CLARY POV.
"Clary honey, are you almost ready? Simon will be here soon!"
Clary groaned and rolled over in bed, hiding under her pile of pillows. Today was the first day of the school year and Clary had been looking forward to going back again, but the prospect of getting out of bed before seven in the morning was not appealing at all.
Grudgingly, Clary slid out of her double bed and trudged into the bathroom across the hall. She showered, thinking longingly of the sleep she was missing out on, then got dressed into the outfit Izzy had picked out the day before: A pair of pale blue skinny jeans and a loose green blouse, which Izzy said went perfectly with Clary's red hair and made her emerald green eyes "pop". Whatever that meant…
If it was up to Clary, she would go to school in yoga pants and an over-sized sweatshirt, but she was grateful nonetheless for her fashion savvy friend. Clary ran a brush through her damp carrot-orange curls, applied a touch of mascara and lip-gloss, and then grabbed her bag and art folder before she ran downstairs.
Jocelyn sat at the kitchen table with a piece of toast, in conversation with her boyfriend, Luke. Luke was like a Dad to Clary and had been living with them since he had confessed his undying love for Clary's mother about a year ago. Until then, Luke had still practically been part of the family but a family "friend". He had been friends with both Jocelyn and Valentine since high school. But they didn't talk about Valentine anymore.
"Morning Clary, want a juice?" At her confused expression Luke laughed.
"Only kidding, I wouldn't do that to you on your first day. Here's your coffee, kid." Luke said and handed over her well-used flask.
"Thanks Luke. I'll see you guys tonight."
"Have fun at school Clary! And say hi to Simon for me!" Jocelyn called after her as Clary tied on a pair of green converse and made her way to her best friends van.
It was a short drive to Alicante High and within ten minutes they had pulled into the school car park. Clary's phone buzzed, it was from Izzy:
We're all waiting at the usual place. Meet you there x ~Iz
"Usual place?" Simon asked.
"Usual place." Clary confirmed, sliding her phone back into place in her pocket. They headed towards the courtyard at the back of the school.
"We've changed our band name to 'The Gummy Bear Avalanche', by the way, and Eric has booked us a gig at the café Wednesday night." Simon was part of a band which changed their name to something worse every other week. The band wasn't awful, but they didn't exactly have a large fan base.
"Really, 'Gummy Bear Avalanche'?" Clary giggled, choking on her coffee. At Simon's expression, she added, "I guess it's not the worst name the band has had, 'The Kung-Fu Butterflies' was definitely worse."
"I came up with that one!" Simon huffed. Clary laughed as they rounded the corner to their courtyard and found Tessa, Izzy, Maia, Jordan and Magnus and already there.
"You're finally here! Didn't want to get out of bed, did we?" Tessa teased, looking disapproving from her old wristwatch to Clary. Clary grinned; her friends knew her too well. She joined them around the metal bench, which sat in the very middle of the courtyard and was sheltered by a large apple tree. The group had claimed this spot as their own since the seven of them had become good friends in the first year at Alicante High.
Clary's group consisted of Simon - Clary's childhood best friend; Tessa, who worked at Luke's bookstore; Maia and Jordan, who dated and were in her art class; eccentric Magnus who wore more glitter than the art room even had; and Izzy, who lived next door to Clary.
"Hey look, here comes Jace's gang." Jordan nodded at the corner her and Simon had just walked around. Jace, the popular and good-looking school jock who every girl wanted and every guy wanted to be, rounded the corner with a smirk plastered on his too-perfect face. Jace was smugly aware of stares that followed him wherever he went. His toned athletic body, flawless mess of golden blond hair and transfixing golden eyes… that were looking right at Clary… Oh no, had she been staring?
Jace strode up to them flanked by his gang. His latest girlfriend, Kaelie, who was wearing a revealing V-neck, a mini skirt and a cake face of makeup, was hanging off his arm like a over sized handbag. Clary stood as he approached.
"I see you haven't grown, Carrot."
"If you're going be a smartass, first you have to be smart. Otherwise you're just an ass." Clary replied as she stood taller and glared up into his amused eyes.
"Oh, someone's feisty. I would blame it on your hair, but I wouldn't want you to gingersnap." Jace's gang sniggered behind him and the girl on Jace's arm smirked at Clary.
