Veronica knew she had really done it this time, but she didn't exactly care. She sat in the dean's office, sitting slouched in her chair with her arms crossed across her stomach. She glanced over to the right of the room, where Ruby Parker sat with her parents at both of her shoulders. Her mother, Clave member Yola Parker, was dressed formally, although her hair was pretty tousled. It was clear they portaled here in short notice, as the Dean of Student Affairs wanted to get this matter sorted out as soon as possible.

Veronica kept looking between Yola, the Dean, and the door. It was only a matter of time before her brother would make his entrance, and she wasn't excited for his reaction. She had no excuses in mind, because she didn't care to defend herself. She exhaled, looking up to examine Ruby's mother once again. This time Yola stared right back at her, glancing her up and down with flared nostrils. Veronica returned her energy, looking at her as if she was a bug that got caught under her black academy uniform boots.

At that moment the Dean, Luke Graymark, had cleared his throat. Veronica followed his eyes to the back of the room, where her brother, the Consul Alec Lightwood, had made his appearance. Veronica quickly looked back to Luke, avoiding Alec's eye contact. She could feel his presence behind her, but made no move to greet him.

Alec had just about had it.

He was at the New York Institute, meeting with Consul members to discuss the security of the borders at Alicante when he got a phone call from the Academy. While in the past he had enjoyed his conversations with Clary's step-father Luke Fairchild, lately he has not been looking forward to them.

His younger sister Veronica has been at the Shadowhunter Academy for less than a month now, and can't seem to keep herself out of trouble. Alec had no clue what to do. Now that his father had died and his mother went missing, Ronnie had stopped caring about any of her training. He and his other siblings thought a change of scenery would help her, and the Academy was right nearby in New York. It was January, and the school year was already halfway over, but because of their connections with the Academy and Alec's position as Consul they were able to pull a few strings.

The change of scenery, in fact, did not help.

"Thank you for meeting us here today Consul Lightwood," Luke stood from his chair in the center of the room, greeting him from a distance. Alec made his way over to stand by Veronica, nodding to the Parker family on his right. The father nodded back, but his wife, Yola Parker, only scoffed and looked away. Alec took a moment to scope out their daughter, a pouting, snobby looking girl with light brown hair, wearing a uniform identical to Ronnie's. Alec noticed a bruise sitting on her upper lip, and desperately hoped it wasn't the reason he was called here today.

He looked down to Ronnie, who made no effort to greet him. He would have to wait until after the meeting to talk with her. "Hello Luke, nice to see you again- although I do wish it were under different circumstances."

Luke offered Alec a sympathetic smile. "Please, everyone, take your seats," he said, taking a seat himself. Alec sat down on the left of his younger sister, watching as the Parker family also sat themselves. "I have gathered you all here today to discuss the… rough patch Ruby and Veronica have been experiencing. Here at the Academy, we encourage happy, constructive relationships amongst the students. Last Friday during a lesson of hand-to-hand combat, these two students were unable to stop practicing when their professor had specifically told them to do so. Their- er- practicing, expanded to strategies that weren't being taught in their lessons that day. Those included hair pulling, clawing with their nails, and the use of words that are not permitted on this campus. The only way their professor was able to stop their fighting was to physically withhold them from one another."

Alec heard Yola Parker gasp. "Ruby. Is this true?" She asked, turning to her daughter with pleading eyes.

"Of course not!" Ruby responded to her mother. "I was only defending myself. Veronica has hated me from the moment we've met, and all I wanted was to be friends," she sniffled, wiping away tears.

The room turned silent, turning to Veronica for her side of the story. Alec silently hoped that she would come up with a good excuse, seeing that Ruby did a pretty convincing job. Veronica said nothing, still leaning back in her seat, playing with her red uniform tie. She must have noticed the silence in the room, and looked around her, noticing that she was the target of all their gazes. She made eye contact with Alec- the first time since his arrival. He raised his eyebrows at her, urging her to say something, anything to defend herself.

"What?" She only said in response, dropping the tie down from her grasp.

Alec looked at her in dismay. "An explanation please. The reason we're here. That bruise on your classmate's lip?"

Veronica sat and pondered for a moment, and Alec fought the urge to shake her. "Well, first of all, I don't even remember hitting her on the lip. That must be a hickey or something from her boyfriend," she responded, directing her eyes over to Ruby on the opposing side of the room.

Ruby's mouth opened slightly, and her mother scoffed back to Veronica before turning to Luke. "That girl is inappropriate, with no sense of self-control. That's what happens to a teenager that's lost both their parents. What a shame. She sure is lucky that she is the Consul's little sister. Any other student would be expelled for this kind of action."

"Mrs. Parker," Luke responded, clearly appalled. "That is a very inappropriate and an unnecessary thing to say to one of my students. We are here to set a good example for Ms. Lightwood and your daughter so that they can become on good terms again. Please apologize to Ms. Lightwood before we continue further with this conversation."

Yola was apparently shocked to be responded to in that way, and for a moment could only look between Luke and the Lightwoods. Alec sat there, his arms crossed across his chest as he awaited an apology for his sister.

Yola sighed, giving in. "I apologize, Ms. Lightwood. What I said was inappropriate, however true it may have been. You have created a toxic environment for my Ruby to learn in, and the absence of your parents does not excuse that."

Alec was furious. "I'll have you know-" he began, getting ready to stand up.

"Consul..." Luke interrupted.

Alec stood furiously in front of his chair. "No. That woman cannot speak to a fifteen year old child that way-"

"Consul," Luke said firmly. "I believe Veronica is trying to speak for herself," Luke indicated, his head tilting toward Veronica. Alec glanced around the room until his eyes matched with his sister's, who was staring innocently up at him. He cleared his throat before sitting down once again, feeling his face blush.