London Baby!

I spent the majority of the flight sleeping with my head down on the serving tray. I don't know how people are able to sleep sitting up on planes. Because I had a window seat, the window stayed covered the entire flight which probably aggravated the people next to me but I couldn't have cared less. I kept waking up throughout the plane ride remembering dreams of London mixed with vampires and for some strange reason Clay Aiken.

I clapped like an idiot when the plane finally landed on solid ground and immediately called Iaco to tell her I have arrived. I made my way out of the terminal and headed to baggage claim where I would meet her. Baggage claim took forever, or maybe I was just being paranoid and thinking that my bags were lost. The belt finally started to move just when Iaco met up with me.

"Hey!!!" She called out as she gave me a big hug.

"Hey!!" I said back. I was really glad to see a happy face considering all I have been staring at were miserable people these past few months.

"You're in London baby yeah!" She imitated Austin Powers.

"oh...YEAH BABY!" I did it right back and we both laughed.

We finally got my bags and headed over to her car. I guess it was time to ask about all the 411 on London.

She took a deep breathe and began, "Well...see this" she pointed to her car, "You're better off hailing a cab, parking is so congested here it makes Middle Village seem like an open field. Also..." she said as we got into the car, "the steering wheel is on the right side". Oh shit it was! "And we drive on the left side of the road." Ok, well fuck driving here.

"How's the food here?"

"You're not gonna find Mamma Italianos anywhere near here, sorry." Dammit, no driving and now... no eating.

"What's there to do here?"

"Oh there are a shit load of bars and clubs here. Don't worry you'll be occupied. It's just like New York in that sense."

"Thank God. I was considering heading back before you said that." And she laughed.

I couldn't avoid the giant elephant in the room. "So..um..is he..at the house now?"

Iaco gave me a look and then stared back at the road. "Yes...he's at the house..now."

"He doesn't..you know..KNOW..does he?"

"No, I told you I wouldn't say anything."

"Ok good." I had to do my best not to go nuts when I saw him. It's a good thing he's human and not actually Edward Cullen because he probably would have heard my heart beating all the way from the house by now.

As Iaco drove, I stared out the window. London looked pretty dreary. Iaco told me the temperature is pretty close to New York but it was more rainy. Actually...very twilightish.

"I have a spare room that you can use as your bedroom. There's a pull out couch and a closet for your things along with a light and other crap. This way you don't have to stay in the living room."

"Thanks so much."

"No problem. Get your shit together, we're almost there." When she did start cursing so much?

Three minutes later, we parked the car and walked around the corner to her apartment building. Her apartment was on the second floor and she lived with two other families, one of the first and the other on the third. The building was much cleaner than the apartment buildings in Ridgewood by me and it didn't smell like old people either.

We dragged my bags up the stairs and my stomach started to do flips when Iaco was opening the door with the key. "I'll need to make a copy of the key for you." She said.

"Oh..uh yeah ..I guess you do" and I giggled. I was beyond nervous.

The door finally opened and I followed Iaco inside the apartment. I quickly looked around for HIM and when I saw he wasn't around I then took a look at Iaco's apartment. When you first step through the door, on the right is the living room with a big couch staring next to the flat screen tv mounted on the right wall. There were also two loveseats on the sides of the couch facing one another and in the middle was a little coffee table. A huge stereo was to the right of the television too. The left side of the house was the kitchen and a small dining area. Straight ahead was a hallway which a bunch of doors that I assume were the bedrooms and such. The color scheme of the apartment was light blue and greens. I was really impressed.

"Wow Iaco,you sure you don't want to go into interior design. This place looks great." I said as I kept looking around.

Iaco just brushed it off as if she had heard that statement before, "Thanks. Are you hungry? I can make some sandwiches if you are."

"Oh no I'm alright. I ate on-"

"HELLO?" I was interupted by a man's voice coming from one of the rooms down the hall. It sounded very familar. Oh my God! Rob is here! There went my stomach again...okay..just breathe..in...out..in...out.

"Hey come out, Steph is here!" Iaco yelled back to the room.

