AN: thanks for the wonderful reviews and for reading my story; thanks to my beta and co-author for this chapter Georgia Dawgette, she really works as much and even more than I do to make this fiction beautiful (grazie amica di penna).

8.

Sleep eluded Bella that night, as she restlessly tossed and turned for hours. When the alarm clock finally went off, she took a deep breath and reluctantly got out of bed. Today was her last day of school, and then finally, next week she would graduate. Victoria was sure to attack after that, so she would hopefully only have about a week to keep whatever was going on between her and Jared a secret. They could definitely manage this charade for a week.

She went to her closet and put on the first thing she saw. Alice might have scolded her about a lack of fashion sense, but she didn't care. Actually not having to play Bella-Barbie anymore was one of the few good things about this mess.

Her truck rumbled down the familiar road to school, and the moment she found a space to park, Edward appeared at her door. "Hello Bella. How are you today?"

She blinked in surprise; she definitely didn't need this right now, and more than anything else wanted to put the truck in reverse and head right back home, or possibly to La Push where she couldn't be bothered by meddlesome vampires. Maybe she could still do that, seeing Jared or Jake would be better than having to face Edward and the Cullen's for the entire day.

Bella sighed, and forced herself to turn off the ignition and climb out of the truck. She squared her shoulders in an outward show of strength; she desperately needed to be strong and focus on making sure that Edward knew she meant everything she had said last night. A clean break was the only option; it would hurt both of them less in the long run. "I'm well thanks, but I haven't changed my mind, Edward. Also, I don't like that as usual you never take me seriously." She walked around him, and started towards the school.

With his vampire grace, Edward stayed right by her side, and she could tell he was trying to weaken her resolve unfairly when he focused on trying to dazzle her. Why hadn't she noticed before how manipulative he could be? Was a side-effect of the imprinting that she would notice as defects things that she previously thought were charming? His sweet melodic voice and intoxicating presence began to flow over her, threatening to cloud her judgement. "Now Bella, I know you might still be a bit angry about yesterday; but please love, don't make a hasty decision, we are meant to be together."

Bella turned towards him, her fury that he wasn't paying attention to anything she said dispelling any effect of his charm. "I told you not to call me love! You and I are over, what exactly don't you get about that?" she snarled.

Edward's hurt expression almost made her feel guilty; but then for the first time she felt that it wasn't right, she wasn't the only one that should feel guilty. Growing even angrier, she considered the mess her life had become in the past few days, and even though she knew it wasn't entirely true, the only thought her mind would process was that she wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for Edward Cullen. She wouldn't be forced to hurt those she loved. She wouldn't have had her choices taken away through imprinting. She wouldn't be forced to live everyday in a world that she clearly did not belong in, if it wasn't for the insanely perfect vampire standing in front of her.

She moved closer to him, forcing herself not to really think about what she was saying and began whispering so that only he could hear things, she knew that very soon she would regret ever saying. "You don't want me to make a hasty decision, Edward, how about some of your hasty decisions? Decisions that have ensured that nothing will ever be the same again. You probably shouldn't have intervened that day Tayler's van was supposed to hit me. Probably, it was my time. With that one decision, you altered the course of my life, you changed everything. And now I'm trapped in a mythical world with a deranged vampire out for vengeance on one side threatening my life, and your vampire royalty on the other possibly showing up any day to ensure that I've abandoned my soul for eternity. Pay attention because I'm only going to say this once, I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore."

Bella turned quickly and marched into the school, aware that many people had heard at least part of her very public breakup with Edward Cullen. Let him get the limelight for once, and not for being perfect this time. Deep in her heart she knew that the mess her life had become wasn't really his fault. However, on the other hand, if he hadn't come to Forks, the Quileute's wouldn't have phased, and Jared wouldn't have imprinted on her. Her life would have been so much easier then, and maybe she would have ended with Jacob after all.

As she tossed these ideas around in her head, Bella became even more furious with the Cullen's. For the first time she realized that maybe this whole mess wasn't her fault after all. She had been dragged into this mystical word. Maybe she had foolishly believed that love would be enough to see her through, but love hadn't been enough to keep her from being imprinted on, nor had it been enough to prevent her from succumbing to the pull towards Jared.

