Five years since I've been to Forks, Washington yet it felt like a lifetime. I didn't know if I was more excited or nervous for my return. Sure I had adjusted to the Chicago lifestyle but a part of me still pined for the little town. I was thrilled to see my family again but at the same time I afraid of running into her.
The only girl I truly loved, Isabella Swan. Last time I saw her, she was weeping and begging me to take her with to Chicago. The images of her saddened face never left my mind and would torture me from time to time. My reasoning for leaving her there was so ridiculous. So many times I thought of just visiting Forks, seeing if she was okay and have her be mine once again. But the memory of her heart-breaking made me believe she deserved better. Bella was naturally beautiful with a personality that matched; it wouldn't be hard for her to get another.
Constantly I made my own attempts to get over her. Not to boast but my parents did carry a pretty gene that I inherited, so attracting women wasn't the problem. The problem was Bella penetrating my thoughts while I penetrated, well you know. I thought if I dated around and on occasion sleep around, I'd find my 'Bella Double'. No one even compared.
I didn't notice the plane had landed until a stewardess nudged me from my thoughts. There was a strained look on her face. "I'm sorry, miss. Caught up in thought." I smiled warmly along with my apology before making my exit.
I hardly got to exam the familiar Forks airport when a ball of excitement gripped onto my torso. My sister Alice never was one to hide her emotions and this was no exception. "OhmygodEdward!" she blurted out in one word. While returning the hug I noticed my brother-in-law, Jasper, with a quiet smile on his face. He nodded his head in my direction and I gave him a "Hey Jazz" in return.
Alice finally loosened herself from me but only long enough to hook her arm into mine, dragging me off to baggage claim. "We have a lot of catching up to do, Edward! Tonight Jazz and I are taking you out. That is of course if you're not too tired from your flight." Then she did what I should have predicted. Alice looked up at me, wide-eyes filled with plea and determination. That's a look you never turn down.
"Sounds like fun." I agreed and she smiled sweetly.
We didn't talk much on the way to my parents' house, so it gave me time to observe everything. Experience Forks all over again. It still hid behind hundreds of trees, making everything appear like a blur of green before we hit downtown.
Pulling into the long driveway I noticed a well-known police cruiser. Just to confirm my thoughts, the words "Forks Police" sprawled across it. Chief Charlie Swan, father to my love whom I abandoned five years ago, was standing in the driveway having a lively conversation with my parents. "Shit!" fell from my lips causing Alice to snap her head back at me. She didn't have to ask because I blurted it. "Charlie has to hate me! I'm the last person he wants to see! Shit, shit, shit!"
She gave me a soft look and went into explanation, "Edward, he thinks that Bella broke up with you. She told him that she didn't want to do the long distance thing so you guys parted ways. And then she just disappeared. No phone calls, e-mails, or even a little note. Please just settle down and don't bring up the subject of Bella around him, it's still kind of a fresh wound even if it happened years ago."
Bella told Charlie that she broke up with me? But why would she lie to him? I didn't get too much time to think since my mother practically ripped me out of the car. "Edward! I missed you so much, sweetie!", she hollered while tightening her arms around me.
My father followed behind, "Esme dear, you have to let the boy breathe", he joked. She loosened her grip on me and allowed my father to hug me. "So glad you're home, son."
"Glad to be home, dad."
I noticed Charlie's face using peripheral vision. A mask of bittersweet sadness. He appeared older than I remembered. His hair was graying, along with the moustache, and his cheeks sunk in more. I'm sure the stress of losing your daughter was wearing on him and seeing me probably wasn't helping matters. "Edward Cullen, it's been a long time since I seen you. I was starting to think you'd never return like..." He paused and shook his head. I didn't allow him to finish what he was saying, "It's always a pleasure to see you, Chief Swan." He gave me a sad smile.
Later that evening, Esme treated us with dinner. And array of delicious smells hit my nostrils, making my mouth water. It was an Italian cuisine. Chicken alfredo, fresh breadsticks, and a small chocolate cake for dessert. Carlisle, my father, insisted on breaking out some champagne to celebrate not only my returning home but the fact I got hired to be the new English teacher at Forks High. Alice warned me not to get too stuffed because she was still taking me out tonight, in a food coma or not.
After finishing my meal and telling my parents all the different stories about college and hearing their excitement about my 'big return', I excused myself to clean up and get ready to go out. While passing the other bedrooms to get to my own, I realized that my brother Emmett and his wife Rosalie weren't here. "They're meeting up with us at the pub." That pixie voice answered my thoughts before I even began to ask. How she did that, I'd never know.
