A/N: Every story has a beginning…

Thank you to my super-beta's EchoesOfTwilight and KristenLynn. Without you both, I'd be nothing.

To the LoD girls, I love you all. Thank you giving me the strength to write this out and not get lost in my own memories while doing so.

To all of you that read, review and alert – I'm humbled by your words and actions. Thank you for being so supportive.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. Never have, never will.

When the Words Scream - Chapter One

"The Higher You Climb"

"Does it feel like we've never been alive inside?

Does it seem it's only just begun?

It's only just begun."

R-Evolve – 30 Seconds to Mars

Three Months Earlier – September 12th, 2009

My body was bent in half at the waist and each muscle pulled taut against my grip on the edge of the starting block. The whistle blew loudly and echoed off the walls of the aquatic center, slowly dying out as the sound waves were absorbed by the water. I channeled every ounce of strength to flow through my balanced hold on the solid square, rocking myself backwards before the moment came to propel myself into the pool.

The initial shock of the cold, chlorinated water stung my exposed skin, but I used the jolt to my advantage. Pumping my hips and legs with practiced force, I resurfaced, bringing my arms and shoulders above my head. I submerged again, dolphin kicking and keeping my head underneath the water to travel the path of least resistance. With lungs burning for air, I brought my head up with my next upstroke, gasping in oxygen before plunging back beneath the fragmented glass-like surface. I made it to the end of pool quickly, executing a near perfect flip turn. Pushing off the wall, I swam harder than ever before, knowing all of my years filled with countless hours of rigorous training were for this moment alone. My strokes were strong and calculated as I made my way back to the other end of the Olympic sized pool.

Hit the wall, Bella.

Another perfect flip turn and I was off again. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a swimmer in the lane next to me, down by my feet. I did not chance breaking my concentration to check anyone else's position in relation to mine. Stroke after stroke, my muscles burned from the acid crawling through my veins from the grueling effort. Refusing to give up, I came out of my last flip turn, took one giant breath and dove under the choppy water once more. I was determined to finish first. I gave the last leg of the final lap all of the residual energy I could muster, digging deep into my reserves. My head stayed below the broken surface - only my shoulders, arms and legs breaking the barrier between water and air. With less than fifty meters to go, I pushed even harder.

My senses were heightened and everything seemed to move in slow motion. I could feel the pressure of the goggles against my eyes, the swim cap digging into my forehead, and most of all, the water gliding along my hairless skin. Passing the last line of flags hanging overhead, I completed two more strokes and slammed my hands into the sensor in the wall. I ripped my head out of the water and spun around, looking at the unlit scoreboard. There was loud cheering and screaming from behind me, but I couldn't find it in me to care. Nothing mattered but the words yet to appear above me.

Then, suddenly, I could hear no sound; there were only those neon lights.

Women's 200m Butterfly

First Place B. Swan Lane Four 2:13:34

Second Place H. Nickols Lane Five 2:14:37

Third Place – G. Leonard Lane Six 2:14:52

Roughly tearing off my swim cap and goggles, I yelled out in excitement while throwing my arm into the air. My body was exhausted, but adrenaline flowed like the harsh current of a waterfall through my system, and I fought for air after the excruciating swim. I awkwardly hugged the two girls in the lanes next to mine and looked to the scoreboard once more. It had all come down to this particular swim. I knew there were college recruits in the stands by the pool along with everyone important to me. As was customary, I submerged myself underwater once before swimming the short distance to the ledge to climb out. I looked up and saw none other than Edward, my best friend and teammate, waiting with his hand outstretched to help me out of the water.

"Awesome job, B! Congratulations! I knew you could do it!" Edward shouted over the crowd as he pulled me out of the water. Handing me a towel, he roughly rubbed the material over my shoulders, then handed me my warm-up jacket and pants so I could get dressed before he enveloped me in his strong arms. "So, how's it feel to place first at the big East Coast meet?"

I wrapped my arms around his lean, muscled waist, pulling him closer and resting my head on his bare chest. "There aren't words. I'm still trying to believe it. But you should know, Mr. First Place in the 200m IM…" My heart was still pounding in my chest, a combination of exhaustion, nerves and excitement. Despite the humid and heavy air, I shivered, my eyes closing in quiet reflection. After training for years, my mind raced with thoughts of the future and how the last two minutes could have changed the course forever.

