Alright, go ahead and unleash the tomatoes on me for not updating sooner like I said I would. I deserve it. And again, I'm sorry for the wait. First excuse, I had more writer's block (argh), and the second excuse, I have high school soccer daily now. I made varsity XD Anyway- on with the tenth chapter!

Chapter 10

CAIUS

My reasons for despising the little rain town called Forks grew when I spent the last two hours trying to hunt in the forest. The animals were scarce, it seemed, since I couldn't pick up on any type of scent. Either that, or the Cullens decided to keep all the food to themselves.

Growling, I leapt off of the branch in a flash, heading towards another place to find food. I already felt like an imbecile stepping in a muddy puddle, and it angered me more knowing that I would have to stay out longer if I wanted to feed.

Could always go back to hunting humans, said something in the back of my mind.

No, I replied.

Peeling off the horribly disgusting piece of dried mud filth on my robes, I heard something crunch under my ruined shoe. Immediately, I tossed the dried mud behind me and removed where my foot was planted, squinting down at the object. I brushed away some of the mud and picked up from what it looked like, a diamond necklace.

The main diamond at the end was carved into a heart shape, with a couple smaller replicas on the sides. It looked like the kind of gift Aro would give Sulpicia, something extremely rare and would make a woman go speechless. Part of me wanted to bury the jewelry or rip it to pieces. It reminded me of the necklace Cullen boy gave to my love. And I hated anything connected to him.

"God damn it…"

The voice startled me more than I'd like to admit, that I sprung up into the tree branch and whirled around. She was way to the other side of the forest yet I could see and hear her perfectly. Her chocolate colored hair was messy and knotted and her expression was scrunched up in guilt and worry, yet she still was beautiful and made my insides tighten at seeing her.

Why did she look so hurt, I asked myself. Did Cullen do this to her? The thought made my hand curl into a firm fist, until I saw her examining the ground as if she were searching for something. Blankly, I looked down at the necklace. Damn.

This was the necklace he gave her the other day. And she lost it on accident. I clamped my fingers around it as if I were to squeeze it so hard it would crumble to millions of pieces. I hated this thing even more.

But as much as I wanted to destroy it, I jumped off the branch and uncovered myself. She jumped back herself- gasping in surprise. Her horrified expression did not relax as she took in the fact that it was just she and I alone once more. I forced away the cringe when she looked at me like that.

Slowly, I held out the necklace to her.

Confusion then swept through her dead golden eyes, and then it turned to suspicion. "Er… how did you-"

"I stepped on it," I told her, trying not to sound too firm. "It is slightly damaged, for that I apologize."

She took a cautious step towards me, and leaned forward to take the necklace from my palm. I noticed how hard she was trying to not touch me or take another step closer. After it was in her own hands, she stepped back many feet away and fastened it securely around her neck. With one last polite smile, she then turned to leave.

"Would you happen to know a good place to hunt?" I called after her, desperate not to have her leave so soon. Slowly, she turned back towards me, frowning.

"You…you drink animal blood?" the way she made it sound was as if it were the most shocking thing in existence.

"That is what the golden eyes are for," I pointed out, and mentally punished myself for making her feel stupid. Of course, if she were her old self, she would've just sneered and made an arrogant jibe back at me.

"But…" she seemed at a lost for words. "…you're from the Volturi."

I could not catch myself from smiling at that one. "Yes, well, I am the only one who feeds off animals." And you're the reason I switched to animal blood, I wanted to add but I kept quiet.

Complete shock filled her senses, but she quickly regained herself and pointed north. "Well…um, there's a pretty good place a few miles that way. Edward and I just hunted there. But I stayed behind to find the…er, necklace."

"I see," I replied. "Would you mind showing me?"

Bella opened her mouth to speak but quickly closed it. After a long silence, she said. "…I'm not sure if that's such a good idea. Edward will be wondering where I am…and…"

"Very well," I brushed past her. "But if I get lost, I'm blaming you."

Her expression was priceless. Then again, I couldn't believe what I was saying either. I had made a joke? Good God, she didn't remember anything about me acting like this, what the bloody hell was I doing? She probably thought I was a maniac- first I wanted her dead and the next second I was cracking a joke.

"Maybe I'm trying to get you lost," she then replied, with a smug grin. For an amazing second- she looked like she had before in Volterra, thinking she was all perfect and above me. Before I could enjoy it another moment, she seemed to realize what she did, and she quickly composed herself into her dead self and walked off, leaving me staring at her in the dust.

Quietly, I turned around as well and started towards the north part of the forest. Even if it were only for a slight moment, it felt so refreshing to see her smile after all these years.

EDWARD

Before I could wonder another aggravating second where she was and why she hadn't returned yet, the door opened and closed behind her, a warm smile on her features. The necklace was beautifully shaped around her neck.

"You found it," I noticed.

"Yep," she answered, and kissed my cheek before heading upstairs. "You never told me that Lord Caius was a vegetarian like us."

Something inside me snapped and filled with dread as I watched her disappear into an upstairs room. I should never have left her to find her necklace alone. I knew something like this would happen. She'd run into that ignorant, no-good-

The sound of high heels interrupted my raging thoughts, and I didn't need to glance up to see who it was. She stopped right in front of me, her golden hair running down her back and that same annoyed expression on her face. It looked even more fierce than before. I'm done.

"What are you talking about?" I demanded.

You know exactly what I'm talking about, she replied through her head. And I refuse to do anymore of your pathetic crap.

"And what made you suddenly change sides on me?" I raised an eyebrow.

After what happened to me with Royce King, I would have never been more thankful to Carlisle, she babbled fiercely. Or Esme. Or Emmett. Especially, Emmett. I would never want him taken away from me, and the thought of it makes me want to sob and wish someone would be there to make sure I stayed with my love forever.

My eyes narrowed.

I'm going to be that someone for Bella, Edward, she continued. What you've been scheming behind her back, what you've been doing to this family- I won't be part of it anymore. She deserves to be happy. Not that I can say the same for you.

Then, she turned on her heel and walked off abruptly, leaving me glaring in the spot she was standing in.

Kind of short, but something. Review ^^