too close to them.
Luke had suggested the idea that she keep a credit card on her at all times in case they ever run into that situation again, so instead of losing precious time they would be better prepared.
Clary responded quickly: Yup. Don't worry.
A few moments later someone sat on the table in front of them, Clary looked up and saw Jace.
"Morning, guys" Jace said, Clary took a breath and instantly regretted it as she caught a strong sent of Jace instantly taking over her senses and she had to pinch her leg to focus on something else.
"Hey" Both her and Izzy said, "Any luck getting Max to school?"
Jace shook his head, "No, he didn't budge. I could have just carried him over my shoulder and took him anyways but this is the first time he's ever not wanted to go to school, I was worried. Lily is in the house watching over him".
"Maybe I'll ask him when I get home or maybe tomorrow he'll be back to normal" Izzy said.
Clary hadn't meant to pry but they were talking right in front of her and if they were really trying to hide the subject, Izzy wouldn't have brought it up in the first place she figured so she asked "Who's Max?"
"Little brother, 10 years old, big glasses, kinda nerdy, faked being sick this morning to get out of school" Isabelle explained and Clary nodded.
"Don't all kids try that one time or another?" Clary questioned.
Jace shook his head, "Not Max, he loves school. He never once complained about anything".
"But this morning he tried to fool us with the stupidest trick in the book" Izzy said with a roll of her eyes.
"It's not a stupid trick" Jace argued.
"You're just saying that because you taught him it" Izzy argued back, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning back in her chair.
"Exactly, when has any idea of mine ever been stupid?" Jace said with a smirk.
Izzy raised one perfect eyebrow, "You want that list alphabetically or chronologically?"
Jace chuckled, "Never mind then".
"So what did he do?" Clary asked.
"He got a thermometer, faked the temperature on it and tried pretending to be sick but instead of asking to skip school he would pretend to want to soldier through it and insist he go to school so we'd tell him there is no chance he's going to school that sick" Izzy explained.
"Smart kid" Clary commented hiding a chuckle, reverse psychology at ten? What a kid.
"Not smart enough" Izzy said annoyed, her eyes narrowing, "Mr brilliant over here told him to put the thermometer in something hot-"
"I said warm not hot" Jace argued then looked at Clary hiding a chuckle, "Max put it in hot water so it reached 110".
Clary chuckled snapping her fingers as in disappointment, "So close".
"I don't know why he is acting like this, it's not like him" Izzy commented in a low tone as if speaking to herself more than them and at that moment walked to them none other than Kaelie herself.
"Jace are we going to talk about this?" Kaelie asked.
Jace sighed, "No Kaelie, there is nothing to talk about, you are not my girlfriend."
"But Jacey-" she started in an almost desperate tone looking at him with pleading eyes.
"Kaelie I told you from the start this wan't a relationship and now it's over, there is nothing to discuss" Jace said. Kaelie looked from Jace to Clary and her eyes narrowed, the pleading in them before turned to anger now "Is this because of her?"
"No" Clary answered quickly while Jace answered "Yes".
Clary turned to Jace, looking at him with wide disbelieving eyes and she wanted to hit him then, he had the audacity to even wink at her.
"I warned you" Kaelie adressed Clary with a threatening tone and students around them toned in to eavesdrop, not that they had to, Kaelie was making such a big scene, everyone was already hearing her yell. What did I do? All I asked for was no drama and maybe bigger boobs. And what do I get? DRAMA and no boobs.
"Don't put this on me" Clary said, trying not to stir the pot by commenting something like 'He probably got bored of you all on his own'.
"I really wanted us to be friends, Clary" When? "But then you go and steal my boyfriend".
"I didn't steal him, you can have him back" Clary almost yelled out as Jace said "I wasn't your boyfriend".
"But now you left me no choice Clary, just remember you brought this on yourself" Kaelie said and Clary narrowed her eyes at the familiar words Valentine always used to excuse his 'Disciplinary actions', I really don't want to do this Clarissa but you leave me no choice, you brought this on yourself I am just trying to help you.
Clary licked her lips as she slowly got out of her chair and said in such a low dark tone, "You think you can scare me? I don't want to be in any part of this teen drama but don't think for a second that that means I will roll over for you. Don't push your luck with me Kaelie".