"I really am proud of you, the whole team is. We all knew you could do it," he whispered into my hair and I relaxed in his arms. Nowhere in the world felt as safe as this very spot. I was perfectly content, and silently begged for the moment to never end.

"Thanks," I yawned, hiding the action with the back of my hand against my mouth. Tired, I looked up at Edward's green eyes, which shone like the brightest of jade stones even in the dim light. Pride was the obvious emotion in their depths, but his face showed trepidation and anxiety. "Nervous about the relay?"

He chuckled softly and nodded as he led us away from the pool towards the wall. Keeping one arm around my shoulders, Edward beamed as other swimmers from our team and even a few opponents came to congratulate me on my first place win. My skin hummed and my heart swelled, knowing, feeling, and embracing my accomplishment.

The first place win came with a slight inkling of shock though, as all my hard work and training didn't stop me from struggling with sleep in the past few weeks. Always the same, I would awake from the nightmare on constant replay, disoriented and confused. My dream-like state allowed for a soft, haunting, and feminine voice to speak words aloud, penetrating my sleep-induced haze. Yet the words were jumbled murmurs, lacking in sense and comprehension. Regardless of my inability to remember the specifics of the dream or the words following, I would find myself unable to sleep for some time afterwards. Uneasy and shaken, my night felt like a puzzle that could not be solved, a Rubik's cube; the equation simple, if you only knew the secret. Eventually my eyes would get heavy and I would fall back to sleep.

My silent thoughts were interrupted by the loud, wet footsteps of someone walking closer. "Bellikins! How's my fish? You were insane! Congratulations, girl! I knew you would make first!" my fellow teammate and close friend, Emmett, boomed while tossing me over his gargantuan shoulder. His voice, much like his demeanor, was commanding and larger than life. Built like a professional football player, his frame stood at over six feet tall and hardly resembled a swimmer. Even still, he managed to maneuver his way through the water with incredible force, making him one of the fastest swimmers on the team, second only to Edward.

"Emmett," I chuckled, hitting my fists against his back, "put me down."

"Not until you say you'll do it."

"Come on, Em! There are too many people around!"

"Emmett, this is the East Coast meet, man…" Edward started, "you really aren't going to do this here, are you?"

"I don't care where we are! She has to do it," Emmett said as he set me down on my feet and squished my face between his hands.

Latching my fingers around each of his thick wrists, I tried to pull his hands away from my cheeks. The effort was pointless.

"Be-llaa…" Emmett sing-songed as he loosened his grip on my skin.

"Fine!"

Emmett pushed my cheeks together tightly, causing my vision to blur and my mouth to form a misshapen hourglass. "Now, repeat after me." Edward laughed in the background and I could see him shaking his head in disbelief. I didn't blame him.

"I'm a guppy." Emmett looked directly into my squinted eyes.

"Imuhguhpeah" I heard Edward's light footsteps as he moved to where I could no longer see him.

"Guppies don't smile."

"Guhpeahsdunsmieh" Edward's deep chuckles sounded from behind me, and Emmett grinned. Shaking his head, his face turned serious.

"But I do."

"Buheyeduh." Emmett nodded and I mirrored the action.

"Now smile." And I did. The movement caused the edges of my lips to dip under the puffed out flesh of my cheeks and my eyes to close. I could feel deep ridges in my forehead, the skin raw from its earlier abuse under my swim cap, and burning from the pressure.

"Guppiella! There you are!" Emmett shouted, the words bouncing off the blue tiled walls and attracting the attention of several swimmers nearby. Edward moved back into my line of sight and as his eyes met my distorted face, he broke out into chuckles. The defined muscles of his bare abdomen danced before he bent over to rest his hands on his knees. I tried not to stare. Emmett released my face from his grasp and I opened my mouth wide several times to stretch my sore jaw.

"Not your best look, B," Edward teased, still laughing at me along with a few other swimmers.

"Yeah Edward? And what would you know about my best look, huh?" My voice was small, quiet, and angry as I snapped in embarrassment from the unwanted attention. Edward knew I was less than comfortable with my personal appearance. He often told me I looked as if I wanted to crawl out of my own skin. I didn't think he knew how right he was.

I was nothing special. Yes, I was smart, that I could admit with no difficulty. But when it came to my physical features, I knew I lacked anything remotely attractive. I was mousy, despite my rigorous training for swimming. I didn't have defined musculature or feminine curves. A late bloomer, my breasts were small, contrasted by my broad shoulders, and I knew that most boys my age were attracted to someone with a body the polar opposite of what mine had to offer. Bony features, plain brown hair, and bland brown eyes - combined with my awkward demeanor and uncoordinated tendencies - made it impossible for me to appeal to anyone of the opposite sex.

