I might as well be in a windowless room, my barred windows display nothing but a limestone wall that rises infinitely towards the sky. It doesn't help that there's artificial light pouring through window at all hours of the day and the night. Windowless rooms are timeless, in case you're wondering. However, once you leave a windowless room, time surges forward and you're thrust back into some form of reality. Or, in my case, nightmare.

I need to pee. Is my only thought as I make my way to the doorless bathroom where time doesn't exactly stop, but it definitely slows for good measure. I've never seen so many naked girls in my life. It makes me tug at my cotton white tee shirt. I stare at the floor, which is evidently a bad move. Appearing weak is probably not the smartest thing to do in a detention center, or a bathroom full of naked, teen girls, period.

"Are you embarrassed, carrots?" I look up into the blue-green eyes of a fairy tale princess. She is so feminine in all the areas I'm not, from her curvy hips to her ample chest. I blush. I wish she'd put clothes on.

Don't be such a prude, Clary. Here's your chance to make a friend. A hot friend. Izzy's voice comes to life as if she's the devil on my shoulder.
Does your lust know no boundaries? I ask her inwardly, and I hear her warm chuckle boom through my head. I smile. Guess not.

"Did I say something funny?" The girl whose interrogating me has hair the same shade as Jon's. She glares down at me and I shake my head.

"No, ma'am." A few of the girls around me laugh, but are quickly silenced by her shot glances around the room.

"What's your name, carrots?" I smooth out my shirt and take a hesitant breath.

"She's Clary, Helen, the new girl. Don't play dumb. And DON'T mess with her. She's mine." I look around the room and find Maia clad in a faded green towel with soaked, caramel curls cascading down her back. She could be my hero. Although I'm not sure how I feel about being hers.

She walks up to me, and directly places herself between Helen and I.

"What do you need, honey?"

"I have to pee." I mumble, looking around the room.

"Come on," says Maia, taking my arm and shoving past Helen. "I'll stand watch."

once we're out of Helen's range of hearing, Maia begins talking.

"What were you thinking? Gawking at Helen like that." Maia gives me a stern look. "I don't care how perfect her chest is, you avoid it, and her at all costs while you're here." I nod and step into the empty stall we've approached.

"You could've told me, you know." Maia sounds a bit offended.

"Told you what, exactly?"

"That you swing that way. I'm cool with it. No judging here."

Izzy is laughing so loud I can't even hear my response to Maia.

"What? No, I don't swing that way. I just," I pause, realizing that now both Maia and Lizzy are laughing at me. "She was naked," I mumble, shoving past Maia. "I didn't know where to look."

So you stared at her boobs? Great logic, Clary. I rub at my temples, willing Izzy to quiet down for at least a minute.

"Okay," says Maia, taking me by the arm and leading me out of the crowded bathroom. "Next time, trying looking somewhere else."

"Right." I say, wanting to bang my head against a wall. This is not a good beginning to my summer at The Institute.

After I've changed into the only clothes I've brought. I step out of my room and nearly crash right into Maia.

"You ready for breakfast." I think about the vegetarian lasagna. I don't think I'll ever be ready for the food at this place. Maia must read my mind.

"Breakfast is the only halfway decent meal of the day. Trust me when I say you'll want to fill up on as much of it as you can." I nod at Maia's advice and follow her back to the dining hall. I spot Simon, but he's sitting with a very large guy, who looks at least 20. I know he can't be, but he still looks too old to be here. Simon waves and I smile, feeling some unknown part of me relax when I see that he's survived the night.

I'm surprised Jace didn't beat him with a sack of potatoes. Izzy sounds like she's being a bit sarcastic, but the thought of Jace being that violent sends shivers down my spine. It's been years since I knew him, I probably don't know anything about him anymore. I take a cautious breath and scan the dining hall.

No sign of him. I relax again.

Not that you'd know what he looks like now, Izzy says in an annoyed voice and I cringe. I don't want to admit that I'm pretty sure I'd know Jace if it'd been twenty years. No one has eyes like his, or hair, or skin. Jace is uniquely himself, and I think I could spot him anywhere.

Izzy cackles in my head. Still got the hots for my big brother? Hm, thought you'd have found a way to get over it, since he thinks you murdere-

"Shhh." Maia gives me a questioning look. It's less severe than a "Are you talking to yourself?" look, but it still brings my guard up. I must keep Izzy hidden as best as possible. Maia gestures over to the table where Simon is sitting; watching me. I don't like the knowing look in his eyes.

"Okay Come on, Clary, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Jordan."