6 am. That's when my alarm goes off. I groan and roll out of the butterfly-printed sheets of my single bed. I smack the floor, feeling a sharp sting of pain through my face. I rub my nose gingerly as I sit up.

If I listen carefully, I can hear the sounds of my family sleeping down the hall. My Dad's probably going to wake up very soon, as well as my Mum who has to go to a meeting at the local Art studio today. I yawn, stretching my arms out as I get off the floor.

The curtains are wide open which honestly keep me from falling back to sleep. Autumn light shines in through the windows and I sigh, missing the warmth of summer.

I reminisce as I go through the motions of getting ready for school. You know the drill.

This summer I spent with my friends; Izzy, Tessa and Simon. I honestly had a great time with them, some days were just spent chilling on the lawn and talking, without fuss from either of my parents. It seems like summer went by far too quickly for my taste. But obviously, teachers aren't gonna give us more time off.

My clothes hang nonchalantly in my wardrobe. I grab a green T-shirt, some ripped jeans and a brown leather jacket- after noticing the brisk wind outside which is making me think twice about my wardrobe choice for today. I look at my face in the mirror. My skin is pale and drawn despite my efforts at tanning this summer; my eyes are huge green orbs in my face. Oh, and my hair. How could I miss it? In fact, how could anyone miss it? Flaming red curls that are slightly straighter from the shower. My Mum has the same hair but she's prettier, with a defined face and curves. I look like a pixie with my red hair because I'm so tiny.

Ugh, stop moaning Clary!

I sling my bag on my shoulder as I hop down the stairs. The house is beginning to stir: the creaks of the floorboards confirm it. The smell of burning from the kitchen no longer greets my nose since we 'hired' Maia, Dad's old friend, to cook breakfast and clean for us. Mostly, it was for Dad who cannot make anything without burning it and probably went to work fuelled by ten cups of coffee (no joke) before we hired a maid.

The smell of pancakes makes my mouth water. I smile at Maia when I walk into the kitchen. She smiles back at me from the stove and Dad sits at the table in clothes not far off from casual as mine are. He runs a bookshop in town which started off as a small business but has become increasingly popular. Now he has to be there on time every day because of the demand from customers. And the fact that it's in the city so he has to commute there.

"Morning everyone!" I greet them, sliding into a chair at our medium-sized Dining Table. They murmur their replies. I roll my eyes when I see the beverage that Dad is drinking coffee. Gosh. I grab a pancake off of the plate at the centre of the table, squirting cream over it and put a forkful into my mouth. I check the time on my watch, deciding to watch some TV seeing how early I am. I pile another two pancakes onto my plate and squirt more cream over them. I grin at Dad who shakes his head. His brown hair has streaks of grey but his face is kind as always.

I watch half an episode of Supernatural before I notice the time. I leave my remote on the sofa before taking my empty plate to the sink in the kitchen.

I grab my keys off of the table for my red Mini Cooper which has been my car for the past year. I love it to bits! "Bye!" I yell as I run out of the door.

My phone rings and when I check the caller ID its Izzy. Of course since Tessa is far too level-headed to get flustered. She's probably wondering where I am.

It's kind of a ritual that the first day of every semester we drive to school together but I'm the only one with the car at the moment so I have to pick both up.

"Hello Izzy."

"Where are you? Ow, Alec! Go away."

"5 minutes away," I tuck the phone underneath my chin.

"Okay, hurry! I'm freezing my ass off out here."

"Iz, I don't think this is the weather for a mini dress…"

Sigh "Can you not."

I pull up into the Lightwood's massive drive. They own a very large house because both their parents are businessmen. I admire the lines of flowers in their garden, little bursts of colour beside the gravel.

Izzy squeals and jumps into the car. Her long raven hair is braided perfectly, her dark eyes lined with mascara. Unlike me her skin has actually tanned nicely. It's a shade or two darker than her olive tone. As I predicted, she's wearing a black mini-dress with boots and a belt across her waist. They flatter her tall frame, as most of her wardrobe does.

"Hi, you ready for a semester full of fun?" I ask dryly.

She flips open her phone before closing it again, "Yes. I definitely need a new guy. Did you hear? There's someone new starting today. Apparently he's from Spain. He's gonna be hot, I predict." She bubbles.

I smile in reply, "Maybe he's going to be one of those creepy guys that no one knows anything about…"

"Clarr-yy!"

I laugh as I pull up outside Tessa's house. She's dressed in a knit sweater and jeans. Her smoky eyes look more blue than grey because of her grey jumper. Her rich brown her is loose around her shoulders, framing her flawless porcelain face.

Tessa jumps into the car next to me. "Hello, my friends. Let me guess, were you discussing the new boy?"

