The Principal's Daughter

Chapter one: Starting Over?

Betad by Euphoria9

Edward's POV:

I had my car packed to the brim. I left everything else for her; she could have the house and all of its contents. I couldn't care less about all that stuff we have accumulated over the years. I just knew if I didn't go, I never would. I didn't know where I was going or where I would end up; I just knew I couldn't stay there anymore.

I was leaving my wife of four years. Our life together hadn't gone as I'd planned. She wanted kids and I didn't. She kept begging me and begging me, but, I just didn't feel right about it. We'd been "forced" to get married, so to speak. Our families had known each other since the two of us were in diapers, so we were expected to get married and have a family. However, I didn't want a family with her just yet.

We got married right out of college. I had my teaching degree, and I wanted to explore more options – I thought about going back to college to get my Master's degree, but I chickened out.

I'd been on the road for a while. However, I saw a sign for Forks, Washington, and for some reason, I was being drawn there. So I exited the highway and headed toward there. I went another twenty miles and arrived in downtown Seattle. I drove a while longer and hit the city limit of Forks.

I pulled into a parking spot of a café. I walked in the door to find a table. Once I sat down, I grabbed a paper that someone had left. The waitress came up to me and asked, "So, what can I get for you?" I looked up and saw she had blonde hair and blue eyes. She looked like she didn't belong here, working in this café. I read her name tag: Rose.

"Coffee please; thanks."

She nodded and left as I pondered over the newspaper. Hmm, this was interesting. I saw a position open for a Sub English teacher at Eclipse High School. I read the phone number off the paper and dialed it in my phone.

"Eclipse High School, this is Jessica Stanley. May I help you?" she asked into the phone.

"Yes, I was calling about the teaching position for an English teacher. Is it still available?" I asked the girl on the phone.

"It sure is. Hang on and I'll pass you through to the principal. Hold please."

The waitress brought my coffee to me and I sipped it. It tasted perfect.

"Principal Renee Swan, may I help you?" she asked.

"Yes, I was calling about the teaching position? Is it still available?"

"Yes, it is. May I ask your name, please?"

"Edward. Edward Cullen. I have a teaching degree in English; I graduated about five years ago from the University of Berkley," I said to the principal.

"That sounds great, Mr. Cullen. Why don't you come in for an interview Monday morning at nine?"

"Yes, thank you. That sounds great. See you then."

The waitress, Rose, appeared and asked, "May I get you anything else, sir?"

"Actually, it looks like I will be staying in town for a while. Do you know of a place I can stay? Perhaps a house for rent? Or maybe a room?" I asked her.

"Sure, as of matter of fact. My husband runs a B&B, and he may have a room available. By the way, I get off in a thirty minutes; I could take you there myself if you like. I need a ride anyway because my car is being worked on, so I could just ride with you that way. If you don't mind, that is," she rattled all of this in one breath, it was impressive

"No, I don't mind at all. Be glad to. Thanks, Ms..." My voice trailed off.

However, she said back to me, "Oh just call me Rose, honey. They all do!" She smiled sweetly at me.

"Thanks, Rose. I have a few things I need to do, so I'll meet you out front, okay?" I asked her.

"Perfect, Mr. …" her voice trailed off as well, not knowing my name.

"Well no 'Mr.' for you. My name is Edward. 'Mr.' makes me sound too old," I said back to her.

"Nonsense, honey!" She playfully slapped me on the arm as I got up from the chair.

I walked out of the café and went to the local Wal-Mart. I grabbed a few necessities, plus I needed to use their bathroom. I looked in the mirror and noticed I had a five o'clock shadow. I did look a little rugged but still looked good. Back home, women constantly flirted with me, and Tanya hated that. However, I didn't have to worry about that anymore; I even left my wedding band for her on the dresser.

But Forks was my home now. I looked at my watch and noticed it was about that time Rose would be off, so I drove back to the café, and true to her word she was waiting for me. I got out of the car and opened the door for her. She slid in, and I got back in the car.

My mom and dad lived in San Francisco. They'd lived there for a while. Mom was an interior decorator while my dad was a doctor. He thought I would follow in his footsteps, but I didn't have the stomach for medicine.

We pulled into the place. Twilight Bed and Breakfast. Catchy name. So we went inside together and she introduced me to Emmett.

"Hey there and welcome… Edward, right?" he asked, shaking my hand.

"Yes, that's correct. I hear you have a room for rent?"

"Sure do. Just up the stairs, down the hall to the left," Emmett said to me as we all walked up together.

We went in the direction he'd indicated, and he opened the door. It was a quaint room with soft blue walls. It had a white comforter on the bed and there was an antique dresser against the opposite wall.

"Sorry; we don't have much closet space, but here it is." He pointed it out to me. I opened the door; it was small but it would take all my stuff.

"I'll take the room. How much?" I asked him.

"The room itself is three hundred a month; electricity, water, and food are included in that price. We have a cook who comes in and prepares breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

"Sounds good," I said to him. I thanked them both and headed out to my car to get my stuff. I settled in and went down stairs to eat lunch. Then I took a nap and just took a tour of the rest of the town.

Actually this was a little town outside of Port Angeles called Forks. I went for my interview Monday morning. We talked for quite a while. Her husband, Charlie Swan, was the Chief of Police here in Forks. Her daughter, Isabella Swan, attends school; it's her last year, Renee said to me.

She asked about my credentials, and I gave them to her. She called the high school where I last worked, and they raved about me.

"Well, Mr. Cullen, it looks like we have a new teacher. Welcome aboard!" she said, shaking my hand.

"Thank you, Mrs. Swan," I said back to her. Then she showed me around the school and took me to my classroom. It was empty for the moment, and that's when she told me when I would have my free period: right after lunch. I thanked her again and left. I was to report back the next day at eight A.M. to get started.

I headed back to the bed and breakfast where I was staying. Mr. McCarty and I talked for a while. He told me about his relationship with Rose. They had been married a couple of years and planned to have children, but they wanted to save up money to by a house first. He then asked,

"So, what about you, Edward? Did you leave any girlfriends behind?"

I smiled and said, "Nope, no girlfriends. I just needed something new and different, that's all." I looked down at my ring finger, the one that had the gold band. By now, the whiteness of where it had been was gone. I was kind of glad, too. Not that I wanted to hide anything, I just wasn't ready to hash everything out about my failed marriage to Tanya. Not just yet, anyway.

"Well, I find that hard to believe from a good looking guy like you! But hey, maybe you'll find someone here, heh?" he asked, amused.

"Yeah, I guess. Listen, I'd better go and get ready for tomorrow. See ya later, Emmett." I certainly wasn't looking for a girlfriend right now. Nope, no women at all. Well, I take that back. No serious relationships, that is.

I got my clothes ready for the next day, then I showered and just relaxed on the bed with a good book until I fell asleep.

A/N: Thank you all so much for reading! I now have a new beta guys, yeah! Please send her a thank you for making this story a better read!

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