"And you say sorry like the angel heaven let me think was you…but I'm afraid it's too late to apologize."

—Apologize, OneRepublic

Simon Lewis, City of Bones

The night was turning an inky blue as the light left the sky. Simon buttoned up his coat, unsure of where he was going. Every face he passed was Clary, her green eyes shining with tears, apologies pouring from her mouth, or Jace, golden-haired and arrogant, a condescending sneer decorating his obnoxiously perfect face…

I'm so sorry… But for once, he didn't want to hear it. For the first time, it wasn't "okay, okay, as long as I get the last pop-tart." For the first time, it wasn't just about the two of them. It was about Jace, who came into Clary's life and swept her right off her feet the way Simon never seemed to be able to do. It was about the fact that no apology could change the way she looked at the golden-haired Shadowhunter.

His entire life, Clary had been his closest companion, especially after Becky left for college. She was almost too good to be true—his perfect match in every way, complete with that adorable, nerdy beauty. But after fifteen years of knowing her and loving her, God had suddenly decided that she was too good for Simon, too good for the world she grew up in. She was part angel. Angel blood ran in her veins, like in every other Shadowhunter. For fifteen years, Simon had thought she was just another (wonderful) girl. Now he knew better. Of course she was too good to be true.

With a groan, Simon sank down onto a park bench. He knew he would make it up with Clary eventually—he needed her too much. But he also knew they could never be the same, because there were some things impossible to apologize for, impossible to forgive. It wasn't her fault, but it was too late to take it back. He felt sick to his stomach, his heart pounding unnaturally fast, clutched by the realization that she would never be able to walk away from that other boy. No matter what she said or what she tried, she would never be able to let him go. And Simon, who had been her best friend for years and years, would always be second place. No apology could ever fix that.