Was hoping to get this up sooner. It's shorter than I'd like and wasn't how I wanted it to end but I have family in town for my daughter's 1st birthday. Ah, how times flies! I'll updated again soon. Still promising once a week. Thank you to those who Followed, Favorited, and Reviewed. I noticed and read them and appreciated them. :) Remember: This is the 'past' (compared to the Prologue) and we will not be visiting the 'present' until we get there.

September 2007

Clary POV

Fall was my favorite time of year. New York was much more serene and calmer in the Fall than any other time of year. Winter is was just too cold, slick and it made everyone irritable. Spring was nice was everyone was always getting hyped up for Summer time and what they were going to do to focus on anything else. Summertime as beautiful too but hot and too crowded. Most of my friends were away during the summer vacation but in their place was hundred...thousands of tourists. Fall was perfect though. Everyone was tired from summer trip and were getting settled back into the school year. The weather was cooler and just right for boots and scarves.

"Where are you headed?" I finished tying up my boots and looked up at my mom. I'd gotten my hair and eyes from her. People told us often that we looked so alike and that if I wanted to see what I'd look like when I was older all I'd have to do is look at my mother. She was beautiful but besides the hair and eyes, I couldn't see much of a similarity. I bet most kids say that though.

"The coffee shop." I replied. I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek as I passed by her on my way out of the room. She called to me as I headed to the kitchen and asked if I was meeting Simon. "I don't know why you ask that, mom. You know the answer."

"Yes," she smiled following me to the door. "I just wanted to check. Be home for dinner."

I was always home for dinner. I knew better than to be late or lolly gag round. My mom was strict. Overprotective. Nosey. Smothering. I could go on but I'll stop. She was all those things and more but she loved me. She cared and that's all that mattered. It had been just her and I for the longest time, since I was a kid when my father walked out on us. I was all she had so I understood why she was the way she was. She was way worse before Luke came into the picture though.

Luke is my step-dad. He owns a book and antique store. My mother and him knew each other as kids but drifted apart when they were in high school. They ran into one another two years ago and...the rest is history. I like Luke. He treats me right, treat my mom even better and he helps me get by with things my mom would ground us both for.

"There you are!" Simon was stretched out on a bright orange love seat. "I saved you a seat." He sat up straight, patted the space next to him and grinned.

"Did you know they were doing poetry reading today?" I asked sitting next to him. The cafe was packed from door to counter. Most holding a journal or notepad and looking like they had just hopped out of bed. Not that all poets looked like this, just the one's that came here.

"No." Simon replied. "But it's not bad, huh? This one, I think, is positive and upbeat."

I rolled my eyes and leaned back into the sofa. "Did you hear that the Lightwood's were coming back to the city?" Simon nodded his head but never took his eyes off the stage. I could see he was tense now. Simon had issues with the Lightwood's. Mainly Jace.

The Lightwood's were Maryse and Robert, the parents, who were one of the most wealthy people in the state of New York, their two children, Isabelle and Alec, and their adopted son, Jace Wayland. Jace's family died when he was a young boy and the Lightwood's, being close friends of the family, took Jace in. As happy as that story sounds, it didn't made Simon tingly or warm inside. Simon had always had a crush on Isabelle and everyone knew it. Everyone thought it was hilarious, too. Simon was the nerdy, gaming guy and Isabelle the 'it girl', the beautiful and popular one. And Jace was just an asshole. He was cocky, arrogant...and incredibly handsome. You won't catch me saying that aloud though.

To this day, well over a year later, I don't know what happened but I do know that the morning of July 4th he was more confident than ever and said he was finally going to ask her out. He went to her house that afternoon for a 4th of July party that the town held every year and he had planned on asking her when the fire works went off. I called that night to see how it when but he wouldn't speak of it. When school started next none of the Lightwood's were there. Some people said they were sent off to boarding school and some said they were off on a year long world wide family adventure. I don't know where they were but Simon had a new found bitterness that he didn't have before that night.

"Do you want to ta-" Simon cut me off mid sentence with a wave of his hand. I pursed my lips and let it go. He'd tell me eventually. Simon told me everything. It's just how things were.

A week later school started. I walked to and from to school myself. Sometimes Simon joined me but he wasn't much for walking through the city. I hoped he would join me today but he didn't. Since the incident at the coffee shop he hadn't been real chatty or social. I was worried he wouldn't even come to school knowing the Lightwood's were there.

Beep. Beep. Two short car honks sounds beside me. A shiny black SUV slowed next to me as I walked. I quickened my pace and the window rolled down. My heart skipped a beat when I saw who was behind the wheel.

"Do you need a ride?" Gold specked eyes stared at me. "It looks like it may rain and you've got a few blocks left." I hadn't spoken to Jace Wayland much in the time that I had known him...known who he was. We didn't hang in the same circle of friends and we were in different grades so we didn't have classes together either. If it were anyone else I'd say no and run off but there was something about the way he looked at me.

Or maybe it was just my imagination.

"Um, no. I'm fine." I mumbled. He frowned a little and fully stopped the car.

"I'd really like to give you a ride." He said firmly. His toned has changed. The first time he'd spoken it'd been a casual, friendly tone. "So c'mon."

Reaching over he popped the door open and motioned for me to get inside. My mind wasn't made up but my body was. I climbed inside and shut the door. Before I could buckle me seat belt Jace had taken off.

"Whoa." I yelped. "Slow down."

Jace wasn't paying attention to me though. He was looking at something in the rear view mirror. "Do you know that guy?" He asked me. I looked in the mirror but no one was there. "Never mind." he mumbled.

The rest of the car ride was silent. It was awkward but not as awkward as the moment Simon saw me climb out of the car with Jace when we finally made it to school. If looks could kill, I'd be dead.

I know, I'm a wealth of mysteriousness. You may not find out how we got to where we were at the wedding for a while but I promise the 4th of July night won't be a mystery too awfully long. ;) This was, obviously, a bit of back story, not much going on...yet. Stick with me. Next chapter will be fun.

-L.C.