Okay, guys, this is my new try at a fanfic. It will be a side project to my original work, so updates may wary when they come. But I do hope you like it.

WARNING! This will NOT be a cliche story.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters from Twilight.


PROLOGUE

"Do you ever imagine yourself one day leaving this place?" Bella's voice carried across the garage as she sat watching her best friend work on his car. It was the way it had been for a while now; her sitting there, either watching or reading, and him doing whatever it was he was doing with his car. Bella liked it that way. Simple. Safe. At least she used to.

Jake looked up at her, grease covering his face and staining his bare torso. He seemed hesitant to answer, as if a wrong word would kill him. "Of course I do," he finally said, a sigh escaping his lips as he straightened. He put the screwdriver he was holding down on the table and walked over to where she was sitting, taking the place next to her. "But I can't leave my dad alone." Not like my sisters did. He didn't need to say the last part, she understood. She also understood that he didn't blame them for leaving. The memories pained him just as well, and he'd been younger when their mother died.

Bella just nodded, already lost in thought again. It had been on her mind for days now, always bothering her. Always reminding her of all the horrible mistakes she had made in her life. Her life. She didn't feel like it was her life any more. She hadn't for a while. Everything she did, every choice she made, it all came back to him. Even when he was gone, it was all about him and it pained her more than she was willing to admit. Even now, months later, just the thought of him was enough to make her heart ache. She wanted a fresh start. A new life. One that could be hers again.

"What's going on, Bells?" Jacob eyed her while he wiped his hands on a towel. Every time he looked at her like that, she felt he could see the innermost parts of her. Her deepest secrets.

"Nothing, I just... I need to get away from Forks, Jake." She barely got it out, afraid of his reaction. She couldn't bare to see him hurt or disappointed, or both. They were best friends, they always would be, she just didn't know when, or even if, she would ever be back. "Please, Jake, understand. The memories-"

"You're leaving me?" The hurt in his voice was worse than she had imagined. His question made he wince. Was she? She supposed she was, in a way.

"Jake, you'll always be my best friend, you know that. No amount of distance is going to change that fact, but I have to get away from all the reminders. These last few months with you have helped me a great deal, but now it's time I do some healing on my own. Away from everything. You can understand that, can't you?" It was't fair to use those words against him, she knew, but she couldn't bare the look in his eyes. The disappointment. At her.

Biting his bottom lip, he nodded, "Yes."

Bella smiles and pulled him into a side hug. "Thank you, Jake."

"Promise me we'll talk every day, okay?"

"I promise."