Disclaimer: This story was written with no intent of copyright infringement or for profit. Stephanie Meyers owns Twilight and it's characters. I've taken creative license and given my take on things, Hillary and any OC characters are mine.

Hillary looked around her room quietly, taking in the empty walls of her childhood home. It had taken her days and weeks to get everything ready, to purge and pack her life up. Rubbing the ache in her chest she sighed grabbing the last of her boxes and shouldered her bag, making her way to her loaded car. Loading the last of her belongings she walked back into her childhood home and pulled the letter she had written, praying they would understand.

Looking around she fought back the tears that were threatening to spill. Life would have been so simple if not for the existence of one Bella Swan and the return of the Cullens. Sighing she closed her eyes and winced at the ache in her chest.

She could remember the day that Bella stormed into their lives and ruined it all. Hillary had been friends with Jacob, Embry, and Quil for as long as she could remember. One by one they had joined Sam Uley and the other members of the Pack. It was weeks before any of them interacted with her again. Then the earth shattering moment of Jake imprinting on her occurred and the cold fury in his face destroyed her.

She wasn't Bella Swan, therefore she wasn't wanted. Angrily wiping away her tears, she glanced at the clock and realized she needed to leave soon or she wouldn't be able to go at all. Grabbing her keys and locking the door behind her she ran to her car and turned in on.

With one last look at her home, she pulled out of her driveway and towards the border of La Push. She prayed her parents and friends would forgive her someday, but she just couldn't sit by and let Jacob's obsession with Bella destroy her anymore. Better to be alone somewhere away from him making cow eyes at her, then to be forced to watch her supposed soul mate sulk over another.

Today should have been a happy day for her. She was supposed to be at her high school graduation, but she had been planning a clean break for weeks now. She had begun packing in earnest last night after her parents left to go pick up her grandmother to bring her to the graduation ceremony. She rushed around the entire morning making sure that she had everything. She didn't have much time left she needed to be long gone before they tried to stop her.

As she neared the border she felt a sudden wave of anxiousness, the aching in her chest throbbed painfully as she drove on. Her cell phone began ringing when she was a hour and a half outside of La Push, but she ignored it and drove across the border of her county with tears streaming down her face. Checking the clock she realized that Commencement had started a half hour ago. Glancing down she saw that it was her mom trying to call her, knowing that they had realized she wasn't at the graduation. She prayed that they would get the letter and that they would understand.

Three months ago she had reached out to Rebecca Black, Jacob's older sister who offered her a place to stay for as long as she needed. Hillary had been accepted into Hawaii State University and would be starting classes in two weeks, again something else that her parents didn't know about. As far as they and anyone else knew she was going to be starting Washington State in the fall. It was what they expected, but she just couldn't do it, it hurt too much.

As she had slowly been shriveling, she had been planning to get out of La Push and away from Bella Swan and her destructive, selfish, and manipulative ways. She just couldn't deal with anymore. It hurt too much to be there anymore. It hurt too much to paste on a false smile and pretend that she was fine. She was done hurting though.

All of her belongings were going to be shipped to Hawaii where she hoped to have a fresh start and a new lease on life, even if it were only a half-life. Better a half-life alone, than one watching your soul mate chase after someone else, someone else that was just using them.

As she neared her destination, Hillary refused to look back and drove on. Her phone kept ringing and buzzing with messages. Eventually she shut it off. There was no going back now, if ever.

The excitement throbbing in the auditorium as the senior class gathered. Today was the big day and everyone was mingling. This was it, the end of their high school education and after this they would be entering the real world. Cliques and groups didn't matter as people talked and mingled with others that they had known their entire lives. Regardless of friendship groups, they all wanted to reach out, if only this last time.

"Guys have you seen Hillary?" Kim asked walking towards her boyfriend and his friends.

"I haven't seen her," Jared said with a shrug.

They all felt bad for Hillary and couldn't understand Jacob. His actions made them all feel a little twist of shame every time they saw the pain flash in Hillary's eyes before she'd school her features. No one deserved how she had been treated recently by all of them, but especially Jacob.