"See you have a new slut, Jace?" Izzy questioned her adoptive brother. She eyed the girl with a look that would have made Clary shrivel on the spot. "I've seen clowns with a more natural look than that." Way to go Izzy!
"Too many freaks, not enough circuses. Let's go Jace." Kaelie spat, giving them a look of venom.
"Listen to your girlfriend Jace," Clary stepped in. "No one wants you here."
"Oh everyone wants me." Jace winked suggestively before leading his gang away as the bell rung for class.
TESSA POV.
Tessa was appalled at how rude everyone in her English class was. Sure, it was first first day back and sure Mr. Starkweather was droning on a bit, but she was the only one paying the old teacher the slightest bit of attention.
Next to her as usual Clary was in a world of her own, doodling in her English book. She had her tongue sticking out slightly, a curtain of red hair falling in her face and was tracing the mane of a roaring lion.
Jace Herondale sat directly behind them and was texting rather loudly on his phone, the never-ending typing clicks making Tessa want to rip it out of his hand and throw it across the classroom. Jace would occasionally kick the back of Clary's chair but she ignored him completely, or what Tessa thought to be more likely, was too engrossed in Clary-land to notice him. Kaelie sat behind them also, and was complaining to Jace about a party she went to on the weekend and how some "moron" had spilt beer all over her "priceless" red heels.
Tessa's eyes were glued to the notes she was catching up on about the use of symbolism in poetry, when she heard the door creak open and people shuffle into the English classroom. Moments later Starkweather croaked: "Class, we have a new student joining us. Apparently he's friends with Mr. Herondale here, I'll him introduce himself."
Will, stood at the front of the room with a black bag slung over one shoulder and a familiar smirk played on his lips. In the light of the classroom, his tousled black hair contrasted against the paleness of his skin, and his eyes shone a brilliant turquoise. Tessa's heart throbbed painfully and wondered if he remembered their run in at the bookstore.
Tessa then noticed someone else standing slightly behind Will. Like Will, this boy was beautiful but where he had dark hair, this boy had blond hair that was almost white. The boy had slight almond shaped eyes and soft features.
"I'm James Carstairs, but people call me Jem." He smiled and it was so warm and genuine it lit up the dingy classroom.
"James Carstairs, welcome! You can go find your seats boys… Where was I? Oh yes, symbolism!"
"Jem! Will! Come sit with over here! Kaelie will move, won't you Kaelie?" Jace smiled flatly at his girlfriend who huffed and shuffled two desks over.
"Not another member to add to Jace's gang." Clary groaned.
"He looks like he could be kind of decent though," Tessa whispered as the newcomers took their seats.
"Before I pass out your homework, I'd like to let you know of the upcoming school production." Starkweather spoke, drawing Tessa's attention back to the front of the classroom. "This year the school is reenacting Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and I encourage all of you to attend the auditions next week. They are early this year, but this is a big production!"
"You should audition," Clary mused next to her, knowing exactly what was going through Tessa's mind. Tessa knew the Shakespeare play inside and out.
"Me? Audition? No thank you, I think I might volunteer for backstage work. And anyway, I have to focus on my studies if I want to get into a good college."
Clary scoffed. "You're going to get into a good college, Tessa don't worry. This is our last year of high school you should make the most of it!" Clary smiled at her. "You would be the perfect Juliet, I can just imagine it!" Clary went back to her doodling with a mischievous gleam in her eyes.
"Hey, it's the book girls!" Tessa heard from behind her. She spun around in her chair to find Will regarding at her with a bemused expression.
"It's Tessa," she corrected. One thing Tessa couldn't stand was nicknames, but she couldn't help the smile that escaped her lips.
"Fine then, Tess." He smirked at her and Tessa scowled but was thrilled he was talking to her. "We didn't finish our conversation yesterday."
"Which was…?" Tessa played cool, obviously she remembered…
"Dickens." Will smirked.
"Ah, yes. You mentioned how you had read A Tale Of Two Cities, but I never got to hear your insight." Tessa remembered excitedly, happy that she could talk to someone, Will even, about books.
"Yes. I thought it was rather daft. It reminded me of a romance story set in the 1800's, you know. Something that two people from that time would connect over, and the foolish but devilishly handsome guy would realize that Sydney is in fact, similar to himself."
