I had arranged everything and closed the kit and was ready to move when I heard Clary "looks like I missed the major news."

I understood what she meant immediately "I'm sorry Clary," I said as she came in

"It's okay Veronica, don't worry. You're already in pain it's okay to keep things to yourself at times" she said as we hugged each other

"Btw I have someone whom I want you to meet, remember I told you about my friend the other day," she says

"Yeah, you said he was a downworlder right?" I asked her

"yeah his name's Simon, and he is really sweet just like you. I'm sure you both will enjoy each other's company, come he's here to meet me. I told him about you he would also like to meet you." she said tugging her arm with mine

"Okay but let me keep this back in my room first," I pointed to the first-aid kit "oh don't worry about it, you can keep it back later. or maybe someone else could do it for you. come with me for now."

I looked back at everyone "it's okay don't worry about it I'll get it in your room, let's go and meet him" Izzy smiled and said as I nodded and went out of the greenhouse to meet this Simon guy

Walked down the stairs I heard how Clary kept talking about Simon, how they met and how long they have been friends, with Jace and Alec following behind as we got to the lobby. I saw two guys standing there, with their backs facing us.

Clary called Simon's name as the guy turned around. The guy was almost the same age as Clary as they hugged each other and I saw Jace scoff at them as I chuckled

"I missed you,"

"I missed you too, how have you been? and anything new that I should know about.?" he asked her

"Well there's a lot but first I want you to meet my new friend here" she pointed toward me as I walked over to him

"Hi, my name is Simon Lewis." he introduced himself

"Hi, Simon I'm Veronica, Nice to meet you,"

"Nice to meet you too, Veronica, your name compliments your face." he complimented

"thank you, Simon. You're really sweet." I said as he did a little funny bow thing and I chuckled

"See I told you, you guys would connect instantly," Clary said looking at me.

"So Simon what are you, Clary said you're a downloader of what kind if I may ask," I asked him

"You sure you wanna know," he said as I nodded

"Well I'm a vampire actually," he said

"You're what?" I asked looking between him and Clary. Even though I fascinated them, someone being one was surprising for me.

"Yeah" he chuckled

"That's great," I said as he nodded

"If I'm not wrong you would only get out at night, and coming in contact with sunlight might kill you right? and your eyes would get read in colour when you transform." I said

"Well, you know quite a lot about us even though I didn't know this much about vampires." He said

"Well, I love to read and watch movies," I said

"Oh, I also love to watch movies. You know what we could have a movie marathon sometime" he said

"You know what will be more interesting if we go out have dinner and talk," Clary said as suddenly I stopped smiling and looked away

"I might need to back out, of this plan, you guys can go on though," I said

"Well, now that is something I call cruel, For a woman as beautiful as you to not step out of this building, now that is unfair." The guy with Simon turned around putting away his phone and took my hand and kissed my knuckles. I stared at him for a second figuring out who he is as he looked up and I finally saw who it was.

"Raphael? " I looked as he straightened up with everyone else in shock as much as me, but more knowing that I know him.

He was dressed in a properly tailored 3 piece suit/tux. With his usual mesmerizing smile.

I smiled as I saw him and soon heard Izzy "You? What are you doing here?" She asked as I looked up to the hallway and my eyes stopped at Alec standing there with Izzy.

The way he was looking down. It seemed as if he didn't like seeing Rafael here or with me

I looked at him as his eyes met mine as Alec, Isabelle and Jace came down and stood behind me. And asked about Raphael's sudden appearance here in the institute.

"Well, The kid told me that he's coming here. And seeing how stupid he is I can't leave this guy out of sight. Who can say, In case he runs away? So I came here. Hoping to meet this friend of yours. Glad that I did"  he pointed at me raising his eyebrows as I giggled

He again took my hand and kissed the knuckles "Nice to meet you Veronica. It's been long, sorry to keep you waiting" he flirted as I smiled

"Nice to meet you too Captain. But just sorry won't work this time." I said smiling

"CAPTAIN!" Clary and Simon said at the same time, making both of me and Raphael look at them as I giggled

"Yeah, I gave him this nickname, for someone who quite perfectly leads his team with charm and poise," I said looking back at him as he smiled

"I didn't know that's the reason you called me that. I thought it was for a different reason you know?" He said raising his eyebrows, and folding his hands as he smirked down at me flirting as I smirk back too.

"You think I would have another reason? Come on, it was not even something that made me smile. What happened to your flirting skills? Got tired?" Folding my arms I asked him while he looked at me and the others were just watching us talk with shock and amusement.

We kept looking at each other for a second and then burst into laughter, and hugged each other. "I missed you Veronica" he whispered in my ear as he saw Alec staring at him.