"Okay, just gimme a minute." He said. Wow, his accent sounds even better in real life.

I needed that minute too. I couldn't meet him in the condition I was in. I was practically not breathing. I had to control myself. He will run away if I give him the idea that I'm a fan.

Finally, I heard a door open and someone walking out. Instead of just standing there like a moron, I decided to pretend I was adjusting my bag or something, anything to keep me busy...

"So you must be Stephanie?" I heard him say. I guess it was my turn to talk.

I stopped my pointless fidgeting with my bag and stood up to look at him. "OME." My mind squeaked as I looked at him. Robert was gorgeous....well, compared to Rob standards. He wore black pants, the kind I always see him wear in the paparazzi photos, DONT THINK ABOUT PAPARAZZI! a grey shirt and his short hair was covered in that horrid beanie of his...amazing. How long have I been standing here...

"Hi!...uh yeah I am, yeah ...I'm Stephanie." I...was..a mumbling...idiot. I put my hand out to shake his in greeting. I'm about to touch him OMG!

"It's nice to meet you, I'm Robert," and with that he shook my hand. He's so warm...well he's human you ass he's not a vampire! He pronounced his name like "Rubert" it was adorable.

"Hi" I said back with a smile. It was all I could mutter. Robert gave back a closed-mouthed smile and his eyes were smiling too. His eyes, despite the fact that they were green, reminded me of mine, when we smile we look Asian.

Iaco must have realized that I was becoming a little starstruck so before I could make myself look anymore stupid, she quickly interjected, "Let me show you your room Steph!"

I didn't know whether I wanted to thank Iaco for getting me back to Earth or kill her for taking time away from me and Rob. "Oh yeah, lemme go see."

All three of us grabbed one of my bags and walked down the hall to my new room. It was perfect. The futon looked really comfy and un-futonlike. There was a mirror on the door that was going to be my closet. On the right side of the room was a desk with a lamp that was the new home for my laptop. The best part of the room was the window that was overlooking the city.

"It's awesome!" I told Iaco. Well, the room wasn't exactly a five star suite but simply the fact that I was in London in a room that was rent free was awesome.

"So how long are you staying?" Rob asked out of curiosity and maybe to just start a conversation.

It took everything in me to talk to him as if he was a normal person, someone I have never seen before, someone who I haven't been crushing over eversince I got fired from my job. "Actually, I really don't know." I laughed, it was true. Iaco and I never spoke about how long I would stay.

"You can stay as long as you like," Iaco responded back.

Rob put one of my bags next to my futon/bed/couch. "How do you like London so far?"

"I haven't seen too much of it yet but it sort of reminds me of New York. The driving here is weird."

He laughed, "Yeah I suppose that's going to take some getting used to."

I was about say something else when Rob's cell phone started to ring. He took his phone out of his pocket and looked at the caller ID. "Stephanie" he muttered. As first I thought he was talking about me but then I realized it was his agent, Stephenie Ritz. He excused himself and went into his room to answer the call.

Wow! I just met Rob Pattinson! I felt my mouth stretch out into the hugest smile I could muster and Iaco noticed causing me to blush.

"Good job on not freaking out." Iaco said with a laugh, "I noticed you mumbling when you were talking to him but that's okay. I think this is going to be fine."

"Yeah it is." This is going to be so great!

Phone Call

Iaco sounded really concerned now; it was beginning to scare me. "What the matter?"

"My roommate. The struggling actor. Do you remember him?" She was talking as if I spoke a different language and she was a customs officer.

"Yeah, the guy who is never around. What about him?" Does he not like Twilight or something???

"Well, he's not really struggling anymore. Steph, it's the same guy."

"Huh??"

"My roommate and the guy who plays Edward Cullen, Steph! My roommate is Rob Pattinson."

I don't know how it happened but my cell phone dropped out of my hand causing the battery to fly out of it and land ten feet in front of me. I got off the chair I was sitting in and picked up my cell and batteries and tried to put it together as fast as I could. She must be joking, there's no way...does she realized who she lives with!! Finally, I turned my cell on and no sooner did I start dialing Iaco was calling me back. I press Accept and put the phone to my ear.

