Scarred for Life

Chapter 4

I'm back! School wasn't as hard as I had thought, so I managed to jot down ideas during class. I made it extra-long to make up for the last chapter. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: (I know I forgot to do this the last 2 chapters) I don't own TMI. Only the plot is mine. Everything else belongs to Cassandra Clare… Damn it! :- (

Simon P.O.V

"Si, are you alright?"

I could hear her perfectly fine, but for some reason, I couldn't answer. Whether it was from the fact that I just got electrocuted, or that I just made a huge revelation, I had no idea. All I could think about was how her dark brown hair cascaded around her beautiful, porcelain face, and that her emerald- green eyes seemed to look straight into my soul. I missed her fiery red hair, it matched her feisty attitude.

"Um, uhh… Ya, I'm perfect."

Great, I thought, now I can't even get a sentence out without sounding like I'm choking. Clary helped me into a standing position and stared down the Institute door. I cleared my throat and she looked back at me. "Remember Clary, I'll be right here the whole time." She gave me a small smile and knocked on the Institute door.

About 30 seconds later, the door opened and a little boy opened the door. He looked about 9, had brown hair, and glasses perched on the very edge of his nose. He reminded me a lot of myself when I was his age. He stared up at us and said, "Hi. I'm Max Lightwood." I saw Clary gulp at the name Lightwood reached forward to squeeze her shoulder.

"Hi Max. I'm Cl-, Rebecca, and this is my best friend Simon. May I speak to Maryse?"

"Sure. If you wanna come in I can go get her." He moved aside but Clary stayed where she was.

"Actually, I think I'll stay out here with Simon."

Max gave both of us a confused look and said, "Well he can come in too."

I smiled. "That's really nice of you, but I'm a vampire."

He understood immediately. "Ohhhh, well in that case, you can stay out here and I'll be back really fast!" With that, he disappeared into the Institute.

"See," I said, "it wasn't that scary, was it?"

"No, but that was the smallest and by far the least intimidating of the Lightwoods'. It'll get worse."

I rolled my eyes and was about to reply when a woman walked out of the Institute and smiled at us. "Hello. My name is Maryse Lightwood and I run this Institute. James told me you would be arriving soon, although he didn't mention your name."

"My names Rebecca Fray and this is my friend Simon."

"Yes, Max did mention that you had a vampire friend with you." Maryse sniffed. I almost growled at the way she spit out the word 'vampire', like it was my fault I got stuck the way I did. This time she turned to address me. "Do you have a place to stay?"

"Umm, no. I had some savings and was just planning on renting a cheap apartment until I could afford something better."

"Nonsense, "Maryse scoffed. "You can stay in the Institute with Rebecca and the rest of my family."

I glared at her, thinking she was making fun of me. "In case you didn't notice this, I'm a vampire. And because I'm a vampire, your Institute delivers one hell of a shock if I get anywhere near it. So, no thanks, I don't feel like having my skin peel off my bones any time soon."

Maryse looked shocked, possibly because I stood up to her. She doesn't look like the type of woman anyone would mess with, especially a downworlder. "Of course I wasn't suggesting that! If you go around the back of the institute, there is a door where downworlders can enter. As long as a Shadowhunter lets you in, you can walk around the Institute as you please! Just don't go in or out the front door and you'll be fine."

I gave her a suspicious look and said, "Fine. But if this is some elaborate scheme to trap me and torture me to your little hearts content, let me just say, I'm a screamer." I threw in a suggestive wink for effect.

Clary snorted and Maryse's face held a mixture of shock and disgust. Clary gave me a shove. "Just go around back you big dork. I'll see you soon." She gave me a hug and a peck on the cheek.

My mouth dropped open. Does this mean that she likes me? She's never kissed me before! Even though it was only on the cheek, this could mean that she wants us to be more than friends! Should I play it cool or let her know that I'm interested? All these thought were racing through my head until Maryse said, "Hurry along now. I'll have Isabelle let you in."

I walked away backwards. I watched as Clary realized what she did and blush a deep pink. I kept watching her until I disappeared around the side of the Institute and couldn't see her anymore. Then I raced around back until I found the door Maryse was talking about.

I walked up the flight of steps leading to the door, only to find myself face-to-face with a gorgeous girl. She was around 16, with black hair that reached her waist, pale skin, and dark, raven eyes. She was wearing super skinny jeans, a red tank top, a black leather jacket, and 6 inch, knee high boots. She looked at me and smirked. "You must be the vampire that I'm supposed to let in."

