Everyone said that we were too young to get married. They all said that we were too immature to know what real love was. I first laid eyes on Isabella Marie Swan she was working at a Mexican restaurant handing out free shots of tequila to our party for my brothers birthday. As soon as I set my sights on her it was game over, I was completely mesmerized by the way her body moved under her garish yellow and red uniform. Her long ruby hair was pulled into a bun to show off the delicate contours of her perfect face, from the moment our eyes met while she set down the shot glasses I just knew that I had to have her. I had started my pursuit at the beginning of the week and after eating my own body weight in tacos and quesadillas I finally landed myself a date. I always thought of myself as a smooth operator when it came to the ladies but Bella had bet me to it and on my final bill she had written down her telephone followed by a little heart. From that moment I couldn't imagine my life without her right by my side. We spent almost every waking second together just wrapped in each others arms and going to any music event that we could find. We became a trio after a year of dating which was a surprise to both of us but in the most perfect way. I thought I knew what love was but I felt my heart explode in my chest when the nurse laid my little boy in my arms. We had gotten married in a little ceremony in the city just a few months later, I couldn't imagine that life could get any better than this.
I stumbled towards the door with blurred vision as I tried to guide my key around the hole in an attempt to make my way inside. I had been working at a bar for a couple of months while Bella was working on her writing in the hope of landing a job with a magazine in the city. Saturday nights were usually the nights that I was asked to stay behind and things always seemed to escalate into our own private party. I eventually fell inside with a groan when my face made contact with the hardwood floor. "I'm in trouble" I mumbled to myself seeing the bedroom light turn on and illuminate the staircase. I pushed myself to my feet kicking the door closed going to head to the kitchen to forage for a late night snack. I had intended to grab some left over pizza or a turkey sandwich but instead I would be served a plate of harsh whispers with a side of a slap around the face. I rummaged through the fridge with a deep sigh hearing the kitchen door open behind me, it was go time.
"Do you honestly think that this is acceptable?" Bella snapped from the doorway as she folded her arms over her chest with a raise of her eyebrow.
"I'm home from work. I'm hungry...sorry?" I rolled my eyes grabbing a bag of chips from the cupboard leaning back against the counter as I shoved a few into my mouth.
"Working in a bar doesn't mean that you have to pass out in it too. You didn't call and now you have woken up Cooper" I watched through my blurry eyes as took a step towards me with clenched fists. "This isn't just a one off. You do this all of the time!" Her eyes were wide with anger and the colour began to rise on her chest as the rage raced through her veins.
"I'm making a living for us while you play J.K Rowling" I brushed her off stepping around her to head upstairs to the bedroom. "I'm sorry that I don't work in a bank or do something boring. I'm sure you would love that"
"I would love for you to join us for breakfast or be awake to take our Son to daycare...you are not involved in this family anymore, Edward.."
"Fine, I'll find a new job and I'll be involved" I slipped off my leather jacket and kicked off my boots to head up to bed. "You know that you're not exactly a ray of sunshine yourself"
"I think we should maybe have some time apart.." She nodded looking at the ground shuffling her feet nervously. "Things are so hard with you...I am finding it hard to even love you right now"
"...You want a divorce?" I frowned deeply as I spun around on my heel to face her, the words hit me like a punch from Mike Tyson. "You can't be serious...we love each other, right?" I asked in barley a whisper. "Bella.."
"I just need to not be around you for a while. You are sucking the life out of me and it isn't fair, Edward" She breathed out as a few stray tears rolled down her flushed cheeks. "I packed some things for you"
"Baby, please. I really will try harder" I pleaded as I cupped her face leaning down kissing her for a moment, I felt a brief shred of hope as she ran her hands over my forearms kissing me for a second. "I'm sorry"
"I have heard all of this before. I...we can't take any more of this" She sobbed as she pulled away putting on a smile as Cooper appeared at the top of the stairs with his hair stuck in all directions and his astronaut pyjamas in complete disarray. "Hi, monkey. Why don't you go back to bed and I'll be up in a little bit?"
