Isabelle scoffed, dragging me after her into the kitchen. Her parents didn't appear to be home. Footsteps on the staircase informed me that Jace was most likely on his way down to pester us. Isabelle must have seen the look on my face, as she met him head on in the doorway.

"If you're wanting to come in the kitchen, will you at least put some clothes on – we don't want to see it!" Isabelle was lecturing him in the doorway, I was silently cheering her on.

"I need a drink Iz, I'll be two seconds, can you just move out – of the – way." Jace grunted, trying to edge his way around Isabelle. She stood firm.

"No Jace! Put some clothes- wait, what was that?" I'd heard it as well. A bang rang out from above and then what sounded like shuffling. Now it was Jace's turn to try and stop Isabelle from getting past him.

"It'll just be something falling over in my room, Iz. I'll sort it, don't worry." But she was like a woman possessed. She slipped underneath his arm, before tearing up the stairs. Jace was trying to run after her, but you can only go so fast with a towel wrapped around your waist. I hung back. 1. So that I didn't get involved. 2. Because I had images of Jace's towel coming undone.

It all happened very quickly. A scream rang out, then Isabelle started shouting. I didn't know where to hide my face when a girl came running down the stairs, pulling her tshirt back over her head. No one was chasing her, Jace and Isabelle bickering between themselves.

"You are sooo embarrassing Jace! You can't live your life like this!" I could hear her shouting above me. I placed myself at the table, flicking my phone open so if they came down it would look as though I hadn't been listening.

Clary: Rescue me…
Simon: Sup?
Clary: Yknow that feeling when you hear something you shouldn't?
Simon: Do tell!
Clary: No! I may be meeting you sooner than expected though..
Simon: I look forward to prising the information from you in person ;)

I giggled at my phone, placing it back in my pocket because my battery was starting to die and I needed it to let Simon know the details later.

"What's so funny?" I hadn't even heard him come down but he was stood in the doorway, a pair of loose fitting grey jogging bottoms replacing the towel. I just shook my head, shrugging. "Cat got your tongue?"

"Not really. Where's Isabelle?" I asked, wondering where she had gotten too.

"No doubt she'll be down in a few minutes, once she's calmed herself down a little bit. You think she'd learn not to leave me alone with her friends, but alas, here we are again." He sauntered over to the fridge, grabbing some juice from inside. I could understand the appeal. His body looked as though it was chiselled from stone, every feature perfectly defined. Shame about his attitude.

"Yeah, Isabelle doesn't have to worry about that one." I smiled. "You shouldn't either." Jace's eyes flashed wickedly as he made his way over to where I was sat, instantly putting me on the edge of my seat.

"I'm sure you'll come to regret saying that." He muttered, mere centimetres from my ear. I tried to move from my seat but Jace had practically wedged himself behind me. As soon as I was on my feet, Jace had me backed up, against the table.

"Excuse me."

"Excuse you." Jace repeated, not moving an inch. I rolled my eyes.

"Please." I mumbled, resigning myself.

"What was that?" Jace asked, leaning himself forward so that his hands were on either side of the table forcing me to lean back slightly so that our bodies wouldn't touch.

"Please!" I yelped, my face burning up. Jace pulled back, a smug grin on his face.

"All you had to do was ask nicely." He pulled himself back so he was stood straight once more, looking down at me. "Until later, Red." He timed his exit perfectly with Isabelle's entrance and I hoped that any trace of blushing was gone from my face.

"Clary, do you mind if we go and get food elsewhere? I can't really deal with being in this house right now…" Isabelle trailed off. This was the best idea she had had all day. I tried not to appear too eager to get out of here.

"We could go to Java Jones?" I smiled, and Isabelle linked my arm, seemingly overjoyed.

"I'm so glad you understand Clary! I'm just not sure what I'll do if I'm left in this house with him."

"What happened? You don't have to talk about it, if you don't want to that is." I said, somewhat awkwardly as we headed towards Java Jones.

"He's clearly skipped last period to come home with Lara. I'm so pissed, Clary! I'm on the cheerleading team with her, she's supposed to be my friend. She used to come and do homework at my place all of the time, I never thought there was anything between her and Jace but clearly that's what she was after all along! I wouldn't mind if he actually got a girlfriend, that's completely different. But he just acts as though it's a game, he really needs to grow up." Isabelle vented. I nodded in agreement. "I thought he would grow out of it, but he just seems to have gotten worse. No woman is safe." I knew how that felt. He didn't seem to have any inhibitions, acting purely on impulse.

Isabelle ordered for the both of us when we reached Java Jones as I found a booth in one of the darker corners of the room. She curled up on the seat next to me when she got back.

"So enough about Jace. What about you?"

I shrugged. "What do you want to know?"

"Well, what was your life like before you came to McKenna High?" I started to feel a bit uneasy, my hands reaching out to hold my coffee cup so that I didn't look like a jabbering wreck.

"Well I went to art school. It was full of the usual types. Most people had pretty big personalities, or individual styles. It was kind of a free place to be. I enjoyed it, but we didn't have enough money for me to stay there, so I had to come back." I shrugged.

"So, there were no nice boys there then?" She grinned, and I just shook my head.

"Not really, no." I wasn't ready to talk about this yet. "How about you?"

"Well, I kind of have strange taste." Isabelle smiled into the back of her hand before glancing to either side of the room. "If I tell you, you have to promise not to say anything, to anyone! Especially not Jace or Jon for that matter!"

"Your secrets safe with me." I smiled, the coffee cup warming my hands.

