1. The New Kid

        "The thing is… I've liked you even before I started coming to this school and I thought I should tell you just in case you maybe possibly liked me back." Words gushed out of the girl's mouth. "Well what I'm trying to say is will you go out with me, Jace?"

        Jace Herondale—a blond heartbreaker always subject of many confessions—smiled at the brunette confessing. To him, she was just another girl. "Sorry you're just not my type." He shrugged. "Your friend Alice on the other hand…" He trailed off. With his hands stuffed in the pockets of his jeans, he strode off just as the bell for first period rang.

        Jace plunked down in his usual seat: third column, second row. He winked at one of the girls visibly staring at him. He was use to it. Being hot and popular wasn't easy, especially when it came to him.

        The room was noisy with the chatter of his classmates. Paper planes flew in all directions through the air; someone was drawing who knew what on the white board; and there was even a couple making out in the back corner. Jace slouched back in his chair.

        When the door opened, everyone scrambled to their seats, pushing, shoving, and ignoring each other's private space. Then there was silence. Heels clicked on the tile floor as the teacher walked in. She was just how you would imagine a history teacher to look like: gray hair stuck in a bun, thinly rimmed glasses sitting on a long pointed nose, and a scrunched up face that made it look like she'd just eaten a lemon. Ms. Plimith walked in, hands clasped behind her back, chin held high. There was only one thing odd about her.

        A girl followed her.

        Jace didn't recognize the student and decided she must have been new. It wasn't often that the school, one reserved for the elite and rich, received new students. In fact it was near never that new students arrived. So to have someone—a girl at that—to arrive in the middle of the school year… Jace shook his head. He didn't think it had ever happened before.

        Though she was new, the girl wore the school uniform: plaid skirt, a black blazer over a collared white shirt, and a red tie. Her bright red hair swished as she turned to face the class and smiled a warm smile that lit up her freckled face and made her green eyes seem to glow. She had books clasped in her hands and a bag slung over her shoulder.

        "This is Clarissa Fray. Please—"

        She was interrupted by the girl. "Oh you can just call me Clary. I'd prefer that."

         Clary, Jace thought. It was a nice name for a nice girl. She seemed innocent enough; it wouldn't be long before she fell for him. They all did after all.

        Ms. Plimith cleared her throat. "Yes, Clary please take you seat." She gestured to the empty seat near a boy with glasses.

        Clary complied; walking to sit near the boy—Simon, Jace thought was his name. She set her books down, gracefully slipping the bag of her shoulder and propping it against the table leg. Jace decided immediately that he would be the first to conquer the new student.