Who Says You Can't Go Home?

A Twilight Fan fiction by

RND4EVA

This is my Bella and Edward story. My characters are all human. There are some out of character situations and pairings. Edward and Bella are long lost loves, apart for five years. Bella is a journalist living in Phoenix who accepts a job at Forks High School at the prompting of her best friend Jacob Black. Edward is a musician living in London. What will happen when their two lives cross again reminding them both of the love they walked away from?

I do not own Twilight or any of Stephenie Meyer's characters.

Chapter 1

Bella's POV

Whoever said "you can't go home" was definitely right. Either that or those who thought they could were sadly mistaken. I drove my car on Highway 101, nearing the town of Forks. The feeling in my stomach was something akin to nausea. It had been nearly two years since I visited my home-town. This time, however was not a visit. I was coming home to stay.

'Home town' is a term I use loosely. The town of Forks, Washington is where I was born and lived with my parents Renee and Charlie until I was four years old. When my parents divorced I moved with my mom to a busy suburb outside of Phoenix, Arizona. I only visited Forks for summer vacations and occasional holidays with my Dad.

That all changed when my mom re-married. Her husband at the time, Phil was a pro baseball player who always traveled. That summer before my freshman year, my mom decided to travel with Phil and the team. Leaving me with no where to go…except Forks.

Thinking back, I wanted my mom to be happy and desperately tried not to show her my dismay at this new arrangement. Although I loved my father, I had a tight bond with my mother. She was always there for me and this would change my life forever.

Although at the time I didn't know just how much…

Returning to Forks made me somewhat nostalgic. The idea of once again relocating from a big city to a small town was intriguing. At first I was less than enthused at the change but after much consideration felt it was definitely the right time. The minute I had made the decision to move back to Forks, I had an overwhelming sense of peace about the decision. I never thought I would ever come back to Forks but that all changed, two months ago, when I heard of a job opening at Forks High School The call came at the end of a rather stressful Monday in mid-September.

"Hello?" I answered. Checking the caller ID, I knew it was my best friend from home, Jacob Black.

"Hey. How's it going down there? Miss me yet?" It was always how my phone conversations began with Jake.

"Always. You know that," I smiled into the phone.

"So, want to know the latest news….?" There was a tone of apprehension in his voice.

I hesitated. "Ah, yeah…I guess."

Never one to beat around the bush Jake blurted out. "There's a job opening here and I want you to take it."

Silence. I didn't quite know how to respond. "Okay, well do you suppose you could give me a few more details?" I was nervously waiting to hear what he had to tell me.

I could almost see the grin of his impossibly white teeth as he spoke. "Our writing and journalism teacher has decided not to return from her maternity leave. That means there's a full time position opening. I spoke to Principal Greene today, just to inquire if the rumor was true. He was curious at my interest and in the course of the conversation, your name came up."

"Jake" I sighed. "You know I haven't decided to look for another job yet."

He knew I had been stressed working for the Arizona Tribune newspaper. Deadlines and editors to answer to; the pressure had become more than I really wanted to deal with. I just was uncertain if, given the current economy; a job change was in my best interest.

"Just thought I'd let you know. The job hasn't even been posted yet. You'd be the first to apply. I can only imagine the response of the school-board, when the nearly famous Isabella Swan's resume comes across the table, applying for the job to teach at her high school alma mater."

"Jake, you are too much" I laughed. "I'd hardly consider myself 'nearly famous', and I highly doubt the school board would think so either."

"You, my darling Isabella, are far too modest," he replied.

"Not to argue this point further but since when is a newspaper columnist in PhoenixArizona considered 'famous'?"

"Would you like a few quotes from your former teachers?" He hedged.

"Not necessary. I will think about it. That's all I'll say". After the way my day had gone, I'd be considering it more than I was willing to admit.

"Okay, well I gotta run. Talk to you soon. Love Ya."

"Yep, thanks for the call Jake." I answered making a smooching sound into the phone. Then hung up.

Over the course of the next few weeks my job at the Arizona Tribune, left me with a feeling of overwhelming pressure. I started my days at 6:00 a.m. and most of the time I didn't get home until after 8:00 p.m. I found myself continually bringing work home with me and collapsing into bed just before midnight only to start all over again six hours later. I was surviving on caffeine and a few nibbles on take-out meals in between meetings and other deadlines. My boss was pleased with my work, however, this was fueling my internal conflict as I considered what Jake had told me.

I had originally started working for the newspaper as an intern during my senior year at Arizona University where I was studying journalism. As part of my senior writing project I began a weekly column for my school newspaper. The column was small, but well written and quickly became popular around campus. I took questions from my fellow students regarding family and relationships and wrote answers to their various dilemmas in the form of an advice column called "Ask Izzy." Although several of my fellow students knew I was the writer of the column, most did not. I therefore remained quite anonymous in my answers.

As I became more confident in my ability as a writer, I submitted a collection of my columns to the editor in chief of the Tribune. After much convincing on my part, he decided to give me a chance and hired me to write my column in the gossip and opinion section of the newspaper. My new weekly column had gained an audience and the rest, as they say, is history.

History…this word fascinated me as I continued traveling north toward Forks. Memories overcame me and made my eyes sting. I tried un-successfully to push the thoughts from my brain. If I was entirely honest with myself, I would admit that my mind lingered on him every day for as long as I could remember.

