Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or its Characters.

Ok, New Story I am kicking around. The first couple of chapters will flash back a lot to their history and then it will pick up to the present.

I hope you like, please let me know if you do.

Life's Little Lessons

Chapter 1

I was trying to hurry to get the things that I needed and get back home to make dinner for Charlie, reading down my list at what I needed.

Cheese

Bread

Butter

Chicken

Basil

Tomatoes

My head was down, and I remembered that I needed tomatoes so I turned to walk over to produce when I walked straight into something hard.

"Oh, I am so sorry" I stammered to the man's back.

He turned around to face me "No that's o-ok" his eyes wide as he looked into mine.

I saw a face that I hadn't seen for 6 years staring back at me.

"Bella" he said amazement shining through his shock.

"Edward, How are you" I asked, never in my wildest (ok maybe wildest) dreams did I ever think I would come face to face with the man, that in high school I dreamt of marrying.

"I'm good Bella, when did you come back into town?" Does he live here, I wondered Renee had never mentioned that he was here, but then again I guess I never really asked.

After our relationship had ended our senior year, we had both moved on, him first (bitterness crept through me, that's odd) and then me, once I went away to college life in Forks faded back into the shadows, now here he was staring me in the face again.

"I came home to help Renee take care of Charlie, his having a hard time since the accident and she thought it would be nice if he had some company" I really didn't need to get into the details of the other reason why I was home.

"How is Char-" he started to ask when his pocket started beeping, pulling out a pager, he turned to me and said "That's the hospital, I have to go, I hope to see you again while your in town" and he set his basket down and left.

I picked it up looking at it, razors, shampoo, deodorant, bread, toothpaste nothing urgent but still necessary, I don't know what made me do it, but I bought his items, placing in a separate, nylon reusable tote bag and I took them to the Hospital.

"Bella, Bella, Bella what are you doing, this is odd, just forget about him, this can only bring trouble" I was talking out loud to myself as I drove the familiar route; I parked in the parking lot. I grabbed a piece of paper out of my bag and scribbled a quick note.

"Edward,

Thought you might like these.

Bella"

Throwing it in the bag and zipping it shut, I walked in, and looking up from behind the desk was another face I didn't think I would see again.

"Jessica" I asked knowing quite well it was her, she hadn't changed at all, except for her hair color, and maybe a boob job but I couldn't be sure.

"Oh my gosh, Bella Swan what are you doing here"

"I'm back in town for a bit, anyways I need a small favor" I said setting the bag down on the desk.

"I bumped into Edward at the store and he got paged and forgot his stuff, could you give him this bag please" I asked her faced changed the minute I said his name, things in this town sure hadn't changed where Edward was concerned.

"Sure," she said taking the bag, "Well okay then, see you around Jess," and I turned and walked back out the door.

I sat in my car, and I remembered Edward.

***Flashback***

Sitting in Alice's backyard, with her a Rosalie about a month after I had moved to town summer before freshman year, a year later we were enjoying one of the rare sunny days in Forks.

Charlie had taken the job of Police Chief and we had moved, it was rough starting high school in a new town, but I had became friends with Alice and her friend Rose quite quickly as well as Alice's brother Emmett and Rose's brother Jasper, Alice's other brother Edward had been another story, he didn't want to be my friend, he grumbled when I was around, for no good reason at all.

We were enjoying the sun, when Edward had walked by shovel in hand grumbling about lounging around and work being done.

We all exchanged glances as Rose and Alice rolled theirs eyes at Edwards's moodiness.

"I'm going in to grab some water, do you want anything" I asked getting up.

"Water" they both said not even looking up from their magazines. I laughed as I walked inside I turned into the kitchen and walked into something hard, knocking me back a bit, I jumped as I looked up into Edward's face.

"Sorry" I said walking by; he grumbled something about watching where I was going.

I grabbed three waters and headed back outside. I could feel him glaring at me as I made my way back outside.

