Disclaimer: This may have started with my dream, but all characters and anything even remotely related to Twilight belong to the great Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended with the posting of this story.

It was no surprise that today, this horrible day, August 13th; I was having the same vivid dream that I had every year. Most dreams you wake up from and move forward, except this one was my reality.

I was eleven, and I was blocking out the world. I used to miss the bus on purpose so I wouldn't have to go home, because right across from my bedroom was my mother's room, and she was sick.

Six months earlier she took me to a park at night with a box of Girl Scout cookies. I thought we were just hanging out, as usual, but this night was different.

"My Angel..." she said, as she took my hand, "I want to spend as much time with you as possible, because I might not be around much longer." I took my hand back and starred out the car window, catatonic and unmoving. "That's crap, mom... it's not possible."

I could tell she was trying not to cry, but it didn't last long. One single tear rolled down her cheek, followed by several more. "The doctors gave me three months, Bella. I have cancer, and it's really bad" I couldn't even feel sad in this moment, I was just plain angry. I couldn't even look my mom in the eyes. "Stop it, mom. I want to go home."

My mother smiled through her tears, and took my hand. I had so many things running through my mind, but "NO" was all I could manage... it was all I could do.

I took my hand back and turned to face away from her. I could hear her opening the box of cookies. "Bella, sweetheart, I brought your favorite cookies, have one." The last thing I wanted in this moment was a cookie, but I took one anyways.

I loved my mom more than anything, so she could have been offering me asparagus and I would've eaten it. She made some joke about how many calories we could eat in the next twenty minutes, clearly avoiding the issue, and for my sake I am sure...

At this point in the dream, every single year I wake up screaming, and this year was sure to be no different. That night was the last time I even got to speak to my mother, and I'm full of regret because of it. She became too sick, and seeing her that way was just too much for me to handle.

If I could go back, I would have spent as much time with her as I could, but I was only eleven, and my mind couldn't handle it. I spent more time with my best friend Jacob than I did with my mom, and I was at his house when she died. Looking back, I feel so bad for Jake's dad, who kept me all afternoon the day she died while my dad figured out how to tell me.

I came home from Jakes and my whole family was at my house. No one had to tell me, I knew. I knew it from the moment I saw ten cars in the driveway. I didn't want to talk to anyone, so I curled up into a ball on the living room couch and eventually fell asleep... "Bella..." I could hear my dad trying to wake me up... or was it Jacob? I didn't care.

Wait, is this still my dream?

And then I woke up today, the same way I always do.

Charlie was practically screaming while shaking me by the shoulders.

Since my mothers death I always held onto some sort of resentment towards my dad, and started referring to him by his first name. I know it wasn't his fault, but at age eleven I thought it was. Calling him Charlie just kind of stuck. He doesn't mind, or at least I don't think so.

"Bella, you have to get up, you're going to miss your flight, and I can't afford another one." I blinked for what felt like five minutes before I could even look at him. Guess I'm not dreaming anymore... "Bells, you were screaming... are you sure you want to move today? I was just kidding about the money; I need to know you're okay."

As if he didn't know what today was, and really had to ask. "Charlie, you know what today is, I can't help it." He gave me the same speech he always does, about how it's been years and I should get help and it goes on and on until I get angry and storm out of the room, except this time I was storming out of state to begin my college education.

I got accepted to Seattle University and I decided to go since it was the farthest from home I could get. I had no idea what I wanted to be, but I knew I couldn't stand to be in Michigan anymore, especially in this house full of childhood memories.

When my dad and Jacob dropped me off at the airport it took them almost an entire half hour to say goodbye to me, especially my dad. "Bella I need to know that you're safe, and I expect a phone call at least every other day", I couldn't help rolling my eyes, "and I deposited some money into your bank account, don't spend it all in the first week."

He punched me lightly on the shoulder and smiled the smile from the old times, the smile I never see since we lost mom. "Thanks Charlie, I'll call... I promise".

Jake gave me the biggest hug I think I've ever had. He was one year younger than me, but swore he was going to come to Seattle with me next year. He is probably the one person I wouldn't mind having around, although I wouldn't want those highly educated college boys to think I was taken.

He pulled back from the hour-long hug but kept his arms around my waist. For the first time it felt like more than a friendly hug. Great timing Jake, I'm about to move 2,400 miles away and you look like you want to kiss me.

He finally dropped his arms. "See ya, Bells... text me, okay?"... Like I don't already... "Of course, Jake. Don't I always?"

After almost an hour of sitting, I finally boarded the plane. I was sitting up front, and in the aisle seat, so I got to see everyone else I would be flying with. I saw a lot of men who looked like they were going on a business trip…all of them so serious, and all in their finest suits. The next man who boarded the plane was wearing a suit but appeared to have no legs. Wow, the things I take for granted… He looked like he was apologizing for something. What on earth could he have done wrong? He has crutches for arms.

I watched them banter back and forth for a minute or two before slipping in my ear buds. I must have really been tired because I had to be tapped on the shoulder quite harshly by the flight attendant in order to get my attention.

"Hello there, mam"… Great, Being called mam always makes me feel 20 years older….

All I could see out of the corner of my eye was her name tag. Irina? What kind of a name is that? Not to mention, she was wearing stilettos. That must be horrible, to walk around on a plane for hours a day in shoes like that.

"I know this is last minute, and we apologize, but it appears our website has allowed you to reserve a handicapped seat, and we require it for this gentleman over here".

She swooped her arm out palm up, gesturing towards the man with no legs like she was presenting me with a dessert tray. I looked at my ticket; nothing on it mentioned a handicapped seat.

