Thank you as always for your reviews. I appreciate every single one of you who takes the time to read and review my stories.

I'd just like to address something I'd read. It has come to my attention that some people think Clary is acting 'slutty'. Ultimately, Clary has just lost her father and her world is still spinning out of control. Let her live a little, let her make a few mistakes. She's only human after all.

Sebastian was stood in the doorway with Aline who had somehow switched her alliance from Jace to Sebastian. Jordan and I had drifted apart and Sebastian didn't wait for our answer. He started peeling back his clothes until he was in his underwear and dive bombed into the pool. Aline shimmied out of her dress until she was just in her bra and underwear. I diverted my eyes immediately feeling pretty uncomfortable. She slid into the pool, her neck sticking far out as she tried desperately not to wet her hair. Sebastian climbed back onto the side of the pool, diving in once more. The water went all over Aline, who seemed less than impressed.

"Sebastian, are you for real! Do you know how much my hair cost just for tonight? The chlorine is going to ruin it!" She was grumbling at him but he wasn't listening, he seemed far more interested with what Jordan and I were doing. He swam over to Jordan and they started dunking one another. Aline put her attention towards me. "Oh my god, did you see what that loser Simon Lewis did earlier?" I turned to face her, attention peaked. "Oh, you're his friend aren't you?" She had a sly smile playing on her face and it may have been the alcohol talking, but I just wanted to wipe it off for her.

"What happened?" I asked simply, holding onto the poolside. Lord restrain me if she'd had something to do with Simon having to leave.

"What didn't happen?" Aline seemed thrilled at the drama. "He threw up everywhere, all over this girl Rocco was getting with. Rocco called Simon's mother from his phone and told her that he'd been taking and selling drugs. She actually believed him! She got the bus over here and dragged him out of the house. Honestly it was hilarious." I turned my nose up at her. How hilarious, getting someone in serious trouble with their parents. Over something so serious as drugs. I tried my hardest to bite my tongue. But rebellious Clary won once more.

"Sounds like a pretty good summation for why you're such a bitch Aline." I said before I'd even thought about it. Even Sebastian and Jordan turned to look at me, Aline looked outraged. She looked over my shoulder, her eyes catching sight of Sebastian.

"Are you going to let her speak to me like this Sebastian?!" Aline protested, fire blazing in her eyes. Sebastian just shrugged. Out of options Aline lunged for me and before I had a chance to respond, Jordan pushed her back gently.

"Stop it Aline. This is meant to be a good atmosphere, stop trying to cause fights." Aline seemed appalled, she climbed out of the pool.

"I'm going to find Jace, he might be able to speak some sense into the pair of you. I can't believe you've both been manipulated by this harlot!" She looked at me angrily before storming out of the room in her bra and underwear. I started laughing immediately with both of the lads joining in my laughter.

"She's a little highly strung isn't she?" I commented as I swam over to where the stairs were, sitting myself down on them.

"Only when she's jealous." Sebastian said, raising his eyebrows. I was starting to feel mighty uncomfortable. As if to further my discomfort, Jace entered the room looking less than impressed.

"I have a few questions." He said, looking unimpressed. "1 – How did you get in here?" Jordan raised his hand, claiming responsibility. Jace nodded as though he'd expected it. "2 – Who upset Aline?" Now it was my turn to raise my hand, I looked away as I raised it. "Surprising. 3 – Where is Aline's dress?" Sebastian pointed to where it was as Jace scooped it up. "Stay put. I'll be back." We all looked at one another as Jace headed back up the stairs.

"Are we in trouble?" Jordan smirked at Sebastian who was climbing up the slide.

"I'll convince him to get in when he comes back down. He'll forget all about it." I was struggling in my head. Do I get out? Do I stay in? Why was I so worried about what everyone else thought? It wasn't as though I was doing anything I shouldn't be? I was just in a swimming pool. But yet…I'd been kissed by Sebastian, I'd been kissed by Jordan and technically Jace had kissed my forehead – was I starting something here? What was I even doing? By the time I'd argued myself into getting out and staying put, Jace had come back into the room.

"Aline has just climbed into a taxi and gone home, apparently she's really upset and needs some time to herself." Jace informed us.

"She's upset?" I laughed loudly. Jace looked at me confused. "I'm a harlot." I said simply, lifting myself onto the poolside. The way they all looked at me in my bodysuit, I felt the urge to cover myself up. Jace sat next to me on the poolside as Sebastian and Jordan started dunking each other again.