At that moment walked in Mr Starkweather in a bit of a hurry, "Class, take your seats please, today we are starting The World War".
"Sir it already started over there" One kid sitting in the front said cheekily and a few students chuckled while Clary just sighed, she really doesn't want any part of this.
"Is there a problem students?" Mr Starkweather asked as Clary and Kaelie stared down for a moment before the latter turned back with an annoyed scowl on her face, as she muttered 'No problem'. Clary sat down and Jace swung his legs over the table and sat down next to Clary.
He immediately rested an arm over the back of her chair and leaned in whispering "It was hot seeing you fight over me".
"I was not fighting her over you" Clary said quickly, "And also.." she smacked his arm but to her disappointment he wasn't hurt and didn't even flinch back.
"What was that for?" Jace asked quietly.
"For saying you broke up with her because of me, don't drag me into this" Clary whispered annoyed.
"I just said it to get on her nerves and thought that if she thought I was already moving on she would back off" Jace said, rolling his eyes like it wasn't a big deal.
Clary was embarrassed and a little annoyed, "Clearly you were wrong".
"I wouldn't exactly say 'wrong' more like a 'still undecided' sort of thing, maybe she'll back off now that you fought her over me" Jace smirked charmingly as he leaned in.
"I was not fighting over you" Clary repeated with narrowed eyes, his infuriating smirk and cocky attitude angered her more.
"Ugh, stop flirting, I don't wanna throw up my breakfast" Izzy grumbled annoyed.
Clary went to shout I was not flirting when Jace chuckled outloud causing Mr Starkweather to yell at them to stop talking, stopping Clary from answering, she just rolled her eyes and tapped her foot trying to be more patient.
Well this day is off to a great start. Clary paid attention as Mr Starkweather started teaching World War I history, writing off important points since Mr Starkweather gives pop quizzes every once in awhile as she was told but the class went by quietly after that.
In science Clary was greeted by Raphael who had a grim expression as he saw, she sat down and he immediately started apologizing for yesterday, "I am so sorry chica. I should have stayed to help clean up".
"Oh no don't worry about it, I deserved it, you had nothing to do with that and plus I skipped almost half of Math class so trust me you were doing me a favor" Clary shrugged off his apology with a chuckle.
"Hopefully you don't enjoy it too much" Mr Rey commented as he stood in front of her desk and handed her and Raphael each a paper assignment, Clary made an almost sheepish expression but snorted when Mr Rey was out of ear shot.
Raphael smiled at that, "Well I do hope that making things explode is more of a once in awhile kind of thing and not a personal preference for every class?"
He was joking and Clary smiled, she couldn't help but think that Jace would have made a dirty joke about 'exploding' but she quickly shook that thought away and answered with sarcasm "Actually yeah, I just have to cause some sort of mayhem every class. Setting things on fire or something. I just have to".
"Well I suppose since you have to, there is nothing for me to do about it" Raphael sighed over dramatically, "I can live with that".
"Oh bless your soul" Clary said with a roll of her eyes and she heard the teacher clear his throat and glared at them slightly as he began to explain the purpose of their assignment.
She had managed not to blow anything up in science class and got early to Madam Dorothea's class and chose a seat far from Kaelie this time, hoping to achieve as minimal contact with that girl as possible.
I mean really, who has time for a cat fight anyways when they have Calculus homework that never ends.
And she had managed for the most part to avoid any confrontation despite Kaelie trying to trip her up when class ended and she walked by her but Clary got to her feet and headed towards the teacher, not even bothering with a glance at the girl.
"Madam Dorothea I'd just like to say that I am sorry for yesterday I was out of line" Clary let the words out with a slight disease, hoping to get this over with as fast as possible.
Madam Dorothea lowered her glasses slightly so that they rested at the edge of her nose, "Child, I appreciate the apology but you should really control your temper, Miss Fray".
"So I've been told" Clary nodded grimly. She had a short fuse, no one is perfect.
"I would suggest working on that, next time I have a problem with you, I'll suggest private sessions with the school counselor" Madam Dorothea warned and Clary simply nodded, not wanting to respond, knowing that if she did, she would only make things worse so she headed out to lunch, organizing her papers along the way and what homework she has.
