Backlash

Their contempt of each other started at a very young age. She had stolen the only pink crayon in the box and of course, Clary's unicorn could not be complete without pink. The fight had cost 12 broken pencils, 1 jar of paint splattered all over the floor, a week of missed deserts and for Clary, a black eye.

Yes, it was safe to say that Clary disliked Aline. The resentment only culminated in high school when Aline became the smiling, popular, petite cheerleader while Clary stayed the short, red headed artist. They had taunted each other, tortured each other and tried to make each other's lives miserable…that is until now.

Give an enemy a hug when they're feeling down.

Of course, Aline's name popped into her head. Clary sighed as she collapsed onto the bench. This was the hardest one yet. The other two had been with total stranger and this act…she knew this person, talked to her, yelled at her…resented her.

"You're not going to quit now are you?" She looked up and tried to control her shock as she saw the guy from the library. Clary sighed and shook her head.

"I don't know…I mean this one is a hard one." The guy looked over and read it.

"Hmm…I suppose you could always sneak a lizard into their bag while you're hugging them if it makes you feel better." Clary gave him a look.

"It's act of kindness…not acts of pure grossness." The guy chuckled.

"Then maybe you should start thinking about this project in a kinder way."

"What do you mean?"

"Why would people want to perform these acts for people? They don't randomly go and buy coffee for someone because they're forced to, it's because they want to and that's what's so great about it. Kindness is the willingness to help other people, that's why there's sharing is caring and all that other crap." Clary raised an eyebrow.

"So you're saying that I should start wanting to do these things instead of just trying to prove them wrong?" The guy shrugged.

"You should to get the full experience…or you could just take my lizard advice." Clary laughed. They guy started to turn away.

"Hey!" He stopped. "What's your name? 'Guy from the Library' is way too long of a title." He grinned.

"Jace. My name is Jace."

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Clary spent days think of what she could do. But it was on a quiet, Friday night that fate really got her. The hallways were empty in the school, since it was very late and the weekend. Clary just needed to clear some things up with her professor before the weekend and was in a hurry to get home when she heard a small sound.

It was as small as a flutter but echoed off the hallway. It sound…like a sob. Curious, Clary approached the girl's bathroom door and slowly pushed it open. There, curled in a ball was the source of the sound-Aline. Clary could only stare at her with shock until Aline's head snapped up and her eyes rested on her. The sorrow turned into annoyance as soon as she realized who it was.

"What are you doing here?" She demanded.

"I-I just heard someone crying…I wanted to see if you were okay." Clary was surprised at how much those words were true.

"Well now you see, I'm fine okay? Now get out."

"I-is there something wrong?" Clary wanted to smack herself, what was she doing? Aline obviously wanted to be alone but…Clary couldn't just leave her here, lying vulnerable on the ground.

"Why do you care? You hate me anyway." Clary bit her lip as she tentatively edged closer to her.

"You think I hate you over a pink crayon?" To her surprise, Aline threw her head back and laughed.

"God, that was years ago." She quieted. "But there's more isn't there?"

"I don't hate you…I just-I don't understand you. I don't understand the significance of human pyramids and boyfriends and all of the things that you like. I don't hate you…it's just that we're so…"

"Different?" Aline finished. They sat in silence for a while. "My dad's been cheating on my mom for a while." She said quietly. Clary looked up in surprise. "Yea, over twenty years of marriage and my father's been screwing his assistant." She sniffled as she wiped her eyes. "Now they're getting a divorce, fighting over everything. He tells me that he probably won't be there for my graduation because Cheryl," she spit out her name bitterly, "is delivering soon." She looked at my shocked face.

"Yea he has a kid on the way with her. He wants me to move in with him and his new family...his new daughter but my mom-"she broke off and took a shaky breath. "I just-I worry about her." She started crying again. Her hand reached out and grabbed Clary's arm. Slowly Clary angled herself towards Aline and wrapped her arms around her petite form.

Aline tensed for a moment before relaxing. They held each other for a moment. "Thanks." Aline sniffed before pulling away. "I really needed that." Clary smiled.

"Glad I could be of help." As Clary got up and moved to the door. Aline's voice stopped her.

"Clary?" Clary looked back. Aline smiled. "I never hated you either." Clary grinned as she walked out. Sure Aline wasn't a friend…but she wasn't an enemy either and losing one enemy, one less person that dislikes you in this world made hers a little brighter.

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Thank you to for her act of kindness. Keep on coming with those review and suggestions!