Disclaimer: S.M. owns all!

While we were eating I didn't fail to notice Jared sitting as far from me as possible.

It looked like he was struggling not to look at me.

I felt rejected, unworthy and sad. Even though I didn't want to destroy his relationship, it's still kind of upsetting to know that your soul mate, the one you've been waiting for, doesn't even want you.

I can deal with that as long as he's happy I guess, because even if I never get my happiness as long as he has his, I'll be fine.

I could feel the tears start to gather, I had to quickly banish these thoughts. I haven't cried in 4 years and I sure as hell wasn't going to start now. Especially over some jerk who obviously doesn't deserve my heart.

Man, I think my mind is bipolar. One second I want him happy the next I want him as miserable as I am.

Thank god for Billy who decided now was a good time to stop my internal ramblings.

"Ok, I think we are all ready for your story Bella."

"Alright, um, do you remember when I left to go to Italy with Alice to save Edward?"

I heard a few growls on that.

"Yea, well, I ended up killing him instead." Everyone got quiet real quick.

"Alrighty, um why don't I go back to when you all killed Laurent, eh? You see, um I never told you this because I didn't want to upset you guys but, um, you didn't make it in time." I got a few suspicious looks for that.

"No worries! He didn't succeed in biting me but he definitely tried. Something stopped him and it wasn't you guys."

I took a deep breath. "I figured out it was my shield."

Dum dum dum, silence!

"I've always had my mental shield as you guys know. Edward couldn't read my mind and my decisions were protected from Alice's visions. I guess that after the whole James ordeal and me constantly being surrounded by all that is supernatural, my shield manifested itself and grew to protect me."

I turned to Jake. "I never told you, Jake, because I thought I was crazy at first. Even if I wasn't crazy I didn't want you to view me as a threat, so I just kept it secret till I could learn more about it."

I turned back to the fire to continue.

"Slowly I started to notice I wasn't as clumsy and when I did trip and fall it never hurt and I never had any marks. I figured if it was there I'd be able to control it so I started practicing. I was slowly able to control it and figured out that just like my mental shield was effortless so was the skintight one surrounding me. I learned I could control more than one shield at a time and was able to protect, or destroy other things."

I felt Jake grab my hand and I squeezed it as a silent thanks for the support.

"Just as I was getting the courage to talk to you about it Jake, Alice showed up and asked for my help. I already knew at that time I wouldn't go back to Edward but I didn't want the family to hurt over the lose of their son when I could possibly save him. Like I said though that obviously didn't work."

I explained to them everything that happened with Edward while I was there. I also told them about the offer Aro made me to be apart of his guard and the deal that we ended up making.

I told them how Aro was and still is constantly reminded me that the offer still stands that if I ever change my mind he would turn me.

With the way he had been acting I thought Jared would be excited for me to leave even if it meant being his enemy, but Jared snapped his head up to look me straight in the eyes.

I noticed the anger and sadness in his eyes before I averted mine so he wouldn't see the hurt and rejection that lie there.

I continued on to tell them about my studies.

Just because I didn't actually go to school doesn't mean I didn't want to learn new things.

"I became great friends with everyone there. Each of them taught me something different to help further my education. And oh my god! Their library was like heaven!"

I sighed dramatically earning a few laughs and giggles.

"Hmm, let's see, Aro, Marcus and Caius are the Volturi kings. Aro taught me chemistry, biology and physics. Marcus taught my history and English classes. Cauis did my math class."

I smiled thinking of all the war plans we went over. Caius was practically my history teacher too.

"Caius is a strategist so he showed me how to use my math skills to conquer in battle. The 3 kings took care of all my non-physical classes."

Here comes the fun part.

"Renata is a shield, like me, although hers is mental only. She helped me work with both my shields.

My best friend Jane and her brother Alec also helped me practice with my shield. We discovered that not only does my shield protect but if I manipulate it right I can reflect the power being used back out to whoever I want.

Jane's power is mental and it makes you feel extreme pain."

I smiled remembering when she used it on Edward.

"Worse than being changed from what I've heard. Jane and I together can take down at least seventy-five vampires. I only say seventy-five because we never had more to take on."

I heard a strong growl and I snapped a look to Jared as if telling him to shut up. He just growled louder so I ignored him and went on.

"Anyways, I let Jane use her power on me once being curious. Hot damn, never again" I shuttered dramatically and shook my head laughing at the memory.

I was actually stupid enough after seeing what it did to Edward to ask it on myself.

I was told I took it better than most vampires because I refused to scream, but it still hurt like a bitch.

"Felix and Demitri were like my big brothers while we were there. They taught me how to fight and by the end of my first year I could take them both on using just my skin tight shield."

I heard another growl but just ignored it this time.

"Santiago taught me everything about cars and motorcycles, pretty much anything with an engine. He's like the house mechanic.

Afton would pull pranks with me and my brothers a lot. He was a sneaky son of a bitch. You had to watch it with him though.

I love him like a brother but I guess before he was changed he was tortured to the extreme. He doesn't remember a lot of it but it was enough that he has been dubbed the house lunatic.

I asked the brothers to not send him on missions unless absolutely needed. His tactics were, well, let's just say you never want to be caught in a room with him."

Again with the growling, I've had enough.

I turned to Jared, "Hey Jared, heel!"

That got a few snickers.

"Really? Just because you turn into a giant dog doesn't give you the right to act like one all the time. Sheesh! If you don't like what you hear you can just buzz off. Who I am and what I've done is of no concern to you so just relax already."

I think I surprised everyone with my little outburst but what did they expect? I don't need protection or a man in my life telling me what is and is not safe.

Jared just growled in response to my mini-rant than said some things I'm sure he'd regret later.

"Everything you do is of my concern Isabella," god I hate that name, "you are my imprint and it is my job to keep you safe. Why would you purposely put yourself in danger like that?" He growled out.

I growled right back, another thing learned from my extended families.

"I can protect myself thank you very much and I am not yours to protect. It is obvious you didn't want an imprint so just go back to your Kim and leave me be."

"You should've just stayed in Italy leech-lover."

There were several gasps, including me than it got so silent after that you could hear a pin drop.

I lost all my will to fight and just stared at Jared slack-jawed.

I knew I would never be good enough for anyone but to even have my soul-mate push me away and say he doesn't want me? Now that's harsh.

I just slightly nodded to Jared and turned to Billy and the rest of the council.

"I apologize for disturbing your bonfire" I than turned to Jake "just hold onto the helmet it was a gift anyways, I'm going to head home. I'm tired. Have a goodnight."

I gave Jake and Cat a kiss on the cheeks and a slight wave to everyone else and I left. I kept my tears at bay and held my head high.

After Edward I had promised myself no more tears over a guy and that was not a promise I would be breaking.

I couldn't concentrate on much on the way home.

So much was going through my head that I didn't even hear them until I was thrown from my bike.

My shield, feeding off my extreme emotions, had slightly weakened causing me to feel the impact more than I should have.

The last thing I heard and saw before I blacked out was a flash of red and a child like laughter.

A/N I apologize for the wait. Thanks for the reviews! My car actually looks and sounds better than before the accident! My boys and I are finally home so hopefully I will be able to update more.

I know some of you wanted Jared and Bella to get together right away and I'm sorry it's just going to take a bit for them in this story because lets face it, men can be idiots. lol

Happy Thanksgiving!