I apologize for the late night update and the length, but I'm doing NaNoWriMo, so I'm a little busy with both. Anyhow, I hope you enjoy this chapter. It was not betaed so I apologize for any errors. This is the last update of this story for now, I hope you will all check out Healing Broken Hearts which will be updated next tuesday!

Hardcore Bella

Chapter Eleven: Baby Steps

It's a little funny how one hair cut can somehow change the way people see you.

When I arrived home from Dani's house, covered in sweat, sporting the new look, dad had been clearly taken aback.

"Bells?" he gaped, looking up from the food he was experimenting with on the stove. "What's with the new look?"

Laughing I walked over to him, observing the yellow creation that was steaming in the pot. "I thought men weren't supposed to notice things like that?" I asked taking a spoon from the counter. Dipping it into the pot I took a sip of something that tasted like chicken broth. "Needs a little bit more salt."

"Well, it's hard not to notice when you come in missing inches of hair," he replied, grabbing the salt and adding a few taps into the pot. "I'm trying a new soup recipe."

"Your cooking skills have been improving rapidly," I noted with a grin. "Is there someone you are trying to impress?"

A small blush reddened his cheeks and I brought my hands to my mouth in excitement. "Oh my God, there is someone isn't there. Oh Dad!" Laughing I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, bringing him into a hug.

He shrugged lightly and turned his head away from me. "Can't a man just want to better himself with a necessary skill? I have to eat and eating out isn't the best thing now is it?"

"Ahuh," I dismissed with a wave before kissing his cheek. "Well I hope she is a nice girl, because I would like to have one step-parent I like." Wincing slightly I gave my dad a look. "Don't tell mom I said that."

"I don't even know what you said," he said stirring the pot. "I do know that it's almost midnight and you better get into bed for school soon or I'm grounding you."

Forcing a mock sound of disbelief, I shook my head and placed one more kiss on his cheek. I started to walk away, but I turned back and wrapped him in a tight hug around his middle. "I'm really happy for you daddy."

Before another word could be spoken I ran upstairs and started pulling off my sweaty gym clothes. I can't remember the last time I'd ever gotten rid of so many bodily fluids.

Eww that sounded nasty.

Shaking my head I grabbed a towel off the rack to take a quick shower before heading off to bed.

Every muscle in my body ached now that I had given myself time to feel it. The hot water was a welcome friend on my joints and muscles. Yet, despite the soreness, it was the best I'd ever felt. For the first time I truly understood the power of my own body in terms of my own physical strength.

I enjoyed being strong.

After I was dried up I crept into my bed and allowed the lingering smell of my shampoo to flow through me.

0o0

Sausage filled my nostrils when I woke up. Fresh, not the microwave heated crap that I'd been so used to. Dad was really getting the hang of this cooking thing.

Climbing out of bed, I stretched my body up high, trying, despite my average height, to reach the ceiling, then dipped down to the tips my toes. Dani said that it would help to relax my body in the mornings.

I didn't feel completely relaxed, but the morning tension in my body was ebbing away the more I repeated the steps.

Going to the mirror I took a look at myself with short hair, for the first morning of my life. I hardly even needed a brush; I just smoothed it down with my hands. Reaching to the headdress I grabbed a headband and placed it on my head.

Frowning at my reflection, I yanked it off. I looked like one of those French schoolgirls from that cartoon. Walking over to my closet I saw the barrage of jeans, long skirts and shirts. I wanted to try something new.

The sun was out. Why not show some leg? Sure I was almost as pasty as Edward, but honestly, who cares?

I owned a total of five skirts. None of them above the knee, but there was one that came almost close. But I wasn't really in the mood for that. My hands rummaged through the closet until I found it. My denim dress.

My mother brought it for me years ago, in an attempt to make me more feminine, but at the time I was too afraid to show anything besides my face and arms in public.

I slipped it over my head, smoothing it over my body. It is sad to say, I haven't developed much in the last few years. It came down to the area right above my knees and flared out a little. The top was short sleeved and had a few buttons missing from the collar area, but it wasn't as if I had the proportions to stop traffic. Fixing myself in the mirror one more time I added a light layer of lip-gloss before, grabbing my black flat boots and my school bag I ran down to for breakfast.

