When Izzy had shown up at his door step one night asking if he wanted to have another go at it, Simon had decided to hell with it and invited her in. A half hour later the two of them were laying together panting, and ten minutes after that, Izzy was up and on her way again with a smile and a wave. Still, Simon didn't regret it. It seemed he'd somehow managed to acquire three female friends in University, though all very different kinds: an overly-friendly ex girlfriend, a nerd friend, and a friend with benefits. Honestly, the friend with benefits might be the most straightforward friendship he had at this point, especially now that he knew his roommate and his nerd friend were exes.

"I am not going to talk to him," Maia said again. "Stop nagging me."

"I have somehow gotten caught up in the middle of this mess," Simon whined. "If you two would just talk to each other, then maybe I could butt out."

"You could just butt out now," Maia offered.

"Yes, because listening to your roommates pine for his ex all day, then going to hang out with his ex all night isn't at all confusing for me," Simon whined.

"Oh boo hoo, I'm Simon," Maia mocked him. "I'm having awesome sex, and I have so many friends they've dated each other. Life is just so hard." Simon gave her a look and she added, "Yes, Izzy talks." Simon couldn't help but grin. "That was not meant to be a compliment."

"Tough," Simon replied. "I'm taking it as one."

"You're annoying," Maia whined.

"And yet, you keep hanging out with me," Simon reminded her.

"I don't have a lot of friends is all," Maia explained.

"Oh, is that it?" Simon laughed.

"Yes," Maia whined. "Now are we gonna watch Star Trek or not?" Laughing, Simon started up the movie. He couldn't say this wasn't a standard conversation. Maia didn't want to talk to Jordan, while Jordan wanted nothing but to talk to Maia. Simon couldn't get either of them to talk to each other, or even talk to him about why they wouldn't talk to each other. He felt very much like he was in the middle of squabbling toddlers, and he was sick of it.

"How did she say she wouldn't talk to me?" Jordan asked when Simon got home from hanging out with Maia.

"She just said no," Simon sighed. "That's all I got for you buddy, just one syllable: no."

"Yeah, but like was it no," Jordan continued. "Or no." He said one in a firm voice, and the other with a casual shrug.

"I don't know," Simon sighed. "And frankly I'm starting not to care. Either give up on her or corner her. Just leave me out of it, please."

"I know Maia," Jordan sighed. "Cornering her would just lead to my nose getting broken."

Simon couldn't help but laugh at this. "You really do know Maia," he chuckled.

"Oh shut up!" Jordan scoffed. "What do you know, Mr. Boy Toy." Simon decided that was also funny, and kept laughing. Honestly, being Izzy's casual lay was less hurtful than being Clary's pity boyfriend had been. Izzy was honest and upfront about what she wanted, and they had fun. What was the harm, really?

"See, that's why I like coming over here," Izzy said when Simon voiced these thoughts the next time she showed up, and demanded he take off all his clothes. "You get it."

"Seems so," Simon smiled before kissing her, his fingers finding their way under her shirt. He could feel her doing the same, and their clothes fell to the ground as they moved backward into his dorm room.

It was a dance that Simon was getting better at with Izzy's instruction. She liked to put his hands where she wanted them, just like she'd done in that elevator. Simon knew how the curve of her hip felt against his palm, the way her breasts fit in his hands. He knew her touch like he'd never known anyone else's. He enjoyed the expression on her face when she finished, the way her back arched. He was glad she kept coming back to him.

"You are getting better at this," Izzy said panting as they both lay in bed after. Thanks to the frequency of her visits, Simon was feeling less insecure about his naked body. If his squishy tummy, or less than muscular arms really bothered her, then why had she come back?

"Awesome," Simon laughed. Simon had his arm around her, and she was resting her head on his bare chest. This was a rare moment for them. Usually, Izzy jumped up and left right away.

"Oh, I was out with Tessa last week," Izzy began. "She's nice enough, but I've never seen someone so determined to get drunk. Plus, Clary and Maia were crazy defense about you, like I'm hurting you with all the sex or something." She laughed, and Simon enjoyed the vibrations against his skin. "So why didn't you tell me your friends with my roommate?"

"Never came up," Simon shrugged.

"Yeah, no kidding," Izzy laughed. "Not with either Maia or Clary huh. You poor guy. Jilted long before that elevator, huh?"

"Is there anything you can't turn into an innuendo?" Simon laughed. She didn't reply except to move her hand back down to where it had been a few minutes ago. He gasped a little, and she giggled.

"Seriously though, if I hadn't put Tessa in a cab I think she would have drunk until she passed out at the bar," Izzy continued.

"She's Magnus's friend," Simon said. "How did you end up out at a bar with her in the first place?"

