This chapter is actually a flashback of when Edward and Bella move to Chicago and reconnect on the plane ride.
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BPOV
I sat down in my seat on the plane, breathing a sigh of relief. It was all over. The hell that high school had been for me…it was all over. I was an adult now, and nothing could hold me back. It was a new place and a new life and I could start over.
No more popular kids, telling me I was a loser. No more feeling insecure and hiding in the library or in the art room. No more eating lunch by myself and praying for people to just leave me alone.
But…no such luck.
I picked up my book and started to read when I felt and heard someone sit down beside me. I turned my head slightly to see the person who was now occupying the seat next to me, and I swear my heart almost gave out.
It was Edward Cullen. Star quarterback of the Forks High School football team, prom king, and one of the people that had been so terrible to me all throughout high school.
He recognized me at the same time I recognized him, and the smile slid off his face. "Um…hi." He said awkwardly. "Bella, right?"
"Yeah." I muttered, blushing. "Hi, Edward." He nodded and sat stiffly in his seat, staring straight ahead as the plane took off and even as the seatbelt light turned off.
"Hey, Bella?" Edward suddenly spoke, looking at me out of the corner of his eye. Even though I had come to despise and even dread him in high school, I couldn't help but notice how handsome he was. He had mussed bronze colored hair and piercing green eyes and the most amazing bone structure I had ever seen. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry." He said in a quiet voice, and I stared at him with shock. "And I want you to know that…that I've grown up over the summer. I'm not the same person I was in high school, and I really do regret how my friends and I treated you."
I blushed bright red, but continued to stare at him. "Um…thank you?" I managed to squeak out, and Edward grinned the most beautiful crooked smile I had ever seen.
"I just really needed to get that off my chest." He murmured. I nodded again and we were silent for several more minutes until Edward spoke again. "So, are you going to school in Chicago?" He asked.
"Yes. I'm going to the Institute of Art." I said, actually perking up again. Art was the one thing that could make me forget about high school. "You?"
"Yep, me too. University of Chicago." He said with a charming smile.
I could just guess how he had gotten into that school "Let me guess…football scholarship?" I asked wryly, and Edward chuckled quietly.
"Actually…no." He said, surprising me. "I kind of turned down a scholarship at Stanford to go to the University of Chicago. I'm studying music." He said, not at all ashamed.
My jaw actually dropped at that. "Music?" I sputtered, surprised. Edward laughed again, I'm assuming because of the look that must have been on my face.
"Yeah, music. It's kind of been my 'thing' since I was a kid…it really calms me down. Even more so than football. So, much to my parent's dismay, I made my choice." I laughed and Edward smiled at me. "So, what kind of art do you do?" He asked, ripping the napkin on his tray into little pieces.
"I paint." I said, watching his swift fingers. "It calms me down too, just like music does for you. By the way, what kind of music?" I asked, honestly curious.
"I play the piano." He informed me, taking a drink of his soda. "And I want to be a composer."
"Wow." I said, raising my eyebrows. "That's really impressive, coming from someone like you." I said this without thinking, and I instantly brought my hand up to my mouth in embarrassment.
"Someone like me." Edward said in a monotone, cocking one eyebrow. "Yeah…I guess I've been a pretty big prick, huh?" He asked, and I burst out laughing, still holding my hands over my mouth. I didn't say anything, but Edward shrugged. "I am seriously, seriously sorry." He said in a low voice, taking my hand. "Do you think you'll ever be able to forgive me?"
I glanced at him, trying not to smile at the look on his face. "I'm going to need more persuasion than that." I said, smirking.
Edward sighed dramatically, and squeezed my hand tighter. "Bella Swan, I am truly sorry for every single thing I did to you in high school. Calling you names, being a jerk…just everything that I did. I know that I was wrong, and it is definitely not something I am proud of. You're a smart, artistic, beautiful woman and-"
"You think I'm beautiful?" I interrupted, widening my eyes. No one had ever called me beautiful before, other than family members.
"Yes." He said simply, his cheeks flushing slightly. "You are beautiful, Bella. I'm serious."
I stared at him for a moment, stunned. I couldn't believe this. Edward Cullen thought I was beautiful, even after all the girls he had dated in high school and despite his own beauty.
"You don't believe me." Edward said in a quiet voice, his hand coming up to gently stroke my cheek. "But it's so true." He whispered, and then he leaned over slightly and kissed me, right on the lips.
Before this, I had never been kissed. Not once. I had nothing to compare it to, but I was sure this kiss was an amazing one by anyone's standards. The pressure of his soft lips against mine was perfect, and the way his hand cupped my cheek…it was flawless.
"I think…I think that I forgive you." I managed to say once Edward pulled away from me slightly with a smile on his lips. "That was…amazing." I said, blushing. "Do you…do you like me?" I asked, and Edward smiled sweetly.
"I really like you, and I don't know why I didn't see this before. So much could have been different." Edward said, kissing me again. "Bella…once we get to Chicago…do you want to go on a date? You know, with me?"
I stared at him for a moment and then nodded. "I would like that."
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There you go, please review.
Xoxo- Melodyella aka Mellie