Charlie was taken aback by my new look, but he didn't voice it other than the quick one over to ensure the skirt sufficed his dad-radar.

Unfortunately, once I reached school everyone was quick to comment on my appearance.

"Looking good Bella!"

"What caused the change?"

"You look so good with short hair!"

Don't get me wrong, I was enjoying the complements, but what did that mean I looked liked before the change?

Nevertheless, I was enjoying my day.

Until Edward appeared beside my locker. Glaring at him, I was tempted to walk away to avoid contact, but I wasn't going to allow him to keep my books hostage. With strong strides I walked over to the locker and twirled my combination.

"Can we speak?" he asked softly in my ear.

"As long as I don't have to answer you," I responded coolly, "and as long as you keep Alice away from me." Grabbing my books I slipped them into my book-bag. "You have five minutes before the bell. Speak."

Edward made a motion to grab my arm, but I moved backwards quickly. With a defeated nod he tilted his head towards the empty cafeteria. We walked over to the usual Cullen table and I took my seat opposite him.

"Well?"

"Since when do you carry a gun?" he asked sternly.

"Why is that any of your business?"

"When you use it to harm a member of my family it becomes my business," he struck back sharply and I felt a small surge of guilt.

"Excuse me, but when she grabbed me and threatened me, I felt I had the right to defend myself."

"Alice would never hurt you! I would have been able to tell!"

"That's not my problem," I shot back. "Unlike you I can't see into people's minds and I'm sorry, but if a damn vampire is going to try and grab me, I'm not exactly going to give her room to eat me!" Taking a deep breath I leaned back in the chair and folded my arms over my chest. "Besides, I knew that it wouldn't hurt her for real."

"But your learning," he noted, "learning how to kill us."

"Learning to protect myself," I corrected.

"From me."

"From Victoria," I hissed. "From Aro and the Volturi or did you forget that they are going to come after me and kill me for knowing too much about your kind?"

Edward was silent for a moment before leaning in close to me. "I would never let them hurt you. We can…"

"Edward, it's not your responsibility," I told him softly. Sighing I raked my fingers through my hair. "Look, I broke up with you and when I did that your duty to me was broken. It's not your job to protect me that had to be on my shoulders. Besides, it wouldn't be fair to you."

"But you are willing to ask those others for help," he struck back. "They are no different from me."

"I didn't say they were, but I never dated either of them."

"Maybe you're trying to."

My eyes widened and I felt my body rise of the chair in a slow threatening way. "Don't tell me that you think I'm trying to date Jason?"

He didn't answer me and I felt the urge to slap him, if it wouldn't hurt so badly. "Now you listen to me Edward Cullen! What I do is my own business and I shouldn't have to explain to you why protecting myself is important! It doesn't matter what I may or may not feel for him in the future, my priority is keeping everyone I love safe. Which includes you too, but don't think that'll always be the case especially with that attitude."

Moving away from the table I stomped down the hall, past my class and into the girls bathroom. Gripping the sink tightly I dry heave into the pristine whiteness, I wanted to vomit and ruin it.

Why did he have to upset me so much? All I wanted was time to get over him without running into the arms of someone else and now he made it sound as if I was doing just that. Sure Jason was cute, but I wasn't doing this training to get in his pants. I was doing it because I needed to be strong.

Wetness dropped on my hands and I recoiled to see a tear. Sighing I wiped my eyes and tried to collect myself.

"You know the truth," I told myself. "Do not –not- let him bring you down." Washing my face in the sink I felt my phone vibrate rapidly. Sighing, I reached it and answered it. "Hello?"

"Are you alright?" Dani's voice answered.

"You care?"

"Fine bitch, if you want to be all rude and shit," she scoffed. "I just called to see you if you were up for some training after school."

"Oh God yes!" I exclaimed. "When and where!"

"Calm down newbee," she laughed. "We'll meet by your place, around three."

"Why aren't you in school today?" I asked wondering for the first time why I hadn't seen them at all today. We had different schedules and art wasn't until after lunch.

