A/N - I do not own any of these characters. They belong to Stephenie Meyer of course. This is a slightly reworked Chapter 1. The content is the same I just went back and fixed some errors. I'm not sure if replacing this chapter will put out an update alert. If it does I apologize in advance for the false alarm...
(BPOV)
Ugh, it's hot and muggy again. Here I am in the midst of another perfectly gross morning in the city that never sleeps. Today is the kind of hot that causes reporters to urge citizens to check on their elderly. The next few hours will be spent packing the last of my belongings and preparing for the big move. I have finally finished med school and will be beginning my life as a surgeon in Seattle, Washington. I admit that maybe the first season of Grey's Anatomy motivated me to relocate to Seattle. However, after visiting the city I fell in love. Everything about Seattle drew me in, from Pike Place Market – I am a sucker for fish throwing – to the amazing view of Mt. Rainier. From the moment I got off the plane I felt like Seattle was meant to be my new home.
"Bella?" The sound of my roommate, Angela, broke my concentration. I was staring out the window and must have looked like I was considering swan diving to my death. Angela, trying to take advantage of my forlorn appearance, jumped into her Bella Stay routine.
"Are you alright? You know you don't have to go. I'm renting a house on the South Shore, you could always move in with me. We could be total beach bums and take the train to random towns for fun. We used to spend hours hanging out on the station platform; all of that and more could be yours if you just stay. " She was shoving sunglasses on my face and flip flops in my hands.
"While that's tempting, you know I'm a sucker for the delinquent behavior, I want to go to Seattle. At least I think I want to want to go to Seattle." I was confusing myself, all the more reason to keep packing. I knew it was time for me to experience something new. I would miss Angela terribly but I was certain that our friendship could withstand my soul searching.
"Since you are so set on leaving me, you better promise to call Emmett and Rosalie when you get there. I already called them and said you would be getting in touch. If you don't call I'll look like a liar."
Emmett is Angela's older brother and Rosalie is his lovely wife. They moved to the Seattle area a couple of years ago. Rosalie's family lives there and Emmett was lucky enough to sign on to play with the Seattle Mariners. He finally found a team man enough to put up with his shenanigans.
"Angela I don't want to impo-"
"Zip it."
"No, but I-"
Tired of my arguing, Angela squeezed my cheeks between her fingers until my lips jutted out like a fish. Like the mature adult I am, I stuck my tongue out and licked her hand. Like the trooper she is she kept on squeezing my cheeks.
"Ewwww. Shut up you. You are practically our sister. Emmett loves you and absolutely wants you to call, you know that."
"Ouch" I tried to rub out the pain she left in my cheeks before continuing my mild, albeit empty protest. I would call Emmett and I knew it.
"I know, but I am also pretty sure that Rosalie doesn't like me."
Pretty sure was the understatement of the year. She is the most beautiful person I have ever met – blonde hair and boobs to die for - but when she turns the bitch eyes on, watch out. The only thing that allowed me to accept Rosalie, and at one time even pursue her friendship, is the way Emmett feels about her. Emmett is one of the sweetest most sincere men I have ever met. I had to believe that if he loved her, there must be something there worth loving.
At the end of the day, I had to admit they were meant for each other. Emmett was certainly a handful and Rosalie was more than capable of handling him. Of course my experiences with love were restricted to divorced parents and unspeakable ex-boyfriends, but they seem happy.
"Rosalie doesn't like anyone. Promise me you'll call them."
"I promise. I love you dumb ass."
"I love you too schmuck."
My eyes brimming with tears I waved one last goodbye to our grody little apartment. I was keeping it together right up until Angela hugged me. I lost it, full on ugly cry. We hugged for what seemed like forever, but like all good things it had to end. I gathered up the last of my belongings and headed to my car.
As I crushed the last of my stuff into my overflowing trunk I'm pretty sure I heard my car actually whine. While I loved my 1998 Blue Toyota Corolla, named Celeste, I knew she was unhappy about the 3,000 mile drive ahead of her. I felt bad for the old girl, but she was tough and would just have to suck it up.
"Celeste, no more whining."
