Chapter 18

Lockers slammed all down the hall as Clary and Isabelle walked towards Clary's locker. Clary turned the combination mindlessly as she listened to Isabelle explain what had happened between Alec and the Lightwood parents.

"So he and Magnus just stood really awkwardly on the other side of the counter from my mom, which was probably a good idea cause they didn't know if she would hurt them or not. And then Magnus poked Alec really hard, so Alec just blurted the whole thing out."

"He's not very subtle, is he?" Clary laughed, finally wrenching the metal door open and grabbing a textbook.

"No, but it turned out okay. Mom just kind of stared, and Dad looked up at them, which freaked Alec out a lot. Magnus was really calm, though. He didn't say anything at all."

"What did they say?"

"Well, Mom was like 'Honey, it's fine, you know. Don't look so scared.' Then Dad just asked Alec for another surprise, since this one didn't scare him as much as it had Alec. Oh, and then they said that the only problem they had was that he and Magnus had been alone upstairs before."

Clary giggled. "Your parents are amazing, Izzy."

Isabelle grinned. "Alec is such a dork. I don't know how I'm related to him."

Clary slammed the locker closed and grabbed her bag. She saw Sebastian walking towards them and smiled at him.

"I'll give you two a moment," Isabelle said. "See you later, Clary."

"Bye, Izzy," Clary called. She turned and grabbed Sebastian's hand. "Hey, are we still up for Friday? Double date with Isabelle and Simon?"

Sebastian didn't squeeze her hand like he normally would. That was the first thing Clary noticed. The second thing he did was pull her gently to the same nook in the lockers where he had asked her to Homecoming all those months ago.

"Clary, we're not going out on Friday."

"Oh, why not?" Clary asked with a frown. She saw with a curl of unease in her stomach that Sebastian's expression darkened.

"How can you be so innocent? You've lied for me for a month, Clary. Why would I take you out for Valentine's Day?"

Clary's breath was shallow. "What? What are you talking about?"

Sebastian scowled. "Don't lie to me anymore, Clary. You know exactly what I'm talking about. How could you and my best friend go behind my back like that?"

Clary's heart dropped to around her stomach. "Sebastian, no, Jace and I didn't do anything."

"Oh, really? What about kissing? And keeping secrets?"

"I-"

"Don't say anything. Just don't."

"It was only one time, Sebastian, I swear I didn't mean to!" Clary could feel the tears coming.

"I told you not to say anything!" Sebastian slammed his hand on the locker next to her head, and Clary flinched. "God, you pretended for an entire month that you were mine only, and I didn't even see. What kind of person are you, to do that to me?"

"I was just trying to protect us! I thought if I told you, you would break up with me and be really mad at Jace. I didn't know if you'd believe me if I told you that it didn't mean anything-it was an accident."

"Just stop, Clary. We're done." Sebastian backed away from her. He walked away with long, angry strides.

Through her tears, Clary saw a dark haired girl put her arm around him reassuringly. Clary quickly wiped the wetness from her face and darted out from the gap in the lockers. The girl with Sebastian turned her head to look back, and Clary saw the startling blue eyes of Aline Penhallow fix on her with a blank expression.

Aline sat down next to Clary in silence. Clary ignored her as best she could, fixing her eyes on the art teacher as she lectured on Impressionist artists.

The teacher passed a pile of papers to the nearest person, who took one and passed it around the circle. Clary could hear Aline sliding a paper off the top of the pile. Aline cleared her throat.

"Here."

Clary took the papers without looking at Aline, took one, passed it along.

Five more minutes of tense silence as the teacher explained the assignment. Aline sighed. Clary fumed.

Clary looked pointedly at the assignment sheet, pretending to read it closely, though the words blurred as her anger and unhappiness took over.

"Clary, I can explain," Aline whispered.

"No, I don't need an explanation. You got my boyfriend to break up with me. That's really simple, actually."

"Clary, stop it," Aline said sharply. "You're being stupid."

"Is it really stupid to be mad at the person who betrayed my secret and gave me horrible advice?" Clary asked in a bitter undertone.

"Yes, because it wasn't horrible advice. It was exactly what I would've done, if we had switched places."

"If we had switched places, you wouldn't be in this situation because I would keep a secret I had promised to keep."

"I never promised to keep your secret," Aline reminded Clary.

"Well, you should have anyway. Why would you tell Sebastian? Do you hate me that much?"

"Clary, you know me. I already told you I don't hate you. You know why I did it."

"Because you're a selfish bitch who cares about nothing but her own reputation," Clary hissed.

"Bitterness doesn't wear well on you, Clary. Get over it. He's not coming back to you."

"Stop telling me to get over it! I don't have to get over it for a very long time. Now please, stop talking to me."

