Thanks to anyone who reviewed. And about the count of the newborns in the last chapter, there were thirty newborns, plus their leader. So the newborns and their leader together makes thirty-one. sorry for confusing anyone.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

BPOV (Bella)

I observed my surroundings quietly. And what I was taking in was definitely disappointing. My two best friends, Bree and Angela, were talking to Edward Masen. No, they were laughing, and throwing their hair over their shoulders, as they flirted with Edward Masen. The most stuck up vampire alive, besides Rosalie, and a complete jerk to boot. He was the last guy I would consider going out with, even though all the other girls fell for his looks the second they saw him. But I knew that behind the face, he was an arrogant moron with nothing more on his agenda then getting girls to stare at him. He was a waste of space.

And I thought Bree and Angela thought the same way. It seemed they were inclined to go along with Edward's plans after all, as he said something, probably about himself, and they fell into a fit of fake giggles. This caused me to roll my eyes, and I wondered, not for the first time, if I was the only one immune to his looks. But then, even I sometimes felt my mind go blank when he smiled his crooked smile my way, with his eyes blazing into mine. Then I would take in the blood red colour of his eyes, and remember what he was. A bloodthirtsy vampire who didn't mind killing innocent humans.

They were all like that, drinking human blood without thinking of the lives they took. Of the parents, grandparents, children, siblings, spouses, and friends whose lives would be ruined just so my peers could satisfy their hunger for blood. Even my best friends refused to try my alternative, so I guess they were like the rest of the idiots the Volturi were trying to train.

"Oh, Edward," Bree was saying, while batting her eyelashes, "That is ever so funny! You know all the best stories."

Oh Edward, you know all the best stories, I thought sarcasticlly, You simply must recall the time that I WANTED TO SHOVE YOUR HEAD DOWN A TOILET! Well, if the castle had any toilets, which it didn't. As a home of vampires, there weren't exactly any places to go to the bathroom. And I had been to embarrased to ask Esme why we didn't need to go. Exactly where did all the blood go that we drank?

Then I realized that I had let my thoughts wander to keep them from thinking about the horrible fact that Edward Masen was talking to my friends. Didn't they have any taste?

I decided to scare them, and embarrase them, which they deserved for talking to Masen. I walked up towards them all and they didn't have any idea that I was there. Sometimes invisibility became useful.

"You know," Edward smiled at the girls, " I actually came to talk to you girls because-"

That was when I decided to let them know my prescence, "You wanted them to act like idiots in front of you? Well, mission accomplished." all three of their jaws dropped.

Angela started stuttering, "B-bella. I swear, we weren't doing anything you wouldn't do."

Except talk to Masen, I thought, but said, "Sure, Angela. But, what were you two thinking? Edward Masen? Has being kept up in this place gone to your heads?" I knew I was being mean, and it wasn't fair, but I didn't really care at the minute.

I wondered if it was ironic that I wanted to end the social problems between us all, but then remembered what was at sake. My best friends could become heartbroken over Edward, just like every other girl. Even if they certainly weren't acting like any best friends of mine at the second.

Edward cleared his throat, "Actually, I was wondering if I could talk to you, Bella." he looked away.

Oh no, I thought. He is going to ask my out again. Every week or so, he would ask me out, even when he knew the answer. I knew all about his bet with Rosalie, I just wished that they hadn't included me in it. He sure as heck wouldn't have me crawling to him.

"Fine, Edward." I sighed, and allowed him to follow me a couple feet away. I didn't really want to be rude, even if he deserved it. Being mean just wasn't something I could do very well.

He frowned, "You don't like me." it wasn't a question.

"Look, Edward, I know about your dare. I know that you want me to say yes to going out with you, just so that you can gloat over Rosalie. But can't you put your pride away for just one thing and forget about the dare? Its not like she can win either, she is going out with Emmet, and the guy she is supposed to ask out, Jasper, is going out with Alice." as if he didn't know. Guys like Edward were always in on any gossip long before I was.

