Yo people of the interwebs. This update hasn't taken as long as most (HUZZAH!). I got 12 reviews for the last chapter which was very kind I would just like to take a sec to thank a few people for have stuck with and reviewed my story throughout:

XOsweetPURPLEcandyOX, blali, vampchick09, xxlovelaughlivexx and 37XPeeta.

Also, last chapter there were A LOT of Clary haters. Literally, everyone was on Team Jace. Clary's being silly, yes, but she's been hurt before and she's a tiny bit batshit paranoid. So give her time, ok? She'll come around. Sooner than you might think…

Clary

"What do you think? Sexy werewolf or sexy vampire?" Maia asked me, holding up two outfits. One was black with deep red stains, and the other looked like a pile of sideburns strategically stitched together.

"Is there such thing as a sexy werewolf?" I ponder aloud.

"Trust me, werewolf would look awesome on me, I think I secretly am one. Okay, fine. The vampire it is, then," Maia says.

"What's this for anyway? You got a party or something?" I ask, confused. It was a week after the Valentine's Ball, and all that followed that. I hadn't seen or spoken to Jace once. He must've quit, and that thought made me unexpectedly sad, considering he'd treated me like a hooker, minus the money.

Maia stopped lying the outfits back down onto her bed, and looked at me like I was dumb. "It's the hen do tonight." She looked at me exasperated, "Pleeease don't tell me you forgot!"

"No, of course not! I was just kidding. Ha. Ha?" I tried.

She scowled.

"I'm just tired, of course I remembered. I don't like being up this early." I said, biting my lip. I hoped I could pull off the tired thing, I had my hair scraped back into a messy ponytail and I was wearing over-sized clothes, so it was possible. I tried to make my eyelids all heavy and pulled an exaggerated yawn.

Her scowl deepened. I sighed. Of course she knew I was lying. Acting was never my strong point.

"Bullshit," She said slowly. "You are the most morning person I know! It takes half the coffee in Columbia to get me even semi-alert at the time you get up!"

I chuckle slightly. "I have a lot on my mind. But I know that's no excuse and I'm sorry for forgetting. But maybe I wouldn't have, if you had just let me choose the venue!"

"Not this again! I have my reasons for the venue we chose. Anyway, don't change the subject! I assume by this that you don't have a costume?" Maia asked, still annoyed.

"Can't I just dress as a 20-something year old red head who doesn't care about fashion?" I replied hopefully.

"Clary, you want to dress as yourself to every fancy dress party." Maia told me condescendingly.

"I still maintain that one of these days I'll wear you down." I pointed out.

Maia just put her hands on her hips and sighed. "Fine, I'm sort you out this time Fray. But mark my words, this'll be the last time."

"Awh, thanks babe, I love you!" I said happily, hugging her profusely.

"Do you love me enough to tell me what actually happened last week with Jace?" she asked, her eyes silently pleading.

I frown. "Not this again. Nothing happened!"

She narrowed her eyes until they were slits. I hated angry Maia, though at the same time respected how scary she was. Maybe if I could do that I wouldn't have such a problem asserting authority over my staff. "What was it I said a couple of minutes ago? Oh yeah, Bull. Shit. Now spill, or I get you drunk tonight and you spill then. In glorious detail."

"Jesus, resorting to threats? I thought we were above that, Maia." I retorted sardonically.

"Just answer the damn question, Clary!" She said impatiently, stomping her foot and putting her hands on her hips.

"Okay, we slept together that night. Then the next morning, he'd left. So turns out taking me to the ball was part of his elaborate scheme to get into my pants. It worked, too. He hit and run. The only difference is that he'll probably get more satisfaction from me acting like a dumb whore, since I'm his ex as well as his boss. That's it. End of story." I told her monotonously. I'd come to terms with it over the last week. Or tried to. What I couldn't believe is how stupid I'd been, thinking he'd actually liked me. It was weird to say it out loud though. To confirm my theory.

"Shit." Maia said. "Um, you're not a dumb whore."

I went and sat on her bed, kicking my shoes off and lying on my back, staring at the cracks in the ceiling. "Real convincing," I replied sarcastically.

"So, you're sure there was nothing there that meant he was on his way back? Like a note?" Maia asked quickly, looking away.

I look at her, confused at the question. "I think I would have said if I'd seen a note, Maia. There was no note. Why? Are you on his side or something?" I asked defensively. I had considered the possibility that he was just out in the town, buying some stuff or getting mail. But why would he want anything serious with me? This is the question I haven't been able to answer. All I'd be for him is extra baggage. Damaged goods.

"No, no no! I was merely wondering. It just seemed a little strange because he appeared to be genuinely interested in you at the party, not only looking for an easy lay." Maia replied hastily.

I nodded, having just thought the same thing. I pulled myself up and leaned against the headboard. "Closure? Screw over your ex? I've heard it happens." It hurt so, so much, thinking that all he wanted the whole time was to screw me over. Just when I was starting to… to... I don't know. See some future for us, maybe? But that future is shattered. And I won't cry anymore over something that will never be.

"I don't think so. Something seems off." Maia said.

I sigh and shake my head, "Give it up Maia, there is nothing off about it. I made a mistake, and that's all there is to it."

"Okay, babe, I'll leave it. Now I gotta call Jordan and finalise… some stuff. You know… hen parties and stuff. Like wedding stuff. " Maia stuttered vaguely, before backing out of the room just as she dialled the number.

