A/N- I actually have a plot for this story! How strange is that? Normally I just wing it and see what happens. With my other story coming to a close I figured it was time to begin a new story to occupy my time this summer so I don't get into too much trouble. My parents just went on a cruise a few weeks ago and I've gone on three myself so I'm fairly well informed as to how things work on cruises. LOL! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 1

BPOV

I let my sore body unwind as I sunk into the depths of the water of the pool. I dunked my head under for a moment to relieve it from the burning heat leftover from the day. My head flopped back and I breathed a sigh of relief. Stars overhead were millions in number as I stared for light years overhead.

Had I been at my own home or the local pool I normally would have been listening to the a soundtrack of cicadas and crickets. Here, all I could hear was the ebb and flow of the ocean against the side of the cruise ship I was on.

The pool I was in was also not a traditional everyday pool; it was filled with salt water from the ocean I was surrounded by. It was also deserted at the moment and well past midnight. Most of the time you'd be able to see at least two or three people, employees like myself, occupying the pool.

I'd been working myself to the bone all day, working as a waitress during mealtimes, cleaning the occasional room, tending to the frequent catastrophes that were normal on a ship as big as this one, all normal procedure and everyday occurrences, some more serious than others. On about four or five nights a week I worked in the lounge as a singer, singing whatever the people were in the mood to hear.

All of this, the cruise, the long days, the normal mishaps, were part of my normal routine. I'd been working here for three years, since I was 21, along with my brother, Emmett, who's been here just as long as I have and is two years older then I am.

We'd first started working here after our father had died. Our mother had already passed on four years previous and both had left us a decent bit of money, but we both knew it's run out. We set out to find work, him dropping out of college to preserve our savings. We found work together on this cruise line and had been stationed here ever since.

Emmett, always the stud, had become the, as he referred to it, physical fitness coordinator which encompassed being a lifeguard, weight trainer and gym instructor. I was, mainly, the singer. That was only at night though. During the day, I was the go-to girl, filling in for people out sick or wherever I was needed.

The singing suited me well as I do actually have a fairly nice voice. The odd jobs were all right too since I don't mind working hard, but waitressing was the hardest part of all. I can barely walk a straight line on DRY UNMOVING LAND! How was I supposed to carry a heavy tray on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean?

Emmett worked with me in all his free time, helping me gain my sea legs so that I no longer dreaded waitressing. As much.

Overall, I enjoyed my job. I had a nice boss, good pay, and I got to travel all over the world for free, ignoring the fact I myself didn't get to enjoy it as much, seeing as I worked then.

I lifted myself out of the pool, my wet hair weighing me down and began wringing out my hair, enjoying the only solitude I'd gotten all day. I was thinking about my plans for my break next week (we worked about a wheel or two before going home for another week or so to catch up on sleep and do laundry and bills and such) when I heard a booming voice calling my name up above. I looked up to find my bear of a brother sticking his head over the railing a deck above me, waving excitedly.

He bounded down the stairs and I watched, stunned, as he skidded the length of the wet wooden floor and came to a neat stop in front of me before his feet went flying out from underneath him making him fall onto his back. I stared down at him as I repressed the hysterical laughter that threatened to spill forth as his eyes refocused on me and he grinned. He propped himself up on his elbows.

"A little help please?" he asked in mock anger. I shook with silent laughter as I looked at the sibling at my feet.

"You know, I thought clumsiness was my thing." I said as I finally doubled up with laughter, clutching my sides as it gripped at my lungs, choked for air. He glared some more as I got control again and offered up his hand to me. I hiccupped slightly as I grasped his huge hand, at least twice the size of mine, and heaved. Instead of him coming up, his sheer density and weight pulled me down. I found my feet flying out from underneath me and landed with an audible "Oof," next to him with my head at his knees and my feet at his head, he was so much taller than me.

We laid there a moment before I sat up and rubbed my back.

"Owww…" I moaned piteously. He sat up as well and stared at me. Then he started laughing. I glared at him as he laughed, doubled over as the laughter wracked his huge frame. I crossed my arms and watched his curly dark brown hair as he finally got a grip.

As he straightened up again he caught my glare and smiled sheepishly.

"I'm sorry Bells. You just looked really cute sitting there." he laughed once more and hopped up to his feet. He reached down and grasped my hand, completely covering it in his big one, and pulled me to my feet. He grinned down at me and I had to smile back.

