Readers,

Well, this chapter's probably best described as a turning point for Bella, but that's all I'm going to say… for now…

Please please please keep the reviews coming in! I know it's a lot to ask for, but I admit I am selfish and like hearing people say how good (or bad) my stories are =)

This chapter only has a few inspirations, but these songs are very important to me as this is probably my favourite chapter so far.

Inspirations:

Decode – Paramore

Meet Me On The Equinox – Death Cab for Cutie

The Scientist – Coldplay

This Game – Pete Murray

Underneath This Smile – Hilary Duff

You're All I Have – Snow Patrol

Also this chapter, the story's summary message will appear. Yeay!

Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimers: I don't own Twilight, but I do own this pretty awesome story!

Chapter 8: Soulmate

The funeral was a quiet affair.

We were gathered on the banks of the Quillayute, in a small clearing that Billy, Charlie and Harry had used for fishing. The Clearwaters had only wanted a small funeral for Harry, so I was fairly confident I would know everyone. I was right.

As well as Sue and her kids Leah and Seth, there was Billy, the rest of the pack, Emily – Sam's wife, and Charlie and I.

Harry had been cremated, just as he had wanted, and after a few readings from the Clearwaters and Billy, they were scattered into the river just after three in the afternoon. For some reason, the weather was on our side – not a cloud in the sky. Harry would have liked that.

I didn't see one dry eye that whole day.

"I've got the day off," Charlie explained in a sombre voice as we drove around to Billy's. Everyone had been invited back for lunch. "So I'm going to be staying for as long as Billy needs me. You can go home if you want."

I shook my head, declining the offer. "I think I'll stick around."

He pulled up outside the Black's house, just as the pack emerged out of the woods behind the house. They must have taken a more… convenient way back.

"Darn kids," muttered Charlie. "Wonder what they've been up to now."

I rolled my eyes. "That's Jacob and his friends."

Charlie scowled. "I'm still not convinced about the Sam guy. There's something about him…" He trailed off, not knowing just how close to the truth he was. The was something about Sam, about all of them…

"I'm going to see Jacob," I announced as I hopped out of the truck. "I'll see you later, Dad."

I carefully made my way over to the pack. It would be embarrassing to trip over now.

"Jacob!" I called.

They had stopped on the edge of the forest. Jacob was smiling, beckoning me over. Sam, however, didn't look happy. What was that on his face, disapproval?

"Hey," Jacob said as I reached the edge of the trees. "Didn't get much of a chance to talk at the funeral, eh?"

"Yeah," I agreed.

One of the other wolves, Jared – the one I'd met on the beach – stared at me intently. I blushed, embarrassed.

Sam gestured for Jacob. "You and I are on patrol." He said. "And we are leaving now."

Jacob scowled. "Can't I swap with Paul?"

Jared laughed. "Not a chance."

"Then lets go." Sam ordered. He stalked back into the trees, out of view.

Jacob sighed. "Sorry, Bells."

"It's okay."

With that, he followed his Alpha.

I turned back to the remaining three wolves. They were staring at me intently, and two had copied Sam's disapproving face. The other, Jared, was smiling openly.

"We're going up to the cliffs," said Paul, gruffly. I wondered what his problem was. "Want to come?" He added the last part after a few moments, like he was forced to.

I shrugged. I didn't have anything else to do. "Sure, why not?"

In the end, it turned out that they all were nice enough, this afternoon at least. Embry, Jacob's friend, was probably the easiest to get along with. He smiled a lot and laughed, unlike Paul, who grudgingly accepted my presence. Jared, on the other hand, was a bit creepy, overly helpful. Honestly, I had no idea what was prompting his behaviour. I just hoped that Jacob hadn't mentioned by breakdown and that Jared didn't somehow feel obligated to be a carer for me. I could look after myself.

It was nearing dusk now. Paul and Embry had gone off into the trees to phase so they could check up on Jacob and Sam. I sat on the edge of the cliffs, looking out to the sea. The cliffs gave a spectacular view – the sky literally was pink and the water was gold as the sun set over the ocean.

"Nice, isn't it?" a quiet, husky voice said.

I jumped, not realising that Jared had come up behind me.

I smiled. "It's breathtaking."

Jared looked away, muttering something.

I looked at him. "I didn't catch that, sorry."