If I had been paying more attention what Maia actually said, I may have been suspicious. But instead I just said, "'Kay," and continued to pick at my nails.

Jace

Punch. Punch. Punch.

"JACE!" A masculine voice called.

"I'M NOT HERE!" I yelled back.

Punch. Punch. Punch.

"Oh, you're in here." I was sure it was Jordan. Not like I knew or cared why he was here. In my house.

Punch. Punch. Punch.

"Are you going to answer me?"

Punch. Punch. Punch.

"You realise your door was wide open. Anyone could have come in."

I would have beaten them to a pulp. Not my fault I can't think straight. That blame lies sorely on a red-head's shoulders.

Punch. Punch. Punch.

"Maia called."

Why the fuck I should care? It was his girlfriend, not mine.

Punch. Punch. Punch.

"She's been talking to Clary."

I paused for a second. Her name still sent shockwaves of hurt through me. Not like it mattered.

Punch. Punch. Punch.

"Talking to Clary about what happened after the ball."

I stopped punching and spun on my heel. Sure enough, Jordan was standing in the doorway, watching me.

"You better come in."

I took off my punching gloves and sat on the mat, breathing hard. My gym was the same size as your average bedroom, so I only had room for a mat, a punching bag and a running machine. It was my personal space and I rarely let people in.

He came in and sat next to me on the mat.

"So?" I asked frostily. I was prepared to hear how she never wanted to see me again, or that she was angry that I took advantage of her when she was drunk. I was even prepared for her thinking I was a soppy weirdo who called my house her home. I was expecting it almost.

She probably thought I was desperate. And I was. I was desperate for her. Even after she left me, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I couldn't go in to work for fear that I would beg and cry for her to take me back. I couldn't face rejection again.

"So, she didn't see the note." Jordan said slowly, letting it sink in. I'd told him everything, and if this hadn't been such a shock, I would have been pissed he'd told Maia.

She didn't see the note. She didn't see the note. She would have woken up, seen me gone and what? Oh, God. She would have thought I'd left after sleeping with her. She might think that I'd only slept with her because I could. She'd think she was no more than a slut. That I'd ditched her like a whore. She couldn't have known that I'd actually slept that night, and woken to see her next to me, her hair fanned out all over her pillow, and that I wanted to wake like that every day until forever. She couldn't have known it was the first time I'd fallen asleep in a bed with a woman since we'd been together. I had left her to think she'd been nothing to me.

"What do I do?" I asked, pained, running my fingers through my golden hair.

"You make it right. You talk to her." Jordan replied, like it was as easy as breathing. I nod though. I would try, for Clary. I would do almost anything for Clary, if she'd let me.

"When?"

"Tonight. It's the stag do." He responded.

I wondered briefly whether Jordan was mentally handicapped. "You realise stag dos are for guys. Clary's not a guy. I'm not gay. I love Magnus and all, but I think I'll stick to chicks for a bit. But who knows? Maybe Clary will shoot me down and I may decide to swap teams, I've heard they have cookies."

Now Jordan looked at me with such disbelief that it was obvious he though me to be the disabled one. "You don't know this, but the stag do and the hen do are in the same bar." Jordan told me confidentially.

"What?!" I exclaimed in horror. How was I supposed to buy Jordan a stripper now?

"Maia doesn't like the idea of hen and stag dos being just about the bride and groom flirting with randoms for a night as a last act of 'freedom'. She said who needs freedom when you are in love with your partner? And I agree with her." Jordan said, but I could tell he wasn't convinced.

I burst out laughing. "Dude, you are so whipped!"

He glowered at me. "You can talk!"

I about to deny it, but then I realise it's true. Clary has me wrapped around her finger and she doesn't even know it.

"Anyway, that reminds me, Maia wanted to know what fictional character is your favorite." Jordan questioned me.

I stare at him quizzically, hoping to convey 'What the hell?' with my eyes.

"Don't ask me, man. She's a bride-to-be. Those things are fucking mental." Jordan answered, holding his hands up in surrender.

"I don't know. I always thought Pokémon was cool as a kid!? But nowadays… I dunno. This is stupid." I told him, still confused.

"Pokémon. Got it." He responded, standing up.

"Where are you going?" I asked him, as he made his way to the door.

"I gotta call the fiancée and find a costume for tonight." He said, obviously annoyed at the latter.

Oh, great. There goes my plan of 'forgetting'. He knows I know now. Oh, great. My lazy Saturday has turned into a wild scavenge for a suitable costume, and now I also need to work out what to say to Clary tonight. I'm seeing Clary tonight, I think, excited and terrified by the thought.

Jordan has reached the door now. Just as he went to leave, he turned round and said, "By the way, you stink. Maybe you let your sweat glands have a day off. Seriously, shower or you aren't invited."

I throw one punching glove at him and he darts through the door. Meh. Who can't put up with a bit of manstink?

I know this isn't too long, I had planned to put the hen do/stag do in here too, but then I realised it would have taken me around another week to get it done, and it would have been real long.

You'll get the next instalment pretty soon for once, but it would be so awesome if you could review! Tell me your favourite parts, or what you didn't like, or rant about how bitchy Clary is. I don't mind! Just tell meee! Thanks :P

Follow me on twitter: fray_by_fire. I tweet random crap, TMI, THG and Dr Who stuff.

Fic rec: The Kissing Dilemma by dayuuuumgirl - if you aren't reading this already, you should be!