Chapter Song(s):

What's Up – 4 Non Blondes

I Bet My Life (Bastille Remix) – Imagine Dragons

I Am Not A Robot (Clock Opera Remix) – Marina And The Diamonds

With Or Without You – U2

I thumbed through the comics, the protective plastic covers crinkling as they shifted against each other in the box. The rain tapped against the windows of the comic store, combining with the sound of rumbling thunder to give the quiet store a rainy soundtrack. I finished looking through the paper box labeled MARVEL Q-Z and leaned against the boxes as I stared at Simon's back. The boxes dug into my ribcage as I asked "Anything?"
He shook his head, his dampened hair shaking. "Nope. I think we're out of luck today. Java Jones?"

I nodded. My damp hair had turned into a frizz ball, per usual. We'd been almost to the store when the sky had opened up above us in a torrential downpour. The heat blasting in the comic store had helped us warm up and go from soaking to kind of damp. It looked like the rain had slowed, but we were likely to end up dripping again.
"Yeah. Want to make a run for it?"

"Let's race. Bet you'll win."

"Simon, I have the height of a garden gnome. Of course you and your long legs will win."

I was right, of course. He made it to the coffee shop before me, but he was nice enough to hold the door for me. I thanked him and ran into the coffee shop. It was April first, which in a normal place would have meant lots of rain but warming temperatures. But oh no, here the pelting rain was as freezing as the air outside. We'd be lucky if it warmed up in a few weeks. I joined Simon on the couch as we both sipped our drinks. I sighed in content at the first swallow of black coffee. "Isabelle is already talking about prom." Simon said. I couldn't help but laugh, just a little.

"So, does this mean you guys are exclusive or whatever?"

"I don't know." He sighed, tilting his head back against the couch. "Girls are confusing." He said to the ceiling.

"Hey, I'm a girl."

"Yeah, but you're different."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You're my best friend."

"Aw." I settled my damp head against his also damp shoulder. "Thanks."

He sighed again, messing with his cup. "I just feel like I might be a little in over my head with Isabelle."

I didn't respond for a moment. When I finally did, I said "Isabelle is definitely a force to be reckoned with. But...I don't know. You two seem right for each other, even with how different you are."

That earned me a smile from him. "Yeah, I guess."

We were quiet for another few moments, savoring the warmth of the coffee shop and the soft piano music that played from the speakers along with the chatter of other patrons. The silence was broken as Simon said suddenly, with horror, "Oh god, she's going to make me match my tie to her dress, isn't she?"

I burst out laughing.

"How are you guys going to fit all of that into a week?" I asked Jace as he drove me to school Monday.

"I have no idea. Mom and dad have it all planned out. I just have to show up." In a little less than a week, he and his parents were leaving on a week-long trip to visit and tour colleges. The tour contained many different colleges in many different states. Jace's parents were used to traveling, so it was likely no big deal for them, but it did seem like a lot. He pulled into a parking spot, killing the engine.

"My dad is hoping for Ohio State."

"Wow." I rose my eyebrows. That was really far away.

"But..."

"But you want to go to NYU."

"Yep. Football is a big deal to my dad, but it's just not what I want, you know?" Boy did I ever.

As we sat in the warm interior of the car, a voice in my head nagged at me.

Tell him about Ticsh. But it just didn't seem right. I probably wouldn't get in. Plus, I wanted him to make this decision freely. And if I told him about the program, it might add influence. So, despite my brain's protests, I kept my mouth shut.

After school ended, I was making my way through the parking lot when Isabelle grabbed my arm and pulled me in the direction of her car. "Um, hello." I said as I was tugged along. "Mind telling me what is going on?"

"You're going prom dress shopping with me."

"Since when?"

"Since now. Maia and Aline are coming too. They're meeting us there."

"Isabelle, I don't know –"

We stopped beside her car. "Please?" She asked with pleading eyes. "I'll even buy you a coffee on the way there."

I sighed. Sad eyes and free coffee? Not like I could refuse that.

"Fine." I relented.

Isabelle squealed.

She's taking me prom dress shopping. I think if you get in her way, you may not make it out alive. I told Jace.

Ouch. Sorry, I think you're on your own on this one.

Thanks.

Have fun.

I'll try my best.

Love you. I grinned, biting my lip to prevent the grin from taking over my face.

Love you too.

The dress shop was full of girls and their friends or family, browsing through the racks. Seeing the amount of people in the store, I took a sip of coffee and prepared myself as I followed Isabelle in. We met Maia and Isabelle by the fitting rooms. They were guarding four chairs, sending death glares to any who dared steal them away. "Where's Helen?" I asked Aline as Isabelle and I took the empty chairs.

"We decided to pick our dresses separate. To prevent bad luck or whatever."

"I thought that was for weddings."

She shrugged, smiling. "I just can't wait to see her face when I come out in my dress."

I smiled back at her.

It was decided that we would man the chairs while Aline and Maia went to scout out their dresses.

"So," Izzy questioned as we watched the others scurry towards the racks. "Does Clace have anything special planned for prom night?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"Um, I don't know – and stop calling us that."

"I will not. I ship you guys too hard."

I shook my head and rolled my eyes, deciding not to respond any more than that. Aline made a beeline to the chairs, closely followed by Maia. Aline bumped hips with mine, scooting me off of the chair inch by inch. "Go!" She ordered. "Find something pretty."