My bedroom was cold yet similar. My parents kept everything the same, with the exception of cleaning it every once in a while. All the posters of my favorite bands still hung on the walls and a collage of pictures sat above my bed. Instantly my stomach clenched as I remembered who made it. Her face smiled back at me as I looked over it. God, she was beautiful. Why did I have to be so stupid? Why couldn't I accept the fact that we were in love, that I was in love? Because I'm a moron. With anger for only myself, I tore the collage down with vigor and stashed it behind my headboard. My memories were enough of a reminder, I didn't need my place of peace betraying me also.
Alice showed up at my door practically seconds after I had gotten dressed. It's almost like she had some freaky psychic sixth sense. "Ready?" she chimed.
"Yeah. Hey, where exactly is this pub you're taking me to?" The only bar I could remember in town was pretty rundown and I knew Alice wouldn't be seen there.
"It's downtown. Mike Newton opened one just a few months ago. It's really nice for being a pub. A lot of old classmates and such hang out there, I figured they'd be happy to see you back."
I just nodded in response. It'd probably be nice to catch up with old friends. I hadn't exactly been the best 'pen pal' since I left so their only source of information on me was Alice. We didn't get much further in conversation because Jasper popped up and informed us that Rosalie and Emmett would be waiting.
Just like promised, Em and Rose were standing outside. And it didn't take long for them to notice our arrival. Now my brother Emmett is a big guy, not as in fat but as in super muscular and strong. Also he didn't believe in gentle hugs. So I didn't know rather to accept it as brotherly affection or a physical assault as he scooped me up into one of those famous bear hugs. I think he actually lifted me off the ground about a foot before releasing me. "Damn I missed you, bro." Once I was able to breathe again, I assured him the same. Rosalie smiled at me sweetly and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.
The sweet reunion was interrupted when in the distance we all heard a man screaming. "You're nothing but a whore! You probably like all those men staring at you! You belong to me! You're fucking mine, you little slut!" The deep voice kept carrying on and I couldn't just accept the fact that a woman was getting treated that way, no matter who she is or what she did. Emmett and Jasper must have agreed because when I walked towards the screeching, they followed. I don't know exactly what I was going to do but I wasn't going to allow this behavior. And when I turned that corner, I received the biggest shock and the hardest hit of pain ever in my life.
It was Bella. My Bella. The girl I never got over. She was sitting on the ground, crumpled up beside the wall and mumbling the word "sorry". A man that looked more like the type of competition for someone Emmett's size stood over her, screaming different obscenities. It's what he did next that really unleashed a monstrous fury within me. He picked up frail Bella and slammed her against the wall with mighty force, "Shut the fuck up you little bitch!" She slid down the wall, barely conscious and that's when I attacked. Using every bit of strength I could I lunged myself at him.
The repulsive man staggered back from the surprise attack. Once he registered my face and my stance, a light chuckle fell from his foul lips. "I have no problem fucking you up", he spat at me. Not bothering to answer, I swung an unexpected fist that collided into his jaw. That got him going. If I didn't know better I could have sworn there was fire in his eyes. "You little fuck."
I've never been in many physical fights but thanks to Emmett I was well-prepared in case the situation ever did arise. Also knowing this man caused harm to Bella fueled every bit of anger in me. The man took a swing that I flawlessly dodged and I returned the hit with one to the gut. He let out a "uhf" and I struck him in the nose with my elbow, causing a thin line of blood to form. As he tried to recover from that I took my final hit, straight shot to the genitals with a powerful fist. "Fucking scumbag", I shouted at him and was about to go for round two until I heard a small voice.
"Edward?" it questioned. I turned around to see a broken Bella. Emmett and Jasper took care of the scum for me while I went over to help her.
"Bella why?" It's all I could say as I picked her fragile body off the ground. How could someone do this to her? She was beautiful and kind and sure as hell didn't deserve to be beaten in an alleyway beside a pub. The sleeves of my shirt began to get damp and I noticed Bella was crying.
"Edward I'm sorry! So sorry! You shouldn't see me like this! Out of all people, you shouldn't be the one! I'm sorry!" She just kept crying out and I couldn't help but bring her closer to me.
"Shhh Bella, it's okay." I stroked her hair and the sobs continued. Alice came around the corner and horror struck her eyes when she saw who was in my arms. She quickly ran over to us with a few tears of her own spilling out. "Oh my god, Bella. Sweetie we're going to fix this." For a second I didn't know who she was trying to calm, Bella or me.
"Get your hands off my fucking girlfriend!" the abuser hollered. Before I could hand Bella off to Alice and beat the shit out of him again, a police officer arrived. Rose must have called him and I was thankful for that. Surely they'd throw him in jail, if even for a night, he'd be locked up somewhere he couldn't get to Bella. "Edward, we need to get her to Carlisle", Alice insisted. Emmett and Jasper assured me that they had everything covered before I went off.
Carefully Alice helped me get the broken Bella in the back of the car where she sat with her. I climbed into the driver's seat and assured Bella everything was going to be okay. She lay almost lifeless with her head in Alice's lap, while mumbling over again, "Sorry. So sorry."