Now she was stuck between the men she loved and the one that called to her soul. The worst part was that she didn't know if she could get through this on her own, but it didn't look like she had any other option. It wouldn't be fair to put more pressure on Jake, and Alice, her best-friend, wasn't allowed to know so much of what was bothering her and, now that she thought about it, was partly to blame for this mess.

When Alice had come to see if she was alive after the cliff diving fiasco, she should have let her go onto Volterra without her. From that reckless action she had unleashed even greater problems, and now that she wouldn't become a vampire, she would eventually have to deal with the Volturi too. Her whole life was just a fucking mess! If only she had listened to Jake begging her to stay in Forks for him and Charlie! The realization that she was just as responsible as Edward and Alice made her feel sick.

Her mind wandered back to the two men that fate had decided she could no longer love. As she walked down the hallway, a sudden memory of Jake smiling down at her made her so upset that she retreated into the bathroom. She entered the last stall, and closed the door. Unbidden, tears flowed down her face; part of her was crying for herself; however, most of the despair she felt was over the pain she knew would be inflicted upon Jake.

She was going to hurt her sun once again, just as he was beginning to have hope that they could be together. And even though she had just been so cruel to him, her tears were also for Edward. Her moon. She had been so selfish, and now she was going to destroy two men who loved her deeply. With so many different feelings flooding through her heart, she felt like she was drifting dangerously close to insanity.

The imprinting had certainly erased the majority of her feelings for Edward and Jacob, but the small remnants were cutting at her heart. Definitely the guilt and the pain hadn't gone away. She closed her eyes; and she remembered her joy when Edward had kissed her for the first time, and she recalled how she felt the day he took her to their meadow. Then the memories of when Jake had hugged her for the first time after Edward left and helped to rebuild the bikes, fixing her too, poured through her mind. Both of them had, in different ways brought her so much happiness.

Days spent at the Cullen's playing games with Emmett and enjoying just hanging out with the family, nights snuggled up with Edward. Bonfires and parties at La Push with the pack. Her almost kiss with Jake after she had foolishly jumped off the cliff. She wished she had kissed him. Would that have made a difference? Would anything have altered the inevitability of Jared imprinting on her? Was he meant to hers since the beginning? Why had he imprinted on Kim first then?

It was the first time since she realized Jared had imprinted on her, that she was allowing her mind to attempt at grasping all of the changes that had rapidly occurred. In a way, her heart and mind were saying goodbye to all the familiarity of Edward and Jacob, to embrace the unknown and dangerous Jared. A knock at the door of the bathroom stall she had barricaded herself behind made her jump.

"Bella? Is everything ok?" asked Angela softly. "I didn't want to bother you; it's just that there is a Quileute guy in the parking lot that wants to see you. He is kind of having an argument with Edward."

Bella dried her tears, and opened the stall's door. She thanked Angela, and quickly made her way out of the building. She wondered if it was Jake or Jared. Though, her heart knew the answer even before she pushed through the doors and saw him.

Jared was standing tall and commanding. Raw power was exuding from him, and amidst the worries and the pain, Bella couldn't stop herself from desiring him. She was trying to gauge how he was feeling, but it was too early in their relationship to understand him.

When she made it to the parking lot, Jared and Edward were looking at each other menacingly, the desire to attack written plainly on their scowling faces. The crowd of students that had watched her breakup with Edward in fascination, were now clearly anticipating a fight between the two rivals.

She sighed, hating that her personal business was on display for all to see. Fear at their confrontation and happiness at seeing Jared were battling strongly in her mind.

"She broke it off with you, let her be." She heard Jared snarling.

Edward spat. "That's none of your business."

She pushed her way between the two, hoping that at least Edward's desire to protect her would make him back down. She looked at Edward and said, "Just get inside, leave him alone."

Edward bared his teeth. "You come in with me, and I'll leave, but I won't let you stay out here with him."

Bella almost growled. "What I do is now my business, and I'm staying here with Jared." She couldn't add that she didn't have a choice; her body and her soul were humming just being this close to her mate.