She slipped them into her bag as she entered the cafeteria and immediately found Aline at the line to the food stance, waiting. She walked up to her and squeezed in line, only wanting to get a drink. She only got a FuzeTea as she started a conversation with Aline.
"Oh you have no idea how obsessed Izzy is with clothing, she will definitely take over the whole shopping spree" Aline said as she got her food.
"I've been warned it's better for my safety to just play dead" Clary joked and Aline snorted as the made their way through the students and Clary opened her bottle already taking a sip.
"You've been warned wisely" Aline said as they both found their seats at the end at the gang's usual table and immediately their conversation was silenced at the loud yells from the table.
"I can't believe you would say that, I can't even look at you right now" Jace's voice was loud and clear and Clary looked up to see he was arguing with Alec.
"What did Alec do?" Maia asked as she sat down.
"Nothing" Alec complained.
"He betrayed me" Jace said.
Alec and Sebastian both rolled their eyes at Jace's overdramatic nature, "I only said Casablanca wasn't that great" Alec explained with a shrug, "He's acting like I kicked his puppy".
"You might as well have" Jace argued and it was Clary's turn to roll her eyes at him.
"Why is this so important?" Clary had to ask and Jace turned at her with narrowed eyes as if a warning and she backed off slightly.
"There is a screening for it next weekend in an all retro movie theater and it's one of my favorite movies so naturally I am excited like a sane person" Jace glared at Alec as he said the last part, "And he is just ruining my mood".
"All I said was-"
"I heard what you said, I don't want to hear it again" Jace held his hands up annoyed.
Clary held in a chuckle as she butted in, "You know they say Casablanca is one of those movies that the many times you watch it, it gets better and you have lots of time before next week so you can just let Alec watch it again and again until he likes it".
Jace's eyes lit up as Sebastian covered his mouth to keep from chuckling while Alec narrowed his eyes with evident disdain at Clary and questioned aloud "Who invited the mundane?"
Clary narrowed her eyes at the insult as she took a sip from her drink obviously annoyed, "Actually that sounds like such a good idea, Clary" Jace commented.
"Thank you" Clary said nodding her head as if exasperated.
"It sounds like a form of torture to me" Sebastian said.
"What does?" They heard Izzy ask as she took a seat next to Clary, her tray of food made a loud noise as she almost threw it at the table and munched on her food with obvious annoyance, she let her fork hit it a few times before digging it deep into the bowl.
"What you are doing to the food" Sebastian explained with a worried look, "Did it tell you your favorite movie wasn't great?"
Izzy looked at him with a glare and Sebastian panicked before smacked Alec on the arm and saying "What's the matter with you? Be more sensitive".
"You okay there, Iz?" Maia asked.
"Obviously I am fine, why do you ask that? Do I not look fine?" Izzy said with a slight temper and her words were a bit muffled by the food in her mouth and Maia held her hands up in surrender as she backed away.
"No you look obviously fine" Sebastian answered, he as well shifting back to the side further from Izzy and she nodded, not noticing as she glared at her food.
"I'm just gonna take a wild guess here and say something is bothering you?" Clary asked then ducked her head quickly before she could bite it off.
"Yes, how did you know?" Izzy asked her mood changing again from hostile to a lost puppy.
Clary hesitated for a second before answering, "I'm uh psychic".
Jace snorted by her side and she sent him a side eyed glare as Izzy started talking, "I broke up with Meliorn".
"Damn it" Alec muttered as he pulled out his wallet and landed twenty dollars in Jace's hand and soon the rest of the group did as well.
"Are you guys betting on when Meliorn and I would break up?" Izzy asked returning to her hostile phase.
"No obviously not, that would be wrong" Sebastian exclaimed sheepishly and Clary could tell he was lying but if Izzy noticed she didn't comment on it.
"Yeah, we bet on all her relationships" Jace whispered but Clary heard it, she held in her laugh as she looked back at Iz.
"So you were saying you and Meliorn broke up again?" Maia asked as Jace put the money in his wallet smirking up at Clary.
Again? Clary thought wondering how many times Izzy and Meliorn have broken up exactly.
"Yes, we were going at it again by the lockers-"
"Woaho, big brother here, don't want to hear about your sex life" Alec said covering his ears as he interrupted Izzy and Clary chuckled slightly. Izzy reached for him and took his hands away from his ears, "I meant fighting, dumbass".
