AN: If I'm going to get 400 hits on this story, I'd at least like some more reviews. I'm sure you wouldn't like it if you were blindly writing a story w/o anyone to critique it!

Ok, my rants over. To the ones that did review, thank you. And now:

A Time to Weep

Chapter Three

"Why would you go to Italy? What could possibly be there?"

Why did he have to make things more complicated? Couldn't he just accept that I was leaving, and let bygones be bygones? But then, I thought, I'm sad too. This man standing in front of me was my best friend at one time in my life, and he deserved an explanation.

"Well. I'm not really supposed to tell you what's in Italy, but there are people, scratch that, vampires that are really important. They're kind of the 'rulers' of our people, if you catch my drift."

"And why would you go there?"

"Remember when I…left to save Edward not so long ago?" The wounds still ran deep, for he winced as the memories came floating back clearly. "I went to Italy, to save him from those people, the important ones."

"Why would you need to save him? I'm not really getting this."

"I can't explain the whole thing to you, and it's not important. Plus, you're a werewolf. We're enemies."

"I'm not the one who did this, so don't blame me! Don't think you can be all conceited and think that this doesn't affect me too." Jake said. Ugh. I was so not getting through to him.

"Jake, I need you to understand that I do care about you, and if there were any way that I could stay here, I would. The treaty has been broken, as Edward well knows, and he and his family probably won't stay here too."

"Where are they going?" So many questions!

"I don't know, but I better leave now, too. I can't risk it any longer."

"How…Do you have any money to get to Italy. How would you get there?"

"I have some saved up from working with the Newton's."

We had been sitting on the ground as close as I could handle. Jake got up to say goodbye, but I wasn't so sure of myself. How could he have so much faith in me when I almost killed him an hour ago?

"I can't believe you're actually going. A few years ago, you seemed so innocent. The lives of those around you have turned you cold and bitter. I hate to see you like this." He stepped forward, and I quivered. I could barely stand the smell of his blood and his body. It was infuriating, to say the least. Once again, I blamed it on Edward, which was so easy now. Everything was his fault, and I didn't care if he ever found out how much I blamed him.

"I know Jake. It's mind-blowing. I'm sure we'll see each other again. Just promise not to pretend you don't know me." I gave a small smile, remembering the hostile fights we've had in the past, all leading to this moment.

I decided to risk it, for his sake and mine. I needed a hug as much as anyone at that moment, and I'm sure he wanted one as well.

I reached out to wrap my arms around his shoulders, not breathing an ounce of air in. He draped his massive form around my waist. He brought his hand up to my hair, and I let him hold it there for a few seconds. I was uncomfortable and I wanted to breathe again.

I pushed away. "If it were under any other circumstances…"

"I know, Bella, I know."

I ran to my house after saying goodbye to Jake, fighting back the feeling to cry. If I broke down, I don't know if I'd be able to leave Forks.

My dad wasn't home, which was a relief. I found the extra key we keep hidden outside, and ran up to my bedroom. I packed all the things I'd need, and then some. Who knows when I'll get money again, with how much this flight is going to cost to Italy.

Before I could leave, I heard someone pull up outside. It had to be Charlie. I looked out the window to see Charlie, and to my immense and horrid surprise, Edward. I had to get out of here, and fast. Oh, but there was my dad. I would never, ever see or talk to him again. How could I? I looked so different.

Then, there was a twinge in my head. Get out! I thought, because that always seemed to work. The feeling stopped immediately, again, as I was thinking the command. Then, the door opened and I heard running. Before anyone could hear me, I jumped out the window, landed adroitly on my feet with all my stuff still in its bags, and ran.

I had one last thought before running away: "I love you."

I had run into Bella's father in my search. He was searching for her too, and he had decided we take a break and have lunch at his house. As much as I was worried for Bella, I was worried for myself too. Where was I going to find the time to get the food out of my body that he was likely to offer me? I had refused him countless times on the offers for dinner, and he would probably be even more unhappy with me if I did it again.

We pulled into the driveway, and I mentally searched the house to see if anyone was there, or if I could hear anything. I felt a presence, but it was blocked almost instantly. Someone was in there!

I ran into the house, up the stair, and crashed into Bella's bedroom. Her scent was all over the place. She had just been here. So…that means she was the one that blocked my thoughts. It was then that I realized she was the one who had blocked Alice from seeing her in the future too. Bella had a power. I always knew she had a strong mind, and now she shut it out to everybody.

I heard a echoing, and wondered why I hadn't noticed it before. It seemed to be coming out of nowhere. I love you, I love you, I love you. Oh Bella, I thought. Come back to me so I can explain!

I could see she was not in the house anymore, and that she had escaped out from under us again. The search was still on.

I had ran to the airport in Seattle, got my ticket to Italy without any trouble, and then I had to wait. Three whole hours, I sat in that airport, paranoid as someone with that disease. I could hear every conversation around me, and I listened for the voices of those close to me, wondering if they had found me yet.

Every movement was catalogued into my brain, and analyzed. I didn't want anyone following me. I was still too bitter. I hid out in the bathroom mostly, because there weren't that many people in there. I did nothing but listen.

The plane finally boarded, and luckily, not that many people wanted to go to Italy. I wasn't surrounded, so I didn't have to hold my breath indefinitely. I went to the bathroom a lot, even though I refused anything to eat or drink the whole way there. The hostesses looked at me like I was crazy.

The bathroom offered a rest from the smell of the blood. It was everywhere, but at least not in the bathroom.

The flight seemed to take forever, but I managed. I fed, of course, before I got on the plane. It seemed like my thirst was insatiable. But, I vaguely remember hearing that young vampires need a lot of blood.

I reached the terminal grabbed my bags, and ran outside. The smell was awful. Well, actually, the smell was wonderful, but awful for what I was trying to accomplish. I needed to get out of there, and fast. People weren't helping either. They were all walking around, bumping into me like it was nothing.

"Don't you know what I could do to you if you keep doing that?" I wanted to scream. The nerve of people!

I remembered vividly the way to get to Volterra. I'm sure they had some kind of special vampire, leading me there against my own free will. They probably knew I was coming already too!

Sure enough, when I got to the square where I had saved Edward, Jane was standing there, waiting for me.

"Bella," she sneered, "Lovely to see you again, and so soon! Follow me." Her fake cheeriness was going to annoy me, immensely.

We went underground and followed the passage, but Jane tested me. She started running at vampire speed, but I caught onto her game before long. I was right on her heels, and I could hear every unhappy word she mumbled under her breath.

I was lead through the killing chamber, which smelled delicious. Ugh. That was going to have to stop. I disgusted myself at these times.

Jane led me into a room I had never seen before. It looked like a sitting room, but very elegant. Imagine a Victorian style room, but bigger, with lots of furniture and ornate patterns. It was beautiful.

Then, I heard the graceful, barely there footsteps of the men I dreaded to see. They were trouble makers, I knew, but still, I came to help them.

I turned around to face what was to become of me.

"Welcome! Bella, I'm so glad to see you, as a vampire no doubt!" That was Aro, always the cheerful, but slightly insane sounding one. Marcus and Caius were on either side, having no set expression.

Suddenly, Marcus, whom I had yet to hear speak ever, addressed me.

"Are you ready to live out your destiny?"

AN: Please, let me know what you think!