Disclaimer: Character names and some locations in the story belong to Stephenie Meyer, all plot and story-line enclosed belong solely to JessAndTAT, no copyright infringement intended. Check us out on Facebook on either of our groups, links available on our profile page.

One time WARNING: This is an OLDERWARD story. Bella is 14 at the start of the story, and Edward is 31. There is a seventeen year difference. HOWEVER... there will not be any type or kind of child-porn involved in this story.

HUGE THANKS to our behind the scenes chickas' : Sally/TooCute & Nikky/WeeKitty - These gals are the BOMB!

~BL~

Chapter 1: Freshman Year Summer

Dear Diary, I am so scared. I'm leaving today to spend the summer with my dad. I've never been on a plane before, and I'm scared of heights. I see my dad twice a year, but this is the first time I will be spending more than a couple of days with him. Carlisle is the team doctor for the St. Louis Cardinals. I know it will be cool to spend the summer traveling with him, but it's gonna be hard to be away from my mom; she's my best friend. Dad said I can come home if I don't like it, but I won't know until I try. Mom says I'm old enough now, and even though I'm terrified, I'm also really excited.

Now that I'm old enough, my mom has started to tell me more and more about how I was brought in to this world. I know one thing for sure: I am never going to play seven minutes in heaven. I don't think kids really play that anymore, anyway. I'm lucky, though. My life could have been all kinds of messed up, but I had pretty good parents. I didn't understand all their choices, but I was always well taken care of. Mom says I can talk to Dad about any of the stuff she's told me, but I don't think I can bring myself to question him; we've never been close like that.

Anyway, they just called my flight, so I'll write more later.

~BL~

My heart is racing as Mom and I sit near the terminal. She's been reassuring me that everything is going to be fine. We made sure that I had an aisle seat so I wasn't temped to look out the window. As long as I don't see how high up we were, I'll be okay. When we were talking about how I was going to get to my dad, I had to open my big fat mouth without thinking and suggest I could fly on my own. Now, I wanted one of them with me to help calm my nerves. I'm just hoping that once the plane is in the air, everything will be okay.

I know my mom is sad about me leaving, but she said that Dad has always wanted to spend summers with me, his job just kept him too busy. I wasn't old enough to travel with the team before, but now that I'm fourteen, well I guess that means I'm old enough now. My dad is pretty cool. He's more my friend than my father, but I feel the same way about my mother. They were young when they had me, and they barely knew each other; Mom was fourteen and Carlisle was fifteen. Once I learned that piece of information, I understood why she was a little overprotective when it came to boys.

I remember Carlisle freaking out last year when I was hanging out with Jake. I told him we were just friends, but he still told me that boys weren't good to hang out with. I remember laughing at him and rolling my eyes. Jake wasn't in to girls, and he was my only friend that I really hung out with outside of school. He told me that he liked boys, and who was I to judge? I didn't think you could really know such a thing at thirteen, but he said that's how he felt. It was our secret, and I wasn't planning on telling anyone about it.

"Be safe and call me whenever you want," Elizabeth, my mother, said with tears in her eyes.

"Please don't cry," I beg, knowing that I would end up crying too. "I love you, and I'll call when I land."

"Okay, I love you, too. Make sure you have fun."

"I will. Bye, Mom," I say as I take a shaky breath and turn away to board the plane.

After all the instructions are given, I put my ear buds in my ears, and try to relax as much as possible. Once we are in the air, I'm fine and realize that flying isn't as scary as I thought it was going to be. I'm shocked that my four hour flight went by with in a blink of an eye. Landing is rough and I end up getting pretty nervous, but I manage to make it through. My dad is going to be meeting me at the baggage claim, so I'm hoping to find it easily. I know international airports can sometimes have several baggage claims, so it can get pretty confusing.

The airport is huge and very intimidating. As soon as I turn my cell phone back on, it starts to go crazy with messages. My flight was ten minutes late in arriving, and my mom has already called five times. She probably thought I forgot to turn my phone on when I got off the plane. I send her a quick text telling her I made it, and that I will call her once I get settled. Her text back to me is a book, telling me how worried she was. I know this is as hard on her as it is for me. We've only had a hand-full of nights apart in fourteen years.

Mom worked her way through high school and was even able to attend college. She worked from home mostly after she graduated. She's an accountant, and is the most popular person in our town at tax time. She also has a few clients that she keeps the books for. She has made a good life for the two of us. I know my dad helped, but I'm not sure exactly how much. Mom always said that children didn't need to worry about money. I knew my grandparents helped her out, too, but I only knew that because I had eavesdropped on one of their phone calls. A couple of years ago, Mom just couldn't make ends meet, and I could hear in her voice that she didn't want to ask for help. She always made sure I had what I wanted and needed. She is truly a great mother. My grandmother, Renee, took care of me when mom was working or at school. I remember always having a good time with her, and I still do. I don't see them as often as I used to, but that's because Mom is always really busy. Now that I'm spending the summer with my dad, I know I'll see them even less. When I get back home and before school starts, I need to make time to see them.

