A/N: This story takes place between New Moon and Eclipse. It is an AU Twilight story. I must warn all of you that my Bella is a little bit more independent than canon Bella. Hope you enjoy and I own nothing.

Hardcore Bella

Chapter One: Apology

You were the one who left me neglected (I'm so sorry baby)
Apology not accepted
Add me to the broken hearts you've collected: All Cried Out ~ 112

After so many months of crying, of sadness, of emptiness due to Edward being gone, I was hoping that with his return everything could go back to normal. Yet, it wasn't happening. Our relationship, which used to be so warm and inviting, was now cold and distant. The funny thing was that I was the one being cold and distant.

I'm sure most people at school and even Charlie expected me to be attached to Edward's hip the moment he and I returned from Italy. I couldn't really blame them, though, considering I felt the same way.

But, I wasn't allowing myself to return to that stage in our relationship. Angelia told me it was probably because I was afraid of getting hurt again, which was true, but I knew that wasn't it. Edward kept saying he would never hurt me again and how much he regretted going there, which I did believe.

Then one day he said something that made me realize exactly why I was so cold and distant toward him.

It was at lunch and he was giving his daily monologue of apologies and guilt for hurting me so badly and then he said those words, "I was just trying to do the right thing".

As soon as he uttered those words my chair was pushed back and me, my tray and I were on our way towards Mike and Angelia's table. Edward looked at me with a confused look on his handsome features. Yet, I didn't even try to care.

"I was just trying to do the right thing". That phrase invoked so much anger inside of me because it showed how that even with all his guilt he thought he was right.

Edward thought that leaving me alone for six months, mourning over him as if I had lost a parent, just because he was afraid was doing the right thing? I was never one for profanity, but I had the desire to scream bullshit from my lungs.

Since that day at lunch nothing was the same. I didn't sit with the Cullens anymore, much to Rosalie's pleasant surprise, and instead tried to reconnect with those I had ignored while Edward was busy 'doing the right thing.'

It was funny actually, I never realized how much I missed them until Mike started going on about all these events they attended. I really had locked myself away from everyone.

"I hear that the weather is going to be nice tomorrow," I told my table-mates. "Maybe we could head over to La Push for a bit."

"Sounds good," Eric said giving me a Star Trek high-five, which I happily returned.

"Live long and prosper Eric," I told him.

"Will do Bells."

"Excuse me my name is Isabella Tiberius Kirk," I told Eric folding my arms over my chest jokingly. "I don't know who this Bells is."

Laughter erupted from all the boys as they all exchanged high-fives with me. "I didn't know you were a Trek fan Bella," Tyler said taking a bite of his macaroni.

"I'm not," I said shaking my head. "I have just seen that Star Trek movie commercial a lot."

The conversation shifted to the new movie with some of the girls jumping in just to comment on how hot the pointy-ear eye was. The boys were quick to inform them on the history of Spock.

Leaning back in my chair I looked at my human friends with a sense of nostalgia. They had an innocence that I had lost a long time ago when I fell in love with Edward. They were ignorant of the world hidden in the shadows. A small part of me wished for that ignorance back.

Suddenly Mike called my name and brought my attention back to it. "What is it?" I asked with a small smile.

He pointed behind me and I turned to see Edward standing this with a sad look on his face and one hand behind his back. A few months ago that look would have turned me into a pile of mush. Now I looked at him with not even a slither of emotion.

"Yes?" I asked raising an eyebrow.

Suddenly I found myself face to face with a bouquet of wildflowers. The smell was enchanting and the colors ranged from the boldest reds to the modest of blues.

"I'm sorry Bella," he said softly, his smooth voice washing over me. "I am sorry for hurting you. It was never my intention in any way shape or form and I hope you can forgive me."

It was shorter than his usual monologues. I guess he finally realized that after awhile he was just wasting his time.

"Thank you," I said taking the flowers in my hand and taking a whiff of their scent. I grabbed my tray and headed for the garbage and dropped the leftover food inside. Then, without thinking I threw the bouquet of flowers inside with the rest of the garbage.

I could hear the 'ooh's and 'oh snap's coming from my friends as I walked passed Edward and sat down with them. Seeing Edward's shadow still hovering above me I leaned my head back.

