This takes place about two months after the prologue. I just want to clear that up now. I made Renee slightly more responsible, but that doesn't matter much since she probably won't be seen in too many chapters. I also want to remind everyone that Bella is acting different because she has already learned the hard way that becoming a living zombie is not the way to mourn.

This chapter is dedicated to my first reviewer Gothic Saku-chan. An extra thanks to the rest of my reviewers, iluvmyedward, Sierra Sierra, and the anonymous reviewer(Black Rose)

Those Red Eyes

By Zafearia

"Bella? I can't remember where I put my keys for the life of me!" I smiled. It was small and rather forced. Smiling was still hard for me, even after two months of not seeing him. I'll get over it. I know I will, but something in me will always hurt.

"You left them on the kitchen counter!" I watched as she paused for a moment, before leaving the room. A few short seconds later, I heard a short shout of victory from the kitchen direction. Renee always acted so childish, but I couldn't imagine her any other way. She's one of a kind.

"Thanks Bella, honey. I don't know how I managed without you when you were in Forks." Renee reemerged from the kitchen, a key ring jingling in her hand as she absently stared out the window where a nothing but a short tree grew in the sparse lawn.

"You had Phil." I pointed out without much enthusiasm. Phil was okay, though he did seem to forget to help Renee take care of herself.

"Yes." She twirled the keys on her finger, a little dazed by the look of it. "Phil and I are going out for awhile, Bella. Is that okay with you? This is Phoenix, so you can take care of yourself for a few hours right?" I assured her I could—that she and Phil should go somewhere nice. They'd lost so much time together since I'd moved back with the. I couldn't help but bear the guilt.

Edward, you had better stay away from me. This is your fault too. I meant it. I couldn't hate the boy I loved, but if he came too close to me again, I wouldn't be afraid to hit him. He wouldn't stop me, because of his I'm-a-monster-and-always-will-be theory.

Why couldn't he ever see that I didn't care he was a vampire-- a monster as he so eloquently put it-- and as long as I was with him, I would be prepared to do whatever I could to become like that.

So, why was he so against changing me?

Occupied with my thoughts, I didn't see Renee until she was halfway out the door, repeating her question patiently when I didn't respond. "Bella? Bella?"

"Oh." I sighed, unsure what to say. My whole life was crumbling because I was in love with a vampire that didn't love me enough to stay with me in Forks. "I'm sorry mom."

Renee smiled, her eyes glimmering with obvious pain for her only daughter. It has always been so easy to read her emotions and know what she was thinking as I grew up. "It's that boy again. Edward, is it?"

"I don't want to talk about it, mom. Just, go out with Phil. He's waiting for you in the car." I pointed half-hearted out a nearby window where my stepfather stood patiently, his eyes shielded from the sun as he squinted in their direction. "You don't want to keep him standing there like that. My problems can wait."

"Okay Bella." She smiled softly. "Are you going out?"

"Maybe for a walk."

"Well, be here when we get back around ten. You have my number?"

I nodded an affirmative as I reached for a half-finished book I was never really able to get into. "Don't forget your cellphone!"

Renee came back into the room a few moments later, picked up her cell from the end table, and left once more. When the silence descended upon me for the first time since I'd left Forks, my heart constricted, and I wiped away some stray tears. In Forks, he would be here now, telling more of his family history.

I flipped through the pages, hardly letting any of the events soak in. The main character's name was Lilly, but past that I was blank. My thoughts were on two months ago and how Edward had once again left me. Despite being over a hundred years old, he wasn't able to learn his the first time.

"Bella?"

I smiled softly at the soft, silky voice that greeted me as the only person I could ever love emerged from the woods surrounded his—our clearing. My eyes were closed as I sat perfectly still in the sun, remembering my thoughts when I'd first seen Edward's true self all that time ago. It was a distant memory now, but it was just as vivid as the day I'd seen it.

His presence get closer, though I could hear his physically move. That was the vampire coming out in him-- no human could move so swift and silently.

"Edward." I sighed his name, opening my eyes a crack to find him knelt in front of me, his eyes a stony black. I almost told him he ought to go hunt, until I saw the mask he set over his face in an effort to shield his feeling from me. The trick worked on everyone else, but I'd learned to see past the mask and see the feelings he was trying desperately to hide. It panicked me when I noticed there was only pain and a need I'd never felt come from him before.

Stretching slightly, I frowned, scooting closer towards him. "Edward, is something wrong? More nomads?" I reached towards him, wincing as he pulled away. "Edwar--"

"Bella. Please." My mouth snapped audibly shut as my eyes narrowed in consideration. Edward was able to mask his pain slightly, but the hardness in his voice was worse than hidden feelings. It was the same voice he'd used when he left me in the woods.

I hate that voice.

I stayed silent as I watched his onyx eyes scan the forest around us. The silence was unbearable, only breaking when Edward finally spoke. "First it was James in the Ballet Studio. Then, Laurent in the woods, who would have killed you easily if not for those dogs. The Vultori want me to change you, and this year Victoria attempted to take you from me."

Once more, silence descended upon the both of us. I felt Edward's wish for me not to speak, and I respected it—for now. "Everyone is out to kill you because I brought the world of vampires into your life. This should never have happened. You should be dating that Mike, Tyler, or even that wolf, not a vampire...a monster."

"You're not a monster, Edward." I bite my lip, trying to find the right words. "What are you trying to tell me?"

"I should never have came back after the incident with the Vultori. Readjustment would not be hard for you, but I was selfish." His harsh bitter tone sent shivers down my spine and I clutched my light jacket closer around me. "Bella, I'm leaving."

"What? You can't leave me again. The Vultori--"

"The Vultori are full of empty promises. They may come around, but it will be long in the future, when you have no connection to me. They won't kill you."

"You can't--"

"Bella, I"m leaving! I don't expect you to know how it feels to leave this behind but I have to!" I shrank away from his angry shout, grimacing when his breath finally evened out. "I'm going. Now. Move on, Bella, pretend I never existed. Have kids."

Tears ran down my face, but inside my heart was already starting to hurt. How could he do this to me again?

Cold hands brushed away my tears as he brushed his lips gently against mine. "The rest are staying here for a few more months, Bella. I don't plan on coming back this time." I felt the air around me change as he took a few steps away. "Never look for me Bella, and don't put yourself in danger."

Then, he was gone.

Again.

I shook my head furiously, trying to get rid of the last memory I had of Edward. Even with his pain—his anger—he looked so beautiful, perfect. I would always miss the last look I got from him as he left me for good. Deciding I wasn't getting anywhere in the book I put in down gently, grabbed the same jacket I'd worn in the clearing, and headed out for a walk in the city I missed so much when I was back in Forks.

I let myself sink into memories of Edward as I dragged my feet against the pavement, sighing unhappily. I knew it was unhealthy to think about Edward for so long, but it was going to be a long time before I would let myself forget him and how much we'd gone through together. I was so distracted that I never noticed I'd wandered down a deserted alley until a slight scuffle alerted me of someone else's presence.

"What's someone like you doing out here alone?" I tensed, because the voice held the silky sound that only a vampire could pull off without a hitch.

I turned to the right, locking eyes with a smirking, red eyed vampire.