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Everything about my surroundings equaled my mood. Dark, cold, alone, isolated. Not even the birds with little care in the world managed to chirp. It seems the world was giving me today to wallow in pathetic self-pity. Hopefully it would be so gracious tomorrow.

As I drove, I thought of what had gone wrong, what had brought me down to this level. I admit that we were young when we got married; fresh out of highschool-18-and so in love… or at least I thought so. With an agreement with my parents to help us financially as long as school continued, we had a good life set up for us. Three years along, things started to get bumpy and now here we were. Here I was, 21 years and getting my first-and hopefully only- divorce.

I drove on slowly, slow enough that if I listened very closely, I was able to hear the crunch of gravel and stones and sticks. She was probably irritated right now, madly wondering where I was and what was taking me so long. That thought only made me decrease my speed.

But like everything else good in my life, I saw that I was running short on gas so I had to pick up speed unless I wanted to be stuck in that forest. It was hardly thirty minutes when I finally arrived at the house. Or should I say mansion? Not my mansion, of course, but it was only slightly larger than my own. The mansion, in fact, belonged to a family friend that I had known for nearly all my life. George Nelson.

George was a lawyer and had provided the wedding certificates for my wife, Daniella, and I, only three years ago. Ironically, I was coming to his house today to sign the divorce papers that would forever separate Daniella and I.

My car pulled into the driveway and I got out of the car, only to have the cold bite at me as soon as I stepped out. I could feel the heat leaving my body.

I zipped up my leather jacket and briskly walked to the door, my head bent against the wind the entire way up the winding driveway.

When the door opened for me, I was surprised to see George there instead of one of his butlers, but happy that it wasn't Daniella-but then again, when was the last time she opened a door herself?

George smiled as soon as he saw me, "Edward! Good to see you, buddy." I smiled back, though I doubt it was as welcoming.

"Finally. I've been wondering where you've been. What took you so long?" My smile faded.

I turned to see Daniella standing at the bottom of a curving staircase, holding a large glass of wine and wearing a skintight dress. Surprisingly, my heart no longer jumped at the sight of her.

"Ah, Daniella, haven't seen you since you slammed those divorce papers down. How are you?" I could feel the sarcasm in my tone.

She sneered, but avoided answering me. "Speaking of those divorce papers, let's get down to business, shall we?" That's where it got awkward. George pulled at his collar and silently nodded his head.

I faked a bright smile, "Sounds fantastic to me." No one spoke after that.

George's office was big, much like the one I had at home. He offered us seats to use while he went to get the papers and told us to take whatever from the mini-bar in the corner. I took up his offer. Now, I know no one should drink and drive, and I always abided by the law, but this was one time I felt that the law should be on my side.

"Should you be drinking Edward? Or did you have driver bring you here, who I want in the divorce by the way." Daniella's slithery voice made me grimace.

Bitingly, I replied, "Should you be sleeping with my colleagues, Daniella?" She pursed her lips, but kept quiet. That explains why I've been sounding like a moody, depressed cynic. It sure takes a lot out of you when you find out your wife wants to separate.

While I poured my drink, I silently calculated what I would argue for and what she could take.

I was on drink two of strong vodka on the rocks when George solemnly came back. Daniella took a seat quickly, while I sloshed my way over to the other large leather seat.

It was quiet for a moment before George spoke up, "So, where should we start?" Start? Where does someone start in a situation like this?

Of course, Daniella had an answer, "I think we should start with the house."

George nodded, "Okay, seems like a plausible place to start. Edward, what do you say?"

Daniella was probably thinking I would give in, knowing this is what she wanted most. And why not? I was nice, giving, honest, and obviously easily forgettable when someone was handing out free drinks in exchange for a little infidelity. "I want the house."

"What?" Screeched Daniella. "You hardly ever spent time there!"

I sighed, "Well, then that's why I want it. I can make some memories. Besides it's in my name." I smiled as I slugged down a large gulp.

Daniella huffed beside me, causing my smile to grow. "Fine, then I want the boat and the-"

"The boat? You have no legal rights to that, you know? Actually, you don't have many rights to anything. Hah. But since I'm such a nice guy-take it. When in the hell do I go boating anyway?" Daniella crossed her arms, satisfied.

During this exchange, George was furiously writing this all down. He was about to ask about something else, but I interrupted.

"Excuse me for a second. Daniella- why don't you take it all? Just give me my house, my cars, and my money and take whatever else you want. Happy?" She stared at me for a second, wondering if I was joking or not, then quickly agreed, hiding a snide tone.