As I look around the busy airport, I realize I need to call my dad.

"I'm lost," I say after my father picks up his cell. I hear him chuckle as he asks where I am. I feel like a dumbass, but there's not much I can do. I've never been in this airport before, or any other airport for that matter – except the one I flew out of earlier.

My dad is a carefree guy. I don't think I've ever heard him raise his voice or order me to do something. When he came to visit, we would go shopping and then out to dinner; he has never had to father me. Who knows? He may hate having me around and ship me back to my mom after a week. I'm nervous that he won't like me. I know we'll be doing a lot of traveling and he will most likely be busy a lot, so maybe I'll be able to make it longer than a week. I don't really understand baseball much, so this whole trip is going to be a learning experience.

Once my father rescues me, we go to retrieve my bags and then head to the parking garage. The ride from the airport to his house isn't long, but it is quiet. He asks how school went, and my reply is like any other typical teenager. "Fine." Next, he asks if I am excited about the summer, so I say, "yes." I know he's trying, but I really don't know what to talk to him about.

"We're having some people over tonight for dinner. I have a pool, so it should be a good time," he says with shrug. "You're not too tired, are you?"

"No, I'm good," I say as I chew on my lip. After that, the ride is quiet again.

We pull up to his house. It's not small, but it isn't huge, either. We walk in, and I notice that Carlisle looks as nervous as I feel. He shows me to my room that I didn't know I would have.

"Um...Esme, my girlfriend – you'll meet her today – picked everything out. She has a daughter your age," he says as I nod. I don't know how I feel about the whole 'girlfriend' word. I can't remember my mom having boyfriends in the past. I knew it could happen, but I honestly don't know how to react. "Just get settled in and then come on down. Everyone will be here soon." He kisses me on the forehead before he walks out of the room. It's hard to believe that he is only thirty-one and is my dad. I really don't know a lot about him.

I sit on the bed and call my mom. We talk for almost forty-five minutes before we hang up with each other. A few tears slip down my cheeks when I hear voices float up from the open window. I walk to the wall and watch as Carlisle sips a beer and gives a woman a kiss. She looks nice enough, and smiles at my dad like she loves him. I see a younger girl sitting next to them, texting on her phone. She has short, spiky hair, and her shorts look really short. I start to wonder if that's Esme's daughter. My dad looks up to me and nods his head, telling me to come down, but I'm not ready. I move from the window and change in to a bikini that my mom bought for me. The bottoms are like boy shorts, and the top just ties around my neck and back. I put my shorts and shirt back on, not knowing if I'll actually go swimming. I walk back to the window to see that three more men and another woman have shown up. One of the guys kinda looks like Esme, but I can't be sure. Esme's daughter is leaning over, showing her cleavage to some blond guy, and Esme is talking with the tall blond woman.

They all look so happy and comfortable with each other, and I just don't know how I am going to fit in to their little group. I get a text from Jake, and it makes me smile. He sent a picture of himself making a funny face, telling me not forget him. Like that could happen. He tells me when I get home we have to have a sleep over so I can tell him about all the hot guys I meet. Yeah, I was pretty sure he knew his sexual orientation.

"What's so funny?" Carlisle asks, making me jump.

"You scared me," I say with a small laugh. "Jake just sent me a text," I say with a shrug.

"I don't like you talking with boys."

"We're just friends." I know nothing I say will make him feel better.

"Anyway, come down. Everyone wants to meet you," he says as I look back out the window. I see this huge guy fiddling with the grill, looking like he doesn't know what he is doing. I giggle when the tall blond swats him.

"Who's the big guy?" I ask as Carlisle walks to the window.

"Shit! That's Emmett and he caught my grill on fire the last time," he says in a rush. "Come down." With that he runs out of the room, and I watch as he runs in to the back yard yelling at Emmett. Everyone busts out laughing, and I can't help but laugh along. I watch for a few more minutes as the guy with the crazy hair talks with Esme. They both look my way, and when he smiles at me, I blush. He is hot; old, but definitely hot.

I slowly make my way down the stairs and see the back door off the kitchen. I look in the refrigerator for a drink, knowing that I need to hold something to keep from fidgeting. I find a Pepsi, open it, and take a long drink. I stay in the kitchen for a few minutes when the teenage girl from outside walks in. I startle her and she lets out a loud shriek.

