Being stuck in the same class for an hour and a half with Sebastian was terrible enough. Add Jace to that mix, and it was way worse. Like, way, way worse. If it wasn't one, it was the other, and a few times it was both, just sitting there staring at me, instead of doing their work. Although, I do have to give credit to them both for their creativity, at times.

Sebastian would shift one way or the other in his seat, and adjust his phone to just the right angle, all so he could see my reflection on its screen. He even used his camera by turning it to forward facing. And when I would catch him, he wouldn't even try to play it off. Instead, he'd smirk and wink at me, or blow me a kiss. But none of that really surprised me, since he's been doing it off and on all year long. The whole using his phone thing though, that was new; at least as far as I know.

Jace used his phone, too. He would turn it on its side, and watch me through the camera. I know this because he accidentally dropped it when I flipped him off, and the camera was pulled up. There was even a couple of times where he had turned his head away from me and propped it up on his left hand, but when I looked over, I caught his camera on forward facing; an image of him and myself on the screen. - It made me think that we looked perfect together, but I quickly shook the thought away. - And I'm not really sure, but I think he may have even taken a picture at one point because I heard the same sound that mine makes when I snap one. But to be fair, before that happened, I did tell him to take a picture it last longer; I just didn't mean literally.

The both of them would also turn sideways in their chairs, being less inconspicuous. Jace did occasionally try to hide his by using his book. And Sebastian even did the whole stretch behind your back routine to catch a glimpse, which got annoying fast, because his big hands would end up coming really close to touching my face, and if I hadn't moved they would have; I'm sure it was on purpose too.

I swear the two of them were like big kids trying to outdo the other by seeing who could get my attention first. They would make grunts, and groans, and some other noises as well, just to get me to look up at them; so of course, I started to ignore their sounds altogether. But before I did, there was a couple of times that I thought they were about to fight. Jace would clear his throat, and I'd look up to see the two giving each other the most dirtiest looks I've ever seen, and their fists would be balled up. Those were the times that I'd think... Here goes world war clash of the egos.

That's why when the bell, signaling the end of class and time for lunch, finally went off, I was so happy that I nearly danced out of the classroom. And I would have if I could've done it as I sprinted around the desks and out the room. I had to get away from all the craziness. I mean, neither of them is my boyfriend, nor am I interested in them, yet they seem to want to fight each other over me.

So what would be their prize if they did? Busted lips? Black eyes? Maybe even broken bones? Only the angel knows. But I know, it sure as hell isn't going to be me! I'm nobody's prize!

Anyway, thanks to all of the shit that was happening in class, I now have homework. Good thing that I don't have a real type of course after lunch, and have study hall last period, so I should be able to get it done before I go home.

"Clary," I hear a slightly winded voice call out as I walk up the stairs, heading to my locker on the third floor. "Wait!"

I stop at the landing of the second floor, instead of starting up the next set of stairs, and turn around to see the crowd of bodies in the stairwell and an arm in the air as it tries making its way up the stairs. It pushes over to its right, against the railing, and reveals... Aline. Her short legs trying to take the crowded stairs two at a time, as her short, straight, dark black hair bounces against her curved cheekbones, and her round almond-shaped eyes look eager, as if she has something that she needs to say and if she doesn't get it out now, she may just implode. - I swear the resemblance between her and her mother is uncanny.

She's a little over halfway to me when, out of nowhere, somebody grabs my left arm and jerks me around the corner of the wall. Who in the FUCK thinks that they can touch me like this?! I think as I turn to look at them with my heart racing from the suddenness of it all. I release an audible breath, one that I hadn't even realized I was holding, when I see that it's Izzy; who's peeking around the corner, over at the area she just pulled me from.

Izzy finally looks at me, a mixture of emotions running across her face. "We've got to get you out of here. Come on, we'll take one of the other sets of stairs," she says, starting to drag me down the hall, to the right of where we just stood.

"What is going on, Iz?"

"I don't want you to get kicked out of school."

"Kicked out of school?" I ask, completely confused at this point and I know it shows on my face, as well as in my voice. "For what?"

"For getting into a fight with the principal's daughter," she replies as we hang a left, going down another corridor.

I stop dead in my tracks, damn near having my arm yanked off by her as I do. "What are you talking about? Why would I be fighting with Aline? I don't even talk to her, anymore."

"She thinks you're the reason Sebastian got his ass handed to him," she explains, turning around to face me. "Which is.." she stops. "Just come on," she pleads.

"I'm not scared of her," I assure her, shaking my head slightly and my face scrunched up. I'm not even worried about what she was going to say, because after all, we both know he fell into the wall outside of our place and that, that was my fault.

