Isabella

I'm sitting at the kitchen table dumping glitter on a piece of paper. We already had an assignment in art class: describe what love means.

I didn't know what love was until I meet Demitri. How does one describe what love means? All I know is that I have butterflies in my stomach. Everything seems brighter. I can finally breathe again. Nobody ever told me that life would be this great. I would be happier. I'm not even sure if I can call it that since I just met the guy but already it's as if I've found my soulmate. I can finally repair the Edward Cullen sized hole in my heart.

That is only if Demitri loves me back. I wasn't even sure what to call us: friends? Acquaintances?

And how am I supposed to convey love on one piece of paper? That is where glitter and glue come in. Nothing is more sparkly and lively then glitter.

"Bella," my mom sighs. She drops the bags of groceries on the ground. "Did you have to do that in here? Glitter is impossible to get rid of. We're having dinner in an hour."

"It's Isabella now." I say.

I don't look up from the table. I dump on the pink glitter. It made everything shinier!

"Isa- what?" Her voice is confused. "You hate Isabella."

"I'm older now. Bella is a little kids name and I'm not a little kid anymore."

"Well- whatever your name is- clean up this mess right now! You can finish this project tomorrow."

I roll my eyes, becoming increasingly annoyed with my mother. I'd love to move out. Is that an option? I can go live with Angela for the rest of my life.

I bring the project upstairs and come back downstairs and scrub the table clean. Jesus, this stuff really is a pain to get rid of.

My mom brings the plates out for me to set the table. I put one at each spot, excluding my own. I didn't eat with them anymore, yet she still gave me four plates. It was stupid for her to hope. Hope gets you nowhere in life.

I bring my plate back to the kitchen, putting it in the cabinet. There's a pain in my stomach. My mom's attempting to cook broccoli. She knows that it's pointless to argue and lets me go.

It was usually just the two of us at home in the afternoon. My mom was an author and worked from the house. She made absolutely no money but never gave up. I would have been inspired if didn't feel so bad for her.

My dad, on the other hand, was a police officer. He worked long shifts that seemed to get longer every day. My mom may not be the smartest but I knew what was going on. There was another woman. The way my parents fought, I was surprised that they hadn't divorced yet.

Emmett knew it too. That is why he never missed a practice. It was so depressing at home with our family falling apart. I drove him crazy as well as my parents. I bet he was happy that he was leaving next year. He had gotten a football scholarship to Fullerton University in Boston. It was practically across the country and I was certain that he was going to take it. I'd be surprised if he didn't. This was his chance to get out of Forks. You had no hopes for any type of well-paying job in this town and everyone knew that if you didn't get out while you could, you'd be stuck here forever.

Perhaps, I'll move to California someday. Not LA, but somewhere cooler, like San Francisco. I could live on the ocean. It wouldn't be too hot. It wouldn't be too cold. I would be far away from Forks, Washington. It all seemed perfect. I could completely start over. Just like Emmett was.

I stared at the picture of Jacob and I. His big cheesy smile was taunting me. You can never escape me. That was what he was trying to tell me. I couldn't bring myself to take down the picture. No matter how far I ran, he'd always follow. No matter how many boys I fall in love with, he'd always be at the back of my mind.

I close my eyes, trying to block out his face. I am done with Jacob. I am done with Jacob. That was a complete lie. He'd never go away.

I sit with Demitri again. We've been sitting together almost every day for the past week. Today, there is one guy sitting beside him. He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively. Demitri punches him in the shoulder and turns to me.

"Hey Isabella," he says. "I was wondering when you were going to show up."

I can't help but blush. "You were thinking about me?" I put my bags down and take out my laptop.

"Maybe I was." He smiles. "You are kind of hard to forget."

Now, it's my turn to laugh. Just because I got boobs and a makeover, suddenly I'm visible to boys.

"I'm flattered by your compliments," I laugh. "Do you say that to every girl?"

"Only to the prettiest ones." he shrugs his shoulders.

"You're sweet."

"And you don't give yourself enough credit."

"Do you want me to turn into some self-centered bimbo bitch?"

"I want you to have confidence in yourself."

I take a deep breathe then let it out. "If I had no confidence then I wouldn't be sitting here right now talking to you."

"But you are."

"So I am."

"Do you try to deflect attention away from yourself?"

I pause. How do I respond to that? Nobody wanted to see the real me. The real me was sad and depressed and sucked all of the joy out of the room. This was the best he was going to get.

I force myself to smile pushing away all of the bad thoughts. "Ask me anything you want," I challenge him. "I'll answer truthfully."

"Alright," he smirks. "What is your favorite color?"

"It depends on my mood."

"That's not an answer."

"It's the truth!"

"Then what is your favorite color today?"

"Grey."

"I expected you to say pink."

"Pink?" I laugh. "Do you take me for a pink sort of girl?"

"Hey don't attack!" Demitri holds his hands up in defense. "It's a fact that all girls like pink!"

"You should know that I'm not like most girls."

"That... I'm just figuring out."

"Ask me another question. We've got…" I look at the time, "forty-five minutes."

Demitri puts his hand on chin and squints his eyes at me like smart people do when they are trying to solve a problem.

