The walk back from school was always calming for Clary Fray. Her neighborhood was calm if maybe a bit eerie, every house dramatically different on the outside giving you an idea of its inhabitants. The house that her mum, Luke and her lived in was a modest two story that she'd always thought had character with its faded red bricks and vines curling up the sides. Luke on the other hand, the man that her mother started dating when Clary was just a toddler after her biological fathers death and who two years ago became Clary's official father although she'd always thought of him as one, thought it needed serious restoration. She loved him but she'd be damned if he touched a single stone.

So as Clary strolled down the worn down sidewalk she breathed in the cold September air and marveled at the way that the mix of clouded weather and exhausted aesthetic of the street gave her stomach a bubbly feeling of content.

"You are literally the slowest walker ever." A voice to her right concluded. "I swear an injured snail just passed us. Yup look over there, there he is, making his way, faster then we ever seem to, on his merry way." His arm moved in a sweeping gesture.

"You know that you like, don't have to walk with me right? As i tell you every day when you poke fun at how slow i walk." Clary replied with an air of annoyance, adjusting the strap of her backpack and moving it higher on her shoulder.

"Yes yes but what kind of gentleman would i be if i didn't escort you home and make sure you got back safely?"

The walk they made together daily had less to do with Jace's chivalry and more with the fact that they lived next to each other, though if he wanted, with his six foot stature he could easily stride past her meager five feet and four inches. Despite this he still insisted on strutting along beside her, whining about whatever incident occurred day.

Clary sighed in relief as she spotted her house, picking up pace. Jace matched her strides going on about manners or the lack of therefore in today's society which she pointedly ignored. Reaching her door Jace shouted to her that Isabelle was returning today and that she would be by later. Clary grunted in acknowledgment closing the door and promptly cutting of Jace bidding her farewell and thanking her for the riveting conversation.

Taking her shoes off and dropping her ridiculously heavy bag trudged up the stairs to her bedroom that took up most of the top floor. They'd moved into the house six years ago and her mother and Luke had graciously allowed Clary the top room, taking for themselves a slightly smaller one on the main level.

Clary took her phone out of her pocket sending Isabelle a quick text regarding the time that she thought she may be returning. Isabelle had gone Europe to visit some family ad her plane was supposed to be landing sometime soon.

She turned off her phone reaching across he bed to grab her sketchbook and pencils, settling down against the soft cushions that her and her mum had bought at the flea market at the beginning of the summer. Her room was always relatively clean, or as clean as it could look with her slew of decorations. Her walls had been painted a warm auburn with her sheets and curtains shades of orange with accents of darks and blacks scattered around.

She flipped open her book to a clean page and beginning to sketch mindlessly before she felt her eyes drift closed.

Clary awoke abruptly to her bed shaking. She sat up quickly looking around her room wide eyed before she settled on one of her best friends. Isabelle had always been gorgeous at least since Clary could remember. She was long limbed with creamy skin, black hair reaching her waist and a killer fashion sense. Confidence oozed out of her practically non existent pores and she was the envy of practically every girl in school.

She was sitting cross legged on the comforter holding a bag of Cheetos and her phone.

"Oh good you're awake!" She smiled looking down at her cellphone for a second before dropping it on the bed and pulling the bag of chips open.

"Hey how was your trip?" Clary asked, attempting to rub the sleep from her eyes.

"It was pretty good i mean, old people telling me to eat more, and its like no matter how many times i prove that i am a perfectly fine and healthy weight they still ignore it." Clary giggled to what she was saying remembering this same discussion happening every time Isabelle returned from her relatives.

"Anything fun happen here while i was gone?" Isabelle looked at Clary, shoving a handful of Cheetos into her mouth.

"Oh you know, just school and your brother annoying the living hell out of me."

"So like same old same old right?" They laughed. "You know that he's only like that with you because he likes you right?"

Clary rolled her eyes. Izzy was always going on about how Jace was apparently nursing a secret crush on Clary and how he was always looking at her when she wasn't looking or that he wasn't joking around when he threw around compliments about her. Clary thought differently. She was secure with her status as a four on the one to ten scale ad knew fully well that Jace was nine and a half with that slight bit for improvement. And every other girl in the school knew it too. Every girl found Jace Herondale, adopted brother of the Lightwood's mega attractive. He could easily fit into any crowed he chose ad everyone was ready to welcome him with open arms at a moments notice. But for some reason, he chose to stick around with Clary, Isabelle and a few of their other friends typically, teasing Clary about whatever embarrassing thing she happend to do that day.

"Okay Izzy mhm yup, don't i now it. 100, no, 1000%." Isabelle gave her a look, sighing and lying down on her stomach, resting her jaw on her hands.

"I'm surprised that Simon still hasn't made a move, I think it's possible that at this point you may have to." Clary said innocently. Isabelle choked on the food in her mouth, desperately trying not to cough out any Cheetos onto the bed.

"Hey keep it in I don't want to have to try to get those stains out." Clary muttered. Isabelle gave her a dirty look, finally calming down enough to swallow.

She sighed, looking down and picking at the loose threads of the comforter. "I don't know at this point Clary. It's like, I think he likes me but who knows i mean it's not like he's done anything about it." Clary laid down beside her putting a hand on her forearm. Simon was one of their best friends and it was obvious to everyone but the to of them that he was fascinated about her and practically worshiped the ground she walked on. And Isabelle really wanted him to make a move.

"Boys, right." Clary looked at her with sympathy. "Who knows what they want." Isabelle nodded, rolling off of the bed.

"Right. Anyways I should go home and unpack and then get my stuff ready for school. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"You betcha spud." Clary replied, pointing at her friend while attempting to make an impressive exit by rolling of the bed. Instead of landing on her feet though, her shoulder made hard contact with the floor and Clary thanked everything up there that she had a soft rug to break her fall. Isabelle just rolled her eyes, smiling and walking out of the room.

"I'm okay, totally fine. I'm just gonna lie here for a while." Clary yelled after her. She looked up to her nightstand attempting to retrieve her phone with her foot, cursing when it dropped straight onto the floor.

"Sure that's cool." She muttered picking it up and getting ready for bed after seeing the late time.