A/N: this plot Bunny came to me one night after a raunchy twitter conversation with my dearest friends about Olympic Swimmers and their ability to hold their breath for a long time, lots of giggles insured and viola #swimmerward was born
Of Course I don't own Twilight Stephenie does Plus she owns Edward and Bella I Just like to bend them in various positions.
So without further adieu I'd like to dedicate this story to my partners in crime Ethel and Lucy, I love you girls
This is just for shit and giggles and maybe a few tears not Beta'd
FYI: Bella's flashbacks will all be in italics and bold
I looked out the window at white billowy clouds knowing somewhere, maybe a few thousand feet below this flying metal bird was either a aqua ocean or a green grass landscape. Never in a million years would I have thought I would be flying across the pond, and facing my past. No I was perfectly content in my little mountain home, just living my life, taking pictures of the mountain landscape, running my gallery and doing some freelance work for several magazines in Park City Utah.
My palms are sweating just thinking about stepping foot off this plane. I need to get these nerves under control or the five cokes and 3 packs of Biscotti cookies I have consumed in the last 10 hours will be making a re-appearance and not in the most beautiful of ways. In fact I'm pretty sure it's the last thing the people up here in fist class want to witness let alone smell.
According to the flight attendant we should be counting our lucky stars we were in first class and not in coach, there was a five year old redheaded girl who has done nothing but cry the whole flight to her parents about not buying her that American girl doll she saw in the window at JFK, a two year old boy who has lost his stomach contents not once but 3 times, an infant whose parents thought it was the grandest idea to take a flight while he was suffering with double ear infections and a cat who has escaped its cage, why anyone would bring a cat on board is beyond me so yes I'm grateful I have a pocketbook big enough to afford the first class ticket.
I took a few deep-cleansing breaths and felt the comfort of my best friend's hand.
" I told you you needed something a little more substantial in your belly besides sugar and carbs."
" And I told you I'd eat when we get there" I squeezed his hand back and gave him my signature drop it smile.
" God you are so stubborn Isabella."
I turned in my wide, blue, faux leather first class seat and looked him in the eyes. "If I was so stubborn J would I be on this plane with you right now." I grabbed my cookies out of his hand and turned back to look out at the clouds.
" Bells, I've put up with your stubborn ass for the last four years, I knew it was going to take a lot of convincing but without a doubt I knew I would get you on this plane." he grabbed the cookies back out of my hand and motioned for the flight attendant.
Yeah sure a lot of convincing. I was the one that called him to tell him about the opportunity to take pictures for Park City living magazine as part of their Olympic coverage. Of course I told him I was not going to take it, no way could I head to London there were to many ghosts there, he knew it. That's why he showed up at my gallery the next day.
" Can I help you sir?" the sickeningly, smiley blonde said as she bent down to J's level."
" Yes ma'am my friend here would like one of those turkey sandwiches please." He handed her his card and winked at her.
She stood up and fanned herself, then turned around and went to her cart. " Did she seriously just fan herself? Damn you Jasper Whitlock and your southern charms." I slapped his arm.
" Ouch." he rubbed the spot. " By the way she's not my type, I was just trying to be nice."
Jasper has been there for me since I walked onto their ranch in Texas four years ago. I saw a program on ESPN about a pro football player that had been injured in a game, an injury that resulted in ending his career. He talked about how his time on the Whitlock ranch in Houston Texas changed his angry feeling about not being able to play football anymore. How they help him see the bigger picture and how just because he can't play pro doesn't mean that he can never play football again. I remember lying there in the hospital bed feeling like it was the end of the world until that day, that day changed my life.
In the blink of an eye I had lost my dreams of becoming the professional dancer that my mother had always wanted me to be. I would no longer be dancing according to slew of doctors that kept coming into my room. My knee was completely shattered, I had a whole new knee one that would not put up with any kind of abuse that normal knees could. My strong ankles were broken in several places, they said they will never be the same and they would never be able to support the weight that would be needed for me to get back on Pointe and dance again. My right arm was in a brace, my ribs were cracked, and my femur on my right leg was being held together with pins and screws. My Brain was swollen from the head trauma of hitting it against the door from the impact of the telephone pole and I had a small amount of amnesia from be unconscious for two weeks. But according to them and everyone that visited my room I was suppose to count my lucky stars that I was alive, I could have ended up like my best friend they kept saying. It made me mad why was I alive, why was I saved; I should have just died along with her. It would have been so much easier. That is all I thought about until I made the decision to walk away from my old life and start fresh somewhere new.
