The school was adorned with white for the week and on Thursday Mr. Bane looked like a glittering piece of porcelain.

"It is time to get back on schedule," he announced. "Which means, it is time for your exam."

There wasn't any groans; the class remained silent.

"Glad everyone is so excited," he said. A stack of paper separated and each student received a flying copy of an exam booklet.

"Alright, exam time. Stay silent or I'm going to think you're cheating. If I see you looking at someone else's paper, I'm going to think you're cheating. If I hear you tap tap tapping Morse code on the desk top, I'm going to think you're cheating. If I see you using American Sign Language, International Sign Language, or your own form of gangster sign language to communicated with your homies, I'm going to think you're cheating. So do you're best, take your time, and remember, kids, character counts."

Clary smiled in spite of herself and got straight to work.

She was one of the first ones done. She wasn't about to let her grades slip now. Jace's pep talk had convinced her to cease her plans of running away.

Thankfully, "History of Downworlders" was her last class and she was able to escape the room without being stopped by one of the boys, who seemed to be fighting.

She was making her way back to her dorms when she ran into a tiny woman with brown hair done up in a messy bun.

"I'm so sorry," Clary said. Her books had gone everywhere, so why had she apologized?

"That's okay, dear," the woman said. When everything was picked up, they met glances and Clary recognized something incredibly familiar about her.

"Have I met you before?" Clary asked.

"I don't think so," the woman said. She smiled and stuck out her hand. Clary shook it. "Celine Herondale."

"Herondale?"

"You might know my son, Jonathan--"

"I do," Clary said, her eyes lighting up. Jace's mom? "Are you looking for him?"

"Yes, actually. The office said you were between classes so I'm not sure where to find him."

"I'll help you find him," Clary said.

..........

Alec and Jace walked back to their dorms in silence.

They really hadn't spoken much since that night. It was an unofficial fight.

And both boys were reaching their breaking point.

When Jace unlocked the door, he immediately heard conversation from within the room. He glanced back at Alec, who shrugged.

Jace stepped inside the room.

Clary sat on his bed, listening with fascination to his mother.

"Hi," Jace said, slowly. His mother turned around.

"Jonathan," she said, smiling. She opened her arms to hug him and he let her. His eyes glanced at Clary who looked thoroughly amused.

"Uh, what are you doing here?" Jace asked. She let go of him.

"The Clave wants to speak with you," she said.

"Sounds serious," he said.

"Mortal Sword," she said, her lips pursing together.

"What are you doing in Idris?" Jace asked.

"It's nothing to concern yourself with. Your father's still in Tokyo--"

"Mother."

Celine Herondale closed her eyes for a second.

"We should go somewhere to speak--"

"Why?" Jace asked, frustrated now.

"Jace--" Clary interrupted. "--we can go."

Jace's head snapped to look at Clary. She looked uncomfortable.

When Jace looked back to Alec, Alec was nodding, giving Jace permission to dismiss them.

Jace's eyes fell to the ground.

"I'll see you guys at lunch."

He heard Clary and Alec leave together.

The door shut quietly and Celine was ready to talk.

"We're under investigation," she said.

"Why?" Jace asked. "And don't spare me."

"There's been talk of the same radicalism that got your friend's father killed."

"Valentine's movement?"

Celine sighed and shook her head, painfully.

"You know too much, dear."

"I disagree. Most days I don't know enough," Jace said. "What do you have to do with it?"

"Your father's name came up," she said. "I'm trying to clear it."

"Father had nothing to do with it."

"Of course not," she said. "But the Clave overreacts and now they're going to react even more."

"Valentine did this?"

"Valentine is dead."

Jace stepped back. He had never heard his mother sound so vicious.

"I'm sorry-- Johnathan--"

Jace stumbled out of the room.

He made it down to the first floor.

He had to go somewhere.

Anywhere.

He pushed open the door to a dorm room.

Max was laying on the first bed. Jace had forgotten up until that moment that Max had lost his roommate.

"Jace?"

"I'm hiding from my mother and anyone who will help her find me," Jace said, quickly. "So shhh."

He rushed to the empty bed and fell onto it.

Max was silent for awhile.

"Jace, why is your mom looking for you?"

Jace turned to see Max. He must have been in the middle of studying since his bed and side table were covered in books, pencils, and papers.

"You know moms, Max. They're always looking for you," Jace said.

Max didn't believe that but he dropped the issue.

"How have you been?" Jace asked.

"My arm's better," Max said.

"I meant the roommate," Jace said. "And everything else."

"I didn't know him all that well," Max said. "I didn't know anyone that well. This is still my first year. Mom and Dad started me later so that we could tour some places."

"I think I remember you coming to dinner in Tokyo one night," Jace said.

"Yeah, we did," Max said.

"We had a lot of visitors. I don't remember all of them," Jace said.

"That's okay," Max said. "I wouldn't expect you to remember us."

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know," Max said, squirming a little. "Why would we matter?"

"Are you saying you're insignificant?" Jace asked.

"I'm saying we're all insignificant until we become significant," Max said. He cocked his head to one side, as if he was trying to understand what he had just said. "Like, now I'm significant to you because I've saved you from your mother."

Jace smiled.

"I am grateful."

"As you should be."

Jace stared back up at the ceiling, the only thing to do when one is avoiding responsibility.