AN: thanks for the reviews and thanks to Georgia Dawgette beta and co-author of this story.

Chapter 18

The two weeks that followed the talk and the fight passed without much trouble.

Victoria was apparently laying low for a while; it was assumed that she was most likely gathering more newborns before striking. Edward hadn't been around again since the fight with Jared, and there was a small part of Bella that was missing him. Regardless of the choice she had made to be with Jared, it was still difficult to let him go and fully comprehend that their relationship would never be the same.

On the other hand, Jacob had been not avoiding her, but neither was he seeing her as much as before. She knew that seeing her with Jared would only hurt him; so she hadn't said anything about it. After all she had been the one that had told him to let go.

Jared had been strangely very busy lately, but in the time they were able to spend together he had been far more talkative and cooperative than previously.

Finally, the Saturday of the dance arrived. Bella had been invited to Sue's house to change, and prepare with Leah. As soon as she got there Leah took her arm, and led her upstairs to the bedroom. "I have everything ready, we need to try out a few hair styles, and make-up combinations, but I have an idea of how I want you to look tonight."

Bella smiled at Leah's girly behavior, ever since discovering that Sam didn't have any chance to get out of the imprinting, she had been reborn. Leah's biggest fear, she had confessed to Bella while shopping for the dresses, had been that she hadn't been feminine enough, that being the only female shape-shifter had basically stripped her of that. Now that she discovered that it wasn't the case, she had started looking around, and she was going to the dance with another senior that she had liked for a while.

"So tell me, how is it going with Jared? It seems to me that you two are getting along better." Leah said while having Bella under her clutches, and trying different hair styles.

Bella smiled. "Yes, after Jared and Edward fought two weeks ago, we had that talk about how he feels about me. I must admit that he has really been trying. Though since that night, he's also very careful to avoid any situation in which we might be alone."

Leah laughed and looked at Bella skeptically. "Are you saying that you think he doesn't want to be alone with you?"

Bella bit her lip. "I don't know, I mean I see that I affect him, and the imprinting is strongly pushing us together... but I really don't know. What about you Leah? Do you like your date, Alexander is it?"

Leah shrugged her shoulders. "Yes, he is interesting, but until I know for sure if I'll imprint or not, I won't make any commitment. Once was more than enough."

Bella knew that Sue, one of the Elders, was searching through the legends if there was any information regarding women's imprinting. "So, your mom hasn't found anything yet."

Leah sighed. "Nope, but I still hope that she will. If there is someone who can find a needle in a haystack is my mother. She is determined to see me happy."

"You deserve it." Bella whispered.

Leah smiled. "Thank you, you deserve to be happy too. Now, seeing as I'm a good friend of yours, I'll put you out of your misery. Tonight we both know you won't be at Emily's. Well, I know for sure that Jared had planned a night for you two at his flat."

Bella's heart started to beat wildly. "Really? Do you think..."

Leah laughed. "Bella, Jared wants you so much that the past two weeks you had been constantly in his mind. As usual he managed to mask his other thoughts, but you... he wants you very much."

Bella blushed, but she was pleased that Jared wanted her. "I'm not sure I'll be any good at ... sex."

Leah stopped with her work on Bella's hair, and moved to look at her, she took a chair so that they were facing each other. "Bella, let me tell you something. Sex or making love, I prefer that term, it's not about being good. It's about sharing something special with the man you love or care about. No matter how it'll go, as long as there is respect, trust and love between you two, everything will go well."

Bella felt moved by Leah's words. "You are right Leah, thank you so much... for everything."

Leah nodded, then stood up. "Now, before you turn me into a mushy girl, let's get back to business. I'm sure that the pack will tease me enough about our talk."

Bella laughed, she knew that Leah wanted to appear strong and tough, but sometimes she could see under that hard exterior a very caring and sweet woman. "You'll make a man very happy one day."

"I hope a man will make ME happy." Leah replied smirking.

At six o'clock, after five grueling hours of preparation, Leah and Bella were ready for their dates.

Leah was wearing a long length red dress with a v-neck that showed off her curves, and a pair of high heels that lengthened her legs. Bella was a bit envious of Leah's body, but she had to admit that her new friend had given her good advice for her own dress and she felt pretty. She was wearing a long green silk chiffon dress with gleaming beads and pearls around her waist.

