0*0*0 Chapter One 0*0*0

Isabella Swan

I pulled back the sunglasses from my eyes and looked through the small window in the plane. A sad smile tugged at my mouth. I was going to miss the simple life in Italy.

Suddenly, a big hand grabbed mine on the arm rest. I turned and looked up at Demetri. I smiled at him. "I am surprised you're not happy," he chuckled, his Italian accent riveting in the ears.

Demetri is an Italian model, returning to New York with me. Because of the Volturi endorsement we both scored, he got offered a modeling career in the US. He said that he was glad he already knew someone from America: me. So I promised to tour him around the Big Apple.

"Oh," I said. "I am. It's just that Italy has definitely made a difference in me."

"Italy was a good place to relax, no?" he teased. I laughed and turned back to the window.

"I like the quiet," I admitted. "But I'd rather be in New York where there's a lot to keep me busy with."

"So is that meaning I would become a busybody as well?" he wondered. Even though I wasn't looking directly at him, I could imagine his floppy dark hair forming a curtain in front of his eyes and his mouth twitching for a smile. I've noticed he did that a lot.

"Pretty much," I said nonchalantly.

"Nice," he chuckled. I turned back to him, one of my brows arched.

"You know, normal people would sigh," I said. "They would rather sleep than run around New York with a bunch of work to do."

He chuckled and looked intently at me. A blush crept up to my cheeks. "But I am not like other people, Bella," he said softly.

"I know," I breathed, smiling encouragingly at him.

Edward Cullen

"Dude, I can't believe you snagged Bella Swan," Jasper was at my pad, just deciding to chill from his job. He was reading the magazine where Bella was featured. And I was guessing he was reading the part where she admitted we were an item.

I threw a can of beer at him and he easily caught it. I popped open mine and quickly took a gulp. "Are you saying that's surprising?" I challenged.

"Not really," he admitted. Then he looked at me. "It's just that it's a shock that you two managed to 'keep the love' this long. Isn't a long-distance relationship hard?"

I shrugged. With our modeling careers we were really busy people. And the fact that I also took up acting made me even busier. It was a miracle that we managed to e-mail and chat with each other every other day.

"Wasn't," I corrected him. "She's coming home today, you know." I was finally going to see Bella in a few hours.

Jasper flipped the magazine into another page. I scowled when I glanced what it was. It was a photo of Bella with an Italian guy. And what's worse was that it was very sultry-looking.

"I think someone else has the HOTS for your girlfriend, Edward," he teased as he showed me a stolen shot of the Italian guy and Bella talking animatedly, looking directly at each other's eyes.

"Did you come here just to annoy the living hell out of me, Jasper?" I snapped as I gulped down my beer.

"Kind of," he said, his eyes not leaving the magazine. "Oh. The Italian dude's name is Demetri. Demetri and Bella, Bella and Demetri… sound good, doesn't it?"

I rolled my eyes and fished my phone from my jeans. Unbeknownst to him, I was trying not to strangle him in annoyance. Aside from Emmett, Jasper knew how to aggravate me.

They both knew how I was with Bella gone for months and they still go on teasing.

"Cooper," I said to the phone as I pressed it to my ear. "What's up?"

"You have a catalogue shooting in thirty at Gap," he said from the other line.

"I'll meet you there," I said. The moment I hung up on my manager, I shooed Jasper away from my pad and quickly got dressed

Isabella Swan

"Bella," someone nudged me in the shoulder, making me stir from my sleep.

"Mmm," I groaned as I slowly sat up and rubbed my eyes. I looked around drowsily and was met by a familiar pair of dark eyes. I scowled. "Demetri, why did you wake me? I was having a cool dream."

"Sorry, sorry," he chuckled, his voice dripping with his accent. I suddenly remembered the rumor that spread a month ago—about me and him. If I wasn't being watched by paparazzi, I would have strangled that barista for spreading news that I was probably making out with Demetri. FYI, I was deeply content with Edward.

Crap. Now I'm thinking about his messy bronze hair, dazzling green eyes, and kissable lips. I looked down at my watch and inwardly groaned.

Two hours before I see him again.

"Why do you look excited?" Demetri once again broke through my reverie. I looked up at him and blushed. He grinned. "Do you want to tour me already so bad?"

