I am so sorry this chapter took so long to update. Between the other stories and school, it's just been terrible. However, I have been inspired to create my tough Bella and so here is the next chapter of Hardcore Bella.
Hardcore Bella
Chapter Two: Escape
Some people seem to think they always know what's best for you
Their little minds try to create a world to keep you still
The bolt is thrown, the cage is locked
You saw this, don't you lie
At first you cry and then you hate those people stole your will...: Do you call my name ~ Ra
The morning came too quickly and my body tried to capture the last moments of sleep before I forced myself to get out of bed. For the past few weeks I have been dreading waking up each morning, knowing that it would mean several hours in a building with Edward and the other younger set of Cullens.
After that afternoon with me and Edward, he decided to keep his distance whenever it was necessary, but I could always feel his eyes on my back. Each day I contemplated if this was really worth it. Maybe, I should just forgive him and return to the happiness of the past. Life would be easier for us both. It took up so much energy to be upset all the time and I could see the pain it was causing Edward. Even with my anger, I didn't want to see him suffer.
Yet, each time the thought entered my mind, I remembered each moment I had suffered without him. The feelings of anguish as he walked out on me for 'the greater good', how even now he thought he did the right thing. It refueled my resolve to loathe him for as much as my heart could bear it, even if, in the end, it slowly killed the both of us.
That is the problem with revenge. Two people suffer for it.
After getting ready for school, I went to my car and put the key in the ignition and turned it. It made a gurgling sound and nothing happened. I turned the key again and the same thing happened. "What the nonsense?" I asked as I got out of the car.
When it came to mechanics I was lost, but I knew that it wasn't supposed to make that sound. Charlie had already left early for work so how on Earth was I going to get to school? A horn honked behind me and I turned to see Alice in a red sports car, waving at me, with Edward in the backseat.
"Hey, Bella do you need a ride?" she asked with a sweet smile.
I looked at Alice and wondered, angrily, what was she doing here? Had she foreseen my car troubles or was she the cause of them? Either way it was clear that she was using my situation to further her agenda.
"No thank you," I called back as I headed inside the house. "I will call Mike."
"Mike is already at school," Alice said, her smile never dropping. "Everyone is already at school. There is no other way for you to get there. Just let us take you."
My eyes darted towards Edward in the backseat, he was watching me through the corner of his eye and I gave him a glare before turning back to Alice. "No, I'll just walk then."
"Bella, don't be stupid, it's too far and it's going to rain."
Ignoring the pixy haired vampire, I pulled my bag out of the backseat of my truck and started walking in the direction towards school. Looking at the time, I frowned; it was seven twenty. School started at eight fifteen. I was going to be late.
Alice's sports car followed me as I kept walking down the road. I didn't dare look at it and slid my headphones into my ears allowing the sounds of Lacuna Coil to distract me from the rain that was pouring down on me. My hood offered me some protection, but it didn't save my bag, which was going to be ruined.
My mind told me that it was stupid to hold a grudge at a time like this, but I was angry with both of them at this point. Even if Alice did only see my car troubles in a vision and didn't cause them, if she was really my friend she would have come alone instead of trying to force me to forgive Edward.
Looking at my watch, I scowled; eight o'clock and still thirty minutes away from school. If I ran, maybe I could make it, but the fear of falling flat on my butt in front of the two vampires forced me to just keep trotting at my safe pace.
"Are you going to stop being silly now?" Alice asked, as she drove next to me. Looking across at the car, I could see that she found this somewhat amusing.
Stopping I turned around and walked to the car, putting my wet hands on the edge of the window. "Leave. Me. Alone," I told her sharply before walking away from them.
I heard Alice sigh before the sound of their engine filled my ears and they sped off at their usual breakneck speed.
Even with them gone, I still didn't run. At this point, I had more reason to just continue walking in the rain then to go and join them in an enclosed space for seven hours.
I finally reached school a half-hour late and walked into the building, leaving small puddles in my wake. Slowly I went to my locker and tried to salvage my books for the rest of the first period. As the bell rang to dismiss class I saw Mike come up to me.
"Bella, there you are!" he exclaimed. Seeing my situation he cursed and started helping me dry my books. "Why didn't you call me? I would have picked you up!"
