The first thing Jace noticed about the dining hall was the simple elegance of it. It had tall ceilings that reminded him more of a church than anything else. The windows were made of stained glass allowing colorful light splash on the dark teak wood. Massive wrought-iron chandeliers hung delicately by chains from the ceilings.

The tables were dark wooden circles and held about six chairs. They were scattered throughout the cafeteria in no apparent order.

Alec guided him to the line of food, where the two boys piled their plates high with the various options. It was a buffet of world cuisine, to respect the diets of all the international students. It was also heaven to teenage boys.

Alec and Jace quickly found an empty table with dinner having just begun.

The dining hall seemed to be growing louder by the minute.

After a few minutes, Isabelle returned, a girl with bright red hair by her side.

Jace's eyes were drawn to the new girl. He smiled and the second she noticed, she looked away.

Isabelle sat her tray down without any hesitation and immediately began talking to her brother about classes. Apparently there was a new "History of Downworlders" professor.

"No one can make that class interesting," Alec said. The girl with the red hair began picking at her food.

"Alec failed that class last year," Isabelle informed the group. "Only class he has ever failed."

"How'd you do that?" Jace asked, popping a french fry in his mouth.

"First of all--"

"Oh dear," Isabelle sighed.

"--the professor had it out for me. He hated me for some unknown reason--"

"Faeries," Isabelle interjected.

"--and secondly, how is one supposed to remember a history older than Shadowhunters'. Shadowhunter Culture is a hard enough course--"

"Not really," Isabelle whispered to Jace and the girl.

"--but Downworlders? I just don't get it," he finished.

"By the way, this is Clary," Isabelle said. She pointed at Alec then to Jace. "Alec and Jace. Alec is my idiot brother and Jace is-- Jace."

Jace was about to say something when a boy with blonde hair approached Clary from behind, as if on cue.

Her face lit up as soon as she saw him.

"Sit down," she urged him quietly. The boy looked at Alec for approval. Alec gestured for him to join them.

"This is my brother, Sebastian," Clary said.

"Baz, please," the boy said. There was an awkward charm about him. He was obviously not at ease amongst them but Jace knew better.

"So where did you find Clary?" Jace asked Isabelle.

Clary was beautiful.

That was the only way he could put it.

"My room," she said. "Apparently, I also got a surprise roommate."

"What year are you, Baz?" Alec asked.

"7," Baz said.

"Decided to show up for your last year?" Alec joked.

"Yeah. Figured it was time to stop slacking," Baz said. Alec smiled and turned his attention back towards his mountain of food.

Suddenly, a figure tumbled into one of the high-backed chairs, breathing heavily.

"Max--"

"I may have gotten in trouble," the boy said. His black hair was identical to his siblings, only much more messier.

Alec raised an eyebrow.

"Hey," Max said, "aren't you Jonathan Herondale?"

Jace nodded, his ego inflating a little bit more.

"Focus," Isabelle snapped.

"Yeah, well, you know the Pontmercy guy?"

"Which one?" Alec asked. "There are three."

"The one in my year," Max said, quickly. "Well, I may have pissed him off."

"Is he looking for you?" Isabelle asked.

"Yes," Max said. He held his breath, waiting for the fallout.

"You're an idiot," Alec said, plainly. "That kid is three times the size of you and much stronger."

"We'll get a professor," Isabelle said.

"Lightwood!" someone roared.

"Too late," Jace noted.

Max looked like he was going to vomit.

"What did you do?" Isabelle hissed.

Max's back was to the main doors which had just been thrown open by a very large boy with a childish face.

Alec stood up, pushing his chair away from the table. Jace and Sebastian did the same without hesitation.

Isabelle looked around frantically for a staff member.

"Do you have a problem, Pontmercy?" Alec asked, his voice loud and bold.

As the boy stepped into a patch of light, a bright purple and rather bushy mustache was revealed on his face.

The rest of the dining hall started laughing but the table that protected Max stayed silent. Jace's jaw dropped and it took everything Alec had not to react.

"Looks like you do," Jace commented.

"Your brother did this!" the youngest Pontmercy bellowed. But he stood by himself against three upperclassmen.

"And?" Alec asked.

"I'm going to kill him," Pontmercy hissed.

"You should be focused on other things," Jace said.

"Like shaving," Alec said. Max giggled from the table and turned to watch the action.

Pontmercy hesitated before charging at the guys.

The boys got in a position to take him on.

Halfway to his destination, Pontmercy squirmed, shrunk, and fell to the ground as a little rat.

That got even more laughter.

Jace was the first to straighten up.

Pontmercy was on his back on the floor, squealing.

"I honestly thought you children would known better than to resort to violence," a voice said. A man stepped out of the shadows along the wall. He wore a glittering blue suit that matched his hair.

"I guess I was wrong," he shrugged. He started walking towards the door.

"Aren't you going to change him back?" someone called. Probably one of the other Pontmercys.

"He'll be fine in an hour," the man said, waving his hands carelessly. Blue sparks flew, accompanied by bursts of air which sent the chandeliers swinging dangerously.

The main doors opened again without him ever touching them.

On the bright side, the mustache was gone.

...........

Sebastian pulled Clary through the indoor nature space until they found a quiet spot.

"'Baz?'" Clary asked. Never had her brother called himself that.

"Friends?" Sebastian countered. "And with the Lightwoods of all people?"

"She's my roommate," Clary countered.

"And the oldest Pontmercy brother is mine, but you don't see me befriending them," Sebastian said.

"You were quick to defend Max."

"Clary--"

"I know," she said. "It's different."

Sebastian relaxed but it wasn't a good kind of relaxed.

"You can't control who I become friends with," she said. "Not this year. I'm taking control of my life."

"I just wish you'd find someone else," Sebastian said. 

"Why can't we try them out?"

He hesitated but didn't protest.

"I should get back," Clary said, uneasily. "I want a good night's sleep."

That was the moment the bond between the two began to slip away.