"I know, and that's why we need to get you out of here," she says dramatically, using her hands to emphasize her words.

"Alright," I breathe out while rolling my eyes. "Fine. Let's go."

"So," Izzy says as we lay our jackets in the chair to my left and take our seats at our outside table. "Don't get mad, but," she hesitates slightly, "I invited Jace to come out to eat with us."

I jerk my head up and look at her with my eyebrows raised. She has got to be kidding me. This had better not be a setup. But before I can tell her as much, she seems to read my mind.

"It's not like that. He just doesn't know anybody else at the school, so I couldn't just let him eat lunch by himself."

"He would've found himself some groupies," I assure her. "And, he knows Seelie," I say her name in disgust.

"He hasn't talked to her, since last Halloween, and he's not looking for any groupies," she states knowingly, then shrugs. "Besides, he's family."

"That better be the only reason," I mumble, then suddenly feel eyes on me once again.

I glance around the dining area, inside and out, and the street. To be honest, I'm half expecting to find Jace somewhere, staring, but I don't see him anywhere. Not again, I think to myself.

"What can I get you ladies to drink?" asks our waiter as he comes to a stop beside me. I only catch a glimpse of him from the corner of my eye.

"Pepsi," I say simply, still skimming the area.

"I'll have the same," Izzy says, sounding occupied by something else.

"I'll have them right out," the waiter says, and I can tell by his voice that he is walking away as he does.

I feel a hand wrap around my left wrist, and I jump, my chair making a horrible skidding noise as it slides across the concrete while balling up my right hand into a tight fist.

"What's wrong?" Izzy asks as I turn to see who's hand it could be. "It's just me."

I stare at her long, perfectly manicured, red fingernails and shake my head slightly while releasing my fist. This is getting old quick! But, if I'm honest with myself, that phone call really added to the unease I was feeling last night. I mean, come on, they knew what I was wearing for crying out loud; and that alone is enough to make anybody jumpy.

"It's nothing," I say looking up at her, and giving her the best fake reassuring smile I possibly can.

"No, it's not," she says with certainty, her eyebrows raised at me. She slides her hand down and over mine, and squeezes firmly. "You feel it again, don't you?"

I merely nod yes, and watch as her expression changes into one of worry.

"Clary, you really need to go to the police-"

"Why?" an all to familiar voice asks worriedly, cutting her off.

I turn my head to my right and look up. "What are you doing here, Alec? Aren't you suppose to be at school?"

"I was," he answers. "I just came to pick up an order for mom, Magnus, and me. But don't try to change the subject, Clary. What do you need to go to the police for?"

Uh oh, he doesn't look happy. His usually pale skin has a reddish tint to it, and his blue eyes look hardened, like glass, as if he is about to kill somebody if he needs to.

I take a deep breath through my nose and release it slowly out my mouth, and while I do, Alec sits down in the empty chair to my right. He pushes his hair back out of his face with his right hand and looks at me earnestly.

"I'm waiting," he says impatiently, staring into my eyes.

"Okay, keep your shirt on," I say jokingly, trying to lighten the tension up some; but it doesn't work. "Last night, when we took Max trick-or-treating, I felt like I was being watched. Minus the time we were in the haunted house. Then early this morning, I got a phone call. They knew what I was wearing, Alec," I say, my voice cracking ever so slightly; but it's enough for me to notice. I clear my throat and start again. "They said that Jace was at home in bed, so he couldn't help me this time. - As if I needed his help. - They wouldn't tell me who they were. Where they were. Or what they wanted. But said I'd find all that out when they were ready for me to know. And now I feel eyes on me again, but I can't find who it is."

Never taking his eyes off of me, he slaps the tabletop hard with both hands, stands up, and asks, "You feel the eyes on you right now?!"

I nod very slightly.

"I still think it could've been Sebastian," Izzy quickly chimes in. No, Izzy! Why?!

"I'll fucking kill him where he stands!" Alec snarls rather loudly, and I sink back in my chair.

It's probably safe to say that everybody is staring at us, but that doesn't bother me. What bothers me is that Izzy knows how much Alec hates Sebastian, and she just had to tell him that. Here. Right now. She couldn't wait until we were in the privacy of our place, where we could semi-control the outcome of the news.

"Oh, just wait until she tells you what happened between them last night. After Jace dropped her off, but before the phone call."

"Izzy!" I say sternly. Why can't she just leave well enough alone? Why must she pour fuel, on an already burning fire? Why?!

"What?" she asks incredulously and looking at me like I'm crazy. "You were going to tell him anyway."