His eyes widened in shock, and then lowered into a glare, and I knew he was mad. "Bella, its not like that. I really want to go out with you, and not just because of some bet with Rosalie." his eyes were wide, innocent, and I knew he was lying.

I looked up at him, and considered using his powers against him, because he was in my range to use his powers(a/n her using other people's power only works within a certain distance), "I'm sorry, Edward, but I can't really can't go out with anyone. I'm trying to focus on training to become a Volturi guard."

He smiled a sad smiled, "We both know you are made to be a guard. You can't deal with death. Bella, you are too sweet and sensitive to deal with that sort of thing."

Edward took a step towards me, until his eyes were not an inch away from mine, and his lips were close enough to kiss. It was a good thing I didn't have a heart, because it would have stopped beating. My mind went blank and it was all I could do to hold myself back from kissing him. I needed to look away to be able to think, but he was mesmorizing me, and I couldn't look away.

"Bella?" he murmured, sounding as spell-bound as I felt.

"Edward!" a voice called out behind me, "There you are! I was looking for you everywhere."

It a was girl with curly red hair that called out. She looked furious when she saw him standing fright in front me, our lips almost touching. It was clear that she thought she had some sort of a relationship with him, and that was all it took to tear me away from my daze.

He looked angry when I took a step back, and then turned to talk to my friends, who were watching us with curiousity, "What is it, Amy?" he demanded of the red head.

She frowned, "What were you doing with her? I thought you liked me? I thought we were going out?"

Edward sighed impatiently, "I'm really sorry, Amy, but i told you that I don't feel that way about you. And we aren't going out, by the way. But if you will excuse me, I was in the middle of a conversation-"

Amy snorted, "A conversation? More like the begining of a make-out session. I can't believe you, Edward Masen." she turned on her heel and left, but obviously feeling uncomfortable under everyone's stares.

Masen turned back to me, to most likely continue try to dazzle me, but by the time he looked for me, I was already invisible.

My throat felt heavy, and I knew I needed to leave and have some time to think, so I ran as fast as I could go. Maybe Esme or Carlisle was planning on going hunting, and I could go with them. It had been several weeks since the last time I hunted, so it was possible that my bad mood was due to my thirst.

Of course, it was also possible that my bad mood had something to do eith the fact that I was in love with Edward Masen, the biggest jerk to alive (or dead, depending on how you looked at it) but also the most amazing guy.

I slowed down my pace as I neared Esme's room, and then knocked on the door. Her soft voice answered my knock, so I went back to being visible and pushed the door open. Esme sat at her desk, frowning as she read over some papers. She looked up as I walked in, and smiled when she saw who it was.

"Bella, how nice to see you. Were you looking to go hunting right now? I need to get away from this for a while," she held up the papers that had been her focus before I arrived, "Aro gave me the reports on the newborn armies and it really is depressing."

I nodded, "So its getting worse, then?" not that I really needed to ask.

Esme nodded, "Yes, I am sorry to say it is. But never mind, shall we go hunting? I'll just get Carlisle, he hasn't gone in awhile either."

She put the reports to the side and we walked to the next room where Carlisle was reading similar reports. He gladly put them to the side and accompanied us out of the castle. When I felt the rush of air in my face, I could hardly hold myself back from rushing as far away as I could get and never coming back. Every time I had to go back to the castle, I literally had to force myself.

Carlisle and Esme felt the same way that I did, so we took off in a race, towards the forest. At first, they had made me stay in the forests close to the city, but now I was trusted to go as far away as I wanted.

The couple liked to hunt near each other, but I preferred to be alone. It helped me clear my mind, as I could let my senses take over my mind and guide me by instinct. When I hunted I became something that wasn't Bella, like a split personality disorder I had gained when I changed.