Edward was always supportive of my shy and somewhat reclusive nature, regardless of his level of comprehension. Whether it be handing me my clothes as soon as I got out of the water once I completed a race or defending me against my fellow teammates when they made fun of me because I swam in a thin sweatshirt and shorts during practice, he just understood. He did his best to keep me out of the spotlight, while still managing to reinforce my – in his opinion – extraordinary qualities. Edward tried countless times to extract me from my shell, but I was too firmly cocooned within it. My walls were carefully crafted, and he was the only person I let past the barrier in any capacity. Emmett tried his best, and I trusted him with my life, but it was Edward to whom I was closest. My protector, my savior, and my salvation, all wrapped in the swimmer's ideal physique.

Edward knew me well enough to look sheepish when he apologized. "Sorry, Bella. I didn't mean it like that."

"Guppiella, Edward and I know your best look even though he's too chicken-shit to admit it." Emmett poked him in ribs and Edward shot him a warning glance. "Remember Halloween, Edward? The Guppy was hot! I mean, gun-toting, badass kinda hot. Not that I think of you like that, 'cuz that'd be gross… like fantasizing about your sister, gross. Oh, what was that chick's name? She's from Resident Evil, right?" Emmett questioned, smirking at Edward whose ears turned pink.

"Alice," Edward whispered, looking at his bare feet and dragging his toes through a small puddle.

"That's right! God, that was a good night. Everyone was staring at you, B."

"Yeah, right," I scoffed, bothered by the indirect teasing. I gestured to the now empty space around us, "Because I'm always rolling in admirers!"

"You'd be surprised," Edward mumbled, the words nearly muted by the crackling announcement over the loudspeaker, calling for the next swimmers to approach the deck.

I wanted to say something, to remind Edward who and what he was talking about, but I was interrupted by the final announcement.

"Last call, men's 200 meter breaststroke! All swimmers please approach the deck!"

"That would be me!" Emmett called out, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "Breaststrokers unite!" He pinched my cheeks and clapped Edward on the shoulder twice before walking towards his lane.

"Give 'em hell, Em!" I shouted out to his retreating form and he spun around to give us the true New Jersey fistpump.

"Gotta represent! N-J in the house!" Emmett bellowed, pulling on his swim cap and both Edward and I laughed, shaking our heads.

"Come on, B." Edward moved behind me and put his hands on my shoulders. "Let's go cheer him on. That boy needs all the help he can get."

I took both of his hands in mine and spun to face him. Giving him a small smile, I answered with a nod and we made our way toward the edge of the pool.

x-x-x

"Come on Newton! Push it! Come on!" I screamed, my voice bleeding into elevated decibels, warping itself to a blended myriad of sound, for the other swimmers were cheering on their teammates. "Almost there! Do it!"

Mike Newton was the third swimmer in our men's 200m free relay team and I watched with trepidation as he reached the halfway mark on his return lap. He was tied with a swimmer in the next lane and I could tell he was exhausted, slowly losing momentum as he raced through the water. Emmett had swam in the starter position for this relay and he stood next to me, dripping wet and yelling for Newton to give it his all. Tearing my gaze momentarily from the pool, Emmett met my anxious stare. We both knew that Edward's future rested on his performance as anchor.

"He'll make it, Guppy. No one swims like him. Just…stay positive," Emmett uncharacteristically whispered next to my ear. Slapping his hand on my back, he gripped me tighter in support, knowing I was terrified for Edward.

Freestyle was Edward's specialty. He was built for this swim; broad shoulders, a streamlined torso, perfectly designed to cut through the water like an arrow piercing its target. His slim, proportional hips gave way to powerful thighs and calves, their definition like hills and valleys beneath his skin. We all knew he was the epitome of swimmer; carved from stone and yet as smooth as silk. Even with all of his perfection, he had competition in the last leg of this race. The swimmer in the lane next to Edward's - on the platform on our right - was the only male in the meet with a practice time faster than his.

Water dripped down my arms underneath my warm-up jacket as I stood to the left of the starting block, watching Edward prepare to swim. His toes gripped the edge of the gritty surface as he leaned forward, swinging his arms wildly to stretch his shoulders. He moved forward even farther, seeing Mike's approach. Edward arms hung loosely in front of him for a moment, and he adjusted his legs on the block. Strong muscles twitched in anticipation, eager, needing movement like our bodies needed air. His black jammers fit like a second skin, melting into each individual contour of his lower half up to his knees and stood out in sharp contrast to his alabaster skin.