"Yeah, but not right now, and not right here."

"No, you're going to tell me now," Alec demands, and I close my eyes as I roll my head back; resting it on the back of the chair.

"Alec, can we please not do this here?" I ask exasperated.

He replies with a firm, yet simple, "No."

"I didn't think so," I sigh, sitting back up and opening my eyes to look at him. He is as red as a tomato now. "Long story short, he was waiting for me to get home. He kissed me, I kissed him back, but I quickly came to my senses and tried to get him to stop, but he didn't want to. He thought he was going to get lucky, apparently even if he had to take it. But I remembered something Jon told me and was able to get away-"

"He had her pinned between him and the wall," Izzy interrupts me, and I quickly give her a dirty look. Again, why?

I then look back to Alec, who's sucking on his top teeth, and I swear, it seems like he no longer has skin and it's just blood holding his body together.

"Yes, but I used his weight against him and made him crash into the wall with his face. Then I kicked him in the gut, threatened him not to come around the apartment ever again, and went inside." I stand up and say, "I'm okay, see," and start to do a slow twirl with my hands up by my head, my palms facing the sky. When I finish a full circle, he is shaking his head fiercely, so I put my hands on top of his and sit back down. "Alec?"

"I'm alright," he says, but his tone sure doesn't prove it. He looks down at me, "I'm okay if you're okay. You're sure you're okay?"

"I'm sure."

"Good." He leans down, bringing his face inches away from mine. "But I'm going to kill him," he says completely emotionless, and I know that means only one thing.

"Please, please, please, Alec. Don't do something stupid," I beg him. "I don't want to come to visit you with a sheet of plexiglass between us."

He smirks. "Who says that I'm going to get caught?"

Jace

When I get to the restaurant that Izzy told me to meet her and Clary at, I find them at one of the outside tables, and to my surprise, Alec is with them. Izzy never mentioned him being here, and I know he has class, so what is he doing here?

Then I notice that Izzy looks nervous and worried, while she keeps looking between Clary and Alec; so I take a better look at the two. Alec is staring at Clary with a pissed off look on his face like he is about to murder somebody. Clary has her back to me, so all I can really make out of her is that she no longer wears her jacket, - Which reveals to me a lot of her lightly freckled skin around the one inch wide straps of her shirt. - her fiery hair has been braided to the right, - I suppose she did that on the way here because it was still down when class let out. - and is draped over her shoulder, but the direction her head is facing makes me assume that she is staring back at him.

What the hell is going on? Is he ready to hurt her? Or somebody else because of her? I don't have a clue. But either way, I know I need to get over there fast, so I quicken my pace.

As I near the table, I can hear and feel that there is an eerie silence between the three of them, so I open my mouth to ask what is going on, when Izzy looks up at me and shakes her head. The look on her face warning me not to say anything. I hesitantly do as she wants, and walk over to Clary's left. Izzy removes the two black leather jackets from the chair, and I sit down.

"What's going on?" I mouth to her.

"Long story," she mouths back, then looks back to the two and clears her throat. "Jace is here, guys," she says softly, but the two don't bother to look away from each other.

From this angle and proximity, I can see that Clary's face is as red as her hair, and her left, emerald green eye with its tiny flecks of gold, looks challenging with tears welled up in it, threatening to spill over. Seriously, what is going on? What could these two possibly be trying to stare the other one down about?

I'm so confused. Wasn't Alec the one threatening to cause me bodily harm if I hurt her last night? I'm pretty sure he was. But now he looks like he is going to be the one to hurt her. And by the angel, if he tries, I'm going to have to take him down. Family or not!.

"Hello," Izzy says, waving her right arm and hand in-between the two of them. "Earth to Alec and Clary."

This time Izzy gets a reaction out of them. Alec budging first, looking over at her. Then a second later, Clary casually picks up her drink, and while putting the straw in her mouth, she looks off further to her right; giving me a view of the back of her head once again.

"Okayyy," I drag out cautiously. "Does somebody want to fill me in on what's going on here?"

"Just family stuff," Alec replies shortly, sounding pissed off, as he looks at me.

"Hey," I say incredulously, leaning forward. "I'm family too," I remind him, using both my hands to point at myself with my fingers; my thumbs sticking out to the sides.

"True, but-"

"It doesn't concern you," Clary snaps fiercely, never even glancing at me and cutting Alec off. "So don't worry about it."

"Fine, I won't," I retort, but it's not true, not by a long shot. If it concerns her, it concerns me, whether she knows it or not. And I'm not going to stop worrying about it, not until I know what it is; and even then it will still be highly unlikely that I quit. I mean, come on, I've been worrying about her every day since the night I first laid eyes on her over a year ago; so it's not like I can just stop because she tells me to.