Most of the time I suppressed the emotions, made myself forget and then would forge on with what ever task was in front of me. My attempt to quell my emotions left me with a large lump in my throat.He was the reason for so many of the things I have done, still do and most likely will do in the future. I was usually quite successful in my efforts to put thoughts of him behind me until the next memory crept into my mind. Coming back to Forks made me wonder with intensity, though. Would I still be able to have a handle on my emotions being back in the place where it all started?

Edward's POV

The weather was damp, rainy, and miserable as I walked the short distance from my flat to work. Although I was dressed in a parka it barely repelled the unrelenting pulse of the rain, a bit harsh considering it was the middle of September. It was days like this that brought back the memories of Forks. It was somewhat bizarre how similar the London climate was to the place I would always think of as home.

I was born in America in the small town of Forks, Washington, where I lived until I was 18 years old. In the middle of my senior year of high school my father, Carlisle Cullen had transferred jobs. He was an accomplished surgeon and had decided he wanted to move his career into the area of plastic surgery. A career in plastic surgery was implausible if we stayed in Forks. My father and mother, Esme chose to relocate our family to London where my Dad was hired by a large surgical clinic.

The move to the UK had definitely been a successful venture for my family. The doors were open for me to attend a myriad of private schools. My parents chose for me to attend a boarding school to finish high school and then I went on to attend the Royal College of Music where I was now employed as a teacher of concert piano and music composition and recording.

I arrived at the Conservatory early, hung up my wet parka and sat down to the piano. I began to move my fingers across the keys. The notes that flowed from my body were familiar; haunting. This song I had composed years ago, the song I seldom allowed myself to play. Bella's Lullaby.

It was not just the similarities in the weather today that had my mind dwelling on home and her. For a long time now I was considering returning to the U.S. Most days the urge was overwhelming. These thoughts had prompted me to contact the Conservatory's administration about career opportunities across the Atlantic. I was given a list with several prospects. Most of them were in New York or Los Angeles.

One, in particular, however, had greater appeal to me than all the others. A Fine Arts Society out of Seattle Washington had received a grant to expand music and other arts throughout schools the North Western United States. There were several schools chosen as possible sites for a fine arts satellite program. Forks High School was one of them on that list. Although this small school would definitely not draw someone of my musical caliber under normal circumstances…the attraction for me was purely personal. This school was where I spent the majority of my teenage years. It was where I obtained the foundation of my education. It was where I met the girl of my dreams and where I fell in love for the first-and only time in my life.

Although I had theoretically burned all bridges when I left Forks, I still had one important connection; my best friend from high school, Emmett McCarty and his wife, Alice. They both graduated from Forks the same year Bella did. I stayed in contact with them through Christmas Cards and occasional emails or telephone calls. They had been the ones to tell me that Bella and her father had left Forks.

I knew that she now was an advice columnist in Phoenix, where her mother lived. I had once used "Google" to search for the newspaper where Bella worked. I quickly found it and the link to her column. Curiosity got the best of me so I began to read. It was blatantly obvious that the writer of this column was not a jilted lover. The advice to the lovelorn I was reading was definitely given by an experienced lover. One who was secure in a relationship. There was no doubt in my mind...Bella had moved on, fallen in love, forgotten me. I couldn't read anymore. I never looked at her column again.

There were few decisions I had made in my life that I regret. Leaving Bella was definitely one of them. The choice to end our relationship had been mine. I still recall with agony the day I told her I was leaving…

I knocked on her door early that evening. I had finished my homework and was hoping she had also, so we could spend some time together. I knew what I had to say would upset her, just as it had upset me.

She answered the door with a surprised grin. I tried to hide the pain in my chest by flashing a smile back at her, attempting to control my emotions until we could sit down. I gazed at her beautiful face and my heart broke just knowing how painful my news would be.

"What are you doing here? You said you would call me after dinner"? She asked

"There's something I need to talk to you about. I had to see you." I couldn't meet her gaze. I sensed her tension as she closed the door and stepped onto the porch with me.

We sat on the porch swing side by side. She instinctively grabbed my hand.

"What's wrong?"

"My parents….we…" I stammered, not finding the right words. "They're….We're leaving Forks". I finished.

She shook her head in disbelief. "What do you mean? Why? When?" She gasped.

"My parents have been talking about this for quite a while now - for my dad's work. I was hoping it wasn't going to happen. But today when I got home from school they told me. It's definite. We're leaving after Christmas, we are moving to London."

"London?" she repeated "How can they do this to me….to us?"

I felt a bit defensive now "They're not doing this to US, Bella. They're moving because of my dad, for his career." My tone was insensitive. She immediately dropped her head in her hands, crying.

Sobs shook her body and I put my arms around her, joining in her tears.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. This has all made me so confused; I just can't bear the thought of leaving here, leaving you. I love you Bella"

Her head lifted from her lap to my shoulder and we grasped each other with all of our might.

"What about our future. How are we going to work through this?" She asked desperately.

"I don't know, Bella. It's something we are going to have to talk more about. Please just hold me. I can't think about that right now."

I continued to play, needing the few minutes of peace before the first student arrived. These memories had made my decision for me. I would leave here and return to the United States. I was going home. The only place I'd known love and even though she wasn't there, I would be. Exactly where my life began.

Thank you for reading. This is my first fanfiction and I would appreciate if you could review my story. I am always happy for suggestions from readers. More to come soon...stay tuned...