"What are you doing?" I laugh.

"I'm trying to figure you out, Isabella with no last name." he hums. "You know so much about me yet I know so little about you."

I keep a smile plastered on my face despite the sudden onslaught of nerves. He couldn't know who I was. "The whole point of this game is to get to know each other."

"Okay then tell me, what is your middle name?"

"Marie."

"So your name is Isabella Marie still with no last name. Is there some reason you can't reveal your identity to me?" he wonders. "Are you a spy? I bet that you were sent here by the CIA-"

"Stop that! You're being ridiculous!" I giggle.

"Is your real name even Isabella?" He dramatically gasps.

"Well if it wasn't then I wouldn't tell you!" I counter. "Besides, I'd have a way awsomer spy name than, Isabella."

"HAH!" He exclaims. "Awsomer is not a word! Only a spy would make that mistake!"

I scoff and flip my hair over my shoulder. "Did someone call the grammar police?"

"Don't worry he does that to everybody," Demitri's friend pipes in. He laughs, pushing Demitri aside and sticks his fist out to me. I gingerly bump mine against his causing him to laugh. "I'm Alec Danvers," he says. "This dude's best friend."

Demitri chuckles giving him another fist bump. Is fist bumping a guy thing? It seems like they were always doing it.

"Isabella," I softly say. My cheeks turn pink as I look at him. He's got short brown hair, bangs, and brown eyes. His cheeks are puffy causing him to have a babyish sort of face but he still looks as handsome as ever.

"Wait, Isabella?" His eyes widen as if he'd just thought of something brilliant. "We were in Geometry last year together!"

My heart drops to my stomach. Please don't bring up last year. I'm trying really hard to forget about it. He better not mention-

"You were fucking awesome in class!" guffawed Alec.

Oh shit.

Demitri's face turns to one of confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"It's nothing-"

"She punched Felix Hunter in the fucking face. Dude, you should have been there!" He cut me off.

"Y-you did what?" Demitri sputters, staring at me as if I had two heads.

"How'd you manage to land," he lowers his voice. "Psycho Bella?"

My heart drops to my stomach. The water has returned and I can feel the harsh powerful waves knocking against my body pulling me under… deeper and deeper.

"You're Isabella Swan?" Demitri whispers. It's as if he's seen a ghost. I'd never seen anyone look so pale in their life. If I hadn't known any better, I'd think that he was about to pass out. "Shit."

Alec looks back and forth between the two of us. "Uhhhh, guys? Is something wrong?"

Demitri puts his hand up, shushing Alec. "Why didn't you just tell me?"

I roll my eyes. "Are you serious? Would you have even talked to me you'd known?"

Demitri doesn't respond. Of course, he was silent.

"I don't have the best reputation around here," I mutter. "I thought that it would be nice to have one person who didn't know who you were."

"Did it ever occur to you that I might not care who you are?"

"Then why did you call me a slut last year?" I whisper. "You laughed as I cried. You and your god-awful friends tormented me that day."

"You don't know how sorry I am. The guys were just trying to embarrass, Edward. It's their way of joking around-"

"You call that joking around?" I cut him off. "I call that bullying."

"I know what we did was wrong. If I could take it back then I would. Edward gave us hell for doing that to you." Demitri looked torn. I could almost feel the anguish pouring off him.

"Do you believe what people say about me?" I suck on my bottom lip and bite down so hard that the skin breaks.

"Honestly?" he pauses. "No."

"No?" I repeat, shocked.

"You are funny and caring and interesting," he smiles. "You tend to care about others more than yourself and you're the first girl that I've actually been able to have a conversation with."

I'm having a dilemma. It's as if I've been split in two and one part of me wants to forgive him but the other wants to see him burned at the stake for what he said to me. However, he was honest and truthful and meant what he was saying. I wanted to forgive him. I wanted to be happy.

"Please, Isabella," he pleaded. "I know the real you-"

No, he didn't.

Demitri's voice is somber. "I don't want you to go. Let me make it up to you."

My arms are crossed over my chest. I glare lasers into his face, waiting for him to speak.

"I want to take you out."

My mouth drops open. I wasn't expecting him to say that. "W-where?"

"Wherever you want to go."

"Anywhere?"

"Anywhere."

"Fine," I say. "I'm giving you one chance… so… so don't screw it up!"

"Are you guys done fighting?" Alec's voice is hopeful. "I really don't like fighting."

I want to be mad at Alec but I can't bring myself too. From everything I learned about him, he was the typical airhead jock and he meant no ill will towards me. Alec simply just didn't know when to stop talking.

"We're fine buddy," Demitri pats him on the shoulder. "Though maybe next time… think before you speak."

They both needed to learn that.

"Bella!" My name echoes down the hallway. I twirl around to see Edward jogging towards me. His face is bright red as if he's just run from the third floor. He's wearing his football jacket and an Abercrombie and Fitch shirt. Did he ever wear anything else? You could practically see his rock solid abs.

I'd avoided him pretty much the whole summer. The whole point of reinventing myself is to start fresh and get rid of all of my old distractions. Edward was a big distraction.

