"You can't cancel the Midsummer Masquerade Ball! It's traditional!" protested Cecily. "Yeah! It's been around for years and years! You can't just stop it now!" said Alec. "Stop shouting at me!" instructed Valentine as the group of annoyed voices died down.

Clary sighed. It was a week since Jace had been kicked out of camp and everything had gone downhill. Valentine was making them work longer days, with fewer breaks and shorter meal times. She had hardly had time to catch up with any of her friends since it had started. She had been on the phone to Jace every night, filling him in on what had been going on. She could picture his facial expressions and body language as they talked, but it wasn't the same as seeing him in the flesh.

The Midsummer Masquerade Ball was supposed to take place tomorrow night, but Valentine had hinted that there may not be a ball this year, new to which the leaders had not reacted well. "I know that this is a camp tradition, but I'm not sure you could fit in setting it up around your activity schedule!" he said bluntly. "Of course we can!" said Tessa. "We've managed every other year" said Gideon.

Valentine held his hand up for silence. The group fell quiet once more. "If you are telling me that you could set up the whole event in 45 minutes between activities and dinner, then I will allow it to take place" said Valentine. "Challenge accepted!" said Will. "Easy" said Magnus. Valentine shrugged. "In that case I guess I will allow it. But all campers will attend, not just the older ones as in previous years. Therefore, tomorrow you will lead a class in traditional social dance." he said.

With that, he left the room. "Dance class? Is he kidding?" asked Gabriel. "I don't think so" said Simon. "Ahem, I don't mean to interrupt but we only have 1 hour off tonight. We need to go shopping!" said Isabelle.

And so Clary found herself being towed round what must be over 100 shops in search of what Izzy called 'the dress'. "Izzy, listen. I don't know if I'm even going to go to the ball!" said Clary. "Tough. We're getting you a dress just in case." said Isabelle and refused to hear anything else from Clary. Maia gave Clary a sympathetic look and Tessa and Sophie just accepted the piles of clothes being shoved into their arms. Cecily was, as Clary had suspected her to be, absent from the shopping trip.

The hall was crowded by the time all the campers and leaders were assembled. "Welcome to your traditional dance lesson. The ball is tonight and you will be expected to dance. Every one of you." Valentine said and was met with groans from many of the male campers and a few leaders. "The leaders have kindly agreed to teach you the dances for tonight so without further ado, leaders!" he added.

The leaders made their way out onto the floor and found their partners. Clary felt suddenly very alone without Jace there. "Excuse me" said a voice from behind her. She shivered as she turned to face Sebastian. "Would you do me the honour of being my partner?" he said smirking. Clary knew you were supposed to be polite and accept the hand of the first man who asked you. But, her stomach was churning at the thought of having to dance with Sebastian. "I'm terribly sorry, but Clary has already agreed to be my partner for this dancing class" said Jem appearing by Clary's side.

Sebastian shot Jem a venomous look and stalked off to find another partner. "Thank you" said Clary letting out a sigh of relief. "It's ok. You looked a bit uncomfortable." said Jem smiling. "I really was" admitted Clary.

Jem danced well enough. He had good posture and was obviously knew how to dance but it wasn't the same as dancing with Jace. Their bodies didn't fit together the way hers and Jace's did. She made sure to keep to the other side of the hall from Sebastian and his partner.

Eventually, after what had seemed like hours, the dance class was over and the leaders headed to the lawn to set up the ball. Clary had only ever set up a house party and that had taken her over an hour, but this was a whole ball and they only had 45 minutes. It was a military operation. There was food to be moved, lights to be hung up and a full music system to be set up. But with Magnus' expert help, somehow they managed.

The lawn looked beautiful. The trees were hung with golden fairy lights and there were tables and chairs set out around the main dance floor. The steps down to the lawn had been covered in roses and a red carpet had been laid down them. Clary looked around in awe. She had been to the ball last year, but it seemed even more magical this year. If only Jace was here to see it.

She traipsed back to the room, a mixture of wonder and sorrow in her heart. "Are you not going to put your dress on?" asked Cecily as they got back to their room. "I don't think I'm going to go. It would feel wrong without Jace." admitted Clary sadly. Cecily smiled a little. "Who says Jace won't be there?" she said disappearing into her room. "Isabelle is coming in 5 minutes to do your make-up!" she called from her room. Clary felt her heart leap and practically ran to her room.

30 minutes later, Clary stood at the top of the stairs looking out over the lawn. Her dress was emerald green and flowed around her body enhancing her usually unnoticeable curves and her make-up was simple but effective. She wore a green mask with a white trim and white heels topped off her outfit. "Here" said Cecily handing her a slip of paper.

The younger girl's long dark hair was twisted up in an elegant knot at the back of her head and she wore a simple cream dress. Clary opened the note Cecily had given her. One word, BRIDGE. Clary smiled and gave Cecy a quick hug before heading off.

She knew exactly where she was to go. Jace had been the one to show her the small stream that ran through the woods and they had spent many hours sitting on the bridge talking. She turned the corner of the path. The trees here were still lined with fairy lights and the whole area looked like a picture from a story book.

Then she saw him. Standing like a fallen angel. Jace.

Hey guys!

So Jace is in camp. But what happens next? Is he found? Or is there something else going on?

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There will be another chapter tomorrow!

~marshmallowpandaxox

PS- I don't know what you would call the kind of dance you do at balls! I call it social dance, but that might just be a Scottish thing. It's dance as in waltzes and stuff like that!