We Start Rememberin' When is a story that was originally written for the Like Totally 80's Contest here on FFN. Although it didn't win the contest, my co-writer, karencullenn2007 and I decided it was a great story and deserved to be published. Be warned: 80's lingo abounds in this story...like totally!

This version will be different than the submission for the contest in several ways: This is a continuation of the story, so there is going to be a lot of NEW MATERIAL that couldn't be allowed in the original version due to word restrictions for the contest; Some of the old POV's have been changed, again, due to the word restrictions for the contest; This version of the story will have chapters and be published in stages, like most other stories, so it is not a "One Shot" like the contest entries all were.

By the way: The inspiration came from the song Make Me Lose Control by Eric Carmen. It's a great song, so you should really go and listen to it ASAP.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask us.

Enjoy and love you all!

Dee (RND4EVA) and Karen (Karencullen2007)

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight, not us, and Bless her for writing such an awesome story that inspires so many of us to write fics.


We Start Rememberin' When

by RND4EVA and KarenCullen2007

Present Day…Suburbs of Seattle Washington

Edward's POV

The bedroom door slammed in my face as I stood there alone. There was a huge lump in my throat as I tried to speak. "Bella, please!" I begged. "You can't do this to us. I need you." I heard her growl from the other side of the door and then some more slamming. I knocked and then tried the knob but she had it locked. I ran both of my hands into my hair and tugged helplessly. What would I do if she left me? I couldn't imagine my life without her.

Then the door opened again and she came storming out with an overnight bag in her hands. I was hopeful, maybe this meant she was only going to cool off at Alice's house for the night. Wishful thinking, Cullen! She glared at me viciously and stomped into the bathroom, heaving everything from the counter beside the sink into the bag. "Bella, I love you…" I began.

"Don't give me that crap! I'm not buying it anymore. There aren't enough hours left in my life to make me want to spend one more second waiting for you. I'm done, Edward." She walked past me in the hall once more and spun around to face me, "I should have left years ago but I was naïve enough to believe you would change."

I reached out and took her hand softly in mine. "I promise I'll change. I'll do better for you. For us. You're all I want. Please…don't!" Tears pricked my eyes and for a split second I saw remorse in her chocolate brown eyes, staring back at me.

But that second was fleeting and her intensity returned. She shook her head, "No, Edward, I'm not staying this time. I won't come back and you can live your self-centered life as if I never existed. Hell, you've been doing that anyway! So not much is really going to change for you." She snatched up a suitcase from the bedroom along with her overnight bag and banged down the stairs.

I felt the tears roll down my cheeks and wanted to turn away so she couldn't see but instead I stayed facing her, not caring that she was watching me cry. "Where are you going? It's dark and I don't want you to be out in the city all alone."

"I can take care of myself, Edward. I've been doing it for a long time now. I'm a big girl." She picked up her purse and car keys and closed the door behind her.

I stood there, devastated. I had failed miserably. We had had arguments many times before, and I had always been able to convince her to stay. But this time there was finality in her voice that had never been there before. She had walked out the door and I was powerless to stop her. I walked to the window and watched her back her car out of the driveway as the tears blurred my vision. She was everything I had always wanted and now she was gone. I collapsed on the couch, my head in my hands, tears pouring down my face and sobs wracking my body.

I hadn't ever lived alone in my life. I had gone right from my parent's home to college and into my first apartment with Bella. She had been all I'd ever dreamed of. From the time I first met her when I was 17 years old, I knew instantly she was the girl I knew I wanted a future with. Of course she hadn't been mine at first…That took some effort on my part.

But now, after all this time I sat there crying on my couch, feeling sorry for myself and starting dreaming back to the first time I ever laid eyes on the unforgettable Bella Swan…

...

August 1987…Forks, WA

I climbed out of my Dad's car in the school parking lot. I gazed around at the other cars parked there. Huh, not another Mercedes anywhere in sight. I smirked to myself. I was doubtful that anyone in this backwoods town had ever seen a Mercedes before. I slid my letterman jacket over my shoulders. At least these small town hicks would know I was Varsity material back home. I walked out onto the football field and noticed several players standing around in groups talking. There were a few men sitting close to each other on the bleachers and I approached them, since I didn't know anyone there.

One of them stood and looked at me as I climbed the stairs. "Hello, Sir. I'm here for football try-outs. I was told they started today?" I inquired.

He looked down at his clipboard and answered. "You must be Dr. Cullen's boy. Edwin is it?"

"Edward," I corrected, reaching to shake the man's hand who smiled widely at me.

He shook my hand firmly. "Pleased to meet you, Edward. I'm the head coach, Charlie Swan and these are my assistant coaches," He introduced me to his coaching staff and then took out a megaphone and announced to the boys on the field that try-outs would begin. After explaining how uniforms and equipment would work he had us all line up, state our name and what position we were going out for and then split up into groups by position and speak in more detail with the various coaches.

I discovered that there was one other guy trying out for quarterback, like I was. He was blonde with feathered hair and didn't look like any quarterback I'd ever seen. He had blue eyes and wore a polo shirt with his collar up. Dweeb!

"Hi," He greeted me with a smile I immediately categorized as fake. "I'm Mike Newton." He shook my hand and tried to grip firmly. Unfortunately for him, my grip was firmer. He immediately got an intimidated look on his face. "So, you're going out for quarterback?" He asked and I nodded. Then he leaned into me and quietly added, "Just an FYI, I've been this team's quarterback since we were in junior high. So don't get your hopes up." His friends around us all laughed like a bunch of hyenas.

I just shrugged my shoulders. "I was on the varsity team back in Seattle…I'm not worried."