I turned the key, took a deep breath, and put the car in drive. I entered the Lincoln Tunnel a student in New York and when I emerged I would be a doctor in Seattle.
**************
The drive was long, but I kept busy with incessant iPod shuffling and dangerous day dreams. I am pretty sure I nearly busted my vocal chords every time Living on Prayer came on. It always immediately brought me back to roller skating with Angela and Emmett.
Clumsy as I am I was never very good. My body never appreciated being propelled by four tiny wheels. Emmett always took joy in expediting the falling process.
When I was ten I busted it so badly I broke my arm. I didn't want anyone to know so I casually crawled off the rink. Thinking back, I don't know how I thought I was being subtle. I must have looked like a wounded puppy limping home. I finally got myself to a bench and held my arm close to my body while I debated my options. Very suddenly the pain overtook me and I screamed, loudly, in the middle of United Skates. I guess I wasn't cut out for suffering in silence.
I remember a man running over to me and telling me he was a doctor. His gentle touch was soothing on my broken body and his voice calmed my cries. His tiny actions changed my life forever. I wanted to be him. Right there and then, in the middle of the roller rink, I decided I would be a doctor.
As I approached the Seattle city limits my jaw dropped and I took in an audible gasp.
Oh. My. God. That's my new home. Oh. My. God. I'm going to be a doctor. OhMyGodOhMyGodOhMyGod.
The enormity of what I was doing suddenly hit me like a punch to the stomach and the panic attack came on quickly. My breaths began to quicken and I was having a hard time focusing on the road. I drove until the shoulder was wide enough for my car and immediately pulled over. I tried to calm myself in the car but couldn't quell the overwhelming sense of claustrophobia, I had to get out.
I threw the car door open and slammed it shut behind me. Not wanting to get caught in the middle of a humiliating panic attack I looked around for an audience. I abruptly realized how silly it was to look for someone I knew. My panic doubled as the intense loneliness crept in. I bent over resting my hands on my trembling knees and took deep breaths. I was counting each movement of my lungs in a feeble attempt to calm myself, in – 1, out-2. I continued the breathing exercise until I felt an unfamiliar hand on my shoulder.
Startled, I jumped up and the rush of blood to my head caused a flash of light in front of my eyes. I was going to faint. I was composed enough to remember I wasn't alone, shit. Mortification was the last feeling I had as my legs betrayed me and I started my crash course for the ground. The mysterious hand grabbed my elbow and tried to steady me.
I looked up into a pair of anxious green eyes. That was the last thing I saw before it all went black.
***************
When I awoke I was cold and wet from head to toe. That's probably because you're on the ground, damn.
I opened my eyes slowly, afraid that any sudden movements would send me back into the abyss. I was surprised to see a familiar pair of anxious green eyes staring back at me. Our eyes met and my heart stopped. I couldn't look away nor did I want to.
I watched as his eyes went through a spectrum of emotion, first anxiety, followed by uncertainly, and capped off with a healthy dose of amusement. A piece of perfectly disheveled bronze hair fell into his eyes.
I wonder if he'd mind if I moved it for him.
He lifted the corner of his mouth and flashed me the smile to end all other smiles.
I'm dead, crap. I must be dead, men don't look like this. I've seen men. He can't be a men, I mean man. I remembered the cold and wet and was brought out of my revelry. His words came fast. My brain was still in a post-faint fog and I had to pay attention to catch every word.
"Are you alright? I am so sorry I startled you like that. I don't think I've ever made anyone faint before. Oh God I am so sorry. I feel terrible. You're not hurt are you? I am so sorry. It's just that I saw you leaned over next to your car and I thought maybe you needed some help. I am so sorry, I should have just minded my business, I see that now, I am so sorry…" I interrupted him with my palm.
"Stop. I'm fine. Really." I was still lying on the ground and a part of me hoped he would leave before I had to attempt standing, a small part. After a moment of silence, his eyes turned soft and with complete sincerity he asked if he could help me up. In New York he might have just stepped over me, I was kind of still hoping for that scenario.
"Sure, sure. I guess I could use a hand, thanks."
He took my hand to help me up.
