So here's the thing, if you want to be a critic to my writing, then please tell me what you don't like, so I can improve my writing in that area. But if you want to just straight-out bask me, just know I will not even read it because I could care less if those are your only intentions. AnimeFan, thanks for getting so into my story, it really encourages me to write more. deadguest, I completly agree with you on Simon.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but plot, CC gets the rest.

Clary POV

I couldn't breathe. Simon Lewis, the geekiest boy in the world, a popular? This has to be some kind of joke? But from the looks of it, this was real. Not to mention that Simon looked the part.

His dark, once gangly chocolate colored hair had been cut to a more "in style" mature looking cut. The characteristic word shirt was replace with a dark cerulean blue t-shirt and a leather jacket. He had on long black jeans that complemented his outfit nicely. But what struck me most of all was his eyes. You could fully see them, no glasses were on his face anymore. Contacts made his deep brown eyes stand out, he looked hot. Not in the way that I found him attractive, it was just a general observation.

Girls nearby were giving him a second glance for once, the very sight made me sick to my stomach. Aline strutted over to me, and I was wishing for anything but.

"So Clare-bear, do you like Simon's new look?" I scoffed, wishing the little nerd was back. "Just think, Simon here is a part of our group now." I was hoping he was just trailing them, but one of my worst nightmares had just come true.

"Simon? Is it really you under there?" I asked, my voice full of incredulously.

"Of course it is Clary, it took a while but I am finally who I was meant to be."

"Can you even hear yourself? Where is the old Simon the real Simon?" I didn't care that I was putting all of my pleading into my voice, my best friends had to be in there somewhere.

"This is the real Simon."

"And just think, all Simon needed to do was spill some embarrassing secrets about you." Aline's high voice ringed around in my ears. Simon betrayed me?

"Please Simon, this isn't you." I was practically begging him.

"What I was before this was't me, this is me."

I couldn't take it anymore. Slamming my locker, I stormed away from the conversation. I didn't even know where I was going I just had to get away.

"Clary are you okay." The same voice that wanted to drive me home yesterday once again called out my name.

"Just go away Jace. If Aline sent you here to torment me anymore can't you just save it for later?"

"How could you think that I would be here on Aline's wishes? I need to know if you are okay." Pure concern stains is voice, and I am left perplexed by Jace Lightwood.

'Oh I don't know, probably because you are her boyfriend and carry out her every whim."

"Clary Aline isn't important right now. I want to know if you are okay."

"Why do you care so much about what happens to me or if I'm okay?" I can't help the rage seeping into my voice, turning it black as night. "For the past my life you have never given me a second glance, you just keep on going with your girlfriend and make my life a living hell each and every day. And only now you want to see if I am okay? My best friend that I have known since birth just... abandoned me and threw me away like I was worthless. Do you think that I am okay?" I don't care that my face is as red as my hair, I just need a response.

"Look I don't like what Aline makes me do but i have to do it because..."

"You want to stay on the top of the popularity pyramid?" I finished for him

"The what?"

"The popularity pyramid. Lameos like me are on the bottom, then the people who actually have a life are up another level, followed by the sports half-jocks, topped off by Alicante High's very own "popular squad"!"

"There's actually ratings in this school?"

"How oblivious to the world around you are you? Yes there are ratings that segregate everyone in this school. How do you think I got to the bottom? Your precious little girlfriend put me there using her power from the top. That's why outside of your group no one ever goes up to speak, and whenever you talk to someone they stutter right?" He nods, of course I'm right! "That's because they don't want to offend you and risk ending up with me. They're all afraid of you"

"That's not actually true, that can't be true." How dumb can he be?

"It is Jace. Open your eyes to the world around you and see the world in a real light. Life isn't just flowers and roses, there is hurt and hatred in this world that you are to blind to see. Until you do something about it you will always get the same reaction out of people."

With that I storm away (once again), leaving him dumfounded and in the dust.

Jace POV

That can't really be how people perceive me is it? There's only one way to find out. "Hey Matt!" I call out to a football player on our team. His reaction is what I feared. He seems shocked that I even talked to him, eyes almost falling out of his head.

"You.. you know my name?" He sputtered out, his words scare me the most.

"Of course, you are on my team why wouldn't I know your name?"

"I just assumed-I mean I didn't-I have to go to class." Now I was the one to gape. Everything Clary had said was true.

I mull over my thoughts during AP calculus (Even though I suck at history for some reason I am insanely good at math.) People are actually afraid of me. It's not like I did anything wrong I only followed what my friends did. I hung out with the wrong people. That's when it hit me. People always take you for your company. By hanging out with the "popular squad" everyone always thought I was just like Aline. The rest of us don't even tease unless Aline makes us. And we all cope with it because we don't want to risk angering her. All the pieces fit into place.

I can't let this happen to me, I can't have people thinking that I am a stuck up jock who preys on the bottom of the "popularity pyramid". I have to make things right with everyone, starting with the person that I wronged most.

Clary.