"Not really," I joked. "Actually, I'm really excited about seeing everyone again."

His smile faltered. "So… you are talking about Edward Cullen, right?" he asked. I blushed.

"Not just him," I admitted. "I also miss my family, my best friend, my boss, and my colleagues."

"I cannot wait to meet them," he said. I grinned.

"They'll be thrilled to meet an Italian model, surely," I laughed.

Edward Cullen

"To the airport," I commanded the cab driver the moment I stepped inside the car. I had just gotten out of a shooting and I had to hurry up if I wanted to be the first one to meet up with Bella.

"Yes, sir," the driver said, momentarily gawking at the realization of who I was. I wanted to tell him to drive already. It wasn't the best time to be all star-struck, apparently.

"Uh," I said and he immediately drove the damn thing. Finally

We were passing avenues in a blur, and I couldn't stop tapping my foot on the rugged floor. Occasionally I would look down at my watch and my anticipation grew stronger as time ticked by.

When we arrived at the airport, I gave the driver the money and immediately stepped out. I slid on my sunglasses—to try not to be seen by paparazzi—and ran toward the Arrivals Area. Unlike the people there, I didn't have a board with the arriving passengers' names with me. But I hoped my hair would do the trick—and also the glasses. In fact, I noticed I was the only one with it.

Then I heard a squeal. I jerked my head in the voice's direction and realized it was Bella's best friend, Alice. I automatically went toward her and tapped her shoulder. She turned to me and dropped her jaw. "Edward?" she whispered, knowing that if she said my name loudly, there would be chaos. "Are you here for Bella, too?"

I shrugged and looked over the crowd as I said, "yeah. I want to see her. By the way, why did you scream?"

She giggled. "I'm just excited," she admitted. I chuckled. She turned toward the arriving people and instantly brightened. "Edward, she's here!"

I looked at the same direction and saw her familiar brown locks.

Bella, I noticed, became more beautiful. The ends of her hair were flying in all direction, making it obvious she had slept throughout the flight. Her cheeks were rosier than before and her lips looked plumper. I wanted to kiss her right at that moment. And the fact that she was wearing a navy tank top, skinny jeans, and flip-flops made it even more tempting. She was curvier now, too.

Alice raised a board and squealed. Bella jerked her head and instantly ran up to us, with a grin—a tired one—on her face. She automatically hugged Alice and gasped at the sight of me.

"E-Edward?" she breathed, slowly pulling her glasses up to rest on her head. Her chocolate brown eyes bored onto mine and I couldn't help but grin. She was here.

"I missed you," I chuckled, nervously running my hand through my hair. I noticed she was looking at my action.

"I missed that," she joked.

"I'm going to leave you two now, okay?" Alice laughed, knowing we were in our world right now.

"Sure," Bella said, not taking her eyes off of me. When Alice scuttled away, she immediately wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me square on the lips. "God, I missed this, too," she whispered against my mouth.

"You're not the only one," I chuckled as I pulled away reluctantly. We were in an airport and we needed to restrain ourselves… unfortunately.

Isabella Swan

Edward looked… wow. He was still the same but I sensed that he became hotter for some reason. Maybe it was because he became an actor. I don't know. I guess I just have a liking to actors.

With the way he was looking at me through his sunglasses, I knew he meant what he said. He missed me. Well, actually, he said he missed kissing me. But that was kind of the same, right?

"Oh!" I exclaimed, looking around for Demetri. Man, what a bad tour guide I was. "I totally forgot about him."

"Him?" Edward asked. Then I remembered the rumor again. Uh-oh. He wasn't going to like the fact that…

"Bella, there you are!" Demetri called out from behind. I saw Edward stiffen at his voice. I turned around and there he was: Demetri. And he looked relieved—panting a little—but relieved.

"Demetri, I'm sorry," I said. "I got so excited about seeing…"

Demetri looked up and stared at Edward behind me. "Oh… so this is Edward Cullen in the flesh, eh?" he said.

I bit my lip and reluctantly affirmed his guess. "Yes," I said. I turned to Edward with a fake smile on my face. "Edward, meet Demetri."

My smile faltered when Edward just looked at me and Demetri. Was he misunderstanding..?

Edward Cullen

Why the hell was he here?

And why did he arrive with Bella?

0*0*0

Read and Review.