"Daddy read" Cooper mumbled sleepily as he rubbed his big brown eyes with the heel of his hand.
"I'm going to see Auntie Allie for a little bit. Mommy will read you a story and I'll be back in the morning, kay?" I put on the best smile that I could muster as I sucked in a deep breath to sober myself up before going up the stairs to scoop my little boy into my arms. I held him tightly against me for a moment feeling my eyes filling with tears as Bella sobbed quietly at the bottom of the stairs. "I love you. Go to bed and be good for Mommy" I placed a kiss on his head before setting him back down watching him shuffle back towards his bedroom with a yawn.
I had no idea where I was going and right now I had no consideration for the amount of alcohol that I had consumed tonight but my only option was the drive to a secluded spot. I couldn't face either of my siblings right now, how was I going to explain this if it hadn't sunken in yet? My hands gripped the wheel tightly as I focused on the road ahead of me hoping to stay out of the sight of the cops for now. The sound of Kanye West blared out from the radio as a minor distraction from the aching in my chest, my heart was broken and I had no idea how I was going to fix things with Bella. I slammed on my breaks when I reached Emmett's driveway the whole house was in darkness as they slept peacefully and content that neither of them had ruined their marriage. I shut off the car tossing the keys into the passenger seat my eyes fixed on my brothers bedroom window as I sat frozen in my place. I had no idea what I wanted to happen but the tears began to fall from my eyes the realization finally hitting me like a steam train. I dragged my hands over my face my whole body shaking as the violent sobs escaped my lips. I rested my head back against the leather seat taking a deep breath to compose myself as my eyes fell closed.
"Edward?" Emmett's muffled voice asked as I jerked awake looking through squinted eyes at the large silhouette in the steamed up window. The sky now burnt a deep orange as people rose from their beds to start the usual morning routine.
"Hi.." I smiled slightly opening the door looking up at my older brothers concerned face.
"I love seeing you but it's 5am. What is going on?" He asked running his hand through his curly hair as he leaned against my car in his running gear. I stole a glance at myself in the rear view mirror groaning quietly at the sight of my bloodshot eyes and bags the size of Jack Nicholson's ballsack for good measure. I pushed myself out of the car with a groan grabbing his bottle of lemon water from his hand taking a couple of long gulps to ease the burning in my throat.
"Bella and I broke up last night" I could barely say the words as the thoughts of Bella flooded my mind again. We had spent almost every night together for four years and now we were over, I had no idea what I was going to do without her. I felt like a little kid who had lost his parents in a supermarket.
"Fuck.." Emmett's green eyes widened as he processed the information. "Do you think you are going to fix it? Maybe it was just the heat of the moment? Rosalie has thrown a shoe at my head before?"
"It wasn't one of those fights. Apparently she is finding it hard to love me" I explained with a slight shrug and a sad smile. "I'm going to go see Coop this morning and try to explain things to him" I felt my eyes welling up again at the mere thought of trying to explain to him that Mommy and Daddy wouldn't be living together anymore. Emmett's large paw slapped my back as he pulled me in for a tight hug which almost knocked the air out of my body. "How do I tell him, Em?"
"I wish that I could tell you I really do. I'll make us some chocolate pancakes and we can talk? You really need a shower too, you smell like Charlie Sheen" He scrunched his nose playfully leading me into the house. "I'm going to ignore the DUI for now because you are upset but if it happens again I am going to kick your ass. Is that clear?" He raised his eyebrow going to the kitchen to start on the pancakes.
"Crystal" I nodded heading for the stairs to go and clean up.
A/N Okkayyyyy, I know that I had stories open already but I am seriously struggling with muse and having a super shitty time. I need to write and I love reading reviews so this is my fix. I hope you all enjoy the story and I would love to know what you think :) Lauren xx