AN: Another chapter up for you guys because I love you that much. I promise that the next chapter will be school and we'll get a taste of Clace. Maybe some lemonade. ;) You never know. This chapter's kinda short. Sorry. Enjoy, though. :)

Sunlight streams through my window. I groan and roll over, lazily dropping my arm over my eyes. Another day in hell. I check my alarm clock and groan even louder. It's only 5 o'clock in the freaking morning. Kill me.

I lay in bed for half an hour more. After that, I give up. Getting back to sleep after waking up early for me is virtually impossible. I grab my fluffy panda slippers from the corner of my room. I adjust my tank top and, just in case, grab a dressing gown from my closet. Trying not to wake up my family, I slowly open the door. To my disadvantage, the door has always been super creaky. But in my defense, Jonathan and Daddy tried to fix it but they were way too incompetent to know how.

Smiling, I begin to make my way downstairs. This is going to be a good-

That thought gets cut off when I fall to the ground, my right cheek burning. I already know who it is without looking.

"Good morning, Clarissa," I hear. I wince.

"Good morning, Daddy," I try for a smile but my cheek hurts too much so it probably just looks like a grimace.

"Why are you awake so early, huh?" Daddy squats and caresses my cheek gently. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that it looks like he cares.

"I woke up half an hour ago and I couldn't go back to sleep so-" I cut myself off there. Short but sweet, short but sweet.

"Well, you better get ready for school, then." Daddy gives me one last kick in the stomach and walks upstairs.

I get up and brush myself off. Not bad, not bad. Maybe a new stomach bruise but it's nothing to be afraid of. I make my way to the kitchen. When I get to the fridge, it's stocked with foods of all sorts. I decide for a simple breakfast: cereal. I head over to the pantry, searching for some cereal. In the end, all I find is Cornflakes. I'm incredibly disappointed.

Once I finish eating my breakfast, I run upstairs and take a quick shower. I grab some black skinny jeans, a grey hoodie that says, "ARE YOU REALLY STUPID OR ARE YOU JUST PRETENDING?" on it in dark grey letters. Not to forget the "My Forever" necklace.

I grab my Converse, my bag, and my books. I quickly head out the door, after using the bathroom and brushing my teeth.

Once I close the door, I feel a sense of relief. When I open my eyes, I can see Alec and Jace throwing a football around. This gets me all hot and bothered.

The only reason is, though, because Jace isn't wearing a shirt. His rock hard stomach is defined by serious abdominal muscles. As the throws the football, the muscles in his arms ripple. It takes an extreme effort for me to breathe evenly, thoughtlessly of me walking. My feet move before my brain comprehends what's happening. I find myself leaning on the monkey bar post right next to where they're throwing the football.

It seems like they're way too engrossed in what they're doing for them to notice me.

Jace is the first one to notice me.

"Oh, hey, Rouge. How are you doing this fine morning?"

"I'm, uh, good."

"Hey, Clare-bear." I can practically hear Alec's smile.

"Hey, Xander. You good today?"

"I'm good."

"You know that you guys never did tell me how you met," Jace interrupts Alec and I's bonding.

I'm about to reply to that when Maryse comes out of the house, car keys in one hand, the other hand cupped around her mouth.

She screams, "Guys! Get your butts down here! It's school time!" Mrs. Lightwood says that last bit in a sing-songy voice. "Where's Isabelle?"

"I'm not sure," I reply.

"Of course," Maryse mumbles. "Clary, you want a ride?"

"Uhh, sure," I smile.

"Great! Let me go and get Izzy."

The click-clack of Maryse's heels are the loudest the in the vicinity. Jace and Alec are still throwing the football. Jace is the one that breaks the silence.

"What classes do you have today, Tiny?"

"Well, first, I've got English with Mr. Starkweather. Then, I've got Math with Mr. Fell. After that, we've got lunch. Then, I have Art with Ms. Gray. My last period is Music with Mr. Wayland. How about you?"

"I've got the exact same schedule than you," Jace smirks.

"I've got no classes with you guys," Alec says, disappointed.

Just then, Isabelle literally flies out of the house.

"I'm readdyyyy," she announces.

"Good. That's perfect. We're ready," Maryse walks out of the house, dangling the car keys. "Now get your asses in the car."

I look up at the skyscraper that is our school. It looks like the rest of the buildings in Brooklyn; tall, thin, and with tons of windows. It's a white marble building: pretty fancy for New York.

Izzy, Alec, and Jace climb out of the car. They stare up in awe at the building.

"Well," Alec breathes "Here goes nothing.