Forty minutes of torture lay before us. Jace took my hand walking through the lobby when we passed a group of senior girls I didn't know well.

"Don't look, they know what is happening and we don't need to act suspicious." I grinned and rested my head on his shoulder.

"Let's put on a show then." Jace watched me with curiosity. I stopped him outside the door and got on my tip-toes to reach his ear. "Start laughing like I'm whispering naughty things in your ear in 3… 2… 1…"

"Clary, we can't do that right now. Later though, I promise." He raised my chin up and grinned. I heard the underlying chuckle in his tone. Before I could reply he stiffened and held on to my waist.

"Hello guys! How are we doing? I see you were having a moment… Sorry to interrupt it." Lance was not the least bit sorry and we knew it. "We will be escorting you to dinner tonight. May I?" Between the pulling away and linking of our arms, Lance separated Jace and I. "Do you know how hard it is for me to keep a straight face tonight? We have the best plan ever and I can get you away from the mess. All that requires is a date with me. Good idea right?" I internally sighed. No matter how many outs I got I would never accept them.

Voluntarily, I got closer and said plainly, "Have you ever heard on the Three Musketeers, Lance? One for all and all for one?" He nodded and grinned like an idiot. "Well, that's my mind set currently. I'm with my friends through thick and thin, no matter what happens. Sorry, I can't accept that offer but I hope some other girl will in the future." When he loosened his hold I slipped out and joined Jace between him and two of his lackeys.

"Awkward conversation?" Jace was obviously uncomfortable.

"Yep. I can't believe they are doing this." I saw the rest of our friends being escorted a few feet away from us. "This can't be good." Lance glanced back and grinned at us, I really hated him right now.

As if he couldn't feel the tension, Lance joined the conversation. "So if you really don't like us then why did you wear what you did this morning? Hmm…"

Jace handed over his main shirt and pulled me away from Lance's area. "My girlfriend, my boobs. Don't even act like you weren't staring at them." As sexist as he sounded, I didn't feel like being too much of a smart ass. He had a point. Lance had no right to stare. "What's this bullshit anyway? I wanted to talk to her on the way to dinner not," he wildly gestured the guys, "this." The guy behind me let out an exasperated sigh and grunted. We had gotten to the doors without noticing.

"Okay boys, you know what to do." He turned to me and winked. "I'll see you later." Someone roughly grasped my arm and pulled me away from Jace and the guys.

"GO TO HELL!" I screamed. Lance raised an eyebrow but turned back to Jace. WHAT THE HELL!

Jace POV

They fucking dragged her away from me! This would not fly. Before she was dragged into the cafeteria she retaliated in her own sassy way. "GO TO HELL!" Kent, who she didn't know, just pulled her along until she was out of sight.

"Quite the screamer, Jace. How's she in bed?" Lance grinned. Jon and I exchanged looks of fury while Alec was dealing with his own captor.

"Must I remind you that is my sister you are referring to?" Jon managed to say it without spitting.

From behind me I heard, "let go of me asshole, you're ruining my jacket. I did this by hand!" Alec whipped around and knocked his "guard" down to get to Magnus.

"Let him go, NOW." Clark backed off and walked into the building. "Mag, are you okay? What did he do to you? Do I need to contact my mom?" Alec placed his hands on the side of Magnus's face. He shook his head in response and laid his head on Alec's shoulder.

"Like I said," I wasn't distracted anymore, as sweet as it was. "My girlfriend. You don't get to talk about her or look at her like that. I am the only one who can and I haven't even gotten that far." I heard Jon mutter, "I'd rather you didn't." I acknowledged his comment and turned my attention back to Lance. "Now tell us, is there a point to us standing out here?"

"We have rules for dinner tonight actually. Good guess, Jace." Lance pulled out a note pad and read it as seriously as he could. "1. No PDA of any kind with your significant other. 2. When we want someone to be with, no one complains or resists. 3. Any violation will result in stripping Clary of her clothing in front of everyone, or a possible night with me. 4. Co-operation with us will lessen our pranks on each of you. Are we clear?"

"One question actually. Why MY sister?"

"Because I want her and I can't have her. Besides, she and Izzy are vicious prankers. We can't let that slide. So, are we clear?"

I flashed a grin at the boys and nodded. "We understand." Before I could join them on the other side of the doors Lance grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"Watch your actions Golden Boy. EVERY senior is watching y'all tonight. I know you have a plan, I'm just insuring we won't get hit tonight by anyone. Have a nice dinner." He growled out every word and left me following him in. The girls were already seated but when I met Clary's eyes she looked scared. She knew she was a target.

"I was worried." She said when I reached the table. Clary would usually take my hand by this point but she had an eye trained on Lance. Nothing was going to ruin the plan. We numbly ate our fries until Izzy burst into the room in a sprint.

"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME PSYCHO!" Nathaniel chased her into the room and paused to take a breath.

Simon followed, fangs out of his gums. "Get back here moron, no one peeks on my girlfriend." Clary raised an eyebrow and rested her head on her hands. Izzy's gaze followed back to Simon and she blushed.

