Grace's POV

Everyone had chosen, and now, it was unclear what to do. We all stood in various places around the cavern, silent, observant. The Vampires who had taken the cure seemed fascinated with the change. Even though they seemed to feel woozy and weak, they all seemed happy, something I supremely envied at the moment.

I looked around, scanning the now familiar faces until I found Jacob's. He and I gazed at one another. It seemed he'd been searching for me too.

My heart jumped to my throat as he crossed the cavern to where I stood. I looked up at him as he reached me, meaning to smile, but not quite able to.

"Can I talk to you?"

I nodded, and he took my hand,leading me to the mouth of the cave, where he looked around cautiously before exiting.

The moonlight bathed our darkish skin as he led me further from the sounds of our companions and closer to the ominous silence, yet loud raucus of night time.

Finally, he stopped about three hundred yards from the cave, in a circle of trees hidden from the very world itself.

Jacob pulled me to the center of the circle, took both my hands, and looked into my eyes. I could immediately tell something was different in his brown ones...he seemed awake, or alive, perhaps both.

"...Gracie..." He let out a breath, rubbing my hand with his thumb.

"Yes?" I asked softly, afraid to know if this was the prologue for a parting of ways, or the beginning of something wonderful.

Jacob pulled me into a hug, crushing me in his tight embrace. I wanted to not hug him back, to not seem like I needed him, but I couldn't. I clutched at his shoulders, hugging just as tightly, because I did need him, so very very much.

"I love you, Gracie, but I loved Bella too. The way I feel about you is so different though. You're my best friend. With you, I'm a different person. It's almost like there are two of me. One loved her, one loves you..."

I realized now that this had been his choice. I'd had a hard one to make, but his had been just as difficult. I pulled back, looking at him, the edges o fmy eyes damp and wet. "So...who are you? Who do you want to be?"

He pulled me up to his lips gently, and then ran his hands across my shoulders, down my arms and up my back as he kissed me. When he pulled away, my eyes stayed closed, and he pulled me to his chest, stroking my hair and holding me.

"I'm me."

Jacob's POV

It was then that I let Bella go.

Grace's POV

Jacob and I returned hand in hand to our friends, neither of us could stop smiling.

Suddenly, I stopped dead as a voice broke into my thoughts.

'I see you've chosen. You do realize this only lasts until midnight, correct? You have until then to defeat me.'

Jacob looked at me, concerned.

"What's the matter?"

"Fitzwilliam just spoke to me."

I looked at my watch, 9:00pm, and then frantically looked for Meg. I found her across the cave with Edward.

"Meg!" I called. "We have until midnight!"

I knew she knew what I'd meant, so I left her to her goodbyes. I kissed Jacob, a long and sweet lingering moment, just in case I didn't come back.

Meg was coming across the cave, so I broke off my kiss and spoke, though I couldn't look at him.

"I love you."

With that, Meg and I left, running into the darkness too fast to hear what he said in return, because I was too afraid that if I did, I'd go back.

But now, my choice was made, my destiny set, and it was too late to change it now.