Leah explained that she and Jared had agreed that Alexander, the one with the nicest car, would go get Jared, and then they would head over to the Clearwater's house. From there, they would go to a restaurant, and then after the meal, they would proceed to the school's gym where the party would be starting around nine.

The bell rang, and Bella started to feel agitated, would Jared like her dress? She couldn't wait another moment more to see him. They heard Sue letting the guys in, and then after a moment she called up them. That was their cue to head downstairs.

Leah was the first to go down, she looked magnificent in her dark-red dress.

Bella heard both Jared and Alexander compliment her, now it was her turn. She took a deep breath, and started to descend the stairs. She looked up to catch Jared's expression, he looked at her and sucked in a breath. His eyes darkened and it definitely looked like he was struggling for control. She smiled softly at him, and when she took in his appearance, she felt her breath catch too.

Jared had spiked his short hair, he was wearing a black tux with a white shirt that was bringing out his dark complexion. He looked like a model, so refined and handsome. She felt proud that he was hers.

She managed to get down the stairs without tripping, the ballet flats helped with that. And then she offered her hand to Jared. He took out from behind his back a wrist corsage, that complimented her dress perfectly. His hands were slightly trembling while he was putting it on her.

Sue and Charlie, were waiting for them with the guys. To Bella's great embarrassment Charlie was telling anyone that would listen that he was only here to see her go willingly to a dance. Charlie took her to one side and whispered. "Is he the right guy you were talking about?"

Bella blushed, but she recalled that conversation. "Yes, dad. I hope you'll treat him like you treat Jake. Jared is a good guy and he'll take great care of me. I'm sure."

Charlie nodded. "We'll see, I want you to invite him for dinner soon."

She smiled and agreed. Finally she was able to walk back over to Jared, and she found him smirking over what he had clearly overheard. Damn werewolf and super-hearing!

The parents took a lot of pictures of the four of them, and after fifteen minutes they managed to leave.

Alexander helped Leah into the front seat, while Jared helped Bella into the back. When he sat near her, Jared took her hand, and moved closer to her ear. "Isabella, there are no words to describe how beautiful you are. You are lucky that I didn't come with my car, because otherwise we would be going straight back to my flat."

The meaning of his words seeped through Bella's muddled head, and she blushed. She wanted nothing else but going back to his flat too. "We'll have time later tonight..." she whispered.

He nodded. "You can bet on that."

The meal was good, and Alexander kept them entertained with a lot of jokes and stories. Jared and Leah, due to their wolf duties didn't mix much at school so they discovered a lot of interesting gossip about their classmates.

Leah at one point was laughing so much that Bella thought she was going to suffocate. "Really? I didn't know that Shelby had it in her to do that!" she had chocked.

Alexander was grinning. "It was a dare though, but I didn't think she would leave her bra on our Headmaster's desk either. The guy went ballistic, but he didn't find the culprit."

Bella and Jared were only following marginally along with Leah and Alexander's conversation, they were lost in their world of slight touches and longing gazes. She was startled when she heard a throat clearing, she turned to see Leah and Alexander already standing and ready to go. Bella blushed and Jared chuckled. "I'm sorry guys" he said, "It seems that I can't keep my mind on anything but my girl." So, he had been distracted too.

At Jared's words Bella felt her heartbeat increase. He had called her, his girl, it meant so much, that little acknowledgment. It was the first time he had said it out loud and in front of someone who wasn't in on their secret.

Alexander laughed. "Don't worry Jared, I have the same problem keeping my eyes away from Leah. Now that I managed to get a date and found out that I was right in thinking that she is awesome, I'm not planning to let her go without a fight."

Leah's blush was absolutely surprising and heartwarming. The pack recently had very little to celebrate or rejoice, the fight was looming near and it was important that they all managed to catch every little bit of happiness they could. "I might hold you to that." she said shyly. Alexander took her hand and led her out of the restaurant, Jared put an arm around Bella's shoulders and followed.

He whispered to her. "He seems like a nice guy, I hope all will go well for them." Bella nodded and huddled closer to him. "I wish with all my heart that he can make her as happy as she deserves."

They got into the car and headed for the dance.