Disclaimer: I, under all the circumstances known to man, own nothing of the legend that was created by Stephenie Meyer… And am never likely to do so…

A/N: Thanks for the reviews everyone, I'm kind of shocked with how may have reviewed and shown an interest in this story. Really shocked. Since the last chapter 32 people have read the story, but only 6 have reviewed altogether *frown* I'm feel slightly jaded, but not everyone is comfortable with reviewing, and I admit to being one of those people so I don't feel as jaded as I should. Thanks for at least taking the time to read it, it really make my day seeing that many people take an interest in my story!!! *gets excited* Just so you know… The whole pack is in existence now, they don't have to wait for anyone else to change.

So without further ado…

Soulmate.

Chapter 3: Will the pain never end.

Bella POV

Ugh! My head hurt's and my eyes are stuck closed from the tears that fell throughout the night, I'm still hung up over him even though it's been a few months since he left. I still haven't decided who I hate more, him for his charade or me for believing it wholeheartedly? Grrr! Maybe I hate myself more for not being able to say his goddamn name! I have no problem saying the other's in, or out of my head, just his and his alone.

Groaning I pulled my cover's away from my body and shivered against the cold air coming from my open window. Huh? I don't remember opening it last night. Frowning slightly I moved to the window, ignoring the pain that was ripping at my chest from the cold wind that seemed to caress my skin in a way that he once did. Closing the window with a loud bang I turned from the lush green outside and looked around the room that had been my haven during the time I'd tried my hardest to pretend I was normal, even though everyone knew that I was far from 'normal'.

Charlie hadn't felt the need to disturb me, at least not unless he felt that it was about time I ate otherwise I'd even skip those parts of my day. I wanted to sink into the numbness that was waiting at the edges calling to me and yet was always out of reach, I had no idea why I couldn't fall into it; I just knew that I wasn't allowed to.

Sighing I walked towards the bathroom, my gaze drifted to my refection and saw the shadow that I'd become for the first time since before he left, it was strange. If I was to compare myself to them then I'd be just as pale, there were purple bruises from either lack of sleep or the fact I'd just not bothered blinking much under my eyes. I laughed a pitiful laugh at the girl looking back, there were similarities and yet I would never have that wish. That had been stolen from me the moment he'd gone and taken his family with him.

Another bitter laugh fell from my lips as I turned to the shower unit and started the spray, I looked back towards the reflection and pulled a face at it. It was good to know that I could still find humour in everything I saw but that still didn't stop me from pulling away from my friends. They didn't know how hard I'd been hit by them, him, leaving. Jessica and Lauren wasn't making it any easier, dropping comments every so often trying to get me to rise to the bait. I shook my head before stripping and stepping under the spray, didn't they realise that I was just going through the motions while at school? My body was there yet my mind was a million miles away, along with my heart, with him and his family.

The warm water brought my mind back to the present and I laughed bitterly once again, school was the only time I could fall into the numb existence of a zombie. From the moment the first bell went to the last I couldn't remember anything yet I had all the notes on what I'd learnt so I knew I'd been doing something. There was no excitement at seeing my friends anymore, and I knew that I sat alone at lunch at the table they used to sit at. If I wasn't in the cafeteria at lunch I was in the library or my truck, it was pretty easy to escape when everyone knew not to bother with me. They were fast learner's, they'd leant not to after the first two days of my self inflicted solitude.

I closed my eyes and allowed the water to fall on my face, Charlie had managed to get me into coming to La Push with him to see Billy and Jacob. I wasn't looking forward to it, especially the looks of pity from Jacob I knew were going to come my way, but I'd go because if I'd learnt anything it was to show that I was okay… To show that I was stronger even though they all knew I cried myself to sleep at night, I didn't think I'd out grow that at all.

Although it was a good opportunity to thank Sam Uley… He had, after all, found me in the woods far from the house and I knew that if he hadn't found me I would have still been there in the cold, probably dead. Sighing I shook my head and grabbed my shampoo, I wouldn't think about it. But I did need to thank Sam, I hadn't seen him at all since my rescue and I knew it was common courtesy to thank him. Massaging the strawberry scent into my scalp I though back to Sam and his dark eyes that haunted my dreams every night.

It was strange how I felt a connection with him, that I'd only barely felt with him, it was strange in the fact that I knew that if it was denied something terrible would happen. Frowning I rinsed out my hair and gradually washed the rest of my body, stepping out of the water I wrapped a towel around my body, my mind still focussed on the man in my dreams, and everything that the connection between me and Sam entailed.

