PoV Clary

When I got off the plane in New York, there were obviously a lot of people there for the school. Three whole coach busses full. I followed nervously, pushing my hair behind my ears and pulling on a beanie. Guys wear a lot of beanies, apparently, because Isabelle bought me six. I tugged down my sweatshirt sleeves, pulled up my pants, and walked over to luggage claim, all the while thinking, This is not going to work.

On the bus, I sat in the back, listening to my music and focusing on the view. I felt a guy sit next to me, and was initially annoyed. I say initially because when I turned to yell at him, practicing my guy voice, my breath hitched in my throat. He was beautiful. His hair was a soft gold colour, almost covering his eyes, which were almost the exact colour of honey; rich yellow and gold.

"Can I help you?" he asked.

"I…" I shook my head, and then pointed at the seat. "You're on my sketch pad."

"Oh," he said, getting up to remove it. He handed it back with a smile, and then seemed to be engrossed in a conversation with the guy in front of him. I looked at the offending person, wondering who could it have been to interrupt m nearly conversation with the blond boy, and saw another nice looking boy. He was good looking in his own way though, a shy beauty. His hair was soft looking and black, though it looked like he'd cut it himself, in the dark, with a rust pair of garden shears. He had high-ish cheekbones, pale skin, a thin nose, pale pink lips, and startling blue eyes. He looked familiar, as well.

"Are you a Lightwood?" I asked suddenly, instantly slipping into my guy voice.

The guy looked startled. "How did you know?"

"I have a friend who looks like you. Isabelle…" I drifted off, since the gold haired boy was looking at me funny. "What?"

"Nothing, you just sound a bit like a girl."

I scowled. Drat, I thought.

"She's my sister," the black haired boy said. "My names Alec."

"Cain," I said, offering a hand. He took it and shook.

"I've never heard her say anything about a boy names Cain."

"Well, she's not really my friend," I said, tugging on my sleeve. "She's my sister's friend. Clary."

"Oh." He seemed appeased, as though finding out that his little sister didn't have a male friend called Cain made him happy. Brothers, I though. I found myself sat in an awkward silence when neither of them continued talking. "So," I said to the blond one. "What's your name?"

"Jace," he said.

"Nice name," I said.

There was another awkward silence.

"So," Alec said.

The bus stopped.

"We must be here!" Alec said.

"No, we're picking up some other kids." Jace nodded out the window. There was a small crowd of boys piling onto the bus.

One of the guys walked towards the end of the bus, and stood, looking at Alec. "I see you have an empty seat next to you. May I sit?"

We all looked at him, eyes wide. He was… not typical, to say the least.

He must have been Asian, because he had a slight tilt to his thin eyes. His nose was thin, like Alec's but his was a little longer. His black hair was up in a crown of multi-coloured spikes, his skin was tan, his eyes a brilliant yellowy green. He must have been wearing contacts, though, because the pupil was split, and vertical, like a cats. His shirt was tight and bright tie-dye coloured, a baggy black jacket over top. His pants were tight and black, his boots dark blue. The clothes would not have gone together on anyone else, but he made it work.

He raised a thin eyebrow.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer," he said, placing a hand on his hip.

"Take a seat, back there!" yelled the driver.

Alec blushed deeply and stood so the teen could take the seat in front of me, next to the window.

"Hi," I said.

"You look like a girl," he said, but he smiled and held out his hand. "The name's Magnus Bane."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Cain. And this is Jace and Alec."

"Nice," he said, looking Alec over. "Short for Alexander, I'm guessing."

Alec shivered as Magnus rolled the "r" in his name. He nodded and blushed again. He smiled a small smile, and turned back to Jace, his shoulders tight. I was very sure that his shoulder blades were touching. Magnus grinned like the Cheshire cat, and turned back to me.

"So, what you in for?" he asked.

"Art," I replied dumbly.

"Really? I never would have guessed." He smiled. "I'm here because I am one of the best singers in all of Brooklyn, and I am one of the brightest minds from Indonesia."

"I'm a really good drawer," I said, smiling shyly. "I'm just really glad I could get in."

"You're new?" he asked. "Oh, babe, you're gonna get destroyed by the seniors."

"No he's not," Jace said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "We Juniors might not be all that like you seniors, but this little sophomore will be fine under the protection of Alec and me."

"Don't forget me," Magnus said. "I wasn't going to say that I'd pick on her, it's just that the others might pick on her."

"Him," I said.

"Mmmm, I'll be the judge of that."

"Magnus is one of the most popular seniors," Alec informed me. "I've heard of you, but I never actually met you."

"That's because I live all over America, dear, and I get to school different ways each year." Magnus smiled and touched Alec's arm, rubbing his thumb over the fabric of his sweater. "You feel strong."

Alec was frozen, his eyes wide beneath his fringe, his breathing undetectable. "P-please… d-don't…"

Magnus frowned, pouted and removed his hand from Alec.

I hid my smile behind my hand. It was obvious that Magnus was hitting on him, and Alec just didn't know. The rest of the trip was uneventful. We got to the school, and shuffled off to our rooms. Jace and Alec, Magnus and some guy called Jordan, and me and a guy called Simon. He was pretty cool, with video games nerd written all over his face. His nose had a light spray of freckles, not like mine, but they were there. He had a head of short curly hair, his glasses thick rimmed. He was skinny and tall, his clothes baggy and a bit ratty. He was a sophomore, like me.

I set up my side of the room, placing a picture of me and my mum, and one of Isabelle.

"She your girl friend?" Simon asked, pointing at Iz.

"No, she's my best friend."

He nodded.

Before I went to sleep, I called my mom. Simon was quietly snoring to my left, moon light drifting thought the window next to me. She was asleep, back in Boston, and she must not have heard the phone go off, so I left a message, saying how much fun I was having.

I couldn't wait for the next day.

My plan was working.