AN: thanks for the reviews and thanks to my beta and co-author Georgia Dawgette.

Chapter 19

They arrived at the dance still talking and laughing comfortably together, Alexander took Leah's hand again as soon as they got out of the car. He turned to look at Jared and Bella and said, "Better show to everyone that Leah' is taken, wouldn't want to give the wrong ideas to the vultures inside. You might want to do the same with your girl Jared."

Jared smiled darkly. "Somehow I'm sure nobody will try to get close to Bella." the threat behind his words was very clear and Bella shivered, Jared was so dangerously sexy.

Bella took Jared's hand. "They might know not to try anything with me, but I have to make it clear to the girls inside that you are mine."

Jared growled near her ear. "There is no one I want but you."

Bella shivered, and her anticipation for all that the post-dance might involve increased.

They entered the gym, and for a school dance the atmosphere was nice. There was music played by a DJ and refreshments to one side. Bella liked the simplicity of the party, it didn't look expensive or elegant like in Forks High, but it actually made her feel more comfortable. One of the things she had disliked most about the Cullen's had been their money; she had always felt that it was too much. Her life with Jared, going to college and earning her own money appealed to her more.

Jared and Alexander offered to go and get the girls drinks, while Bella and Leah found a few chairs together near the dance floor. Bella looked around and saw many of the girls eyeing Jared. Leah leaned over to her and whispered, "Nobody knows yet that Kim is dead, they all think that they broke up and that she left. So, the girls here were hoping to be the one to console poor Jared."

Bella nodded and then asked, "But what about Kim's parents?"

Leah replied. "Kim has been living with her grandmother; her parents had died when she was really young. The granny died last year too, so Kim was pretty much on her own. The pack was her family."

Bella felt sad for Kim, she had lost everything. She decided that if they found out that Kim was a newborn, she would try to convince the pack and the Cullen's to let her be. She felt Leah's elbowing her. "Someone's is onto Jared. Silvia is quite vicious; you might want to let her know he's taken."

Bella turned to look at a voluptuous girl, smiling coyly at her Jared. She noticed that Jared didn't seem affected by her beauty or her display of interest. She shrugged her shoulders. "I think he'll be able to get rid of her by himself." Bella knew that her only 'competition' was Kim. While the imprinting was definitely a way in which a woman could feel secure of her man, there was no fear that Jared would stray, she was only deeply concerned about having to compete with the memory of Jared's first love.

Leah smirked. "You are really mean, Bella. Why don't you want to help grumpy?"

Bella sniggered. "I think that grumpy is very good at looking after himself." Then she saw that Jared had been looking at her, and she knew that he had heard her. "Uh, oh. I'm in trouble now."

Jared managed to free himself from the girl, and stalked towards her. Bella hid behind Leah. "Now Leah, here's an excellent opportunity for you to be my friend."

Leah laughed, and moved away. "Sorry Bella, but rule number one is not to get between the wolf and his mate during an argument." Then she winked at her and added, "I'm certain you can talk your way out of this little problem."

Jared was nearly to them, Bella only had a split second to think, so when he arrived she walked to him put her hands around his neck and when he bent down she crushed her lips on his. He didn't hesitate to respond. After a moment they were pulled out of their kiss by a cough. "Really IsaBells, didn't know you were one for PDA's." said Jake's gruff voice.

Bella blushed. "Well, I was just trying to avoid a crisis."

Jared smirked. "You aren't totally off the hook, Isabella. Later I'll deal with you."

She shivered and whispered. "Is that a promise?"

Jared nodded, and his eyes darkened. "Indeed."

"Now, now... We are here to have fun." said Jake breaking them from their heated stare. He then took Bella's arm and said, "You don't mind bro, if I steal a dance with your girl..."

Jared was going to reply, but then he turned to look at Bella, and she nodded slightly. Bella didn't want to create a fight or a problem. Jared sighed. "She's all yours for one dance. After that, I don't want to see you hovering around, go and find your own girl. What do you say Isabella? Do you want to dance with this dog?"

Bella smiled at Jared, who was doing his best to diffuse the tension hanging between him and Jacob. She was as well pleased that he had asked her opinion not giving for granted that what she wanted or didn't want to do. She nodded, and she noticed that something had flashed in Jake's eyes, but it was too quick for Bella to understand what it meant. Jacob said softly replying to Jared and not taking his eyes off her, "Sure sure, one dance." And then he led her on the dance floor just as a slow song started to play.

Jake held her close, and after a moment of hesitation, Bella put her head on his chest and closed her eyes. It would have been so easy with Jake... He whispered near her ear. "I missed you these last two weeks Bells."

She felt tears sprang in her eyes, but she willed them back. "It's better this way Jake. You need to find your own way. I'm with Jared and we plan to be together for ... life."

Jake sighed. "I know, but when you let me be this close to you, I cannot stop dreaming that we could have made it. I would have won you from Edward, I'm sure of it."

Bella smiled sadly. "You are really cocky Jacob Black."

He smiled back. "I'm cocky because I can be."

"Sure sure." she joked, but then she sobered, remembering that she needed to do all she could to force Jake to let her go. "Jake, really, can you do me a favor and stop antagonizing Jared? It wasn't his fault that he imprinted on me. He has been more patient than I could ever have been, if our roles were reversed."

She hesitated a moment, not really wanting to hurt him and ruin his night but she needed for him to let his love for her go. So she took a deep breath and prepared herself for the pain she would see in his eyes. "I'm planning I mean, well I think we're planning to you know move forward in our relationship. Physically, that is."

