Edward
Chapter 1: Opposites Attract
"Good eve-morning ladies and gentlemen, this is the captain speaking. I apologise for the slight delay in departure from Phoenix, however I hope you enjoyed your flight and hope to see you again soon. Thankyou for flying with American Airlines." As soon as the seatbelt light switched off, I unbuckled the contraption and shifted my small backpack around my shoulder as I stood from my seat. I used my left hand to rub away any sleep remaining in my eyes, and to wake myself up. Once again I looked up in the direction of the exit and regretted it; although the slim, blonde, and mostly attractive air hostess made it clear that she was attracted to me when she slipped her phone number in my breast pocket, I felt bad that I had unintentionally led her to believe that the feelings were mutual; when they weren't. This time when I looked away, I didn't smile. Maybe if I wasn't nice to her, she would get the hint that I wasn't interested.
As I walked forward when the line shifted, I considered a good excuse for why I wouldn't be contacting her. Besides the fact that she would be in Seattle – even if she wasn't flying out soon – while I was in Forks, proves that it couldn't really work, had I had any interest in her. But that consideration only led me to the old, I'm-seeing-someone-else excuse. I wondered if she'd see right through me, knowing I wouldn't be seeing someone else and tell me 'I had my chance'. But when I was close enough to see her also hand her number to another guy, I wasn't so inclined to the idea of explaining my silence; she'd get a phone call even if it wasn't me. So when I walked through the exit, I didn't acknowledge her at all. I yawned as I made my way to collect my luggage. I had, after much reluctance on my part, agreed that my parents and sister, Alice could come to pick me up. However when I realized the flight was running two hours late, I told them not to bother and that I'd see them when I got to their house. Which was why I was completely surprised when I noticed a familiar looking pixie of a girl; in nothing but a blue jumper, pyjama pants and boots, standing next to a blonde male who towered over her. I immediately recognised her as my one and only sibling, while the male must be her boyfriend she always spoke of; Jasper.
"Well, well, well," I said as she turned to face me properly, and smiling like a maniac, "I thought I'd never see the day where my sister would actually go outside in pyjamas. I must be hallucinating!" I smiled as she beamed at me before running into my arms.
"Edward!" she exclaimed. I caught her and held on for a while. God I missed her. It had been half of a year since I'd seen Alice and our parents, since they'd moved from Phoenix to Forks. It had been too long. When she finally let me go she looked up at me with her big, dark brown eyes which held small bags underneath.
"Yeah well, I figured I wouldn't see anyone I knew here, and at this time of the night!" she chuckled. I looked at the two of them; they couldn't possibly look any different from each other.
"That reminds me, what are you doing here? I thought I told you not to come because of the delay." I said as I saw my suitcase on the belt coming towards me. I grabbed it quickly and stood it up before lifting the handle so that I could wheel it.
"Uh yeah. But I figured even though it was late for mum and dad, I could still come, and well Jazz didn't want me to go alone so yeah…oh…shit…wait…sorry…yeah, Edward-" she yawned, "this is Jazz, Jasper – my boyfriend." I quickly realized Jasper's hand was held out, I returned it with a smile.
"I've heard only good things about you. It's nice to finally meet the guy that makes this munchkin happy," I explained as I ruffled Alice's black bob of spiky hair. Jasper smiled widely at her before responding.
"It's nice to meet you too. But I think she makes me happier." Okay, and now a change of subject please. I didn't want to seem rude, but Alice knew how I was around couples.
"Okay, you ready?" Alice asked me, and I nodded before giving her a grateful smile.
Jasper drove after Alice insisted I take shot gun. I'd noticed it before and I considered it again – as they talked about how good it was to be on school break – Alice and Jasper seemed like two completely different people. I mean this gave knew meaning to the phrase 'opposites attract'. While Jasper admitted he preferred country music and rock and roll, Alice liked a bit of rap and techno; and if not for that, physically they looked the exact opposite; Jasper was tall and lean, had blue eyes and blonde hair, while Alice was short and slim, and had the darkest brown eyes and black hair. The only things they seemed to have in common was the obvious love they had for each other, and the pale skin Forks provided, with its cloud cover.
Even though it felt awkward, being in the presence of a couple again, I knew I would have to get used to it. Since I would do anything to keep Alice happy, and Jasper seemed to be the key to her happiness. I laughed at myself internally, when did I become such a lovey dovey guy? It certainly wasn't just after my most recent dumping by my ex, which happened three months ago. I guessed that it was probably due to the fact that I haven't actually been around a happy couple in a while; and I didn't yet know if I liked it or not. Alice cleared her throat.
