What you left behind

Chapter. 1 - I'm still breathing

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. The always wonderful Mrs. Meyer owns it.

A/N - Another crazy story idea I had! I really hope everyone likes it and wants more. I already the second chapter done and I'm working on the third one right now. Please do enjoy this chapter and review because I will so love you.

And before you read, I have to give a BIG thanks to my beta and my support through this, Galadeon. You are so amazing! You totally rock my world!

BPOV

Dark clouds started to form in the sky as I zoned out everything, even my dad talking to me. It was Sunday which means we are in Dean's diner having breakfast. We had been doing this since I was ten and as I've gotten older, we spend the time talking about the days we're not with each other.

"Bells...Bella, did you hear me?" Charlie, my dad was trying to get my attention.

"Oh, sorry, what did you say?"

"Your step brother is coming to visit in a couple of days and he told Brooke, he has big news."

Emmett and Brooke came into my dad's and my life when I was fourteen. Charlie had not been with anyone since my mom left him when I was only a couple of months old but when he fell off a ladder and ended up in the ER, he met the love of his life - Brooke. She sat down next to him and me with her fifteen year old son, Emmett who took her car on a test drive and crashed it into a tree. He was fine but she still wanted to make sure. Emmett and I watched TV as our parents talked and laughed together. Three years later, they got married. I couldn't be happier when Brooke came into his life. Charlie was finally happy after my mom broke his heart. Plus, I got an amazing brother and a wonderful step mother out of it.

"Oh no, it's never good when Emmett has big news." I took a sip of my coffee after talking.

"Yeah, I know." He said with a laugh.

Our waitress came over to bring our food to us. Charlie got country fried steak and I had the French toast. We didn't talk as we ate. It was comfortable silence, like always.

"You never did answer the question I asked you." He set down his fork then pushed the plate away.

"Huh?"

"When we first got here, I asked 'How are you doing?' and you never answered. So daughter of mine, please answer that simple question."

Damn it! I thought I got out of that. "Um...Work has been good. Alice got a bigger desk so she's even happier. Oh and the music editor got fired. I don't know why but last week I saw him leave the building with a box of his stuff." Before I could talk anymore, Charlie started to shake his head.

"Bella, I asked 'how you were doing' not 'how's the job?'."

I took in a deep breath "I'm fine." I tried not to look at him, knowing that I wasn't a good liar. I could be wrong but I swear I saw him roll his eyes. He doesn't believe me. Great.

My cell phone started to buzz. It was a reminder that I had ten hours until I needed to submit my new article. I'm one of the editors at the Seattle Times. I have been working there for two and a half years. I love every minute of it. And to my own surprise, I'm good at my job.

"Do you need get going?" Charlie asked.

"I can stay for a couple more minutes. What are you planning for today?"

"Nothing much. There's a big game on later."

We talked a little bit about the weather and how Brooke hopes she can plant some flowers in front of the house. When we got done talking, we headed out to our cars. Of course, we parked right next to each other.

"Bella?"

"Yeah" I answered him as I wrapped my arms around my chest. The wind started to pick up.

"I'm worried about you."

It caught me off guard. Charlie was never up front about feelings. I had to push back the tears that wanted to fall. I wish I could fake being ok or that maybe just maybe I would be ok, but there's no hope for me.

"There's no reason to be worried. I'm fine." I lied.

"Brooke and I were talking and we think-" I stopped him before he could say anything more.

"Dad, I'm fine. You guys don't need to worry." I put on my biggest smile "I have to get going. Give Brooke a kiss for me." I gave him a hug then got into the car.

Charlie held the door open "I love you, Bells."

"I love you, too. See you later."

As I drove to the office, I couldn't stop the tears falling from my eyes. I wiped them away. I had no right to cry, to be upset. I'm the one who broke his heart; the one who told him that toxic lie. My cell phone started to ring.

"Hello?" trying to sound like I wasn't just crying.

"Bella? Are you ok? Why are you crying?" Alice's voice was panicked.

"I'm ok and I'm not crying."

"You are a horrible liar. What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong." I tried to change the subject fast "Why did you call?"

"Oh, yeah. I got some hot office gossip." I rolled my eyes "I just found out that Jason, the music editor got fired because our favorite boss offered this big shot writer a job and he accepted it. I think Jasper's friends with the guy."

"Wait, did you just call our boss by his first name?"

One of the reasons why I got my job at the newspaper is that Alice, who has been Mr. Hale's secretary for three years, put in a good word. I have a feeling that something is going on with them but she wouldn't tell me?

