A/N: Sorry I'm so slow! As a gift to you; I give you two chapters! Everything in italics, is past tense, and everything that isn't is in present tense.

The Mortal Instruments don't belong to me in any way, shape, or form.

Chapter 4: Freshman year.

Casually walking up the long trek up towards Bellcourt Academy; my breathing was ragged, and my hair had the 'wind swept' look. It was near the end of the school year, and Homecoming decorations were everywhere you looked. A constant reminder of how un-normal I was. I jogged up the last few steps, and entered the school. My eyes sparkled, and instantly sought out the most handsome, most gorgeous guy in the school – in my eyes. My baggy faded sweater covered my fingers, and my thumbs wiggled freely nervously through holes that I'd made. Moving one hand towards my face; I chewed on the sleeve. I was terrified. I knew that, and I was pretty sure everyone else who passed me knew that. No one else knew why though – I was going to ask my best friend, and boyfriend to the Homecoming dance.

The throng of people was thick and compact in the hallways. I shoved, and pushed past freshmen and Upper-class men alike out of my way. My long hair fell into my eyes again, and I didn't bother pushing it out of my way. Rounding a corner; I looked at my watch, my eyes bugging out of my skull, I ran faster. No! I'm going to be so flipping late! Running into the classroom with a picosecond to spar; I skidded into my seat. Sighing, and panting as I sat down; my eyes caught with the guy next to me. Our eyes stayed locked together, and we smiled sweetly at each other. He was my best friend: Adam Vincient.

Class went by agonizingly slowly, and all that kept we awake was the boy beside me, – more like his hands – and he nudged me. Making a terrible joke about Shakespeare; we laughed, and the teacher glared at us, while muttering 'Troublemakers' under his breath. We held hands under the table briefly, and then the bell rang. Dashing off with our backpacks, we left the English room.

"Wanta' bunk next?"

Adam wiggled his eyebrows in a suggestive way, and I blushed. Giggling out at 'yes' in reply, he pointed toward the sign that said: Dance Gymnasium. I nodded, and timidly intertwined our hands together – glad I had the courage to accomplish that. He sped up his pace, and directed me to the place where we met frequently together. Once we were outside the entrance to the gym. He dragged me inside; instantly pushing me against the wall opposite the mirrors. He fisted the fabric of my sweater, his mouth falling onto mine.

We kissed gently for a few seconds, before I pushed Adam away, chuckling. We breathed out a sigh of happiness. It was perfect like this. Our secret. Only us ever knowing, but I wanted more. Adam moved his clutching hands away from me, and rested them on the wall on either side of my face. My eyes fluttered open, and came face to face with his hypnotic jade eyes. His eyes varying from blue to green in the light. I dove forward towards his plump lips, capturing them with my own; my own rough one, sliding along his. My heart swelled every time we did something 'normal'`; although I couldn't stop the small nagging fears in the back of my mind.

I broke the kiss, and blurted:

"Will you go to Homecoming with me?"

Adam looked at me timidly, with a hint of fear in him. He shook his head slowly, and I felt my heart slowly tear in half. He brought his hand over to touch my face, but I flinched away from him. I got out of his encircled embrace, wobbled over towards the mirrors, and slid down them. Grabbing my backpack from the side of me; I began to write my essay that was due in two weeks.

As soon as I said those words; I instantly regretted them. Between all the advanced school work, secretly dating Adam, and keeping my secret away from my family - I just didn't think. It was selfish of me, to ask him, but I wanted Adam to be the first guy - my first everything - to have my heart, my body, and someone I could be truthful to. I was so naïve back then, so shy, so childish. Of course; it was my first year of high school, - in advanced sophomore classes - but shouldn't I have been more grown up?

(Start of freshman year)

My tired eyes opened with enthusiasm about what the day held for me. It was the first day of being a big kid; treated like a respectable adult. My whole body buzzed with a nervous energy, and I hopped out of bed excitedly for a shower, and then I raced downstairs for breakfast. The smell of freshly made pancakes invaded my nose, and I sat down at the kitchen table next to Robert, my Dad. My Dad for reasons unknown to me was dressed in a finely pressed blue stripped suit, sipping his coffee, like it was a cup of earl tea. I laughed a little at my adoptive brother, Jace, - he was just like an actual brother, it was awesome - who nudged me sleepily, and mouthed: 'what's so funny?' He rubbed his eyes adorably, and I blushed a little. I shook my head, signalling for him to not worry.

Mum walked in with two plates full of pancakes, at the exact same time that my other sibling, Izzy and Max sat down at the table. Mum and Dad made a small prayer, while I stared blankly at the pancakes. Me and Jace dived for the first pancakes as soon as they were done. We were like vultures wanting a piece of dead meat. Grabbing the top one; I shoved it harshly onto my plate. Maryse (Mum) lectured us both though:

"One at a time boys! We don't want you all getting fat, and that includes you Robert. Leave some for your sister boys!"