"Sorry," I say, trying not to laugh at her.

"It's okay. I thought you were still hiding," she says as she gets herself a soda. "I'm Alice."

"Hi, I'm Bella."

"I know! Carlisle has been talking about you like crazy," she says as we laugh.

"Alice, grab three beers, please," Carlisle says, looking around the corner. "Hey, kiddo. Glad you came to join the party." All I give him is a tight lipped smile. This is all really weird. I follow behind Alice as we make our way to onto the patio. I see the hot guy manning the grill, Esme and the blond girl are chatting away at the patio table, and Emmett and the blond guy are talking with the hot guy.

"Hey everyone, this is Bella," Carlisle says as everyone turns to look at me. Esme jumps up and quickly walks over to us. "Bella, this is my girlfriend, Esme."

"It's so nice to finally meet you," she says with a warm smile. She gives me a hug, and it's like when my mom does: nice and tight.

"That's Rosalie," he says pointing to the table. She gives me a warm smile; she seems nice enough. "The big guy is Emmett, which I already told you."

"Hey Bella!" Emmett says as he gives me a bear hug and lifts me clear off the ground. "We are going to be best friends," he says as he sets me back on my feet.

"Is he slow?" I ask my dad. I thought I had whispered my question, but apparently I said it loud enough for everyone to hear. I feel so embarrassed when everyone busts up laughing.

"Yes...yes, he is," Carlisle says as Emmett punches him playfully in the chest. "This is my good friend, Jasper, and that is Esme's brother, Edward."

"Don't let Emmett scare you. If Es and Rose weren't best friends, Emmett wouldn't have any friends," Jasper says as I laugh.

"I'm not that bad!" Emmett says in his defense.

"Everyone loves you, Sweetie," Rose says, making him smile.

"If you say so," I hear Alice whisper beside me.

"I am the only sane person here," Edward says with a smile. "Nice to meet you, Bella."

"You, too," I say as Alice takes my hand and walks me to the far end of the pool.

"Just ignore Uncle Emmett. I've known him my whole life and he has always been a little off," she says as we sit in the grass. "I have a feeling you don't like to be the center of attention, so that's why I pulled you away. Besides, the sun is the brightest over here."

"Thanks. This is all so weird for me."

"I'm sure. Once we go on the road, you'll spend most of your time with us girls, so we might as well become friends," she says with a smile.

"Well, I guess we need to make it official, then. You know...our friendship," I say as I pull up my Facebook account. I hear Alice giggle as my phone chirps. 'Alice Platt has added you as a friend,' my phone reads. We both break out in laughter as I accept the request on my phone.

"Who's the guy in your profile pic?"

"That's Jake."

"Boyfriend?"

"No."

"Cool." I think Alice and I were going to be good friends. I was just happy I had someone to hang with other than my dad. "Isn't Jasper so hot?!"

"Sure," I say with a shrug. "Carlisle doesn't like me talking to or about guys. He was mad when he saw my Facebook profile pic."

"He can't hear us! Come on, admit it; isn't he is the hottest guy you have ever seen in your life?" Alice asks with a lot of excitement.

"He's hot," I say as we cackle.

Alice and I sit in the grass and talk until the food is done. I was glad she pulled me away; it really helped me get my head together. I may actually like spending the summer here after all.

~BL~

Dear Diary,

I got to meet a bunch of my dad's friends tonight. His girlfriend Esme is really cool, and her daughter Alice and I hit it off well. I have come to the conclusion that Emmett is a giant goofball, but Alice says he has a heart of gold. Alice thinks that Jasper is the hottest thing since walking tacos, but truthfully Edward is way cuter. Edward is a serious dreamboat. I mean, I have noticed guys before, but he is like the heaven and earth of all guys. I know he is way too old for me, but wow, he sure is nice to look at. Dad said that tomorrow is a home game, and then we will be on the road for the next nine days. I better get some rest, because we will be flying out after the game tomorrow afternoon. Goodnight.

~BL~

The game is interesting, and I'm glad I get to sit with Alice, Esme, and Rose in a sea of red. The hot dogs are amazing, but after eating one, I feel like I will explode. I am listening to the people behind us talking about how we are a half game out of first place. How in the hell do you get a half a game out of first place? I mean, really? The game consists of nine innings, or so I've learned. Did they play four and a half innings and then say 'I quit'? I don't think I will ever understand this.

Oh look! Edward is up to bat again. I chuckle a little to myself when the guy behind me says that Edward has nice form. After seeing him in board shorts, I have to agree. The bases are loaded, or whatever that means. People behind us are chanting for Edward to get a grand-slam. This is such a weird game. I'm not sure if I will ever understand it.