Changing I decided that I had to stop this, I was still hung up over him and there was no way in hell I was falling for Sam Uley. With a final nod I walked down the stairs carefully and managed a smile for Charlie.

"Morning Bells. I'll be fishing with Billy so you'll have to hang around with Jacob… He's having a few other friends over so you won't be alone."

"Thanks dad. But you know I'll be fine even if I was alone for the day." I smiled once more at him as I poured myself some breakfast and began to eat it. Actually we both knew that if I was alone all I'd think about would be him and his family and I'd probably be lost to Charlie forever, stuck in the zombie state that I was like during school. His eyebrows rose minutely and I felt the urge to laugh quietly, shaking my head I finished my breakfast and cleaned the dishes that we'd both used that morning.

Walking out to the cruiser I felt as if someone was watching me, it had been something I'd felt ever since they'd left and yet didn't want to place it, my gaze moved from staring at my feet to the area around me. Nothing was out of place and I shrugged off the feeling, getting into the cruiser I smiled softly at Charlie before he pulled out and began the drive to La Push. The fishing tackle rattled in the back and I knew that he'd rather had left earlier but had waited for me because he was worried, if I allowed the time to read my own emotions I'd be worried about myself too.

All too soon we were pulling up to a wooden house in a dull red colour, I almost laughed at the resemblance it had to a tiny barn, it had seemed like months since I'd been here and I was shocked to realise it had been a few months. I'd only gone to see Jake when he was out hunting, I shook my head once more. Why was I thinking about him? He was the one to tell me it'd be like he'd never existed, I felt like clapping in his general direction a small smile on my face saying, 'Well done… You actually managed to disappear, without a trace even. Can't wait for the grand finale, should we schedule that for my death bed?'

Well done Bella, you've finally found the humour in your own twisted psyche.

I felt the laughter bubble within me, but knew if it broke forth Charlie would send me to the nearest mental hospital, and fast, so I swallowed it back and got out of the cruiser. Billy was already being wheeled down the disabled ramp by Jacob, he was huge, and I'm not talking about Billy. Jacob was nearing six five and it made me feel like a dwarf when we finally all came together in the middle of the yard. Charlie was transferring his fishing stuff to Billy's truck as Jacob helped his dad into the passenger seat.

"Seams like you're stuck with me and the guys." He said once we'd waved goodbye to both of our father's , I just nodded before following him up the ramp and into the house. I felt a calm familiarity that, surprisingly, didn't cause me any pain… I frowned, this was the first time that the pain hadn't made itself known, it was probably because he never came here because he wasn't allowed to.

"So, who's coming over? If they're not here already." I spoke softly before I heard the loud laughter from the main room, it seemed that there was going to be more than the 'few' that I'd thought would be here.

"Just the guys… I'll introduce you, trust me it's best to just leave them for a few minutes especially when there's a game on." I just nodded as we made our way into the square living room, there was a mass of bodies in various places and I wondered briefly how so many could fit into such a small room. My gaze moved over them all until I spotted Sam in the corner, he was looking right at me and I smiled softly a fait blush tainting my cheeks a light pink.

"This is a lot of guys." I muttered to Jacob and he barked a laugh which caused everyone in the room to look towards them, I felt me cheeks blaze even more and knew I had to resemble a tomato with brown hair.

"Bella, meet the guys. Guys this is Bella." I waved and the guys all smiled and waved back, some looked expectantly at Jacob and I knew they wanted to be introduced as something other than 'guys', I grinned slightly before catching Sam's gaze once more. At least I knew him, and I could see Quil and Embry nearest the TV.

"Okay, okay. Geez, like a bunch of girls you lot are." I saw Jacob grin before pointing at the different people.

"Okay, we've got Jared, Seth, Collin, Brady, Paul, Sam who you should know along with Quil and Embry. Oh, and me too." He grinned and I laughed, it was a bit of a shock I hadn't laughed properly in a long time, it was normally rigid and stiff.

"Hey Bells, why don't you come and join us?" I looked to see Embry patting the ground beside him with a side grin, I smiled and nodded looking briefly towards Sam as I moved to sit in between the two young men. He hadn't taken his eyes off of me once and I was starting to become a little unsettled, as if he knew Sam blinked and than looked away.

"So, what're we gonna do now?" I asked hoping to get rid of the silence that had settled in the room, along with the awkwardness.

"20 questions? That way you can get to know the guys that you don't know and they can get to know you." Jacob said with a small grin as he sat on the floor in front of the sofa, his back leaning against the piece being as Collin and Brady took up the space on it.

"Sure." I answered with a grin, maybe hanging around with the guys for the day would be good, and hopefully nothing will cause me to remember him and the pain he caused.