"You just, wow. Um, I…" she couldn't finish her sentence, she was so happy. Alec got up to stop them from committing any PDA before they did. Izzy looked over and arched an eyebrow our way. I just nodded and grinned back. She could do her version of the plan right now if she wanted to and take Lance's mind off the almost PDA.

"Attention all Junior and Senior males: we will be having a wet tee-shirt contest after classes end tomorrow in the courtyard. Winner gets to kiss little Red on the cheek. To enter talk to either Clary or I. That is all." She grabbed a tray and headed our way. Simon followed her lead, shaking his head. Every pair of male eyes turned to Clary and she shrunk down as far as she could go. Isabelle knew how to distract people and Clary wasn't feeling it this time.

"I'm going to the bathroom. This is uncomfortable." I nodded and followed her out the door. Lance tagged along and noticed I was just protecting her.

"Sup' Lance?"

He dropped his hood and showed me a blank face. "Just making sure you follow our rules. So, wet tee-shirt contest? You going to enter?" I shook my head and let him continue. "Right, you're a sophomore. Well, I'm going to win it. I already know that." His arrogance angered me. At least he wasn't aware that Izzy would pick the guy. He wouldn't win in a heartbeat. "How soft is Clary's skin? I think it's very soft just by how she looks. But she is your girlfriend after all. You got lucky." Clary ducked her head from the bathroom and cocked her head to the side.

"Wet tee-shirt contest." I clarified. She scrunched her brows together and sighed.

"Jace," she looked pale under the hallway lights. "I puked in there. Can you walk me back to the room? Public attention makes me nervous which in turn does, well, what just happened." Lance shrugged and let us go. Once in the room she smiled. "My breath smells horrible but I'm glad to be out of there."

"So can we be rebels and show some PDA?" She laughed and got up.

"At least let me brush my teeth first, or do you want to taste lunch again?" I imagined the smell and shook my head. She closed the bathroom door and I could hear the electric tooth brush. At least we were alone.

Alec POV

Lance walking in alone scared me. It meant those two genius's had defied his rules in their own way and we were the targets now. My phone beeped and I realized it was a text from Jace.

Clary threw up, nerves probably. We're watching How to Train Your Dragon right now. Good luck. –Golden one

Those lucky ducks! I still felt bad for Clary though. Someone called my name but I couldn't tell who. As soon as I looked up I realized it was Viper.

"Alexander, come sit with us. We need to talk." He fake grinned but I could see the warning look in his eyes.

I nodded and carried my tray to the table. A wave of pressure hit me when I realized how much danger I was in. Our plan had to go off without a hitch. I couldn't mess up. "Hey guys."

"Hey Alec!" Catherine said from across the table, dragging a fry through her ketchup in a suspicious pattern. It looked like she was spelling out Magnus's name with a skull beside it. I raised an eyebrow but she acted like it was no big deal.

"So," Lance grasped my shoulder roughly. "Have you seen Magnus since we came to dinner?"

"He was sitting with us…" I looked back and he was indeed gone. "I don't know where he went."

Viper gnawed on a fry and no one moved. "You might want to find him. He pissed Lance off."

"Viper, no need to worry him. I'm just slightly pissed." I could feel his anger, fuck. "How does one remove this exactly? Maybe you'll know." He turned and I saw a blast of magic glitter on the back of his ear. That was Magnus's signature attack if you pissed him off.

"That…" This wouldn't be easy. "You have to apologize to him to get that removed. I accidently threw out his hair gel one time and hand that on the back of my neck for a week. Took a few things to get him to remove it, including going to Walmart and buying the gel." They looked at me like they were trying not laugh. "What? He's stubborn."

"We'll come by tonight and apologize." Viper confirmed with a 'get out of here now' look.

"Okay then. Crap." Jace had texted me he needed some ibuprofen because of he hit his head doing something. I wasn't going to ask and I knew he had no clue where I kept it. "Jace needs my help. He can't find some medication. I'll see y'all around I guess." They accepted my explanation and I left alive. Knowing when to shut my mouth helped me. When I reached the room I found there was no emergency at all.

"One down, a handful more to go. Hey Alec." Jace smirked on the bed, arm around Clary's shoulders, acting like he hadn't just lied over the phone.

"You lied to me? Really, that's your best plan?" My hands flew up and wildly gestured in his direction. "Jace. You Are A Moron. But, you saved my ass so, thank you."

Clary leaned up and patted the spot at her feet. "What happened? Did you piss one of them off?" Finally, someone with common sense.

"No," I could feel a headache coming on. "Magnus blasted Lance's ear because they did something to annoy him and he can't get it off unless they apologize. I have feeling he added some silver to it so it burns a bit." Clary immediately grabbed her phone and called Magnus.

"Where are you?" She sounded serious.

I heard a faint, "hiding," from the speaker and put my head in my hands.

"Well find a way to the room. Alec is in here and worried about you. We also need to discuss your actions." I mentally sensed his hesitation to answer her.