"If you think that's best, but I do want some of that money." She clapped her hands together, which made her breast jiggle a bit, sickening. That was the last thing I wanted to see right now.

"Of course you want the money," I snapped, while tipping back my glass until I got the last drop.

George decided that, as the money did belong rightfully with to the Cullen family, and she was no longer a Cullen, she had no rights to it. But it was agreed that 10% would go to her. Not much when you consider what all was in the bank.

After the papers were signed and things were crossed and dotted, I asked, "Are we done here? My cars low on gas so if I get stuck anywhere, I don't want to be stuck there for long."

George eyed me wearily, "Yes, I guess were done, but Edward, are you sure you should be driving in your…condition?"

I shrugged, "Psh. Why not? Besides, it's not like I'll have much to crash into. But I guess I can sober up a bit." I looked over to Daniella, "Wow. That was enough to sober anyone up." I laughed for a few minutes while she fumed and George cracked a smile, breaking his lawyer getup.

Daniella glared, "Well, I guess I'm the only mature one here." Then she stood and said her goodbyes.

Back in the mini-bar corner, I poured myself another drink and George joined me. At around 5:45, George spoke up, "It's around time for me to leave now."

I was confused, "Leave? What do you mean leave?"

"Anna and I are going on a little vacation and the flight leaves at 7:30 so I should be on my way. We also gave the employees time off while we're gone."

"Oh, sorry to keep you George."

He laughed, "You know I don't mind Edward. God, feels like we haven't talked in forever. Sad that this is our reunion. But I did tell you that you never should have gotten married so young. I'm 26 and I'm not even married yet." George never looked his age and sometimes I forgot that he was years older.

"Yeah, yeah. Well, it's over now. Come on, let's go." We both shrugged our jackets on and left the warmth of his house and stepped into the sharp cold. "Hopefully my car doesn't die while I'm still miles away from everything."

"Yeah, same here, but you know, if you do get stuck and you aren't too far away, you can come back here if you'd like. The door's always unlocked anyway," offered George.

I smiled, an almost real one this time, "Really? Thanks, George." He smiled in welcome and we separated.

My Volvo was hardly warm and the leather interior was stiff so I cranked the heat to the highest. Funny, though, that even when I could feel my hands again, I still felt a chill throughout.

George left through the gate first, and when I was out on the road, I saw he was going in the opposite direction that I was. Better that the road was clear with my head buzzing like it was.

Even when I was drunk, or just barely buzzed, I was a good driver, though the trees were a bit more blurred than before and I didn't feel as bad as before. Actually, the only thing that reminded me I had been drinking was the strong smell of alcohol.

The ride back was much like the ride here, and I was surprised I remembered the way at all. I decided to be safe and drive nice and slow.

It wasn't until about fifteen minutes into the drive that I saw something unusual. Because of my slow speed, I was able to make out the outline of what looked to be an animal, curled up or dead. Being in the right mind as I was, I stumbled out of my car and walked slowly over to whatever it was.

From a distance, it did look like an animal of sorts, but up close, it was obviously a girl who was curled up into a small ball, with nothing but a thin jacket to keep from the cold and large black purse by her legs.

I cocked my head to the side, wondering how I should continue.

I silently stepped toward her. Once I reached her, I bent down slightly and got small glimpse of her face that wasn't covered by the hood.

She had rather full lips, in comparison to Daniella's thin ones they were huge. But these lips were also blue, much like her eyelids. Worried now, I found it in me to sober myself enough to gently move her jacket enough to see that her breath was still there, though accompanied by cold air. With ginger movements, I stroked her arm until her eyes twitched and opened.

For a minute, she just stayed looking at me then she gasped, sitting up and moving back faster than I though possible.

Her eyes were wide when she finally spoke, "Who-who are you?"

I tried to focus my dizzying vision and answered, "My name is Edward Cullen. Would you tell me your name?"

She nodded, "Bella. Bell Swan." She bit her lip as she looked around and I studied her from my distance. She looked young, hardly seventeen.

"Well, Bella Swan, can I ask what you're doing out in the middle of…here?"

"Um, I was, uh, hiking and I guess I got lost. What about you?" Definitely not legal yet, and a very bad liar but I didn't accuse her.

What was I doing out here? Be honest and scare her away, or lie? "Business trip." Lie it is.

"Oh." She bit her lip again.