"I missed you too Raphael" I whispered to him as I broke the hug and looked over at him.

"Veronica, how do you know Raphael btw?"

"And since when did you two meet?" Isabelle and Jace asked as I looked over

"We have known each other for a few years now,"  Raphael said smiling at me as he placed his hand on my shoulder

"I met him during my combat training at the summer programme. He was among the boy's team. Someone who I had practiced and tackled a lot most of the time" I smiled looking back at him laughing

"You went to a combat training?" Simon said as he gulped and I looked at him

"Is everything alright Simon? You don't seem okay?" I asked him

"Oh, no I'm okay. It's just I didn't know he needed some practice in fighting" Simon looked at Raphael as he glared at him and Simon looked away

I nudged his arm that was on my shoulder as he gave me a slow blink

"Well you can't say that looking at him now, of course, I'm sure but the Raphael I knew 3 years ago. He might have needed a little push from someone." I winked playfully at him to watch him smile

"I don't think I needed a push from anyone. I'm Raphael Santiago. I'm a great fighter." He said raising his arms as I giggled with a hand on my mouth

"Yeah, truly says the guy who got tackled by me in combat." I laughed looking at him while he raised his eyebrows at me

"That would be someone else, not me. I don't lose a fight. And besides, I suppose no other woman there dared to fight me because of my good looks." He said flirting with me

"Well, I'm sorry if I didn't consider your good looks as an advantage in battle." I flirted with him

"Good looks don't get you out of a fight Captain. But might save you for a while before getting killed. But you're at a disadvantage here, you might fight women in training but in real life, you'll only come across men" Crossing my arms I said as I smirked and he smiled and nodded

"I'm sorry" he smirked as I laughed "you never change" nodding my head

"Well if you can't go out, then we can eat here in this place?" He stated as I looked around

"Here, but," I thought for a moment then looked at Isabelle "Izzy do you have a place here where we can have dinner? Apart from the kitchen." I asked her

"Yeah, we do... come with me," she said as she took us up the stairs and took us to the terrace which was decorated as a restaurant for people to enjoy

"Wow, it's beautiful," I said

"We have this place in case we need to hold a little party. We guys can enjoy dinner here." She said

"That would be a great idea," Clary said as I agreed while nodding 

"Well, then let me tell the chef. Till then why don't you guys make yourselves comfortable." She said and walked out of the terrace

We all took our seats with Clary on my left and Simon sitting in front of me and Jace and Alec with him and Raphael on my right.

I remembered that I needed to charge my phone, I excused myself and went down to my room. As I reached I opened the bag and started looking for my charger

"your first-aid kit" I turned around and saw Alec standing at the doorway his tall figure leaning against the door

"You can come inside Alec, I don't mind" I permitted him to come in as he just stood there. He is what now I would call a gentleman, not entering a woman's room without her permission or stuff like that.

I kind of liked that even though we don't see eye to eye on things but this behaviour of his made me like him

"Lydia is a lucky woman to have a guy like him who won't look at anyone else," I thought as I allowed him in and went to my bedside table and connected my phone. I saw Alec starring at me he had kept the first-aid kit on the bedside table but was watching me

"Everything okay Alec?" I asked as I started arranging my room seeing that I did call him in but all my stuff was spread around on the bed. I quickly started arranging the things and kept the remaining clothes in the cupboard.

I went to get the first-aid kit and he said "Thank you" I was shocked at what he said and I looked up at him his eyes looking back at me

"But why?," I asked confusion

"For treating my wound even though you didn't need to. And" he stopped for a second

"And?" I looked at him with the first aid in my hand

"For helping me get close to Ruby. I'm thankful for that, You don't have to worry. We'll figure out a way to get your sister out safe and sound" he said and I kept looking at him since we have met him this is the first time I have seen him this soft and humble to me.

"Thank you so much, Alec. I appreciate your honesty." I said as I walked away with the kit to put it back

"Are you and Raphael friends? Do you know Raphael from before?" He asked in a haste

"I see, so that's what this is. You saw us together and thought that we might be. Well no we are not anything like you're thinking and yes I have known him for quite a few years now. That's why we are comfortable around each other and it seems to other people like we're 'together' together ." I answered double quoting the together while smiling

"I see," he said

"By the way, I wanted to say sorry to you. Because of me you got that wound and had to deal with it." I looked at him as he stared at me in shock

"It's okay you don't need to apologize for that." He said as he sat beside me on the chair

"I know you don't see us as very good, but it's who we are. We are in this position because we need to. But it doesn't mean that I hate you" he said folding his hands on his knees