"Oh hey Edward, what are you doing this Wednesday?" At her question Jasper seemed to freeze; his whole body was suddenly rigid and tense as he continued to drive. Why did he give off such a reaction to Wednesday? I looked behind him, at Alice.
"Um…not quite sure Alice; new place and all, I don't really know anyone." I said.
She chuckled, "Oh right. Well if you're not doing anything, you should come with me to Seattle." Again, as if Jasper wasn't his most tense before, he was more so now. Did he not want me to do whatever Alice had planned?
"Um…yeah…maybe…Why what are you doing?" I asked hesitantly. I noticed that Jasper gave Alice a glance in the rear view mirror which seemed like a warning.
She continued as if she hadn't seen him, "I'm visiting Bella; Jasper's sister." Her name made something in my brain twitch; I'd heard it before, a long time ago, but I couldn't place where. Before I could ask, Jasper announced that we had arrived.
When Alice opened the door to two pairs of waiting eyes and opened arms, that was when I simply broke down. I dropped my bag and let my suitcase handle fall as I walked into their joint embrace. As embarrassing as it was, I felt the tears that escaped my eyes as I hugged them tightly. I didn't yet care what Jasper thought, I hadn't known him long enough to worry about how he thought of me. I hadn't seen mum and dad in six months and all through my joys and troubles of that time. They simply held me to them as I said a muffled, 'hello'. They laughed as they let me go to 'get a better look at me' as mum said.
"Edward, you look so tired," mum noted, "have you not been sleeping well since…?"
I shook my head, "mum, a red eye will do that to you, especially since I had to get up at five am this morning," I said. Hoping to change the subject, I mentioned that I was a bit starved.
"Oh of course you are, I'll go fix something up," mum said, "Oh Carlisle, just look at him! He's so skinny. Edward have you been eating properly?" I sighed as I picked up my bag. That was when I noticed Jasper and Alice were no longer in the room. Had they missed my embarrassing embrace?
"Come on Edward," mum said as she led me into the kitchen, "What do you feel like?" I placed my suitcase down, seconds before Alice walked in the room.
"Jazz said 'bye' to everyone," she said as she took my suitcase. "Mum why don't you just make him toast and I'll show him his room?"
"Oh okay, are you sure that's what you want?"
"Yes please," I nodded, "peanut butter will do." Then Alice dragged me upstairs.
"So this is it. What do you think?" she asked after we walked into a big room with a big bed. I smiled as I walked up to the bed and let myself fall on top of it. I felt the bed dip and turned to see Alice had done the same thing.
"It's perfect," I muttered into the blanket.
"I thought so, that's why when I first saw it, I knew it was yours," Alice moved to sit up and face me. "So honestly, how are you?"
I slowly moved so that we were both sitting cross-legged in front of each other. I exhaled, just realising how much air I had been holding, before I looked at her. "I'm okay. Honestly. I know I've been better…but I'm better now than I was a few months after…"
"After Tanya," I hissed as she said her name, "Well Edward, I'm proud of you. You're not letting her hurt you anymore, not that you ever did. But you're allowing yourself to move on, and for that, I admire you." Jesus and she was supposed to be my younger sister? No offence, but when did she all of a sudden become….mature? I muttered a 'thanks'.
"So," she said after a few minutes of catching up, "you think you'll come on Wednesday?" she asked it softly. But that reminded me, as I chewed my toast.
"Oh yeah, this um…Bella, where have I heard about her before?" I asked.
Alice's eyes widened in shock, "Who told you about her, and when?" she demanded with a sense of authority in her tone and a hint of…protectiveness?
I sighed, "I don't know Alice, I just asked you. I've heard of the name, a while ago I suppose. Maybe even when you first got here."
She gasped, "Mum?"
Suddenly I remembered, "Oh yeah, that's where. She was just telling me how you'd made a friend called Bella. She probably told me she was Jasper's sister but I forgot." I watched her carefully, she seemed…relieved?
"That's it? That's all she told you?"
When I nodded, at first it was obvious relief, but then she grew tense. "Why? What's wrong?" I asked softly.
She shook her head, "Another time. I'll tell you on Wednesday. For now, you need to finish eating and go to sleep. I'll see you in the morning. Night!" she pecked me on the cheek and then walked out of my room.
"Night," I said to myself. After I changed into some boxers, I lay under my covers exhausted and fell to sleep straight away.