"Oh" Alec said as he scratched the back of his head, Clary couldn't help but notice how carefree he was with the rest of the group, except for her. Even though she technically hasn't done him any wrong. She figured he wasn't someone who instantly connects with strangers. Or maybe because she caught him in the closet with Magnus. Who knows really?
"Yeah so I said 'Why are we even together? This is too hard' and then he said 'Well make this easier' and I said 'Fine, we're done that's a whole lot easier' and walked away and now he is throat deep inside Seelie's mouth" Izzy said pointing to the back where on one of the tables Meliorn was kissing Seelie.
Clary took notice of the two people kissing grossly, she noticed Kaelie was sitting at their table, but then the two stopped suddenly, getting up and walking out together, Jace snorted "Not yet but I'm guessing he's about to be".
"I said I don't want to hear about Izzy's sex life, doesn't mean I wanna hear about anyone else's" Alec glared at Jace.
Izzy looked back at Jace and punched his arm but he only chuckled at her, "Anyways, it's good we're going shopping today, I need some serious Retail therapy" Izzy said.
"Yeah the fifteenth breakup with the same guy must be emotionally devastating" Jace said under his breath and Izzy went to punch his arm again but he stopped her with a hand on her wrist as the others chuckled.
"Well I would suggest cheesy food and ice cream after a break up" Sebastian said and all gave him weird stares and he shrugged, "My French aunt says so".
They all turned back to Izzy who shrugged, "I'll be fine like I said, shopping, food, it can make anything better".
"You know what else can make you feel better?" Aline asked.
"Sex yeah I know but I really think-"
"Shut up" Alec looked freaked as Izzy talked about sex and Clary held in a snort as Alec went on, "No Izzy, sex will not solve anything".
"I don't know, she kinda has a point there" Jace argued and Alec glared at him.
"I actually was talking about books" Aline argued, "There is this new book I've been reading-"
She was interrupted by a loud unanimous snore as all the group except for Clary, leaned back and faked a snore. Jace leaned on Clary in doing so and she held in a breath, not expecting it. "You guys are jerks" Aline groaned and they all laughed as Jace lifted his head from Clary's shoulder, chuckling as he looked back at her.
She hoped her face wasn't red but she knew there would be no point in hoping, evident by the smirk on Jace's face who rested an arm over her shoulders and leaned in as he asked in a hushed tone "What's the matter, Clare? Having me so close gets you hot and bothered".
Clary panicked internally and played it off with a scuff as she stuttered, "N- No, your big head almost cut off my circulation, I couldn't breath for a moment".
"So what you're saying is I leave you breathless?" Jace smirked and Clary shook her head as she pushed his arm off.
"Shut up" Clary said.
"Yes, please shut up, mate. We are eating here" Sebastian said with narrowed eyes and Clary blushed harder at the unwanted attention from the group as Jace chuckled seeing her blush again. She hated that her cheeks flamed so easily.
The bell rang at that moment and Clary took another sip of her drink before getting up, turning around quickly, hoping to get out of this uncomfortable situation but she bumped into someone and the FuzeTea fell from hand accidentally pouring whatever remains of it on the person she bumped into.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to" Clary looked up quickly as she heard an echo of "You bitch you did that on purpose".
No, not Kaelie. How can her luck be so bad? "It was an accident".
"You lying bitch, no it wasn't. You walking catastrophe, that was so intentional" Kaelie argued, her tone rising with every second.
"It was an accident, Kaelie. Don't make a big deal out of this" Izzy said, coming to Clary's defense.
"You are such a bitch" Kaelie said annoyed at Clary.
"Don't you raise your voice at me" Clary warned. Two things Clary hated more than anything is getting yelled at and being told what to do.
"Now Kaelie, if she was a bitch she would have told everyone you peed your pants. Don't make a fuss, we're all adults here" Izzy argued and Kaelie just huffed at that, stomping her foot childishly (Proving Izzy wrong about the whole adult thing) and walking out dramatically.
"Maybe I am a walking catastrophe" Clary said annoyed.
"You just have bad luck, Clary" Sebastian said.
"I'd rub every rabbit's feet and collect every four leafed clover to stop it" Clary said.