Aline complied, not speaking a word to Clary for the rest of the period. Clary fought back tears as she followed the instructions on the sheet. She was so distracted that she forgot to shield her face from Jace, and as a result looked up at one point to see him looking back at her with concern in his golden eyes.

Clary ducked her head back behind the easel and carefully painted another stroke.

After she had rushed out of the classroom even before Jace, Clary stood in the hallway feeling lost. She usually met Sebastian after fourth period, but that wasn't happening. Thankfully, Sebastian didn't come to see Aline.

The first person she saw coming towards her in the flood of people going to lunch was, thankfully, Isabelle. Isabelle waved brightly at Clary at first, but frowned at Clary's forlorn expression.

The other girl grabbed Clary's elbow and pulled her away from the flow of people.

"Clary, what's going on?"

"Not here," Clary mumbled. Isabelle nodded.

"Okay, let's get out of here."

They climbed to the top of the bleachers overlooking the football field. Clary leaned her head against the chain-link fencing. She told Isabelle everything, from the kiss on the bridge to Aline's betrayal.

Isabelle glared at Clary. "And you didn't tell me this before?"

"I didn't want you to think I was a horrible person."

"Everyone makes mistakes, Clary. And I would never, ever think you were a horrible person. You are the sweetest, kindest, best friend I could ever ask for. You've been loyal to me for so many years, and one kiss isn't going to change my opinion of you."

Clary hugged Isabelle tightly. "You are amazing. Just the best friend I could ever ask for, too."

"I know." Isabelle mused for a second, then added, "I guess Friday's off, then?"

"Yeah, unless I get another boyfriend by tomorrow," Clary said apologetically.

"Oh, it's fine. Don't worry about it. But if you happen to have one by Valentine's Day, I would appreciate it so I can take Simon out without freaking him out at the thought of a date."

"Isabelle. I really don't think that I'm going to have a boyfriend by tomorrow."

"You could, you know, if you put your mind to it."

"Sorry, Izzy, but you're just going to have to convince Simon that it's not a date. You could always take Alec and Magnus."

"Uh, no thank you. Sorry, but those two go through more PDA in a minute than an entire romantic movie."

Clary began to laugh, and soon both girls were laughing so hard, Clary almost forgot about why they were there in the first place.

On Thursday, Simon looked angry. "I'm so sorry, Clary."

"It's fine. I'm fine. Don't worry about it."

"Should I go beat Sebastian up?" Simon asked. Clary cracked a smile at the thought of Simon beating anyone up.

Isabelle laughed outright. "You? I'd be better for that job."

Simon glared. "Don't insult me. I'm perfectly capable."

"No, it's fine, Simon. Leave Sebastian alone. I don't care anymore," Clary told Simon seriously.

"If that's what you want, Clary," Simon said dubiously.

"It is. Now, are you and Isabelle going out tomorrow or not?" Clary asked with a forced smile.

"We are. Even if you don't come, Clary. Right, Simon?" Isabelle asked with a slightly menacing tone.

"Uh, yeah. Of course."

Clary smiled for real this time. "I'm so happy for you guys."

Isabelle grinned back. "I'm happy, too."

Clary noticed Sebastian and Aline everywhere in the school, like her conscience was drawing her eyes to them. She saw Jace as well, more than she should have.

Clary wondered if it was a bad sign that she'd only cried once since Sebastian broke up with her. She didn't feel particularly heartbroken at the sight of the pink and white decorations and clothing all over the school, or when the announcements on Friday wished everyone a "Happy Valentine's Day!"

She did consider the fact that she didn't deserve to be heartbroken, since she was the heart-breaker in this situation.

Of course, if she didn't deserve heartbreak, she definitely didn't deserve what Isabelle was nagging her about at that moment.

Clary went home with Isabelle after school on Friday so that she could "learn from Isabelle about getting prettied up for a date," as Isabelle said while convincing her to come. However, it turned out that they spent most of the time talking.

"So, Clary, who's your next target?" Isabelle said with a teasing tone.

"I don't have a target, Izzy."

"Oh, come on, Clary. I can't leave you without someone while everyone else in this place is dashing around on dates."

"Including you," Clary pointed out with a smile.

"Exactly. You need another boyfriend."

"Izzy! It's been two days!"

"So?"

Clary stared. "So, I'm not that type of girl."

"What type of girl is that?"

"Uh-"

"See, you can't think of anything. There's nothing wrong with thinking about it, you know. And I know that you like someone. So don't try to deny it."

"Isabelle, I don't like anybody in that way."

"Of course you do, or else why would you have kissed him?"

Clary gaped at her in shock. "Jace? You want me to-no!"

"Why not? He's not mad at you anymore, since you apologized, and you're obviously attracted to him since you kissed him."

