I'm back! This is the next chapter! No, it does not have Kailie and Jace's date, and yes, it ends with a depressed Clary. Now, for the reviews! IMPORTANT SENTECE addressing my update schedule: I will try to update once every one or two weeks, and it will be on the weekends. Also, I hate being mean and leaving you guys with a cliffie, or a depressed person (cause I know how it feels), so if I leave a cliffie, I will usually update the next chapter later that day or the day after. I want to thank all my reviewers, and, to answer some questions...

Sorry guys, Kailie's staying for a while :/

And, to Lilletjet99 (if you haven't checked your PM box): Basically, the bachelor gets 20-27 girls to come on the show, and takes them around the world, eliminating two each week until he gets to the final two/three. When he chooses, he does not have to marry the girl, but everyone usually wants it to end that way ;)

For the entire day, I had many mental seizures. I was able to keep up the calm facade for Aline and Helen, who, true to their word, had come out and stayed with me for the rest of the day. I can honestly say that it made me feel a little bit better. At least it distracted me, keeping me from biting my nails to the beds.

I debated in my head whether or not to tell Jace what an evil bitch Kailie most likely was (judging by her earlier actions). I'd decided that my words would depend on his actions, so when he came back from the date happy, I couldn't bare to kill his mood. So I held my tongue. I know, Clary Fray holding her tongue? Weird, right. But I would go to the ends of the earth for Jace. It had always been that way, and I had a feeling it always would be. I just hoped him getting a wife wouldn't change that.

Deep down, I knew that Jace cared about me enough that if a girl had a problem with me, and tried to make him stop seeing me, he would end things with her, but he'd never loved a girl, and if he did fall in love, it scared me to death to think that he might choose her over me. Jace Wayland had my heart in his hands, and he didn't even know it. That. Sucked.

Anyways, ending my rant, it's been about three days since their date, and now, we were unsure which was gonna come next. Group date, or another single date. I wasn't worried or freaking out like the other girls, because I had nothing to worry about. I knew I wasn't going on a date, but I also knew I wasn't going home.

As of now, I sat on the couch my back against the arm, legs sprawled out over both Aline and Helen's laps. I was sipping a strawberry smoothie, reading this book about these people who are half demon, and basically have a certain sin that they have to influence other people to do. Or else their fathers (the Dukes) kill them.

I was completely immersed in the text, but was jerked from my imagination by Aline punching my thigh.

"What?!" I hissed, annoyed.

"You weren't paying attention." she shrugged, "As I was trying to tell you, Gemma has the next date card. She's about to read it." Helen nodded enthusiastically, gesturing to the tall brunette that stood in the doorway of the large common room. I saw her ripping open the envelope, and rolled my eyes, immediately losing interest and returning to my book.

"Clary," a voice spoke my name, and my head snapped up, "Aline, Helen, Seelie, and Jess, get ready to sweat, Jace." I blinked, shocked. Finally, the words actually got through my thick soul, and my jaw dropped, a slight squeal escaping. Aline, Helen, Jess and Seelie wore wide smiles, but so did Kailie, Seelie, and their group. I had to say, this was one of the most perfect moments I've had in my life (despite the fact that Kailie and Seelie were happy).

"Well c'mon!" Helen pushed my feet to the floor, stood up, then yanked me to my feet, "We have to get ready!" She grabbed Aline's hand too, dragging us both behind as she sprinted up the stairs and to my room. Why it was my room, I had no idea. Helen threw open the door, and I half expected to see Jace spread out on my bed, but the room was empty.

"Why my room?" I voiced my question.

"Cause yours is the closest. Now Aline, here's my room key. Go get me some cute workout clothes, grab an outfit for yourself, and come back here. Oh! And bring our makeup kits." Helen ordered, and Aline complied, jogging out of the door.

"Sit." Helen commanded simply, pointing to my bed. I plopped down as she turned to my closet, rifling through the outfits as she tried to find something she deemed worthy to wear. I sighed sadly.

Normally, it would be Izzy and Magnus obsessing over my date outfit. Alec, Simon, Maia, and Jordan would pipe up their opinions when I came out and modeled it for them. Jace would be preoccupied with threatening the poor guy that decided to ask me out. A small laugh escaped my lips, causing Helen to turn around.

"What's so funny?" she asked. A small smile curled my lips.

"I just miss home," my tone was wistful, "I'm just imagining what my friends would be doing if they were here right now." Helen's expression now matched my own.

"I know what you mean," She shook her head, lips tipped up at the corners. Aline burst in at that moment, arms full, looking like she was about to topple from the weight of everything she was carrying.

