A/N

Guess what kids, I finally got a Beta for this little story!

If you have this story set for story alerts or, if you have me on author alerts you will soon start receiving alerts that new chapters have been added to this story.

My amazingly awesome Beta is re-formatting and editing this story and the chapters will be replaced one at a time causing alerts to be sent out.

Once the story has been fully edited up to the current ending I will change the status of the story from completed to in progress and finish this lovely tale.

Thank you everyone!

Becoming Bella

Chapter 1

I'm late again, I stand in front of the mirror in the hallway willing myself to repeat my silent morning pep talk, "OK today will not be as bad as you think it is going to be, stop being such a wimp!" When I finally make it into my truck I pause for just a moment to feel a tiny bit of triumph.

It has been over 6 months since my world ended, no, my world left me. They decided I was an inconvenience, unworthy of their love. Edward left, he didn't love me anymore, didn't want me anymore. At first I gave into the misery, mourning the loss of the reason I existed. But soon I became resentful and enraged. The anger was much easier to deal with, it slowly enveloped the pain until it was suffocated or so I though. It had just been buried deep down where I could not feel it. I finally remembered how to take care of myself.

The most irritating sound in the world pulled me from my thoughts, the first bell signaling home room, "Way to go Bella," I muttered to myself. I found myself in the parking lot of my high school and I couldn't remember the drive. Charlie would be so pissed! Deep breath, another deep breath, Ok I can do this.

My morning classes passed quickly and before I knew it I was sitting at my usual lunch table sharing a slice of pepperoni with Angela as she told me about her weekend. She went the beach with her boyfriend Ben. "It was so romantic," she started off, "He blah blah blah. . ." I had successfully tuned it out but was snapped out of my meditation when I heard a familiar voice shout to me, "BELLA!"

I looked behind me to see the newest Forks High School, Justin, making his way over. I couldn't help it, I groaned out loud, "Great".

Angela rolled her eyes at me "This guy is a glutton for punishment," she said quietly.

My eyes shifted unwillingly to Justin and I tried my best to make my uncomfortable sigh quiet as he came closer.

"Bella," he started. I hated the way he leered at me, I always felt like he was imagining me naked, or worse.

I cut him off before he could say anymore, "Justin, wish I could say it is nice to see you, but it's not."

"Ahh Bella, one of these days your going to get tired of playing hard to get and just be the bad girl I know you are." He leaned in closely and whispered in my ear, "Greg said you were amazing, I just wanted to see for myself, I wouldn't want to believe gossip."

I turned my face slightly towards him and said, "Exactly what did you have in mind?"

Justin continued to whisper vile pornographic things in my ear, evoking images that made my skin crawl. I pulled my fisted hand back and let it fly right into his jaw, "I'm sorry Justin, you are really one of the sweetest guys I have ever known but I'm busy tonight."

I was intensely aware of the gawking and whispers around me. Angela jumped up and pulled me away, her arms around my waist.

"Bella. . .," Angela started before I cut her off.

"No way Ang, not now don't even start," I growled. I immediately chastised myself silently. Angela was a true friend and deserved better from me. I stopped walking for a moment and she stopped with me, waiting curiously. I could feel the waves of loneliness threatening to crush me so I studied Angela's kind face for a moment and decided I had to say this now, regardless of how uncomfortable it made me to show my emotions.

"Angela, thank you for being so nice to me. I have really sucked at being your friend, but you have been so sweet to me, and I want you to know that I . . . I. . . .," the loneliness clawed at me. Angela's eyes shimmered with tears that she swallowed down.

"Bella shut up!" Angela giggled and I giggled with her grateful for the normal albeit short teenage girl moment.