EDWARD POV
I flipped the Polaroid picture of Bella and I over and over in my hands, and smiled vaguely, sighing. As the plane took off, I snuck one last look out of the window, but was disappointed; the grey of the tarmac wasn't very exciting. I glanced again at the picture in my hands, my gaze focused on Bella only. Her curls were down, framing her face, and she was dressed in a pale yellow summer dress, smiling, her hand on my cheek. I was behind her, both my arms wrapped around her waist. We looked happy.
"Is that your girl?" The very old man beside me asked. I looked up, surprised, and grinned.
"Yeah, that's my Bella." I said. I wondered why this man was talking to me, but was glad to have something to keep my mind off leaving Forks. He smiled toothily, his many wrinkles gathering at the corners of his eyes.
"She's a beauty. She looks like my Abigail." He said in a sort of far away voice.
"Who's Abigail?" I asked him, enjoying my conversation with him, he seemed like a nice man. He opened his own wallet, and pulled out a faded black and white photograph. It was a young girl, who did sort of look like Bells. She was smiling brightly.
"This is Abby. She was my wife. She passed away three years ago, now." He said, his eyes growing sadder as he stroked the photo.
"Oh, I'm sorry." I said quietly, staring at the sweet-faced girl in the picture. The old man unwrapped his tartan scarf from his neck, and laid it on his lap in an organized way.
"That's alright, son. I lost the most important thing in the world to me, and it hurt like hell. I'll probably never be the same." He said, still looking down at the photo. "But you know what?" He asked, looking at me and smiling again.
"What?" I asked, smiling back.
"My time with her is something I would never trade. Never ever." He told me, breathing deeply.
"I can't imagine ever losing Bella." I said, staring at nothing in particular. There was a silence between us, and I realized I was talking to someone I didn't even know. I shrugged, and turned back to him.
"What's she like?" He asked in his shaky voice. I sighed, wondering how to sum her up in words.
"She's great. I mean she's smart. She's beautiful, but she doesn't think she is. She's funny. She's incredibly clumsy; I'm always having to catch her. If you creep up behind her, she'll jump out of her skin. It's pretty hilarious. She's honest. She always speaks her mind. You can always count on getting the truth from her. She's stubborn. But she's a really, really, really good friend. And loyal to a fault. She's believes in me." I said. He nodded, another silence stretching between us. "God, I don't know what I'm going to do when I'm in New York. I hate being away from her. I mean she's my best friend. She's more than that though. She's everything." I said. The man patted me gently on the shoulder.
"I know how you feel. I was at war just after I married Abigail. Don't worry, son. You can do it." He smiled again. Something about his kindly voice and well-meaning words calmed my spirits, and I nodded.
"Excuse me sir, I believe you're in the wrong seat." Said a flight attendant, tapping the man.
"Oh, I'm sorry." He said, and made a move to stand up and follow her.
"Wait!" I said, he looked down at me. "I didn't get your name."
"Arthur Wells." He said, shaking my hand.
"Edward Cullen. It was a pleasure talking to you." I said truthfully.
"A good solid name." He chuckled. "And you as well, Edward. Never let that girl get away." He said, and then followed the bored looking flight attendant down quite a few rows behind me. I placed the Polaroid carefully into my wallet, and tucked it away. Soon, the plane was in full flight, the city almost unrecognizable beneath us. I dug my ipod out of my carry-on bag, feeling absent and restless with no one to talk to, and stuck the earphones in my ears. I leant back and closed my eyes, letting the music flow over me...
I woke up suddenly with a jerk of the plane, and realized I had fallen asleep. I sighed again and stretched, checking the time. It was now almost 9:30am. My flight had left at 5am, and I was amused by how quickly time seemed to go when you were asleep. I felt rested now, and ordered some cheap airline breakfast. I scarfed it down, and pulled out the book I had brought to read. As I opened the front cover, a sheet of paper fell out. It was the drawing Bella had done of me in second grade. I was playing soccer, running and kicking a ball. I had always found the drawing funny, with my strange features and stick body drawn by a small child. But it always warmed my heart as I saw the words "To: Edward" written in Bella's seven year old scrawl. I had kept the drawing on my wall forever, it was always good for a laugh. But I had evidently forgotten to bring it, and Bella had most probably snatched it off the wall this morning and placed it in the cover of the book. I chuckled silently again, and tucked the drawing away in my backpack again. I read for a while, until the clock said 10:30am. I stretched my arms above my head, bored, and decided to watch the cheesy movie the airlines were playing on the screens. I didn't bother buying headphones, just sat back and watched as a middle aged couple argued comically with each other, in amusing silence.
The movie ended, and I sat up straight again, checking the time. There was apparently fifteen minutes until we were due to arrive. Sure enough, the sickly sweet voice of a flight attendant suddenly echoed calmly around the plane. It told us to fasten our seatbelts for landing, and thanked us for flying with their company. I diligently clipped the belt into place, clearing my throat. Soon, we were coasting slowly and softly onto the runway, coming to a stop right at the end. The plane seats emptied quickly as everyone rushed to the doors. I hurried to catch Arthur Wells's elbow as he almost toppled forwards down the stairs. He looked back in relief.
"Thanks, Edward." He breathed.
"Don't mention it." I smiled. I led him down the stairs, said goodbye, and then set off to register and get my suitcase. I checked my Ipod clock again, and quickly changed it to three hours ahead, so that instead of 11:40am, it read 2:40pm, to accommodate the three-hour time difference.