"A little help would be nice!" she shouted, teetering unsteadily from side to side as she attempted to make her way to the bed. Helen and I both snapped out of our trances, jumping up and helping carry the things to set them down.

"Okay," Aline breathed, sitting down on the chair at the desk, "let's get to work." Helen threw some clothes at me, pulling me up once again, and shoving me into the bathroom.

"Change!" Aline's voice drifted through the door, and I put the outfit on. I examined myself in the mirror, and was surprised how good I looked. The exercise capris were the perfect balance between being fitted and not showing too much skin, and the green, fitted, tank top brought out my eyes. An impatient fist pounded on the door, and I rolled my eyes, stepping out. Aline smiled, clapping her hands.

"Perfect!" she exclaimed, then ushered me back into the bathroom, Helen following behind with a chair. Aline tugged my shoulders so that I fell back into the seat.

"Now, for makeup." she held up an eyeliner pencil, and I groaned.

45 minutes later, the three of us, Jess, and Seelie stood downstairs, awaiting Jace's arrival. I had gotten away with just some eyeliner, mascara, and lip gloss due to lack of time after some profuse begging. Helen and Aline were dressed similarly to me, again due to lack of time.

Now, it was currently 9:15. Jace should have been down here ten minutes ago. We should be leaving in another 15 minutes.

"Do you guys know where he is?" Jess asked softly, and I shook my head. I didn't mind her. She hadn't been mean or anything, she was just so quiet and reserved that I hadn't gotten a chance to really talk to her.

"Sorry," I apologized, "We're on the same page as you." I then turned to my two friends.

"I'll be right back," I excused myself, "I've gotta call a friend quick..." I walked outside, and, after checking that no one was around, dialed Jace's number.

"Hello," his groggy answer made it clear that I had woken him up.

"Get you're ass downstairs," I hissed, bypassing pleasantries.

"Why?" He whined, "It's only... shit!" I chuckled as I imagined him seeing the time. "Be down there in five." he hastily ended the call, and I re entered the common area.

"Do you think he's even coming?" I heard a whisper, but I couldn't tell who it came from.

"He probably just overslept," I rejoined the conversation. The girls nodded, obviously considering the conclusion I'd provided. We started making awkward small talk until a crash sounded from the top of the stairs. The six of us whipped our heads towards the sound.

"It was probably just one of the girls upstairs." Lacey dismissed it, but I knew better.

"Be right back!" I called over my shoulder, already on my way to the stairwell. I silently clambered up, hearing Jace talking to someone else. Of course, me being the curious (read: nosy) person I am, I had to investigate. I crept farther up so that I could peek around the corner if I wanted.

"Are you sure you're okay, Sweetie?" I stiffened at the nasally voice, praying with all my heart that it wasn't who I thought. I peered around the wall, only to see Jace pull Kailie down onto his lap.

My throat constricted as I remembered all the times Jace had been my savior, protecting me when I couldn't protect myself. All of those times that I acted strong in the face of my attacker, but would come home bawling, saying that I wasn't good enough. He was the one that held me in his arms, telling me how beautiful I was, telling me that it would all be okay. He was the reason that, the next day, the bully would come to school battered and bruised, or too scared to talk to me. I couldn't believe that he could marry my bully without even knowing. For the second time that day, the reality of me being possibly pushed out became all too real. I bit my lip, just now noticing the tears that had rolled down my face, leaning back against the wall as I tried to block out the conversation going on next to me.

"Well," Jace's voice was low and sultry, "I'm sorry to end this... pleasant encounter, but I have to go on a group date..."

Crap! I thought, wiping frantically at my cheeks. Jace would know if I'd been crying, and, by this time, there was no use in hiding it. I heard Jace round the corner before I saw him, and he met my eyes with an unfaltering smile.

"Let's go, we don't want to be late!" his eyes left mine and he continued walking downstairs. I stood there for a second, stunned. They boy who'd never let a single tear of mine escape his radar didn't even notice. It felt like a knife had been driven into my heart.

So... Depressed Clary :( I know, I'm a horrible person. BUT ANOTHER NOTE YOU SHOULD READ! Next chapter (tomorrow hopefully) I will do a Q&A, so I want you guys to leave some questions in the reviews (about me, about the story) and so long as they're not too personal, or they won't give away the story plot, I'll answer. LAST NOTE YOU SHOULD READ! I want all of you to try and guess the book I mentioned Clary was reading, and if you get it, I'll put it in the reviews, if you're the first one, I'll send you a Jace POV of any chapter you want (and you can cash it in later if you want, it doesn't have to be now). Adios, Mis fieles seguidores (my faithful followers)

-Shadowhunter5801