"I really need to go to bed." I said as I stretched and started towards the stairs. Emmett loped along besides me, chattering about the hot blonde that came in to run on the treadmill that morning. I rolled my eyes. Emmett always had some hot little number he was chasing after. Not that he had to do much chasing; as far as I could tell the girls kind of flocked to him in droves without trying.

"I mean it Bells! I really think she's the one!" he prattled, his voice taking on a dream-like quality as he described her blue eyes and wavy blonde hair.

"Em, what makes you think she's the one? You haven't said one word to the girl!" I laughed.

"Really Bella! She had this 'don't screw with me' look in her eye, and god was she sexy!" he said in a husky voice. I laughed again.

"Yeah. Have fun with that." I said as I swiped my card, unlocking the door to my room. Emmett copied me on his room next door. "Good night Em." I called as I closed my door.

"'Night Bells!" he called back.

I slipped off the wet bathing suit and took a quick shower before climbing gratefully into bed, hoping the night would be longer than it normally seemed. I fell asleep to the sound of the ocean like every night.

Unfortunately, and rather predictably, morning came. I sat up and stretched, breathing in the salt and brine of the ocean. I scooted to the side of the bed and felt around for my slippers. I dressed in a state of half sleep and shuffled down the hall in the dim light of early morning. I made it to the kitchen and hopped up on the counter.

"Coffee…" I moaned, slumping forward and extending my hands.

"Here you go Bella." Esme, my favorite cook and my mother figure, placed a steaming cup in my hands. I smiled thankfully at her and she gave me a quick smile before disappearing off to finish preparing breakfast. I gulped down the coffee and began feeling the caffeine running through my veins, jolting me like a slap in the face.

As I drank I nodded and smiled at different cooks and waiters as they went in and out of the doors in streams. Many called good morning to me, as I was on good terms with many. Soon Emmett came into the kitchen, whistling and in a good mood. I glared at him; morning people annoyed me. He grinned at me.

"Good morning Bells." he said as he leaned against the counter I was sitting in.

"Morning Emmett." Esme said as she breezed past, handing both of us bagels as she did.

"Morning Esme." he called after her. He watched her whisk off and turned back to me with a huge grin. I eyed him suspiciously.

"What?"

"I talked to our boss…" he said, holding some bit of information over my head tantalizingly.

"And?" I asked, bemused.

"I kind of mentioned that you've been tired lately…" I glared at him. I had a feeling where this was going.

"I'm always tired anyway. Getting me the morning off won't do anything about it." I said, annoyed. He knew I hated it when he got me hours off.

"Too bad Bells," she said, smirking at my annoyance, "You've got the rest of the morning off and the afternoon if you want." I glared at him with increasing intensity.

"I do not need any time off." I said stubbornly as I hopped off the counter and grabbed my apron, tying it around my waist and heading for the dining room. Emmett grabbed my wrist. I strained against the shackle like hand in vain.

"Emmett," I whined, still straining to be let go, "Let me go get to work." I twisted my head to look over my shoulder. He was shaking his head with a small smile on his face.

"No can do Bella." he said, his infamous grin back on his face. "I demand you go and enjoy yourself this morning. Go down to the pool or something, that way I can keep an eye on you and kill any guy that dares get too close to you." he was kidding I knew, but he was pretty protective at times. Now that I thought about it, going down to the pool sounded really good. I stopped pulling.

"Okay." I said reluctantly. "I'll go. Just don't do this again." I jabbed him in the chest, gave him one last glare and threw my apron back on it's hook.

I went back up to my room and dug through my drawers and pulled out my bathing suit. I slipped on the simple bikini and pulled on a pair of shorts. I smothered myself in sun screen since my pale skin burnt so easily and headed off to the pool.

I decided to go to the more public pool, the once for the guests, where Emmett was life guarding, rather than the employee one I normally went to.

I stepped out into the early morning sun, just beginning to warm the deck, and turned sunward, letting it wash over me and heat my shoulders and face.

I made my way across the deck, around the perimeter of the pool, scarcely populated except with early morning sunners, and past Emmett's life guard chair. I stuck my tongue out at him and he grinned down at me through a pair of sunglasses, making me laugh because he looked so stupid.

I found a good chair that was in direct sunlight all morning and had a good cross breeze and set up camp. I threw out my towel and laid down on my stomach. I pulled my MP3 out of my bag and let it block out everything but the roar of the ocean and the seagulls' crying overhead.