"Well, some of us have to work. Guns don't buy themselves now do they? Chao."

0o0

The school day went by faster once I kept myself focused on the goal at hand. Getting out to practice. Edward kept himself far from me, but I could feel his eyes on my back constantly. Part of me wanted to scream, the other part wanted to cry.

The final bell rang and I practically leaped out of my seat in an attempt to avoid him trying any last minute confrontation.

He didn't even ask me if he thought my hair was nice, I sulked silently, knowing how immature it sounded, but not caring at all. I wanted to feel spiteful since it made everything hurt less, like his defense of Alice.

Grabbing my keys I went into my truck and drove home, thankful that icey road season wasn't near.

When I got home I saw Jason sitting on my steps, his and Dani's van in the driveway, his hand vigorously drawing on a sketchpad with a graphite pencil. As I got closer I could see smudges on his hand.

"Why are you waiting out here? Was my dad not home?"

"Oh he's home," Jason grumbled blowing on the sketch before flipping it closed. "I just couldn't take it anymore. It's kind of disgusting."

"What is?"

He tilted his head towards the window to the living room. Frowning, I peaked in on my tiptoes. I saw Dani in with my dad. They were talking. Okay. Wait, they were laughing. Dani was laughing? And smiling. At my dad? A shudder ran through my body and I turned my face away, making a grimace.

"I know," Jason empathized. "She's like my mother so it's giving me the creepers like you do not even know."

"How did this even start?"

"She was talking to him outside the diner were she works and when I went to pick her up there were…flirting." He shuddered. "I talked to her when we were driving her and she told me that she was only flirting because he's a cop." Jason shook his head. "Except as soon as we reached here, they were at it again."

"But, he knows better. She's only nineteen, at least to his knowledge."

"Well," he started slowly, as if afraid to even say it, "it wouldn't be illegal for them to…you know."

"Ugh! Jason!" I yelled covering my ears. "That's so damn disgusting?"

"What Bells" Dad asked coming to the door with Dani standing behind me, shooting me a glare. "You alright."

"I'm…fine," I managed to grunt through a false smile. "Just thinking about something gross I saw on television last week."

Nodding he opened the door for Dani and gave her a sweet smile. "I'll see you tomorrow for the lunch shift?"

"Yes, I'll make sure there is some fresh coffee waiting for when you come in Charlie," she said tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Eyes wide I turned all the way around to face Jason and mouthed 'Charlie' to him, only to have him shudder in response.

Dad turned to me and waved me goodbye. "Have fun with your new friends, Bells. I'm glad to see you branching out."

"Oh I'm sure you are," I whispered, only to have Dani pinch me lightly when he turned to go inside.

Dani's smile and sweet demeanor left as soon as my dad did. Although I saw her eyes linger towards the door as she spoke.

"What was that all about?" I asked sharply.

Dani cocked her eyebrow. "What's what all about?"

"You. Flirting. With. My Father!" I said sharply.

Dani took a step towards me and sighed. "I told Jason so I'm telling you. I'm doing this to get information and to keep our cover. Understand?"

You are so full of shit right now, I'm almost embarrassed for you, I thought, but I just nodded. I really wasn't in the mood to fight with anyone right now.

"Alright gang," she announced walking towards the back door of her van. "I hope you are all ready for some intense training. Especially you Bella, we have an obstacle course prepared for you out in the forest tonight."

"Why at night?"

"Better, most vampires hunt at night, especially humans. They like to play with their food, thinking that they are so much better. The best way to learn how to kill one is to learn how they think." As she opened the back of the van, I saw a duffle bag. "Suit up honey, time to get bad-guys."

Climbing into the back, Dani closed it behind. A few seconds later I heard the front doors open, shut, then the purr of the engine.

Stripping off my dress, I changed into the sweats that had been put for me in the bad, including a sports bra. How did she know my size? Hopefully that wasn't a detail she picked up from my father.

Ugh, the thought made me want to heave. Sure dad was young and still kind of good looking, but he was a dad. He was supposed to be looking at mom type girls, not young-looking women with curves and attitude.

Please God let this be a midlife crisis.