Are you fucking kidding me right now?

Golden eyes meet mine and the fact that they're attached to the face one of the most beautiful yet cocky boys EVER, gives me chills. Jace smiles mischievously. I can see him slowly making his way over here, so I run over the tallest bookshelf in the corner of the backroom. Ducking behind it would be a challenge but I might as well try.

I duck behind it and tuck my knees up under my chin. My hands immediately start looking for something to fidget with. Everyone has a little bit of ADHD in them. I close my eyes and attempt to breathe evenly. In, out, in, out, in…

"Hey, Tiny."

Shit.

"Hi there, Dickhead," I reply sweetly, looking up at him innocently.

"May I ask what the hell you're doing back there or…?"

I roll my eyes. "I work here, idiot."

He raises his eyebrows, actually surprised. "So why did you decide to work here? You could definitely do so much better."

I start fuming. I hate anyone that insults Luke. He's been my rock since even before I could walk.

"Uh, he offered me the job. He also said that I needed to get out of the house more."

Jace smirks. "Well then. Izzy and Alec came here to look for textbooks. They dragged me along cause they said that I needed to "make some friends," Jace makes air quotes with his fingers. "Who needs friends when you have me?"

"Erm, you are so incredibly full of yourself that it's disgusting. I really can't bear to talk to you for much longer. I think that you should go."

"Aww, and we were just getting somewhere," Jace laughs. "I'll see you later, Rouge."

"Rouge?"

"It's the color 'red' in French. Or do you not speak that language, Tiny?"

"Whatever." I gesture for him to move and get out of my sight by blatantly pointing to the door.

I hear the ding of the bell once again as I leave the bookstore. I'll miss Luke, that is, until tomorrow. For now, though, I have to go back to my dysfunctional family. Wait. That is… Unless…

I run past my house for the a millionth time today. I turn once I get to the gate that leads to the Lightwoods' house. No, wait. The Lightwoods' mansion. I don't understand how a family of 5 is going to live in a house made for twice the amount of people. They must have a shitload of money. I ring the doorbell once I get past the security system outside. A woman with dark brown hair and startling blue eyes comes to the door. She's a spitting image of Isabelle, sans the eyes and the age.

"Hello," she says sweetly. "You must be Clary. You live next door, right?"

"Yeah," I drag out the word lazily. "I'd really like to get to know Isabelle, considering we're in the same grade and all."

"Oh, sure!" The lady squeals, clapping her hands together. "My name's Maryse. I'm Isabelle, Max, and Alec's mom. Come in, come in! Isabelle's been talking about you all day. She really hasn't had many girl friends at all."

This surprises me. Isabelle looks like she'd be the type to have tons of friends. I mean, she's pretty, her personality was great…

My train of thought halts as I enter their house. Sorry, mansion. I can't even begin to imagine how much money this place cost. There were marble floors and in the center of the entrance, there was a fountain shaped like an angel. He was holding a diamond encrusted golden cup in one hand, and in the other, he was holding a beautiful sword in the other. I marvel over this for a while but, soon enough, Maryse pushes me upstairs. I stumble clumsily upstairs. I stop short and look around. There were so many different hallways, over 10 with many other extensions.

"And here we are. I've got to go but Isabelle's room is the first on the right, hallway straight ahead. See you later Clary!" I can hear Maryse's footsteps echo behind me. I slowly start walking forwards, that's when my head comes into contact with someone's abs, once again.