AN : As always I own nothing. Thank you for reading. Stephanie Meyers owns twilight and all of the recognizable characters.
7 years ago
Jasper and I walk into school Monday morning like nothing has happened over the weekend like his parents were still alive and nothing in our lives had changed. But everything had and I know that Jasper feels the change between us even if he wont admit it. Jasper holds my hand like it will vanish if he lets go. He walks me to my first class and try to kiss me before I walk in and I turn my face giving him my cheek. He kisses my cheek and sighs at me his look becoming a little sharp.
"Sorry I am not feeling well." I told him which isn't a total lie because I feel like shit but it is my heart not my body that is hurting.
"I will see you at lunch." Jasper says to me turning and walking down the hall in the opposite direction. I turn into my classroom and have a seat trying to pay attention to the lecture. We have 2 more months of school left and then I can be out of here break all ties and run. I know now that I am a bad person he is mourning his family and I can only think of leaving but I don't love him enough. I have to end this soon so that I can go. I need to do it soon but how to I add more hurt to his already broken heart.
Present day
I have been back in Chicago a week and I keep expecting a break down my parents things arrived today and I think maybe I am in shock. That is why I am not reacting "normally" the only death I have dealt with in my family before this is my grandma Swan and I was young and didn't know her well. Jasper lost his parents when we were in high school but that effected him more so than me. My parents were gone and not coming back and I didn't even share their last name anymore. My life is empty aside from the hand full of friends that I have, I have no family no connection to anyone or any place aside from who I know right now and the home I live in right now.
Walking into my favorite coffee shop on my way to work on Monday I can smell the amazing aroma of coffee and cream. "mmmmm" I murmur more to myself than anything. I hear a chuckle from behind me and I roll my eyes at the guy who is likely on the phone with a stupid bluetooth in his ear. I roll my eyes because people cant even let the electronics go for 2 minutes is impossible. I need caffeine to deal with life in general honestly I am not a huge people person so coffee gives me the ability to suck up the people problems and deal.
"Sorry I wasn't trying to be rude I just didn't think anyone else felt the same way about coffee as I did."
I turn at the sound of the voice to come face to face with sex on a stick. A man that would make a nun sweat. He was a good foot taller than me copper brown unruly hair and a smirk on his handsome face.
"Well, no one has the love affair with coffee that I do. I can tell you that." I tell him turning as the barista says next and I make my way toward the counter.
"Large black dark roast please." I tell the woman who has a smile on her face but she isn't looking at me she is looking at coffee lover behind me.
"Same and keep the change for yourself." Coffee man says from behind me reaching over me and handing the cashier a 20 and stepping back.
"Thanks coffee man I appreciate the cup." I tell him walking toward the pick up counter behind him.
"No problem it is my pleasure to buy a beautiful woman a cup of coffee on a Monday morning." He says with a smirk grabs his cup of coffee with no other fuss and walks out of the shop like he owned the place. I did the same much the same grabbed my nectar of the gods aka coffee and walked the few blocks to work.
This run in with the coffee man happened on and off over the next few weeks. My daily runs become longer and longer I don't particularly like to run but it does let off some steam and clears my head some.
I got a contact at work that required me to travel to France over the holidays which in all honesty was great because I have no where to go for the holidays so working was a good way around that. I am not a fan of flying for the most part so a happy pill and a bloody mary in the bar at the airport in the middle of the day seems acceptable.
"Hello again what are the chances that I would run into you at a bar rather than a coffee shop?" I recognize that voice and I am pretty sure that it is coffee shop man. I turn eyebrow raised and there he is in loose jeans and a polo shirt looking delectable.
"Are you stalking me coffee man? Because if so this is taking it a bit far don't you think? A little expense all to see a woman you don't know." I say to him turning back to the stiff drink waiting for me on the little square napkin.
"If I had decided to start stalking not that I am but if I was you would think I would do so in a much more private place. Edward is my name by the way not coffee man, however I have been called worse." Edward says leaning close enough for his breath to wash over me. My nipples harden and goosebumps break out over my entire body. I shiver in response and I am way to turned on by a simple action. I hear Edward's light chuckle as he steps back and I shake my head.
"Do you mind if I have a seat?" He asks me not really wanting an answer but politely waiting for one none the less.
"As long as you are old enough to drink I assume that the owner would have no problems with you sitting at their bar." I say taking another drink and thinking I may need a second just to get on the plane let alone across the pond.
"Touché but I didn't catch your name." Edward says as he takes the stool next to me waving over the bartender.
"I didn't give it but nice try." I tell him drinking down the rest of the spicy bloody mary shivering a little at the taste in the end slapping down a twenty on the bar and turning to Edward. "Have a nice trip and Happy Holidays Edward." I say turning toward the open wall of the bar.
"You have a nice trip as well and have a good holiday." I hear him say as I am trying my best strut out of the airport bar.
I am waiting at the gate with my headphones in with my favorite quartet playing beautiful in my ears and a book about countdowns and a lord of a manor in my lap, I still have about 30 minutes until boarding and luckily for me my boss was amazing and upgraded me to first class since it was the holidays. So I decide to go to the bathroom
Have I mentioned yet that I hate flying? I'm sure I have but let me reiterate that I loathe flying. First class is nice and I am served a drink as soon as we are at cruising altitude and the seat is super comfy. I take some motion sickness medication with the bottle of water I have been served. Pull out the pillow and blanket that I brought with me because the ones on the plane freak me out.
"Good morning everyone we are currently in pattern to make our final decent into Heathrow your fight attendants will be giving final instructions for this flight. I would like to thank you from the flight deck for flying with us today." The pilots spiel is the first thing I hear before the flight attendant touches my arm.
"Maam its time to start the landing tray tables and seats up. Thank you" As she continues her journey down the aisle. I look around groggily, I have slept the duration of the flight which is not surprising considering the medication and vodka but now the short jump to France I will be wide awake. I only have an hour or so between flights and I have been through Heathrow before so it should be no problem. I have my passport in my hand and ready for deplaning when the doors open. Armed with a purse travel pillow and blanket I have no trouble quickly deplaning and walking toward immigration.
France is cold at this time of year and when I got dressed to get on the plane that somehow had slipped my mind in my efforts to be comfortable. It was cold in Chicago but nothing like here. I called a taxi to pick me up from the airport and take me to the apartment that my boss had on retainer for when anyone traveled here much cheaper than paying for a hotel for weeks at a time. I run back in to stand in the inside and wait for my taxi because the wind tunnel that is the arrivals turnabout is peeling the skin off my bones.
"Oh shit sorry" I say when I bump into someone at in my quest to seek the warmth of the building. The traveller doesn't even look up which after years of traveling a regular basis it is not uncommon to be completely ignored by other travelers.
France is beautiful and I love this country more and more every time I come. The small shops that it takes me hours to weave through and haggle with owners are my favorites. I meet with clients that are interested in selling pieces of furniture and art some are fun some are stuffy. I may or may not have gained a few pounds in the weeks I have been here because the bread and cheese are to die for. I love it here for the same reasons I love Chicago I can walk when I want or use public transport. Paris has some of the most amazing historical attractions in my personal option. I obviously have a serious love affair going on here.
Knowing that going home will be happening fast because my job in France will done for now and I am a little sad. No one here knows me or knows that I am an orphan thats the best part. Chicago was a big change from small town Washington and it was the best decision I have made up until once again I feel like I need a change in my life and I need to figure out where that change will be coming from.
