Disclaimer: All recognisable content in this story does not belong to me, but the characters do belong to Stephanie Meyer. Storyline in mine however, although that is hardly a claim now is it …

Baggage Claim

Bella POV

With a final wave, I walked slowly down the ramp towards the tarmac. I couldn't help but recall an old John Denver song my mum loved to play, the lyrics floating through my mind with the clouds floating past the window. "I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again"

I thought it was more than apt; it was like an anthem for the moment. I did not turn around, and I highly doubted I would be returning to the dreary little town of Forks.

Ahead of me was a new life - at least that's what I hoped! I spent the flight reminiscing about my childhood. I truly had loved Renee, and Charlie too. I was heartbroken to realise that my foremost feeling towards the memories washing over me was anger.

I loathed the fact that they were not here any more, that I would never have another memory to add to the mental scrapbook that I had pain-takingly collected and decorated.

After my flick through the 'scrapbook' as such, I chatted most superficially with the kind lady next to me. Well, until she asked me what I was heading to Seattle for. This comment with the charming lady opened my floodgates, so to speak. I hated to burden her with my story, and my tears.

Luckily she did not take offence and was even so generous as to offer me her services as a friendly ear. As I was moving to a place where I had not met a soul, I could not help but gush, "Esme, you are truly too kind." I offered to take her out for coffee as soon as I settled to repay her.

As I arrived at the airport, I could not help but notice the most stunning man I had ever seen by the baggage carousel. To make it more entertaining, I realised it must have been Esme's son, he was certainly too young to be her partner. Unless she went for that kind of thing …

It was as this thought struck me that this incredibly attractive man looked up, and winked at me. As mum used to say, I was suddenly suffering from a case of "the tinglies!"

I giggled to myself, and Esme must have seen the movement because she detached herself from the poor man and turned to me.

Her voice must have been loud enough for the whole airport to hear, "Bella, come and meet my son Edward. You two are sure to hit it of."

I don't think I have ever been more mortified in my life. Ever. However, judging from the blush that was gracing Edward's cheeks, it was possible that he had not either.

I made my way slowly over to the pair, hoping that Esme would not have any further pearls of wisdom to add to the incredibly characteristic blush that was staining my face. And chest.

Edward smiled as I walked over, and when I reached them he grazed his mouth across my knuckles. "It's a pleasure to meet you Bella."

Well. To say I was anything less than the colour of a fire truck would be a gross understatement. With Charlie and Renee both gone, I didn't really have much of a parental influence on my life. That being said, I did not really know many boys, and Edward was acting much more like a man than my 19 years of life had prepared me for.

I stumbled my way through a greeting, hoping that I would not appear too much of an imbecile.

Please, let me appear somewhat normal.

Edward POV

Wow. Mum had whispered to me at the carousel that she had sat next to an absolute angel on the plane. Whom she was planning to invite to Sunday dinner. I did not have time to prepare myself however for the true goddess of Bella.

As I grazed my lips over her soft, tiny hands I realised a) I was a complete sap, b) I was asking her out at the most convenient time and c) I would never live it down if I screwed this up.

Alice, my crazy-ass psychic sister had warned me last time she saw me that something was going to change. I was eagerly awaiting to see how this would turn out.

As we waited for her bags to come round, mother was plying her with more questions. The poor girl – wait til she came to dinner with the whole family, it was going to be more than overwhelming.

As she revealed she was planning on attending the local college to get a teaching qualification my grin broadened exponentially. Student housing meant she would be really close to Alice, who was studying there too. This meant that I could visit often, just as I visited Alice each week.

It was not long before she claimed her baggage, and as mum walked quickly for the doors, I slipped her my number, and asked her out for coffee. I hoped she would say yes – but then, perhaps I was too forward in my assumption?

Luckily, she seemed just as happy as I was to have made a move. All I could do was hope that it was a sign of good things to come.

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