This is my first fan fiction. Feel free to critique, after all you can't get better if you don't know what you're failing on.

Whether Bella and Edward end up together is a mystery, even to me.

It's 4-5 years after high school and they're both around the age of 23. All the characters of the story will be introduced as the story goes on. I haven't gone in to great detail as to characters appearances because I'm sure we've all read enough fan fiction to have a good picture in our minds of how they look.

This is not going to be a 'they meet, fall in love, get married and have babies' kind of story. Edward hurt Bella pretty bad and healing and forgiveness take time. That's if she wants to forgive him... *Gasp*

Please excuse spelling, grammar etc. mistakes, if any.

I hope you enjoy! :)

Chapter 1

EPoV

Here I was sitting in a bar in Chicago with my friends James and and Nicholas, laughing and talking mindlessly. Who'd have thought I'd be where I am right now. Not me, that's for sure. I had been living here for 2 years and was currently going through a nasty divorce after a miserable 3 year marriage and 1 year separation. I had married my girlfriend right out of high school. Only now do I realize how stupid that was. Even though I was never keen on the idea she had insisted that we get married. And what Tanya wants, Tanya gets. What a piece of work she was. My life as I knew it was falling apart, but at the same time, pieces that were missing, put back together. I have to admit it is a funny feeling.

I had met James and Nick when I first started working at Tanya's fathers law firm and made quick friends with them both. Being a lawyer wasn't my first choice in career. I had wanted to become a doctor like my father but Tanya some how managed to persuade me to get in to law. Surprisingly even after the announcement of our pending divorce and failed relationship, her father didn't let personal issues get in the way of business. Besides I was one of his best lawyers and I doubt he'd risk loosing me, as egotistical as that sounds.

My friends took it upon themselves to see to it that I get as drunk as possible. Although it seems that tonight I am the most sober of the three of us. According to Nick, some 'serious talent' worked here. I wasn't looking for a relationship or even a lay but I needed a good guys night out so I humored him. I had never been here before but I liked it. It was an old place with a lot of history. It reminded me of something like English pubs that I've seen in movies. Soft music playing over the speakers creating a nice atmosphere for the place.

"Another round!" James cried, lifting his nearly empty glass of beer in the air and gaining us a couple glares from the patrons around us.

Leaning over I tried to suppressed a laugh as I said "You have to order at the bar. Remember? Or has the alcohol finally killed the last of your brain cells?". Causing Nick to choke on the sip of beer he was taking in the middle of my comment.

"Oh! Right then! Come on Eddie boy!" James half yelled, grabbing my wrist and yanking me away from the table, Nick in fits of laughter. Whether it was because of James being his usual crazy self or the probable look of shock on my face, I wasn't sure. Probably both.

We made our way to the bar. Gripping the edge of the bar, leaning forward against the counter, we both waited for the bartender to finish her order.

A low wolf whistle caught my attention and I turned to James who was currently staring at the ass of the bartender as she bent over to get something from under the bar. "Now, that is one fine ass.". I couldn't have agreed more. As she straightened up I got a better look at her. She was 5'4", petite, straight mahogany brown hair, half tied up with pieces of hair falling out framing her face. I couldn't see her eyes as she was turned away from us slightly talking with someone further down the bar as she set their drink down. A pang of recognition struck me. Who was this woman? Do I know her?

"There you go Em, no more after this! If you go home drunk again, Rose'll have my head." she said sternly although smirking the whole time.

"Sure sure, Bells". The guy said casually. I turned my attention to him for a moment. He was huge, professional weight lifter huge. He looked very intimidating even with the childish grin he had plastered on his face and dark curls and hung in his eyes. Bells? Why does that name sound so familiar?

"Hey sweet thing. How's about bringing your beautiful self over here", James said with a wink. She turned her head in our direction and started walking in our direction. That is until her eyes locked with mine. Her step faltered and I could have sworn I saw a hint of recognition in her eyes too. So she knows me? She quickly covered up her brief shock and carried on plastering a smile on her face. That moment of hesitation would have gone unnoticed if I hadn't have been concentrating on her so hard.

She reached us and before she could even ask for our order James started with his shameless flirting. She seemed to take it in stride and even flirted back a little. I guess she got this kind of stuff all the time. After all, she was beautiful. After a few more moments I felt like the odd man out and even a little jealous that she was giving him all the attention. Jealous? Where was that coming from. I suppose it had been a while since I had entertained that sort of attention from a woman. It's just that after Tanya I wanted to take a break from it all.

"So, what can I get you gentlemen?" she asked whilst pulling out a couple of pint glasses.

"Your number would be a great start sweetheart." Wow.. Could he be any less subtle? She laughed, "it's 6".

Confused for a moment at the lack of digits, James asked "What's 6?"

"My number. You didn't say which number and how many so my number is 6" she stated matter of factly, winking at him. I couldn't hide my amusement any longer, I burst out laughing patting him on the back. "She's got you there man."

James glared at me then turned around and walked back to the table. James didn't like getting humilliated, especially by a woman.

Seeing this, the smile fell from her face and she reached out putting her hand on mine. "I didn't mean to offend him. Here, these are on the house. It was all in good fun. Let him know I apologise?" she said as she filled up 3 pint glasses of beer.

"Sure thing. Don't worry about him, he gets butt hurt easily." I smiled trying to reassure her. Before I turned to go back to our table I looked at her one more time, "Hey.. What's your name? You look familiar."

Wiping her hands on a cloth that hung on her left shoulder she looked at me "It's Bella." Bella... The light bulb finally flipped on. Bella Swan! The Bella Swan from Forks High School.

"Bella Swan. It's Ed-" she cut me off.

"Oh, I know who you are, Edward" she said with a smile. But this smile was different to the one she had before, it seemed almost forced, not quite reaching her eyes.