Disclaimer: So, I don't own anything. Sad, but true. The song is "That Ol' Wind" by Garth Brooks and we all know who the characters belong to. *Sigh*
"She dropped her boy at school on time
One less worry on her mind
Now it's off to work and on the radio
Come's an old familiar song
And then the D.J.'s voice comes on
And say's he's back in town tonight for one last show"
Bella walked back to her car feeling relieved that she had managed to get Anthony to school on time. He hadn't wanted to get up that morning which almost made him late for school. She knew he was just like her; not a morning person.
Getting in the car on the way home, she flipped on the radio to fill the silence that permeated the air. Gasping, she recognized the opening notes of the song floating out of the speakers.
Pulling off to the side, she took a few shuddering breaths as she let the familiar song wash over her. His voice was still as perfect as she remembered, she thought fleetingly.
Minutes later the song was over and she wiped the tears away that had fallen during the song.
"And that ladies and gentlemen was Edward Cullen's very first hit song 'Mia Bella'" The DJ's voice came out saying, reminding Bella of all she had lost all those years ago. "If you call right now you could win tickets to his one night only show here in town. Call (206) 157-2375."
"Her eyes well up with tears
God could it be it's been ten years
Since that Autumn night outside the county fair
When two strangers shared a night
And in the darkness found a light
That to this day is still alive and burning there"
Tears once again filled her eyes as it clicked in her head that he was going to be here; mere miles from her. It had been ten years since she had last seen him; since that night at the fair.
Ten Years Ago
Bella and her friend Alice had convinced their parents to let them go to the fair that night. It was the middle of fall and a gorgeous night at the county fair. She saw him up on the stage and was immediately struck by his voice and all around presence. His voice soothed and enticed as he sang his songs.
Later that night Bella approached Edward, who had been talking with some friends. "Edwin?" she asked tentatively. He looked up.
"Edward" he corrected. "Damn people spelt my name wrong on the marquee."
"Oh!" she said as she felt her cheeks flush. "I'm so sorry!"
He laughed as he took a good look at the blushing girl in front of him. "It's ok" he answered with a smile. "It happens. What about you? What's your name?" he asked as he smiled again when the pretty girl flushed.
"Bella" she answered with a sly smile. She couldn't take her eyes off of him and it seemed to her that he felt the same. He hadn't looked away from her once since she had walked up.
"So Bella" he started "Can I buy you a hot chocolate?" At this request he heard his friends laugh as one of them punched his arm, clearly in response to his cheesy request.
Edward, however ignored his friends, instead focusing on Bella. She nodded shyly and he smiled. He wanted to get to know this beautiful girl. "Ok then" he stated with a laugh. "Let's go."
The night passed in a blur. They went from the stand where he bought her the drink to walking around the fair. As the crowd played and laughed around them, Bella and Edward seemed lost in their own world; a world where only they existed.
As the hours passed and the crowd thinned, Edward decided to ask the question he had been dying to ask. "So Bella" he began "Would you like to come back to my hotel with me?" When her eyes got wide he panicked. "To keep talking I mean!"
His question had surprised her, but she surprised him when she agreed. "Sure" she said. "But I have to let Alice know. I'm supposed to be spending the night with her."
Edward looked around the crowd as if he expected Alice to jump out at them. "I think she might still be with my friend Jasper" he said. "Let's go find them"
Texting Alice, Bella confirmed his suspicion and told Edward where they were. "She says she's still by the stage with Jasper." Edward grinned and shook his head.
"Of course they are."
Walking up to the couple, Bella was shocked to see Alice wrapped up in Jasper's arms. The look on her best friends face both scared and excited Bella. She was happy her friend was clearly smitten with the boy, but was afraid she would get her heart broken by the musician.
"Alice" Bella started "I'm gonna go back to the hotel with Edward. Cover for me?" she asked. Alice stared at her friend; Bella was usually the responsible one.
"Sure" Alice said, happy her friend was letting loose for once. "Just be careful ok?" she whispered quietly. When Bella nodded Alice smiled. "Well go then!" she exclaimed.
"You heard the girl" Edward said, grabbing Bella's hand. "Let's go!" Bella nodded again and hugged her friend.
"Lead the way" she said, looking up in awe at the beautiful boy who was taking her home with him.
Sometime in the middle of the night, Bella turned and looked at Edward who was sleeping beside her with only a sheet draped over his waist. She couldn't believe what had happened.
Carefully slipping out from under the covers so as to not wake him, she dressed quickly. Fighting with her instinct to run, Bella decided to leave a note on what had been her pillow.
All she wrote was her name and phone number. Feeling like a groupie, Bella snuck out of the room. She honestly never expected to hear from him again.
Hailing a cab, Bella spent the last few hours before daybreak staring into a rapidly cooling cup of coffee in a café not to far from the hotel.
Thinking of that night always made her cry; even ten years later.
"Her eyes well up with tears
God could it be it's been ten years
Since that Autumn night outside the county fair
When two strangers shared a night
And in the darkness found a light
That to this day is still alive and burning there"
To her surprise, he had called her the next day. He was sad and confused as to why she had left and begged to see her one more time before he left for the next city on his tour.
"He asked her twice to come along
They said good-bye at the break of dawn
'Cause you can't hold back the wind
If it's meant to be again
Then someday he'll find his way back to her arms"
Back at the hotel that day he had asked her to come with him. He begged again, telling her they could be happy together. Bella however, knew she couldn't leave. Responsibility was once again taking over.
Saying no to him was the hardest thing she had ever had to do. To this day she still wished with all her heart she had gone.
"The marquee misspelled his name
And not too many people came
But that didn't matter to them
They laughed and loved all through the night
And as they faced the morning light
They found themselves standing there again
And he asked her twice to come along
They said good-bye at the break of dawn
As his bus left out she cried
With him standing by her side
That ol' wind had once again found its way home"
Turning off the radio that had launched into yet another sad song, she wiped her eyes and turned into the traffic. She had a job to get to and then a son to pick up.
One day, she vowed, one day she would tell him about his father, just as she would tell Edward about his son.
"Someday he'll tell her about the money he hid
And someday she'll tell him that the boy is his kid
But for right now they're both in love
The only thing they're thinkin' of
Is that they're finally where their hearts have always been"
A/N: So, I have had this story sitting on my flash drive for months. I just never got around to finishing and submitting it. If you guys like it enough I'll write the companion to it...or the second chapter. I'm gonna post it as completed, but if you want more just let me know.
As always, thanks for reading and reviewing.