Jared took that moment to catch her wrist and pull her behind him. "You heard her Cullen; you have overstayed your welcome."

Edward was now inches from Jared. "You don't have any right to touch her. Let her go, filthy dog." He whispered the last part so that only Bella and Jared could hear.

Bella didn't like the way Edward was addressing Jared, on the other hand, Jared wasn't doing anything to placate the angry vampire. Why was he here? But most of all why was he challenging Edward when he knew that he already had her? Was he as jealous of her past as she was of his?

Jared smirked. "Seems your girl likes it well enough. Or should I say your ex " His voice was taunting and Edward's eyes were pitch-black in anger.

Before Edward could attack though, Emmet and Jasper materialized at his side and blocked him. "Let's get out of here, Edward. You are creating a scene." said Emmet and proceeded to drag Edward away towards their car.

Bella took a deep breath, grateful that the other Cullen's had diverted a situation that could have become dangerous, not only for Edward and Jared, but for the people standing there snooping on her private life.

Jared turned to look at her. "Isabella, give me the keys to your truck. I'll drive." She looked at his serious face and decided not to argue, her classmates had enough to talk about as it was.

Bella gave him the keys, and slowly followed him to her truck. She got in on the passenger's side, and closed the door. Jared entered from the driver's side; he turned on the truck, and drove out of the parking lot. "Why were you crying?" he asked abruptly.

She turned to look at him incredulously, he had almost had a fight with Edward, possibly could have phased in front of her classmates and exposed the Cullen's as vampires, and yet he was most concerned about why she had been crying."What were you doing at my school?" she replied with a question.

"Answer my question, and then I'll answer yours." Jared said.

"Am I ever going to win any argument with you?" smiled Bella.

He chuckled. "Probably not, but you can keep trying."

She laughed, letting some of the tension ease from her body, as she enjoyed a rare light moment between her and Jared. Then she sobered. "I was crying because I think the realization of what you imprinting on me really means, finally hit me. It just all caught up with me rather suddenly, and overwhelmed me." She didn't want to add that along with the turmoil over what she was feeling regarding Edward and Jacob, she was beginning to contemplate his relationship with Kim, and the jealousy she felt over not being his first choice both embarrassed and depressed her.

"I was there because I felt your distress. I couldn't not come." said Jared. "I'm not sure that we are going to be able to keep this a secret."

Bella eyed him with incredulity, and then she laughed. It felt like madness was starting to creep into her mind, all the pent up tension of the last few days exploded and she felt her last bit of sanity slip away, as she succumbed under the conviction of being entirely overwhelmed. A warm tug brought her back to reality.

She noticed immediately that Jared was now holding her hand and seemed worried. His usual unreadable face was showing signs of tension and nervousness. "Isabella snap out of it!" he hissed.

Bella blinked a few times, and then opened the truck's window to let the fresh air cool her down, but strangely it was the warm hand gently holding hers that brought more relief than anything else. It grounded and comforted her in a way nothing else could have. "I'm sorry; I think I almost lost it there for a minute."

"You scared me." Jared still looked worried. "You kind of blacked out on me."

She was just beginning to wonder where they were heading when Jared solved that mystery.

"We are going to Sam, it's time to tell him about the imprint and see how he suggests we proceed." Jared said quickly. "I didn't think that this pull between us would be so strong, or for that matter that it even could be this strong. It's at the point that I can barely go half a day without seeing you before I start to lose my mind. Nothing remotely like this ever happened with Kim."

That little piece of news made Bella feel slightly better, Kim might have been Jared's first choice, but she clearly didn't elicit in him the same kind of attachment that they had. She couldn't believe that she was even thinking these kinds of thoughts; this mess was just getting more and more out of hand. However, even convinced as she was of the ridiculousness of her feelings about Kim, she couldn't deny that is was how she truly felt and the longer she denied those feelings the stronger they were becoming.

For now though, she would just think of something else, and with that she sighed and after a moment she scooted closer to Jared and put her head on his shoulder. She felt Jared relax into the contentment brought on by their physical connection, and as he dropped her hand to cup her right thigh holding her tightly to him she relaxed as well. She smiled softly as they continued towards La Push.