Alice mumbled 'shit' then talked, louder "I meant Mr. Hale. Are you coming to the office?"

"Yeah, are you there?" I asked.

"Yep, I will see you when you get here. Bye."

I had to run into the office because the rain started to come down. I hate rain! Yes, I live in Seattle and I have a hatred for rain. Just before the elevator doors could close, someone slipped their arm in so it could open again. As soon as I saw his face, I wanted to run for the stairs. Mike Newton. Ugh.

"Hey, Bella." Mike's the sports editor and every time I talked to him, he hits on me. He couldn't get it through his head that I wasn't into him.

"Hello, Mike. How are you doing today?" Even though I couldn't stand him, I always tried to be nice. My Parents taught me well.

"I'm doing pretty well now that I'm talking to you." I didn't say anything else. He made it uncomfortable. "Did you hear about the music guy?"

"Yeah, I heard that."

"Today is his first day. Sarah called dibs on him."

Sarah is the office slut. She calls "dibs" on every guy that comes into the office. "Well, that's good for Sarah. I bet they will have a good one night stand."

Mike's loud laugh made me jump up. It wasn't that funny. "That's a good one, Bella."

The elevator doors opened up and I almost ran out, not caring that was the fifteenth floor and my office was on the nineteenth floor. I could hear Mike yelling something like 'Hey! This isn't your floor' but I put my head down as soon as I got out of the elevator, pretending I didn't hear him. I waited ten minutes before going up to my floor. I let out a deep breath as I sat down at my desk. My office was right in the corner of the whole floor and it was right next to Mr. Hale's office. Alice always found reasons to come over and chat.

My office is basic: White walls, one window that faces another building, and a big desk. I have four framed photos that hang on the wall nearest to my desk. The first one is Alice, the second one is Charlie and Brooke at their wedding, the third is of Emmett and me, and the last one is my mom, Renee.

I turned on my mp3 player as I put the ear phones in. Indie rock filled my ears as I started to work on the story. Time flew by as I worked. It was one in the afternoon when Alice came into my office. She was holding a take-out bag from our favorite sandwich place - Tony's Subs.

"Hello, Miss Bella. I have lunch!" She jumped on my desk then handed me a sandwich.

"I so love you right now."

Alice let out a little giggle "I know. I'm awesome. So, have you been in your office the whole time since you got here?"

"Yeah, I have been working. Why?"

She shrugged her shoulders "I just wanted to know. Hey, I'm going to get us some sodas. Be right back."

As Alice jumped down from the desk, her cell phone fell out of her pocket. She walked out of my office, without realizing she didn't have her phone. I bent down and picked it up. It started to ring as I laid it on the desk. The caller ID read Unknown Caller. I picked it up, thinking it was someone who called the wrong number.

"Hello."

There was dead silence. "Hello" I said again but there still wasn't an answer "Whatever." I closed the phone then back to eating.

EPOV

What am I doing? What the hell is wrong with me? I had a good job in Los Angeles. I guess I was trying to get my life back together when I got a job offer from Seattle and I took it. There must be something wrong with me. Yes, my parents are very happy that I'm coming home but she is there, the woman who broke my heart three years ago. The only woman I have ever loved. It kills me every time I think of her beautiful face or the way her kisses tasted. I need to move on. I can't keep holding onto the past. She doesn't love me anymore.

As soon as I got off the plane, I turned on my phone. I had three missed calls. Two of them were from my mom, Esme. She's always worried about me when I fly. The last one was from Emmett, my best friend and the brother of my ex. I hated calling her that, but it was the truth. I called Emmett as I walked through the large airport.

"Hey, Dude!" Emmett almost yelled with his booming voice.

"Hey! What's up?"

"Nothing much. Are you in Seattle yet?"

"Yeah, we just landed. Are you still in Vegas?" I asked.

I could hear someone in the background giggle which answered my question. "You know that your mom is going to kill you."

"Ha. She just has to deal with it. I'm an adult. I can do whatever the hell I want."

"Yes, I know that but she is still going to kill you." I couldn't help but to laugh at the thought of Brooke yelling at her son.

"Whatever, dude. I have to go. I will see you soon."

"Alright, see you later."

I found my large suitcase and went outside to hail a cab.

As I jumped into the cab, I heard one of my favorite bands playing on the radio. It was Muse their song "Sunburn".

"Where can I take you?" The driver asked.

"To the Seattle Times, please." He nodded then started to drive away. I began humming along with the song.