"What do you want?" I say in a deadpan voice. He stops in front of me, panting like a dog.

"Is it true that you are going out with Demitri Callas?"

"Where did you hear that?"

"Alec."

"Alec," I grumble. Of course, it was Alec. "Wait why do you care?"

"Do you remember what he said to you last year?"

I nod my head. I would never forget.

"Then why are you going out with him?"

"Because I want to," I said. "Do you have a problem with that?"

"Yes," he nods his head. "I do. He's not good enough for you."

"I really don't care what you think." I counter. "I've got to get to class unless you have anything meaningful to say."

"Are you really going to ignore me?" Edward crosses his arms over his chest and raises his eyebrows. He's not letting me leave until he gets his point across.

"Move."

"No."

"I really hate you." I hiss and clench my hands into fists.

"I know you do." He said. "That's why I'm not letting you leave."

"Are you trying to be annoying on purpose?" I roll my eyes. "Because it's working."

"Tanya and I are done. We have been for a while so I don't know why you are still mad at me."

"You really don't get it, do you?" I sneer at him, my eyes are suddenly ablaze.

"I just want us to go back to normal, Bella." he sighs. "Yes, you're right that maybe I could have done more to help you but I'm trying now. I know how much you're hurting. I want to do something."

"You don't know a fucking a thing about me," I said in a calm voice. "You don't want to be around me."

"Then tell me!" Edward raises his voice becoming agitated. "Tell me all about the new you? The new Isabella that starves herself and dresses like she's fucking Heidi Klum. You don't give a shit-"

"Stop!" I cut him off.

"... about the people who actually care about you. All we can do is sit back and watch you destroy yourself."

"Shut up!" I roar. I punch him the chest but he grabs my wrist. Fuck that hurt!

"Emmett told me how you barely eat. You go straight to bed when you get home and are constantly worried about everything."

"You don't care-"

"You don't think that I care!?" He explodes into a fit of rage. "When you were in the hospital after your accident, I sat by your bedside every day and night while you slept. I thought that you would never walk again and it terrified me."

"Y-you did what?" I gasp. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I didn't think that you cared," he mumbled. "Do you remember what you said when you saw me?"

I shake my head. "They had loaded me up with so many drugs."

"You told me to, 'get the fuck out and never come back.'"

"Ed-"

"Don't apologize, Bella. I did what I had to do and I just want you to know that I still care about you. I always have and I always will."

"I'm sorry." I don't know what else to say.

"Don't be sorry," he exhales loudly. "I just want to be here for you. I want to help you. Everyone else may buy this act that you are putting on but I don't. This isn't you, Bella."

"My name is Isabella." I snap at him.

"You hate Isabella."

"I love it now."

"Why are you doing this? Why are you subjecting yourself to all of this torture just to be someone you're not?"

"We've all got parts to play, Edward. I'm done being the weak link. I'm not going to let people walk all over me anymore." I looked him straight in the eyes. "Including you."

"Me?" Edward looks surprised. "What did I do?"

"What didn't you do?" I scoff. "I let you treat me like I was some little kid and you're just telling me now that you liked me? Is that how you treat people that you like?"

"Well, you were a little kid!" He argues.

"I'm only three years younger than you!" I throw my hands up in the air. "Only three years! That's not much of an age difference!"

"You're not even sixteen yet. You're a kid that's trying to act older than you are!"

I glare at him feeling my body tremble in rage. If I didn't get out of here than I was going to hurt someone… most likely Edward.

"Does Demitri know how old you are?" Edward says in a demanding voice.

I don't answer. I'm about to explode. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.

"Are you ever going to tell him? It's not fair if he gets in trouble for-"

"God, Edward!" I whisper-yell as a couple of students walk by. "That won't ever be an issue because we're never going to have, sex!" I whisper the last part. Sex was disgusting and painful. I don't know how people found pleasure in it but I for sure wouldn't let anyone touch me that way again.

"You don't know guys-"

"I know guys perfectly fine. Demitri may have made some bad choices in the past but I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. I don't want to hear you say another word about him or me because I'm going out with him whether you like it or not!"

Edwards' lips press into a thin line, obviously disagreeing with me. "I'm not saying that he is a bad guy. I just want you to be careful."

"You sound like Rosalie." I spit.

"She's right. You can never trust anyone."

"You think that I don't know that?" I whisper.

Edward backs away and watches as I run down the hall, getting further and further away. The bell had already rung and I know that I'm in for it. Damn you, Edward Cullen.

Authors Note:

Hey Everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank y'all for everyone that has reviewed! This is updated version because on the other chapter this was a formatting issue. Also, some have been asking whether Jacob is still going to be in the story. He'll still be mentioned but you won't directly see him in it for a little while. Do y'all think it was right for Bella to give Demitri a second chance? What do you think of Alec, do you think he was intentionally being mean to Bella? Is she too forgiving? What did you think of her and Edward? He seemed genuinly concerned for her. Was he to harsh when speaking to her or that he was just trying to get his point across because Edward knew that she had to hear what he had to say? I hope to hear from y'all in the reviews!

I plan to update again by next week and so until then, enjoy!