1.
What girl wouldn't want to be with Edward Cullen? Besides from his physical appearance, anyone could easily see that the young doctor had everything that took others years to achieve: a large house, girls fawning over him, big time success, and money. It helped Edward a great deal to have such a strong family background in the business world.
His success could be traced back to his grandfather. His grandfather started his cardiology practice after years of learning to become a doctor. His interest in heart surgery came from watching his own father die from the genetic heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM. Over years of numerous life-saving surgeries, Dr. Cullen's achievements took strong notice. He eventually expanded his employment and worked in five different hospitals. The long hours were tiring for the older man and he retired, giving up his spot to his own son, Carlisle Cullen.
Carlisle Cullen, who was still working in hospitals, took over for his father. Carlisle went to school where his father did after he finished high school. His first trail in the medical field was to be an anesthesiologist. After learning about his family history, the college student changed his approach and began to study numerous occupations that had to deal with the circulatory system. During his studies, Carlisle met his future wife and mother to his children, Esme Platt. She was studying to become a nursing assistant. After graduating, Carlisle went on to work at his father's first practice. Esme was hired as a nurse in the natal wing in the hospital. At first, the schedule was overwhelming to the young doctor. It also was hard for him because Esme was pregnant with their first child. Whenever he was performing a surgery, he had to wipe out all thoughts about how Esme was doing and focus on saving a stranger's life.
While Esme was on her lunch break, her water broke. After 32 hours of labor and an emergency c-section, Edward Anthony Cullen was born. His childhood was confusing for him because both of his parents worked long hours and in different hospitals. Edward spent most of his time with neighbors, Elizabeth McCarty and her son, Emmett. Emmett's father was a big time lawyer. Like his father, Edward's first interest wasn't in cardiac medicine. Edward wanted to become a plastic surgeon, but his father disagreed with his decision. Edward argued that plastic surgeons probably made more money than heart doctors. His final decision to switch to cardiology was when his father told him that plastic surgery had nothing to do with saving a life, it could change a life, but there wasn't as much gratitude as saving somebody's beating heart.
Edward went on to work beside his father. He felt that if he went along with the family's profession that he would become closer to his father because he was barely around when he was younger. Scheduling time to see each other was impossible due to all the surgeries and out patients that needed care. On a given day, secretaries would greet them with 180 files for the day. That was without the unexpected emergency surgeries that needed to be performed.
When Edward wasn't working in hospitals, his downtime consisted of catching up with his friends from college and Emmett. He would go out with his friends to bars, clubs, and restaurants. It was a great time for him because he had the money to do it and he didn't have to worry about having to be at the hospital for long hours. Another plus about going out was meeting women. Edward wanted to be in a long-term relationship. He never had the chance in high school because he'd rather not be tied down in his teenage years. He was hoping that he would meet a girl in college, like his father did, but the numerous classes and studying hours left barely any time for Edward to search for a future with anyone else.
The right woman was also difficult for him to find. There had been girls that Edward thought he could see a future with, but they all ended the same. Edward's friends had no trouble telling Edward that he feel in love too easily and that the girls he chose to date were nothing but gold diggers. All it took for Edward to catch a date was telling them that he was a heart surgeon. It was money to the girls' ears and he never caught on because he was blinded by the fact he was in a relationship. He would buy them anything they wanted or surprise them with expensive gifts. A smile would follow and then he'd end up having sex with them. Unfortunately, it wasn't just sex to him and his girlfriends didn't care to take notice. When Edward saw that he was making a mistake with his life he ended the relationships, letting the women keep everything he had ever given because he knew the cycle had to be broken. There had to be a way for him to know that he was giving his heart away and not getting the same love in return.
Tonight, he was going to be breaking up another relationship that he had fallen deep into.
Her long red hair blew in the breeze as she stood on his balcony drinking another glass of champagne. She wore a strapless black and white top that also blew loosely in the air. Her ripped jean shorts were rolled up high enough that they could barely be seen under her top. On her wrist, a gold bracelet dangled. Edward had bought it for her shortly after he had met her at a concert he went to with his college roommate.
Edward stood across from her, keeping himself a distance away, incase she decided to throw her drink on him. His hands were stuffed in the pockets of his black dress pants. The sleeves of his white button up were pulled back to his elbows.
"Where are we going out to eat tonight? I was thinking we could go to that Italian place in the city. It would be the perfect time to wear my new cocktail dress that you bought me when we went shopping last weekend." She told him as she sipped her drink.
"I was actually thinking of staying in tonight, Vic." Edward told her. He swallowed his nerves. He didn't think he would be nervous about breaking up with her because he had done it to so many like her before.
The red head cocked her head to the side. Her almost empty glass was set on the glass table. She walked over to where Edward was standing and snaked her arms around his neck. "What's the fun in that?"
Edward shrugged before shaking his head. "It's nothing. I'm just really tired." He tore his green eyes away from her seductive gaze.
"Was it work, baby?" Her long manicured nails scratched the back of neck.
