Chapter 1
A decaying flower arrangement sat on the dining room table. The papers scattered around it were evidence of the studying that had been done around them. A body slumped over the table, the steady breathing of sleep filled the room while the faint buzz of a lawnmower could be heard in the distance.
This morning scene had played out every Thursday for several weeks and finals were finally here.
A cellphone vibrated on the table, a hand stretched out to grab it and answer it.
“Hello?”
“Jesus Bella it's 7:30, were you still asleep?”
“Shit, yeah. I fell asleep at the table again. Christ, I won't have time for a shower. Jacob, why didn't you call me earlier?!”
“Not my responsibility babe. Listen I'll be there in about fifteen minutes, with coffee.”
He hung up and Bella finally peeled herself off the table, she stretched and yawned and made her way into the bathroom. After brushing her teeth and washing her face she dressed herself in jeans and a shirt. She quickly ran a brush through her hair and tied it back.
Making her way down the stairs she collected the papers that littered the table and packed them into her book bag. A few moments later Jacob entered the apartment.
“Good morning gorgeous!” he crooned as he handed her a large coffee. He glanced at the flowers sitting on the table and grinned.
“Let me guess Bella, Newton again?”
“Yes, he's trying really hard and I don't have time for him, but I like having fresh flowers in the house. I just hope he doesn't waste his money sending me anything while I am gone.”
“When do you leave Bella? I keep forgetting.”
“Next Friday, I fly to New York at 6am.”
Jacob nodded in acknowledgment and started moving towards the door.
“Fuck! Where the hell is my passport?!”
“Calm down Bella, and quit with the dirty mouth. It's unbecoming.” Jacob was sprawled out on her bed, his only contribution to her packing was staying out of her way. It was 3am and he was going to drive her to the airport, a task that he volunteered for in exchange for her apartment for the next two weeks.
“Found it!” Bella yelled as she stuffed it into her satchel. She surveyed the contents of her suitcase, doing mental calculations of outfits. She quickly closed it, and decided that whatever she missed she could always buy once she got to Namibia.
“Jake, I'm ready. Get your ass out of my bed and let's go!”
He jumped up and picked up her suitcase. “You pack light for a girl Bells”
“My dad calls me that! Don't use nicknames you aren't authorized to use!” Bella laughed as she chastised him. This was the nature of their relationship, they joked and harassed each other playfully. To a lot of people they looked like a well matched couple, but Jacob and Bella had no romantic interest in one another.
After loading up into the car they quickly made their way to Louis Armstrong International Airport. The early hour meant that traffic was light and about a half hour later Jacob was depositing Bella curbside. A quick hug and a wish for a pleasant and safe trip was all Jacob administered before hopping back in his car and driving off.
Bella checked in and made her way through security without incident. Airports were pretty generic places and this one was no different. She found a seat in the terminal and inspected the contents of her satchel. In her wallet, she had her ID, a couple hundred US dollars, some Rands and Namibian Dollars. Her satchel also contained a black moleskin notebook, several pens, a Kindle, a laptop and of course her iPhone, along with chargers for all her gadgets. Her passport and boarding passes were safely stowed in a zippered compartment.
Bella had been traveling her whole life and so was well practiced in entertaining herself at airports. She loved to people watch. She often laughed at passengers who were obviously too stupid to pack light and dress comfortably. She silently mocked them in her head while writing witty descriptions of her unsuspecting victims. Her musings were interrupted by the ringing of her phone.
“Hi Charlie!” she chirped, she was always excited to be traveling and today was no different.
“Bells, are you at the airport already? Got your passport, passes and money? Did you bring the money I sent over?”
“Geez dad, slow down. You just asked me several questions at once. I'm not a little kid, I have what I need. I can't believe I'll get to see you for two whole weeks!”
They spoke for a few more minutes before saying their goodbyes. As she put her phone away Bella thought about her dad. It had been about two years since she had seen him.
A long while later Bella found herself at JFK waiting for her flight to Johannesburg. She was sitting at the gate, along with several hundred other people. She looked around for a while before pulling out her journal. She wanted to document her trip, it had been almost five years since she had been in Africa, she wondered how it would be different and how it would feel to be back. Her thoughts were interrupted by a conversation in Afrikaans. She concentrated on the one side of the conversation she could hear. The man was sitting behind her and was obviously on the phone. She wondered if he was going home, his Afrikaans was pretty good but there was a hint of something that let her know it wasn't his first language.
“Hoe gaan dit met jou? “
“Goed, dankie! “
“Ek het jou soveel verlang.”
“Praat stadiger asseblief.”
Mystery Afrikaans speaker grew quiet and sighed before stating, “I will see you soon Tanya.” He ended the call and closed his eyes in frustration, he threw his head back rather roughly and made contact with Bella's head.
“I'm so sorry!” he exclaimed. He was now turned around facing the back of Bella's head. Bella turned around, “It's okay, no worries. No permanent damage done.” She laughed as she took in how uncomfortable he was.
“You speak Afrikaans.” she stated.
“Yes, although not very well. I'm learning though.” he replied as he zipped up his backpack.
“I'm Bella Swan.” she offered her hand to him. He took it in his own and gave her a firm shake.
“Edward Cullen. I assume we are both on our way to Jo'burg. Is that your final destination?”
“Windhoek, well Okahandja but Windhoek is my final destination by plane.” she explained.
“That's quite a trip, I'm just going to Jo'burg for a week. I've always wanted to go to Namibia. The Skeleton Coast is on my list of places to see.”
“Well, it was nice to meet you. I'm going to scope out some magazines at Hudson News. I'm sure I'll see you again at some point.”
“A pleasure, Bella.”