"One day, I will find out just what I did to Edward" I said handing out the waters and plopping back down into my chair.

"As we've said a million times, don't let him get to you he's just Edward." Rose said.

"Yeah, he's always been this way" Alice agreed.

But he wasn't always this way, I had seen him laughing and having a good time, girls at school were always vying for his attention, when we were with a crowd he was quite pleasant, but then when it was just the six of us he was always grouchy.

At first I thought it was because everyone was paired off except for him, Rose was dating Emmett and Alice was with Jasper. But that didn't bother him in the least, or so it seemed.

What bothered him was me, he had dated a few times through the year, and I had too for some reason I was more popular here with the guys then I was in Phoenix.

Alice and Rose tried to pass it off as jealousy at first because I had started seeing Mike a few weeks into the school year, but Edward seemed to be happier to be around me when I was dating someone.

Mike and I were always on and off, we date for a few months and then it would die down and then it would start all over again, I cared about him but it wasn't the type of relationship that I had seen would last forever.

***End Flashback***

I snapped out of my flashback, and headed back to Charlie's I still needed to start making Charlie's favorite Brushetta Chicken Pasta.

EPOV

Running into Bella at the store was a shock, I didn't think that I would see her again, after she left for college, she seemed to just drop off of the planet Alice and Rose had talked to her a couple of times but even they hadn't heard from her in a while.

I was almost relieved to get called to the hospital, I didn't even think about the things in my basket that I needed, I just left I would have to go back tomorrow.

I was finishing up medical school, Carlisle had gotten me a place here at the hospital and I was enjoying my time back at home with my family. My patient was stable again and I was heading back out again, when I heard the voice I dreaded.

"Dr. Cullen" Jessica said smiling at me the minute I turned back towards her.

"Yes Jessica" I tried to remain friendly, however Jessica always wanted to relive the few months we had dated sophomore year.

"This was dropped off for you" she motioned towards a bag, I picked it up and carried it out the door, the less I said to her the better.

Climbing in my Volvo, I actually stopped to look at what was in my hand, it was a eco-friendly shopping bag from Neely's Grocery Store, and in it was the contents of my basket and a note.

I pulled the note out of the bag and was hit by her scent, the familiar scent washing over me; I actually put it up to my nose and sniffed the Strawberries and Freesia scent in.

"Edward,

Thought you might like these.

Bella"

It was short but my mind went over it a half a dozen times, why Bella and I had not been a couple for almost six years, I couldn't honestly say that I hadn't thought about her but I had hurt her too much to ever think of going down that road again.

BPOV

I had only been in town three days on the second I had seen him, and now I was taking a trip down memory lane literally.

Driving through Forks, I visited all the places that I remembered. I pulled into the parking lot at First Beach, walking down and sitting on the beach I remembered some better times with Edward.

***Flashback***

Edward and I had become friends, it was the beginning of Junior year and he was much more pleasant to be around, we bantered back and forth with each other, teasing and joking around. I began to wonder about what Alice and Rose had said all along about him having feelings for me and hiding them.

It was movie night, we all settled in to watch a movie on a chilly November night in the dark media room set up in the Cullen's basement, the happy couples were snuggled together, I sat down on the loveseat and Edward sat down next to me, this wasn't a new thing since we had become friends. The couches were set up like a theater and we were in the back row.

I grabbed my favorite fluffy blanket and settled back to watch "Interview with a Vampire" it was Alice's Choice and she had a serious crush on Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.

We weren't far into the movie, when I changed my position placing one leg underneath me and relaxing my arm down next to it, my hand had been there for a bit and then I felt his hand intertwine with mind, something in itself that sent my heart beat racing, this was new, he had never done this before his settled himself into the middle of the love seat, and I contemplated my own move for few minutes before I shifted my body next to his our shoulders were touching, his finger was caressing my hand. At this point I was glad that we were in the back of a dark room, because this was something that I didn't know just what to say.