I instantly knew she was a flirt, so I decided to flirt right back. Ever since I became a vampire, I found out that I have some sort of sexy vampire mojo that works with any, and every, girl. "And you must be the beautiful shadowhunter that I'm supposed to sweep off her feet."

She snorted. "In your dreams, bloodsucker."

"I'm counting on it." I winked and walked right past her through the door, determined to find Clary.

XXXXXXXXXX

Clary P.O.V

As soon as Simon left, I felt naked. He's been my shield ever since I got to New York. He's protected me and comforted me, and I needed him. Without him- Maryse interrupted my thought process. "Now, if you'll follow me, I'll introduce you to my family." I pushed down the urge to run away and followed Maryse into the Institute.

We got into an old-fashioned elevator and rode up one floor. When we got out, my breath was taken away. High, cathedral-like ceilings had pictures of angels and demons battling each other, and polished wood floors, and classy leather furniture completed the room. All these components gave the Institute a sophisticated and refined feel, a lot like Maryse herself. "This is the commons area; it's a place where everyone can meet up. Down the hall to your left are all of the bedrooms, the training room, and the weapons room. Down the hall to your right is the kitchen and the library. If you need help finding anything, Church can help you."

"Who's Church?"

Maryse just smiled. "He is." She pointed down the hall towards a fat, blue cat. Behind the cat was Simon and a gorgeous girl that looked like the younger version of Maryse.

"Hey mom," the girl said, "I got the vamp."

Without thinking, I spat, "His name is Simon!"

The girl, surprised, looked over at me. Before she could respond, Maryse cut in. "Isabelle, be nice to our guests. They will be here a long time."

The girl, Isabelle, looked at me and smiled, "I like you already! You're feisty. I like that! I think we can be great friends!"

I was so flustered by her change of attitude that I didn't even notice the two boys walk right up behind me and shout "BOO!"

At that instant, my shadowhunter training kicked in and I brought my elbow back and shoved it into the face of the guy closest to me. I brought my knee back to shove it into the second guy's groin when Simon came up and picked me up. "What are you doing?" I shouted.

"Preventing you from kicking these guy's asses and damaging their ego's. He set me down after I had calmed down and Isabelle immediately came and gave me a big hug.

"I love you so much!" She squealed. "We are going to be such good friends! You can help me kick my brothers' asses all the time!"

"Isabelle, language." Maryse scolded her, but you could tell that she was thoroughly amused.

The guy that managed to evade my beating was rolling on the ground, laughing at the boy that wasn't so lucky. The one laughing had black hair, dark eyes, and a pale complexion. I knew instantly that he was Alec Lightwood. The one with the newly bruised nose had gold hair, gold skin, and a very muscular body. I knew instantly who he was.

After a few more minutes of lying on the ground holding his nose, he looked up at me with his golden eyes. I waited for that spark of recognition to go off in his eyes, but there was nothing. He doesn't recognize me. I thought. He doesn't know who I am! A wide grin spread across my face. "It's nice to meet you." I addressed the two boys. "My name's Rebecca Fray."

Alec looked up at me with awe in his eyes and says, "Hi. I'm Alec Lightwood and I must say I'm extremely impressed. Anyone who can actually injure Jace has got some serious skill."

"Thanks." I smirk, "I learned from the best."

Jace, who was on his feet by now, glared at me. I just smiled right back.

Maryse, sensing the tension, quickly stepped between me and Jace and said, "Alright, I have a Clave hearing to attend, so I need 2 of you to show Rebecca and Simon around."

"I'll show Simon around!" Isabelle quickly said. She threw a flirty wink in Simon's direction.

"I'll show Rebecca around." I turned around to see who had spoken and was extremely surprised when I saw it was Jace.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because I'd like to get to know the girl who bruised my nose a little better." He smirked and started to walk away, obviously expecting me to follow him. When I didn't move, he turned back around and said, "Get a move on, Shorty. Or else you'll be sleeping in the hallway tonight.

Cursing under my breath, I trudged along after the boy whose life I destroyed.

So there's Chapter 4! I'll try and update every Sunday, but I don't know if that's possible. My older sister just found out I wrote a fanfic and is now teasing me. She now wants to be my beta, which IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! So sis, if you read this, I just want to let you know that I hate you.

PLEASE REVIEW!