A/N: So, like I said in the summary, I had this idea while in a bout of writer's block for another story i'm working on. I think it turned out pretty well, review please. I need to know if it's worth continuing. Oh yeah, it's rated T cause of some stuff I've got planed later on. Thanks to anyone who reads this :)

Disclamer: I don't own Twilight or any of the characters in it, Stephenie Meyer does. She's purley amazing, I wish my characters could measure up to hers.

Chapter 1: Lead Guitar

Bella's POV

I was excited, for the first time in days. It was happening, no longer a distant maybe. I was on a plane, a huge international jet, on my way to Italy, Volterra Italy, to be exact. It was the beginning of something, I sensed.

Needing something to do I pushed my one carry-on bag under the seat in front of me, then fiddled with my jacket, clumsily pulling my arms out of the sleeves. I felt much better in the black fitted tee-shirt with a quote from my favorite book on the back. I placed my hands on my dark washed jean clad legs, tapping out a fast beat on my knee.

I leaned back and attempted without much success to relax. When that failed, I turned my head to look out of the window. The scenery wasn't as dramatic as it would be within ten hours I was sure, the Portland, Oregon airport landing strip wasn't scenic per say, just gray. But even seas of concrete couldn't stifle my excitement. Only two months ago had I gotten my letter of acceptance form the Reed College study abroad program, and now I was on a plane about to live out the adventure I had fanaticized about.

I was leaned back with my eyes closed day dreaming of Italian boys with tan skin, curly dark hair, and beautiful accents when I heard movement to my left, the occupant of the seat beside me must be coming to sit down, finally. I was beginning to think that nobody had bought that ticket, the plane was nearly full and about to prepare for take off. I sat up and opened my eyes to see the newcomer. With my luck it was most likely an eighty year old man who would fall asleep and drool on himself, or a large New Jersey woman who would try to talk to me about her relationship problems the entire way.

When I looked up, already resigned to be friendly and polite to my sure to be disastrous seat mate, I was stunned. The guy who stood above me was not eighty and he wasn't wearing blue eye shadow to match a poorly died head of blond hair. He was tall, especially from my vantage point and he looked down at me with huge green eyes. His hair was a peculiar bronze color, it wasn't brown and it wasn't red. It looked windswept and he was breathing heavily as if he had just finished running a long distance. I smiled up at him and tried to play it cool. "Hey," was all I could manage. He smiled in return,

"Hey, I think this is my seat, 14 J?"

"I'm in 15 J, so I think so," he seemed friendly, too. Not in an obnoxious way, but a little reserved, the mystery man. He held out his hand and I shook it, "I'm Bella, Bella Swan." It was hard to suppress my giggles; I had, without meaning to, quoted James Bond.

"I'm Edward Masen," he said, looking down at my hand. Just then did I realize that I was still shaking his hand like an idiot.

"Umm, sorry," I said, blushing.

"It's ok, so where are you from?" he asked. He seemed interested in me. This question of general politeness meant something to him, the thought made me smile.

"I'm originally from Phoenix, Arizona but I'm starting at Reed next semester." I didn't feel the need to add that I was starting as a freshman, having just graduating from high school. "What about you?" I asked.

"I was born and grew up in Chicago, actually. I'm starting at Reed next semester, too. That's why I'm on this trip, or how rather, the why is because I've been dying to go to Italy my entire life," he explained. I cautiously hoped, was Edward going to be in the same program as me? Looked like it, but I wouldn't set my hopes too high.

"What trip, are you doing the Summer Abroad program?"

"Oh, yeah, I guess I didn't say that. Are you?"

"Yeah, I am." My smile grew wider; my thoughts of dark Italian boys on mopeds were replaced by ones of pale boys with bronze hair and green eyes from the windy city. I wanted to know more about him. "So, Edward, tell me about yourself," I said, hoping that I didn't sound like an overly eager school girl.

"Well, you know I'm from Chicago. I'm in a band." It sounded like a question, like he was asking if that was okay. I loved musicians.

"Really?" I asked, "That's so cool. What do you play?" The excitement of jetting off to a foreign country and the knowledge that my new acquaintance would be joining me feel ecstatic and my enthusiasm caught in my voice.

"Lead guitar," he answered. "Well, guitar, I'm not the best or anything." He stumbled over his words. It was adorable. I gave him my best inviting and reassuring smile, so that he would see that I didn't think he was arrogant for playing lead.

"Do you sing, too?" I teased.

"Haha, no, you wouldn't want to hear me sing," he laughed. I wasn't so sure about that.

"I just might," I replied back. We continued talking as the flight attendant gave instructions about seat floatation devices and emergency oxygen masks. This was a fantastic beginning to what was sure to be a fantastic summer.