I leaned into him further, it was comfortable it felt like I was meant to sit there up against him, my head went back into his chest, he leaned his head against mine and his lips brushed my forehead.

"What the hell" my mind was screaming, screw the movie I couldn't focus on this now"

We sat like that through the whole movie, his hand caressing mine. When the movie was coming to a close, we shifted ourselves into a normal position.

Luckily no one witnessed our exchange and as I headed up to bed with Alice and Rose, I turned to take one last look at him, he met my eyes for a moment and then looked away, and this confused me.

It was like they knew without even having to ask, "Bella would you like to tell us what your favorite part of the movie was" Alice asked her eyes sparkling.

Rose's eye brows raised and she turned to face me as well, my red face getting redder.

"Edward held my hand through the movie and we kind of cuddled" I said trying not to sound like a girl with a crush, because at the moment that was how I felt, I hadn't had feeling for him before besides friendship and even that was new, now I was full on crushing on him.

We discussed this new event, for a long time, Alice claiming that she had called it years ago. Finally we all fell asleep and my sleep was filled with dreams of Edward.

We awoke and headed down to breakfast, I was anxious to see him again and my heart flutter with nerves at the thought of seeing him.

But he wasn't there, and he didn't come back for the entire day. Something puzzled me, Alice and Rose asked about him and I was grateful for them asking.

"He left a while ago, said he had somewhere to be and took off" Emmett said piling pancakes onto his plate.

We all exchange looks and shrugged and ate before Emmett finished off the stack. I busied myself with the things that we normally did on Saturdays we went down to Port Angeles and shopped for a bit, had a nice lunch and I tried not to think about him.

His car was in the driveway when we pulled in and Alice and Rose both gave me knowing looks as we headed in. However we stopped dead in our tracks when the first thing we saw was Edward with a redhead half sitting on his lap, whispering in his ear before kissing him.

I didn't understand, was I totally off last night when I thought that he wanted me, he had held me and kissed my head his lips lingering there for longer then necessary. I walked past a stunned Alice and Rose and headed up into their room, Edward breaking his kiss to watch me walk up the stairs.

I was in the room and seated when the girls walked in.

"What the hell is going on" Rose said her bluntness made me chuckle a bit.

"I have no clue, I guess I was wrong last night" I said hoping that wouldn't see how confused I was by this.

"Bella, it's ok to be a little hurt, after last night you have every right. I am going to go down there and ask him what the deal is" Alice said, nobody messed with her, she was small but she could hold her own.

"No Ali, its fine" I said more demanded.

We hung out in the room until Emmett and Jasper came in, "Who is that wrapped around Edward," Emmett asked sitting down next to Rose.

I shrugged, "I think she goes to our school, she's a year younger then you guys though" Jasper said pointing to Alice and I, we were all in the same grade along with Edward. Emmett, Jasper and Rose were seniors.

It wasn't that Edward hadn't dated before but he had never been into PDA at least not around me and not after what I thought had happened last night. And Jasper was right I did recognize her after the fact.

Esme called us all down to dinner, and I wasn't happy about the fact that she was seated next to him, that is where I usually sat. I sat down at the end of the table in one of the empty chairs, feeling a little left out because I was so far away from everyone.

Edward introduced her to Carlisle as he come home from work, a bit shocked at the new seating arrangement, "Dad, I would like to introduce you to my girlfriend Kate" he said smiling at her.

Girlfriend, ok that was unexpected, everyone looked at him, then Rose and Alice looked at me, I shrugged and went back to eating.

Dinner was over, and I decided to forgo my second night of staying, Alice and Rose tried to talk me into staying but as Kate and Edward settled down the group, I said no, climbing in my truck and driving home. My heart hurting a bit, how could I have been so wrong, and what was with him last night, did he have a girlfriend last night I wondered.

