Izzy wasn't sure why she'd kissed Simon that day. It was true she'd been very surprised to see him when she'd entered her dorm room and seen him sitting there. Izzy had just walked right over to him and kissed him without really thinking about it. Then thanks to Maia's reaction, Izzy hadn't been able to resist teasing them both. Her date that night had actually turned out to be totally lame. Izzy had thought about going to see Simon when she'd bailed early on her lame date, but it seems a little tacky after teasing Simon so mercilessly before. Instead, Izzy went home. Sure, the guy had been hot, and yes he'd been game, but he was also a total jerk which ruined it for her. Getting set up by a friend of a friend just wasn't her thing. Izzy would stick to bars from now on. Well, bars and Simon.

She was feeling less sure about her disappointing classes. Just because she didn't need to declare a major for another year, didn't mean she couldn't get a head start. Izzy was so sick of intro courses, and there was something wonderful about the idea of choosing a major before her older brother, so Izzy was determined to try. Since it was March already, Izzy didn't have long to try and beat Alec to the punch, but she had a feeling that her best ally in this one sided race was Alec himself.

"You do know what 'I don't know' means, right?" Alec replied to Izzy's question about what he could major in.

"You must have at least some idea," Izzy argued.

"Not a clue," Alec replied. "At this point, I am thinking I will just have to be an undeclared second year student for all eternity."

Even Izzy, as competitive as she was, knew the tortoise and the hair had it wrong in this case. Even if she tired herself out running ahead, this indecisive tortoise wasn't about to beat her to the finish line. Now that Izzy had actually taken her intro to Marketing class, she'd decided that wasn't the right path for her. But a list of major's she didn't want did nothing but limit her options. She needed to make a decision.

So far Izzy had ruled out Marketing, Nursing, English, Mathematics, Accounting, Biology and History, but that still left her with far too many options to choose from. She understood why so many first years didn't declare. This was going to be a little more complicated than she'd expected.

"Why did you pick history?" Izzy asked Magnus the next time she hung out with her brother at his boyfriend's place, since Alec was so rarely home.

"It fascinates me," Magnus replied. "I have always wondered what it would be like to live through time, live apart from time. To be able to watch history unfold, but alas, I am only human, and the closes I can get to witnessing history is studying it."

"So you found your passion and decided to go with that?" Izzy concluded.

"Yes," Magnus replied. He was giving her a funny look, like he wasn't quite sure what to make of her question.

"I am trying to beat Alec to picking a major okay," Izzy told him, quietly. "Just don't tell Alec, or he will choose one just to spite me."

"Are we keeping secrets from Alexander now?" Magnus asked smiling.

"Not big ones," Izzy specified. Again Magnus was smiling at her in the strangest way. Izzy wasn't really sure what to make of it. Thankfully Alec returned from the bathroom moments later and broke the strange atmosphere. Her brother settled himself down on the couch, and Magnus put his arm around Alec automatically.

"What did I miss?" Alec asked, and though he had probably been referring to the movie playing, Magnus replied in a different way.

"Your sister seems to have giving up hating me," Magnus commented as Alec settled against his chest.

"Has she now?" Alec asked grinning.

"I never hated you," Izzy explained. "I was just looking out for my brother."

"The wrong way," Alec sighed.

"Yes well," Izzy huffed. Izzy wondered if maybe this had been what those strange looks from Magnus had been about before.

"You're crazy, you know that right?" Alec told her laughing. Izzy leaned over and playfully punched his shoulder.

"Oh did I tell you I have an interview next week?" Magnus asked, finally pausing the movie as it seemed no one was paying any attention to it.

"That's great!" Alec smiled.

"This job better not be far away," Izzy said, with narrowed eyes.

"It's downtown," Magnus replied, easily smiling. "Contrary to your first impression, I am rather invested in this silly blue eyed brother of yours." Magnus was grinning and gesturing with his head to Alec.

"Good," Izzy said curtly.

"You both like makeup," Alec stated. "And shopping." He sighed. "Please just hang out without me already."

"Aren't you worried I will steal him?" Izzy giggled.

"I am more worried that a flying pig is going to break the window," Alec said flatly. Izzy couldn't contain her laughter.

"So Magnus," Izzy chuckled. "How do you feel about a shopping spree?"

