Same ol' same ol'...REPOST for a bit longer! New chapters starting at 25!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Twilight or DWTS, etc etc etc.
APOV
Where in the hell was he? I had called him twenty minutes ago and he said he was on his way. He apologized, said it took him longer to get home and into the shower, yada yada yada. I didn't want excuses. I wanted his ass here now! Our plane was going to be boarding shortly and if his butt was not on it, I would kill him!
I had such a great feeling about this trip, about this flight in particular. When I booked it earlier today, I knew it would be tight for Edward to make it, but I couldn't help but feel a connection to this flight, that it had to be this plane we were on and not the next. Something was important about this plane and my hunches were never wrong.
I glanced down at my phone again, making sure I hadn't missed his call. If I was lucky, he would be running through the airport as we speak, trying to get through security. Oh, he better be!
I was ready to go. I had purchased plenty of magazines at the airport, along with a bottle of water and an energy bar. I knew I had to keep myself entertained on this flight, because Edward's sullen self wasn't going to spend much of his time talking to me. If I knew him, he would place his headphones in his ear the moment he sat down in the plane and that would be that. What a nice brother I have.
I do love my brother. I really do, but he is such a pain sometimes. He's the baby, so I guess it makes sense. I know things were rough when we were younger, but with what happened to us, it's to be expected. I moved on with my life. I found Jasper and we were happy. I just wanted Edward to find someone as well, to make him happy and to help him move on.
I sighed and began to 'people watch' in order to kill some time. No use wasting a magazine that would be more useful on the trip to Seattle. The airport was fairly jumping. It was LAX on a Friday evening. Everyone seemed to have the same idea. Get me the hell out of here! I laughed quietly to myself.
There was a family down the row to my right: a mother, father and two children. The two kids were happily playing together with some sort of toy. The mother, without a smile on her face, was trying to keep them quiet while the father was on his cell phone. He looked too serious for it not to be a work-related call. My eyes narrowed. These kids should be the joy in their parents' lives, but they act like they aren't children or even there.
I quickly looked away, back to my forward position. I took a few deep breaths while keeping my eyes closed. When I reopened them, I took in two women with their backs to me, one of whom was on the phone while the other appeared to be looking down. Both had brown hair, but that was all I could tell as their bodies were shielded by the seats. The woman to the left shook slightly, as if chilled. She turned to the one to the right, saying something and motioning to her left with her hand. In response, the woman to the right, who I could now see wore glasses, checked her watch and nodded slightly while returning to her phone conversation. With that, the other woman shoved something into her bag and stood up, walking away in the direction she had gestured to. Must be going to the bathroom. I didn't blame her. Better here than on the plane.
I tried to get a better look at the girl when my phone vibrated in my hand. Edward.
"Where the hell are you?!"
"Geez Alice. Hello to you too. I ran in from the parking lot, which is a madhouse. I just finished checking in, which was a madhouse. And now I'm standing in line at security, which is a madhouse. What do you want from me!?" He sounded out of breath and agitated. Lovely. Can't wait to sit next to that for the next few hours. Ugh!
"You should have already been here, Edward." I stated simply.
"Well, sorry that my travel agent didn't think to tell me about this flight sooner." I rolled my eyes, but he continued. "Besides the highway was," I cut him off.
"A madhouse?"
"Shut up. You know, you are lucky I'm even here in this damn place right now. I should have just said no to you and I could be relaxing at my apartment instead of fighting crowds. And, by the way, if I get stripped searched again, I'm turning around and going home." I had to laugh at that.
"It was just the one time Edward and you know it was because the security guard just wanted a better look at you." I stifled my giggles as best I could. Now, that was an interesting trip.
"Yeah…well. It sure as hell better not happen again. I felt like a piece of meat." I started to hear the smile in his voice. He was calming down slightly, which would only help us in the long run.
"Ok, Edward. Just get through security and get down here. I'll see you in a few!" I quickly hung up, placing my phone in my bag to my right. When I finished I turned back to start people watching again, except there was a woman standing right in front of me.
"Alice Brandon?" I recognized her as the girl with the phone and glasses who I was watching earlier. She looked familiar to me, but I couldn't place her.
"Yes?"
"I thought it was you. I'm sorry, you probably don't remember me, but I'm Angela Weber. I'm Isabella Swan's assistant. We met last week at the meet and greet." She reached out to shake my hand and it all came back to me.
"Oh, Angela. Hi!" I said, taking her hand. "I'm sorry. I thought you looked familiar. How wonderful to see you again. Where are you heading this weekend?"
"Bella and I are heading home for the weekend to get some stuff done and then she's off to see her dad."
Bella is going to be on this flight. Interesting. Oooh, my spidey-sense is starting to tingle.