They were interrupted when the principle called for everyone to line up with their partners. There were a few stragglers running in the hall to line up and a few noticeable missing people, like Hillary. Kim caught Jared's eye and motioned to the empty space where Hillary was supposed to walk. Paul Lahote glanced at Jared and they looked around slightly panicked. Where the Hell was Hillary? This wasn't like her at all. She had been so excited about senior year and graduation. Then again, that was before everything happened earlier in the year when Jacob had imprinted on her.

They entered into the gymnasium anxiously taking their seats. There was still no sign of Hillary, even as her parents were frantically looking around and calling her phone. Kim felt tears build in her eyes as she realized that her best friend wasn't here. Jared looked towards her in concern before looking towards Hillary's empty chair scowling. They all felt a twist of shame and guilt, knowing that they were all partly to blame.

Jacob sat in the row in front of them oblivious to the drama unfolding. His chest had been aching most of the day, but he waved it off as his heart breaking over Bella going back to Edward, again. Sighing he looked around the gymnasium and realized he wouldn't be walking these halls again and that the real world waited for him. He had just barely made it in time to line up and hadn't had a chance to talk to anyone. His father made him promise to be here, so here he was.

All too soon names were being called and diplomas were being handed out. Jacob took his diploma with a grin and glanced towards his father. His smile faltered as he stepped off the stage seeing the pale and anxious look on his father's face. Something was wrong. As he sat in his seat Hillary's name was called. When it was repeated his head snapped towards the stage and then around the room. It was repeated a third time before they moved on to the next name on the roster.

He heard her mother sob somewhere behind him. Standing he made his way towards his father. He handed his diploma and looked around to find that Paul and Jared had made their way over to them as well.

"What happened?" he asked hoarsely. "Where is Hillary?'

"We don't know, Jacob." Jack Brigs said harshly. "Hillary hasn't been the same in months, but you would know all about that wouldn't you?"

The man angrily stood, gently pulling his wife up with him. They turned to leave the graduation that their daughter obviously wasn't at. Beside them a distraught elderly woman shuffled out of the gym towards the parking lot. The audience watched in silence as the small family swiftly left.

The principle tried to restore order to the ceremony and declared them graduated. The celebration was a bit subdued as everyone was wondering what happened to Hillary Brigs. Photos were taken, good-byes were said and they all left.

Kim rushed to her car with Jared and Paul following. Jacob stayed with his father, but his every instinct was to go find Hillary and make sure that she was alright.

"Hillary, it's Kim. Where are you?" Kim cried into the phone. "Please, honey, just tell me you're okay and safe!"

"She's not answering for any of us," Paul said quietly. He was fighting the urge to tear into Jacob. How could anyone intentionally hurt someone like Hillary? They all hoped to find their imprint and yet Jacob had been fighting and rejecting it for months. As a pack they were loyal to one another, but imprints were supposed to be cherished. Hillary, however, had been pushed aside on multiple occasions. It wasn't right, it just wasn't right.

They raced to the Brigs house and found her parents' cars, but not hers. The feeling of dread overwhelmed them as they realized that Hillary wasn't there. Kim raced into the house to find her mother sitting at the kitchen table sobbing, clutching a letter in her hands. Her grandmother looked out the back window with unseeing eyes.

"Hillary?" Kim asked in shock.

"She's gone, my baby's gone!" Jane Brigs wailed. "All of her things are gone, she's left!"

"What? Where?" Jared exclaimed.

"She didn't say where," Jack snarled. "That Black boy did this to her! He destroyed my girl."

"What?" a hoarse voice whispered from the hallway.

"What are you doing here? How dare you come here after everything that you've done!" Jack shouted. "Get out!"

Jane sobbed harder and left the kitchen to her room around the corner. Her baby was gone, her poor little Hillary gone. Jack's mother quietly left the room following her. Their grief palpable to those left in the kitchen.

"What the Hell is going on?" Jacob asked. "Where's Hillary?

"As if you even care!" Jack shook in fury. "She's left, you selfish little bastard. Gone and we don't know where the Hell she is. She did this because of you and that pale faced little bitch. Now get out of my house!"

