I'M ALIVE! Seriously though, I'm so so so so so so so sorry! I don't want to make excuses, but I kind of have a decent one. My boyfriend of two years and I broke up and he turned out to be a real jerk. So needless to say, I was heartbroken and not in the mood to write at all, let alone anything to do with romance. And on top of that, my old computer broke-but I got a new one-and things have been crazy with Christmas, my sweet sixteen and New Years and everything. I seriously can't tell you guys how sorry I am, but I knew that if I posted a chapter before I was ready, it would be a crappy one, and I didn't want to do that to you guys either. I'm sorry! Really! Now, please enjoy my chapter!

Also: I would really like a recast, but I would be okay if they didn't. I just feel like if they are totally starting over, they should revamp the cast too. Not that I didn't like the cast! Because everyone was great actors, even though a few of them aren't as I pictured. The only person I wasn't huge on was Jamie as Jace. Call me shallow, but I feel like someone who's personality and person is largely based on the fact that they are gorgeous, should be gorgeous. I'm just not a big fan of his looks. though he was a good actor.

Disclaimer: Cassandra Clare would be much more dedicated than I. :(

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Chapter 10:

"Jonathan." Maryse's voice was a sigh. "I thought you grew out of this. We talked about this, Jace! This is the last straw! I mean it!"

"I know, I'm sorry, but-"

"No buts!" Maryse cut in.

I turned to Robert pleadingly. He was always the saner of the two. Maybe he would actually allow me to speak long enough to tell the real story.

Robert was definitely sane, and maybe that's why he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut and go along with whatever his wife said. He shook his head, but at least had the decency to shoot me an apologetic look while Maryse was turned the other way.

I guess Maryse was my only hope. That was uplifting. I put my head in my hands and yanked on my hair. "Please, can I tell my side of the story?"

Maryse actually laughed. Laughed! Like it was ridiculous to even consider that I may be innocent. The high pitch, bitter sound was like nails on a chalk board, grating sharply against my heart. "It doesn't matter what your side of the story is, Jace! You nearly killed someone and that is unacceptable! End of story!"

My hands shook from nerves and anger, but my legs were steady as I stood and locked my steel gaze directly on Maryse. "My parents would have listened to my side. You know they would have." I grabbed my keys and coat from beside the door and stormed out. God, I wanted my parents back. I wanted my mom to lecture me, but then applaud me for protecting Clary. I wanted my dad to pretend to be stern, but wink to let me know he was actually proud he had a strong son. Most pathetic of all though, I just wanted a freaking hug. And you know what? My parents would have saw that. They would have saw that I was already beating myself up for my lack of self-control. They would have actually known me.

Just as I reached my car I heard my front door open. "Jace!" I froze, but only because it was Isabelle's voice I heard, not my under-concerned adoptive parents. What would be the opposite of a Helicopter Parent? An Outer Space Parent? That's what Robert and Maryse were. "Are you going to Clary's?" Her voice got a little louder as she walked closer.

I ran a hand over my face. "Probably."

She was in front of me now. "I'm coming with you."

"No."

Izzy jutted out her chin. "Yes."

Lord, help me. "Why?"

Izzy shifted her weight and bit her lip. "I was eavesdropping. My parents have no right to treat you like that. I want to go hear the real story from you and Clary." Her lips turned up in a devilish grin. "Besides," she continued, "Clary's my friend too. If someone hurt her, I'll gladly finish what you started."

I shook my head and couldn't help a small grin. "Fine," I said, throwing open my door. "Get in."

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It had been years since Isabelle had been to Clary's house. In elementary school they were probably just as close as Clary and I were. Then, after my parents died, Clary started to spend a ton of time with me. Some of it was because she felt she needed to be there for me, and some of it was because she was the only person I wanted there. Regardless of the reason, Izzy got jealous. She had her panties all in a knot because Clary started ditching her for me. I know that sounds super bitchy considering I had just lost my parents, but I don't hold it against her for two good reasons. First, she was freaking nine years old, she was allowed to screw up. Second, she was also dealing with a sudden lack of attention at home between Max and me arriving. Besides, I knew she felt bad about it later.

So Izzy was all pissed about Clary and me spending more time together. Meanwhile, Simon was also getting left out to dry. The two of them joined together over their mutual hurt and actually became really good friends. They even started dating back in ninth grade and have been since. But, they refused to talk to Clary and me during this whole argument. It was settled before middle school, but new, stronger bonds – and scars – were forged that are still going strong today.

Long story short, Izzy and Clary don't really hang out anymore. They talk to each other about guys and other girly stuff that I don't really want to discuss with Clary, but the only time they really hang out is at school or if everyone is over at the Lightwoods'. That's probably why she gave me a startled look when I barged into Clary's house without so much as knocking.

Jocelyn and Luke were lounging on the couch and looked up at me as I walk in. "Hi, honey. How are you?" Jocelyn asked.

I plopped down in the armchair next to the couch with a dramatic sigh. "I've been better." I noticed then that Izzy hadn't moved and was still standing by the door with her arms crossed uncomfortably.

Jocelyn saw my gaze drift and followed it to see Izzy. "Oh! Isabelle! I didn't even see you walk in behind Jace!" She got up and walked over to hug Izzy. "How are you? I haven't seen you in ages!"

Izzy smiled awkwardly. "I'm doing well. How about you?"

Jocelyn walked over to me as she spoke. "Oh, I'm great." She yanked on my bicep until I stood up with a scowl. "Go show Izzy to Clary's room. You're being a rude host."

I laughed as I walked over to Izzy. "This isn't even my house!" I called over my shoulder as we walked down the short hall.

I could just barely make out Jocelyn mumbling, "The way you eat it may as well be."

