"What did he do to you this time?" Isabelle's voice cracking slightly showing her fear of my father. Last night I left one piece of dirty laundry one the stairs while carrying it down to the washing machine, and let's just say my father was not happy with me. This resulted in many cuts and bruises on my legs, arms and unfortunately, neck and side of my face. That came from thrown beer bottles, and some old pieces I'd obviously miss when I was cleaning. Both my brother and father came home in a drunken rage last night.

"I left one dirty piece of laundry out" I told her miserably. Now, we had to go through the difficult task of covering all of my cuts and bruises and finding the right clothes to cover the ones on my legs and arms. Unfortunately, all that covered up al my cuts and bruises without practically going out with Christmas jumpers and hiker trousers, were a pair of oversized black jeans and a baggy jumper. Even though Izzy is skinny I'm more so, but not in the sexy way she is, I'm all angles and bones to her curves.

"This is ridiculous, you need to say something!" Isabelle exclaimed.

Startled I start blabbering, something I do when I'm nervous or someone, mainly Izzy brings up the motion of telling someone what's happening to me. "I can't! You know what they would do if they found out I told someone! Especially the police! No one would even believe me!" I have told her the exact same thing for the past 2 years.

Isabelle found out on accident, our freshman year. We had just become friends when after weeks of begging to see my house I invited her over but she had to leave by 8 and that I had to clean basically the whole entire time she was over. It was around 7 o'clock that my father and brother came home early and she was in the restroom. However, they were both so drunk that they didn't even notice that her backpack was sitting right next to mine. Yes, my father let Jonathan drink while he was a sophomore and only 17 years old. When they came home, Isabelle had gone to the bathroom and when they saw that I didn't have everything done as per expected they began to whale on me to no end.

That's when Isabelle came out of the bathroom- to see my own father and brother beating me. She screamed and tried to save me but got hit herself. I jumped in front of her screaming at her to leave.

We never discussed it, but it was silently decided that I could rely on her to help cover my bruises. But she would always tell me to get help but I would always turn her down. Once they saw her I got the worst beating of my life that night- they started cutting me with knives and then burning my cuts with lighters. So, as a result, I have countless scars and endless bruises all over my body that will forever be reminders.

"Anyways how was your summer?" I always do this; change the subject.

"Oh my gosh it was great! " I tuned her out after that. She was just going to go on and on about a new 'great' guy that she met and how much shopping she did. This talk always made me jealous. Isabelle was gorgeous. With long black hair down to her waist and beautiful blue eyes, she was stunning. And could get any guy she wants.

I on the other hand am; extremely short, with frizzy red hair and unnatural green eyes. I have never had a boyfriend because everyone –even the nerds- bullied and hated me. Even if I did have a boyfriend, if my brother found out I would be relentlessly teased and, even worse, if he told my father; he would have sure no guy would ever want me for the rest of my life.

"Ok, you're ready!" Isabelle said excitedly. She then spun me around to face her mirror and it was magic.

"Isabelle! I look great! You can't even see the bruises or scars! Thank you so much!" She had tamed my red hair into soft curls that set delicately on my shoulders. With the beautiful make- up she added to my face she covered up the many freckles that I had all over my nose and cheeks, along with my scars. I had on skinny jeans with a long sleeved sweater that was a beautiful green to compliment my eyes.

"You are always beautiful Clary, I just enhance it" Isabelle said with a smirk. "Oh! By the way! One of my brothers' friends is coming to stay with us this year. Just FYI if you see an annoying ass hanging around, that's him."

Clary laughs looking at herself and says; "I'll keep my eyes out for this annoying ass."

Once I got to school it is the same old story. It feels like nothing has changed, and we haven't moved up a grade at all. I'm shoved into lockers left and right by randome people, called names repeatedly that I've heard all my life. Yet the people calling me the names laugh like they just invented it right on the spot; at least my first class period is art- my favorite class. However, neither Isabelle nor Simon has that class with me.

I walk into class with a sense of relief that quickly goes out when I head to my chair to see someone sitting in my seat, someone with a flock of groupies all around them. All I could see was a scrap of blond hair. I'm assuming that he's new and wouldn't know that my seat was the seat right next to the teachers desk- to better ward off bullies. Also, because Mr. Fell was my favorite teacher ever.

I push my way through the crowd ignoring the hisses of the people around me trying to tell whoever this is to kindly move their stupid ass out of my seat. Everyone gasped at the sound of my voice except for him who just continues to play with some blond girl's hair.

He just looked at me, stood up and said; "Do you know who I am little girl?"

I snort. "No and I don't care just give me my seat" Then, someone from the crowd shouted "That's Jace Herondale you idiot bitch!"

At this my head snapped up and I stared at the guy in front of me. Sure enough, there he was in all of his glory with that stupid smirk on his face.

All I said was "Is that supposed to impress me?" With a raised eyebrow. At this Jace looked a little shocked.

He quickly shook it off and said, " Compared to you yes." And that's when my brother walked in.

"Clarissa! Why are you talking to my best friend and band mate?" He growled. I just stared at him gaping "I-I- I'm s-s-sorry I – I-…."

"Oh just shut up" He said with a sneer and a shove. Causing me to fall on the ground with a huff, making everyone including the asshole to laugh and go back to talking.

Through this whole exchange Jace just stood there watching with slight interest reflected in his golden eyes.

Refusing to cry I pick myself up quickly and run out of the room.

A/N

R and R!

Anything and everything will help!