He adjusted his goggles and snapped the strands, the subtle yet telltale sign to pull me closer to the pool; it was my responsibility to inform him when to dive. We had an understanding. Edward would keep his focus on the water, his eyes trained on his point of entry. He said he waited for my voice to say when to go, he claimed it made a split second difference - my voice was his whistle, his green light. Even though he said this, I knew Edward would keep his arms tensed but his fingers would point like a puppeteer holding the handle of a marionette's strings, invisibly pulling Mike to the wall.

I inched closer to the edge, my eyes fixated on the spot I knew Mike's hand was bound to hit within seconds; he'd just past the last line of flags. He had fallen a half second behind the other swimmer; we were in second place. Three more strokes and he'd hit the wall.

Edward tensed like a cobra ready to strike, bringing one foot higher up the block's incline, minutely shifting his weight to rest on his back leg. He touched his fingertips to his toes, the tendons of his body tightening and flexing as he prepared to dive in at the perfect moment. The swimmer ahead of Mike had hit the wall and the other team's anchor took off the block - the only swimmer that proved a worthy adversary, and his head start had my chest in knots. I couldn't afford distractions, so I kept my eyes trained on the wall as Mike's white hand materialized against the black sensor.

"Go!" I projected against the screams and cheers around us, knowing Edward listened for my voice alone amongst a sea of chaotic sounds.

Edward took off like a missile, flying into the air and following pre-programmed coordinates to hit his target with unparalleled precision. He kicked his legs once midair, gaining height and distance before his body entered the choppy water with a refined grace, barely making a splash. Disappearing below the surface, he kept his arms above his head, his hands cutting the water like a spear as his legs pumped in a blur of movement. He'd reached halfway, breaking from water to air at the black line painted on the bottom of the pool; the warning to all, reminding them of the rules. One other team had already been disqualified due to their negligent behavior, ignoring the line and remaining underwater.

"Come on Bullet, move that ass! Punch it, bro!" Emmett screamed from behind me, and I shifted to the side so Mike could climb out of the pool.

I patted him on the back once, knowing from the look on his face that he believed himself a failure, recognizing he could have cost us the race. That didn't matter; the only thing in the world was Edward pounding stroke after stroke in his lane in front of me. I moved my feet closer to the side of the pool, my toes curling around the metal barrier between tile and slight drop to the drain below. Edward had yet to resurface for air, his arms spinning faster than my eyes could register, his hands slicing the water and propelling him forward. I stopped breathing.

He'd reached his opponent's legs.

They were side by side.

Flip turn.

Edward was nicknamed "Bullet" for a reason.

He pushed off the wall with great force, underwater once more until he reached the first line of flags overhead. This was it. The swimmer next to him resurfaced a head too early; a smile pulled at my lips. I bent my knees, getting as close to eye level with the pool as possible. The dark color of his swim cap appeared just as one hand shot out of the water, his head cocked to the side against his shoulder, taking a breath, and I knew it would be the last time Edward's lungs felt air until his hands reached the wall at my feet.

Hands curved in perfect C's and shoulders shattering the surface, the water followed Edward in an arc, bending to his will, ever his slave. He manipulated the texture, proving with his every gesture that he was its equal; he belonged as a permanent fixture within its depths. Grace, confidence, and sheer power poured out of him with the slightest movement, his technique flawless.

Edward was still ahead by a second, and in the world of competitive swimming, a mere second perfectly translated into a universal language as miles. He passed the halfway mark once again with nothing in his way. There was only the water, and they moved in symphonic harmony.

"Come on, come on, Edward, you have this…push it," I mumbled tightly under my breath, my skin stretching from dried chlorine on my skin.

Emmett moved directly behind me to put his hands on my shoulders, and when I looked back, I saw his face was red from screaming. I could hear no sound other than the lapping of displaced water against the wall in front of me.

"Bring it home!" I yelled, knowing Edward was almost here; his body clearly outlined despite the water's distorted mirror.

Stroke.

Stroke.

The last line of flags passed in a whirlwind of color and strength.

Stroke.

Stoke.

Slam.

Like a wave crashing into the sand, Edward's hand hit the sensor with a force only nature could counter.

Time stopped.