Kate

***End Flashback***

I knew that my return here would be full of memories, but seeing him had made it worse. My cell phone rang in my pocket.

Baby just give me one reason - Give me just one reason why
Baby just give me one reason - Give me just one reason why I should stay
Because I told you that I loved you
And there ain't no more to say

I groaned at just the thought of talking to my now ex Jared, I needed to change that ringtone soon. He had given me no reason to stay and actually told me he would prefer if I didn't, which was fine with me at that point.

"Jared"

"Wow Bellie what's with the attitude" I hated it when he called me Bellie it used to be cute now it wasn't.

"Can I help you" I tried not to bark it out, but I didn't want to talk to him.

"Well I know that you are in Forks, but I just wondered when you wanted me to get Sydney back to you, I don't think she wants to be here anymore" he added a little downhearted at the last phrase.

Sydney…that was going to change things and I knew it.

"Ask her when she would like to come here and then call me back and we will make arrangements, I know mom and dad would love to see her" I added.

Hanging up, I cursed out loud. Hoping that I could just get through my stay here and then head back to where ever home would be.

I had published two books and was working on my third, writing had always been my passion I studied in college, and had graduated even with all the obstacles that I faced a long the way, I went to work for a publishing company when one of my bosses and good friends Tanya had found one of my stories and insisted it be submitted. The publisher loved it and so did the public, I had written best sellers and was my next novel was highly anticipated.

Jared and I had met in College we hit it off, he helped me threw the rough times and I thought our love would last forever, we were engaged until a month ago when he announced that he didn't love me anymore and that it was time to make a clean break.

A clean break, as if that were possible he was the only father Sydney had ever known in her 6 years of life, my daughter was my life, being apart from her was hard but it was the arrangement we had made that she would stay a month with him over the summer. It had only been a little over a week.

I smiled at the thought of Sydney she was my shining beacon in the hard times, one could never ask for a better baby she was pleasant and hardly ever cried, and she was growing up to be a very smart young lady she loved school and was looking forward to going into first grade.

Did I want her in Forks? Renee would be happy to have her, she doted on her when her and Charlie had come to visit us. Charlie spoiled her rotten as well, giving her anything her little heart wanted and she loved her Pappy Charlie.

The rain started then, and I headed back home going the long way past the Cullen's home where I had spent so much time, part of me wanted to drive up the long driveway and see them, but we hadn't parted on the best of terms, they knew why I was leaving but what would they think about the last 6 years of limited contact.

I missed Rose and Alice so much, we had all tried to keep in touch but it was hard and painful. Alice was in Italy studying high fashion and Rose was on the East Coast with Emmett and Jasper. But I missed them everyday.

***Flashback***

Edward and Kate were always on and off, and when they were off, Edward gravitated back to me, it would last a couple of days sometimes a week, I always did a good job at not letting myself fall for him because they would always get back together.

January rolled around and Edward and Kate had broken up again, and he was trying to be more then a friend to me again, I held off for two weeks but then my heart let me believe that we could be together, and I had fallen for it again. And it was wonderful we were dating, going out and doing group things, laughing and having a goodtime. I was in love with him and was hoping that he loved me too,

But I could tell after a few months that something was off, and I had finally just asked him about it. Except this time was worse then before…

"Edward, your so quiet anymore, please I know you have something to say so please just say it."

"Bella, I care for you but I still have feelings for Kate" he said, my heart breaking deep down I had known it but it hurt hearing it out loud, I had jumped out of the car and ran into the house.

I had plans with Rose and Alice the next day so I pulled myself together, and went to meet them at Alice's. Every one knew by now that Edward and I had broken up, Alice and Rose had called and begged me not to cancel on them, not to let Edward's actions come between us.

So I walked into the house, Emmett came running over grabbing me up in a bear hug, "Em, dude she's turning blue" Jasper chuckled as Emmett set me down.

"It's good to see you Bella" Jasper said, with his all too knowing look.