"Well, I'm not sure if you've met him yet. But his name is Simon Lewis." I had to hold onto my seat. I couldn't believe my ears. But then I caught myself – why was I so shocked? Simon had really come into his own this year. He'd really matured. "He's in our year. I've liked him for a few years now but he never really looks my way." She seemed a bit downhearted but I had a feeling it was probably because he was either intimidated by her or because he didn't feel good enough.

"He would be crazy to not be interested." I smiled, lifting my coffee to my lips. Isabelle smiled, taking a sip of her own.

"So, have you seen anyone that you like the look of?" I shook my head.

"Not yet." I smiled, but if I was being honest, it wasn't really something I was looking for. Not after my last experience.

"Clary!" A familiar voice called out and I immediately began to feel awkward. Simon was bounding across Java Jones in my direction. Isabelle was looking at me with narrowed eyes, had I forgot to mention I knew Simon?

"Simon, what are you doing here?" I asked, careful to keep an eye on Isabelle.

"Well, I was waiting on your text message and I thought I may as well come here and wait for you to get in touch. Didn't realise you'd already be here, hanging without me!" Simon pulled a sad face as he squeezed in at our table.

"Simon, this is Isabelle. Isabelle, this is Simon." They exchanged pleasantries and Isabelle's face softened.

"So how do you guys know each other?" Isabelle asked, I could tell she was probing though.

"We've only been best friends forever!" Simon said, taking a sip of his coffee and burning his mouth on it.

"Since we were five or something." I added and Isabelle seemed to calm a little. Simon and Isabelle were discussing some class or other amongst themselves, when my phone vibrated in my pocket. Someone was calling me which was unusual. Must be my dad, he was the only one who hadn't really grasped the idea of texting.

UNKNOWN CALLER ID

I started to feel sick to my stomach. This didn't mean anything. It could just be a wrong number. I waited it out either way, stuffing my phone back into the pocket of my jeans.

"Clary? Are you alright? Clary?" Simon was looking right at me, a look of confusion on his face.

"Yeah, I think I might have had something funny to eat." I tried to play it down. Isabelle looked concerned. "If it's alright with you two, I'm going to head home? I think I need a lie down." I started to get to my feet, gathering my things.

"Are you alright to go home Clary?" Simon asked, looking posed to get up himself.

"We can walk you home if you like, it's no problem." Isabelle joined in. I shook my head.

"Honestly, don't worry about me. I'll catch up with you both tomorrow. Try not to have too much fun without me." I smiled directly at Isabelle. Was she blushing?

"See you tomorrow Clary." She smiled, putting a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I'll text you later okay?" Simon said, as I was leaving.

My walk home was nerve-wracking. I couldn't walk around a corner without looking around it first. As I reached the park opposite my house, my phone vibrated in my pocket. Only once though – a text. I paused momentarily to check it and immediately wished I hadn't.

Unknown ID: Clary, if this is your phone, please call me back. We can't leave things like this. Call me back.

I deleted the message from my phone instantly, as though it would do some good. I ran through the park as quick as I could muster, collapsing in the hallway of my house as soon as I had shut the door behind me. I kept my eyes trained firmly on the door as though I had been chased and whatever I was running from was on the other side. I nearly flew 3 foot in the air when someone grabbed my shoulder and span me around. I was still struggling to catch my breath, the air around my face thick and heavy. I flinched away from whoever was touching me, pushing them away from me and inadvertently shoving myself back into the door.

"Woah Clary, calm down." Jon was stood in front of me, Jace at his side. The pair of them were equipped with gym bags. I picked my own bag up from the floor, making for the stairs. "Clary, what's wrong? What's happened?" Jon was shouting after me, but I was off. I made it up the stairs in record time, shutting myself in my room before barricading myself in my bathroom. I thought I'd gotten away from all of this. I thought it was all done. Why had I been so naïve?

Jace's POV

"Honestly Jon, you'd think I'd been going at it in her bed the way she flew off on me." I laughed, still completely baffled by Isabelle's outburst earlier. Yes, I understood Lara was a friend of hers. Yes, I could understand it would be embarrassing for her. Did it justify the way she went about it? Absolutely not.

"You know what sisters are like though mate. I'm dreading what Clary's going to be like." Jon commented, packing his gym bag in the living room.

"She can't be any worse than Isabelle. At least she's kind of quiet."

"Have you met my sister? She's the hardest person to read, ever. You think you're doing everything right and then bam, it's suddenly wrong." Jon shook his head, lifting his bag over his shoulder. "Let's go then, coach will be expecting us." As we were walking into the hall, Clary came flying through the doorway like a bright red firework. Her bag flew off to the side, her body trembling. Jon tensed up next to me, moving towards Clary. He reached out towards her, spinning her on the spot. I couldn't believe my eyes. Her eyes were blazing, her skin glistening with sweat. She pushed Jon away from her, stumbling backwards herself. What on earth had happened to her since I'd seen her at my house? Like a streak of lightening she was off, dashing up the stairs as Jon shouted after her.

"What's gotten into her?" I asked and Jon just sighed placing his gym bag down on the floor.

"You go ahead, tell coach I'll be late. I've got to deal with this. Something's not right." He started up the stairs after her and I felt uneasy just walking out after witnessing this. On my way to the field, I pulled out my phone.

Jace: Iz, I get that you're pissed at me, but I need you to call me as soon as you get a moment.

I had to figure out what was going on.

Thank you to everyone who reads and reviews. I've had some really lovely reviews for this story & it really helps speed up the writing process. ~Sapph