"You know when I told you earlier about watching yourself with Aline? Don't think calling her a bitch was such a good idea." Jace commented. I nodded, in total agreement. I reached for a towel on the rack and dried myself down before pulling my denim shorts back on as I was starting to get cold. I could hear my phone ringing from my bag on the opposite side of the pool and immediately was confused. I didn't really get called much. Maybe it was Simon. By the time I'd made it over to my bag, it had stopped ringing and I didn't dare check it while all of the boys were milling around. A crash echoed above us and Jace immediately sprinted up the stairs muttering under his breath, Sebastian chased after him dripping water all over the floor. My phone started ringing again. I quickly grabbed my phone out of my bag and answered it.

"Hello?" I said, kicking myself for not checking the caller ID.

"Clary, what the hell is going on?" It was Jon and he seemed frantic. I could hear the panic in his voice, the way his breathing was loud and airy against the phone.

"What, what do you mean?" I was confused and concerned about what he meant, somehow making myself equally as frantic. My mind immediately jumped to the dangerous – what if the house was on fire and he couldn't get out?

"Aline is outside, shouting bloody murder to the street. Mum's out and I can't go out on my crutches Clary. I can't let her see me like this. No one can see me like this. What's happened at that party you're at? I'm sure she's mentioning your name."

"I may or may not have called her a bitch – she thinks me and you are involved. She's probably there trying to win you back from me." I spoke freely, completely forgetting that Jordan had yet to leave the room. If I had just turned my back, I would have seen the way he was looking at me, the confusion on his face. The way his eyes narrowed, the way his lip curled.

"Clary, you need to keep away from Aline. If you piss her off, she'll not rest until she digs something up on you, makes your life hell. You know what that means – she'll end up finding out about us." Jon sighed. "I'm going to have to call her and try and talk her down. See you later C." I was about to shout for him to ring me back and let me know what happened but he was already gone. As I put my phone back in my bag, I jumped out of my skin when Jordan cleared his throat. My heart sunk to the bottom of my feet as I span to face him. He had pulled himself up onto the side of the pool and was drying the ends of his dreadlocks.

"I'm not even sure if I want to ask what that was about." He said simply, suddenly a lot more sober, a solemn tone.

"Jordan – I totally forgot you were in the room. I-" I had no idea how I was going to talk my way out of this without telling the truth.

"Yeah – I could tell that. 'She's trying to win you back from me?'" He quoted, eyeing me suspiciously. I laughed nervously.

"You've got the wrong end of the stick, honestly. I was being sarcastic." He didn't seem to be buying what I was selling. He lifted himself to his feet as he grabbed for a towel and started to dry himself.

"It sounds like you have a complicated enough life without me making it harder for you." Jordan was starting to pull his jeans on. "It's obviously quite a complex relationship if you have to lie about knowing him." I'd flushed completely red. "I know it was Jon. I just didn't think Aline would have been right all along." He seemed downhearted. I was going to have to tell him something.

"It's not what you think. At all!" I moved over to the other side of the pool as he was pulling his shirt on.

"I just feel stupid for letting my guard down." He shook his hair free from his t-shirt. I moved myself over to the doorway so that I was blocking his path.

"If I tell you this, you can't tell anyone Jordan. You have to promise me." I tried to plead with him. I'd had such a nice time with him, I couldn't have him thinking so lowly of me.

"I don't really want to hear it." He tried to move past me. With one last look over my shoulder to make sure we were definitely alone, I blurted it out.

"He's my brother." I said in a frantic whisper. Jordan stopped in his tracks, looking at me in confusion.

"That's impossible. Jon doesn't have a sister." He shook his head.

"Ta-da." I said bleakly. Jordan pulled me over to the far side of the pool room to a side changing room, out of earshot.

"Why haven't you just told everyone? I don't get why it's something you have to hide."

"I used to live with my mom and then the accident happened. Dad passed away and Jon got injured. Jon's a lot more injured than people think and he doesn't want anyone to know. He doesn't want any visitors, he doesn't want any fuss. It just became easier for me to be Clary Fray, rather than Clary Morgenstern." Jordan was taking in everything I was saying in silence.

"That's really selfless." Jordan commented. "I don't think I could keep up that act. Especially around Jace and Sebastian."

"I try to stick with them to keep them away from Jon."

"How injured is he?"

"Really bad." I said meekly. It felt strange talking about this. "He can't walk."

"Ever again?"

"He'll walk again. It's just going to take some time."

"I feel horrible for going off at you there. I genuinely like you Clary but I don't want to push you into anything. I didn't realise how fresh everything still is for you. When you said your Dad had passed away, I didn't know you'd meant so recently, so suddenly…" He trailed off as I smiled weakly. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me in and holding me against his chest. I allowed myself to accept the warmth his cuddle was offering. He held me out at arm's length and looked down at me smiling. He kissed the top of my head lightly.

"We need to figure out a way of dealing with Aline."

Thank you for reading! Feel free to let me know what you think/what you would like to see below!

All of my love,

Until the next time!

~Sapph