"Yeah," he cleared his throat, "I had two procedures to perform today. One of them took four and a half hours. I'm probably just going to end up having an early night."
Victoria's arms loosened from around his neck as she eyed him. "I was really looking forward to trying out that restaurant. I already had to cancel on going out with my girlfriends." Her voice came off as whiny and her lips formed a pout.
That was her usual way to get Edward to cave in and agree with whatever she wanted to do. It wasn't going to work on him this time. He couldn't let her pull him into her ways anymore.
"Maybe you can just call them and make different plans." He offered.
She shrugged. "I guess, but," her hands moved from being coiled around his neck to resting on his shaven cheeks, "I really wanted to spend the night with you." Victoria brought his lips down over hers. Her teeth pulled at his lips as she kissed him roughly, dispassionately.
Edward pulled away from her. His hands moved hers from contact with his skin. His fingers wiped against his forehead with his groaning frustration with her and himself. "Listen," he let out a sigh, "I don't think this relationship is working anymore."
She let out a laugh. "What are you talking about? Edward, we're great together. We have fun together, lots of fun." She licked her lips and smoldered her eyes to his.
Edward shook his head. "Don't do that." He warned her, keeping his composure strong.
"You're being serious?" Her tone started to become icy. "Why is it that all of the sudden you want to break up with me? I was good to you, Edward. This doesn't make any sense."
"Like I said, I'm tired. You're a very sexy girl, Victoria, and I need more than a trophy girlfriend."
"Trophy girlfriend?" She asked him incredulously.
Edward nodded. He knew after his explanation that he was going to get smacked in the face. At least, that what happened with the other girls. "You don't love me. You love that I'm a successful doctor who has a lot of money. You're not the first girlfriend that I had because of that."
"No, Edward," she struggled finding the right words to say to him.
"Victoria, it's just the girl that you are. I buy you things and you repay me by using your body. I know that sounds mean, but it's true. It's wrong for both of us to drag on our relationship that way. You don't love me, Vic."
"I can't believe you're doing this to me." Her eyes never once traveled to the jewelry she was wearing. "I'm the best thing that ever happened to you. I can't believe you're going to throw a three month relationship away just because you think I'm dating you for your money, you jackass." Before she stormed away, her open hand collided with his cheek.
"Don't even think about calling me tomorrow asking for me back!" She shouted as her stilettos clicked against his wooden floors.
He closed his eyes when he heard the door slam. He never called them, but they always called him. The calls would come in multiple times for a few days. Edward couldn't count how many pissed off voicemails he received that later turned into love-dovey messages. It wouldn't be long until Victoria Amaretti was moving onto a computer technician or the owner of a modeling agency.
Another girl was weeded out from the rest. It did hurt Edward to have to break up with girls because he thought he connected with them. The beginnings of his relationships were some of his best days. The girls were always nice to him and flirty. Then the days where they would ask him for money or for him to take them places would start. He always aimed to please not knowing that they would prefer him not being around. That way they could flirt with other guys and have multiple banks.
Edward walked over to the railing of his balcony. He leaned his forearms against the metal as his hands joined together. He looked over to the scenery of buildings and lights that covered a strip of the horizon. It was just him, again.
The only hearts that were thankful for him were the ones that he could keep continuing to beat on.
"You broke up with Victoria?" Emmett asked with a tone of shock.
Edward nodded as he brought his beer bottle to his lips. "Yeah, and don't act like you're surprised. I know that none of you guys liked her."
After sitting around his hour during the day, Edward decided to go to a small bar with some of his close friends, Emmett, Jasper, and Jacob. Edward met Jasper Whitlock when he visited Emmett one year for Spring Break. The three of them spent a few days in California, where Jasper's father worked. Jacob Black was Edward's college roommate. He was now working as a technician for a prenatal development clinic. Edward was happy that all of them were able to keep in touch after their fields of work became a majority of their lives.
Jacob mumbled something to Jasper, causing them both to snicker. Jacob looked up to Edward after receiving a glare from him. "Sorry, Edward."
"I'm sure you are."
Emmett put a hand on Edward's shoulder. "Don't listen to him. When's the last time he was even close to having a relationship?"
"Hey, that girl with the belly button ring was a serious thing." Jacob argued. He scowled when the rest of the guys laughed at him.
"So, how did she take it?" Emmett asked Edward.
The night was too easy for him to remember. "They all end the same. She said she was the best thing that ever happened to me and that she wasn't with me because of my money."
"One of these days, you're going to find a girl that doesn't care about any of it." Emmett reassured him.
"I doubt it." Edward took another sip from his beer. "Not all of us are as lucky as you," he pointed over to Jasper, "and Jasper, Emmett."
Emmett nodded. He sure was awfully lucky that his high school sweetheart, Rosalie Hale agreed to marry him. They had been engaged for over a year now. "It will happen. Just don't think about it so much."
"Once again, that's easy for you to say."