"Are the girls ready" I asked.

"Just about" Emmett said trying to usher me to another room, I headed towards the kitchen I wanted to say Hello to Esme, but Emmett tried pulling me the other way.

"Emmett, I want to say hi to your mom" I said.

"She's not in there Bells, and you don't want to go in there" he said his eyes telling me exactly what I needed to know. They were in there, it hadn't even been a day.

Why did he always go running back to her, every time they broke up he would play with me, and I would fall for it, and then they would get back together. But this time we had actually been a couple, this time the hurt went deeper.

"I'm sorry Bells" Emmett said.

"It's not your fault" I just wanted to leave, and I was getting ready to when Rose and Alice came downstairs, Jasper had went to get them.

We got into the car when all hell broke loose.

"Let me just tell you, it was not pretty here last night or this morning" Rose started I didn't really want to hear it but she was going to tell me anyways.

"Why not" I said with a bit of a sniffle, damn it suck it up Bella,

"When that little rat got home last night and told everyone you had broken up, I thought Jasper was going to kill him, Emmett was mad and so was Esme." She started.

"But it got worse this morning" Alice finished, "When he showed up with her in tow, I had never heard Esme yell like that except when Emmett put blue dye in the rug scrubber to see what would happen"

I chuckled at the thought of that. "Why was she yelling" I asked, I knew but it felt good to hear that his family was upset like I was.

"Because he hurt you and went running back to her, Esme was yelling at him right in front of her" Rose piped in. I felt bad for causing such a mess.

"Stop it Bella, I can tell that you are trying to put some of this on you and you are not to blame, it is all Edward." Alice said,

I tried to enjoy myself but it just wasn't working I wasn't in the mood for shopping, we finished up and headed back to the house, but I knew that they were still there so I left and went home.

Charlie drug me down to La Push Sunday, Renee was spring cleaning and didn't want either of us underfoot.

That was when I guess you could say that I re-met Jacob he went to the school down on the reservation and I hadn't been to his house in a long time, that when I saw him he took my breath away he was very handsome.

We walked along the beach and I realized that I like spending time with him, he made me feel good about myself.

"Bella, will you go to dinner with my Friday night" he asked as we were walking back to his house. I didn't even have to hesitate.

"Yes, I would too" I smiled and it felt good.

We were inseparable after that, we quickly became a couple and I liked him a lot, we did a lot of things with Alice, Jasper, Rose and Emmett, and they all really liked Jake, but it was still hard to be around Edward, the feelings I had for him were still raw.

Rose, Emmett and Jasper were heading off to college, and we were all trying to spend as much time together as possible during the summer.

When school started back up, Alice was depressed because she missed Jasper and Rose, so she hung out with me a lot at my house which was fine because Edward and Kate were always at her house.

We were seniors, discussing all of our options for college, Alice was going into Fashion and I was looking into Literature, our paths would separate after graduation and it hurt to think about it.

Edward and Kate continued there on again/off again relationship but he didn't try to mess with me, because I was with Jacob.

Jacob, I cared about him but I didn't love him, and I knew that he didn't love me, but our relationship was good so why change it.

Senior year was flying by, graduation was right around the corner. I had been accepted to the University of Arizona and their literature program was one of the best. I decided that it was time to end things with Jacob; because I was going into an early summer course not long after graduation and I knew that it was time.

He took it very well he was a little hurt and I was too, but we both knew that it was for the best.

So my last month of school was spent with Alice, who had been accepted into a prestigious fashion program in Italy. That's when it all went down.

The day before Graduation, we were at a party thrown by Tyler Crowley and there was obviously something in the punch, we had a couple of cups and weren't feeling the greatest. There was no way I could call Charlie, so Alice called Edward.

He came and picked us up, thankfully minus Kate. After he dropped Alice off at home he drove me to my house. But he turned off and parked the car. I looked around shocked by this.

"Bella, I need to talk to you" Oh god here we go again.