His face turned red and he added, "Also, I'm in tight with Coach Swan." He bragged.

I glared back at him and wanted to blacken his baby blue eyes. "We'll see," I retorted and turned to walk away.

"Hey, Cullen," he shouted at me. "Don't mess with me. I own this school. So just remember that…"

I didn't turn back around but flipped him the bird behind my back. I immediately heard the group start running toward me and I had a feeling I was about to be pounded until suddenly I heard them stop.

I turned to look behind me and these guys were all standing there with shit-eating grins on their faces. I looked back toward the gate and noticed a group of girls in cheerleading uniforms coming onto the field. They all had pom-poms in their hands and one of them was carrying a boom-box. I glanced casually at the girls and noticed they all came to an abrupt halt, all staring directly at me. Most of the group looked like your typical cheerleader types, blonde hair, lots of makeup, permed and teased hair. I smiled my typical sideways grin at the gaggle of girls and kept walking toward them.

The girl carrying the boom-box stared at me and her mouth actually fell open. Suddenly she realized I saw her gaping at me, and she immediately looked away. She attempted to resume walking but ran straight into the back of one of the other girls, causing the other girl to stumble. Boom-box-girl also lost her balance, and fell back onto her rear, sending the box flying into the air. It crashed to the ground, batteries scattering everywhere. I noticed immediately that she didn't look like the others in the group. Her hair was soft brown with an auburn hue; she had deep brown eyes and none of that slutty makeup the others wore. Something magnetic pulled me toward her and I figured it was the fact that this poor girl was so dazzled by my looks that she fell on her butt in the middle of a group of her friends.

I started over to help her up when I heard Newton's voice behind me. "BELLA!" He shouted, running toward her. I watched as he held his hand out to help her to her feet.

So...boom-box-girl's name was Bella. Since my help was clearly not needed, and this group of guys still standing behind me wanted to kick my ass just moments ago, I decided it would be best for me to leave.

I took one more glance across the field and saw that Bella was standing up. Newton's hand was intertwined with hers and she was nodding to him, apparently he was checking to see if she was okay. Just as I reached the parking lot I observed Newton's hand leave Bella's hand. He reached behind her and lifted her skirt, running his hand across her backside, giving the impression that he was brushing dirt from her.

Yeah right!

That clearly was a caress, not a helpful gesture. So, Bella-boom-box-girl was Newton's girlfriend? It seemed strange to me … if Newton was her boy-toy, why was she gawking at me?

...

Present Day…Suburbs of Seattle Washington

Bella's POV

I choked on my tears as I pulled out of the driveway. I couldn't look at his distraught face as he watched me out the window. If I even so much as glanced that way, I knew I'd go running right back in and back into his arms…then we'd be right back where we were now, stuck in a rut! I was so tired of spending so much of my life alone and Edward was working all the time. We never spent any time as a couple and it was wearing on me. I knew this was for the best even though it hurt terribly right now. We had been growing apart for years now, and this split was inevitable. I'd tried to do this many times before and had come running right back to him…because I loved him. And I still did love him, more than life itself. But I couldn't live like this anymore.

I pulled over to the curb and picked up my cell. I knew she wouldn't be up but I left her a message anyway. I didn't want her to worry. "Hey, 'Nes. I just wanted you to know that I'm staying in the city tonight. I didn't want you to worry. I'll call you tomorrow. I Love you! Bye."

I pulled my car into the parking garage of the hotel a few minutes later. The reservation desk had me checked in and I was upstairs collapsing on the bed before the tears even dried on my cheeks. I stood up and looked out the 10th story window and thought about Edward back at home, looking out our living room window…watching for me to come back home. That wasn't going to happen this time. Our lives where shifting and I had to accept that the love we shared for years had burned out, like a snuffed candle. The wick was still there but the flame was gone.

I smiled as I remembered how quickly I fell in love with him. He was the most incredible human being I had ever met. He was deliciously gorgeous and every time he smiled at me my brain ceased all coherent thought. I couldn't even remember what it was like before I met him. That first day of senior year was turning point for the rest of our lives…

...

August 1987…Forks, WA

Bella's POV

I walked to my locker and met up with my friends, Jessica and Alice in Senior Hall. "Oh my God Bella, I just saw that new guy! He was just coming out of the office and he is, like wicked hot. Like, I've never seen anyone so yummy in this school. He's totally third-base material," Jessica crooned, teasing her hair with her fingers.

"Gross, Jess. You don't even know his name." I made a 'gag' face. "I can't believe you'd really blow a guy you just met. I'll admit though, that messy bronze hair is totally MTV worthy."

She grinned at me as Alice piped up, "I know his name. It's Edward. He's like my neighbor. My dad was out mowing the lawn last night and met his parents. His dad is like a doctor and his mom is one of those stay-at-home-types."

"Well, I'm totally gonna bang him. He is fine!" Jess replied. I rolled my eyes at her as she and Alice continued to discuss Edward. Jessica Stanley was the slut of Forks High School and even though she was my friend, I didn't agree with her promiscuous behavior.

We often had discussions about whether she used sex to get respect and she always complained 'You're totally going all Breakfast Club on me'. I told her that I learned in Health class that 'guys use love to get sex and girls use sex to get love' but she said she didn't care, she liked sex and would get it, love or not. The idea of people sleeping around like that totally grossed me out! I let the two of them chatter on and I just listened, not really caring what they had to say as I walked to class.


There is chapter one. Please review and tell uswhat you thought. We'd love to hear from you. What are your thoughts on these characters?

The next chapter will have some entirely new material, so stay tuned and more will follow, hopefully later this week. More reviews = faster updates...just sayin'!