BELLA POV
I was curled up on the couch, my knees to my chest. The charming, boyish face of Ferris Bueller looked out at me from the T.V screen, telling me about his parents believing he was really sick. I giggled, an odd empty sound with no one in the house. Emmett was out somewhere with Rose, and my father was at work. I had gotten back from the airport about four hours ago now, and after wandering aimlessly for a while, filling out more college applications, and washing the dishes, I had settled down to watch a good movie. That always cheered me up. It was hard to choose between Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Ferris Bueller, and Forrest Gump, but I eventually chose the funniest of the three. I shoved my hand into the bag of pita chips beside me, and dug out a couple of chips. Ferris continued on with his hi-jinks on screen, and I laughed along with him. My favourite character was Cameron Frye of course, the lovable best friend neglected by his parents.
The movie finished too quickly for my liking, and I checked the clock. It was now 11:50. Edward's flight was supposed to have landed in New York about ten minutes ago. I told myself not to be silly and anticipate a call anytime soon, he was probably sorting out his baggage and getting a taxi. The door opened and Alice waltzed in. Seeing the credits on screen, she groaned.
"I missed it?" She asked incredulously. I nodded, smiling. Ferris appeared on screen again, telling us that the movie was over, and to go away. I laugh faintly again. Alice insisted we start the movie over again, so I consented, and we settled down once more, rewinding the movie to the start.
EDWARD POV
I climbed into a taxi hauling my suitcase, and pulled the crisp card Renee had sent me which had the address of my new apartment written on it. I gave it to the driver and he pulled away from the curb, nodding. I sighed, easing myself back in my seat, and letting the nervous feelings roll over me. They were, after all, probably natural. I would be living by myself for the first time, in my own apartment. I watched the city scenery pass me from inside the taxi, and sighed. There really was a certain charm about New York. I loved it. But at the same time, there was an absence without Bella. The driver pulled up in front of a new, high end looking apartment building, and I whistled quietly. I really needed to give Renee a call or something and thank her for this. I said thank you to the driver, paid him and climbed out, dragging my suitcase. I pulled the key out of my pocket and flipped it over in my hands, examining it before entering the nicely decorated lobby. I grinned and headed towards the elevator, pressing the up button and waiting patiently. I looked at the card again and saw that my suite was on the seventh floor. The elevator door opened and I stepped in, moving past a middle aged woman with a toddler, and pressing the button with the illuminated number seven on it as the doors closed. It rose smoothly and surprisingly quickly, and when it opened up again, I found myself in a quiet hallway, with cream carpet and large mahogany doors. I felt another jolt in my stomach. This was just too nice. I guessed it was because Renee and Phil had originally intended to live in it. But still, as I pulled my suitcase out of the elevator and looked around for suite 706, I couldn't help feeling incredibly overwhelmed. I found it, the gleaming silver letters pulling me towards it. I let go of my suitcase, and stuck the little silver key in the hole, twisting it until I heard a smooth and well oiled click. Holding my breath, I pulled down on the handle and pushed forwards, opening the door and dragging my suitcase inside. I let my breath out, looking around. I felt around for the camera hanging from my neck, and automatically snapped a picture, a souvenir of the first moment I walked into my first apartment. It was pretty nice. It had floors of mahogany wood and in some places, cream carpet. It was painted nicely in warm tones, and in the living room, there was a whole wall of windows, giving me a fantastic view of the city. I walked around, leaving my suitcase at the front door, and turned on the lights. It wasn't huge, but it was just the right size for me, and Bella when she came to visit. There was one bathroom located off the front hall, a bedroom with an ensuite, a spacious living room and a new looking kitchen with stainless steel appliances. I dragged my suitcase into the bedroom, and shrugged out of my jacket, lying on the comfortable looking bed. I looked at it, and thought of how nice it would feel once my sheets and stuff arrived from home. I took off my shoes, and sighed happily, walking into the kitchen and placing my camera on the counter. I just stood there for a moment, looking around, appreciating everything. This was so surreal, having a place that only you called home. Somewhere to come when your day is over, somewhere where you keep all your things. I was glad it was fully furnished; I don't think I could have afforded to buy any furniture. The stuff it did have was cozy and nice looking, sort of like my house back in Forks. I bounced onto the couch, stretched, and pulled out my cell phone, remembering I had promised Bells a call.
BELLA POV
Alice had left a while ago, and after watching Ferris Bueller for the second time, I settled down with some tea and Wuthering Heights. I had been reading for a while now, cuddled up on the couch, but I was distracted from Heathcliff and Cathy's ridiculous conversations by the phone ringing shrilly. I reached to the side table to pull it off it's dock, and answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hey Beautiful." Edward chuckled into the phone. I grinned.
"Edward!" I exclaimed. "How was your flight?"
"Great." He said genuinely. "I met a really interesting old guy."
"That sounds...nice?" I said, laughing.
"He was nice!" He said defensively, chuckling too.
"I'm sure. Anyway, are you at the apartment yet?" I asked him.
"Yeah. It's amazing! Seriously, I need to thank Renee for this." He said, sounding happy. He told me what it looked like and where it was and everything, all very excitedly.
"So, any hot girls yet?" I joked. He laughed.
"I'm not out clubbing yet Bella. I just got here." He said.
"I know." I grinned.
"But now that you mention it...there is this neighbor that I have..." He teased me. I chuckled, sighing.
"Well I guess it's not your fault you're so gorgeous." I told him, picking at a hole in my pajamas. He sighed.
"I miss you already." He said after a long pause.
"Miss you too." I said softly.
"Best friends forever." He said.
"And ever. Love you." I finished.
"You too. Bye Bells." He said, hanging up the phone. I groaned and got up to stretch, and then decided I would take a walk to the store and grab some good food. Emmett was at home tonight, and I planned on making the best of this arrangement and having a sibling night. You know, the whole deal. Movies, popcorn, fizzy drinks. I texted him this idea to which he agreed excitedly, and I smiled. We were still young at heart.