Jake almost tripped, but then caught himself. His expression was unreadable. "Isn't it too soon?"

She shook her head. "Jake, you know how the imprinting works, the lack of physical relationship between us is driving us both crazy. Our bond needs it, we need it. I know it seems too early, but Jared and I have come a long way in these past few weeks and we're ready to deepen our relationship."

"I'm not sure about it. Why don't you wait a few more weeks?" Jacob whispered and added really softly, "Please... Bells...".

Bella felt her heart constrict but she knew that she wanted Jared. "I want him, I want him like I never wanted anyone else, not even... Edward. Why do you want to hurt yourself so much Jake? Why can't you try to be my best friend like I'm trying to be with yours?" said a saddened Bella.

He grimaced. "I don't want to be just your best friend, and you know that deep down you don't want that too."

She bit her lip. "Honestly Jake, is there anything that I could say to convince you of my choice? Is there a way for you to understand that I want Jared as much as he wants me and that there is no hope for us to ever be together?"

"No, there isn't Bells. I told you I would love you and try to have you until your last breath. I wasn't joking." Jake said seriously.

"Mind if I cut in?" Jared's voice was steely. "I think you have upset my mate enough Jake. I really didn't want to have to say it again, but I want you to steer clear of her. She is mine; I'm not planning to ever let her go. I can't."

Jacob stiffened. "Jared, I won't apologize for my behavior. I know how you feel and how she feels, I'm trying ok? But you just can't ask me to let go the only woman I have ever wanted and loved. I have no imprinting to tie me, and my bond with her is strong. I know I can break your imprint, if I work hard enough. Her mind is strong; she survived so much, and I hoped that she will break it eventually."

She was taken aback by Jacob's outburst. And then she wondered if he had a point, maybe her brain was wired so differently that she could ultimately overcome the imprint. Would she do it if she had a choice? She turned her eyes on Jared, and the answer was a resounding no. She craved what Jared could give her, it wasn't just love or adoration the way both Edward and Jacob had given her, it was much more; it made her feel desired and challenged in the right way. She could stand on her own by Jared's side, not being the usual damsel in distress.

So she took a deep breath and went for the kill. "Jake, I... I don't want to break it." and at his shocked expression she went on, "I might not be happy about the way I was pushed into Jared's arms, but the more time goes on, the more I feel how good it is for me to be with him. I'll never regret loving you and Edward, but the truth is that I know I can love Jared so much more. There is an entire part of my heart that it's ready to love and be loved by him. I don't plan to fight the imprinting, I want it and I want it with Jared."

Jake let her go suddenly, his eyes showing how hurt he was. "I... have to go." He turned and left the gym in a hurry.

Bella sighed and then turned to look at Jared. His intense eyes were watching her carefully. "Did you mean what you just said?"

She nodded. He nodded, and then took her hand. "Let's go, I've got enough of this. My place is close by, we'll walk there. A bit of fresh air will be good for us both."

At her nod he took her hand and they went over to Alexander and Leah to say goodbye, before they left the dance behind. She couldn't wait to be alone with her Jared, now that she had definitely squashed Jacob's hopes she was ready to give herself completely to Jared.

"It's a beautiful night." said Jared to cut the silence. "I'm sorry about the dance. When I heard him declaring his undying faith in your relationship, I nearly lost it. I'm at my wits' ends with Jake. I can't blame you either, because you were very clear with him about how you felt."

Bella sighed and huddled closer to Jared. "I know. I thought that these past weeks were a clear message that I was moving on, but he doesn't seem to want to hear what I'm saying. Though I believe he might be right about..." and then she stopped.

"About?" asked Jared seriously.

"About me being able to break the imprint." Bella whispered.

Jared stopped. "What are you talking about? It's impossible."

Bella bit her lip. "I just said that I might, not that I could. It's just that it seems that my mind works differently than others, you are aware that I'm immune to many of the vampires' gifts. Well, if the imprint is a mental bond and not just a physical one, I wonder if I might be able to break it if I really wanted."

Jared was silent. Bella felt dread rise in her heart, could it be that Jared might want her to try? Could it be that he didn't want her the way she wanted him? "Jared... I... do you want me to try?" she said softly. "Is that what you want?" She was determined to give him a choice, if he wanted out she cared for him enough to break her own heart and let him go.

Jared turned swiftly towards her. "Is that what you want Isabella? To break the imprint and be with Jake?"

Bella was shocked at the intensity of his outburst. She had never seen him so upset, not even when he was desperate because of Kim's disappearance. "Jared, I want us. I might not have chosen freely to start this relationship, but now I'm in it seriously. I can see potential between us."

He studied her, and after a moment he took her face in his hands. He sighed and closed his eyes a moment, when he opened them she could see all his love for her there. Her heart was bursting in happiness to know that he wanted her too. "Isabella... I want you. I've never wanted anyone the way I want you. The imprint might have pushed me to you, but it's me that craves your touch. I want us too. You're mine and I'm planning to never let you go." And then he kissed her, she let him lead the kiss and enjoyed his strong warm embrace. There was nothing and no one that had ever made her feel so wanted.

He was the one to break their kiss. "No more talk about breaking the imprinting. I'm planning to keep you Isabella."

"No more." she whispered, and then he took her hand and he pulled her to his apartment. Bella was giddy with anticipation; she wanted to finally be claimed by Jared, to know with a certainty that they belonged to each other forever.