"That sounds rather romantic, actually." Tessa piped up, suddenly on the defensive. "And how could you call A Tale Of Two Cities daft. It is my favourite Dickens' book!" Tessa squeaked, appalled for the second time that morning.
Suddenly Clary shoved a piece of paper in her face and Tessa jumped. She grabbed the paper from Clary and studied the drawing on it. It was a doodle of an old fashioned looking Tessa who wore a big dress with puffy sleeves and a crossed, lace up front. Tessa gasped, it looked like she also wore a corset, which squeezed her body, then her dress puffed out around her waist down to her feet. A speech bubble above her gigantic, pilled up hair read: Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Will tore the paper out of Tessa's hand and studied it grinning wickedly, as Tessa tried to grab it back but he kept if from her reach.
"What is it with Herondale boys and stealing!" Clary cried out.
Jem, who was sitting next to Will, took the book from his grasp and returned it to Tessa looking apologetic. "Excuse Will, he doesn't know much about manors," Jem said, smiling softly at her.
Will was still grinning at Tessa; "I think you'd make a great Juliet, Tess." He , Will Herondale actually winked at her. But then the bell rung and he walked away from her yet again.
CLARY POV.
Although Clary had told Tessa not to stress out about their last year at school, Clary was doing exactly that. It was only a few days into the school year but the art teacher, Armatis Garraway - who was Luke's sister, had already tasked the class to start planning their art board. The board was supposed to be a collection of artwork based around an idea or theme. This year however, it was important because it would not only determine Clary's overall grade for the year, but would also determine whether she was good enough to get into the art school of her dreams: The Shadowhunter Academy of Art.
Maia and Jordan were talking about ideas for their board; Maia's was based around the idea of feminism and Jordan's was to be a black and white theme. Clary had no idea what she was going to do.
"I need help, guys," Clary moaned to Maia and Jordan who were sitting with her at a bench in the art room.
"You have some amazing drawings you could start from. What about one the you were showing me of the lion?" Jordan suggested from the other side of Maia. Clary screwed up her face: "Boring. But I guess I could work with that if I can't think of anything else…"
"You'll think of something Clary, whatever you do will be amazing anyway." Maia smiled at her and sharpened her graphite pencil with Clary's sharpener.
Clary was a good artist and she knew that. Jocelyn was an artist too, but was more of a painter, whereas Clary preferred drawing. Ever since Clary had been old enough to pick up a pencil, she had been drawing. Clary drew for a lot of reasons, but she found she mainly drew to express herself and her emotions. After Jonathan died, Clary never let go of her sketchbook; she took it everywhere and was busy drawing practically every second of every day.
Clary had used her art to express her grief and loss of her brother and her anger that he had been taken from her. Most of the work she created from that time was personal to her and she hadn't let anyone else see. Two years later, just looking at the drawings sent her back in time; it was like Clary's sketchbook was her personal diary. Even though the drawings made Clary re-live the past, she couldn't bear to get rid of them because to her they held the memory of Jonathan.
Clary was snapped out of her reverie by the bell ringing for the end of day. She collected everything into her art folder and said goodbye to Maia and Jordan, before she headed to meet Simon in the parking lot.
Simon was already there, in conversation with Izzy who was casually leaning against Simon's van, her ink black hair cascading over one shoulder. Izzy was flawless and not only that, but she was confident in flaunting herself. Clary often found herself jealous of the constant attention Izzy got, the boys that trailed after her like lovesick puppies and the way Izzy held herself. Clary, on the other hand, was nowhere near as confident as Izzy and no one really noticed her – she had never even had a proper boyfriend.
"Ready for the gig?" Izzy called out as Clary approached, "Simon's going to rock!" Simon was watching Izzy in awe as she clambered into the van gracefully in her white angelic-like summer dress and towering red heels.
"Ask her out already," Clary hissed in Simon's ear as she got in the van next to Izzy and shut the door on his blushing face.
Simon was in his element on the coffee house stage, plucking the strings of his guitar, nodding and tapping his feet to the beat of the drummer. Overall, Clary didn't think the band was too bad… they were definitely improving at least.
Her and Izzy were perched on stools at a table in front of the stage; Clary was sipping deliciously dark coffee while Izzy was trying to convince Clary that they should go to Sebastian's party. Sebastian threw parties that were famous in Alicante, however Clary had no interest in going because Sebastian was in the Jace-gang. End of story. Izzy was whining that she had bought a dress especially for the party, when she trailed off, looking over Clary's shoulder.