"Are you asking me to get off this flight?" I'm pretty sure that came out much angrier than I meant it.

"Oh no, of course not, mam. We have a couple other seats open on the flight, and we are willing to compensate you for your trouble."

"It's not a problem at all; just give me a moment to pack up my things." I didn't mind moving, and for a free flight? It would be silly of me not to oblige. A whole paid flight home, just for switching seats… wait until Charlie hears about this!

I followed Irina and her six inch pumps to a spacious area in the middle of the seats. "Okay, mam...this is our fir-"

"Bella… just call me Bella." I couldn't handle the mam anymore.

"Okay, Bella. This is our first option for a seat, however it's by the mid-emergency exit, and requires some responsibilities, so I have to ask you a few questions."

What? I was planning on listening to my iPod and zoning out the whole time, and other people on this plane were starting to stare at me.

"Can you lift 50 pounds?"

Oh no… here it comes…

I burst out into the biggest he-haw laughter I had ever heard, thus enhancing the already curious crowd. "Me?... 50 pounds?.. With all due respect… Irina... that's almost half of my body weight, so I'm going to have to say no, although I've never tried."

"Well," she said while straightening up her hair and clothes, "we have one more choice, but if you would excuse me, this is going to take a minute." Did she just undo a button on her shirt? Or am I imagining things?

"Err... alright," was the only response I could manage. No problem, I'll just stand here like a freak.

I watched her go, and go… and go. She went all the way to the back, and I saw some guy with a hat on look at her fiercely over his sunglasses. Who wears those during the day? What a douche bag. Irina looked like she was flirting with him. Maybe that's why she wears the pumps, to get guys.

I stood on my tip-toes, trying to see what they were talking about until she finally came back to rescue me from my standing-mid-plane-holding-all-my-stuff-looking-like-a-lost-puppy humiliation.

"Right this way, Bella, you're new seat will be the last row on the right, enjoy your flight." I'm surprised I didn't get whiplash from how fast she swiveled and walked away from me…

And just like that she was all the way up front again, almost as if she was afraid to go back there anymore. Well, this should be fun.

When I got to my new seat, there was a guy who looked a few years older than me sitting looking out the window with his back towards the aisle. He was all crooked. I looked at him for a second, and I was trying to figure out how in the hell he would face forward anyways, being that his legs were so long. I was about to sit down when I noticed a leather laptop case in my seat.

The guy looked asleep so I was debating moving it myself, although he was just talking to Irina, so he couldn't be. Oh well, here goes nothing.

As soon as my hand was anywhere near it, he turned around and grabbed my wrist. He was wearing a baseball cap and the sunglasses, so I couldn't see much of his face. "Um... I'm really sorry but they have moved me to this seat..."

He starred at my face for what felt like a century, although his eyes were covered by the sunglasses, so I had no idea what he was really looking at. For the first time all day, I regretted not wearing something more flattering.

I looked so plain in my black jeans, vans, and…. Oh, No…. My dad bought me a Seattle t-shirt and I totally forgot I was wearing it… on a flight full of people going to Seattle. Great, Swan. If you ever want to lose your virginity, keep dressing like you're twelve.

Since I had minutes to stare back, I started noticing things. I noticed his defined jaw... I'm pretty sure you could slice cucumbers with that thing. I noticed his sunglasses were Ray Bans. Sexy.

He looked at me over his sunglasses for a millisecond, and I saw the greenest eyes I had ever seen in my life. They looked vaguely familiar, but I didn't even have time to think where I could have known him from. He went to say something and it was like the whole world was happening in slow motion. Oh god, he's going to talk to me… Breathe, you moron.

"That's not fucking possible", he said while putting ear buds in his ears.

"But… I… she just told me to sit here?"

"I SAID it's not fucking possible."

That's it? That's what I psyched myself up for? I threw my arms up in the air and slapped them back down to my sides. He didn't even notice. Wow, chivalry really is dead. Since he wasn't going to budge I decided to make a trip to the bathroom. I threw my bag down and practically almost ran.

We were already pulled away from the airport, just sitting on the runway, and I was furiously looking for a different open seat on the way to the bathroom... Nothing, except the one by the emergency exit.

I was literally mid-pee when the pilot came on the speaker to announce take off, and I knew I had to hurry up. When I got came out of the bathroom I could hear Irina talking to crabby douche mystery man, and they were getting loud.

Yes, now they were flat out arguing.

I didn't want to sit next to someone who was angry for the next 5 hours, and all I heard him say was, "this is why I buy two fucking seats". How many F-Bombs is this guy going to drop?

I was hoping for some help with this guy, but the Irina breezed past me like I wasn't even there. I could see another attendant starring at me while yelling for everyone to take their seat when I was clearly the only one standing.

When I got back to him, he was back in his previous position facing the window, only this time his stuff was out of my way. I sat down, buckled in, and the plane started to move. I reached into my bag to take out my iPod. At least I could treat him the same way, and block out his attitude with my music.

Eventually his neck will get sore, and we'll have to have some type of conversation, right?

Careful not to disturb him, I unwound the headphones and put them in. I turned my ipod on, only to find that the battery was almost dead. This was going to be a long 5 hours.

A/N: I just wanted to thank all those who encouraged me to finally write this down, and to *PB* my twi-wifey (xXTailoredDreamsXx) for taking the time to read through my first chapter and bestow upon me her expert advice, since she is currently working on one of the greatest fanfics I've ever read…

*cough* TMT *cough*

I promise he won't be angryward forever… if that's even Edward shes sitting next to. ;-)

P.S. I'm also searching for a Beta, let me know if you're interested!