"Emmett is right. When I first met Alice, she couldn't stand me. Now, we're near our second year of being together." Jasper added.
Edward sent them a small smile. There was no doubt that he was proud of his friends for being able to find love, well not Jacob, but there was a pang of jealousy that shot through him whenever they talked about their relationships or when Edward saw them all together.
"Let's get back to the reason why we're here. Edward dumped that skank of a red head!" Jacob raised his beer bottle as he shouted.
Edward just shook his head as he clinked his bottle awkwardly against Jacob's. He did the same thing with Emmett and Jasper.
"Have the calls started up yet?" Jasper asked him.
"No calls, but I am getting a ton of angry text messages. Luckily, I can delete them without even having to read them. I'm afraid if I look at what she has to say that I'll end up calling her."
"I don't think you will." Emmett said.
"He could. Don't you remember his break up with Cindy? She sent him sappy apologies and naked pictures of herself. Edward took her back and then they broke up a few weeks after that. These girls have a hold on him." Jacob explained.
Edward knew that Jacob wasn't trying to be rude to him. That was just how Jacob was. Even past all of the jokes, he meant well. Otherwise, Edward wouldn't have agreed to be his roommate through all of those years in college.
"He does have a point. Victoria could be another Sexting Cindy." Jasper told him.
"I thought we were done calling her that?" Edward asked.
"Sorry, it just stuck." He mumbled.
"Hey, at least your parents will be happy that you broke up with Victoria." Jacob told him as he stood up from the table. He opened his wallet and threw some money on the table. "I'll be back. The next round's on me." He shoved his wallet back in his pocket and walked away.
"For the first time tonight, he is right about something." Emmett said aloud.
His parents never approved of any of the girls that Edward dated and he understood exactly why. Edward knew that his parents wanted their son to have a relationship like they had. Until he was able to find anything worth comparing to his parents', Edward decided not to introduce any girlfriends to his parents. He hadn't meant to with Victoria, but she kept insisting that they have gone out long enough. Truthfully, Edward thought that Victoria was right and that their relationship would outlast all of his others.
"I'll be sure to spread the news." Edward told them.
"Hold that thought," Emmett told him as he held up his finger, indicating that he had something to take care of. He pulled out his phone. "It's Rosalie. I have to take this."
"And then there were two." Jasper joked.
The two men were silent for a few moments. Jasper spoke again after noticing that Edward didn't look too thrilled to be out. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm trying to be. I think I broke up with more girls in a year than Jacob has slept with in a month."
"Well, Jacob does sleep around a lot. I don't think you should focus on trying to beat out Jacob."
Edward let out a laugh. "That scares me."
"Have you ever tried enjoying being single? Don't do it like Jacob does. I mean, you work in the number one heart hospital in the state and you're one of the few doctors who can actually perform vascular repairing surgery. That's a huge accomplishment."
Edward nodded and smiled. "It sure is a blessing to have. Thanks, Jasper."
"No problem."
Emmett rejoined them with a frown on his face, causing the two to give him concerned looks.
"Is everything okay with Rosalie?" Edward asked.
"Yeah, she just wants me home because she wants to talk to me about floral arrangements for the wedding placements. Seriously, I'd rather drink beer and talk you through another one of your breakups than talk to Rosalie about flowers." Emmett complained as he put his money onto of Jacob's. "I'll try and call you sometime during the week if I'm not too busy."
Edward nodded. "It's fine, man. Have fun with picking out flowers." Edward chucked.
"What's this about flowers, Nancy?" Jacob asked as he joined the group back up again. He set his shots down on the table. Emmett shook his head and ignored Jacob's comment as he left the bar.
"Where were you?" Jasper asked him.
"Oh, I was on my way to the bathroom and I ran into these very, very hot twins. I started talking to them and before I could really charm them, their boyfriends come over. It sucked. They were so hot."
"You must feel terrible." Jasper told him sarcastically before returning to his calm composure, "I think I'm going to take off, too. I'm sure Alice would prefer if I wasn't out all night when I could be helping her pack up her apartment and move her into mine." Jasper told them.
"You and Emmett are no fun anymore. When you get your balls handed back over to you, we'll be here." Jacob told him.
"At least mine won't be carrying any types of diseases." Jasper bit back. "I'm sorry about Victoria, Cullen."
"It's fine." Edward waved him off so he could go home to his girlfriend.
An arm wrapped around his shoulders. "I guess it's just us now. This works out perfectly because I could always use a wingman." Jacob quickly downed his shot and slammed the glass on the table. His eyes traveled around. "I think the twins would dump their boyfriends if they knew we were both doctors." Jacob hit him on the back before walking away.
Edward let out a long sigh. Even a night with his friends couldn't bring his spirits up. Being with Jacob could easily help Edward forget about having to end yet another relationship, but it could also easily set him up for another failed one.
AN: This story is in the process of being switched from my old account. It was under a different category so there may be mistakes with some names or physical appearances. If you catch them, let me know and I'll correct my errors.
Your feedback is appreciated.
