Bonjour. I still haven't gotten any reviews except for three. Thank you Maggie, jordanyovk, Iluvuall for the reviews. The goal is for 300 people to 'visitors' to see this story. It probably won't happen but I aim high. We are totally not there. I apologize for not updating in the past 3-4 weeks, and I will not pin this completely on school. I have been busy but when I have free time I choose to take advantage of that free time and relax instead of typing 1,500 words. Hopefully, I haven't fallen out of the swing and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Once I wake up, I just want to disappear underneath the covers. Why does everything happen to me of all people? Right away I regret asking that. It isn't that bad. All I have to do is spend an entire day with the friends that I left years ago. Nothing bad about that. Except for the fact that I left them, without telling as well, never contacted them, never told them where I went, and on top of that might have made the biggest mistake of my life. I just can't figure out it could be the biggest one.

I groan as I get up and change into black leggings and a dark green crop top. I throw on a leather jacket over that and start towards the Lightwood house.

As soon as I knock, Simon opens the door and breaks into a grin.

"Hey, I thought you weren't going to come for a minute."

I tilt my head. "Why is that?" I ask, even though I know the exact reason why.

He shakes his head after a bit of hesitation. "Never mind. Come in. Everybody wants to see you again."

I take one slow step into the house, and walk past him. It has been years since I stepped into this house. The last time I was in here was about a month or two before I left. We all came back to Idris to visit Robert Lightwood. Ever since he became the Inquisitor, he has been living in the shadowhunter country. I remember the laughs, the smiles, and the adventures. Little did I know was that I would be in this position.

Simon calls everybody and I freeze. Is it too late to turn back? No, I tell myself, you are too strong to be frightened by the thought of them.

Izzy is the first one to entire the room. She comes over to hug me before backing up to let Jace see me. I simply nod in his direction before turning my direction towards Alec. I notice a small smile form before it disappears. It is good to know that I didn't screw things over completely with us.

"Well," I start, breaking the tension, "what are we doing first?"

Of course it is Izzy who answers, eager to get the day started. "Shopping of course! There is a rumor that there is going to be a ball, or a festival, or something. We need to get something and the boys need to get out more." When those words pop out of her mouth her eyes are met with heated glares.

Jace shrugs. "I don't mind the shopping Izzy, as long as it is not just clothes. Not that I don't mind the modeling and all," he adds the last part with a wink. I just ignore him.

I say my piece. "I agree, not just clothes. I don't need to bore myself looking at things that just don't work for me."

I can feel Jace's eyes looking me over. "Clary, I think we can all say that anything works for you now."

I just laugh it off. The truth is that I know that. Clothes are not as boring to me anymore, yet I don't want to have people look at me all day in certain ways.

"Let's just go. We can decide what else there is to do on the way to the shops," Alec says. Good thing too.

"Alright, let us leave then."

-line break-

"How about this one?" Izzy holds up a short red dress.

I give a tiny smile. "Sorry Izzy but that dress is more for you. Besides, a red that bright won't go well with my dark red hair."

She sighs. "You are impossible. Everything is either too short or too bright."

I relent. "Fine, I will lighten up on the length, but if you get me something that is mainly lave I will shove it down your throat."

She smiles, nods, and scampers away. I should not have agreed to do that.

"You know, I always feel bad about you girls."

I turn around to see Alec staring at me.

"How so?" I ask.

"You always have to find the perfect dress that goes with your hair, make-up, skin tone, and one that makes you confident while we just find a suit."

I sigh. "I know right. It is very complicated compared to you guys." I pause. "So, what have you been doing since the last time we talked a couple days ago?"

All the joy drained from his face as he answered. "Nothing much. Mainly just listening to Jace plotting to get you back, and listening to him saying he still wants to know why you left."

That confirms my suspicions about him keeping up the charade then. "Plotting?" I simply ask.

He tilts his head to the side. "I'm debating whether or not to tell you what he is plotting. I need a little amusement in my life once in a while."

"If you need amusement just look at my life. That will give you a good laugh."

His mouth opens to speak but he is interrupted by Izzy coming over, holding up three dresses.

"Here," she says simply. I roll my eyes and head towards the fitting rooms to try them on.

The first one is a dark blue dress. The straps are off the shoulders and silver. The skirt is loose and it shows that this is meant for if the party was a ball. I don't even leave to see if it works. Taking it off, I grab the second one.

The next dress is long as well, which surprises me because I thought Isabelle was eager to get short dresses. Dark green is the color, and there is not much to it. It is fancy but it doesn't have a humongous skirt or anything like that. I have to admit it does look nice with my hair.

I walk out to see the Lightwood siblings waiting for me.

"That one looks really nice on you, Clary," says Izzy, looking excited of course.

Alec nods. "I'm going to have to agree with her on that one. You look beautiful."

I briefly nod and quickly turn around to hide my blush. I head back to try on the third one.

The last one was black with gold accents. It was like a gold design seeped through the dress, spreading through the entire article of clothing. It was shorter, with long sleeves but it would still do. I peak my head out for assistance of zipping me up and the only person that was sitting out there was Jace.

When I raise an eyebrow at him he answers, "Isabelle is determined to find Alec something 'new.'" Why does Izzy always have to do this at the worst time? "Do you need any help?" he asks.

I will not let him bother me. I have to get used to being around him eventually. "Yes, can you zip me up?"

He smiles as he walks over. Slowly, he zips up my dress while I count the seconds for how long it would take for him to finish. Then, his head sneaks over my shoulder and kisses me.

Smack!

Who wouldn't expect that from him? I certainly did. That is one reason why I had so much pleasure in slapping him. He is so predictable.

When we both come out of the fitting room Izzy and Alec sits on the other side, waiting for us.

Alec looks, well I can't say what is going through his head. His features are unreadable. Izzy on the other hand looks excited and confused at the same time.

"Clary! That dress looks amazing on you. That one should be the one you should get."

I nod, keeping my eyes on Alec, looking for any change at all. "I will come by later to get it, we should probably head out.

I quickly change out of my dress, grab Alec's arm, and leave the store, dragging him out with me.