Isabelle looked thoroughly confused and uncomfortable at this point, and it only got worse when I walked into Clary's room and immediately flopped down on her bed. I also may or may not have let out a slight moan.

"Jace!" Izzy hissed, throwing a glance over her shoulder.

I rolled over and propped myself up with my elbows. "What? I can hear Clary in the shower right now, so she'll probably be a while. Might as well get comfortable, and her bed is ridiculously comfortable."

Izzy took a few steps closer and lowered her voice. "And Luke and Jocelyn don't mind you relaxing on Clary's bed?"

I was trying to be patient, really, but she was being kind of oblivious right then. I quirked an eyebrow at her. "You do realize I sleep here every Saturday night, right? And come over here just about every day?"

Isabelle was a shade of bright pink at this point. "I figured you guys only hung out in the living room and you had to sleep in Jon's room or something. I didn't think you slept in the same bed!"

Shit. Izzy couldn't know we slept in the same bed. Not only would Clary be embarrassed and kill me, but Izzy had a big mouth, and this could spread like wildfire. If she blabbed to anyone, then it could get back to Jocelyn and I really don't want to sleep between her and Luke. I had to think fast. "Um, are you joking?" God I hoped I didn't sound too nervous. I was going for nonchalant. "We sleep in the same room, Izzy, not the same bed."

Izzy looked immediately relieved. "Thank God. I thought I was going to have to have a talk with Clary and tell her to do research and make sure you can't get any STDs through clothing."

That one stung a little, if I'm being honest. But I grinned anyway and threw a pillow at Izzy, which she neatly ducked away from.

Clary came out of the bathroom attached to her bedroom then, her hair dripping on her shirt and a pillar of steam trailing behind her. God, I loved her hair. It turned into this beautiful color when it was wet. She merely quirked a thin, red eyebrow at me and focused her attention on Izzy. "Hey, Iz. What are you doing here?"

Izzy shifted her weight from foot to foot, clearly uncomfortable. But Clary didn't notice because she was too focused on brushing out her main of wild hair. I figured I may as well get my charity for the day out of the way and keep Izzy from floundering. "She heard what happened and wanted to see if you were okay. And she wanted to hear the real story, to see if Robert and Maryse really are being irrational." Again I was striving for a relaxed vibe, though my emotions inside were in a big knot.

Clary was not as easily fooled by my ruse as Izzy was. "What happened? Did they not believe you?"

I ran a hand through my hair. "Well, I think they stopped listening after the words, 'You have to meet with the principle tomorrow because I got in a fight.' Not that I got much out after that. I told them I was defending you, but it just went right in one ear and out the other."

Clary frowned and plopped down next to me. Izzy took this as an okay to sit on the edge of Clary's bed. "That's crazy. They wouldn't even let you explain yourself?"

I shook my head. "Nope. Maryse said something about it not mattering, because violence is never the answer." I rolled my eyes.

"What about Robert?"

I scoffed. "Yeah right. He could never say anything against her. Well, at least not as long as she keeps his balls in her purse."

"Jace!" Izzy's mouth dropped into an 'O'.

Oops. I guess I forgot their still her parents, even if she is mad at them. "Sorry, Izzy."

I had to stifle a laugh when I noticed Clary hiding her own laughter behind her hand.

Izzy shrugged. "It's okay. I understand you're mad. You have a right to be." She looked between the two of us. "At least I think. Can I hear the whole story now?"

Clary and I exchanged a look, and in it we decided she would do the speaking, with minor interjections from me if needed. So Clary launched into the story, softening up the parts that made me look bad, for my sake. I only had to chime in to say what happened before Clary reached us.

By the end of the story, Izzy was shaking with anger. "Oh, he is so dead. Seriously, no one should be allowed to treat anyone like that! That is awful!" She wrapped her arms around Clary's slender body. "Are you okay, hon?"

Clary nodded. "I'm fine. But I had to take five showers to get the feel of his hands off me." The poor thing even shuddered.

As soon as Izzy let her go, my arm was wrapped around Clary. It wasn't hard to tell she wanted comfort, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. "Do your parents know?"

"No, and I don't want them to. They'll freak and probably make me carry around pepper spray. Or say this town isn't safe anymore and make me move."

Izzy rolled her eyes. "Oh, I doubt they'll be that dramatic."

Clary and I exchanged a look. "Um, yeah. They will." I said. Jocelyn and Luke are crazy protective of Clary. It kind of makes me want them as my parents.

Izzy pouted for a moment before brightening up. "Jace, you will not be grounded for life."

I snorted. "Pretty sure I already am, and storming out didn't help."

"Nope. You won't be, because I'm going to tell my parents what happened. They may not want to hear it from you, but if Alec and I tell them what happened, they'll have to listen."

I was shaking my head before she even finished her thought. "It won't work. They may not-"

Izzy was grinning ear to ear. "If they don't listen, I always have an unbeatable plan B."

A pause. "Care to enlighten us?" Clary asked.

"Sorry, I was going for the dramatic pause. Okay, so believe it or not, my parents want to try to treat you equal to us. I know they do a crappy job, but they want to try. When I was in eighth grade, I punched a girl for calling Alec gay. Don't give me that look! He was still in the closet then! Anyway, I was going to get in huge trouble, but my parents paid off my principle, and the girl's parents, to act like it never happened."

"What does that have to do with me?"

Izzy got that evil grin of hers right then. "If they want to treat us equal, how could they punish you for something they practically praised me for? And they'll want to act right even more if I call them out on it."

Clary grinned. "You're a genius, Iz."

Izzy winked. "I know."

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Thank you to all of you who stuck with me through this short hiatus. I'm sorry for any inconvenience, and I should be back to posting on Sundays now. Please review to let me know how many of you are still with me :)

Question: What is all of your favorite TV shows? Movies?

Love always,

YesIWriteForFun