Author's Note: Okay guys, I AM SO SORRY. I've been so busy lately, and honestly my motivation was lacking big time. I know it's short; it's just the way it had to be. I'll be updating "The Circle" next, so if you read that, keep your eyes open for it :). Sorry again guys, please don't hate me! **hides under a rock**

*Earlier that day*

Alec POV

"Yes, Mr. Morgenstern, I'm one hundred percent sure this new software will be simple enough for your daughter to understand. Clary has been getting along just fine with the loner computer she has been using. She only comes by to ask questions occasionally, but she really is getting it," this man really didn't think his daughter was capable of anything. He stormed into my office twenty minutes ago demanding me to check out a brand new computer, he had gotten for her.

See, what Valentine didn't seem to comprehend was, when you get a new computer, the software is always up-to-date. I've just been repeating the same thing over and over again. If my dad weren't a friend to this man, I would've kicked him out by now.

I switched over most of the files from her other computer. I made sure that she backed up her files, because her father warned me about the new laptop a week ago. Her old computer seemed to be perfectly fine to me. I might offer to buy it from her for the parts; I needed another hard drive to put into my pc.

The way Mr. Morgenstern's son was standing by the door glaring at me was not making this encounter any easier. Jonathan and Valentine Morgenstern looked so alike it was sometimes hard to remember they were different people. Valentine had very few wrinkles, so it was easy to become confused. I went to school with Jonathan, but I don't remember him having many friends. I know Jace spent some time with him, but they never talked again after graduation. Sometimes you're only friends with people because you see them five times a week. Hell, sometimes you're only interested in someone because you see him every day.

"Thank you, Alec. I will be sure to update your father about how informative you have been. I appreciate you helping out my daughter, and can only hope you will continue to do so in the future?" the bleach-haired man brought his hand out for me to shake. I met his gesture and smiled slightly. I nodded, but I knew Clary would never need my help. She wouldn't ask even if she did. I've known her for two days and I'm already positive she can take care of herself.

I walked over towards the door and opened it for the two men. Jonathan hadn't said a word the entire time and I valued his silence. I remember how opinionated he used to be in class and I did not want a repeat of that. As we walked through the school, I could feel eyes staring at me. It was lunchtime, so the hallways weren't vacant and a little hard to walk through. I normally try to avoid leaving my office around this time. Students rarely come in to see me so I never have to deal with much confrontation.

I walked the pair of men towards the front doors, but something caught my eye as I watched them leave. In the opposite doorway, Magnus was sucking face with Ms. Belcourt, who worked at the elementary school down the street. I was getting really sick of him doing this. It has become his main mission in life for the past few months to show off his newest hookups. Every single day I run into him and this week he has been with Camille, whom apparently is very handsy.

There is nothing I would want more than for him to stop bothering me. As of late, Isabelle has become suspicious of me, and if she ever found out, I don't know what I would do. My family is the most important thing I have, and if I lost it…I'm not sure I could survive that.

I fucked everything up on October 17th. He asked for my help while he made a report for one of the school board members, and his computer kept freezing. I helped him finish the report in about twenty minutes, but we stayed talking for a few hours. We talked about our families, whether or not we wanted our own, and why we both felt like we were stuck here.

Then he started talking about his fucking cat and the look in his eyes made me smile. I couldn't remember the last time I smiled just from the happiness of others. I'd never felt so much need with anyone. It was impossible to contain myself, so I kissed him. I hate myself for that, and I regret it completely.

I wouldn't regret it if Magnus weren't such an ass about it. After that kiss, I left immediately. I couldn't process what had happened, and I still question it. After that day I never brought it up again, but Magnus wouldn't let me off that easy. He parades his newest trophy around school every week, but they're all women. It doesn't make me jealous, just very pissed off.