"Good," she says decisively. There's not even the hint of remorse, or it possibly being a lie, outlined in her tone.

I lean back against the chair I'm sitting in, and even though it's tearing me up inside, I firmly say, "Good."

Clary

I didn't feel bad about snapping at Jace, at least not really. I mean, deep down I did, because it wasn't his fault I was mad, but I didn't because he should stay the hell out of things that don't concern him; and I. Don't. Concern. Him. Nothing that involves me concerns him. So he should just mind his own damn business, and leave me alone.

Which I think he has finally got the point of, because ever since, we've been just sitting here, not saying a word to the other. True, it's only been a minute or so, but still.

Alec stands up, and breaks the silence, "I better get going, my order is probably ready." He looks down at me. "Can I talk to you for a minute before I go?" he asks, tilting his head to his left slightly; telling me that he doesn't want to do it at the table.

"Yeah," I answer simply, uncrossing my arms from over my chest. I go to put my hands on the front part of the seat to pull myself up, but Alec stretches out his right hand, offering to help me, and even though I'm mad at him, I take it anyway.

When I get to my feet, he doesn't let my left hand go. Instead, he starts leading me around the other tables and chairs that are occupied, over to an empty table by one of the temporary dividers, where he stops abruptly and causes me to crash into him.

"Clary," he says turning around to face me. He looks down at me; and not because that's what he thinks of me, but because I'm just so short even with heels on. "I need you to do me a favor."

"What kind of favor?" I ask, slightly confused and my eyebrows raised. I thought he wanted to argue about going after Sebastian some more.

"I want you," he shakes his head, "no, I need you, to stay with Izzy, or Jace, at all times." I open my mouth to interject, but I don't get the chance. "Unless you're with me."

"I can't do that."

"Why not? Is this because you don't want to be around Jace?"

"How did you.." I start, my eyebrows drawn inwards, then stop, putting my hands out in front of me, my palms facing towards him, and shake my head as I say, "Never mind, that's not important." He looks at me intrigued; his right eyebrow raised, his chin drawn in towards his chest, and a hint of a smile playing at the right corner of his lips. "Not like that," I sigh, rolling my eyes. "It just has nothing to do with why. I can't because Izzy isn't in my next two classes, and even though I could care less, I don't know what classes he has after lunch."

"Well," he says, draping his right arm over my shoulders. "Then, try to stay around people that I would trust to be around you."

"Well, that list is short," I chuckle. "So I guess I should just go home."

"Ha, ha, smartass," he says, amusement in his voice. We start making our way back towards the table where Izzy and Jace sit. "Just be careful. I promised Jon..." his voice cracks at the mention of Jon and he trails off there, leaving his promise hanging in the air.

"I know," I acknowledge sadly, wrapping my left arm around his waist; trying to comfort him. "And I will."

"Do me another favor?"

"What's that?"

He places a kiss against the top of my head. "Cut Jace some slack. He's not as bad as you think."

"Not happening," I mumble.

He chuckles. "I didn't think you would but try. For me."

I cut my eyes over and up at him, that's kind of what Jon said in my dream. He said that I have got to quit thinking that everybody is going to end up hurting me and start letting people in. And that I had to do it for him because he wants to see me happy again.

What the heck is going on? First Izzy, then dream Jon, and now Alec. Who's next? Max? Maryse?

He looks down at me, his blue eyes looking sad, and gives me a small smile. "You know, you can't keep that wall of yours up forever, and I don't think he'll hurt you."

"You don't know that," I say looking away from him and back in front of us.

"You're right," he sighs. "I don't, but I do have a pretty good feeling that he won't."

I release an audible breath. "I don't think I want to take the chance of getting hurt over a pretty good feeling that you have."

He stops abruptly, and my right leg goes higher up into the air, instead of going down to the ground, causing me to fall back into his side. I quickly gather my balance and turn to look at him, and just as I'm about to ask what that was all about, he puts his hands on my cheeks, stopping me. He leans down some and looks me straight in the eyes.

"Even if I told you that I knew for certain that he wouldn't, it still wouldn't do any good. Which to be honest, I don't know for a fact that he won't. So I'm not going to tell you that, Clary. But, I am going to tell you that you will never know until you at least try to get to know him. Keep your wall up, that's smart. But you at least owe it to yourself to see if he can help you break down that wall that you've built."