"You were already at school, by seven twenty. I didn't want to make you drive back," I told him as I wiped off my Math book.
Mike's eye brow rose as he started drying my English book. "What are you talking about? I didn't get here till eight."
I felt the vein in my forehead pulse slightly and opened my locker, put my head inside and let out a scream. I could feel the eyes of everyone in the hall on me, but I didn't care. I was livid! Alice not only, most likely, damaged my engine, but she lied to me! She would have rather me walk in the rain than call Mike.
Mike patted my back in comfort, not knowing why I was upset, but deciding to just try and help me anyway. Even though I didn't like Mike in that way, I was glad to have him as a friend. The bell rang for second period and I pulled my head out of the locker.
"Go ahead to class Mike, I'll be okay," I told him softly.
He reached up and wiped tears of frustration from my eyes, tears I didn't even know I had shed. "Are you sure Bella? I don't mind missing math."
I shook my head and gave him a small hug. "Don't worry, Mike, I'll be fine. I'm hardcore remember?" I joked to try and hide what I was feeling.
Smiling back at me, Mike gave me a small pat on the shoulder before he dashed to class. Grabbing my book bag and some papers, I headed to the girl's bathroom. Hopefully, the hand dryer would be able to fix some of the damage.
Kicking the door open with my foot, I went inside and saw Alice standing by the dryer with a small grin. She pressed the button and started it for me. "There you go."
Not taking my eyes off her, I walked over to the dryer and put my bag under it. "Do you have Edward hidden in one of the stalls?" I asked coldly.
Alice giggled and shook her head. "No, in fact, he is really mad at me for letting you walk in the rain this morning. He thinks I should have just let you call Mike."
I snorted. "Ya think!"
Alice's smile dropped slightly and I could feel her topaz eyes on mine. "You and Edward belong together," she said in that all knowing mystic voice. "It is fate."
"Really?" I asked snootily. "Well, Alice, if it is fate why do you seem so worried?"
My dark eyes met her light ones and I could see her eyebrow twitch in annoyance. She wanted me to be with Edward and become her sister; we were to be best friends. Maybe, she felt like I was taking something away from her. Yet, for a supposed best friend, she sure didn't want to see my side in the matter.
"Oh, I'm not worried, but sometimes fate needs a little push," she answered.
"Well, I don't like being pushed," I told her sharply. "I am angry at Edward right now and if you are just going to try and force me to be with him, then just don't come around me. At all."
The force at the end of my sentence shocked me a little bit. I wasn't used to be being so forceful with anyone or being so mean. A part of me was worried that this was becoming the new me, but another part of me liked being in control.
Alice looked at me carefully as if capturing this moment and saving in her mind for another time. "Alright Bella, just remember what I said. It's fate for you two to be together."
With that she left the bathroom and I felt my heart pounding in my chest with a feeling that I hadn't felt in a long time: Fear. The ominous way Alice spoke left me on end. She knew things I didn't, things I would never know.
Maybe, Edward and I were fated to be together, but it didn't mean I had just sit around and let it control me. Suddenly the walls of the bathroom felt too close and my breath seemed tight. I had to get out of this place.
Never in my life have I ever skipped school, but today I couldn't stay. Running out of the girl's bathroom, I didn't even head back to my locker. Nothing could keep me in this place.
Going out into the parking lot, I noticed the rain had stopped and I saw someone I hadn't seen in months. Edward's other sister. The one who hated me. The beautiful Rosalie Hale was standing there leaning on her new red convertible.
What was she doing here? There was no way in hell she was trying to get me and Edward back together.
She stood up straight as I came closer. "Come on," she said casting me a small glance. "Let's get out of here."
Her eyes shot up for a moment and I followed her gaze. In the window, three floors above were Alice and Edward looking at us. Dark looks in all three of the sibling's eyes. They were split again over me yet again, except this time Rosalie was on my side.
Breaking the staring contest she pulled the door open for me and went to the driver's seat. I nearly ran into the car and closed it behind me. As the engine revved I looked back at Edward and Alice with a triumphant smile.
I had for the moment, escaped fate.
A/N: Alright, Bella wasn't as mean in this chapter as she was in the last one, but I think that in the context of the story its easy to see why she would be p..
