Author's Note: I apologize for my absence but I have not been feeling well mentally. I feel over worked and restless, so I slowed down my updating. But don't worry, it's not permanent. Please don't feel shy and feel free to suggest ideas for me to implement into the story because I don't know if I'll be as productive as usual for a few days. Anyways, here's the chapter.

Previously:

"Isabella, were you raped as a human, too?"

Now:

"Why does it matter to you? Don't pretend like you, of all people, actually care!" I retorted, coldly.

"Bella, I know that we weren't exactly best friends in the past, but-" Rosalie began, but she immediately stopped when she heard my maniacal laugh.

"Rosalie," I began in a pained voice, surprising even myself. "You hated me for something that I couldn't even control. My humanity? You hated me because I was human? Well, are you happy now? I've been curse to the same existence that you have. Except, I'm alone. I have no one to comfort me when I cry, or to buy me things that we both know I don't need. You have it all, Rosalie. A family, friends, beauty and an amazing husband is all within arm's length and yet you despised me because of my humanity. When will you open your eyes and appreciate it?" I ended with a rhetorical question, knowing that I had gotten my point quite clear.

"That's why I would like to let you know that I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I was too focused on myself to realize that your problems were already too much to deal with. And I apologize for that." This shocked me, as well as the rest of the Cullen clan. After I accepted that this wasn't an alternate universe or something, I responded in a soft tone.

"And I forgive you. I forgave you decades ago, all of you. But, I still can't trust any of you. I've been through enough and under normal circumstances; I wouldn't have held it against you. Obviously, there isn't anything normal about this situation, so I need all of you to leave me alone, please." I said, almost pleadingly. Before I turned around to leave, I saw that Alice and Edward were having a silent conversation, but didn't bother to listen to it. I turned around and began walking away when Edward stopped me, yet again.

"Yes, Edward?" I sighed, as I turned back around to face him. He seemed hesitant.

"Isabella, please just listen to me for a minute. We have to explain." I could tell that he didn't have a doubt in his mind, that I would turn him down again. But I chose to humor him.

"Fine." I looked at my watch and noticed that the Anniversary Ball was in twenty four hours exactly. That's plenty of time, I guess. Everybody began explaining themselves at the same time and I giggled slightly at the sight. Edward must've told them how I left during his explanation in the woods. They all stopped and looked at me like I was foreign.

"What?" I asked, once my giggling slowed down.

"You…laughed." Edward answered, with a smile.

"And…" I prompted, as I laughed again.

"It was beautiful." Alice commented.

"Okay… so, you're supposed to be explaining…" I began.

"Okay. Bella, I—"Edward began, only to be disrupted by me…again.

"I'm Isabella." I said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

"Okay well, Isabella, we didn't leave because I didn't love you." When he said these words again, I felt that feeling of betrayal and anger come back to me. And it hurts. I tried not to let the tears that I've been holding fall freely. And as much as I tried to hold them back, they did anyways. First, one tear trailed down my right cheek, and then another, and another, until I couldn't hold them back anymore. I turned my head in a futile attempt to hide them.

"Isabella, that's not—"Edward tried.

"No, it's fine. I just…" I began wiping the defective tears away. "I'm fine." I knew that this wasn't true. I was anything but 'fine'. But maybe if I say it enough times, it might become true.

"Isabella, I left to protect you, not to hurt you. I would never intentionally hurt you. I thought that I was doing the right thing because you were so fragile and you were always the only one to get hurt. I hated seeing you in pain, especially when it's my fault. But, now I've realized that I can't live without you, Isabella. It kills me to stay away from you. And when I went back to beg and grovel for your forgiveness, I found out that you and your family were dead. I couldn't get myself killed because of the look in Esme's eyes when she heard that you were dead. She couldn't bear to lose another child. I am so sorry for all of the pain that I have caused you. Please, Isabella, I need you to forgive me and give us another chance. Can you do that for me? For us?"

Edward's explanation only angered me further. He chose my future for me. He did what he thought was best. And this was the result of his decision. Somewhere during his explanation, the tears began to fall again. And I did nothing to stop them.

"Edward…of course, I forgive you." I said, with a slight smile. He rushed forward to hug me, but I stopped him by putting up my physical shield. "But… I don't think I can love you again. Look at where it got me last time. I can't be hurt by you, Edward. The pain was unbearable. I can't…I won't put myself through that again." I explained, as the tears fell relentlessly and I don't even know why I'm crying. I began having flashbacks of my life and tried to stop them, but couldn't.

Flashback

After hours of searching, I've finally found what I have been looking for. I slowly stepped into our. No. HIS meadow. The sun glistened on the flowers, causing series of vibrant blues, violet purples and luscious reds to dance across the floor of the meadow. I lowered myself onto the bed of lilies in the middle of the clearing and couldn't even bring myself to cry. Why me? Why did he have to toy with my heart? Eventually my silent sobs filled the field and I didn't even reach up to dry my useless tears.

"Bella." I didn't even feel the need to be afraid. What good would that do?

"Hello, Victoria." I whispered, as I stood and turned to face my murderer. The reason for everything tragic that has happened and that will happen in the near future. Her hair whipped around her head like flames in a storm. I hadn't noticed how windy it had gotten since I'd reached the meadow.

"A little lonely, are we?" she taunted, while stalking towards me in a cat-like grace.

"You could call it that." I played her game and began taking minute steps in her direction. Maybe my death wouldn't be so bad. Maybe this pain will go away and I wouldn't have to force a numbing calm on myself to manage it. Maybe.

"Where is your mate? Hunting? I'm sure he wouldn't leave you alone and miss out on all of the fun." She said, obviously referring to Edward. Now that hurts. But I continue the journey to my own death and force myself to be numb once again.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you but he is no longer my mate. So…where is your mate? I'm sure he'd love to be here as well. You should've brought him. We would've definitely had a grand time." I knew that it was Edward who killed James and that she was seeking revenge by killing me. Why waste time torturing myself?

Her fiery red eyes turned into the wildest shade of black and it seemed like the once beautiful meadow began to wither and die in her presence. She crouched and pounced, colliding with my entire mid-section. The breath was immediately knocked from my lungs and I struggled to breathe as she pinned my arms to my side and my legs to the ground with her knees. I looked up into her 'burning pits of hell' eyes as she lowered her teeth to my neck. I felt the pain as soon as she bit me but that wasn't what scared me. It was when she pulled back up and looked me into my eyes with an evil grin on her painfully beautiful face. She wasn't going to kill me. She was going to change me.

"What the hell are you doing?" I screeched through the pain coming from my neck and spreading throughout my entire body. The fire was unrelenting as it coursed through me and crystallized my bones and internal organs.

"I'm just showing you how I feel. And partial death would be the perfect way to do that. Welcome to the undead." She laughed, as I squirmed in pain.

I stop struggling and let the fire consume me. As I burned, I willingly let unconsciousness envelope me.

End Flashback

My eyes opened to six very confused Cullens. But one wore an expression identical to mine. Edward. My mind went blank as I noticed how…unprotected I felt. Has my shield been down this entire time?

"Yes. Yes it has." Edward responded, to my surprise.

Great.

Author's Note: Hmm. Edward has finally gotten a look into Isabella's mind. But does he like what he finds. I seriously doubt it. Oh, and HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Now all I need is a valentine...