I can't be angry about that decision, Jasper has been wonderful, he helped me heal not only physically but emotionally as well. I should be grateful he's the one sitting next to me on this plane and not his sister Rose. Rose would be critiquing my outfit of black yoga pants, and grateful dead T-shirt, I'm pretty sure she would scoff at the fact my wavy brown, unmanageable hair is put up in a pony tail
I should have known something was up when the bell chimed above my gallery door two days ago and I looked up to see the crystal blue eyes that have made me open up and bare my soul. He looked at me like I'm here to cause trouble. I knew it was going to be about... No don't go there, you've kept yourself together so far... Thoughts about him only lead you caving and caving leads you to hitting cold stone for a gotta have it mint chocolate chip. And then you spend the rest of the night sobbing cause ice cream only brings more memories of him.
Walking across the quad hand in hand sharing licks off each other's cones that we had bought from the ice cream parlor in the bookstore. His a plain strawberry double scoop cone which he says reminds him of me, my wonderful tantalizing scent, he whispers in my ear, causing shivers to shake my entire being. Being pulled tightly into his strong-arms, no complaints from me. Mine a single scoop mint chocolate chip cone that gets on my lips and induces a hot make out session by the fountain that I feel all the way down to my toes and makes my knees go weak. One of those first kisses that surpass any kiss you have ever had before and ruin's any others you will have after. He softly brushes my lips one more time and apologizes, saying he just had to get the left over bits of cream off my amazing lips. I can't help but smile cause oh my god the captain of the swim team is kissing me... Me boring Bella Swan in public and it's making me want to just lay his god like body down on the cement and do very naughty things to him.
" You're thinking about him right now aren't you." Jasper had a shit grin on his face.
" Don't know what you are talking about." I had to hide my face cause I could feel the blush creeping it's way across my face.
" We need to work on your lying skills or maybe we should work on controlling that blush, cause I'm sure the minute you see lover boy again that blush is going to be covering your entire body."
"Shut up." luckily blonde bimbo was back with my sandwich and batting her fake eyelashes at Jasper, causing me to giggle.
I took the sandwich from Jasper's hand, opened the package and took a bite.
The flight attendant must have got the hint J was not interested and sauntered herself back the way she came.
" So if batting eyelashes aren't your thing what is?" I took a sip of my coke. I had to know what rocked his socks and I needed a change the subject.
Rose and I had a bet going what type of woman Jasper would go for. Rose thinks the super model type is what he wants,one of the reasons why I think Jasper is still single she keeps setting him up with the Dallas cheerleaders, he has never made it past a first date. I on the other hand think he needs a woman with depth to her not just beauty she needs to wow him. Jasper is an old soul, a philosopher a true gentleman an enigma. I once knew someone perfect for him, but I severed that friendship when I left without even a goodbye. Wonder... No I'm pretty sure if I see her it's not going to be pretty, I'm sure Alice... It's been so long since I said her name and although it came naturally to say it, it still hurts me. I'm pretty sure Alice wants to pummel my head into the ground for hurting her brother.
My hands automatically wrap around my middle. I hurt so many people that day, it's amazing how many people are affected by one little mistake, you don't really realize it till its to late and you have walked away, put a distance between you and them.
" No batting eyelashes are not my thing especially on a blonde." Jasper's admission takes me out of my musings.
" Knew you didn't like blondes, now only if your sister would get the hint, maybe we could find you a real women." I took another bite of my sandwich. " Mmm this is good thanks."
" Pot meet kettle, hello have you even been on a date in the last four years."
" I've been busy." I tried to say.
"Bullshit Bella, just be honest for once. You fell in love, you thought he's the one then your dreams were shattered and now you believe that as a punishment you should close yourself off from ever being happy again."
" I am happy."
" No you are just going through the motions Bella, in order for you to be truly happy you need to face him, you need to look at Edward's face and see for yourself if he's as disappointed as you think he is in you."
" Jasper." I whisper as I hug myself tighter. He knows what hearing his name does to me.
" This isn't one of my therapy sessions Bella, I'm not telling you this as your doctor, I'm telling you this because I care about you. I don't care what you think, you do deserve to be happy, you both do."
