Gradus Honoris. National Honor Society. The smart kids. All the labels apply to me, I guess.

I had always been one of the brighter bulbs in the bunch, but life was exhausting and most importantly, boring when you live life the way I do.

While I saw all the girls go out for our highly ranked volleyball team I was making flashcards. While the drama kids got ready for their next production I was reading textbooks. Football games, homework. Homecoming, SAT prep. "The biggest party of the year," re-reading those textbooks. I had to miss my own junior prom because I was working on college stuff.

My parents are really anal about school. And the only reason I think this is, is because I showed more promise than my brother, Alec, did.

Alec goes to community college about twenty minutes from home and whereas my parents hate it, I love having him so close. They don't seem to understand the bond that we have. Over the years, most in which they spent fighting through, we became a two sided unit who needed each other desperately. He's probably the closest thing I have to a friend besides Clary.

The only person who talks to me at school is Clary Fray, a girl who is far too kind to everyone she meets. Her bright red hair and glowing green eyes to match made her stand out throughout the blandness of brunettes and dark haired girls at Shadowhunter High School. She's on the volleyball team and I guess she could be considered popular if our school did the whole hierarchy thing.

Being on the Math Honor Society as a junior required me to tutor people in math twice a month and Clary had always been my girl. It started out as just twice a month, then it turned to three, then four, then five and before I knew it I was going to her house to help her with all her school work three times a week.

"Isabelle?" she had asked one time in her room as I helped her study for a big Chemistry exam.

"Hmm?" I had hummed, looking up from the equation I had been writing.

"We're friends right?"

I had been so shocked I nearly choked on the pretzels we had been snacking on. "I guess so?" I honestly hadn't thought about it before that moment. Clary was just the girl that I tutored.

"The only reason I'm asking is because I've had some pretty bad friends before. And, I don't know, I've always been worried about me turning into that. After last year I promised myself that I wouldn't really be a part of their crowd anymore," she paused. "I need a good friend. One that I know won't use me or steal my boyfriend or gossip or anything. I need to get away from that. So really I should have asked if we were good friends." A creased etched into her forehead.

It didn't take me long to make up my mind. "I've never had a real friend before, not including my brother. Of course I'll be your friend."

Clary never pried. We've been friends for almost a year and she never asked me to do anything that would distract me from school work. Every once in awhile we'd get pizza or ice cream but in the whole year we've known each other we've only gone out for more than an hour once, not including tutoring secessions. It was for a movie over the summer. A movie, in which, I had to beg my parents to let me go to for a week. It was an animated comedy.

"Doesn't it bother you that your parents are so strict?" Clary had asked as we waited for my mother to pick us up. Clary had already had her license by this time, but mother wouldn't allow me to drive with anyone other than her or dad.

Of course it bothers me, I wanted to say. I hate the fact that you can leave your house just because you feel like it while I have to beg for days to do just that.

Instead I shook my head.

But being smart has its perks. Or I should I say being on Grad has its perks.

During the last month of junior year they announced those lucky enough to get on Grad, the National Honor Society. It's a big deal for all the teachers and what not as they watch their kids from previous years get onto this elite society.

I never had any other plan than make Grad.

Ever since I entered middle school there's been a plan. 4.0 GPA, Math Honor Society, 2300 SAT score, National Honor Society, 35 ACT score, Science Honor Society, Valedictorian, Princeton University.

The GPA is in the bag. Even if I managed to fail a class this year I would still have the grades to pull out a 95, which is considered a 4.0.

Math Honor Society, check.

2300 SAT score. 2240 and counting, sadly. Retaking those in a week.

National Honor Society, check.

35 ACT score, check.

Science Honor Society, check.

Valedictorian. The only problem that I can find on the entire list. I honestly could care less about the spot at this point. Helen Blackthorn had me beat by .02 percent which may seem insignificant, but really made all the difference. I remember the exact History test sophomore year that created those differentiating points. I got an 84.

But what made me angry was that Helen has friends, and she plays tennis, and she even has a girlfriend. She's able to do so much and still maintain her 99.8. I think she deserves the title more than I do. Who wants their valedictorian to be the girl who stayed home more than she spent out of it, right? Helen was just a better fit for the position.

And lastly Princeton.

On average twenty six thousand students apply to this school every year. Princeton has been my one and only since kindergarten. Only about two thousand get in, so I believe my checklist was pretty important. If I'm able to check off everything but valedictorian, I think I'm still pretty solid.

Applications go out on the first of December.

But like I said before, Grad has its perks.

Its students are privileged to have a gold pass, an automatic pass that enables us to leave the class whenever. Most would abuse the power of it if it weren't for the fact that you had to keep your GPA above a 92.1. Honestly the pass was really handy when I needed to go to the bathroom, or was running late to class. But if I had to choose between my Grad pass and the Grad Store, I'd pick the store in a heartbeat.

The Grad Store was the most popular place to buy snacks and supplies at school. Only Grad people got to work there. It was a hot spot to hang out for everyone to hang out though. Usually Grad kids give their friends discounts, but I don't seem to have any other friends other than Clary and she never comes to the store. I typically go during my study hall third period when nobody else goes.

"What do you mean you don't need to be tutored? Clary, I literally have no one else."

"Isabelle really, I am sorry. I have a date tonight and shockingly," she had closed her locker, "I'm understanding everything right now."

"Well what am I supposed to do then? Friday is the deadline and you know I hand it in a few days in advance." When on Grad you must tutor six times a month. And lucky me because I get to tutor eight times every month with Grad and Math Honor Society combined.

"Put your name in the box down in the office and they'll find you someone to tutor by this afternoon. I'm sorry."

So this morning I did just that. Before I got to worry about it, it was eighth period and I waited impatiently for the call down to the office to pick up my papers. When the classroom phone rang during World History I jumped up, waving around my Grad pass, and ran out of the room before being dismissed. I had known it was for me anyway.

Mrs. Roberts was seated at her small metal desk by the main entrance of the office, obviously waiting for me.

"Hey there Isabelle, I have your tutor work for you."

I snatched the papers from her hands rather rudely, quickly flipping through the stack of math work. The last page was what I needed and when I found it I was appalled.

The name on top of the tutor fill out sheet was Simon Lewis.

A/N: Okay lets set some ground rules. It is rated M for a reason, though these reasons will not happen for quite awhile. I have this entire fic planned out in my head and if my love for it never dies it will get done. (I am beyond determined to go to college saying I've written a novel length story.) The first chapter was made to set things up, and chapter 2 will be up shortly. I based a lot of this National Honor Society stuff off of the one at my school, so if you have any questions just give me a holler.

Edit: I've decided to change Isabelle's major. And in doing so I had to switch colleges. Moral of the story Brown is out and Princeton is in.