1. Chapter 1 (1/2)

jace looked around at what was supposed to be a small homecoming party for his best friends little sister. the entire football team, jace's siblings and their boyfriends, and most of the cheerleading squad were there, crowding the first floor of their enormous beach house mansion. at the moment, one of the head cheerleaders, kaelie, was hanging on his arm, shoving her fake double-d's, that bulged out of the too small cheer top she wore, against him, trying to get his attention. while jace loved when girls tried so hard to get his attention, kaelie was annoying him. her squeeky, nasally voice rang through his ears, making him want to cover them. her face was caked in makeup, and she clung to him with tenacity, daring other girls to come closer with a look.

he ignored her, turning back to the conversation he and the twins were in with his sister isabelle, and her boyfriend simon. he had been surprised when isabelle had announced that they were dating. not that simon was that bad, but he was a dork. he spent at least 40% of his time playing video games, 10% reading comics, and another 20% playing in a band that was occupied by other dorks. his fashion sense had improved however, when he and isabelle started dating. he used to wear baggy jeans and band t-shirts, but isabelle had managed to constantly keep him looking decent. now, he wore a

own leather jacket, a white muscle shirt, designer jeans, and hiking boots. luckily for him, when he became a vampire, his physic had improved. he now had muscles that were defined, and he lost the dorky glasses that he used to wear. his skin was pale against his dark, curly hair that fell in his eyes. he and jace hadn't gotten along at first, but as time passed, he started to consider him as a friend. and he made isabelle happy, so that was enough for him.

jace was cut off from his reverie when the younger twin, sebastian, pulled out his phone. he checked the message. "she's here. everybody shut up! she's here! we have to-."

he was cut off as the front door opened, and a girl walked in, rolling two large louis vuitton suitcases behind her. she kicked the door shut behind her, before turning to face everybody. jace's jaw dropped.

she was beautiful. she had long, fiery red hair that fell in thick, glossy ringlets to her hips . she was lean and thin, lined with muscle and defined curves. runes covered her body all over, looking like shadows on her porcelain white skin, that was blemish free, and shimmered with body glitter. but her eyes…. jace was transfixed by the

ight emerald color that seemed to cut through him like

oken glass. she wore tight black leather leggings, sparkly black uggs, and a dark green halter- top sweater, that said 'fairy tail' in glitter, and exposed her toned, flat stomach. she wore large, sparkly black hoop earrings, and a slouchy black knit only make-up she wore was pink lipstick, and eyeliner. jace looked her over, his eyes freezing on the faded parabatai rune on the left side of her navel.

she looked around, taking in the mass of people that stared at her in silence, before looking at the 'welcome home' decorations they had set up only hours before. she smiled, looking around again, before her eyes stopped on her

others. she dropped the suitcases, a smile lighting up her face and exposing perfect white teeth. "jonathan!"

she ran forward, throwing her arms around him. he laughed, spinning her around, before setting her down.

sebastian stepped forward. "well, this is just offensive. i'm obviously the cooler, hotter, more awesomer

other, and you hug him first!"

she laughed. "sebastian!" she threw herself into his arms, and he lifted her off her feet, as they both laughed. when he set her down, she looked up at them. jace noticed how small she was, barely reaching their shoulders. he also noticed how she bared no resemblance to them. the twins both stood at 6 ft. 1 (about half an inch taller than jace) with lean, muscular bodies, angular faces, and the same black eyes. the only difference between the two of them was that jonathan had white-blonde hair, and sebastian had midnight-black hair. so, they looked nothing like their sister who was now pouting up at them. "you guys grew again."

they laughed, and jon ruffled her hair." and you shrunk again, baby sis."

she scowled at him playfully, before turning back to look at the decorations." and you guys didn't have to go to all this trouble!"

sebastian snorted." what trouble? and where's your dog? i thought you were

inging him with you."

she turned towards him again." oh, he's waiting outside. and don't worry, i've trained him to be the most awesome dog thats ever lived."

jon laughed. "yeah? well, he doesn't have to stay outside,

ing him in."

she just turned, putting two fingers in her mouth, and letting out a long, somewhat impressive whistle. immediately a black retriever puppy streaked into the house, stopping at her feet, where he jumped at her legs. she laughed, picking the puppy up, and holding him against her. "this is sammy. my baby." her

others laughed again, petting the dog.

sebastian looked at her. "where did you learn to do that?do you already have everything for him, or do we have to go shopping later?"

she shook her head. "nope. i've got everything covered. he'll sleep in my room, of course, and i've got his bed, and toys, and treats… which reminds me… i'm starving. please tell me that you guys already cooked something?"

jon laughed. "of course. it's all in the kitchen."

she smiled. "awesome. i'll be right down, just let me put my things upstairs."

"do you need help?"

"no, i'm fine, but thanks."

she set the dog down. "come on, sammy. lets go set up your stuff. then we can stuff our faces. or i can, at least. i'll give you a treat though…"

she continued talking to her dog like that, until she reached the top of the stairs, and turned a corner. they laughed under their

eaths the whole time.

sebastian rolled his eyes. "that girl is crazy."

jon shook his head. "no, this house is gonna be crazy with her in it."

isabelle laughed. "well she seems really nice. how old is she?"

" ummmm… she turns 17 next friday."

alec, jace's

other and parabatai looked up the stairs. "well she's really short for her age."

sebastian laughed. "yeah, but somehow she always seems to find a way to use it to her advantage. she's a sneaky little thing. and more stubborn than you'll ever understand."

they stopped talking as she bounded down the steps, turning to walk into the kitchen. they followed, watching as she filled a plate with chicken nuggets and french fries, filling a plastic up with neapolitan ice cream, before hopping up onto the

eakfast bar. sebastian moved to lean against her leg, pulling on a strand of her hair.

"when did you start letting your hair grow out?"

she pulled the spoon out her mouth. "a few years ago. i liked this boy, but he said he wouldn't date me cause my hair was short, so i started to let it grow. eventually when i got over it my hair was long, and mom loved it so i just kept it. plus, it's really pretty like this."

they laughed as clary ate, when anthony, a senior on the football team, hopped up on the bar next to her. sebastian leaned away from them, looking back at them, as if to say 'i knew it'. anthony, or aj, took one of her hands. clary, however seemed to be paying more attention to her ice cream and the fact that she was almost out.

he grinned down at her, completely oblivious of her paying him no attention. "so, clarissa… do you have a boyfriend?"

she shook her head, scowling down at her now almost empty cup of ice cream. aj continued to prattle on, as clary ignored him and they watched in amusement, annoyment, and in jace's case, irritation.