I wish I could be the guy he wants me to be. To be able to walk right up to him, and kiss him right now in front of the whole school and every camera so my father has a front row seat, but that just isn't me. Seeing him with all of these women makes me so angry. The very first time, I wanted to kill him for even thinking it would make me jealous. Like he was a little bully on the playground using my favorite swing to spite me. The more I think about it these days, the angrier I get.

Sitting in my office, listening to sad emo music is how I was spending my afternoon when the intercom came on above me. I become alert when Isabelle's voice doesn't come on. Clary sounded really freaked out, and that was enough to have me practically running to the main office.

Now in my general pissed mood, which has become a daily routine because of Magnus Bane, I have to go deal with my sister. I noticed her foul disposition earlier, but I ignored it, hoping it would eventually go away. Add that to the list of my regrets, and underline then highlight it.

Walking into the office, I became aware of the balloons. Morgenstern really outdid himself, the balloons were everywhere. As I made my way through, I stepped on a few of them and they popped loudly.

I saw my sister before I heard her. Her body was shaking from her consistent sobs. I had only seen her like this once before, when she was in a car accident with Max a few years ago. For a couple of hours, we had thought he was going to die. Isabelle would never have forgiven herself if he had. Sebastian had been there for her every second, so I assume that is why she is upset now. The bastard must of left her.

Before I can even put my thoughts together, I am being dragged to my sister. Clary puts me in the same position she was in, with Izzy's head in my lap. I was uncomfortable with the similarities between this current situation and five years ago. Every second was replaying in my head, along with the feeling of anger towards Sebastian. It was growing and growing, and I knew I was about to blow up when Jace walked in.

When he said something to Clary that sounded remotely offensive, I just wanted to yell at him. I held my tongue because I remembered Clary could stand her ground. I was right, because she then called Jace an asshole in response.

"Excuse me?" Jace's voice sounded really high-pitched. I would've made fun of him if I weren't so damn mad.

I decide it's time to give Clary some back up. "Well do you really blame her, Jace? You've been nothing but an asshole since she's been here. It's not her fault everything bad has been happening to you."

Jace was having enough problems as it was with his birth parents. Stephen and Celiné Herondale were doing everything in their power to make sure Jace wasn't happy. Celiné was sixteen when she got pregnant with Jace. He was raised in foster care until he was six when my parents adopted him after I became best friends with him. Lately the Herondales just won't leave him alone, but he would never go to the police because a part of him still loves them. Jace tries to ignore them, because he doesn't want to hurt our parents by telling them the truth. We have tried a million times to get him to tell my dad, but he just won't. He has always looked for my father's approval, and he has always gotten it. He would hate to see that approval vanish.

"Alec, this matter doesn't concern you. I am supposed to be her boss and her she is using vulgar language at me. I will not accept this and will report this to Magnus," Jace retorted, trying to get me out of the conversation. He was just trying to make Clary feel like a child who got caught sneaking cookies from the cookie jar. He would never actually report her, but him even mentioning Magnus made me ten times more pissed off.

"Oh, would you just shut up? No one wants to hear your 'I'm a professional charade' we all know it's just an act for Daddy. Ever since you've been here, all you do is never show up and then act like an angel when you do. It's gotten old very quickly, Jace," I see Jace look at me in complete surprise, like I just slapped him. To be fair, I shouldn't have pulled the daddy card, which was low of me.

Isabelle looked up at me with sad eyes. I knew I should not have said what I did, but it was a fight for another day. I moved my hands to my sister's hair, like I used to do when we were kids and pulled my hands through it. She started to cry again and I rubbed her back. I stopped listening to Jace fight with Clary, and eventually they left the room. To be honest, they sounded like an old married couple.

I couldn't really pinpoint how long I sat there with Izzy. I waited until the final bell rang and kids were crowding the halls, before I helped her up. She stopped crying a while ago and we just stayed there in peaceful silence. She smiled up at me before I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and I checked my messages.

The newest one was from the very man where all my problems surfaced from: Magnus Bane.

Alec, we need to talk.