Chapter 2
The Day
(EPOV)
Bella Swan. She was as beautiful as I remembered her. Her long brown hair curling around her shoulders and those eyes. Those watery ocean blue eyes that have haunted me since the day I left.
The day I left. The memory is still so vivid in my mind even though it's been six years. I don't know why I couldn't stay out of trouble. Bella always told me that my wild ways would get me into trouble but I never dreamed that I would get caught.
Fall 1999
"Come on Edward!" Emmett yelled to me across the parking lot. Emmett was my best friend in the entire world next to Bella. Though he always seemed to get me into trouble.
"I'm coming, don't get your panties in a twist Emmett."
We were about to break into the little gas station on the edge of town as we had been doing for about three months now. Stealing cigarettes and beer on the weekends had become our normal thing on Friday nights. We had heard that they were going to put up security cameras but in Forks rumors were just that.
"Hurry up I hear a car coming." Emmett whispered.
I popped the latch on the back door and we were in. We moved quick since we knew that this was a busy stretch of road leading to the reservation.
The moment we walked in I knew something wasn't right. I could feel something different about the way the station felt.
There was someone here.
"Hey, stop." I told Emmett. "Something's not right."
"Quit being a baby, Edward! Let's get the shit and get out!"
As he walked away from me I panicked. I raced ahead of him and put my hands on his shoulders.
"You don't understand, something's wrong! We need to get out of here, NOW!"
And then it happened. The lights flew on and there stood Charlie Swan. Yes, Charlie Swan Police Chief, the love of my life's father standing right behind me. All I could do was stare at him. I knew we were in deep shit this time.
"Boys." Charlie said. "I think we need to have a little talk downtown."
He grabbed us both by the arm and led us out the way we had come in. We never even noticed the police cruiser sitting on the side of the building, but we were now sitting in the backseat.
After Charlie called for someone to come lock up the gas station he slide in the front seat and didn't say a word. The silence was far worse than anything he could have said to us. I knew my dad was going to kill me. At least he would yell. This silence was deafening.
When we got to the police station downtown my parents were already there. I could see them standing in the lobby. They were fighting again. Why did I have to be so stupid. Mom and Dad were already having problems, please allow me to add to them!
"Young man, you're not getting off easy this time." My dad said. As a respected doctor in town he had learned to control his temper, but the drinking was still out of control.
"Carlisle, please." My mom, Esme, pleaded with him.
"I'm afraid this will not be a family matter Mr. and Mrs. Cullen. These boys are in serious trouble. You're looking at some major punishments here." Chief Swan said. "Follow me boys."
I sat in the interrogation room for what seemed like hours before Chief Swan came in. He explained to me that Emmett had taken most of the fall since the evidence of what we had stolen was at his house hidden in the old tree house. He would be going to juvenile hall in Port Angeles. I couldn't believe it. What was in store for me?
"Edward, son, you have a decision to make. You can either fess up and take the punishment coming to you or we can beat around the bush. How long has this been going on?"
"About a month sir. We started out just seeing if we could get in and then we couldn't stop. We just wanted some smokes and beer. We're such dumb ass's for not thinking we'd get caught."
"Alright Edward. There's going to be more to come in the next few days, but I'm going to let you go home with your parents now. They're waiting for you in the lobby."
"Can I see Emmett?" I asked.
"Son he's already being transferred to Port Angeles."
"Damn." Emmett's parents had both died when he was little and his grandmother was getting pretty old. Of course she didn't want him around, so this was perfect for her. She wouldn't have to deal with him anymore. I bet this was her idea. I hated that old bitch.
The ride home was awful. No yelling at all. What was with these people! Didn't they know yelling worked? Why couldn't they just yell at me. I'm sure it's coming.
When we walked through the front door Alice was sitting on the couch talking to Bella on the phone.
"Bella they just walked in. I'll call you tomorrow." She said into the phone. "Bella is so mad at you! She said she was going to kill you!"
Alice was three years older than us but she and Bella were best friends. Alice was the one who introduced us years ago. Yeah we went to school together, but no one wanted to be friends with the police chiefs' daughter. But I'm glad she introduced us because I knew that someday I would marry Bella.
"Alice, please go to your room." Dad said sternly.
She quickly walked down the hall to her room and pretended to shut the door.
"Sit down son. You're mother and I have come to a decision. The two of you are going to move to Seattle to stay with your Grandmother. This is not up for negotiation. This is our decision and it's final. You will be leaving on Sunday.
"But Dad! It's Friday! How am I going to say goodbye to all my friends? And what about Bella? She'll be heartbroken!"
"You are not to see Bella anymore. Chief Swan was very clear about that. He said you could come by tomorrow afternoon and say your goodbye's but that was all. No phone calls."
"Could this get any worse! Honestly, I love Bella and you're tearing us apart? This isn't fair!"
"Go up to your room and start packing Edward. I'll be up to help you shortly." My mom could always stay so calm during situations like this.
"Fine." I stormed up the stairs and slammed my bedroom door. I could see Bella's light from my window. I just wanted to hug her and kiss her one last time before I had to leave for what would seem like an eternity. There was just no way for me to get to her. Charlie was home now and would never let me talk to her tonight.
Why are you so stupid! What were you thinking? You're loosing everything in the world for some stupid smokes and beer!
"Son, can I come in?" Mom called from the hall.
"Yeah, sure Mom."
"I know this is very hard for you. I can't imagine how you must be feeling but you must understand, this is the best arrangement for us. You see son, your father and I are…we're…we're getting divorced."
"Mom no! Not because of me, I'll go to Seattle by myself. Please!"
"Son, this decision was made long before tonight. Alice wants to stay here with Carlisle to finish school so you and I can start this new little adventure on our own." She hugged me tight.
"Mom this isn't fair."
"I know sweet Edward, but it's what's best for us right now. Maybe someday you can come back here, but not anytime soon." She was crying now.
"I'm sorry Mom. I shouldn't have got into trouble. I would go with you whether I had to or not. I love you Mom." I hugged her as tight as I could and I didn't want to let go.
::**::**::**::**::
Thinking about that day still makes me cry. Though it doesn't hurt nearly as bad as the day I had to leave my Bella behind. My Bella. How strange that after all these years I still think of her as mine? She was so mad at me. She told me that she would never forgive me. I used to write her all the time that first year but she never would respond. I guess she really couldn't forgive me.
That hug she gave you sure wasn't an "I'm still mad at you" hug. Maybe she still loves me?
After six years Cullen? Wake up and smell the coffee!
Either way, I would have to make it a point to stop by and see her. Even eight months pregnant she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. And those eyes, those eyes that could see right through my tough guy persona. I could stare at those eyes for the rest of my life and never tire of them.
There you go again dummy. Wishful thinking…
Maybe, just maybe, I could make her mine again.
Thank you for reading my little story here! This is the first story I've ever written and I'm pretty excited about it. Please review and feel free to put this story on alert. I'm going to try and update every week, but with my crazy work schedule and my son about to start back to school I may be late sometimes! Bare with me, I promise the story will pick up again. Just trying to give you some back story on Edward and Bella's relationship and why they have been apart so long.
This story is dedicated to my wonderful husband, who is and will always be my Edward. I love you!