"New record, Edward Masen, 51:41!" The news sounded over the loudspeaker and Edward's face turned toward me, shocked, his chest heaving, creating small ripples in the water around him.

Not only did he grab our team first place in the relay, he broke his personal best for both meets and practice.

More importantly, Edward just decimated the United States men's pre-collegiate record for 100m freestyle by one second.

His hand was still pressed against the wall and I reached out to grab it in my own. Edward removed his goggles and looked directly into my eyes, his gaze intense, ecstatic-- euphoric.

"What do I always say, B?"

I lived for this routine. "You start it, Edward. You know that," I reminded him. This never failed to happen after each one of his races.

His eyes danced. With a smirk he started, "For every second I travel, it takes me a mile…"

"Don't mind the distance, I'll return to your smile."

He leaned forward and kissed the back of my hand; I smiled, just like he knew I would...just like I always did.

x-x-x

Edward, Emmett, and I sat with the entire team as we quietly celebrated our third place finish. Regardless of our non-first place standing, we all were ecstatic at our position in the meet; we took home first place in a multitude of races. Excitement, contentment, and pride were palpable in the air around us. We were all still flying on potent cocktails of adrenaline and serotonin after competing with some of the best up-and-coming swimmers in the eastern half of the country. In our group of twenty-three, there wasn't a single individual without a huge, satisfied grin. While we weren't all proud to be from New Jersey, the honor of swimming for the Waves was an accomplishment, one that most people never experience. Our training schedule had been particularly grueling in the last month to condition us for this specific meet.

Edward had his hands casually draped over my shoulders as I sat in between his outstretched legs, his feet planted on either side of me from the bleacher above. He leaned in closer to address me and not the entire team. The gesture was appreciated. I wasn't known for my public speaking abilities, even if they were people I interacted with everyday.

"Where are your parents?" Edward asked, absentmindedly playing with a loose string at the bottom of his jacket.

I laughed. "Probably with yours. You know that. They were sitting together. You should have seen their faces when you broke that record. Have I told you how proud I am of you?"

"Only about forty times in the last ten minutes," he teased, a wicked smirk on his face. No matter the expression he wore, his features always carried the undercurrent of magnificence. "But don't think I've forgotten about you because of it, B. You know I'm ridiculously happy for you. I won't say I'm impressed because I knew you could do it. Are you excited for the trip away with the team?"

The team retreat was at the end of the month, a chance to unwind before the impending start of the high school swim season, and before all of the seniors had to worrying about college. From what I understood, the long weekend with the team was also a chance to get to know one another better, to grow closer to your teammates and a way to help the new additions feel comfortable. Edward had gone the year before, but since I hadn't joined the team until October, the opportunity passed me by. He had been relentless in his attempts to get me to try out for months, until one day I finally gave in, unable to refuse him of anything when he begged. I figured I had nothing to lose except pride. Much to my surprise, they offered me a spot the same day as my trial.

"I guess so." I shrugged and looked at the bleacher seat below me. "I'm not good at that kinda stuff, Edward. Maybe I should just stay home…" I started but was interrupted.

"Masen! Swan! Can I see you two for a minute, please?" Coach Uley called from the pool deck.

"Sure Coach, be right down," Edward shouted back and he grabbed both of our bags.

"Good luck guys," Emmett said and I couldn't understand why. I wondered if Coach Uley called us out specifically to talk about our times during the meet, but I couldn't imagine why he would need the two of us specifically rather than address the whole team at once.

Shrugging my shoulders, I followed Edward down the bleachers, trying to match his footsteps and remain upright. It would have been just my luck if I had fallen down in front of everyone now. We made our way down to the pool deck, and Coach simply signaled for us to follow him.

We left the pool area and walked through the locker room until we stopped outside of the athletic office door. With his hand on the doorknob, Coach turned around and took a deep breath.

"Before you go in there, I just wanted to say how honored I am to have worked with you both. You have incredible talent. Are either of you interested in collegiate swimming?" Both Edward and I nodded, him more enthusiastically than me. "Good. I'll be out here if you need me at any time. If not, I'll see you in a bit," he said cryptically as he opened the door, standing off to the side so we could pass.

I was shaking with nerves as we walked into the office, unsure of what waited inside. Could it be the one of the officials from the meet telling us that we had reason to be disqualified? What if the hand sensors weren't calibrated and they were going to tell Edward that his record didn't count? My nerves grew with each passing second to near hysteria, my breath moving too quickly past my lips. Edward put his hand on the small of my back and tapped lightly to get my attention. Looking at him, his gaze told me to calm down; he knew me too well. I shot him a small, panicked smile as he pointed to my left. I turned and saw a man standing in the corner, seeming all too amused at the situation.

