Way Back Home

Summary: (AU/AH) When her parents divorce, breaks apart her and her best friend, Edward Cullen. Bella decides that it's best to break all ties with the past. It's been five years, and a horrible accident leaves her with a choice, stay in sunny Phoenix, with her alcoholic step-father, or move back to deary Forks, to live with her father Charlie. In an instant, Bella is thrown back into a world that she thought she had left behind, and finds out that just because you leave the past behind, doesn't mean that it's behind you.

Chapter One

Edward's POV

Lonely. That's one word to describe me. I always wondered how a person could feel so lonely, and alone, when constantly surrounded by people. Three-hundred and fifty-seven students attend Forks High School, my high school. Yet I feel alone. Makes no sense right? Yeah that's what I thought. I realize though, that my loneliness started the day that I lost my best friend. Although when I say lost, I mean she left. Not that she had a choice. When your twelve, and your parents divorce. You don't exactly get a say in where you live. It would have been nice to have at least kept our friendship alive through emails and letters, but I guess it was just too much for her. She stopped writing back about five years ago, or rather, three months after she made the move to Phoenix.

Most of everyone say that I'm bitter. That I just need to get over the fact that she left, and that she's not coming back. It's been five years, and I'm still holding onto some shred of hope that she'll come back. I've heard the rumors swarming around town, or well around any part of town that Chief Swan isn't located at. Apparently there was some sort of accident, and Bella's mom was killed. Now apparently, the judge has left it up to her on whether she wants to stay in Phoenix with her step-dad, or move back to Forks to live with her father. I'm sure you can guess which one I'm holding out for.

This does go without saying of course, that me and Bella didn't always get along. That we weren't always best friends. The inseparable kind. The ones that are supposed to last a lifetime, not just five short years.

I can almost remember the day that I really got to know her. Got to know Bella Swan. I know what your thinking. Two seven year-olds, don't 'really get to know each other.' That's were your wrong. Me and Bella always had this special connection. Almost like two magnets that are pulled together by sheer force. That day though, it was almost held a magical feel to it.

Beginning of Flashback

"Come on dad!" I griped at him, scrunching up my nose. "You can't be serious! Bella Swan!?"

"Yes, Bella Swan. The poor girl has lived next door to us since we moved here, a year ago. I've never once seen you say more than two words to her," his words were true. I hadn't had a reason to say anything to her. She was a girl, and at seven, girls were not who little boys wanted to be caught hanging out with. Although, I did hang out with my twin sister Alice, but that was for different reasons.

"Is Alice at least coming?" my voice was a high-pitched whine now.

"No, she's going shopping with your mother. So is Emmett, not by choice of course. What about your other friend?" he asked, he never could remember Jasper's name. Like it was difficult or something.

"No, Jazz can't come," I pouted.

Stuck all day fishing with a girl, what great fun that'll be.

"You'll be fine Edward, maybe you'll make a new friend," he said, a genuine smile on his face. If only he knew just how true that was, and just how painful it would turn out to be.

"Hello Chief Swan. Can Bella come fishing with my father and me?" I asked through clenched teeth. How dare he make me ask.

"Well, hold on just a minute. Let me ask her if she wants to go," Charlie smiled softly at me, before disappearing behind the door.

Maybe she won't, I had thought to myself. I so badly wanted anything to happen, but to hang out with Bella Swan.

"She'd love to—--it's Edward right?" he asked me.

"Yes," was all I said, afraid I might say something to get me grounded if I said more.

"Okay great, she'll be out in just a minute," he smiled once more at me, before closing the door.

Sighing loudly, I walked back toward my father's car. I felt like I wanted to scream. What would Jazz say? Worse, what would Emmett say? I didn't get long to think on it, as the door on my left opened up, and in slipped Isabella Swan. She was kind of small for her age, but her big chocolate brown eyes made up for it. She had one a white long-sleeved shirt, and a pair of jeans, and a fisherman's hat, that was far to big for her head.

"Hi Edward," she said shyly.

"Hi Bella," I said, trying to keep my voice light and friendly. It was a great struggle.

End of Flashback

Bella's POV

It had only been two weeks. Two long and agonizing weeks since my mother's accident. She ran a red light, why you might ask. Because she was late to pick me up from school. I would have much rather of sat on the corner from my school for hours waiting for her, than to be stuck with my current situation.

I had to tell Phil that I was moving back to Forks, to live with my father. Don't get me wrong, I like Phil alright. He was good to me and my mom. He's a kind man with a kind smile. With that said, he hasn't dealt with my mother's death at all. In fact he's currently going for Phoenix's number drunk. I'm only seventeen years-old. I need someone who can look after me, not someone that I need to look after. That's why I choose to move back to Forks. I am, however, dreading the move. Not only because the sun rarely shines there, no that's not the main reason. Because it's been five years since I've seen Edward Cullen, and I have a feeling that I might have hurt him.

Edward was one of my very best friends. Him, his twin sister, Alice, and I were completely inseparable when we were younger. Until my mom decided to divorce my father, and like any dispute, I got no choice in the matter. I had to make the long, lonely journey to Phoenix with my mom, and had to leave Edward and Alice behind.