"She knows Clary through Magnus," Izzy began. "But it seems that's it for her gal pals, so she got Magnus to ask Alec who dragged me in. And then he asked if I could bring someone, and I volunteered Maia. It seemed Tessa really needed a night out with the girls. Which I get. Can't imagine being in a relationship with two guys at once like that. Then again, I can't imagine being in a relationship with one guy, so who am I to talk?" By the time she finished speaking, Izzy was laughing.

"It was good of you to make Tessa go home," Simon said. "I mean she isn't your friend, really more like a friend of a friend, but you still made sure she got home safe.

"That's just what you do," Izzy replied. "I know I can be a little wild, but I'm not stupid."

"I know," Simon smiled at her. Izzy had always struck him as highly intelligent.

"If you go out with a group, and someone wants to drink till they pass out, you send them home," Izzy explained. "It's common courtesy really." She paused, then groaned and added, "I don't want to go to class on Monday. We have this quiz, and I can't bring myself to study. It's so boring."

"Then just wing it," Simon shrugged.

"Simon Lewis," Izzy giggled. "You rebel."

"I have been known to be rebellious on occasion," Simon grinned.

"Don't I know it," Izzy laughed, then she made to sit up. Simon had to stop himself from holding onto her and asking her to stay. She quickly collected her clothes, kissed his cheek, and walked out the door. As the door closed behind her, Simon thought that all in all, he'd had worse Valentine's days.

From what he could gather over the grapevine, Alec and Magnus had managed a quiet Valentine's, much to Magnus's relief, and Clary and Jace had stayed in. Simon suspected it was Izzy's presences in his life that made Clary's second Valentine's with Jace easier to think of, or maybe it was simply the time. Simon couldn't believe it had been well over a year since he'd finally found the resolve to break up with Clary.

Time has a funny way of passing without you noticing it. A lesson Simon learned when the calendar turned to March, and he realized it had been a year since he'd first kissed Isabelle in that elevator. They'd been sleeping together off and on for just under five months now, which didn't seem so long, but had the elevator really been a year ago? Where had the time gone?

With March, also came better weather, and more homework. Simon's second year of University was over this April, and he was out of time. He had to declare a major or add another year to his studies.

"Do you want to hear what I picked?" Maia asked when Simon complained about this indecisive ways.

"Yes," Simon replied.

"Management," Maia said.

"Why?" Simon asked.

"I like being in charge of stuff," Maia explained. Simon couldn't help but chuckle a little at her logic, though he could easily imagine Maia doing well in management.

Clary had long ago decided her major would be art, or rather graphic design. He could picture her working in some office somewhere with logos on the walls, and a tablet pen in her hand.

Jordan and Izzy were still in their first years at the university and weren't too worried about major's yet, or at least Jordan wasn't. Izzy seemed to be over-eager, in Simon's opinion. But he could also say the same thing about Jordan, just not about school work. Jordan was really only over-eager about one thing, and it was his ex girlfriend. This never seemed to work out for him though. Maia and Jordan continued their dance, or total failure to communicate as mid March approached, and Simon continued to try and fail to not be involved. He was starting to think he should just lock them in a room together, and be done with it.

"Fine!" Maia yelled, throwing her arms up in frustration. "Fine! If it matters so freaking much to you, then I'll let Jordan talk to me without breaking his nose."

"Great! See, now that is progress," Simon said smiling. He was here, in Maia's dorm room, to pass on a message from Jordan. He'd like to say this was the first time he'd done this, but he'd be lying.

"I hate you," Maia grumbled.

"No, you don't," Simon laughed. They were interrupted by a knock on the door, or rather someone just opening it and coming in without knocking.

"Sounds like Maia has a date," Izzy said grinning.

"Umm… let's see, no, no, no, ah no, and hell no," Maia said.

"Say no one more time, and I'll believe you," Izzy chuckled. Then she walked straight over to Simon and planted a kiss on his mouth, almost as if she was saying hello.

"I so don't wanna see that," Maia whined. "So weird."

Izzy giggled. With one of her hands still on Simon's back, she then turned to Maia. "Do you want to join us?"

Maia visibly cringed, clearly disgusted by the idea. "A world of no," Maia replied. "I am out of here."

"But this is your dorm," Izzy reminded her. "I didn't actually know Simon would be here."

"Yes, but from that look in your eye, you are about to jump his bones... so," Maia turned to leave again.

Izzy sighed and moved away from him. "Actually, I have a date," she said. "I came home to change."

Simon knew Izzy was dating, or he supposed sleeping with other guys as well as him, though he hadn't really thought much about it before. After all, her one condition of their little arrangement had been that he wasn't to fall in love with her, and they weren't technically dating or a couple or anything. They were just sleeping together, so why was this not sitting right with him?