"Hello, you two. Please, do come in and have a seat. Before we start, I must ask, do you know who I am?" he inquired, sounding genuinely happy. Edward and I sat down in the seats across from a large desk as we shook our heads. "Silly me, but of course you don't! Allow me to explain. My name is Aro Leone and I must say, I am happy to meet you both in person, finally. I've heard so much about you, but until I saw you two in action, in your natural habitat it would seem, I had a hard time believing what I'd heard. So, when I watched you perform this afternoon, I was pleasantly surprised and ecstatic when I discovered your descriptions do not do you justice."

Aro was a strange character, seemingly playing both the part of the King and the court jester; he was commanding in presence, yet his tone felt playful, amused. He sat down on the other side of the desk, folded his hands, and placed them on the surface of the wood. Quirking his head to the side slightly, he addressed us again.

"I am correct in assuming you both are interested in continuing to swim throughout college, am I not?"

"Yes, definitely, sir," Edward answered. I could tell he was trying to appear calm, but I watched as his hands twisted and gave away his nerves. Aro looked over at me and I nodded in return.

"Well, in that case, allow me to explain. You see, I pride myself on being a collector of great talent, and that is what you both are. Currently, I am the coach of Stanford University's swim team. We have the reputation of being one of the top schools for collegiate swimmers. Our team thrives because we are comprised of the some of the best natural talent the sport has ever seen. Which, my darlings, is why I am here today. I would be delighted if you would join us next fall on a full athletic scholarship. Stanford University would be honored if you both swam for our team," he paused. My eyes were wide with shock as I snuck a glance over at Edward and watched as his pulse accelerated. His breaths were short and fast. It was as if my mind was a now-blank slate; all previous ramblings erased with the simple swipe of words. I watched Edward's Adam's apple bob up and down once before I turned my gaze back to Aro.

"Well," he continued, a blinding smile on his face. "I imagine this is a lot to take in. You've had quite a day. On this desk you'll find information to go over with your families in regards to the offer I just presented. Attached to the envelope is my card. I'll anxiously await your decision."

Edward and I sat in a stunned silence, completely still and in a daze. The opportunity of a lifetime sat beneath this man's fingertips. Minutes passed without any further conversation before Aro looked at his watch.

"Well, I must admit, this has been a pleasure but I really must be going. Champions cannot breed themselves and I need to get back to California. Please consider my offer." With his final sentence, everyone in the room stood. Aro walked around the side of the desk and shook both Edward's and my hand, speaking again of how much he wished for us to join him on the team while handing us both a folder. We thanked him profusely and watched him walk out of the room, taking all of the air with him.

"Did that just happen?" Edward whispered and I couldn't contain my excitement any longer.

"Yes!" I shouted, bouncing on the balls of my feet.

Edward turned his body towards me, dropping the folder on the floor and opened his arms. With an excited and nervous laugh, I leapt into his embrace, wrapping myself around him tightly. He held me, chuckling in my ear and spun us around in a circle.

"Bella…I…I…" he stammered, still holding me off the floor. Being in his arms felt indescribable, as did the knowledge that I may not have to be separated from him. The combination was intoxicating; I was drunk off the scent of chlorine, apples, and spice. I never had to let him go.

"I know, Edward. I know."

"Alright, we need to get out of here, B. Dinner. Tonight. Both of our parents," he spat out swiftly and placed me back on my feet. Momentarily disappointed in the loss of his arms around me, I grabbed his folder from the floor and took his hand in mine. With his gaze on our intertwined hands, I pulled the connection to get his attention.

"Well?" I asked, widening my eyes and staring into his. "What are you waiting for? We've got parents to convince!" We practically ran out of the office.

"California! Here we come!" Edward's deep, hypnotizing laughter echoed off the metal of the lockers and reverberated in my chest. The sound vibrated and massaged my soul, opening my eyes to the possibility of what used to seem an unimaginable future. The next few years played behind my eyelids, pictures of my greatest passions pieced together in a perfect snapshot; the water, the ever-shining sun and, of course, there was Edward.

A/N:

When was the last time you felt on top of the world?

I'd love to know what you think so far. If you feel up to it, click the little button and tell me.

Until next time…

~ L ~