"Do you need help or anything?" That shocked me. I used to be a very private person, and I probably would never have even stopped in the first place, but I guess things can change.

She studied me now for a minute, and I could see just how shy she looked, quiet. "Do you, um, have a phone with you?"

I reached into my back pocket and produced my phone. Dead. "Sorry, it's not charged."

Any sign of hope left her face. "Oh, then I guess no. Thank you."

I nodded, then got up to leave back to my car. However, I made the mistake of looking back. Her innocence pulled me back to her, an instinct of strong protecting the weak. "Listen, I have a friend who lives just a few minutes away from here. He has working phone's and everything so I could give you a ride over there."

She stared hesitantly at me, probably wondering if she should believe me. "You can trust me," I said and smiled, and this smile felt real.

She smiled back, though not with as much enthusiasm, "I don't know…is it a far walk from here?"

"About fifteen minutes, but considering the weather…"

She frowned, so I tried to make it up. "You can even drive if you want." My head continued to spin as I spoke.

"I guess it would be okay. Just promise you aren't crazy." She smiled, though there was a part of me that knew she wasn't joking.

"I promise. We should probably go now- you look a little blue."

"Blue? Well, I guess it's a change from my normal red. But you're right." She hesitantly walked over to my car and I followed.

Once we were inside, me in the passenger's side and her in the drivers seat, she put on her seatbelt, and I followed her example. Then, she placed her hands around the wheel carefully. I just got what she was doing when she started to carefully adjust the mirrors. "You have driven before, right?"

This time she did turn red, "Yes. But I'm still without a license and I just want to be careful…"

I laughed, "Great. One of us has been drinking and the other doesn't have a license. The cops will love that…" Note to self: Don't drink anymore. It makes you look like such a jerk.

Bella's eyes widened, "You're drunk?"

I smiled, "Just a little bit. Now, just relax, Get yourself comfortable. Start the car, there your go."

Soon she was turning around and following my directions. Shortly, we were back at George's house.

"Is this the house?" Bella asked, looking slightly awed by the massive size.

"Yes, this is it. Ready?" She nodded and shut of my car. We then scrambled out of the car into the snippy wind which had little bits of snow already falling.

Bella huddled up into her jacket while I pulled mine in closer. Quickly, we walked to the front door.

In almost slow motion, I twisted the doorknob and opened the door. After a few seconds, no alarms went off, even when I stepped in and out of the house so I guided Bella in.

I shut the door so that no weather would find it's way inside. I led her into the kitchen and pointed to a sleek black phone on the wall, and then I left to the living room so she could have privacy.

After ten minutes had passed and Bella still hadn't come out from the kitchen, I went back to George's office and poured myself another drink. This time I took the entire bottle with me back downstairs and crept into the large living room, which opened up into a dark study. I knew this house like my own and didn't even have to look down to know about the step that connected the study to the sunroom.

In the sunroom, I sank into a wicker chair in the corner and allowed myself to wallow while Bella was still on the phone.

Every memory of Daniella burned like a newly lit cigarette but wouldn't fade as quickly as the smoke once it's put out. But the bottle helped. I was never big into drinking, but boy did this make everything so much easier to deal with.

I hadn't been keeping track of how long Bella had been on the phone, but I was alerted that she was on the room by a soft knock on the doorframe.

"Um, Edward?" Her voice was soft and faint, like she was trying not to wake a sleeping child.

Slowly, I turned her way, "Yes? Did you make the call you needed?"

She nodded, "Yes, thanks. I had called my brother, but he said that he wouldn't be able to come pick me up until tomorrow morning. I don't want to bother you or anything…"

I smiled to the best of my ability, "You can stay here if you'd like. I know George wouldn't mind. There's a ton of guest rooms. I'll show you to them." I was surprised at the coherency of my speech, considering my mind was spinning and slipping away.

Bella must have noticed the bottle, but didn't say anything, for which I was grateful. Anyway, I knew I wasn't making a good first impression at all.

Bella followed me up the long flight of stairs up to the second level, where I gave her a room to stay in.

As I was turning away, I heard her call out. "Edward?"

I looked over my shoulder, "Hmm?"

Bella smiled a small smile, "Thank you."

I nodded my head, "You're welcome."

"Edward?" She called out again.

"Yes?"

"Good night."

I smiled this time, "Good night, Bella. Call me if you need anything."

When I heard the door click closed, I shuffled to the room where I had spent many nights when I was younger. How many times had I crashed in that room? Too many to count, but here's another one.

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