"He was very sweet on the bridge, but we haven't talked since. I don't think so, Isabelle."

"So you're going to just leave him hanging with that kiss?"

"Stop mentioning the kiss! Besides, he broke it off, not me."

Isabelle just grinned. "That's even more evidence that you like him."

"Oh-just shut up, Izzy. Can we not talk about this?"

"Fine. What do you want to talk about?"

"You and Simon," Clary responded immediately.

Isabelle's eyes lit up. "Oh, yes."

When it was almost time for her to go, Isabelle jumped up and dashed to the bathroom to change. Isabelle looked beautiful as always in her navy blue dress that hit mid-thigh. Clary smiled at her friend.

"Simon's going to be thrilled."

Isabelle laughed. "He better be." Clary smiled and got up.

"I should go," she said.

"Here, I'll walk you out," Isabelle said. Clary was at the door pulling on her boots when Isabelle interrupted her.

"Oh, wait, I still have your iPod. You left it here last time. It's in the kitchen, I'll go get it-"

"No, it's fine, I got it. We don't want you to trip on the carpet between here and the kitchen with those death-trap shoes of yours," Clary said with a laugh.

She tugged off the boot she'd already pulled on and walked through the Lightwoods' living room. The other end of the room opened into the one end of the kitchen, where two boys stood looking through the cupboards.

Clary froze in shock. What are they doing here? Alec's head disappeared into the fridge, but Jace still leaned languidly on the counter.

She could see the bright orange iPod a few feet away from Jace's elbow. Maybe she could get it without them noticing.

Just then Alec spoke. "Did you hear about Clary and Sebastian?"

Clary didn't dare move. She peeked her head out from her position against the wall. From her vantage point, she could see the back of Jace's head and Alec moving around.

Jace must have responded, because Alec continued. "And he went off with Aline right away, too. God, what a douche."

Clary felt an urge to laugh, but held it in. She wondered what Alec would say next, and listened harder.

"I feel bad for Clary. I mean, he broke up with her right before Valentine's Day, and now she's alone. Why would he do that? He seemed okay. Did he tell you why?"

Jace was silent. Clary hoped he wouldn't say anything, and held her breath as he replied, barely audibly: "Sebastian and I aren't on the best of terms right now."

"Really? I'm sorry, I didn't know," Alec said, closing the fridge door.

"Isabelle should be leaving soon," he added. "You know, she told me that Clary was really supposed to go with her and Simon on a double date with Sebastian."

"Oh."

"Yeah, that sucks, huh?" Alec took a bite of the apple he had taken out. "She's a sweet girl. I hope she's not too hurt by all this."

"I hope so, too," Jace said in an undertone that Clary could barely hear.

Alec crunched another bite. "You know, I was talking to Magnus earlier. He said that you liked Clary."

"Sure, I like her. She's cool, for a freshman."

Cool enough to kiss, Clary thought irritatedly.

"No, more than that." Alec was being very talkative this evening.

"Of course I don't like her more than that. Don't be stupid."

"Why not, though? I've seen you looking at her before, and don't deny it."

"She's too immature. I mean, she had Sebastian, and she lost him. She's not even that pretty. Why would I be looking at her?"

Clary's heart sank and blood began to pound in her head. She vaguely heard Alec say, "Oh, come on. That's not true," while she thought venomously at Jace.

If you thought that, why would you say those things on the bridge? Why would you kiss me? she wanted to scream, but fumed in silence.

Isabelle's voice called, "Clary? Did you find it?"

Jace and Alec turned toward the voice, one with an expression of shock and horror and the other with mild surprise. Clary decided to emerge from behind the wall and stalk towards the boys, yelling back, "Yeah, I see it. Be right there," at Isabelle.

She snatched the iPod up. "Hey, Alec. Jace," she greeted with indifference on Jace's name.

"Hey," both boys responded, one much more enthusiastically than the other.

"I was just leaving, forgot this here last time."

"Right," Alec said with a friendly smile. "Well, see you, then."

"See you," Clary said, walking towards the front door as fast as she could.

At the door, Isabelle was waiting impatiently. "What took you so long?"

"It was under a pile of stuff, Izzy."

"Oh, sorry. Simon texted me, said he's almost at the restaurant. I have to go."

"Have fun!" Clary said brightly, walking with Isabelle out the door.

Once she was on the sidewalk, Clary began to walk quickly to vent off her steam.

Immature? Really?

She wanted to slap Jace so badly.

But not too hard. It'd be a shame to hurt that face.

Oh, shut up, she told herself, speeding up.

A/N: Once again, to all anonymous reviewers, your comments are much appreciated and thank you!

Thank you for reading and please review!

~Sami