A Whole New World

Chapter One: Leaving Arizona

Bella POV

"Are you sure you have everything Bella?" my mom asked as we finished packing up her car for the 20 minute drive to the airport.

"I'm sure Mom." I had a list that I wrote last week, I'd gone over it several times. It's not like I had that much to pack. Going from sunny Phoenix, to Forks Washington did not allow for a lot of easily transitioned wardrobe. Phil had been great. He took me shopping last week and made sure I had at least the basics for the cooler weather in Washington. He has always been kind to me, but I was still shocked when he presented me with an updated cell phone, and a laptop. Both were meant to help me keep in touch with him and Mom.

I love my mother very much, and I know she loves me in her own way. She has never been much of a caregiver. That was my role in our relationship since I was about 9 years old. She has dated some real "winners" in the past so I was glad when she found Phil. He was a good guy, and he seemed to genuinely love her. He has always been very nice to me, treated me like his own daughter.

Mom had thought it was too much. "Phil, I told you Charlie was going to set her up with his PC you didn't need to go to all that trouble." She had said when we came back from our shopping trip.

"I just want to make sure we can talk to her and this lap top has a web cam so we can skype and see with our own eyes that she is okay. Won't that be a comfort sweetie?" he cooed at my mother. He really had her number.

That was the main reason I was exiling myself to the rain capital of the world, those two were definitely still in the honeymoon phase of their marriage; and they need the privacy that the word honeymoon demands. I just hope they will both be very happy.

Charlie, my Dad, had been great about the whole thing. He seemed happy to have me live with him for the remainder of my high school career. I'm a bit more than half way through my Junior year. He had already taken care of transferring me to Forks High, and thanks to Phil's encouragement updated his computer connection to a wireless modem for me. I never would have asked him to do that, but I was grateful to Phil and Charlie.

One last round of hugs, and promises to keep in touch, and I was in a plane one my way to Forks. It was raining when I landed in Port Angeles. It was inevitable I guess, good bye Mr. Sun. Everyone seemed to be scanning the crowd looking for their respective loved ones. As I was heading to baggage claim I kept my eyes open for Charlie. That was when I first saw Him.

He was dressed casually, jeans, a tight black tee, and work boots. He was tall probably about 6'6", his skin was a light coppery brown, he was amazingly strong and lithe, I mean his muscles had muscles and he oozed athletic confidence as he prowled the area. His hair was short, but had style and was shining with good health. But what caught my breath were his eyes. We were both scanning the crowd and our eyes locked in an almost intimate stare down. His eyes were a deep brown with flecks of green that made them seem to sparkle with life. His stare went from surprised to understanding to tenderness in just moments. It made me feel like I had missed something. Something important. But he captivated my attention. I was inexplicably drawn to him. I found myself wondering who he was here to pick up.

And then, he spoke. In a deep, sexy voice, that dripped with tenderness he said, "Isabella?"

"Isabella Swan?"

I was shocked, it took me a little too long to respond, but finally my mouth caught up with my scattered brain and wildly beating heart and I softly answered. "Yes?"

"I'm Paul, Paul Lahote. Charlie sent me to pick you up. He got caught up with an accident at the last minute and couldn't get away to pick you up, so he asked Billy to send someone for you and I was volun-told by my al- ah- friend, Sam." He stammered through quickly. " And so here I am, so yeah. Let's go get your stuff."

I felt like I could trust him, which is weird because I have never seen this guy before in my life. I mean I'm 5'3" and 110 lbs soaking wet he could just grab me and throw me over his shoulder if he wanted to, right? Common sense told me to check his story out. "Okay, I'm not saying I don't believe you; but I'm just going to take a minute to call Charlie and confirm all this."

"Sure thing sweet girl, good thinking." Paul said as he looked on approvingly, nodding his head.

I called Charlie and everything checked out. He was very apologetic, but assured me Paul was a good guy and that he was looking forward to seeing me soon.

And that is how I ended up walking out of the Port Angeles Airport next to the most gorgeous man I'd ever seen in my life. He was carrying all of my luggage as if it were totally empty. No effort at all. When we reached the parking lot I realized that we were heading to a truck, with oversized tires, a tool box in the bed, and an extra set of doors in the cab. He put my luggage in the back set of seats on the passenger seat, opened the passenger door and held out his hand to help me in, since it was a little high of a step for me.

What an interesting trip home from the airport this turned out to be, what on earth was I supposed to say to him for the next 45 minutes?