AN: So thank you all again my loyal readers, you've left so many kind reviews they all put a smile on my face. I'm still looking for someone to make a video/trailer for this story so if you'd like to or know someone who would please let me know. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter...

A Drop in the Ocean

Chapter Fourteen- A Little Bit Stronger

Bella POV

The night was cool and crisp. There was enough of a chill for him to offer me his jacket and for me to mould myself to his side. He was a hundred and eight degrees after all.

"Thank you Jake," I said as we stood on the cliff on First beach.

He had wrapped his arm around my shoulder and as we stood on the cliff watching the moon as it glistened off the sea.

"What for?" he whispered into my ear as he rested his chin on my shoulder. His arms had moved to wrap around my waist as he pulled me back to so I rested against his chest.

"Helping me, loving me, making me realise I'll be ok." I replied.

We stood in silence, he knew I had more to say and was giving me time to say it.

"When they left, I didn't know how I would get through it." He placed a kiss against my neck as I spoke, it made my heart flutter, but I knew he was doing it to reassure me. "But you helped me Jake, you got me through and then, well, I realised that I couldn't have done it without you and wouldn't have wanted to."

I turned in his arms, so my chest was pressed against his. He was so close, our bodies were pressed against each other's and I felt alive, excited, and passionate- I wanted him.

"I love you Jacob Black, I think I always have."

That night we lost ourselves in each other for the first time. We were both scared, it was new to us both but together it just seemed perfect. He was gentle and loving and that was exactly what I needed.

He told me he loved me repeatedly, over and over and I didn't think I ever wanted him to stop saying it.

He loved me and I couldn't have been happier...

"Bella, you ok?" Leah jolted me from my memory.

I nodded, "yeah, sorry I spaced out." She could probably see the shimmer of unshed tears in my eyes and she gave me a concerned look but thankfully said nothing.

"I found this list on the table, groceries. You want me to go get them?"

I shook my head and stood up, smoothing out my clothes before taking the list Sue had wrote earlier for me. "No, I'll get them. I need to get out for a bit."

"Is going out later not enough!" she murmured but still loud enough for me to hear, it was a dig at mine and Paul's plans later. She wasn't happy about it and didn't try and hide it.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my bag, "I'll be back in half-an-hour tops" I said, ignoring her dig completely and walking out the door.

The shop in La Push was small but held about everything someone would need. I greeted Joy, Quil's mother as I walked in and grabbed a trolley. The isles were small and often you would nearly collide with someone if you weren't careful, I'd nearly done it several times and I knew for a fact Paul had done it several times, along with most of the other guys when it was there turn to shop.

I glanced at Sue's list ever couple of minutes checking I had everything, and that's when it happened. I was checking the list and realised I'd passed the pasta sauces so I sharply turned my trolley and was about to dash to the tinned and canned goods isle when I crashed right into someone.

"Oh god I'm so sorry," I said looking up from the list; ready to apologise profusely when I realised whom I had crashed into.

"It's ok, no harm done." She said.

Mia.

I stared at her, her long blonde hair and her perfect man-stealing blue eyes. I saw her expression change to one of realisation, she knew who I was.

"Bella," she whispered my name.

I breathed in sharply. The girl who had stolen the man I loved, the man I love, was standing in front of me. I looked around quickly looking for Jake but apparently she had come alone, or Jake was somewhere I couldn't see.

I had to make a decision fast, walk away and not say a word or be at least civil to her. I knew the Pack had nothing to do with her, accept Quil and that was because he couldnt abandon his bestfriend. Some part of me felt bad for her, she wasn't accepted because they all wanted to support me, look out for me but the other part was glad, she may have stolen Jake but she would never take my family.

She had no control over anything

I closed my eyes, breathed in deeply and made my decision.

"Mia," she got no 'hello' off me, I couldn't muster anything that civil but I did nod and recognise her. I felt that was enough.

"How are you?" she asked, her voice soft and polite. She was trying to make small talk, I hated small talk and I despised it coming from her.

I ignored her comment, "sorry I ran into you." I grabbed my trolley, my grip so tight on the bar that my knuckles turned white. I walked around her, ignoring her as best as I could but she wasn't making it easy.

"Bella, wait."

I stopped, my whole body was tense. I turned slowly to look at her and I hated what I saw, I saw remorse, sadness and guilt. I hated it because it made it a little harder to hate her.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for my part and I'm sorry that I took him away from you. I never meant to hurt anyone." Her words rung true, I neither saw nor heard any deception. "I hope one day you can forgive me, and maybe one day we can maybe be friends."

"Maybe one day I can look at you and it won't hurt so much, but-" I hung my head and tried to control my breathing which had quickened and become shallow as I fought back tears, I wouldn't show weakness. "I don't think we'll ever be friends Mia, I don't think I can ever like someone who stole the man I love."

I whispered the last part but she heard me and it was her turn to hang her head.

"For what it's worth, I truly am sorry." She said apologising again.

I nodded, "for what it's worth I believe you, but it doesn't change anything."

I walked away and got the last of the shopping before paying and leaving. Joy gave me a concerned look as I packed the shopping bags but she didn't say anything apart from to tell me to take care.

I walked home with a lull in my step, not that there was much of a bounce in it before though. But I was proud of myself, I hadn't broken down, I hadn't been weak, I had shown strength, a strength that Paul made me realise I had.

But it was my strength and no one could take that away. I'll be ok I thought to myself, I'm strong enough.

A Drop in the Ocean

We pulled up to the movie theatre. We'd been deciding, on the way, which film we were going to watch before going for dinner. It was decided we would see Red Riding Hood as we both found humour in watching something about a werewolf that probably held no fact behind it what so ever.

Paul brought the tickets, while I brought the snacks much to his distaste. I argued that if he was paying for the movie tickets and dinner, it was the least I could do. That shut him up but barely.

We were waiting in line when Paul stiffened then lightly snarled, loud enough for only me to hear.

"Bella," I heard my name being called, I looked at Paul who was staring daggers at something over my head. I turned around and Kim bound into view pulling a nervous looking Jared along behind her.

"Hey Kim," I said with a smile.

"Jared," Paul snarled.

"Paul," I hissed quietly, he was being impolite and Kim looked a little put out by it but she shook it off quickly.

"What are you here to see?" Kim asked me pulling Jared to her side who was holding a pile of snacks and drinks much like Paul was. I think that might have been the only reason he didn't try and hit is pack brother. Paul was beyond mad.

"Red riding hood, you?"

She squealed, "Us to, let's sit together."

I glanced at Jared who still looked nervous and then at Paul who still looked murderous and it all clicked.

Damit, I should never have told Leah where we were going.

AN: So, what do you think? Next POV will probably both Bella and Paul, maybe Bella's POV for the movie then Paul's for the dinner; what do you think? Well I hope you liked this chapter, I'll be updating soon.