Hello, lovely people. Even though I'm a Uni student with assignments and all that other stuff, I find that I have more time to write… It's weird!

Anyways still unfortunately only own the idea for this story.

...

By the time Jace and Clary arrived back at Clary's house, the later was a lot calmer. Clary and Izzy were talking again and whilst things weren't back to normal, they were on the way there.

Jace spoke as he followed Clary into the lounge room and sat next to her on the couch. "So, Alec took it much better than I thought he would." As the words left his mouth he wrapped his arm around Clary, a habit that he wasn't sure when it had formed.

"Yeah, Izzy seems to be coming around too," Clary took a deep breath as she snuggled further into Jace's side. "She is texting me back at least, but I think that maybe we should show Iz the real us. The people we are when no one is watching. When we're not pretending."

Jace thought for a moment, but in the end, it wasn't his decision. Clary had started this. The act. And if she wanted to end it, then he would. "How are we going to do that?"

Clary had a devilish grin upon her face. "How do you feel about a double date?"

"I thought that you just wanted to show Izzy the real us..." Jace stated, with his face blank. He was confused as to who would be at this double date.

"Well, Simon and Izzy. Because they were the reason we started this. Iz wasn't handling their situation well, and I don't know if they are any better now. She still closes down when I ask about them..." Clary's eyes had grown distant as she spoke, wishing for happiness for her best friend. "So, if we show Iz and Simon how we are really doing, then maybe it will help."

Jace couldn't fault Clary, she just wanted to be open with her best friend. Especially not after Clary had allowed him to be honest with his best friend.

With a sigh, Jace asked, "When do you want to have this double date?"

Clary stared but settled further into the embrace she and Jace had formed. "I'll get back to you...".

Jace's fingers moved to Clary's side, making small movements. His tickling caused Clary to giggle. Jace in a teasing tone asked, "And how are we really doing?"

To save herself from the tickling, or maybe it was from having to answer, Clary turned so her body faced Jace's. As their eyes meet, Clary, or was it Jace, leaned forward. The distance becoming less and less. Until their lips collided as one.

...

Across town, Izzy wasn't too thrilled when she got the text from Clary. Things had been tense since she had lashed out at Simon. Again. Despite the conversation that they had where Izzy and Simon had agreed to be open with each other.

Although, the chance to see what her best friend's life was really like? To see how Clary was really coping? To be there for her? Without the lie, things were different. Maybe to see if Clary was struggling as much as Isabelle herself was? To be able to help each other through it? For all of this, it seemed worth it. To face the awkwardness that always seemed to follow Simon and Izzy.

With this train of thought, Izzy spoke. "When are you free?" She asked Simon. He hadn't left yet. He never really seemed to. They were currently sitting across the room from each other with the TV blaring.

Izzy spoke again, the noise from the television drowning out her voice before. This time, before the words left her mouth, she reached for the remote and turned the offending device off. "Clary wants to know if we want to go on a double date. So, when are you free?"

Simon looked unsure. Weren't double dates usually to prove that one couple was superior to the other? He wanted to decline, but as he looked at Izzy he found himself supplying a date for later this week. There was something about her expression that made himself want to agree to everything. Was it the way her eyes were bright? Or the hopeful look in them? Simon didn't really think that it mattered…

...

So, that is how the group of four, found themselves on that Friday. Meeting outside Taki's, the same dinner where the lie came to be, as the record was trying to be set straight.

As they entered, Jace took Clary's hand and lead the group to an empty table against the far wall. Once they had arrived, Jace slid into the booth after her, leaving Simon and Izzy no choice but to sit next to each other. Izzy had to push Simon out of the way to sit across from Clary, this leaving Simon to sit with people rushing past him delivering food to the tables that ordered them. Although Izzy didn't seem to care and reached for a menu.

"So," Izzy started, trying not to sound bitter. "When was it that you too actually met?" She gestured to Clary and Jace before turning to inspect her menu, trying to decide which option she wanted to eat today.

"That day we went shopping and you made me buy those white shorts…" Clary answered sheepishly, her voice small. Jace at sensing her lack of confidence took her hand that sat limply on the table an intertwined their fingers. He brushed it against his lips, before returning both of their hands to the table in a silent show of his support.

"That was the same day that we met, Iz." Simon spoke glancing at Izzy, trying to lessen the anger that had started to build in the girl at the other couple's actions.

Instead of Isabelle becoming calmer, her rage only seemed to build. But not wanting to cause a scene, she spoke in a tone that was icy and detached. "Simon, I know. I think that I remember the day my life was changed forever. Don't you?" Simon looked away, choosing to stare at an offending spot on the wall. "And don't call me Iz."

"Izzy, I or we I guess, saw how upset you were. And we didn't want to add our problems to yours." Clary tried to apologise. "And then once we started the lie, the pretending that we were happy, I wanted to tell you so many times. But you seemed kind of glad that one of us had a choice, so I backed out every time." Clary had tears starting to form in her eyes, as she finished giving Iz a reason for having lied.

"So, if Aline, or whoever she thinks she is, hadn't given Jace this insane and completely wrong ultimatum, I wouldn't know?" With every word Isabelle's voice filled with more and more venom. And with every change to her vicious tone, the more visibly upset Clary had become. Until she was trying, to evidently choking back sobs. Jace gave Clary's had a small tug, causing her to collapse into his side, before he wrapped both arms tightly around his fiancé trying to give her some sense of comfort.

Jace spoke, his words filled with all the anger that Izzy had earlier portrayed. "What is with you? This is supposed to be your best friend," He gestured to the broken girl that he held in his embrace. "And sure, we made a mistake by not telling you, but this isn't you!"

Jace's words caused very different reactions in everyone at the table. Simon respected Jace, for having the courage to speak to Isabelle in a way he only wished he could. Izzy was only angered further. And Clary only snuggled deeper into the embrace that Jace offered, no longer caring about the stains that she might cause to his shirt.

Izzy voiced her thoughts, her voice colder than before if that was even possible. "And what do you know about me Jace? How do you know this isn't me? I hadn't met you before you and my so-called best friend decided to lie to me!"

"Because this beautiful woman right here," He tightened his grasp on Clary, trying to lend her some of his strength as she sat staring unbelieving at Iz. "And your brother couldn't speak more highly of you. I just didn't connect the dots until recently. Alec's my best friend."

"You're Jay?" Izzy asked, strangely heaps calmer than before. As if her brother himself had spoken to Izzy.

Jace placed a kiss to Clary's forehead, before turning his attention back to Izzy, giving a small nod.

"This is so weird…" Izzy stated, unsure what else to say.

Simon, who sat silently observing, until now, finally spoke. "So, what are you guys planning on eating? I'm thinking of getting the sweet potato chips."

And just like that, the tension between one side of the table and the other was gone, leaving the conversation to be filled with random thoughts.

But Clary and Jace were always in physical contact with each other, in simple gestures. Jace always trying to make sure that Clary was okay, and Clary constantly thanking him. The little touches becoming a game.

Izzy couldn't help but notice the way Simon sat as far as he could away. And how he was silent in the earlier argument. Would it kill him to care a little more?

...

Thanks for reading. And all the favourites. And follows. And reviews. They actually have helped even when it doesn't seem like it.

And once again thanks to my amazing Beta. I wouldn't have the courage to write this without you.