After a while I opened my eyes and watched the people as they passed. Some were heading to the dining room or the buffet for breakfast. Some were doing laps in the Olympic size pool. A few people were sunning like me.

glanced at Emmett and muffled my laughter as he tracked an extremely attractive blonde girl across the deck. She glanced his way and he immediately averted his eyes back to the pool like he was supposed to be doing. She smirked and kicked the sway of her hips up a notch. I could practically see Emmett panting after her as she leaned over, very deliberately, to stretch a towel over a chair.

I rolled my eyes. Classic Emmett.

A tall, lean, blonde, good-looking man strolled across the deck after the girl Emmett was so fixed on. I watched them smile at each other, but not in a romantic way, more the brother sister way Emmett and I shared. I watched him leave and head for some other part of the ship and went back to my people watching.

A short girl with short black spiky black hair came in, talking animatedly to someone behind her.

My heart stuttered as a gorgeous man came through the door behind her. He had tousled bronzy hair and an expression torn between amusement and exasperation. He walked along comfortably behind the girl and disappeared into the dining room.

I found myself staring after them, wishing I could stare at him a little longer, wanting to talk with him and get to know him some, wanting to kiss him with as much passion as I could muster, wanting to…

Don't go there Bella. You don't even know his name! Nothing worth getting your mind into the gutter about. I thought sternly to myself.

I tanned for another hour before calling it quits. I packed up, waved to Emmett, and left to go to my room and take a quick shower, wondering if I might be seeing the man again. I sincerely hoped so.

I got out and threw on my witnessing uniform and dashed down to the dining room, just in time for the beginning of the lunch hour. I threw my apron over my head and reported to Esme.

"Where do you want me?" I asked. She pointed to the fourth section.

"You'll be covering there for now, and probably tonight if you can. Jen has some sort of bug." I nodded and started off.

The dining room and buffet were partially combined so when I hit a lull in the dining room I'd scurry off to the other room to clear away plates. I was back and forth for an hour, grabbing a bite to eat in between runs. The entire time I was serving I was constantly swiveling my head to the doors, hoping the man would come in.

I very much wanted to believe that the woman he was talking to was a sister or cousin or friend, but I couldn't quite believe it. I didn't have that kind of luck that a guy like him wasn't taken. Even if he was available, why in the world would he be interested in me?

I was plain.

My brown hair hung as limp as everyday past my shoulders, except when I had in a ponytail as I often did since it was a requirement for witnessing. My brown eyes were dull, a boring flat color. By no means was I fat; actually, I was fairly skinny and a bit on the short side. I was pale. Strange, seeing as I had lived in Arizona and now pretty much lived in the middle of the Caribbean.

The lunch rush ended with no sign of the man I wanted so much to at least glimpse. I headed off to the cruise director for instructions for what to do next.

"Hey Carlisle." I said as I entered his office.

"Hey Bella." Carlisle said warmly.

Carlisle is Esme's husband of a decade. They're both in their mid forties and very sweet. Very much like adoptive parents to Emmett and me. He was also the one responsible for making sure Emmett and my schedules as far as going home for breaks coincided. He was also the one that seemed to take pity on me whenever Emmett 'happened to mention' that I was tired.

"Where do you want me?" I asked, voicing the same question I'd posed for Esme. He raised an eyebrow at me.

"A certain brother of yours seemed to think you might like a day off of so." he said.

"A certain brother of mine is also not the brightest." I said, coolly yet showing I was annoyed. He chuckled softly. "So where do you want me?" He looked at a chart.

"I really hate giving you this job, but since you aren't scheduled in the lounge for tonight, we're in desperate need of another bartender at the club downstairs." he sighed. I knew he didn't like giving me that job. Over the short time I'd known him he really had become like my surrogate father, and what kind of father wanted their daughter to be a bartender at a club?

He'd only had me do it a few times before and we'd found a few things; I was very good at it, I actually had a pretty good time doing it, and it made Carlisle and Emmett very nervous.

"You can do that after dinner of course, that's when you'd be needed. Until then, can you go and see if the maids on floor 7 need anything?" I nodded and he rubbed his chin a moment.

"Maybe I should make Emmett a bouncer for the night. He'd make sure nothing happened to you." he said, sounding as if he was more so placating himself than comforting my nonexistent fears. "Yes, I think I'll do that. Fetch him when you go down tonight, alright?" I nodded and turned to leave. "Oh, and Bella? Be careful tonight." I smiled at him before closing the distance between us and gave him a quick peck on the cheek and left for my work.