I shook my head. " Stop, please I can't do this right now." I pleaded with him.
" Then tell me one thing Bella, why are you really on this plane?"
I sat there for god knows how long, I really didn't want to answer him.
" I'll tell you why, you Bella Swan saw what I saw when I showed you the tape of his Olympic trials swim the other night. You saw him touch that tattoo above his heart and you knew in that instant he still might love you and you just had to see for yourself if it was a possibility. I saw your face as you sat there on your couch watching with rapt attention as he touched it with his two fingers and then brought them to his lips. I saw how your eyes changed from the deep sadness I have seen these last four years to the beginning of the glittering happiness I saw in the pictures in your old home in Forks. As he swam from the wall and back and won his race, I knew you were just aching to jump up and down with happiness. But like always you held back for fear that if you feel any kind of happiness something terrible is going happen.
Fresh tears ran down my cheeks, he knew me so well. He could always read me like a book, I had closed myself off to everyone after the accident, but Jasper brought me back to a place where I could finally start to heal. But only one person can make me feel alive again, and I need to know if he still feels like I do, Like I can't really breathe without him.
" Bella it's time to finally see for yourself that nobody blames you for what happened four years ago, it was god's will, he saved you for a purpose. The accident happened for a reason, yes it was shitty timing, People were hurt, the media circus was cruel not only to you but Edward, but I feel it in my heart that man does not hold you accountable for what happened."
" You don't know that J, how can you be so sure." I turned away and looked out again at the puffy white clouds hiding what was below.
" I know cause Rose told me."
" What does Rose have to do with this." I turned away from the small window and looked at him confused as ever.
" Why do you think I showed up at Shutters the other day? I'm not one to force you to do anything Bella. When you called me and told me about the job opportunity I knew you would not take it, and I was totally fine with that, but the day after you called Rose came home from a trip to Dallas looking like she had had the time of her life. She was smiling like the Cheshire cat, I knew she had met someone special."
I motioned for him to continue with his little story.
" Well I guess as she was coming out of a coffee shop some big oaf, her words not mine, bumped into her spilling her coffee all over her six hundred dollar shirt causing it to become see through and ruining it. The big oaf apologized then made some crass remark about nice tits, bought her a new coffee and handed her a wad of cash after she yelled at him for ruining her shirt and having to pay for it."
I giggled I bet Rose was pissed, one don't ever touch her clothes, and two she hated it when people commented on her body.
" I'm still confused, what does Rose and a ruined shirt have anything to do with me and…" I couldn't say it.. Could I, I tried it out. " Edward."
" Looks like the Cullen men have a problem with introducing themselves." Jasper finished
I closed my eyes remembering the day Edward made himself known to me. The Cullen men are not the only ones that make fools of themselves during introductions.
It was a sunny day on campus, I had been sitting under the shade of the large trees in one of the large grassy fields outside of my dorm reading one of my art history books, trying to study for an upcoming English Painters test. I had been up all night putting together a duet for my dance class with my partner Chris and had no time to study. I was stressed out and just trying to cram before class, I needed some sun and air, so I had come outside hoping it would help me study. When all of a sudden a football made it's way over to me hitting me in the chest knocking my book out of my hands, causing my papers to fall to the grass and knocking my glasses off my face. I hated that I had them on but I had forgotten to put my contacts in that morning as I was running late my Pointe class. I was livid, I was just sitting there minding my own business, I picked up the football and was ready to stand up and throw it at the person responsible for interrupting my cram session when I looked up into the most amazing green eyes I had ever seen.
I lost any sense to speak when he smiled at me and held his hand out for the football. I sat there mesmerized by his eyes, Then my eyes found his jaw line and Oh my god it was just asking for me to run my tongue along it. I was lost in thinking about how the light bit of stubble on his jaw would feel against my neck and face, when he coughed breaking me out of my ogling. He chuckled and I blushed.
" Oh sorry is this yours." I looked at him trying to convey that I was upset that it had hit me but failing miserably.
" Yes and I'm so sorry that it hit you my friends can be douches sometimes, sorry." He apologized and bent down in front of me, grabbing the football out of my hands. He gave me a sexy crooked smile. " I'm Edward by the way." He held his hand back out to me.
I found my voice again " Nice to meet you Edward I'm Bella." I placed my hand in his waiting for him to shake it, but instead he raised his hands to his lips and kissed the top of my hand. I think the grass underneath me just became a little dewy.