~BL~

After spending a long almost two weeks traveling, we are finally back at home for the next five days. Alice is hanging out with me because her mom and my dad are of course together. It doesn't bother me that they spend so much time together. It's actually really nice to have Alice around.

Alice sure has the hots for Jasper, and she is so sneaky about getting close to him. It's kind of creepy, because he is so much older than she is, but then again I understand her plight. Edward's ass sure looks great in those tight baseball pants. I'm glad that no one else is hanging out here tonight. I need a break from looking at that ass, for sure.

After swimming for a few hours and eating supper, I bid everyone a goodnight and slip off to write in my journal.

~BL~

Dear Diary,

I'm not sure how to handle the thoughts I keep having of Edward. He is entirely too old for me, but he is so handsome, and he has a killer body. I wish Mom was here so I could talk to her. He's the first guy I've really been interested in. The problem is that he is as old as my dad. I'm sure it's just a passing crush, but when he smiles at me, I melt. I sat next to him earlier today on the plane. He smelled so good...I could smell him all day. Alice was sitting by Jasper; somehow, she had worked it out that way. Dad said I could sit by him, but I told him Edward was okay. I like talking with him. We don't talk about anything important, just music and stuff, but I feel so comfortable with him. I fell asleep for a while on the plane. I sure hope I didn't talk in my sleep, especially with the dream I had. When I woke up, I had a tingling sensation on my lips. I had dreamt that Edward had kissed me. It was so wonderful. I wish it had been real. I really, really like him...I am so screwed. This man is the same age as my own father.

~BL~

The rest of the summer with my father passes quite the same way, and I find myself packing to go home. I am officially crushing hard core on Edward, and we have spent more than a few days together. It seems like when he's not playing ball, he is hanging out at the house. On the road, I find us always hanging out or having meals together, and since Alice always wants to sit beside Jasper, I always seem to sit beside Edward.

I get to see Edward in the morning. He is staying here tonight in the guest room. Tomorrow after my flight leaves, the team and my dad have a flight of their own to catch. My flight is an hour before theirs, but they all decided to see me off. Alice is at a classmate's house; she is staying there to go school shopping this weekend. She and I had our good-bye, and we promised to keep in touch. Esme, Edward, and my dad were talking about the upcoming games at the table before I came upstairs. I zip my bag closed; I can put my pajamas in my carry on in the morning. I grab my journal and a pen, and climb in to my bed.

~BL~

Dear Diary,

I go home in the morning, and I'm excited to see my mom, but I will miss Edward so much. Yeah, yeah...I'll miss my dad, too. I've had a great summer with him, but the best part of my summer was meeting Edward. I will really miss him. I know he's a grown man, but I have been praying every night that he will wait for me. It will be hard to leave tomorrow, but I miss Mom and Jake, and I can't wait to see them. Laters.

~BL~

The drive to the airport goes by fast. We all check in, make it through security, and then head to my gate to wait. It all worked out, because the team's gate is only two away from mine. Dad and Esme walk over to get some coffee and rolls, and Edward plops down in the seat beside me.

"Did you enjoy the summer with your dad?"

"Yeah, I had a good time. I'm going to miss watching you guys play."

"I'll miss seeing you cheering for me," he chuckles.

"I'll have to watch you on TV. Think you'll make the play-offs this year?"

"I think we stand a good chance."

"Me, too," I say as Esme and my dad comes walking back over.

After sitting with everyone for over an hour, my flight is finally boarding. Esme pulls me in for a big hug and kisses me on the cheek. My dad pulls me in and hugs me for a long time, and I know he's gonna miss me because he tells me over and over. As he hangs on to me he tells me how wonderful it was to have me for more than a few days. I feel the same way. Finally, he lets me go and I turn to say goodbye to Edward. It's a bit of a shock when he hugs me. As he pulls back, he moves to kiss my cheek, but I turn my head so his lips brush mine lightly. I didn't think he was going to give me any kind of kiss. The light touch sends a tingle across my skin, and I move to the ticket taker in a slight daze.

I turn to wave and they do the same. My dad looks so sad.

"Bye; I love you," I say as I turn to go through the door.

Edward's words are the last thing I hear before I walk down the walkway to my plane. "See ya soon."

A/N: Well there you go... the first chapter into our newest joint effort. No worries folks, nothing serious will take place until Bella is of the age of consent. Do you remember your first kiss? Did it leave that tingling feeling on your lips? I remember my first tingly kiss, and somehow I managed to feel that tingle all day long... *SIGH* Now I wish I could find the person that makes me tingle when I kiss them... *BIGGER SIGH*. Excited to hear your thoughts; Kasi (&Jess)