"I'll be there soon, leave the door unlocked." Then he hung up. So much for talking to him. We waited in silence, the movie paused so we could listen for footsteps in the hall. Finally, after thirty minutes, with a headaches from stress, we heard footsteps. Except they were running, oh lord. Magnus burst through the door and tried to lock it before the door banged open again.

"Girl in here, we can't enter." Jake said in front of the door way. He shot Clary a look of annoyance and stayed there, panting like the dog he was.

"Well sorry for my gender type, but I feel like we can punish him just as much in here as you can out there." Her anger bled through the calm in her voice. She obviously wasn't in the mood for this. "Now leave, your foot is technically in the room moron." Jake didn't appreciate her tone but did so anyway.

"You got lucky this time Warlock," Jake spat. "It'd be a pity if the little girl isn't around next round."

Clary scrunched her eyebrows together and growled. "My name isn't little girl! Now leave before I hurt you myself." Jake raised an eyebrow and left, slamming the door behind him. "Stupid werewolf, why couldn't he just leave."

"I heard that little girl!" Someone yelled from outside.

Clary, despite Jace's attempts to restrain her, flung the door open and glared. We watched patiently behind her, at a distance of course. Jake sat up and pulled himself to his full height of 6' 8". "What did you just say? With hands on her small hips she looked him in the eyes. "I thought I heard two words no mortal or downworlder is allowed to say."

"Are you trying to scare me? Because you just look like a hot, short, girl with anger issues." He grinned and was about to continue when she stomped his foot and threated to knock him out with Jace's baseball bat.

"Enough you two," Jace intervened, taking his bat from her hands. "Apologize to her before she does hurt you Jake, I know she wants to."

"It has a name, wow." Clary sarcastically muttered under her breath.

"Clare-bear, please." She nodded and hid behind him so she couldn't see Jake. In the hallway Jake sighed and cleared his throat. "I'm sorry for calling you the forbidden words. I had to think of something because only Lance is allowed to call you red."

She came back in to view and tried to be nice. "I accept your apology and tell Lance something for me: Only Jace can call me red. He is only allowed to call me by my name." Jake nodded and headed to the elevator, where Izzy and the rest of the gang emerged from. It wasn't hard to tell there had been a food fight. Izzy had pasta sauce all over her top and Simon was covered in a fruit punch, part of it soaking through his white shirt. Maia and Bat followed, burger remnants strewn in their hair.

"Food fight?" Alec dared to ask. Izzy glared and shouldered her way into the room, obviously pissed beyond her normal limit. "Looks like we've all had a rough day. What happened exactly?" Before Clary could shut the door behind them, Viper entered, interrupting the conversation.

"May I?" With a nod of affirmation he came in and stood before them. "Good news and bad news. Which one do you want first?"

"Bad." Jace groaned from his bed.

"The pranks will be worse than planned due to their evacuation from the food fight. They had no reason to leave like Clary and Alec did."

Izzy interrupted in her bitch voice, "They got pasta down my shirt and sauce all over my top. Excuse me if Lance's little food fight caused me to leave. My shirt is ruined."

"And the good news is," he acted like she had never interrupted, "all of the junior and sophomore guys will be competing in your contest tomorrow." Viper looked around and grinned. "Also, now that Lance left the other side of the door, I can tell you what's going on."

"What about Magnus's apology?" Alec demanded from the mini-fridge.

Viper sat down in a chair and sighed. "There is no way Lance will do that. He doesn't believe he should have to in order to remove that mark."

"For the record," Magnus added while looking for a clean shirt, "I can add more silver to the glitter without being around him. He should know that."

"Magnus," Clary snapped," you shouldn't have done that in the first place. You know it only escalated the situation."

"He called me a fag toy! No one is allowed to do that. I am a professing free willing bi-sexual male. By no means have I ever been a prostitute." The amount of dignity he said it with made me swell with pride.

"Okay, chill Mag." Clary threw a look at Viper and sighed. "He crossed a carefully sewn line Viper, this one time I will condone Magnus's actions because it's very hard to cross that line. But," she turned to Magnus with a carefully guarded expression, "this does not mean you can do so again."

"Okay. If he doesn't come apologize to me in two days I will add more silver to the bunch. I don't want to harm him anymore than I would wish to harm Clary. Lance just needs to shut his mouth." Viper nodded and bit his bottom lip.

"I'll do what I can. So, do you want to know our next prank or not?" We all nodded and settled on the beds. "We plan to," what came from his mouth sent us into a rage of fits and screaming on the inside. No way in hell would they accomplish that!

"So what can we do to prepare ourselves?" Jace asked numbly. He was mentally taking notes while cradling Clary on his lap. She looked petrified.

"Follow my lead and you will get out of it unharmed and sane. So, tell me what this wet tee-shirt contest is really about. It's too good to be true."

Izzy spilled her guts and Viper started dying laughing. He stopped suddenly and made his voice bored again. Lance must have been outside again. "If that is all then I should go. Bye guys." He waved and exited the room. We all sat still, looking at each other in shock. This really was war.

HEY! I am alive, but just really busy. Senior year blues are honestly horrible. I worked hard to give you guys something good after waiting so long. Love y'all. R&R.

-A