Jacob felt his world crumbling around him. Something in him snapped. Gone. She was gone. His knees buckled as Paul and Jared steadied him. Hillary had left. She left him. He had finally pushed too far. His vision swam as he mentally saw her face crumbling in pain over and over again.

"Gone," he whispered painfully.

"Come on, Jake," Jared said softly. "Let's get you to Sam's."

"Don't you ever come back here Jacob Black," Jack said firmly. "I will never forgive you for what you've done. Never."

Jacob felt himself being led and loaded into a vehicle. The world blurred past him as they drove in silence towards Sam's house. Warm calloused hands pulled him from the vehicle as he was half carried into the house. He heard their voices around him, but didn't hear what was being said. He felt his graduation gown being pulled from his shoulders and his tie being taken off.

"Shit, Sam," Embry said watching his best friend. "He's unresponsive. We're going to need the elders and Council."

Paul snorted from the other side of the table watching. "What?" he snarked. "Perhaps he'll now know how it feels to have the imprint bond rejected. He's been slowly killing her for months, not that any of you fuckers said anything to him. We all let this happen to her, she never deserved any of this!"

"Paul!" Sam shouted. "Enough! Seth, Quil contact the elders and Council. Paul, take patrol."

Jacob sat at the table staring blankly down at his trembling hands. His chest hurt. It hurt and now he knew the hurt that he had been feeling along wasn't his own, but hers. It was hers and he had caused it. He had driven her away.

He felt the room closing in on him and the need to phase was clawing at him. Shucking his dress clothes he raced out the back door and phased as he leapt from the back porch. He immediately linked with the others who offered him little comfort or solace as they had seen how Hillary was withering away. They flashed his cruel treatment of her back at him to view.

He raced to the woods, howling in agony knowing that this was all his fault. All his fault. Gone. She was gone. He ran to cliffs and laid down whimpering as the guilt and shame overwhelmed him. Time slipped by, how long he wasn't sure. It was dark when he heard the summons.

The pack followed the order and met at the meeting house. All but Jacob phased back and entered the building. Jacob refused to phase, he could not face it at the moment.

He barely paid attention as Sam explained the situation to the elders and Council. The doors banged open as Jack Brigs entered carrying the letter from Hillary and presenting it to the Council.

"This is what your son has done, Billy," Jack said hoarsely. "I watched my daughter fade away for months because he was obsessed with the pale faced, vampire obsessed little twit. Yes, Hillary left. But your son only has himself to blame. He rejected the bond and drove her away."

"Jacob!" Billy addressed his son sharply. "What have you done? Is this true?"

Jacob laid down before his father, the elders, and council and whimpered. He saw and felt their condemnation, shame, and disappointment.

"I didn't know it was possible to reject and imprint bond," Sue Clearwater whispered in horror.

"It's never been done before," Old Quil said sharply. "An imprint is a blessing from our ancestors. Never, in the history of our people has such a thing been done."

"Go phase and come back, Jake," Sam ordered.

Jacob walked slowly out of the building and returned an aching trembling mess. He knelt before his father. His father had supported him his entire life, but today his father looked at him with shame and disappointment in his eyes.

"Why?" Billy asked softly. "Why would you do such a thing Jacob?"

"I thought that I loved Bella. I wanted a choice. I thought that if I fought it that she would see and care," he replied painfully. "I know it was wrong. I know now the pain I've been feeling has been hers not my own."

"I don't even know what to say to you Jacob," Billy said sadly. "Your selfish infatuation with Bella has jeopardized the entire future of not only the pack, but the tribe."

"What?" Jacob said in shock.

"You are the born Alpha, the rightful Alpha. You are also my son, the future chief of this tribe," Billy said tiredly. "You drove away your mate, the future-wife of the future-chief, the rightful Alpha female, Jacob."

"My daughter needs to be found," Jack said sharply. "Not for your son's benefit, but to make sure that she is safe!"

