A Memory of the Past
Chpt 1
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters and shtuff (:
AN: It's been awhile since I've written and I feel kind of silly writing now. But whatever. Hope you enjoy the story, read and review!

Edward's smooth, cold hand guided me through the forest, as we walked step by step in silence.

"Bella, where are we going?" He stopped abruptly and faced me, his soft golden eyes reading mine.

"A little further, keep walking." My hand slowly dropped from his as I walked slowly, silently, my eyes watching the solid forest floor.

We walked quietly for another few minutes. My feet became sore and we stopped near a barren tall tree. Edward settled on the ground and beckoned for me to sit next to him. I didn't.

"I need to tell you something." I sat down across from him, my eyes focused on a small ant crawling across my shoes. He shifted towards me, putting his cold hand on my bare knee.

"What is it?"

My words froze in my throat, not wanting to be spoken, to be heard by him. His reaction was unpredictable, and I didn't want to see his eyes as I choked up my confession.

"I don't think we should be together anymore." The world froze around us, my body and his becoming completely motionless. I let my brown hair fall over my eyes, giving me some sense of being hidden.

The first movement was his hand. He slowly slid it down my calf, down my ankle, and then jerked it back towards him. I watched his hand move carefully down my leg as though I were a poisonous snake, movements so controlled it hurt.

We didn't move or talk for what seemed like hours. Each minute passed with a stab of guilt into my stomach. What kind of monster would hurt such a perfect man?

"Why." The noise actually caught me off guard, making my foot twitch a little. The ant scurried off my shoe and underneath a yellow leaf.

"Why," he repeated. This time it was more firm and demanding. His voice was controlled, like our motions, and I could hear his anger boiling up.

"I want to date someone else." The wind blew my hair out of my face and I immediately stood up, turning away from Edward. His smooth hands touched my shoulders instantly. He gripped my arms firmly and spun me around.

His eyes were dark brown, almost completely black. "Who." I could barely hear his whisper, even as his mouth was inches from mine.

"Jacob Black." Cold breeze whipped past our faces as he tightened his grip on my shoulders. This caused him anger and depression, I knew it would.

He finally released my trembling arms. My eyes were filled with tears and my legs ready to give out. The look in Edward's eyes was enough to kill me right now.

"I can't be with someone who I know will continue to live after I die. I can't be with someone perfect, who never makes a mistake. I can't be with someone who is never going to be able to wrap me in his arms, kiss me strongly, and hold me." A few tears spilled over my eyelids. Edward wiped them away, and I cried more.

"I love you more than anything, Bella. I don't know what to do if you leave me." His voice was shaky and uneven. Every movement he made allowed more tears to rush down my cheeks.

"I love you, Edward. I love you so much. But we can't be together anymore. I love Jacob, and he's perfect for me."

"That smelly dog is not right for you, Bella. To see you with him is my worst nightmare, if I could have them." His voice was loud and demanding. I took two steps backwards out of pure fear.

"Don't leave me," he whispered, looking towards his feet. It was like watching a starving dog beg for food. But worse.

I reached out and ran my hand down his arm. He caught it right as I brushed his elbow and pulled me close to him. He smelt like heaven, and my vision became foggy with tears again.

The next few minutes were slow and painful. He ran his fingers through my hair and down my face, holding my head in his hands. He wiped away tears as they came, his eyes staring into mine in a pleading way.

He leaned down and kissed me on my trembling lips. For a few moments, I closed my eyes and pretended it was like old times. Like we were in his room, and he was kissing me goodbye before I drove home.

The kiss lasted longer than I expected, much longer. He was probably in pain, having to resist the urges to sink his head down just a little more and bite me. I shuddered at the thought and began to pull my head away.

"Don't go," he begged. His shaking hands pulled me back against him at once, his cold lips finding mine with ease. This wasn't right. I had just broken up with him (I shuddered once more at this very fresh memory) and Jacob was waiting back at my house.

"I have to go," I murmured weakly, moving away for a gasp of air. His hands dropped from my face to my shoulders, then down to my waist, then to my hips, where he held me firmly for a few seconds.

"Please Bella. Think about this."

"I have. For the past day, all I have done is think. I've made my choice, Edward. And I need to be with Jacob." My words were picked carefully, making sure not to upset myself or him anymore.

"I love you." He looked away and moved his hands back to his sides. I could see his body was shaking. Another tear eased down my face.

"Edward, I need you to understand me, so please, listen to me." I gently put both hands on his shoulder as he snapped his head back towards me.

"I think this is good for both of us. You won't have to stress about us anymore. You can relax. Please, listen. I. Love. You. So. Much. Don't ever forget that, Edward." I closed my eyes and cleared my throat.

"We will both move on. I will always love you. Always. But more of a friend-like love, eventually. Please, Edward, please, move on. Find another girl. Fall in love. Be happy." Half way through my last few sentences I choked up.

The silence around us reminded me of a funeral. All to quiet, no one really wanting to say anything, the only sounds being an occasional sniffle and the scream of sadness in the air.

"Is this what you really want?" He gently pulled my chin up to face his eyes. "Look at me, Bella Swan. Is this what you honestly want? I need to hear you say it."

My vision became blurry once more. His eyes had lightened up but were awfully sad to look at, like a lost puppy.

"I want to be with Jacob, not you."

He slowly lowered his lips to mine and I felt the endless tingles throughout my body. The kiss was controlled, short and sweet. "I hate goodbyes," I whispered when he pulled away, wiping a tear off my trembling cheek.

"Sayonara," he sighed in my ear.

"Sayonara, Edward. I love you."

"I love you too. And believe me, if I could cry, I would be."

I sucked in violently and bit my lip, trying to hold back tears long enough to walk away from Edward. Quickly I turned around and started walking. Every few seconds, I looked back. He remained standing beside the tree as though he had been struck by lightning. Shocked and confused.

A/N: Ok, at this point, you may hate it, you may love it, but keep reading, and next chapter will explain why she decided to leave Edward, kind of a prologue to this chapter. Please review! It really honestly helps and I'd love you forever :D