"Maybe you were born under a ladder while a black cat dropped a salt shaker on a broken mirror or something" Jace suggested teasingly.
"On Friday the thirteenth" Aline added with a nod.
"So what you're saying is, it's pointless to resist?" Clary asked.
"We're saying you're screwed for life" Maia answered as the others chuckled. She's not wrong.
"We'll I'll see you after class, short day right?" Clary asked and the girls nodded.
"Wait Clary, don't you and Alec go the same way? Why don't you walk together to class?" Izzy suggested. Because I don't want to die.
"Because I don't want to" Alec answered without missing a beat and Clary almost glared. Well, isn't that just what every girl wants to hear?
Izzy, instead of being shocked or scolding just rolled her eyes as if his response doesn't shock her, "Just go already".
Alec glared at his sister before sighing dramatically, "Fine the little girl can come".
"My name is not little girl" Clary argued.
Alec looked at her unimpressed and said, "Fine, mundane, come with me".
Clary groaned, she liked little girl better. She walked with Alec in silence when she decided to try and break the ice, "So do you like music?"
"No" Alec said with a clipped tone.
"No? There is no such thing as a person who doesn't like music" Clary argued.
"Then why did you ask?" Alec shot back.
"I was making conversation" Clary crossed her arms over her chest defensive.
"Here's an idea: Don't" Alec said.
They reached her Art Class and Clary stopped him from walking away, wondered seriously, "Why don't you want to talk to me?"
"Because I don't like you" Alec answered.
"Why not?" Clary pestered, it's not like people hadn't liked her before, of course some people didn't like her but that would usually be for a reason like they don't like her easily angered smart mouthed nature but even then they weren't hostile against her, unlike Alec who she hadn't even done him any wrong.
"I just don't" Alec said.
Clary eyed the door for a moment before teasing and asking "So where did we land on music?"
Alec turned around and walked away from her without a single word, Yeah, she deserved that, she thought to herself as she entered Miss Camille's class. She found Magnus almost instantly, he was so vivid and vibrant and loud in comparison to the others, he smiled at her as he patted the seat next to him and she took it happily.
"Biscuit, how are you today?" Magnus asked.
"Just well, how about you?" Clary asked.
"Well to tell you the truth, it has been an overwhelming day to say the least" Magnus sighed.
"Want to talk about it?" Clary asked.
Magnus hesitated for a moment before shrugging "Family matters, it's complicated, I do not wish to bother you with it".
Clary nodded, "Well to tell you the truth it doesn't get more complicated than my family, so if you want to talk that wouldn't bother me at all but if you don't that's fine as well".
Magnus looked at her for a moment then sighed as he leaned closer, "I- I don't exactly have a family. My mother killed herself and my father abandoned me soon after so I live in a foster home and-"
"Oh my god, Magnus, I am so sorry" Clary said but Magnus waved her off.
"None, necessary, biscuit, anyways I will be turning 18 in a month and they cannot keep.. caring for me at that age and so I am looking for apartments which I don't have the money for or the other option would be to stay homeless and let me be clear I will not let all this be out on the streets unprotected." he gestured to his body with a smirk.
"I'm sorry, I wish there was something I could do" Clary said, "Do you have a job?"
"Yes I do, most of my money I have spent on clothes and glitter, which I do not regret one bit by the way, but the prospect of finding an apartment and being responsible for every part of my life is.."
"Scary?" Clary suggested.
"If I admit it, you won't tell a single soul, agreed?" Magnus asked and Clary nodded, Magnus nodded with a sigh "Terrifying. But in any case, I am sure I can work out a solution and I will be inviting you biscuit to my dazzling apartment in no time".
"Did you talk to Alec about it?" Clary asked, hoping he wouldn't think of her as if intruding.
He shook his head no but before he could explain why not, Miss Camille interrupted as she started explaining what they will be doing today. Clary gave Magnus a final look that screamed 'You should tell him'.
He sighed and gave off a wandering look almost as if to say 'We'll see'.
A/N: Hey guys I would love it if you wrote a Review and told me what you guys think, what you like or dislike and thanks.
Also side note I hate ending chapters on a 'We'll see' or like 'Or so she thought' or stuff like that, and yet I do it anyways because that's who I am as a person.
A hypocrite.
Thanks for listening to my Ted Talk.