"I'm sorry Iaco, I dropped my phone. You're joking right. You're just saying that to take my mind off the plane ride." I have been tricked by her before so it's not surprising if she does it again. She once told me she met Nsync when she was 11 years old and got their autographs and she had an extra one so she was going to give it to me. Turns out it was all a big prank.

"I swear to God I'm not lying. And you know I don't swear." It was true.

Holy shit! "Oh...my....G-"

"OK! THAT...just that...OH MY GOD...that cannot happen ok? He's been my roomie for almost 3 years now and if he finds out my best friend... who is spending time here... is a giant fan of his he's going to move right out and then I will end up trying to find a new roommate to help pay for rent." She was really nervous now; she was hardly breathing as she was telling me all this.

"Ok ok...I won't freak out." Or at least I'll try not to. "I can't believe you have been living with THE Rob Pattinson and never once did you tell me." I was actually kind of angry at her now.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you knew him. He's not very big here at all."

"Iaco, he's in Twilight. ASSUME everyone knows him here."

"Twilight isn't a big thing here either. The only reason I know of it is because Rob tells me."

"You're kidding!" What the fuck is wrong with London???

"No I'm not. That's why I didn't think it would be a problem if you came here for a while. I didn't think you were a fan. Ummm..exactly how BIG of a fan are you?"

I gulped the nervous lump that was lingering in my throat. What should I tell her? Should I tell her I check the "twi"-sites everyday. How I've read all four books in five days and then once again. How I have watched Twilight almost every night online. How I saved almost every youtube video of Rob I could find. "I've read the books and saw the movie in theaters. I'm not hardcore."

"Ok then it should be fine." I think Iaco was more persuading herself than me.

I had to lie to her. I couldn't tell her how big of a fan I was, she would tell me to stay home. And now I had to go to London for two reasons. The first, to get away from the hell hole I'm currently living in. The second, because I really really really wanted to meet Rob. I just had to pretend I wasn't a fan, it should be simply enough.

I had to tell Iaco my plan, "Listen. Don't tell Rob I'm a fan ok? It's easier if he doesn't know. And if he asks if I have seen him from somewhere or if I have heard of Twilight I will simply say that I have heard of it but I have no clue what it is. Ok? So can you just not say anything. I promise I'll be good."

With that said, a voice came over the loud speaker, "NOW BOARDING FLIGHT 577 TO LONDON. NOW BOARDING."

"Yeah I won't tell him. Just try not to freak out too much when you get here ok. I know how you were with Clay Aiken." Iaco said with a laugh.

I laughed back, yeah my Clay Aiken obsession was pretty bad. "I won't freak out. My plane is boarding so I'll call you when I'm in London ok?"

"Ok Steph, have a good flight and don't worry about the turbulence."

Stupid ass, she just HAD to bring turbulence up. Which reminded me that I still had to take my valium. "I'll try not to. Okay ciao."

"Ciao" she said back and we hung up the phone.

I scrambled into my purse and found those magical little pills that I desperately needed. "Aha!" I said as I found my valium. I took one pill out and swallowed it down with water. I now needed it for much more than the plane ride. I was about to meet Rob Pattinson!

Involuntarily, I squealed like a little girl and jumped up in the air at the thought of meeting Rob went through my head. Had I been anywhere else besides New York, everyone would have been staring at me but thankfully everyone was going about their business.

"FINAL BOARDING CALL FOR FLIGHT 577 TO LONDON. THIS IS THE FINAL BOARDING CALL."

"Shit!" I grabbed my bag and my book and ran towards the gate to the plane. I handed the lady in charge my ticket and then I was allowed to walk into the terminal and on the plane. After I wiggled my way through the isle and put my bag away in the overhead compartment, I sat down with my Twilight book.