"Thanks again for the flowers," I said coldly. "You can go back now."

Edward's footsteps grew distant as he walked away from behind me and back to his table. The sound made my heart feel a pang of guilt, but my anger at him quickly overpowered any sympathetic emotion.

"Damn Bella that was cold," Tyler said. "You threw away the man's flowers."

Mike snorted and leaned back in his chair. "That wasn't cold Ty. That was hardcore."

"We've got ourselves a Klingon at the table," Eric laughed. "Watch out before she uses her claws."

Lauren scoffed. "She was just being a bitch," the blonde said. "Edward was trying to be nice to you and you just threw it all back in his face."

My head snapped towards Lauren so quickly that I almost gave myself whiplash. "Look, when your boyfriend packs up and leaves you without a word of notice for six months they you can tell me how to behave. Now, if you feel bad for Edward you and your haircut can go comfort him."

Lauren flushed and touched her short hair in embarrassment. "Fine I will," she huffed before grabbing her tray and walking off. She didn't go to Edward because she knew as well as I did that he would never be interested in her.

The rest of lunch was terribly uneventful, which, wasn't really a bad thing. I wanted to get back to the normal ways of life. Over the last few weeks I hadn't tripped over anything, but today while talking with Angelia in the hall I tripped over air and fell into a garbage can.

Gravity, my oldest and dearest friend, it's so nice to see you again.

School ended and luckily I was off from work today, which meant I could just drive home and sleep for a few hours before doing any homework. Charlie was working overtime, which meant I didn't need to cook either.

I entered my house with all the promise of a relaxing afternoon, but as soon as I opened my room door I knew that wasn't going to happen.

Edward was sitting on the edge of my bed. His hands pressed against the bridge of his nose as he looked at me with those same sad eyes.

Sighing I threw my book bag onto a chair beside me. "I read somewhere that vampires can not enter a person's house without an invitation. I'm guessing that doesn't apply to you?"

"Why Bella?" he asked standing up and taking my hands in his larger ones. The cold touch felt so familiar and yet so distant. "What did I do? I have been trying to apologize."

"Do you even know what you're apologizing for?" I asked allowing my hands to stay in his. I wanted to give him this chance to see if he had finally figured it out.

"I am apologizing for leaving you Bella. I know it was wrong, but I wanted to protect you and you didn't understand…"

"Okay stop!" I yelled ripping my hands out of his and closing my eyes in frustration. It was taking all my energy not to smack him, since I knew it would only hurt me. "Just stop acting as though you know what is best for me. Isabelle Swan decides what is best for Isabelle Swan. Not Edward Cullen, not Jacob Black, not any of you."

"Is that what this is about?" Edward asked. "You're upset because trying to do what is best for you."

"No, I am upset because you underestimate me. Just because you can't read my mind does not mean you can just assume what I know or don't know," I told him point a finger at my chest. "I was willing to risk everything for you, because I was in love with you. Yet as soon as it got too hard for you to handle you packed up and left me! You don't leave someone you love for six months just because things get hard! You work through them!"

Edward's face twisted with frustration and he closed his eyes and took several deep breathes. "Jasper almost killed you. You don't know what you're risking?"

I laughed almost maniacally, I could tell it scared him, and pulled up the sleeve of my shirt to show him the scar I got from James. "I know exactly what I risk. I have a permanent reminder of it carved into my skin. Yet, I have never seen it as a reason to stop loving you. I wear it as a sign that I love you throughout even the hardest times. Something you couldn't do."

Edward stood up from my bed and looked down at the floor, his copper hair falling over his eyes. "You said that you wear it as a sign that you love me. So you still love me?"

"Yes," I said plainly. "That doesn't mean I forgive you." Sighing I collapsed facedown onto my bed, kicking of my shoes. "Just leave. Go out the window, the door, I don't care just go."

No response was given, but I heard a swoosh sound followed by the window closing. I shut my eyes thought to myself, this is the time where I am supposed to cry, but I couldn't. I was tired of crying over Edward Cullen. I was all cried out.

A/N: I am sure most of you are going to hate me for making Bella so mean to Edward, but I can assure you that this is not the end.