"Oh, so you both are on the flight to Seattle. Do you two and Bella's father live in the city?"
"Well, I do. Bella lives just outside of it. She said she never liked city life. She was more of a suburban girl. But Bella's dad lives in a tiny town a few hours out called Forks. You've probably never heard of it."
I could feel my eyes grow in size.
You've got to be shitting me! That sneak! Edward never mentioned this to me, and I know that he knows about this!
"Forks, really? You know, I have heard of it. It is a tiny town as I recall. One of those places where everyone knows everybody, right?" I was curious now. How did I not know her?
"Yeah, I guess so."
"So, Bella's going home-home? To Forks?" I hated to pry, but I wanted to know.
"Yeah. I guess she calls it home. She was born there but she left with her mom when she was a baby and didn't come back until late in high school. She misses her father though, which is why she's going back this weekend. With her books and now this show, she hasn't been around much and I think it's taking its toll on her. They mean a lot to each other, even if they don't show it." She said smiling.
Now it all made sense. Edward and I were probably gone by the time she got back. Ok, so I guess I couldn't really kill Edward for not telling me, but he should have told me!
"Angela, why don't you have a seat? No need to be standing. Come on, sit down," I said, patting the seat to my left.
"So tell me, Angela," I continued. "How is Bella doing with the show? Are she and Edward getting along?" A new perspective. I couldn't turn it down!
"I think so. Bella usually gripes about how sore she is, but she leads a pretty sedentary life, so I guess it's understandable that her muscles ache. Everyone once in a while I will hear how frustrated she is with Edward and how frustrated he is with her, but on the whole, I think they get along fine. Nothing much to report, but it is only the first week, so I guess no news is good news at this point."
I had to agree with her. Angela was a sweet person. You could just tell that she was honest to her core. She wore adorable glasses that had a 50's vibe to them, while still being modern. And looking into her eyes, you could tell she was always thinking. About what? Who knows, but she always was.
"Where is Bella, by the way?" I realized I had watched her leave, but she disappeared and hadn't been back since.
"Oh, she said she needed to run to the restroom and she was going to wander around the terminal for a bit to kill time. It's strange. She's usually not an antsy person, but she couldn't really sit still. She's been working on a new story, which usually gets her so focused, but she was getting aggravated, like she couldn't get something right. The only time that happens is with a character. She apparently didn't like either what he or she was doing or didn't like how she was describing him or her. So, she got fed up and decided to take a walk. She should be back soon." She finished and looked over her shoulder, I assume to see if she could spot her.
"So," she continued as she turned back to me. "What are you doing here? Obviously, flying, but where and why?"
"Edward and I are going home for the weekend as well. We're meeting our mom at the airport once we land in Seattle. It will be so nice to see her again. We don't get to go home very often, as you can imagine."
"Oh, so Edward will be here as well?" She looked over her shoulder again. Hmmm.
"Yes, any minute actually. He's currently trying to get through security." The wheels in my head were turning and I started to voice my thoughts. "Angela, tell me. Do you think there is something going on between Edward and Bella?"
"NO!" I was startled and apparently so was Angela. We looked around and found a few people giving us looks due to her loud outburst.
"I'm sorry," I started. "I didn't mean to imply anything." Were my spidey-senses off?
"No. No. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout that. I just know that nothing is going on. But…do I think there should be? Yes." I couldn't help but smile at Angela.
"No worries, Angela. I agree."
"I mean. Just look at the two of them together. They are the perfect couple…next to you and Jasper of course." I had to laugh.
"Well, thank you and I agree with you. I think their personalities mesh really well and yes, they do look good together. Do you think there are some feelings on her side?" I knew it would be too much to ask, but I had to know. I wanted my brother to be happy.
"Yes, I think there is some spark there. But if I know Bella, which I do, she's going to think that she is out of his league." I frowned at that. Angela continued.
"You see, Bella has always thought of herself as a 'plain Jane,' which are her words. She's never seen herself clearly. I've seen how men look at her and you can tell they don't think she's 'plain' but she can't see it. Now, you add the amazing man that Edward is and she's flustered and it's plain to see that she finds him attractive, but she won't ever act on it, because deep down, she thinks that he is too good for her and would never look at her that way."
I scoffed at the thought, but I could understand it if what Angela said about Bella was true. However, my brother was not a shallow man. He never looked at a girl just for her exterior appearance. He was the type of guy that actually liked to hold intelligent conversations and there apparently weren't a lot of women who could do that, according to him. But I knew Bella could. I already knew that Edward cared about her, but to get him to see it would be just as difficult and proving to Bella that she was beautiful and worthy of Edward.
