HEHEHE I LOVE LEAVING YOU GUYS ON CLIFFHANGERS!

ooppsss ahahah ok sorry I'm rly caffeinated rn

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Valentine didn't come home that night, and he wasn't there in the morning.

What?

Something was up. Clary thought. about the events that happened last night. Isabelle apologized, her brother was back in her life, and her dad was missing.

She remembered Alec telling her Isabelle and Jace were making a plan that involved hurting her. But last night, Isabelle truly was broken. She had to believe Isabelle on this one.

She got up, and got ready for school, opting to wear grey skinny jeans and a t-shirt that said city chic. Clary finished the look by throwing a hoodie on, and before she left she put Valentine's breakfast in the microwave, just in case he came back.

As Clary was getting on her bike, Valentine's car pulled up into the driveway. She didn't waste a minute, and she pedaled to school like her life depended on it.

He could hurt her when she came home, but going to school was a different story.

Isabelle was standing near Clary's locker, and Clary couldn't help but feel some weight being lifted off of her chest. She finally faced one of her bullies, and now, they could hopefully be friends.

Friend. The word was almost foreign to Clary, but she welcomed it.

"Clary!" beamed Izzy. "Hi!"

Clary felt uncomfortable. She wasn't much of a people person. "Erm..hi Isabelle, wh-"

Isabelle sighed exasperatedly. "Please, call me Izzy."

They smiled at each other, and they had some small talk. THey agreed to sit with each other during lunch, and maybe get to know each other more. Once Izzy left, someone stepped in front of Lary.

She looked up and saw Jace.

Fuck.

Clary was annoyed, but to tired to deal with him. "What do you want Jace, I'm going to be late for class."

Jace smirked at her. "Might I remind you we have first period together? Anyways...I just wanted to...talk." Jace became more serious. I wanted to thank you, for being kind to Max. He doesn't really have a lot of people to talk to, and you make him feel special. Thanks for that."

Clary was speechless, so she nodded and rushed off to class, not bothering to look back at Jace.

English was the same as it usually was, but Jace was like a whole new person. He wasn't a complete asshole to her, and he had some good insight on Hamlet. He hadn't insulted her for a while, which Clary found awfully suspicious. Occasionally, Clary would see Simon staring at them from the corner of his eye, and he looked sad.

Clary remembered a book she had read when she was a freshman, To Kill a Mockingbird. (I do not own TKAM and if you haven't read the book it really is amazing! Go read it!") She remembered a certain line in it, one that the great Atticus Finch had said.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

Clary thought about it. She imagined herself being Simon. How would she feel if the person she loved for years turned her down? She could see where Simon was coming from, but that was no excuse.

Shew knew it would take time to forgive him, but it wasn't impossible.

When lunch rolled around, Izzy and Clary got more comfortable with each other. Both of them sat underneath a tree, and the place gave them some privacy to talk. They talked about everything, from their favorite books, movies, types of people, etc. Clary didn't mention her family when Izzy brought it up, and Isabelle respected that she didn't want to talk about it.

But of course, some people never change, and soon enough, Aline, Sebastian, Seelie and Jace were walking towards her. Isabelle told Clary she hated the bitch squad, and she flat out told them she hated them.

"Hey ginger bitch!" shrieked Aline. "I can't believe you think Isabelle is your friend! I mean, nobody would care about some loser who does nothing with her sorry life, am I right?"

Isabelle looked at Aline sharply, her eyes holding hatred within them. "Look her bitch, lets get this straight. You're a good for nothing slut, who's trying to get Jace when he doesn't give a damn about you. Go find another person to fuck with Aline, because I can make your life a living hell. You wouldn't want me to...out the spiel about HB would ya?"

Aline visibly paled when she heard HB. What did that mean?

Aline stalked off, and Sebastian and Seelie followed. For some reason, Jace stayed, and walked towards them.

He cleared his throat. "Isabelle, was that necessary? I mean, she is right. You just became..acquainted.. with Clary, and ditching your real friends is harsh even by your standards. Think about it would ya?"

Clary was embarassed. He was right. She knew her face was probably red, and she tentaively looked at Isabelle.

Izzy's face held nothing but rage. "Listen here Jace Lightwood," she snarled. "Those bitches aren't friends. They used you and me. They wanted to get in your pants, and you let them. You're a man whore Jace, and I for one am sick of it. You have a new girl in your bed every week, and after one night wiith them, you throw them away like they're NOTHING. Y-You just INFURIATE ME! Why do you do this! Why do you just assume Clary is a fake friend or some bullshit! I want to get to know her because in the short time I've REALLY talked to her, I know she's selfless and kind. She doesn't deserve your verbal fucking abuse, and Jace, unless you realize what you've done..I refuse to accept you as a brother."

Jace blinked a couple times, letting her words seep in. He looked deeply hurt for a second, but he covered up his emotions quickly. He looked at Isabelle blankly, and then turned around, walking back to his group.

Clary made note to ask Izzy about HB, but for no, they continued talking, as if nothing had happened.

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