It turned out the maids of floor 7 did need my help so I spent the afternoon going room to room, changing sheets, switching towels and making origami out of the towels for the guest's beds, something I had fun learning and now could do quite a few different types.

The work was monotonous and I let my mind wander. I carefully avoided all thoughts having to do with the amazing mystery guy. That was easier said than done. Every thought path seemed to lead straight to him.

The afternoon went on and on until finally I was let go to the dining room once again. Esme threw me my apron and I hurried by. I immediately began taking people's orders and bring them back, not even having the time to so much as glance into the other room to see if he was there.

I breezed into the kitchen and deposited another stack of dishes into the sink, relayed the orders to Esme, and grabbed another tray for bringing more dishes in. I scurried back out and started gathering dirty dishes once more.

The next thing that happened went very quickly.

Comically, I stepped on an ice cube.

It was wet and slippery and completely threw my balance off. I might have been able to grab onto the chair next to me, if not for the ship lurching at that exact moment.

Suddenly, I was flying forward. The tray in my hands flew upward and arched over my head. I impacted with something and it too was knocked over.

I was immobile on the floor, no, on top of something, for half a moment when something collided painfully with my head.

Everything went still then and I opened my eyes.

The first thing that registered with me was that I was on top of a stunningly handsome man. The stunningly handsome man.

The second thing to register was the contents of the tray I had been holding was now splattered all over us.

My eyes found his shocked and brilliant green ones and I searched for an adequate apology for what had just happened when his mouth pulled up in a crooked smile.

The woman who was with him had run over and crouched down next to us.

"You two okay?" she asked. We nodded before realizing the position we were in and I immediately rolled off of him, my cheeks a dark red. I sat up feeling winded and felt the lump on my head.

"Ow." I said in surprise. I almost hadn't noticed how much my head hurt.

"Are you alright?" a velvety voice asked from my right. I looked over at him and noticed how mussed up the pair of us were. My cheeks got redder.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. Are you alright?" I asked, pained. What a wonderful first impression he must have of me. He nodded solemnly and pulled himself to a crouch next to me.

"That plate hit you pretty hard. How's your head?" he asked, seeming much more concerned than I thought he would be.

I was about to open my mouth when pounding footsteps reached my ears. I looked up to see Emmett standing over me.

"Bells are you okay? I came in just as you fell." He reached down and pulled me to my feet, making my head give a particularly nasty throb.

"Yeah, I'm fine Emmett." I said breathlessly, still feeling winded.

"Good. Does that mean I'm allowed to laugh? That was probably one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Hell, that was the funniest thing I've ever seen." He doubled up with laughter now. I rolled my eyes and smiled a tiny bit. I had to figure that it had looked pretty funny.

The man had gotten back to his feet now. I turned back to him and felt my cheeks flush even darker again as we caught each other's eyes.

"I really am sorry. Normally my clumsiness only brings me down. I try not to bring other's with me for the most part." I said, smiling slightly, embarrassed. He smiled, a sight that made my heart give a not so gentle squeeze.

"That's alright. I'm Edward Cullen, and this is my sister, Alice." He said. I felt my smile grow quite a bit. She was his sister! Not his girlfriend or wife or anything. My eyes darted to his hand, just to make sure there wasn't a ring there. My smile grew once more when I saw no band on his finger.

Alice waved happily to me from behind her brother.

"I'm Bella Swan and this is my brother Emmett." I said. Emmett grinned at them from over my head.

"I have a feeling we're going to be such good friends! When do you get off work? You are working aren't you? You should come and find me when your shift is over! We could do something together like shop or tan or eat or swim!" she said excitedly. Edward rolled his eyes and smiled rather sheepishly at me.

"Sorry about her. She's had too much coffee." He said, grinning at his sister. She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Well I'd really love to stay and talk but I really have to get back to work." I said before pulling on the noodles clinging to my hair. "And I have to get cleaned up. Once more I'm really sorry." I said before hurrying off, back to the kitchens.

I sunk down against the wall next to the door, feeling shaky and I knew it had nothing to do with the bump on my head.

"Edward Cullen." I whispered to myself, just to hear the perfect words on my tongue.

Maybe this trip would be different.

A/N- there it is! The teaser and first chapter to my new story! I'll update again as soon as I finish We Did Well. Let me know if you guys think you'll like this, kay? Reviews are necessary!

--Cullens4everandever