"But if it doesn't go well," Izzy continued. "I will be back."

"So, Simon is your what?" Maia asked. "Backup orgasm?"

"He's my favourite backup orgasm," Izzy replied, with a laugh. Maia made a sound of disgust, then turned and left the dorm room.

"What's her problem?" Izzy asked, facing Simon again. He didn't reply, however, as he was trying to figure out why he wanted to lock the door and not let Izzy leave.

"Anyway," Izzy continued when Simon didn't speak. "Its great you're here because I could use a guy's opinion on outfits." She went to her closet, and soon she pulling out multiple dresses for him to give her advice on how likely they'd get laid with someone else.

"That one," Simon told her without even looking at the dresses.

"Really?" Izzy asked. "You don't think the collar's too high?" Then Simon actually looked at the dress and noticed that it was sort of like a very long skintight sweater with a turtleneck, and probably one of the most conservative items of clothing Izzy owned. "Also I might overheat. Spring has sprung after all."

Ignoring her words, Simon moved quickly across the room and pulled Isabelle into his arms. Holding her close, his hands on her lower back, Simon kissed her. She accepted the kiss well enough, even wrapping her arms around him in return, but when they broke apart she returned to the task at hand, which was planning her date with some other guy.

"I think I like the red one better," Izzy was saying as she put the sweater dress back.

"You know you don't have to go out," Simon whispered, following the twisted feelings in his chest. He still had a hand on her hip from their kiss, and gently used it to encourage her to turn around and face him again.

"Tempting," Izzy grinned at him. "But no." She leaned up and kissed him briefly on the lips before squirming out of his grip.

Simon's heart was pounding. Going against everything he wanted in this moment, Simon made up some excuse and quickly left her dorm. Once in the hallway, he ran until he reached his dorm where he flung himself face first into his pillow.

Everyone had warned him, and he hadn't listened. Why had he thought himself capable of having a casual sexual relationship? Why? Was he stupid? Yes, definitely stupid. After all, he dated a woman who wasn't attracted to him for two years, and now had somehow ended up in the exact opposite situation, but with the exact same problem. Clary and Izzy were complete opposites in every way, and yet he'd been friendzoned by them both. Clary had been happy to be his girlfriend in name, but not in her heart, and Izzy was happy to repeatedly have sex with him, but not be his girlfriend. It was like he'd experienced one complete relationship spread out over two people. But people weren't like math. He couldn't just add his two half relationships together to make a whole one. Simon knew what he had to do, but he didn't want to do it. Besides, it had taken him two years to get up the resolve last time, and he hadn't even been getting laid then. How in the world was he suppose to tell Izzy they were done, when he wanted the exact opposite?

Simon liked Izzy, and he was totally screwed.


So about time right? Or did this feel rushed? My beta said it didn't feel too fast so I decided to go with it. Also is anyone rooting for Jordan and Maia yet? I hope so!


To Guest Reviewer "Court" who wrote:
Yesssss! What a great Clace chapter! (Btw) after finishing the last chapter, I read all 21 chapters of one of your other stories, the Delena one that starts after 6x22 (forgot the name sorry) and you're such a great writer! I am definitely going to check out your blog soon!

My reply:
Oh you read 'Human Delena'! :) And awws thanks. Oh and sorry, but the blog is no more. It got hacked. And working and updating R&S is all I really have time for right now. I might start it up again, but for now it's down. Before the site got hacked and fell apart I have only 4 posts up anyways. You should check out my other fanfics instead! I have a Klaine Glee one as well as 5 other TMI ones apart from R&S.


Sneak Peek Chapter 79

'You're cute.'

To her tenth grade self that had meant everything. It hadn't been the words that had moved her, but rather the attention they represented. Jordan saw her and for a girl who'd spent her whole life living in the shadow of her older brother being seen was everything. Maia could remember so perfectly what she'd done after receiving the note. She'd waited just outside the classroom door for Jordan to get out.

"Hi," she'd said as he'd appeared. "I liked your note." The resulting smile on his face had lit a spark in Maia's heart, warming her from the inside. Maia remembered reaching out her hand to him. Jordan had taken it and they'd walked hand in hand back to her locker.

It's funny how some memories were crystal clear while others blurred together. She remembered walking home from school with Jordan for many months after that, talking and laughing. She didn't remember when they first kiss had been, but she could remember the event itself with perfect clarity. It had been on one of their walks. They were approaching her house and Jordan usually turned back right about now, but instead he'd stopped and faced her. Maia could remember the determined look in his eyes as he he'd been leading up building up to this moment. Then he'd leaned slowly forward and gently touched his lips to hers. It had been a brief kiss, a high schooler's first kiss but she would always remember it just as she would always remember that lake.