" I should let you get back to your football game, your friends look like they are waiting for you." I motioned to where the group of Edward's friends were standing watching with rapt attention at our little display.
Edward turned his head and looked where my finger was pointing. " Them, they are nobody just a group of rowdy swimmers trying to pass the time before practice."
" You're a swimmer." He nodded his head. " Oh I assumed you were football players."
He laughed, and I can truly say the man's laugh set my body on fire. " No I leave the contact sports to my older brother."
" So is it true... the rumors I hear, do you guys really pad your Speedo's, you know to um make yourselves look bigger?"
Edward's delicious jaw dropped, I covered my mouth did I really just say that out loud… Note to self, sexy ass men will break your filter.
Edward snapped his jaw closed then gave me that same sexy smirk he had given me earlier. " Tell you what Bella." The way he said my name, like is was music on his lips, made me want to come right there.
" You come to our meet tomorrow and you can see for yourself." he leaned into whisper in my ear. " But I'm telling you what you will see is the real deal, and I can guarantee you are going to like what you see." He brushed his lips against my ear then stood up and trotted over to his friends leaving me sitting there in the puddle of moisture he had created between my legs.
Oh he wants to play with fire I see, well let's see how he feels about a girl and a bike. I stuffed my books into my backpack, picked up my helmet that was sitting behind me, brushed off my jeans and sauntered over to my bike that was parked right by where they were tossing the football. I bent down to close the clasp on my riding boots purposely aiming my ass, my best asset at Edward. I heard a cough and stood up brushing my long wavy brown hair over my shoulders, put on my helmet then climbed on my Ducatti and started it up. I finally looked up at the guys, all of their jaws were hanging open. I waved at Edward and pulled out of the parking lot.
I couldn't help the huge smile that was plastered across my face, that day was one of the best days of my life.
" There's that beautiful smile again, and one day you are going to tell the real story of how you and Edward met, not the watered down version of he hit me with a football while I was studying."
" That's how we met." I said and hid my grin from him.
" There's more you are not telling me and I'm going to get it out of you."
" I don't think so buddy, and still that doesn't explain how Rose knows that Edward doesn't blame me."
" You are and if you don't I'll get it out of Edward, and she knows cause Emmett told her."
" She talked to Emmett about me." I asked as I finished off the sandwich and coke.
" Relax she didn't mention you, per say. She asked how his brother was coping after his devastating looses in the Beijing games. She told him I bet he was angry at his girlfriend for going out and partying while he was in Beijing working his ass off." I wanted to punch Rose how dare she.
" Emmett said Edward was never angry, he was sad that he couldn't be there for you and felt guilty for choosing to still compete while you were lying in the hospital bed fighting for your life. He said something about how you walked out of everyone's life and it devastated Edward but with a ton of convincing from all of his family and coaches he got back in the pool and started competing again. That's all she said they talked about. Rose is going to be coming to London just so you know."
" I don't know what to say, I want to punch Rose right now and why in the hell is she coming to London."
" I know and I was angry myself, but she said Emmett was talking about Edward the whole time. Rose never mentioned knowing you and I know its killing her not to be able to be honest with Emmett, but she said something that really hit me. She said that Emmett mentioned something about his brother not swimming to his full capacity in the trials, and thinks he is holding back out of guilt that he can still live his dreams and that you are out there somewhere not being able to fulfill yours. And she's coming to London cause Emmett asked her to come and meet the family."
If that is true I really need to talk to him, he should never feel guilty for what went down that night. It was my fault. I am the one that went to the party with Angela, it was my choice to take the drink Kirk offered me and it was my choice to let Angela drive instead of insisting that I take the wheel, I was after all not as drunk as she was. But Angela never let anyone drive her BMW and so I choose to not even bother asking if she was okay to drive. Stupid mistakes that not only cost me my scholarship, and getting into Julliard, but made me an angry bitter person who thought the best thing to do was leave everyone I loved behind me never looking back. Not even caring what my leaving would do to those I loved.
I looked over at my dearest friend, he grabbed my hand and nodded. He knew that I had made up my mind, it was time to put these ghost's that have haunted me for the last four years to rest, It was my turn to dance again.
A/N: What did you think? should I keep writing it? Do you want to hear Edward's side while she was away?