"They're cute," Clary sighs. "Really, really cute."

Isabelle snorts. "Whatever you say."

"Just look at them."

"You know it's okay to be single. Focus on yourself for a little while, work on becoming a better person."

"Isabelle," Clary huffs out. "I love you."

Izzy's heart skips a beat like it does every time Clary says those three words. Sometimes, she wishes Clary would stop saying them because at some point Clary is going to figure out that when Izzy says them back, she doesn't mean the same kind of love.

"So if you wanna do that thing where we're talking about me, and pretending like we're not actually talking about you, it's totally fine," Clary continues with a little smirk.

Isabelle can't help but laugh a little, and she shakes her head.

"But I don't want a boyfriend," Clary mutters.

Again Izzy's heart skips a beat. Maybe—

"I want a distraction."

Clary looks around the hallway until she's found a target, and Izzy follows her gaze to the two boys walking towards them. Well, it's more like striding. Both boys full of confidence, with their leather jackets, and helmets in their hands.

Of course, Izzy thinks. Just because Clary doesn't want a boyfriend, doesn't mean she wants a girlfriend. She schools her expression into one of disinterest.

"Related?"

"Brothers," Clary smirks.

The day doesn't get much better. They get attacked during History, bruised by a crazy woman, and Clary won't stop telling Isabelle her plan for getting Jace to love her. When her dad tells them he's taking them home, it's almost a relief.

"What's going on?" Clary asks.

They're on Izzy's bed, trying to get some homework done. It's not going so well, Izzy can't concentrate with Clary's legs draped over hers. Every time Clary moves just an inch, their skins slide over each other and Izzy loses her train of thought. And it's not like she can ask Clary to move, because Clary would want to know why, and then she would have to explain.

"I just feel like we should be looking into what was going on with those crows," Isabelle lies.

"Alec said he'd look into it," Clary says dismissively.

"Maybe we should check the Codex."

"For what? We don't actually have anything on whatever was controlling those birds."

"Right," Isabelle sighs. She slides off the bed and walks to her door. "I'm going to get something to drink. You want anything?"

"I'm good."

When Izzy looks at her friend, Clary is frowning, scrutinizing her.

"What?"

"Is it Simon?"

"Simon and I are fine," Izzy assures her. "Awkward, but fine."

"You would tell me if it was something serious, right?"

"Of course."

It's another lie. Izzy had vowed to never lie to Clary again, after what happened with Raphael.

But this isn't a life-threatening lie. And maybe, if she waits long enough it won't be a lie at all.

It's when they're studying in the library that Isabelle snaps.

"Which one?"

"The straight one, of course."

Right, of course, the straight one. They would be a set of straight people because Clary is into boys. Just boys. Not girls. And definitely not her best friend. Suddenly, Izzy feels like she can't breathe. Her chest constricting with the want, and the pain of knowing she can't have. She shoves her things in her bag.

"I need to go."

She runs out of the library, to the nearest bathroom.

"Sweetheart—"

"Don't sweetheart me." Clary stalks forward, backing Isabelle against the wall. "There's something you're not telling me."

Isabelle sighs, letting herself fall against the wall. There's no escape now. She might as well get it over with.

"I'm in love with you."

"Is that it?" Clary half laughs.

Izzy snaps her head up, furious. She knows Clary can be a bit callous at times, but she never expected her to be that cruel. At least not to her.

"Seriously?"

"I love you, too," Clary shrugs, a half-smile on her lips. "I'm sure I've told you many times."

Okay, this is confusing. If Clary's in love with her too— "Then why were you looking for a 'distraction?'"

"Because I didn't know you loved me back. At least not like that."

"Well, I do."

Clary nods and leans forward. She grabs Isabelle by the shoulders and pulls her down into a kiss. It's sticky because of their lipsticks, and it's not even really a kiss, because the moment their lips touch they both start smiling too much. It's still one of the best kisses Izzy has ever had.