A/N: A short oneshot from Isabelle's POV that expresses her views on all of her friends' and family's relationships. Slight Magnus/Isabelle. I'm a sucker for that ship. Slight "City Of Ashes" spoilers. Read and review? Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Mortal Instruments or any of the characters.

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She could see it- all of the signs were there. The way they looked at each other, the subtle hand brushes, the gentle words; anyone could see it if they knew what they were looking for. They were in a secret relationship that she wasn't supposed to know about. No one was supposed to know about it.

One of them thought it was genuine, but she could see through it. The other was just using their partner as a place holder until someone better came along. Unfortunately, she knew who the third wheel was as well. It broke her heart to know that her brother would never be able to acquire the one person he has always wanted, but she knew it wasn't possible.

While Alec was busy crushing on Jace and stringing the edgy warlock along, the blonde was preoccupying himself with sinful thoughts about his sister. That was another thing she could see. No matter how much Jace wanted her, Clary would not coincide with his wishes to be more than siblings. It was apparent that her desires were the same as his- she learn as much when they went to visit the Queen of the Seelie Court -but the redhead would not let it be publicly known. She knew it was wrong, and unlike her brother, didn't want to damn the rules.

At the same time, the mundane was crushing on Clary. It looked like they had something going on, but again, she knew it was just a cover. Simon was Clary's placeholder, and even though deep down he knew it was true, he refused to believe it.

All around her, relationships between her family and friends were being screwed over by one things or another; and no matter how much she felt she should feel remorse for Jace, and Clary, and Simon, and Alec, her thoughts were trained on the glittering spectacle of a warlock who was currently with her brother. Meliorn had been her placeholder, but when Magnus got his heart broken, Isabelle swore to herself that she would be there to pick up the pieces.