"I feel like you are going to be even more extravagant than Alec," Magnus said with a slight shake of his head.

"Yep!" Izzy grinned. "But it's okay. I'll just buy me things. Alec is your sugar daddy, not me."

"You make it sound so cheap," Magnus replied, but he was laughing. Izzy was glad he understood her not to be serious.

"Hey nothing wrong with finding an easy ride," Izzy argued.

"It goes against my personality," Magnus laughed. "I am going to drag you to the normally priced stores."

"And I shall hide here," Alec pitched in. "Avoid shopping altogether."

"Oh no," Izzy informed her brother. "If this isn't the perfect opportunity to replace some of those holey clothes, I don't know what is." Alec groaned loudly as if someone had asked him to clean the bathroom with only his tongue.

"On second thought," Alec grumbled. "Don't be friends." Izzy just laughed. "Then I don't have to shop."

When their laughter finally faded, someone played the movie again and they all turned to watch it. It had been a while now that Izzy had realized she'd been wrong about Magnus. It had slowly dawned on her as she'd watched them together, but over Christmas she really understood. Her brother was happy, and that was all that mattered.

She hung around Magnus's place for a while longer, then Izzy decided to leave the two lovebirds alone, but not before she made plans to drag Alec shopping later in the week. After stealing a hug from her brother, Izzy starting walking back to campus. She had no more classes today, and didn't feel like working on her homework; even if she had a fair amount piled up. She supposed she could go home, but she didn't fancy that either. Izzy's legs wandered through the school until she found herself at Simon's door. She knocked, but the guy who opened the door wasn't Simon.

"You must be Izzy," the man said. He was tall, with brown skin and dark hair. Izzy was pretty sure this was Simon's roommate, though she couldn't remember his name.

"That's me," Izzy confirmed. "Is Simon here?"

"He's out," Jordan explained. "Class, I think."

"Okay," Izzy said and turned to leave.

"You're roommates with Maia right?" the man asked.

"Who's asking?" Izzy replied.

"I'm Jordan," the guy said. "I'm not sure if Maia told you about me."

"Her stalker ex?" Izzy asked. She'd vaguely recalled Maia mentioning something about how Simon and that ex of hers were living together on campus, but she hadn't really thought much about it.

"Yeah I guess," the guy said awkwardly. "I'm Jordan."

"Well Jordan," Izzy smiled. "Would you please tell Simon I stopped by."

"Sure," Jordan replied. "Umm… has Maia said anything about me?"

"Don't think so," Izzy shrugged. "I haven't seen her much today. She left for class early."

"Oh I see," Jordan replied. "I'll let Simon know you said hi."

"Thanks," Izzy said, and with that, Izzy waved goodbye and headed back down the hall. At this point she should probably go home. Izzy had no idea why hanging out with her brother had made her want to see Simon. After all, she was sleeping with Simon, and there was nothing sexy about her brother, so how the heck had she jumped from brother to boy toy? With a slight shake of her head, Izzy put it from her mind, and soon arrived back at her own dorm.

Walking in, Izzy fell face first into her pillow. Maybe the solution to her problem was ending today. Maybe she should just go to sleep and tackle life tomorrow. But she couldn't sleep because it wasn't even eight o'clock yet. A few moments later the door opened and Maia arrived home.

"Jordan says hi," Izzy told Maia in way of greeting.

"When did you see Jordan?" Maia asked. Izzy heard the tell tale thud of Maia's school bag dropping to the ground, her face still covered from her pillow.

"When I went to see Simon," Izzy mumbled. "But he wasn't home. What's up with you and Jordan anyway?"

"We are trying for friends," Maia said. "Because he was so insistent."

"Why would a guy insist that much just to be your friend?" Izzy asked, sitting up to look at Maia.

"Well that's just it," Maia explained. "He wants to try being all coupley again, but I just- I don't know- it's been so long since we were together, and I can't forget that big fight as easily as it seems he can."

"What were you fighting about?" Izzy asked.

"Life," Maia said simply. "Dishes, school, moving, family... you know, life. Then I broke up with him, and he didn't seem to get it, so I went to a club and kissed someone else when I knew he was looking, just to make it clear, and he flipped out."

"Flipped out?"