"Woah, do you have sonic hearing or something?" Izzy laughs.

"Nope. Just that everyone's been talking about him on Whatsapp. His name is apparently Sebastian."

Izzy looks at me, "Even his name sounds sexy."

"Don't judge a book by its cover." Tess says sternly.

When we drive into the school parking lot, it's mostly full. I kill the engine before swinging my bag on my shoulder and getting out.

I walk into school with Izzy and Tess on either side of me. They both tower over me but are beautiful in their own ways. Isabelle has a sexy, exotic look about her whilst Tessa has a pretty, intelligent face but they both have legs that go on for miles.

"Clary!" Simon embraces me.

It's not awkward or anything because he's like a brother to me. He's grown out his hair a bit in favour of Izzy and switched up his hoodies for leather jackets. I smile internally at the thought of both of them dating.

"So, I was thinking…" Simon's voice disappears as I notice a boy that I haven't seen before.

His face is not perfect; he has a scar over his left brow but he has beautiful coal black eyes and dark hair. His skin is extremely pale, china-like but almost luminous in an almost other-worldly way. I gasp at how fluidly he moves like walking is all together one movement for him.

I don't even realise that he is walking toward me until he smiles at me. His smile is soft and polite. I feel my stomach do somersaults. He's looking at me. Not either of the beauties that are my friends. I consciously push my hair over my shoulder and smooth out my T-shirt like it's a silk dress instead of a graphic T-shirt from a thrift store.

The scent of sandalwood tinged with something darker hits me as he stops a foot away from me. I feel my hands clasp each other like they do when I'm nervous.

"Hi, I'm Sebastian." He says politely.

Oh my God, he's talking to me. Why? How? Okay so maybe he is kinda cute…

"Clary," I answer, beaming at him.

My friends are murmuring quietly behind me apart from Tessa who has busied herself with getting her books to fit in her locker. Aw, the eternal bookworm.

Damn, what did he just say?

His eyes are so captivating…

"Sorry?" I ask.

He grins like he can see right through me. "What's your first lesson?"

"Mm, I think it's Geography?" It's almost a question.

"Mine too. Shall we go together?" Sebastian asks.

I glance over my shoulder at Izzy who mouths 'Go!' at me and Tessa who nods encouragingly. Simon doesn't seem happy in the least.

"Sure."

I quiver with excitement as I walk with the new boy to my first lesson.

We sit together at a desk, talking for most of the lesson. The teacher hands out our new books to us which I write my name on before ignoring.

"I am new, so I would like a lesson to get to know you all before I start teaching you." She catches a student's eye who has just sighed "Don't worry; the only thing remotely academic that you'll be doing is a 5 minute quiz. After that," She grins at all of us, "Free lesson."

There's a chorus of yells of exhalation. Sebastian just smiles, "Lucky me, my first lesson at this school and we aren't even working."

"Easy tiger don't get the wrong idea." I warn him.

He grins at me sideways before turning his attention to the quiz in front of us.

"Okay class, 5 minutes silence!"

After Geography, I had Maths where I and Sebastian parted ways.

Izzy chattered excitedly through Maths despite many glares from our Maths Professor. She literally asked me so many questions that it felt like the Spanish Inquisition. I was almost glad when it was Music.

I had Music with Simon who I helped with the notation test the teacher sprung on us at the beginning of class. He grinned at me in thanks, his dislike of me with Sebastian clearly forgotten.

Before lunch we had P.E (Gym) where I got to smack Aline Penhallow, the most annoying diva in the school, with a ball in dodgeball. She glared at me in shock but couldn't get her revenge because she was already out.

I change back into my clothes for lunch.

I pick out some pasta and a soda for lunch and saunter over to my group's usual table. Simon is busy engaging in some conversation about Star Wars with Isabelle whilst Tessa is quietly reading 'A Tale of Two Cities'. I don't talk to her, not because I don't want to but because I don't want to disturb her.

Sebastian catches my eye, carrying a tray with his lunch on it. I gesture for him to sit beside me which he does, carefully.

"Hi again"

I look down at his choice of lunch. I wince. "The sandwiches aren't that…fresh."

He looks at me unbelievably.

"Seriously," I put up my hands, "Try it if you want but don't say that I didn't warn you."

Sebastian lifts the sandwich to his mouth, his eyes on me, and takes a large chunk out of it.

He seems to choke before spitting it back out. His face is bright red and his eyes are wide with disbelief.

I burst out laughing, at his incredulous expression. I lean back and look at the ceiling. Tears pool in my eyes as my body shakes with laughter. Sebastian laughs with me. Both of us unable to forget what just happened. I keep on laughing until tears are streaming down my face.

It's nice but it somehow feels unfamiliar…

Simon raises an eyebrow as he looks over to us and I cough my way out of my laughing fit. Once I can breathe again I put a hand on his shoulder.

