Chapter Text
“Isabelle Lightwood, get down here this instant!” her mother's shrill voice carried up the stairs.
She moaned as a reply and flipped the pillow on top of her face, but got up before her mom sent one of her brothers to check. She quickly got dressed and ran down the stairs.
“About time,” Alec snorted from his seat at the breakfast table. Isabelle narrowly avoided making a certain rude gesture, telling herself it wasn't worth it. Maryse glared at Isabelle, sizing up her outfit, which consisted of a royal blue crop top, black jeans, high heeled sandals, and a leather jacket. As she took a seat, she plucked a banana out of the fruit bowl in the center of the table.
“Alec, can you give me a ride to school today?” Isabelle asked semi-sweetly.
Alec sighed and raked a hand through his hair, “Yeah, okay, but we have to go soon or else we'll be late.”
“Oh, are we picking up Lydia?” Isabelle smirked. Alec rolled his eyes. For whatever reason, he didn't actually seem to like his girlfriend. Isabelle couldn't understand why; she was gorgeous.
“Alec, you seem to be spending a lot of time with this girlfriend of yours. I trust she's not getting in the way of your schoolwork?” Maryse asked.
“No, mother. Of course not,” Alec assured.
“Well, that's good. It's your senior year, you can't afford any distractions,” Maryse reminded him. Isabelle studied Alec’s expression. If the current conversation was making him uncomfortable, his face certainly didn't show it. But Isabelle knew her older brother better than that.
She walked outside, with Alec following behind her. They got into the car.
“Are you alright?” She asked him.
He looked at her quizzically. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” He insisted.
“You always say that. Are you absolutely sure you're okay?”
Alec sighed. “Izzy, I'm fine. What about you? How are things with Meliorn?” He asked, in a misguided attempt to come off as interested.
“I broke up with him a month ago. What rock have you been living under, big brother?” Izzy laughed.
“You know, I never did like him,” Alec said.
Izzy couldn’t help but laugh again. “What a coincidence! Neither did I.”
Isabelle opened her locker and took out her biology textbook. As she closed the door, Maureen strode up to her.
“Did you hear about the new girl?” She asked eagerly.
Isabelle laughed quietly and tried to rub the tiredness out of her eyes. “No, but I'm going to hear all about her right now, correct?”
“She's a redhead, wears all pastels, and carries around a sketchbook,” Maureen described.
Isabelle cut her off. “Have you actually talked to her yet?” She asked sarcastically.
“Ah, no. But your brother's the one showing her around, so you will. She looks nice,” Maureen added.
“And you know this… how? Wait, nevermind, I don't care. I have to go. I'll see you at lunch?” Isabelle waved the other girl away.
“See you,” Maureen huffed and left. Isabelle slung her bag over her shoulder and made her way through the crowded hallway to bio.
Once in the classroom, she took her unofficially assigned seat near the back. She was entirely prepared to spend another boring class period staring at the wall, until a petite redhead in a mint green hoodie walked over to her table and asked to sit down.