What is wrong with me? I am a grown woman. I should not be ready to throw this stranger on the hood of my car and rip his clothes off because he touched my hand.
The rationalist in me quickly lost as the full sensation of his hand touching mine hit me. It was like no one had ever touched my fingers before. Each nerve ending in my hand responded to his and my fingers were eager to touch more of him.
This must be what it's like to take drugs.
I shivered in shock and looked up at him. I caught him taking in a surprised gasp of air.
Could it be he felt the same thing? No, impossible, clearly he was responding to my shiver. He probably thinks he hurt me or I'm going into shock or something.
The look in his emerald eyes gave me reason to believe that maybe he felt the tingle too.
He tightened his grip on my hand and with a startling amount of strength pulled me up off the ground. Nothing about his non-descript black button down shirt hinted to the amount of strength in his arms. Without my permission my mind started picturing what his arms must look like under his sleeves. Like he could hear my thoughts he pushed his sleeves up revealing his forearms, I was not disappointed. I blushed feeling like I had just been caught reading a dirty romance novel.
"Thanks for stopping. I really do appreciate your concern. I'm Bella." I was about to reach my hand out to shake his when I noticed our hands were still joined together. He seemed to notice at the same moment and hurriedly pulled his hand from mine. I immediately felt a loss.
"You're welcome. I'm Edward, Edward Cullen." There goes that crooked smile again. It left me feeling hopeful, like everything was going to work out exactly the way it was supposed to.
I reached up and pushed his bronze hair from his eyes. I cannot believe I just did that. Why did I do that? Gah!
He tilted his head down and looked up at me from behind his extraordinarily long lashes. To say he was looking would be a gross mischaracterization, he was smoldering. His eyes were literally burning a hole into mine and my body tingled from my hairline to my toes. I briefly flashed to a bed, and his eyes looking at me like that. A new flush of blood filled my face, and I cursed my circulatory system for being so damn showy. In that brief second I thought I saw of hint of craving in his eyes.
"Um" He broke the silence before I could pass out again.
"So Bella, do… you live around here?"
"No. Well sort of. I just moved here from New York. I haven't actually moved yet, I'm just finally getting here. I'm starting my internship as a surgeon here. I am really excited about living in Seattle though I mean.. Um, what about you?"
Oh jeez, did I really just babble all of that out.
I must have sounded like a complete idiot or mental incompetent. His answering laugh indicated that he was either amused by me or uncomfortable and planning his escape from the crazy girl on the side of the road.
"I live downtown. I actually lived in New York until I was 10, Long Island actually. I think you'll love Seattle "
Although the conversation began awkwardly, it quickly dissolved into complete and utter comfortableness. It was like I'd known him my whole life. We discovered that for 10 years we lived 5 minutes from each other on Long Island. We knew so many of the same places it seemed like an improbability that we never crossed paths before.
I discovered that his true love was music and song writing. He worked at a local record store to pay the bills. He described the store as a mix between Empire Records and High Fidelity. I imagined him strumming a guitar and singing and my level of arousal steadily increased. The musical quality to his speaking voice led me to believe that his singing voice would be magical.
I told him I would be starting work at Seattle Grace and his expression changed. A look of sadness flashed across his face before he could hide it and his response was a simple, "Hmmm."
I looked around and noticed that twilight had snuck up on us.
"Shit, what time is it? How long have we been standing here?" Panic started to set in, I needed to get to my apartment complex before it closed or I would be living on the streets tonight.
"It's 5:30, do you need to be somewhere?"
"Yeah, I need to get the key to my new place before the offices close."
"Oh. Well, if it's downtown I know the area well. I could probably get you there pretty fast."
I couldn't turn down the excuse to spend more time with Edward. Just thinking his name sent a rush of adrenaline through my veins. I shuddered again.
"Are you cold, I have a jacket in my car…"
"No, I'm fine, thanks. That would be great though, I'm not entirely sure of the best route." I smiled and tilted my head down, I was lying and I knew it. It was only a month ago I was here to see the place and I remembered exactly how to get there.
