Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight.

Thanks to MeteorOnAMoonlessNight for being my beta, I've also recently acquired Sara aka Nikki Black as a pre-reader. I value both of these ladies tremendously, and don't know what I would do without either of them!

A/N: So, as a lot of you guessed, we're back to where the prologue takes place. Enjoy!

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EPOV:

I tried to tell myself over and over that I didn't love her, that I couldn't love her. I was married for fuck's sake, and even if I wasn't, even if I decided to end everything with Emily, it didn't matter. Bella was leaving for college, and I wasn't going to hold her back.

It had been 2 months since I had seen her face to face. I knew she still went to be the beach and waited for me. I went, too, but I kept my distance because I couldn't let her know. Sometimes I would see her sitting there with Jake, and they just looked… right, no matter how wrong it felt. If she'd let him, he could be out in the open with her, hold her hand, kiss her lips, with anyone watching; all the things I could never do.

It was September 1st, which meant in just about 2 weeks, I wouldn't even be able to see her from a distance.

I had been doing my best for the last 2 months to keep on a good face for Emily, and most of the time it worked. I knew there were moments where she could tell that something was up, but she couldn't put her finger on it. I'm sure she assumed it was just me sulking over not being able to open my shop, or something going on at work. As the weeks went on, we spoke a little less than we ever had before, and it wasn't just on my end. She seemed less interested in telling me about her day, and I didn't really try and pry it out of her. Our sex life was also almost non-existent now; I just didn't have the desire, and she didn't seem to care.

My marriage was falling apart at the seams, and I'd let go of the woman I was probably in love with. Empty wasn't a strong enough word for what I felt.

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It was late afternoon by the time I finally got dressed and headed out to the garage. I had been working on a table for Jasper's now-fiancée, Alice, whenever I got the chance, and I was hoping to be done with it today and to get started on another project. Now more than ever did I need the distraction. It was more than just a hobby these days, it was a way to ease the ache.

I had been working for a while when I thought I heard someone pull into the driveway. I figured it was just Emily and that I would wrap up what I was doing quickly; I didn't need to give her a reason to bitch at me.

A few moments later, though, I thought I was dreaming, that what I was seeing wasn't possible.

There, standing in front of me like I had taught her to do, was Bella. She was a sight for sore eyes. All I wanted was to grab her, to hold her against me. I wanted to feel her soft curves and smell the flowery scent of her shampoo, but I couldn't, I wouldn't allow myself to do that to her, to give her false hope again.

Instead, I threw all the anger and hurt that had been in my heart lately at her.

I flipped the switch on my saw. "Bella, what the hell are you doing here? She could have been home, for fuck's sake!" I spat at her.

"I drove by, her car was gone and I saw you in the garage, so I knew she wouldn't be back for a while." She shrugged.

God, it was hot in here. I swore it hadn't been this hot in here just a few moments ago. I wiped the sweat dripping down my face with my hand and glared at her. "Why are you here? I don't remember telling you it was okay to just stop by, ever."

She sighed and looked at me, taking a step closer. All I wanted to do was turn and run. Run from her, run to her, I didn't know which urge was stronger. In the end, I knew I needed to protect her from me, and to protect myself from me as well. I had already broken us both enough.

"I'm sorry, I know you never told me I could just stop by, but I've had this question running through my mind," she said, her eyes glancing around the small space, stopping for a moment on my workbench. I had never looked at that spot the same way after that day.

"Well, just spit it out then," I barked at her, my voice laced with more venom then I wanted. I had a feeling that neither of us would be leaving this garage unscathed this afternoon.

She huffed at me, her eyes narrowing just slightly. I had missed how fiesty and headstrong she could be sometimes. It was one of the things I liked most about her.

"What if we tried to have a normal relationship, what if you told her you wanted to seperate? We could try actually dating and—" she started, but I couldn't let her finish. She wanted to date me? It wasn't possible. I was here in Coos Bay, and she was heading to college in Eugene. Oh, and the little fact that I was in a marriage that I wasn't even sure I wanted to be part of any longer.

No matter what I might have wanted, it would never work. It would be weekend visits, that would turn into sometimes visits, and then just holidays. She deserved a full life and to really experience the world that was out there, not a half-assed relationship. I had made my decision, no matter how much it shattered my heart.

"Oh, Bella, but what if I don't want normal?" I said, smirking, and doing my best to push her away.

"You don't want normal? What does that even mean, Edward?" she questioned.

"What it means, sugar, is that everything we did? It was fun at the time, but now it's over. I've already got my normal. You were just there to break that up, don't you get it? You were a great fuck, though. I'll give you that. Now go. I don't know when my wife will be back, but I don't want her catching you here."

"Fuck you, Edward," were the last words I heard her say before she turned and ran out of the garage.

I stood there for a moment just taking everything in, and realizing all that had just transpired. I had just torn down and broken the one woman who would have stood by my side no matter what, who loved me, who believed in me regardless of the asshole I truly was.

I picked up the hammer that was laying there on my workbench and with all of the hurt and rage that had been building up inside of me, I let out a loud yell as I threw it as hard as I could through the window, the glass shattering and breaking just like my heart.

I slumped down onto the floor and held my head in my hands as a sob burst forth. I sat there in that little garage for what felt like an eternity, letting myself for once actually feel all of the pain and emotions that I had been keeping tucked deep inside since the first day I'd kissed her. There was no doubt about it, I loved Isabella Swan with all of my heart, body, mind, and soul, and she would never be mine.

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I was just sweeping up the rest of the glass and all the other messes that I had made throughout the day when Emily pulled into the driveway and immediately made her way into the garage.

"What the fuck happened to the window, Edward!" she exclaimed loudly.

"Don't start, Emily." I glared at her.

"Don't tell me not to start, Edward! I don't get you lately! We hardly talk, you're always in a crap mood, and I can't fucking stand it anymore. What the hell has gotten into you?" she yelled.

"It's nothing, alright? Just fucking let me be." I sighed, feeling exasperated.

"Don't tell me it's nothing! Is this about the shop again? I can't believe you'd break a window over—"

"I cheated on you. I've been cheating on you for weeks. I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry, Emily. I'm going to go pack a bag and head over to Jasper's. I… I'm just sorry," I breathed out, and turned to walk into the house, leaving her standing there.

As I was packing my bag, I heard her come up behind me. "Who is she?" she asked and I could tell she had been crying. I truly had never wanted to hurt her, but in the end, it just wasn't possible not to.

"I'm not telling you that." I sighed heavily.

"Are you in love with her? Is she why you didn't want to have a baby with me?" she continued with her questions.

I turned around to face her. "Yes, I love her, but we're done. As for the reason I don't want a baby? It was never that I didn't want a baby, Emily, it was the fact that I just wanted to do something for me, just once. I have spent years working for everyone else, and to help provide for us. I wanted your support to open my own shop, it wouldn't have been forever, just a year or two while I got it off the ground. But instead? You told me it was ridiculous, that it would be impossible for me to be successful. That had nothing to do with anyone else, except for you." I zipped up my bag and walked towards the door, Emily following behind me.

"I really am sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I've always loved you, but I've come to realize that I'm just not in love with you anymore. I'm pretty sure if you take the time, you'll see that you've felt the same way for a while now, too," I said, walking out the door. I'd call Jasper on my way.

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Chapter 8 Songs:

Beautiful Day for Goodbye – George Strait

Bed of Lies – Matchbox Twenty