"I understand. Why she would think that, I have no idea. She's beautiful and worthy of any man. And I know for a fact that Edward has started to care for her. He's not really conscious of it though. Actually, we just had a conversation earlier this evening about how much he's changed around her in just the last week."
The wheels were turning again, but this time not just in my head. I could see a look on Angela's face that said we were on the same wavelength.
"Angela, where are you and Bella sitting?"
"Um, last row in first class: 4D and F. You and Edward?" I pulled out my ticket and looked it over.
"I'm in 2C, so Edward is 2A." I paused and watched Angela's eyes light up.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She asked me and I nodded. I couldn't agree more.
"Ok, when you and Bella board, take her to her seat and then say that you need to go to the bathroom or get a magazine from the front. Anything. Then come sit in 2A. I'll bring Edward down and we'll direct him to Bella. Agreed?"
"Agreed!"
We heard the overhead announcement stating that we would begin boarding in the next minute, so Angela rushed off in the direction that Bella had left to find her. I had to find Edward.
I quickly pulled my things together and walked to the other side of the seats, to be able to stand away from the gate and grab Edward's attention. He needed to see me, and not Bella by accident.
The announcer came on again and asked for all First class passengers to board the flight. I looked over my shoulder and saw that Angela had Bella and they were presenting their tickets. Angela caught my eye and winked. I couldn't help smiling back at her. This was going to be great!
Once they headed down to the plane I heard my name being yelled. About time, but damn, that was close.
I turned and saw Edward sprinting towards me. People were jumping out of his way. It was rather entertaining to watch.
"Ok…..I'm…..here…." He choked out each word, gasping for breath in between.
"It's ok, Edward. You made it and they just started boarding first class, so let's go."
I watched him take a deep breath and I turned back to walk towards the gate attendant. I produced my ticket and watched as Edward pulled out his from his back pocket. The attendant was watching him in awe and what looked to be hunger. Gross. I saw that Edward was too busy still trying to catch his breath to notice her. We proceeded to head towards the plane when I spoke up.
"You know, for someone in your physical shape, you are certainly out of breath for a jog through the terminal."
"Well excuse me, but it's not everyday I have to sprint to meet up with my sister and catch a flight." I had to chuckle at him and he joined in. It was nice to see him smile. He seemed to be doing it more and more. Bella perhaps?
"By the way, Edward, I met up with a friend who happens to be on this flight and I asked her to sit with me, which means you need to go sit in her seat." My big pouty eyes were back. I knew how to get what I wanted and seem innocent at the same time.
Edward groaned and then nodded in agreement.
"Thanks Edward. You are the best. Besides, you're only two rows behind us, so I'm not far if you need me."
"Right," was his only response.
We reached the plane's entrance and stepped through the door. I immediately saw Angela and grinned. Her eyes widened as she saw Edward behind me. He helped me put my things overhead and turned to Angela as I sat. I could see the slight recognition in his eyes, just as I had before, but he couldn't place her either.
"Excuse me, Miss. My sister told me I was switching seats with you. Where were you sitting exactly?" I could hear in his tone that he was slightly put out, but he was still very gentlemanly about it. Very Edward.
"Oh, yes. Thank you by the way. I was in 4D. Just back there," And she pointed to the back of first class where a solitary brunette was sitting.
Edward's eyes followed her hand and when he reached Bella's form, he stiffened, then relaxed and smiled. I knew it!
He whipped his head around to look at Angela, then me, then back to Angela. The recognition of her clicked into place in his head. You could see it happening. He looked incredulously at Angela and then at me. I gave him a wink and I could see his smirk coming through followed by a genuine smile.
Moment of truth. Here goes nothing…
I watched Edward compose himself and walk back to 'his' seat. Bella still hadn't turned to face him, her head turned towards the window and her earphones from her phone in her ears. Edward placed his bag in the overhead compartment and slid gracefully into the seat, all while watching her.
When she finally turned, you could tell she was expecting Angela. Her face was priceless! But to watch it turn from shock to awe to a truly genuine smile was better. I could see that they were chatting and suddenly he pointed in our direction and her eyes quickly met mine. I had to smile and wave and I could feel Angela doing the same over my shoulder. That blush that Edward had talked about before appeared on her cheeks as did a hint of a fire in her eyes. I noticed that it was more directed behind me, meaning Angela. We quickly turned around.
"Ooh. She's going to be so mad at me. She already is, I can tell." Angela cowered a little in her seat.
"Don't worry. It's already water under the bridge. Trust me." I smiled at her.
Operation E&B begins now.
Hope you are all enjoying this repost. I've been enjoying rereading and in some cases, rewriting some of these chapters. I haven't changed the storyline. Just helping the words flow a little better. Stay tuned!