I stare at him, my eyes wide from shock. He's telling me to keep my wall up but to try still. In the past he never told me to keep it up, he wanted me to take it down altogether; so this is something new. But why would he say that? And why now?

"And don't think that I don't know about you telling him part of what happened between you and Valentine. That alone should tell you something about him is different for you."

"That was an accident," I mutter.

"I don't think it was," he says dropping his hands from my face. "I saw you with him last night, there's some sort of connection between you two. I can feel it."

"Whatever," I scoff, rolling my eyes and shaking my head. Like he can feel something that I can't. "And you just saw what you wanted to see."

He grins at me knowingly. "You just keep telling yourself that, Clary. Just keep telling yourself that."

"Oh, shut up," I laugh, and lightly hit him in his stomach with the back of my right hand. "Don't you need to be getting your order and getting back to school?"

"Yeah." He looks at his watch, which he keeps on his left wrist. "And you guys will need to be getting back shortly too."

We start to walk back to the table again. "Just remember to be careful, and try not to be by yourself. I don't want whoever this is, to have an opportunity to snatch you up. Because the first person I'll track down is Sebastian; not saying that I'm not going to anyway."

"Oh, please," I plead with him as we approach the table. "Not this again. Just leave it alone."

"No promises."

"Then I can't make any either," I say somberly.

"Okay, fine," he huffs, as we come to a stop at the table. "You win."

I smile up at him and smugly say, "I usually do."

When it comes to Alec, Izzy and I always win. Sure, at times, it might take some time to wear him down, but I think that's because he doesn't want to seem like a pushover, so he likes to put up a fight. But in the end, we win! What can I say, Izzy, Max, and myself are his weakness; just like Alec, Max, and Izzy are mine.

"But only for now, though," he smirks, then looks over at Izzy and Jace. "I'll see you guys later," he tilts his head slightly to his right, over at me, "and keep an eye on this one for me."

I literally growl at him, as if I were a dog, and he laughs. "Alec, go away," I say through clenched teeth.

I really wish that he'd quit acting like I'm helpless - when he knows that I'm not - and being so over-protective over me; because he just gave Jace a reason to stare at me.

"Alright, alright," he laughs putting his hands up in the air in surrender as he takes a step back from me and the table. "I'm out of here. I'll see you guys later."

"See you later," Jace says as Izzy says, "Later," and I simply say, "Bye."

And with the wave of his hand, Alec walks off; making his way around some more tables, and entering the building.

I sit down in the chair Alec was sitting in earlier, picking up my drink as I do, just as our waiter starts setting down plates. Two sausage rigatoni and one baked ziti. I deeply inhale their aroma, and as usual, the food smells delicious.

"Enjoy," he says walking away. I don't know who this new guy is, but he needs to get himself some people skills if he plans on lasting here. Ragnor Fell won't tolerate losing money because this guy provides crappy service.

"I took the liberty of ordering for you," Izzy says, sliding a plate of the rigatoni in front of me. "I know it's one of your favorites."

"Mine too," Jace says under his breath, grabbing the other plate.

"Thanks," I tell her cutting my eyes over at Jace. Why is he talking so low? That doesn't seem to be his style. Has he finally got the hint that I don't care to get to know him?

Izzy slides the plate of ziti in front of her, and her and Jace start eating. I sit back in my chair, bringing a bite to my mouth, and watch Jace as he delivers another bite to his own. And even though I can feel eyes on me, I'm not worried about who it could be at the moment. I'm too distracted to care, for now.

Jace's long lashes flutter and I notice that his left eye looks lightly bruised, his angular cheekbone has a faint bruise, and upon looking at his narrow mouth as he inserts his fork, that the left side of his bottom lip is cracked. What in the hell happened to him? And why didn't I notice these things earlier in class?

Wait, I say to myself, shaking my head and blinking hard, then I look down at my own plate. Why am I worried about it? It's not my problem.

I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. What did you think? Let me know.

Yay! I'm so happy that you didn't have to wait to long for this update. And I hope to have another up soon, as well. I've been rereading this story, so I could get a feel for it again, and discovered that I have all the way to chapter 10 written. The other chapters probably need some retouching though. Then hopefully, I'll be able to work on more. Fingers and toes crossed.

Also, my girl -Mrs Jace Wayland-Herondale- and I have gotten back to work on SR 2. We should have a chapter up for it soon. Yay!

With that all said, High School Sweethearts 3 will have to wait a bit longer; even though I do have chapters for it on my computer. I'll need to reread through the whole thing.

Anyhow, don't forget to review, like, follow, and favorite. And thank you to all of you that have been so patient with me, and are still reading. It really means a lot. Mwah! My fabulous people!