"Do you want to get something else?"

"I think that I spent my only lunch money…on a sandwich that tastes like" He says a very rude word.

I laugh, catching the eye of a grumpy kid a table away. He scowls at me so I turn my attention back to Sebastian.

I find a wad of extra dollars in the recess of my jacket pocket. Obviously I don't hand him the whole thing but I force a couple of dollars into his hands.

"Right, the pasta and most of the vegetarian stuff is okay. Avoid the meat, at all costs and if you pick up a card at the end you get free coffee on Tuesdays." I advise him.

He nods gratefully before making his way back to the counter. I watch him bring back a sensible lunch and show my approval.

"What was your last school like?" I ask.

"Well, I miss the turkey club sandwiches. I guess I'm going to have to become vegetarian."

I laugh, "Yeah, we tried petitioning for a new catering company but our principle refused. And most people couldn't be bothered to actually sign it."

"Whose idea?"

"Isabelle and Tessa's" I nod to them sitting either side of the table.

He smiles, "Did you sign it?"

I scoff, "Of course, I want to have meat at school. I don't know how I would've survived if I didn't have a Deli five minutes away from my house. I buy bagels and stuff when I get a meat craving."

"I think I'm going to bring lunch from home in the future."

I cover a chuckle with a cough, "Aside the food, what else do you miss?"

Sebastian shrugs, "I don't really miss my last school. This was a fresh start for me."

My question is cut off by the bell. He grins at me before heading to his locker.

I run to my locker to grab my books before sprinting halfway across the school to English. I slide into a seat next to Tessa. She has her hands folded on top of each other, her long fingers lying against the desk. A smile tugs at the corner of her lips as she glances at me. I follow her line of sight to see Sebastian sitting in the seat diagonal to her. He smiles over to me warmly and I grin back at him just as the teacher enters.

The lesson starts quickly. I barely listen but I gather that we are looking at 'Treasure Island' and take the book that I'm given. I take down notes as the teacher is speaking but find my eyes straying to the clock, wishing for the lesson to end. I usually enjoy English. So does Tessa. Today, I really want the day to end.

Finally, the bell goes. I throw my books into my bag and swing it over my shoulder. I say goodbye to Tessa who has to go to a Dentist check-up after school. Izzy is getting a ride with her brother so I don't have to drop anyone home.

I bump into somebody on the way out. "Sorry" I mumble.

I look up to find a pair of furious eyes staring down at me, ruffled blonde curls and a football in his right hand. His bag is dangling off of his shoulder. Jace Herondale. He thinks he's so hot and so do girls.

Just not me.

He doesn't move when I try to go past him. "Where are you going?"

"To your funeral if you don't move."

Jace laughs, "Are you threatening me?"

I meet his gaze angrily, "Look, can you stop interrogating me and let me pass? I want to leave."

When he doesn't say anything I shove past him, knocking into somebody else.

By the angel, why is everyone walking in to me today?

"Hey, sorry Clary." I see a familiar face of my new friend. Sebastian

"That's okay" I walk with him to the main doors of the school, passing people running with P.E kits to sports clubs after school. Simon waves at me as he climbs into his car from the car park. I wave back at him but he doesn't seem to notice. I don't see Izzy . I make a mental note to call her when I get home.

Sebastian stops abruptly by the doors.

He fidgets with his jacket and changes the leg he's leaning on. "Are you free next weekend?"

I'm surprised. "Why?"

"Do you want to, you know, hang out?" Sebastian asks, looking at me through his lashes.

"Yes. I would love to." I answer, feeling a strange stab of cold inside me.

He leans toward and I hold my breath, wondering what he might do. He could do anything to me. His breath fans out on my face. I gasp, not at our closeness, but at the strange dark feeling inside me. It feels hostile and alien. But the moment is interrupted by Jace barrelling past us.

I am knocked backward into the lockers whilst Sebastian lands on his backside.

I look up to see him running to his car. I am helped up by Sebastian but his voice blurs out as I focus on Jace walking to his car. I can't explain why. I have to watch him for some reason that I can't explain. It's not necessarily against my own will… I can only focus on him walking slowly to his Mercedes.

"…So you good?" Sebastian finishes.

I turn my gaze to him and pretend that I heard what he just said. "Yes, I'll see you tomorrow."

He leaves quickly and I turn my attention back to Jace in the car park.

I think that he might leave but at the last second, he glances over his shoulder. His gaze meets mine, filled with annoyance and intensity. I have no idea why he's looking back to me. He rarely talks to me...Jace shouldn't bother at all. The stare lasts for one second before he climbs into his car.

Even as I am driving home, I can still imagine his furious eyes gazing into mine.