The next few days flew by agonizingly slowly, and I wasted them by zoning out the teachers, sitting alone (well, with Simon, but still alone) at lunch and watching Seb and his girlfriend. I didn't know why I was so obsessed with them, but I was. I found myself thinking of ways to start a conversation with the copper-headed girl, but I didn't even know her name yet.

During lunch on my fourth day at this new school, I sat at my usual lonely table and wondered where the girl was. She wasn't with her usual group, but I was sure I had seen her earlier today. I sighed as I finished my food.

"What's with you today?" Simon asked curiously.

I shrugged. "Just been a rough week in total," I said, "And a lot of homework. I'm going to head to the library. Feel free to spend time with your actual friends. I don't need to be protected."

Each day, it felt like Simon was clinging closer and closer to me. It was strange, really. But I didn't have the heart to tell him to get lost. I supposed that I did owe him.

"Fine," Simon mumbled. I could tell he was a little annoyed, but I didn't really care. "I'll go hang with Eric then."

As I strolled out of the cafeteria, I rounded a corner and felt something crash into my chest. I lost my balance and landed on my backside. I was momentarily stunned, but I managed to clamber back to my feet. That's when I realised what… or more like who… I had crashed into.

The girl with the copper hair had fallen back as well, but she was still sitting on the floor, her books scattered around her. By the time she shook off her shock, her features were ablaze with anger and annoyance. "Why don't you watch where you're going?" She exclaimed.

I was admittedly taken aback. "I, uh, I-I'm sorry…" I stuttered. Smooth, I thought, Real smooth, Jace.

I bent down and helped collect up her books. I picked up what must have been the novel she had been reading. The title betrayed to me that it was an X-Men comic. I was shocked, and my face must have shown it. The girl looked over, saw the book in my hands and snatched it away from me. "How nosy are you?"

Again, I just stuttered like an idiot, "I'm…. I'm… I'm, uh, s-sorry,"

The girl had collected everything back into her arms, and she sighed deeply. For the first time, she raised her head and looked me directly in the eye. The intensity of her emerald eyes stunned me, for what felt like the millionth time in the past minute. She looked away and shook her head as though she had caught herself doing something bad.

"Look," she said, "I'm really sorry. You didn't do anything wrong. I'm just a bit snappy today,"

Again, I was shocked. And once again, my face must have shown it, because she giggled. "I'm not that much of a bitch!" she laughed, "Don't look so surprised to hear an apology."

"Sorry," I said, my lips cracking into a smile. The expression felt foreign on my face. "I don't think you're a bitch. It's just that… I guess I've been associating you with Seelie and Seb. Two people of which have not been very fond of me since I got here."

I had caught Seelie glaring at me across the room on more than one occasion. And Seb had been... well, Seb... for the past three days.

The girl bit her lip. "Yeah, well that's your mistake. Don't judge me by the people I hang out with. And if I'm going to be honest with you, Seb doesn't hate you. He's actually eyeing you off for the next football tryouts. But I can't say much about your Seelie problem. She hates your guts."

My spirits had lifted dramatically when she said Seb wanted me on the football team. There was nothing that I wanted more at this point in time. Not only would it mean I'd be able to prove myself to the school, but it would be the perfect chance to fit into a group like the one at my old school. And get closer to this girl…

And the comment about Seelie barely did anything to dim the sudden high spirits. I already knew she hated me, and so far that hadn't done anything to harm me.

I beamed at the girl in front of me, "You're serious?"

She smiled. "Duh, why would I lie?"

I couldn't stop smiling. After the silence surpassed a minute I probably should have said something, but there were a thousand thoughts flying through my head. I was drunk on relief. After a while, the girl giggled again and said, "I should go now. It was nice to finally meet you."

She turned away from me and headed towards the cafeteria. I watched her, beaming like an idiot. Just before she disappeared from sight, she turned and said, "Oh, and my name's Clary, by the way."

She looked at me expectantly, until I realised she was expecting me to give my name, and I called, "I'm Jace."

"I'll see you around, Jace," she called to me, and then disappeared.

The next morning, I had biology. A whole week had rolled around and today we were receiving our assignments.

I came to class early, mostly because I had nothing better to do. But part of me was hoping that I would be able to talk to Clary before Seb showed up. I had noticed that she tended to already be waiting in class when I got there, and Seb was usually the last to second last in class.

Therefore, I was disappointed when the couple waltzed into the room together. At first, I sunk into my seat, my spirits dropping considerably. But then I noticed that Clary was saying something in a somewhat angered tone. And Seb did not look happy.

Not long after they arrived, the teacher walked in and silenced the class. "Today I am giving you you're assignments," she announced, "I expect that you have all chosen a partner by now. It will be a paired research task, and you and your partner will need to find time in your own time to work on the assignment. As we said before, one person will be left alone and will receive extra help from myself."

Hmm, I wonder who will be alone, I thought sarcastically to myself, knowing that it would be me.

But, as the teacher started explaining more of the finer details of the assignment, angered whispering reached my ears. My head looked towards the sound in interest. It turned out that Clary was saying something to Seb, and her face was bright read and burning with anger. Seb was rolling his eyes and leaning back in his chair like he couldn't care less.

I noticed with a start that I wasn't the only one looking at the couple. A few kids were murmuring about their argument in excitement. Nothing like fresh gossip, right? But a few minutes passed, and Seb started whispering angrily back at Clary.

Eventually, the teacher seemed to notice. She looked up from her piece of paper and had to double take at the fighting couple. At first, she brushed it off and tried to continue with what she was saying, but then Seb exclaimed, "Then bloody go if you want! I don't need you! I hardly even want you right now!"

Even I winced at his harsh tone. The room fell completely silent. The teacher gaped at Seb, then at Clary. "You two!" she said sternly after a lengthy pause, "Is there something you would like to share with the class?"

"No, miss," Clary spat, "I was actually just wondering if I could change seats?"

"Please do," the teacher said with a final stern look.

Clary pulled her books and pencil case into her arms and stood up without a second glance at Seb. She started walking towards the back of the classroom and it took me a few moments to realise that she was walking right towards me. My body seemed to completely freeze up as she sat herself down in the empty chair beside me.

"Hi," she said coldly. I knew that the tone in her voice wasn't directed at me, but it still terrified me.

"Hey," I replied awkwardly.

"Will you be my assignment partner?" she asked.

"I, um… what about –?"

"Don't!" she snapped, then calmed herself, "Don't say his name."

I glanced over towards Seb, who had turned in his chair slightly to look at us. His black eyes caught my gaze and an angry fire began to burn in them. I swallowed and quickly looked away. "Sure," I said, "I'll be your partner."

Even though I wasn't looking, I could feel Seb's glare aimed right at my head. Clary had said that he didn't hate me before, but now I was certain that things had changed drastically since yesterday.

Hope you enjoyed :D See you next time