"Just to warn you, Jace and his gang are outside and it looks like they're coming in." Izzy murmured as she skulled the remains of her coffee and righted herself. Probably in case she needed to hold Clary back from strangling Jace.
Jace, dressed in dark skinny jeans and a casual black hoodie, sauntered through the entrance to the coffee house. Clary hated how confident and smug he looked. As usual, Kaelie, Sebastian and Alec and Will flanked him, but with the new addition of Jem.
"Shoot, he's coming over here." Clary slouched in her chair and hid behind her curtain of curls, hoping he wouldn't notice her.
"Can't hide from me, carrot. Maybe if your hair came with a dimmer switch you could though." The voice appeared inches from her ear.
"Maybe if you mouth came with a mute button I wouldn't have to hide from you." Clary retorted, brushing her hair aside to glare up at him. The band finished with a rambling crash, followed by dismal applause. Simon jumped off the stage and approached the table grinning.
"What'd you think?" Simon asked. His grin faded as he saw Jace and his gang.
"I see you've set time aside to humiliate yourself in public," Jace answered, a smirk on his too-perfect face.
"Leave him alone, Jace. He was amazing." Izzy replied as she grabbed Simon's hand and gave him a reassuring smile.
"Finally given into him, Iz?" Sebastian asked from beside Jace. Sebastian, the one who was throwing the party, was in Jace's soccer team and was his best friend. Once my brother had been Jace's best friend, but whatever, Clary thought. Sebastian, like Jace, was popular and good-looking. He had hair an even darker shade of black than Izzy's, gorgeous dark eyes and olive skin. Clary may have had a little crush on him at one point, but who hadn't?
"Given into him?" Izzy asked as her face proved her confused. Simon, however, was beetroot red and seemed to be busy looking at a spot of gum on the floor.
"You guys coming to my party?" Sebastian asked, changing the subject with a smug look.
"Oh, we're very busy that weekend actually-"
"Yes, we're coming!" Izzy cut in and Clary shifted her glare from amused Jace to her supposed friend.
"Cool, look forward to seeing you there," Sebastian said, his dark chocolate eyes smiling at Clary. "You can bring your other friends if you want, the more the merrier."
"Why are you inviting them?" Jace seethed, a look of annoyance crossing his features.
"Jace, go get us some coffee," Kaelie spoke for the first time, not looking up from studying her glossy red nails. He huffed and walked over to the till like an obedient lap dog, Will and Jem trailing after him.
"Speaking of your friends," Kaelie said, eyeing up Clary, Izzy and Simon with malice. "I couldn't help but hear the book-ish one is auditioning for the role of Juliet?"
"Tessa you mean? Yeah we convinced her-"
"How sweet," she cut-in, "well un-convince her. The role of Juliet belongs to me." She cooed, smiling a false sweetness. Kaelie batted her mascara heavy eyelashes and pinched her red lips together.
"What a bitch," Izzy hissed to Clary. Louder she said: "Nothing belongs to you, Kaelie, including my brother actually, so back off." Izzy stepped closer so she was inches from Kaelie's face. The false sweetness was suddenly sucked from Kaelie's demeanor as she stood her ground; giving Izzy an equally fiery look to the one Izzy was giving her. Clary could practically see laser beams shooting from each girl's eyes into the others skulls.
"You can't control me and you can't stop me from having Jace." She jeered unblinkingly.
"I honestly have no idea what he see's in you. He sure as hell isn't with you for your personality." A dangerously scary look flashed across Kaelie's face before she slapped Izzy hard across the face with a manicured hand. Izzy stood startled as a red hand mark appeared on her cheek.
"Jace, control your girlfriend," Alec growled, as Jace strolled over to them and grabbed Kaelie's arm
"You and your little friends have been warned." Kaelie hissed, her eyes narrowing into slits. Clary had a sudden mental image of Kaelie as a snake. She definitely possessed enough qualities. Kaelie turned on her heel and stalked out of the café, followed by the rest of Jace's gang and an apologetic looking Jem trailing after them carrying their coffee's.
AUTHORS NOTE: PLEASE REVIEW BUT REMEMBER I'M NEW AT THIS :)