I went to my car to grab a slip of paper. I turned back to face him and his sudden proximity startled me. He was standing inches from me and the smell of his cologne filled my senses, he smelled amazing. I took a deep breath, taking him in. He filled my lungs and my heart filled with satisfaction.
His eyes grew soft before he took the tiniest of steps back. I gathered all my strength and tried to stop my hand from shaking. I wrote my address down and handed it to him.
"I know exactly where this is. I'll have you there in no time." His voice was almost a whisper. His eyes darted to the side to avoid meeting mine, "Um, maybe we should exchange phone numbers. You know, in case I lose you or something?"
Wordlessly, I snatched the piece of paper back from him and scribbled my number on it. I read it over twice to be sure I had written the right digits. He took the piece of paper back, tore off a corner and did the same. He handed it back to me and I couldn't contain the smile that spread across my face. His answering smile was dazzling.
He opened my door for me and closed it once I got in. I watched him walk to his car and get in.
Hmm… a silver Volvo. That's a surprising choice for a struggling musician.
He pulled his car back onto the highway and I greedily followed, eager to see him again.
(EPOV)
Okay Edward, stay calm. She's just another girl. You're just going to lead her to her place, say goodnight and go home.
No matter how I tried, I couldn't convince myself this was just another girl. Muscle memory guided my car towards downtown and I gave my mind a chance to reflect. I started thinking about Bella's beautiful brown eyes and I was smiling so hard my cheeks were nearly numb. My quick interest in the mysterious brunette was leaving me painfully frustrated. She had taken my confidence away and had reduced me to a bumbling adolescent. I was a musician and usually had no trouble getting into a girl's pants, let alone talking to her.
ARRRGHH snap out of it! She is just a girl… I am so full of shit.
I had only known her for hours but my entire body felt drawn to Bella... I didn't even know her last name. I couldn't deny the thrill I got when she looked at me and bit on her bottom lip. What I wouldn't give to have a chance at that bottom lip.
Why did it have to be Seattle Grace?
(BPOV)
We made it to my apartment complex and I pulled into a parking spot, he parked into the one next to me. I feverishly got out of my car and started to run towards the office. I turned around and held up a finger, I mouthed for him to wait for me and I sincerely hoped he would.
When I turned back towards the office the curb was suddenly right at my feet. Shit. Fuck. Ouch. I glanced at my palms. Their fierce impact with the ground had left a nice new collection of scrapes. I wiped my hands on my jeans and straightened myself up.
What are the chances he didn't see that? The muffled laughter I could hear from his car confirmed my worst fears.
Oh well. He'll get brownie points if he stays after seeing me bust my ass.
I finished my business in the office and skipped out to the parking lot. An uncontrollable smile filled my face; I had the keys to my apartment. Not an apartment I shared, not my parent's house – it was mine, all mine. My eyes met Edward's and my entire body felt warm. He was smiling too. He ran his hand through his hair, must be a nervous twitch, and looked away. Using my newly found independent woman confidence I strolled up to his window and waited for him to lower it. The only problem was I had no idea what I was going to say.
"Hey." Lame, so lame. Shit, blushing again, so much for all my confidence.
"Hey." His answering smile was radiant. He had sucked me into his gaze again and I was staring instead of responding. I smiled and looked down at my hands. God I feel like I'm thirteen.
"So, thanks for getting me here. I got my keys. Woohoo." Did I really just say Woohoo? What the hell Swan, get it together.
"That's great. Do.. um.. I don't know, do you want to get some dinner and celebrate?"
Uh, duh! Of course I do, do you own a mirror? Stay cool. He's just being polite. Ignore the urge to drag him into his backseat and have your way with him. Oh my, he ran his fingers through his hair again…
(EPOV)
"That's great. Do.. um.. I don't know, do you want to get some dinner and celebrate?" Did I just stutter? I don't stutter. Please say yes. Ignore the urge to drag her into your backseat and have your way with her. I wonder if she can tell how nervous I am. Get it together Edward. Ah, she's biting her bottom lip again…
Well there it is. My very first upload into the world of fanfiction. If anyone out there happens to stubble upon my story and read it, please, please leave reviews, hooray for reviews!