It was like any other normal day in the Lightwood household. Maryse made breakfast, Robert read the paper, and kids where a nuisance. That was how we functioned. Life was perfect. I had the picture perfect family. Then during the school year; I had the perfect boyfriend. I learned that perfect didn't exist, and I was living in a fools fantasy, because everything changed the night of the Homecoming dance.

(End of Homecoming)

It was finally the end of the Homecoming dance, and like other people me and Adam, were slightly drunk, - on the spiked punch, courtesy of Sebastian - and like other couples we both snuck away to where no one could see us. My house was free, so I tugged Adam towards my house where he could crash. The slight intoxication made me bolder, than how I would be normally. Clasping Adams hand with my own; we broke off into a run, laughing and holding hands the whole way - never wanting to let go.

I opened the white front door, and pulled Adam inside; kissing him softly, before poking my tongue out at him. We made popcorn, and watched the Star Wars trilogy. All the way through we snuck chaste kisses. On faces, hands and necks; small bites and sweet caresses. Adam's more experienced mouth on my own.

It was my perfect night, and I loved it. I didn't want it to end...and then my parents came home.

In the dim light of the TV screen; I dove forward and kissed Adam. The front door opened, and in the same moment had a clear view of what me and Adam were doing in the living room. My mother put her hand up to her mouth, and held in a sob I knew was trying to escape for her. My face looked like a deer in headlights, and Adam pushed me off and shouted:

"Ew! Yuck, Alec you freak! Why the hell did you kiss me?"

My Dad's face was completely blank, his entire body stiff and still. There was no flicker of emotion on the face I had become familiar with; almost as if something snapped inside of him. I gave Adam a panicked look, but he just looked angry. He pushed me away from him, glared at me, before running out of the house - and my life - with my mother close behind him. I heard the door slam, and a car start-up - most likely my mother driving him home. My first love broke my heart for the first time.

I looked over at my father again; he casted hateful looks into my direction, and walked straight past me into the kitchen. He didn't even acknowledge my existence. I followed slowly behind him; - that was a big mistake - my father stood propped up against the counter, hunched over nursing a glass of golden-brown liquid.

"Dad?"

"..."

The silence I received hurt more than the hateful glance. My biggest secret was revealed; something I sworn I would never reveal. I went to speak to my father again, but as I opened my mouth; he struck me a cross the face. Hard. After the inital contact of his fist to my soft fleshy cheek; I instantly felt the distinctive sting of pain. My hand twitched to touch the blossoming red mark, and sooth the burning on my cheek. My eyes stung from trying to hold back the flood of tears, that were threatening to overflow; one stray tear fell over my cheek, and a small hiccup escaped my lips. My father stared blankly at me; as if I was there, but he wasn't really seeing me. I brokenly stared back at him.

"Go to your room Alexander, and you will not come out unless it's for the bathroom, or I call you...and don't even think about telling your mother about this."

That was my death sentence. I dazily trudged up the carpeted stair case; the soft texture confusing the meaning of home to me, tears creating darker patches of green on it. I couldn't think about anything else. I had no feelings of shyness, or timid Alec. Something within my broke when he hit me. The first of many. Something broke when my mother ignored me, and just left. The first of many times. My crime: kissing a boy. My sentence: outcasted, ignored, and beaten. I soon realise that my family, my life, and myself weren't so perfect after all...

(present day)

A hand collided with the back of my skull; my defence mechanism was to punch whoever slapped me. My first made contact with the side of Sebastian's' face, who yelled a sting of profanities. I turned my body around fully, and quickly noticed that no one was in the classroom apart from us. I blinked a few times in confusion.

"Er, guys'. Where is everyone?"

I gave them all three of them a confused - almost flustered - look. They laughed at me, and I joined them.

"Dumb ass! What were you thinking about that was so important?"

I kept quiet, and muttered a small; 'nothing' never-the-less; Sebastian noticed, and gave me a small smile. "C'mon dude! Cheer up a bit. I have a plan. I wanna' party. Which means you can get drunk, and let loose. What ya' think?"

I nodded slowly, and gave them a very fake killer smile.

A/N: Just finishing chapter 5 at the moment. I'm really sorry I procrastinate so much - it's becoming a problem. In my old author's note I said that Raphael lives with Magnus. Well I cut him out of this chapter, because he is pretty irrelevant. Sorry Raphael.

Next chapter is called: 'Pandemonium? Party on!'

Review?

- Sarah (who's far too lazy)