DISCLAIMER: I do not own the character concept. However I own the story in which the name lay.
RATING: M for Sexual Situations and Light Drug Use
SUMMARY: It is June in Edward and Bella's mean time between college and graduate school. Newly married they embark on a road trip that takes them across the country, to oceans, lakes, mountains, rocks and down into the valley.
Story is told in the first person from Bella's point of view. Story is all human and slightly OOC
Please review and tell me what you think.
I married Edward on a Sunday in his families back yard, barefoot and carrying daffodils. We loved each other then. Loved each other the way only suburban kids can. Loved like we saw in the movies, like we read in books. Loved how we were taught to by the fantasies of our childhoods.
Like any couple in love, we thought our union was extraordinary. We felt as if we had moved towards each other like clouds, gliding caught in the breeze. Uncontrolled.
Together we made plans, made decisions. Decided to hit the road. Edward said we could see the country before we ended up trapped in school again. We could see all of America and isn't that romantic? To see the land laid bare before you, see it all.
"You know, with the money I have saved and our graduation and wedding money, we could do whatever we want this summer." He spoke earnestly as we lay together on the floor of his apartment senior year of undergrad in early May a week before graduation from University of Washington and two weeks before our wedding. "Instead of going somewhere for our honeymoon, we could go everywhere."
"Could we?" I asked, curious.
"Yeah, for sure. We don't need to be in Boston until August. So we'd have about 6 weeks, just us."
I hummed in response considering the idea and rolled onto my stomach. Picking up a pen to work on my final lit paper.
Edward looked at me intently then said quietly after a while "I want to do it." He reached out and began to twist my hair idly between his fingers. "I want us to go on the road and drive for days and see everything. Together."
"I don't know Edward."
"Come on Bella. Imagine it. You and me on the road together, we could see every inch of this country." He sighed like a wistful old man looking back at his youth and rolled over onto his back. "I could take pictures"
His words brought my attention. "You're a good photographer Edward."
"I know, all I need is something to take pictures of, and what other time is it possible to do this sort of thing? Come August it will be all med school all the time."
I put my head down and closed my eyes. "I still don't know."
Edward reached over to me and pulled me close to him then rolled my onto my back. He loomed over me and propped himself up on his elbows. Looking down at me he said "Bella, marry me."
"I'm already doing that." I giggled.
He laughed. "Marry me, then travel with me. After graduation, before more endless class work, do this with me."
His forehead was pressed against mine and he looked deep into my eyes then brought his lips down to meet mine.
A week later we both became graduates. My degree a bachelor of arts in english and his a bachelor of science in chemistry.
Another week after that we were married.
Edward and I got married with everyone we know watching. They said we were good together. Tall, pale boy with copper hair and his short pale girl with dark curls. His eyes were like the glass orbs made for china dolls, wet and golden and wanting as he watched me walk down the aisle.
Six days after becoming Bella Cullen, I hit the road with my new husband with the intent to write something. To write about us, the land, whatever asked me to write. On the road we discovered each others body with relish, the pent up want of four years. We asked each other why we waited and who decided that this new world of our physical life together was a sin. Who decided it was wrong for our bodies to rub against each other like sticks making a fire. We made love often and dutifully called our parents once or twice a week.
We saw the green hills of Appalachia, their moss broad stones looming above us, thick humid air circulated through our lungs. We saw the Grand Canyon, for both of us the first time in person, and realized what reruns of the Brady Bunch could never do justice for. We saw El Capitan and the rocks of California, sat on a warm flat boulder watching climbers ascent their peaks, shielding our eyes from the sun and making plans to someday do the same. We saw the great cities of America, over and over passed through them like slide images in a view finder, again and again until they became a blur and indistinguishable from the last.
We saw the small towns, the places cut off with Main Streets sleeping until the next parade. We saw sunsets before us until we reached the ocean then turned around to watch the sun rise.
We made love in Death Valley then got high and made love again. Laughing about the possibility of being caught in such a remote place and unembarrassed by the chance.
We loved without restraint or sense. Saw the world in our future and it was open like the door of a church on Sunday, welcoming and within its belly we saw those we loved waiting to take us in again and share.
Thanks for reading. I have several chapters written and will post more if you all want to read it. Please review and let me know if you would like to see more.