When I finished, I took awhile to regain myself, leaning against the trunk of a tree, with my arms wrapped around my legs and my eyes closed. Several hours passed in a blur util my animal side disappeared and the real Bella controlled my mind.

When I had asked Esme about the mind change, she said it wasn't something she was familiar with. Carlisle, too, didn't have the split personality problem that I dealt with.

By the time the sky had gone dark, Esme found me waiting quietly. I wasn't waiting for her exactly, or anyone really, but for something to remind me of who I really was. I didn't want to come to terms with the fact that I might have died, and all that was left was a bloodthirsty vampire.

"Bella, dear?" she asked, knowing how I felt after hunting.

"Yeah?" I asked, struggling to get a grip on my mood swings.

"We are going back now. But do you want to stay for awhile?" she asked.

My eyes fluttered open, "Stay? What do you mean? Don't I have to go back to the Volturi?"

Esme shook her head, "Its okay, you can miss a day of classes. If you want a day to yourself out here, go ahead. Just meet us all at the mall in around fourteen hours. We are taking all of you to shopping."

I smiled as I thought of a whole day to myself, "Okay. And thank-you, Esme."

She ran off after Carlisle, and I decided to go running. I thought about running to the closets ocean and swimming. The water might clear my head.

I stood up in less then a second, and then left so quickly it was like I was invisible. Of course, I was.

Twelve hours later

I arrived at the gloomy doors of the Volturi castle. It had been a really good day for me, with all the swimming. Throughout the entire time, I hadn't thought about the Volturi, the job I was being trained for, my crush on Masen, or anything that had happened after I became one of the eternally damned. Now it all came rushing back to me, as I raced to my closet to change out of my wet clothes into a dry outfit.

Bree was always telling me that my wardrobe was out of fashion, but I never really cared. I pulled on a pleated skirt, and a blue sweater, tied back my long hair, and picked out my usual casual flip-flops. Then I made my way to the mall where all my friends would be.

"Bella!" cried out Angela, when she saw me, "Where have you been? We have been so worried! And I swear, Bree and I meant nothing by talking to Edward Masen. We swear that we will never talk to him again."

I smiled reassuringly, "Thats okay, Ang. I don't really care about that. I just needed a chance to think, that all." she didn't look convinced, and neither did Bree.

Bree observed my expression quietly, "Okay, then. Shall we get some shopping done, then?"

I pulled a face; I hated shopping. But Angela and Bree were already heading towards an expensive, fashionable clothing shop. IT was the kind of shop where the salesgirls turned up their noses at everyone who walked in without wearing Prada or Chanel. Only once I became beautiful, had they stopped looking at me like I was a piece of dirt.

My friends and I attracted lots of the usual looks, but luckily they had remembered to put in their contacts so that their eyes appeared purple rather then red. My eyes were golden because of my hunt the day before, and I didn't have to wear contacts.

Bree and Angela took one quick glance around the store before racing off, at a pace just that sent the human's head's spinning, to grab everything they wanted to try on. I sighed at their behaviour, and leaned against a wall while wishing I could go to a music store.

"Oh my gosh, sorry!" a girly voice squealed.

I saw Alice Brandon, her petite arms full of clothing, just before she bumped into me. There wasn't enough time for me to jerk away without the humans noticing my insane speed.

"Thats alright." I muttered, not surprised to see her in this sort of shop.

She realized who she was speaking to, "Oh, Isabella. You've been gone awhile, everyone was wondering if you ran away."

I nodded; I had gathered this from Angela's reaction at seeing me, "Nope. I'm sorry to disappoint, but I'm still here, Alice. By the way, my name is Bella." I smiled at her and expected her to make a sarcastic comment.

She surprised me, "Oh, I'm sorry! I should have remembered that you didn't like being called Isabella." then she saw something distracting and squealed, "You have to try that on! It would look amazing on you!" she was pointing to a sparkly blue empire waist top that I wouldn't be caught dead in.

"Um, I'm not sure about that-" I stuttered.