He shrugged. "Nothing."

We sat in silence for a while, and then I realised the last time I'd been here, sitting quietly with Jared, was when I found out the truth. It was hard to believe that was only a week ago.

"Bella," he said quietly, in a low tone.

"Yes?" I asked.

He looked out at the ocean. "Would it be alright for me to ask you a personal question? You don't have to answer it if you want to."

"I'm not the best person for relationship advice, if that's what it is about."

He chuckled quietly. "Nah, it's not that." He paused, consuming the scenery.

"How do you do it?" He asked. "How can you sit there so calmly, when that leech hurt you so bad? How did you move on from someone that would die for you?"

I stared at him in horror. "Who told you?" I whispered.

"Jacob."

I looked away. "I don't really want to talk about this." Already, I could feel myself going numb, the pain of remembering setting in.

Jared made a soft, apologetic noise. "Sorry." He said simply.

I was lost for words. His voice, he sounded so sincere. Like he'd been where I was now. Maybe that was why he was so interested in me.

"It hurts." I blurted out, breaking the silence. "It really hurts, and it never stops. But you can't stop. You have to keep going, be strong. And there's no one to help you, 'cause the only person that could is gone."

Jared stared hard into my eyes, stone faced.

"Someone hurt you, didn't they?" I asked sympathetically. He nodded.

"I love this girl, but she doesn't realise it, and I'm probably doing more harm than good to her by loving her. She doesn't love me, and she won't ever, because I'm not the right person for her."

I didn't even notice the tears on my face until they fell into my half opened mouth.

He smiled sadly. "And now I've made you cry."

I shrugged. "It's not your fault. And I haven't moved on. You never do."

He looked back to the ocean. The sun was half submerged into the distant horizon. "Love sucks." He whispered.

"You got that right." I agreed.

We lapsed into a silence again. In ways, Jared was a lot like Angela – quiet, no need to fill the gaps, a shoulder to cry on.

Jared moved over, closer to me. "You alright?" He asked. I must have still been crying.

"I'll live, I said tersely.

Slowly, and carefully, he wrapped a warm, muscular arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer to him.

I didn't say anything.

Jared was unbelievably warm, radiating heat like Jacob did. Yet, he was more comfortable than Jacob, both as a person and as something to lean on. It felt like I'd known him for much longer than one, short week.

"Don't cry," he whispered into my ear. "I'm here."

Somehow, that made me feel better.

"Jared…" I said, unsure of how to proceed. "Who's this girl that you're in love with. Is she from your school? Did you imprint?"

He answered after a few moments. "Yeah, she's in my English."

I was not sure why I suddenly felt so… strange. A feeling had come over me that was completely new.

Jealousy.

No. I couldn't be jealous! I'd only just met Jared. He was a friend, if that. I did not have any feelings what so ever for him. No!

And yet… did I? I seemed so at home with Jared, like he was perfect for me. A new beginning for me to move on with. It wasn't too soon – he'd practically asked me to find a new boyfriend as soon as he'd stepped out of town. That's what he'd wanted.

"Oh, really?" I said, disappointed.

Jared laughed. "Nah. She doesn't go to my school… but I did imprint on someone."

"So who then?"

He paused deliberately.

"You."

My heart beat erratically inside my chest, trying to type out a message to my confused brain. My mind didn't have the answers I searched for – did my heart have one? There was only one way to find out.

I found the place, just out of reach from my subconscious. Everyone retreats there at one point or another. You know that place inside you, where pain and suffering are just words to your broken heart? It's where you'll retreat when you see that there's no point living in an empty shell. And he's not coming back. But Jared was here, cradling me in his arms. Ready to help me rebuild.

"Jared…"

"Yeah?" I loved his voice, I realized. It was husky, yet smoother than Jacob's and rougher than Edward's. Just… perfect. Perfect for me. Jared wasn't Edward, and he would never be, but if Edward wasn't my soulmate, maybe Jared was.

"I love you too."

Wow!

I'm so happy this turned out the way it has, so thanks to everyone!

I am actually considering finishing the story here. Bella has realised that she loves Jared, and vice-versa, so there might not be much point continuing into their romance, because I won't be able to find somewhere to finish.

PLEASE let me know what you guys want!

Thanks,

Little Miss Illusional