"Hit the guy I'd made out with," Maia explained. "Like really hit him. Jordan has always been a bit of a jealous guy, but I'd never seen him so jealous before."

"That's crazy," Izzy said. "He didn't look like a crazy person when I met him."

"They never do," Maia replied.

"Why stay friends with him then?" Izzy asked.

"He kept telling me he loved me," Maia whined. "He was so determined, so genuine. He made me feel SO guilty." She threw her head back and groaned as she spoke the last few words. "I just couldn't tell him no completely. It's hard to turn away that kind of devotion, even if you know you should."

"Then don't turn it away," Izzy replied with a shrug.

"Urg!" Maia growned. "I put him on my hook, didn't I?"

"Yep," Izzy laughed. Then her attention was drawn by her vibrating phone. Checking it, she discovered a text from Simon.

'Hey Iz,' Simon texted. 'Jordan said you stopped by.'

'Seems like I only just missed you,' Izzy smiled, thinking about how if he'd just gotten home a half hour sooner, Simon would have been home when she'd shown up.

'Do you want me to come back over?' Izzy asked. 'It isn't like you're all that far away. Just give me ten minutes?' Izzy was looking through her closet for a more fun outfit to wear to Simon's when her phone went off again.

'Izzy would you mind if we take the benefits part out of our friends with benefits arrangement? It just isn't for me.'

'Losing interest in orgams, huh?' Izzy texted back.

'I need to try actually dating,' Simon replied. 'It's been a blast though. Thanks.'

'Alright,' Izzy texted back. 'If that's what you want.'

'Thanks for understanding,' Simon's final text read. Izzy put her phone away, and closed her closet before landing face first in bed again, burying her face in her pillow.

It was rare that she slept with the same guy twice, and even more rare that she went back again after that. Izzy still wasn't sure why she'd done it. She thought maybe it had something to do with Simon being so innocent. She'd been able to teach him many things, and almost mold him into the lover she wanted. Yes, that was it. That's why she was disappointed.

Besides, it wasn't like Simon could have broken off their agreement for any other reason. Izzy knew what kind of person she was. She knew her limitations. She was shallow and self involved, and didn't deserve the kind of love she saw in Magnus's eyes when he looked at her brother. Maybe that was why Izzy had been so quick to act when she'd listened to Alec complain about Magnus last year. Love was special. Love wasn't something to be taken lightly, or looked down on. It was meant to be protected, and if Izzy wasn't the type of person who could be loved, she would sure as hell be the one to protect love, like the love Magnus and Alec had for each other.

I hope this has shed some light on Izzy's character and added more depth to the last chapter with Jordan and Maia. If you have a sudden click in your head that explains Izzy up to this point then I've done my job right. If not, let me know and I'll keep at it.

Also I think my author's notes have gotten shorter because I've gotten lazy. lol. I never wrote author's notes before this story and the ones that came after it. It's also the first story I did sneak peeks for which means I've been writing this story for freakin EVER! Quick question to those who have been reading it from the start or those who have recently binge read it all: Has my writing style changed a lot since the beginning? From chapter one to now how is this story different? Is it changing for the better? Has my description, plot, characterization, humor, drama, etc improved? Have the different story lines being laced together gotten smoother?

Sneak Peek Chapter 81

"Okay let's do this again," Jace said, trying to stop himself from sighing with frustration. Mason looked nervous, but moved closer. "Now your hand goes here," Jace pointed to the side of his neck. "And you have to flip me over. Understand?" Mason nodded, but without much conviction. More gently than he should have Mason's hand made contact with Jace's neck.

"You aren't going to knock me down with that attitude," Jace said. "Come on." Mason's grip improved, but only slightly. "Alright better, now your other hand around and knock me over." But Mason's movements were still too slow. If this was a real match Jace would have had Mason pinned a long ass time ago.

Finally letting out a sigh of frustration, Jace moved away. He took a deep breath before speaking. "Okay, let's try this another way," he said. Then after a moment of silent thought Jace gave Mason new instructions. "Pretend their is a person in front of you and explain to me how you execute the move without actually doing it."

"My hand goes up under your arm and around the back of your head," Mason said. "Then I tuck your head into your shoulders and flip you."

"See that's perfect," Jace said. "So do that."

"Easier said than done," Mason mumbled.