But Alice was having none of it, "I am! Sure, I mean. Hey, Bree! Don't you think Bella would look amazing in this top?"

Bree looked as astonished as I was feeling, "Yeah. I guess. Actually, it would look gorgeous! You have to try it on, Bella. Oh, and try this under." she handed me tight silver pants.

Alice was jumping up and down in excitement, "Exactly. You have to try it on. Oh, I'll get those flats that I saw on the way in. Angela, can you grab that necklace right next to you?"

"Alice." Jane said, on of her eyebrows raised.

"Jane, we are helping Bella pick out an outfit. Either make yourself useful or go get Jessica." Alice wined.

"No need." Jessica said, appearing right behind Alice, "But why are you helping your enemy?"

Alice rolled her eyes, "All that enemy stuff is so stupid. I mean, you train together and we fight together. We should get along. Don't you agree, Bella?"

"Absolutely," I said, telling the truth, "But you don't need to help me shop, you know."

The little pixie shook her head evilly, "Oh no, you are not getting off this easily. No offense, Bella, but you need some fashion advice."

"No kidding." Bree muttered, and I glared at her.

By the time I had tried on all of the outfits Alice, Bree, Angela, Jessica, and Jane had forced me to wear (about two outfits in, Jessica and Jane had completely forgotten their earlier bias) I never wanted to shop again. But the girls dragged me to yet anoter store, and we all got matching t-shirts and mini-skirts that I swore I would never wear. After that we basicly covered the entire mall.

Throughout out shopping, I felt myself forget any problems I had against Alice, Jane, and Jessica as I realized that they wre nice when you got to know them. Until Alice suggested getting pedicures, and I wanted to run away as fast as I could.

But they were all against me, so we all painted our toenails and fingernails blood red. I found the color rather ironic. We went to a final shoe store, and then met up with the rest of our group, all of them waiting for us by the back of the mall. Everyone was surprised to see the six of us getting along, but they didn't say anything. Then Jasper, came up with his best friends to talk to Alice, who he was going out with, and everyone realized that our stupid cliques were slowly coming to an end.

Well, I could get along with Alice, Jasper, and even Emmet, but judging by the constant glares from Rosalie and Edward, the ending of the cliques certainly was going to be slow.

"Alright," James said, after counting us all, "We are waiting on Aro for awhile, so don't draw attention to yourselves while we wait."

As if two hundred beautiful vampires standing around wouldn't attract attention. I had always thought James was an idiot, and his statement reinforced my view.

"So, things are starting to change," I realized Emmet was starting to talk to me, "You have no idea how mad Rosalie is. She thinks you are ruining everything for her, by changing things. She rather likes popularity." he laughed his booming laugh.

"Yeah, but what can she do about it?" Alice laughed, and waited for Jasper to laugh along with her. They were so cute together, "I mean, after that fight, the six of us have something in common. We all know what its like, and I think that made us realize how moronic these cliques really are."

"Maybe, but Rosalie and Edward don't agree." Emmet argued.

"That is just too bad for them." I said, "Like Alice said, there isn't anything they can do. If Rosalie and Edward want to hate everyone, they can go ahead and hate everyone."

"I don't hate everyone." Edward said quietly coming up behind me, "Bella, I want to talk to you." he put an arm around my waist and led me away from everyone.

"So, you will talk to Alice, Jasper, and Emmet, but you won't talk to me? I'm hurt, Bella." he said.

Not likely, I though, "Sure, Edward. Whatever you say."

He grinned, "I say I'm in love with you."

I wondered what the weird feeling was that filled my head, I sure hoped it wasn't happiness, "Exactly what are you talking about, Masen?" I demanded.

He took a step forward and I was reminded of the other day when we had been this close, "This." he said, and covered my mouth with his.

Okay, so they kissed, but are they actually going to get together? I really won't say But thats mostly because I don't actually know yet. So, please read and review!