Twenty-First Century Twilight; A Fanfic

Chapter 2 Meet Cute

I rolled onto my side and took in a deep, waking breath. Opening my eyes, I saw first, a ray of light shining through my window, then my alarm clock which read ten forty.

I jumped up out of bed and scrambled to get my clothes together and brush my hair in time to get out the door.

My foot slid out from under me and I landed hard on my rear with a yelp.

"Bella?" It was a voice I kind of recognized, but couldn't quite pin point.

I looked up into chocolate eyes and saw my childhood best friend, Jacob Black. With dark skin and night black hair down to his mid back, he was a full grown man, not the little boy that lived in my memories.

"Jake?!" I exclaimed as I fought to stand.

He reached out and helped me up with a warm hand. "Hey, long time no see."

"Wow, it's been like ten years." I said, brushing off my jeans.

Jake made a pained sound. "Ow, we're getting old."

"Oh," I rolled my eyes. "twenty-six is not old."

"Speak for yourself." He laughed. "I'm twenty-four and I feel old as hell."

I shook my head in disbelief, but more so that I was looking at my longest friend. If you don't count all the time we spent apart.

"Well, the reason I knew you were back is because Charlie just bought this bad boy from me." He slapped the side of an old red truck, the kind made of solid metal and elbow grease. "For you."

"What?!" I gasped. "For me?"

As if on cue, Dad walked out of the house, the door closing behind him. "Morning Bells, Jake."

"Morning Charlie." Jake said.

"Dad, what the hell?!" I motioned to the truck.

He just shrugged. "I didn't want you to have to walk every day. Pay me back."

"Oh, I'm paying you back." I assured him. "This is crazy."

"Don't get too excited." Jake said "The air doesn't work and the driver's window won't roll down."

I laughed as I pulled open the driver's door. "This is awesome."

Jake had to go to work and I was late for class so we parted and I drove my new truck to my second day of school.

I basically ran all the way up to the school and to where I hoped the biology class was. I was worried because there was also a biology lab, in a different part of the school, which would take me a long time to get to if I picked wrong.

Sure enough, the door read the right class and I sneaked in quietly. I spotted an empty seat in the back and made my way to it.

I realized too late that the two person desk already seated one mysterious man by the name of Ed. At that point I was already half way there and everyone saw me so I had to commit.

I took the seat directly beside him and risked a glace, offering a smile to hide it.

He was already looking at me and smiled as I did, but it seemed forced in a way and I wondered what was wrong.

I met his icy blue eyes and could have sworn the whites of his eyes were more grey, but he looked away too quickly for me to tell. It must have been the lighting.

"Hi." I said anyway, being purposefully ignorant of his strain. "I'm Bella."

"Edison." Was all he said.

Figures the pretty ones are the ones with the least personality. Oh well, I wasn't just going to fall for a pretty face again. Been there. Done that.

He cleared his throat and I looked back to him. "Sorry. I don't feel well." He spoke with a thick English accent.

I felt bad for judging him instantly. Of course he just felt sick. I was too quick to assume.

"Don't worry about it." I said with a wave of my hand.

He didn't say anything back so I got out my laptop and waited for the professor.

"How do you like the rain?" Edison asked out of nowhere.

I looked over to him and shrugged. "I'm used to Arizona so it's a little too cold. I'm not a fan of cold...wet stuff."

He nodded his understanding. "I kind of like it. It's peaceful."

I could see that. "I do like listening to the rain when I'm trying to sleep."

"Exactly." He said. "Rain on a tin roof is like-" He brought his fingers to his lips and did a chef's kiss.

I gave a little laugh. "Well, it's good you like it. There's enough here for a lifetime."

"Several, if you're lucky."

The professor began and I tried to pay attention, but honestly, it was impossible with Edison sitting so close. I could occasionally smell him and it was enough to make me dizzy. I couldn't describe his scent exactly, it was warm and subtle. Every time I looked over, he was already looking at me and I'd give him a smile, which he would return. I could feel his eyes on me with that electric sort of sensation across my skin.

"If it's not too forward," Edison said after class, catching my attention for the first time in a while. "can I give you my number?"

I nearly let my jaw drop, but caught it before I embarrassed myself. "Y-yes."

He smiled beautifully and I felt all the air leave my lungs. How could someone be so breathtakingly gorgeous?

I gave him my phone and he created a contact for himself. I couldn't believe this was happening. I hadn't even considered this as a possibility.

When he handed me my phone back, our fingers brushed and it was like being static shocked by a searing hot pan handle. I jerked my hand back on instinct and looked up at him.

His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. "Text me?"

I nodded. "Of course."

He flashed that smile again and walked off quickly.

What the hell just happened?