"Yes, Edward" please don't put me through this now.

"I miss you Bella, I miss you so much, and when Alice told me that you and Jacob had broken up I didn't realize how happy the news made me, what does that mean Bella"

He wanted me to tell him his answer, yeah right.

"I can't tell you what you feel Edward"

"Can you tell me how you feel" he asked.

"Why should I Edward, you always do this to me and still after everything you want me to tell you that I love you" oh shit had that come out of my mouth.

"Do you love me Bella?"

"What if I did Edward, it doesn't change anything you and Kate are a couple" I knew they weren't though because Alice had told me earlier they had broken up a week ago, this time it seemed permanent.

"It would matter a lot, and you know that we aren't together anymore, it won't work with me heading to Harvard and she is going to Seattle" he said and he was rubbing my hand. I knew at that moment, or I should have known that what happened next was doomed, I was going to Arizona.

"I do love you Edward, but I can't get hurt by you again" I hoped that he would stop there because I couldn't help my feelings if he kept this up.

Then he leaned over and kissed me, and I gave in. He whispered that he loved me and pulled me into the back of the car, are kisses became more urgent, hands flying everywhere, my shirt was off his was too.

And then it happened, I lost my virginity to Edward in the back seat of his car, I felt like a country song.

But I was elated, this was a turning point this hadn't happened before, he kissed me and held onto me the whole way back to my house.

I was on cloud 9, Edward said he loved me.

Charlie and Renee drove me to Graduation where I was reunited with Rose, Emmett, Jasper and a squealing Alice, I looked around for Edward but didn't see him, Mrs. Cope told us to get in line before I had time to really worry about it.

We graduated and I was surrounded by the Cullen's and my mom and dad, taking pictures with everyone and smiling and laughing.

"We need Edward" Esme called and motioned for him to come over, when he walked over he was not alone, Kat was holding his hand, I smiled for the picture, he looked at me and then quickly looked away, I ran home, I only lived two miles from school.

I cried and cried, lying on my bed. The door opened and my bed went down slightly.

"Bella" Alice said quietly, her and Rose were both looking at me,

"What happened" Rose asked, rubbing my back.

They both sat and listened to me tell them about the talk with Edward last night, and him telling me he loved me, and that we had sex.

Their anger grew with the last statement, "He is back with Kate" Alice growled and I laid my head back down and cried until I fell asleep.

I woke up to the doorbell ringing, Charlie and Renee had went to dinner, I made my way down the stairs and opened the door, not really caring how I looked or who it was.

But the sight of him, made me mad and I tried to slam the door in his face, but he stopped it.

"Bella please let me explain" Edward begged from my porch

"Explain what Edward, every time I turn around you are constantly saying things you shouldn't say to me, and once again you played with my emotions" I said fighting the tears back.

"I didn't mean for that to happen last night," he said, like that made it better.

"Why Edward, why are you back with her" I had to know.

"Because I love her" he said.

"You said you loved me too" I cried.

"I do Bella, honestly I do but Kate and I have been together for a while now and I owe it to her to be with her" this made no sense to me.

"I never want to see you again Edward, never" I yelled and slammed the door this time he didn't stop it.

I said my goodbyes after two miserable weeks in Forks, trying to enjoy my time with my friends but hurting every time that I saw him, and then him with her was a double stab.

When I arrived in Arizona I put Forks behind me, vowing to live in the present and not the past.

College was wonderful, my summer course was a complete joy I had made several new friends and was really enjoying my life.

When he did it to me again.

I was getting ready for my morning class when I it hit me, I barely made it to the toilet before I was sick, when it was over I walked over the my linen closet to get a clean washcloth when I saw them, a box of tampons that were unopened.

I closed my eyes and cursed out loud.

***End Flashback***

AN: So I am dying to know your thoughts…please review.

I am debating as to do EPOV flashback as a chapter, what do you want.