The city skyline rose up over the swamp as Bella sat, absently twisting her damp sleeves and biting her lower lip. Fallen wires and forgotten machinery lay scattered beside the track, a desolate, industrial graveyard.
But it didn't matter, the approaching state line passed without recognition. The changing landscape, of city buildings to well manicured lawns and ever growing houses, was glanced over hastily as Bella's thoughts were pulled back to a tousle haired man.
She had been pulled past the body guards and into an empty coffee shop. The rain pattering against an unshielded window seemed incredibly loud in her ears and the muffled sound of zealous people outside almost unreal.
Awkwardly Bella had stood just inside the building and tried to ignore her dripping hair and the growing certainty that fate had placed a giant zit on her nose at just that moment.
"Do you want something to drink?" his voice swept over her and she shivered involuntarily.
"No" she whispered and then, "no," she repeated with a confidence that thrilled her.
"Have a seat," Edward Cullen gestured toward a chair across from him. Bella moved forward, tugging awkwardly at her suitcase and wishing she hadn't packed so much, she suddenly felt ridiculous maneuvering the giant, red monstrosity on wheels. It had been a gift from her mother and until now she had not minded it's entirely utilitarian appearance.
"Bella, right?" Edward questioned.
"Yes, well technically Isabella, but my mother only ever called me Bella, which I never understood because Isabella is perfectly acceptable but by now it's really too late to change that because I'm used to Bella and all my friends, well …" pausing, she blushed once more and looked at the table; she had been rambling again.
Leaning back, Edward let a good natured smirk pass across his features, "and why were you yelling at my security officer?"
"Oh. Well," she ran her fingers along the edge of her chair, identical to the one Edward lounged in. Wooden, with a stain or two, it did not seem out of place, yet it was not where she imagined a celebrity would deign to sit. "I was late and he wouldn't let me through." He still looked confused and so Bella rushed to clarify, "late for my train." The bronze haired god chuckled.
"You almost assaulted the guy because you wanted to catch a train? You do realize more than one leaves New York City every day right?"
Bella nearly rolled her eyes, "It's basically a tsunami out there and I just want to be dry in my dorm and all packed away." Thunder echoed her sentiments and she rubbed her hands to ease the tension, she hated storms.
Edward nodded, "my apologies."
"For what?" Bella questioned, surprised.
"For making you late, for the fact that you're picture will definitely be in the paper tomorrow."
"What?" Bella's hands flew to her hair, "looking like this?" Edward raised an eyebrow, and she hastened to explain, inexplicably worried that this stranger might perceive her as shallow. "It's not really that I'm worried about what I look like, it's just … Jesus! What a day. It's been bad all the way through and now I'm going to be in all these pictures looking like a gerbil that spent a year at sea! I mean, come on." Burying her head in her hands she almost missed Edward's grin.
"You look beautiful," he assured her.
She laughed, "Thank you, but I don't. I'm fine when I'm dry and put together, but I'm none of that right now. So please don't lie."
"I'm not lying," and he looked at her with such sincerity, it was impossible to misinterpret. But Bella was a skeptic and, not believing him, she rushed to change the topic.
"Do you always have to deal with that many girls?" She gestured towards the windows where fans huddled. "I mean, that's gotta hurt the ear drums. I didn't know humans could reach that pitch."
Grinning, Edward rose and headed toward the counter. As a woman in green with mousy hair instantly appeared, he asked "So … where exactly is this dorm you're desperately trying to get to?"
She eyed him. He made her body do weird things and her heart race, but they had only just met, strangers on some corner if one wanted to be technical, so she decided that he didn't need to know it all. "In my college." Besides she thought, let's keep him guessing. I'm not just going to hand everything to him on a silver platter, like everyone else probably does.
Ordering his "black coffee" Edward faced Bella once more, the woman scurrying off behind him, "and that would be where?" Momentarily distracted by the way he looked, like a Greek immortal in flesh, she didn't respond. "You're college?" He prompted as she drew breath and brought herself back into reality.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" She beamed and, for good measure, stuck out her tongue even as she heard her mother scold, Bella, stop being a toddler in some teenager's body. Grow up.
A little worried that Edward would think the same, she glanced away, but Edward had laughed, grabbed the steaming mug now waiting for him, and sat back down.