Jacob remained kneeling on the ground. He paid little attention to what was being said, but instead focused on the pain. Her pain. Tears stung his eyes as everything came crashing down around him. Any feelings he had for Bella snapped in the instant that he acknowledged the imprint, the instant he realized that he needed her. What had he done?

His father's phone ringing interrupted the meeting. Billy looked down at the phone in shock recognizing the number.

"Rachel" he asked in shock. "What to do you mean? I can explain it. No, no don't do that. Where is she, Rachel?"

Jacob's head snapped to his father, trying to hear the answer on the other end of the line. His ears strained, but couldn't quite hear the reply.

"What do you mean you can't tell me?" Billy asked in exasperation. "Alright, I understand. She's safe? Will she remain safe? Okay, good-bye Rachel."

"Hillary?" Jacob asked quietly.

"Was with your sister, but left," he replied gravely. "She's not there any longer and your sister would only say that Hillary is safe. She also wanted me to pass along that she's going to hand your ass to you when she comes home this weekend with Hillary's car."

"Her car?" Jack asked. "Why doesn't she have her car?"

"Rachel met her at the airport," Billy said rubbing his eyes tiredly. "Hillary flew out of Seattle two hours ago. Rachel promised to bring her car home."

"She's safe?" Jack asked gruffly.

"Yes," Billy said. "Rachel wouldn't tell me where she is, but she said she'd come talk to you and Jane when she gets back in La Push."

Jack nodded and took the letter from his daughter leaving. He walked with his head held high before slowing. He paused at the door and turned back.

"I mean what I said Jacob," he said firmly. "I will never forgive you for breaking her and driving her away. Your behavior is unforgivable."

Jack turned and left the meeting hall leaving the room in silence. Jacob dropped his head into his hands and let his tears fall. His whole body trembled with his grief.

Warm calloused hands lifted him and ushered him out of the meeting hall. He phased once he was safely outside and the others followed him. He raced to the cliffs before dropping and laying there looking at the sea, willing her to come back.

Hillary leaned against the window and watched the moon and stars in the sky. She was somewhere over the Pacific Ocean and on her way to a new start in life. There was a part of her ached for her family, her friends, and even Jacob. Shaking herself from that train of thought she wished that she could talk to her mom, but she knew that she would never understand. Maybe she was a coward for running, but she just couldn't do it anymore.

Closing her eyes painful memories flashed before her eyes. Flash! Jacob denying his imprint. Flash! Jacob embracing Bella. Flash! Bella racing into his arms. Flash! Jacob leaving in a hurry because Bella called. Flash! Flash! Flash!

Eventually she fell into a fitful sleep. It was an hour later they began their decent, Hillary jolted awake on landing and tried to calm her racing heart. Jacob haunted her even in her dreams. Only now he wasn't throwing Bella in her face he was begging her to come back. The pain and longing in his voice twisted painfully in her chest.

Grabbing her bags she went to the luggage claim area and waited for the rest of her things. Rachel helped her get everything situated and promised to mail the rest of her things the following day. She felt bad bringing Rachel and Rebecca into things, but she didn't know who else to turn to. They agreed to help her and get her out of La Push. If anyone, they understood the need to get out of La Push.

Grabbing a trolley she loaded her bags onto it and pushed it towards the exit of the airport. She passed the glowing tourists, bubbling with excitement for vacation in paradise. Hillary found it contagious and couldn't help the grin that spread across her face.

Rebecca called out to her as soon as she rounded the corner. Beside her was her husband, Michael, grinning at the younger girl. Rebecca raced over and pulled her into a hug. While they hadn't been very good friends growing up they had always been around each other because of Hillary's friendship with Jacob. Rebecca said that she and Rachel had always thought of her as a younger sister and were happy to help her, especially after hearing about how her brother had hurt her.

"Look at you all grown up!" Rebecca said kindly. "Come on let's get you settled into the guest room. You can stay as long as you need, honey."

"I didn't mean to dump all of my problems on you," Hillary said tiredly.

"Nonsense, you're like my little sister," Rebecca said firmly. "I'm glad you came. You're going to love it here and maybe you can make a life for yourself here."

Hillary smiled sadly. "Maybe I can," she said softly.