We passed by familiar buildings and old hang outs. I have always loved this city. I suddenly realized how much I had missed it. Los Angeles would never be my home even if I spent more then three years there. This is where I belonged. Seattle will always be my home.

I paid the driver then walked up to my new job. I'm the new music editor at the Seattle Times. I met the owner of the newspaper, Jasper Hale, last year and we became fast friends. He offered me the job last month. My new office was on the fifteenth floor so headed up there. My office was room 152. While I was looking for it, a tall woman with red hair came my way.

"Hello," She held her hand out "My name is Sarah Perry."

I shook her hand "It's nice to meet you. I'm Edward Cullen. I'm the new music editor."

Sarah started to show a wicked little smile which confused me. "That is wonderful." She flipped over my hand then wrote her name and number on it. "Call me sometime. I can show you around." She winked at me then walked away.

As I walked to my new office, I rubbed my hand on my leg, trying to get off Sarah's info. I don't want to go on any dates right now. I was amazed to see that my office already had a desk and a computer. There was a note on the keyboard. It was from Jasper.

Edward, I hope you like your brand new computer. There's always perks when your friends with the boss. Come up to my office on the 19th floor whenever you can. –Jasper

I put down my suitcase then went to see Jasper. My cell phone started to buzz. I pulled it out of my pants pocket as I looked down. Then without even realizing someone ran full speed at me.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry." I told the person as I looked up. I was shocked to see that Alice Brandon is the person who ran into me.

She looked up at me and was as shocked as I was. "Edward?"

I nodded.

"Oh my god, what are you doing here?" Alice asked as she gave me a hug.

"I work here. What are you doing here?"

"I work here, too. Wait! You work here? When? How? I thought you were in L.A."

"I'm the new music editor so I'm moving back."

"Holy shit, you're the big shot Jasper was talking about." I laughed at her calling me a 'big shot'. Alice ran her hand over her face then whispered "Damn it." Before I could ask what was wrong, she started to talk. "Edward, can you do me a favor?"

"Sure."

"Stay away from the nineteenth floor, ok?"

I gave her a confused look "Well Alice, I have to go up there. Jasper's office is on that floor."

"Fine but call me before you go up there. Let me see your cell phone." I handed it to her. She gave it back after she put her number in my phone. "Don't ask me why, ok? "

"Ok, but I'm going up to his office right now. Do I still need to call you?"

Alice rolled her eyes "No, it will be fine this time but next time call me, ok?" I nodded then she walked away with a wave towards me.

I put my head back down to read the text message that was from Emmett. Hey I forgot to tell you. The key to my apartment is under the doormat. As I got walked into the elevator, I texted back him Thanks. I will make sure to get a place before you get back. The guy right next to me, yelled to someone.

"'Hey! This isn't your floor!" He signed "Yeah, I'm going to hit that."

I rolled my eyes. I couldn't stand when guys say that sort of stupid shit. I really hope I'm not the only guy who cares about the person they're sleeping with. I put my cell phone to my ear so he wouldn't try to talk to me. I pushed the button that had "19" on it.

"Hey Edward!" Jasper greeted me as I walked into his office "I'm so glad you're finally here."

"I'm glad to be here, too. Oh and thanks for the computer. You really didn't need to buy me that."

"Oh, don't worry about it. I'm just happy I finally have an amazing writer who knows his music. The last guy was…Let's just say he really doesn't know his music. So, do you like your office?"

"Yeah, it's great. I can't wait to start writing."

Jasper smiled as he took a sip of his coffee "And I know I have said this about a million times but thank you again for taking me up on the offer. I really think you will make the music section on the newspaper so much better."

"Your welcome, Jasper and thanks for welcoming me into your newspaper." We talked for awhile about newspaper and sports. When he started to talk about this wonderful woman he was dating, I started to get jealous. I left when Jasper had to get back to working. I went back to my office and started to write about a new band I really liked. I just hope it would be fine with Jasper. I don't know how much time past when I pulled out my cell phone. I found Alice's number then called it. I didn't know why. Alice was her friend, not mine. It only took a couple times to ring when I heard her voice.

"Hello." It wasn't Alice's voice. It was her voice. Her beautiful, innocent, and of course, intoxicating voice. Bella Swan. The girl I still love who does not love me.

"Whatever." She said then the line went dead. I just sat there with my mouth wide open.

A/N - Thank you so much reading! Please do review and I will add the next chapter soon. Gives you a kiss