I was able to move on though. Not fully, but about as close as possible. I had a new best friend, although she's more kind of substitute, which I know isn't fair to her, but I couldn't have no friends. I have a boyfriend, or better yet, had a boyfriend. I'd miss Jacob dearly. He's such a kind and sweet guy. He almost reminds me of Edward, in that way.

I do wonder sometimes, what would have become of Edward and I. If I hadn't been forced out of his life. If I could have had a choice back then. I can, almost certainly, say that I would have stayed in Forks. I would have stayed close to Edward, and that gets me wondering sometimes what would have became of our friendship. Would it have blossomed into something more, or would we just have been the very best of friends? I guess that's a question I won't ever get an answer too, considering.

Sighing, I sit down on my bed, pulling out the old tattered photo album that I haven't picked up in at least a year. Looking through it breaks my heart into pieces every time. What the hell though, I'm going back to Forks, I'll be able to see him again. Although, if he doesn't want a thing to do with me, I'll completely understand.

I automatically flip to the last page of the album. The very last picture that we took together. Right before I left Forks. Every time I look at this picture, all I see are two very heartbroken kids. Two kids without a choice about where they're life will take them. I feel the first two tears slip from my eyes, as I close them tightly, that last memory overwhelming me.

Beginning of Flashback

"How can you make me!" I screamed at my mom, who despite her choice to leave my father, had tears in her eyes.

"Because, it just makes sense that you live with me Bella," she said, her voice held that stern motherly tone. She rarely used it, so I knew I had better listen when she did.

Scowling at her furiously, I walk through the front door, and slam it behind me. She knew better to follow me, or to yell at me for slamming the door later on. She knew what I was doing. I had to go tell my best friends that I was leaving. She didn't understand just how difficult that would be for me. How badly that would hurt me, to say forever goodbye.

I knock on the Cullen's front door, and wait patiently for someone to open it for me. Usually I would just walk right on in. None of them cared much that I did it. In fact, that's how Edward and Alice knew I was coming with either bad news, or if I was mad or upset.

The door flung open, interrupting my thoughts. Edward in all his glory stood in front of me. His eyes held a certain degree of worry as he waited for me to either start griping about a fight I got into with my parents. To hear how I was either grounded, or just in a lot of trouble. Lately though, I had been seeking comfort from my parents constant fighting. I knew that the divorce was inevitable. Two people who fought as much as those two did, it was just bound to happen. I guess, I just assume that they would let me choose who I wanted to live with, or at least have joint custody. At least then I'd get to come back, to visit.

Without so much as I word, the tears started to fall from my eyes, as I wrapped my arms around Edward's neck, my head falling against his chest. Pulling me inside, to shield me from the constant pouring rain, he held me close to him. Whispering calming things into my ear, I barely was aware that my sobbing had brought in an audience. Great, just what I wanted. To break the news, and Edward's heart in front of his whole family.

"Bells, what's wrong?" he finally asked, as my crying slowed down.

Sniffing back a new round of tears, knowing that sooner was better than later.

"My—parents are getting a divorce," I forced the first words out, like they left a bitter taste on my tongue.

He sighed, he knew it was coming too. He might not have voiced that particular opinion, but we both knew it was coming.

"I wish that was the worse though," I paused, leaning back from his embrace too peer into his deep green eyes. Bad idea. "I can live with them divorcing. It's really for the best. My house has been a miserable place to live for a while now. So the divorce I can live with---I have to move Edward. My mom just told me that I have to leave with her. That I'm not coming back."

There, my part was over. Yeah, right, as a few new tears slid down my cheeks. Edward's face was full of shock. Like he didn't quite understand the words that I had just said. I felt like maybe I should repeat myself. That maybe I should say the words slower or something. My attention was pulled from Edward's shocked face, to that of a teary-eyed one. Alice.

"You can't leave!" she said through her tears, as she ripped me from Edward's embrace, and pulled me into her own arms.

"I wish I had a choice, but my mom used her 'parent' tone," I explained.

Alice knew as well as I did what that meant. I looked back toward him, and saw that his face no longer held that of shock. Instead, tears were welling up into his beautiful emerald eyes, and I felt my heart break all over again. His fists were balled up at his sides.

"No!"

Alice and I both jumped at the suddenness of his voice, and the anger behind his one word.

"Edward---"

"No, you can't leave Bella..." he started, but Esme put a firm hand on his shoulder, and he bit his lip.

"We're gonna miss you honey," she said, over Edward's shoulder.

Though I couldn't see her face, I knew that she was probably teary-eyed as well. I went to give Edward a comforting hug, but he just stood there, stiff as a board. Almost like my touch would burn his skin or something. It hurt, but I didn't cry. I knew this was just his way of dealing.

"Promise me something," he said, his voice breaking.

I knew he was barely holding it together now.

"Anything."

I knew I shouldn't have said that word. That I couldn't promise just anything, but I did.

"Promise that you'll keep contact with me Bells. That we'll still be friends, even if it's a long distance friendship," his voice broke even worse, sounding almost hoarse with all the emotion it held.

I simply shook my head. Of course I would, how could I not? Sighing, and pushing back the tears that welled up in my eyes.

"I better get home."

With that, I left the Cullen's house, for the very last time.

End of Flashback