With a sigh, I followed Isabelle into the crowded hoard.

We thumbed through the many racks. Isabelle held a few dresses against herself, putting some back but also putting some aside to try on. I wasn't having much luck. I had two dresses on my arm. One was a short lavender colored one, and the other was a green one that was strapless. Isabelle pulled out a dress and emitted a sharp gasp. Before I could react, she had thrusted it at me. My hands flew up to grab the mix of black tulle and silk that had just attacked me. "Um, Isabelle?" I said, pushing the materials away from my mouth so that I could speak.

"Just try it on."

I sighed, knowing nothing I said would make any difference. I was trying that dress on, whether I liked it or not.

A few minutes later, we had our haul. I took one dressing room, while Aline took the other. Maia and Isabelle sat in the chairs outside the dressing rooms while we changed. I first put on the lavender one. The top of it tilted forward, rubbing in the fact that I couldn't fill in the dresses bodice. I switched that to what I had deemed the 'no' hook and grabbed the green one. It was pretty, and actually fit my chest – well, mostly – but it was too long. Sighing in defeat, I stripped it off and added it to the 'no' hook as well. Next I tried on the teal one. It was pretty. It was sleeveless, and went down to about my knees. It flared out a little at the waist. I shrugged. It could work. I stepped out of the dressing room, making sure the door didn't accidentally lock behind me. Aline had her dress in her arms – it was long, white and sleeveless – it was pretty, and I had no doubt that she would look stunning in it. Maia exited the dressing room beside me, holding a short strapless dress in a burnt orange color. Just by her holding it in her arms, I could tell that the dress would go really well with her skin tone. Isabelle studied my dress.

She shrugged. "Eh." She said.

Well...okay. A no from her, I guess.
"It's okay." Aline said.

Maia came up and tugged on the hem of the dress. "It's cute, but I don't know. It just doesn't seem right."

Guess this one was a no too. Sighing, I returned to the fitting room. I defeatedly added the teal dress to the 'no' hook. I grabbed the last dress, and did a double take.

Isabelle lightwood, one of these days I will kill you.

Part of me refused to put it on. The other part argued that there were at least two girls out there who wouldn't let me get away with doing so. Glaring at the dress, I sighed and unzipped the zipper. A few moments later, I had gotten the dress on and was staring at myself, jaw slack.

No.

Hell no.

There was no way I was wearing this. I just...couldn't. The dress was black silk. It had a scoop neck, and was sleeveless. It was formfitting until mid-thigh, where it blossomed out. A turn to the back revealed a open back that ended at my tailbone in a V. It accentuated figures I didn't know I had. It showed off my hips and butt, and made me look as if I had a chest. The straps settled so that my shoulders and collarbone looked sharp. It wasn't too long either; the end of it was just touching my sneakers, tulle and silk whispering against my feet when I turned. I must have spent too long gaping at myself, because suddenly there was a loud banging on my door. The door shook with the force of it.

"Clary, you better come out and show us that dress. You have thirty seconds or I'm coming in after you." Isabelle ordered. I sighed, and after another moment I took a deep breath and stepped outside. Maia gaped, and Aline gasped. Isabelle squealed and clapped her hands. She even jumped up and town, which made the fabric of her dress swish around her. It was really pretty, and definitely the right dress for her. The dress had spaghetti straps and a low neckline. It reached a little past her feet and trailed on the floor, but not in a way that she would trip over the fabric. It had two high slits in the front, and the back ended in a V just past her shoulder blades. "I knew it! You have to get that dress."

"Isabelle, I don't know..." I fingered the material.

"Clary. Please."

"You have to get it." Aline said.

"You really should. You look hot." Maia said. My eyes widened.

Izzy shrugged. "She's not wrong."

Aline nodded her agreement.

"Look, get the dress, and I'll even let you wear your converse." Isabelle supplied.

I looked down at said shoes and wiggled my toes. The black and white sneakers barely showed underneath the dress, but they matched. Seeing as I wasn't likely to get away with saying no, I sighed and turned to the 3 way mirror. Admittedly, the dress did look really good. It was just so far out of my comfort zone. But just imagining the look on Jace's face when he saw me in it sent a tiny thrill through me. "Fine." I relented.

This time, all three girls cheered.

When I got home, I hung the dress up in my closet. The plastic garment bag crinkled as it settled against the other clothes hung in the closet. I shut the closet door, walking over to my bed and laying down on it. My eyes kept drifting back to the closed closet door. All I could see was the white door and robe, jacket, and scarves that were hung on hooks on the door. But I could imagine the dress in there, sitting in it's garment bag. It was so out of my comfort zone. And just looking at it made me feel nervous, but I was actually kind of glad Isabelle had made me get it. It was so much more daring than I normally was. It was so different from typical Clary. At the beginning of the year, I would have gone running from anyone who wanted to put me in that dress. But, oddly, I didn't think I was the same Clary as I had been months ago. The Clary that was going to wear that dress was a different Clary. I had gone through so much this year, and had changed so much. I didn't feel like a different person. Just...a different version of myself. And, that was okay with me.

Poor Clary doesn't know what's coming.

I'd love it if you guys would leave a review.

I just watched all four seasons of You're The Worst and I don't get more Gretchen and Jimmy until 2019. I am not okay.

Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter. - Megan