I turned the book over in my hands continously, unsure if I should read this knowing it would only make me freak out more. I decided to put it in my bag and take out my iPod instead. I scrolled my way through my iPod until I got to my "airplane ride" playlist. As, Angels and Airwaves started to play, I closed my eyes and prepared myself for seven hour flight. Yes...I had seven hours to calm myself down before meeting the man of my dreams.

Decisions

My world was turning upside down. The United States has been suffering a recession and I just recently got a taste of it. I was layed-off from my teaching job. A job I have been trying to get for 2 years. I finished my masters in education at a young age thanks to taking college credits back in high school and I started to work as a full time teacher in September of last year. What a wonderful Christmas gift it was to be told by the principal that due to budget cuts they would have to let me go. I tried for a month to find work as a teacher but it was too late in the year for most schools to hire more teachers. I would have to wait til September of this year.

On top of that, I haven't been in a serious relationship since high school. It's not that I didn't look around in college, I did, but I had other priorities that seemed more important. I spend my nights now with my family. My parents have been arguing more and more lately. It was something about how my dad wants us to get more involved with his side of the family more...a family we haven't seen since I was 15 years old. I guess the shit was finally hitting the fan with that one.

I did find some form of relief however, through a series of books called the Twilight Saga. It was four books consisting of a family of vampires and in particular a male vampire named Edward who falls in love with a human girl named Bella. I fell in love with the series and read it twice in its entirety in a matter of mere weeks. When I didn't feel like reading, I watched the movie Twilight and swooned over the newly famous actor Robert Pattinson. Like a typical 20 year old, I immersed myself in the "twinews" and all that was Rob.

I was calling my friend Iaco for what seemed to be the 30th consecutive night in a row when she thought of a pretty good idea...

"Why don't you come by me for a while Steph." Iaco lived in London. We've been best friends since we were 11 years old. About 3 years ago, she landed a full scholarship at Smithtown University in London for psychology. So she left the US and bought an apartment in London with a roomate. Apparently her roomate is a struggling actor who is rarely around so she was sure he wouldn't mind if I stayed there for a while.

"How am I suppose to just drop everything and come to London." Not everyones' life can be like Eat Pray Love.

"Umm. no offense but...what is left to drop?" She had a point.

"I don't know, I'll think about it." It seemed like a fun experience and it wasn't like I had to pay rent or anything. It was just a big decision to make, I've never been away from my family before.

"Ok..but you know my door is always open" she said. And with that we hung up.

As I went down the stairs to the first floor of my house, I noticed my parents were yelling at each other again. I couldn't stand to be in the house when they fought, so I grabbed my keys and went to take a drive. Right then and there, I decided. I began to dial...

"Yeah??" Iaco answered.

"Ok I'm coming"

*************************************************************************************
I was almost finished packing for my "holiday" in London. My parents didn't mind me going, they both understood why I would want to get away for a while. I didn't know how long I would stay in London but Iaco said it didn't matter.It kind of sucked not knowing how long I would stay because I didn't know how much to pack. I ended up packing most of the wardrobe that I had. In my carry on I put my makeup, laptop, and my four Twilight books.

My father drove me to the airport for my flight to London. In the boarding area, I had about an idea before we were scheduled to be on the plane so I decided to give Iaco a call.

"Do you have your valium with you?" Iaco asked. She knew I hated flying, the less I was aware of my surroundings on a plane, the better off I was.

"Yeah, I'm going to take it as soon as I hang up with you. I was told to take it about an hour before flying. And I got Edward Cullen with me so I won't get too lonely either." I said that last part while tapping on my Twilight book. I planned on reading it for the third time.

There was a long pause on the phone on Iaco's side. After a while, all she said was, "Ed..ward...Cullen?"

Oh! She must've thought that he's a real guy who I'm bringing to London with me. "Oh no he's not real!" I laughed. "He's a character in these books I'm reading and he's in this movie Twi-..."

"I know who he is Steph." Iaco interupted. She sounded upset now.

"Oh ok...are you alright? You sound nervous." Did I say something wrong? Was she Team Jacob???

On the other end of the line, I heard Iaco take a long breath before she said, "I need to tell you something before you get on the plane."