Today is the dreaded day. I'm going dress shopping with Izzy. Jace warns me she is very into her fashion and I've seen her closet, so this will be interesting.

If I could go to the dance in sweats, I would. Obviously that's not appropriate. My best option is to take Izzy, and she's my best friend, so it works.

"Clary, let's go. Today is a very important day."

"I'm coming; I'm grabbing my shoes."

We hop in Izzy's car and speed off.

"So, tell me about Jace, and don't leave out any of the dirty details."

"We had dinner at your house, he gave me flowers and asked me to the dance."

"Are you guys dating?"

"No, we're just friends, for now."

"It won't stay like that for long. He's into you; I can tell. Sisters intuition."

"I don't know about that."

"We'll see."

We arrive at the dress shop and walk in together. There are thousands of gorgeous dresses hanging from the walls. I'm guessing Izzy will want to try every single one on.

"Are we starting with you or me?" Izzy ask.

"Definitely you."

I start looking down racks for Izzy's dress. We have completely different body types, so I bet I can find something easy for her. She has an hourglass shape, while I'm flat like a board. I, surprisingly, pick out a few out and hang them on her dressing room door. There's already more than twenty hanging.

"I'm so excited! Did you pick out that black one?" she asks.

"Yeah. If you don't like it, I'll put it back," I say, going over to grab it.

"Don't you dare. It's perfect."

"It's an Izzy dress."

"I know; I'm trying it on first."

"I'll wait here."

She doesn't take long. When she comes out, my mouth drops. She looks stunning; I could never pull this dress off. The top is low cut and covered with black lace; it falls gracefully down to the floor and has a slit down the side.

"What do you think?" she asks.

"You have to buy this dress. Simon is going to die when he sees you."

"You really think so?"

"Absolutely. You're getting it."

"Okay, I'm done. It's your turn."

I scowl and get up from my chair to walk toward Izzy. I'm ready to get this over with, but I can't help feel a tinge of excitement.

"I'm thinking red for you, what do you think?"

"Red's nice, I guess."

"You would think red with red hair wouldn't work, but I think it will work with your skin tone."

"Alright. I trust you, Izzy, " I say. I look around, but I'm lost. Izzy, however, picks out tons of dresses. She pushes me into the room and hands me a black dress. I put it on and look into the mirror, leave the dressing room, and turn to Izzy.

"Oh my gosh, no. I look like a hooker."

"A hot hooker."

"Izzy, no!" I laugh along with her.

"Alright, go back in there. I'll hand you a more appropriate dress."

"Thank you; I appreciate it."

She hands me a yellow dress covered with ruffles. Despite me hesitation, I put it on.

"I look like Big Bird."

"You really do."

"Next, please."

"I'm on it."

She gives me a new dress to try on. I know it is the one before I try it on. It's red and strapless, covered it tulle, with a little bow. I step out and turn to Izzy.

"That's your dress."

"I think so too."

"Let's go! We got our dresses. I'm so proud of us."

"It's so funny that we picked each other's dresses."

"That's what best friends do." She says, putting her arm around my shoulder and walking out the store with our dresses.

My mom calls me so I put her on speaker.

"Clary, are you still with Izzy? Marsye invited us to an early dinner. I'm at their house right now, helping to cook. can you girls pick up dessert?"

"Sure, mom. We're on the way."

"Thanks, sweetie. See you soon."

"Okay. Bye, Mom."

I hang up and put my phone down.

"Brownies?"

"Brownies."

We get the brownies and go to Izzy's house. She gets her key and lets us both in. Our families are hanging out together in the kitchen. Seeing everybody together makes me smile. My mom comes up to us.

"Did you girls get your dresses?"

"We did. You'll have to wait and see." Izzy answers for both of us.

"I bet it will be worth the wait. Hang them upstairs; dinner will be ready shortly." She winks and goes back into the kitchen. I hear Jace call my name behind me.

"Follow me; I want to show you something," he says. I do, and he lead's me into the living room.

"Why did you want to bring me here?" I ask.

"I want to show you something, I've never showed anyone before."

"Why me?"

"Because you're you."

I watch as he moves his way across the room to sit on the piano bench.

"You play piano?" I ask.

"Girly, right?"

"No, not at all. Will you play me something?"

"That's why I brought you here. Any song requests?"

"Anything is fine by me."

He stretches his long fingers, and I hear them crack. He moves the bench closer to the white baby grand piano.

I watch intensely as he places his fingers on the keys.

A beautiful sound fills the room. To my surprise, he even starts singing along.

I've never heard anything like it.

He plays an amazing song on the piano. The music fills my soul with an undeniable warmth.

He is starting to open up to me. We are lost in the moment, but my mom interrupts our moment with her voice.

"Let's go, guys! Dinner's ready."

"We're coming."

I begin to say something to Jace, but he puts a finger to my lips.

"Don't worry. We can talk after dinner," he says, reading my mind. He grabs my hand and brings me to the kitchen, where our families are talking and serving

out dinner.

"Nice of you guys to join us," Luke says in a playful manner.

Izzy raises her eyebrows suggestively in our direction.

We continue to eat dinner and laugh along; it is nice being carefree toward life.

It's times like this when I think about Jonathan.

I feel guilty that I'm so happy and surrounded with loving people and he isn't here to experience anything.

I feel as if I am slowly forgetting him, and it's scary.

I don't remember what he smells like anymore or what his favorite shirt was.

I wish he were here with me, happy, and free from Valentine. He will never get to feel any of it, and it's my fault.

I'm stuck in my trance when I hear a voice.

"Clare Bear? Are you okay?" Jace whispers while I'm washing the dishes.

"Yeah, I'm fine. What's going on?"

"Well, dinner's over, and I wanted to know if you want to finish our previous conversation."

"Of course. Let's go somewhere and talk."

"I have the perfect place."

We walk out the door hand in hand and sit on the swinging hammock on the front porch. Jace is playing with our hands.

"Where did you learn to play like that?" I ask, breaking the silence.

"I taught myself. When I was adopted by the Lightwoods. I didn't know how to communicate. I had a rough start in life; I was an ungrateful, screwed up kid.

Maryse basically saved my life. I don't know where I would be if I hadn't been adopted." He looks at my face for a sign that I'm listening.

"I'm not an open person, Clary. Hell, I don't even know you that well. I want to, though, and it scares the shit out of me. I'm trying to open up to you, but it's

hard, so please be patient with me."

"Of course. Thank you for trying to open up. I know that it's a scary thing. And I want to get to know you better, too," I say.

I feel his forehead on mine, his gold orbs staring into my green ones. He grabs my face and brings his lips to mine.

I disconnect our faces as I hear Luke and Mom come out the door.

"You ready, Clare?" Luke asks.

"Yeah, I guess so," I say, not meaning any of it. I could kiss Jace for hours on end.

"I'll talk to you soon?" I ask Jace.

"Absolutely," he says.

For the first time in a long time, I go to sleep with a smile on my face.

Edited by Camille Morales