| Nathan |

I woke up at precisely 3 am on Monday morning, and was already wide awake.

Today I was going a family vacation with Isabella.

How the hell did this happen? I thought I didn't want her in my life at all, but that was clearly not the case. Maybe I would try to push her away when we got back... I didn't honestly know what I was doing.

When I had told my mother over the phone Saturday morning that I was bringing a girl with me, she dropped whatever she had been holding. I know because I heard a deafening crash and something shattering, but she didn't care.

She had gushed and gushed about how happy she was for me. She then proceeded to tell every single member of our family that was coming on the trip in a matter of hours. Jackson came over to my home and I had to eventually kick him out because he was making such a big deal over what was really nothing.

Sunday, my mother called again, asking what she should cook all week in order to impress Isabella, I didn't know what to tell her except that she should probably make her homemade cheesecake.

"I'm just so excited Nathan, I have to make a good impression on your girlfriend." she had said cheerily.

"She's not my girlfriend." I had snapped and she only laughed at me, but corrected herself. I let Isabella know of the whole plan so she could plan her own vacations days accordingly with her boss, and now the day was finally here.

I was dreading it.

I got out of bed, worked out, showered and then got dressed for the flight. I had packed the night before, so I took my suit case, and back pack downstairs. There I waited for it to be 3:45 am, and then I could leave to get Isabella.

I drank a cup of coffee, looked at some emails and enjoyed the silence. I knew silence would be something few and far between in the upcoming week.

I couldn't comprehend why I had invited Isabella, especially if I had convinced myself I didn't want anything from her. The whole thing was... odd.

Finally it was time for me to go, I got my things, and even though I had said I wouldn't bring any work with me, I did pack my lap top and some files from the office. Plus, my phone made me able to do work anywhere I went.

I got in my black Audi, and then left to go get Isabella, from there we would go to the airport and take my private jet down to Florida. I hoped she would be awake and ready, something told me she definitely didn't ever wake up at this time.

I pulled up outside the apartment building and the made my way up to her apartment. I knocked on the door and she opened it, looking a little groggy but nonetheless put together. She wore a pair of dark-washed jeans, a rose colored blouse and a cream sweater. Her hair was hanging in loose waves around her face and her face looked clean, freshly washed.

"Good Morning." I say and she smiles tiredly.

"Hey." she says. "Come in."

I entered, then waited for her while she got her bags together and put stuff away around the apartment. Then she pulled on some simple high heals and came back over. I smiled a little, wondering if she felt more confident when she was taller. I realized then I really liked the way she looked in high heals.

"Okay, I'm ready." she says.

"Alright. Let's go." I say and I insisted on taking her bags, even though she told me she could get it all. She only one large suit case, a duffel bag and her purse, which she carried. I loaded them into the back of my car, and we were off.

The ride was mostly silent, seeing as she fell asleep, but when she was awake she talked about how she was excited to be coming with me. I had to admit, I was...excited too. When we pulled up at the airport I woke her.

"Where is everyone?" she asks, confused, as though she expected us to be flying on a commercial flight.

"We're taking my jet." I tell her and she smiles.

"That makes sense, I should have known." she says laughing a little and I nod.

"Come on." I say and we both get out of the car. I get out bags, then we board the plan and buckle in for the flight.

"I'm pretty excited." she says looking over me from where she sat, across the cabin in a large, cream leather chair. "These are so comfy." she comments, smiling to herself as she tilted her head back into the cushion and closed her eyes, sighing.

"How are you sleeping again?" I ask, somewhat harshly.

She opens her eyes and looks at me quizzically. Then she shakes her head.

"Do you not understand how good sleep is for you? Scientific studies show that you should get at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night." she tells me matter-of-factly. I scowl.

"That's bullshit." I mutter, pulling out my phone to check emails before the flight took off.

"Oh that's right, I forgot, you're a workaholic." she says loudly, and sarcastically. I look over just in time to see her roll her eyes at me.

"I work hard, and I get rewarded for that. It does not matter how much sleep I get, because I am obviously fine." I snap. Part of me suddenly regretted bringing her, especially if she was going to be a smart-ass.

"Listen to you." she giggles. "I'm fine, even though I'll probably work myself to death." she says, mimicking me, making her voice as deep as she could. I felt taken-a-back.

I let out a sigh and looked back at my phone. I finished my emails, and soon the pilot let us know we were going to take off. I looked over and found that Isabella had fallen back asleep as the plane shot up into sky, taking us toward Florida.

I shake my head, I guess she just really loved sleep. Now that I had woken up and had had my coffee, I wasn't going back to sleep until at least 9 or 10. Maybe later. Even if I hadn't drank coffee I wouldn't be sleeping again. There was nothing comforting about it, it was just something I had to do every night, preferably for the least amount of time possible. And I was fine with it, even if Isabella seemed to disagree.

We were half way through the flight when Isabella woke again and got up, exploring the plane a bit. Then she sat down, and watched a movie on her computer, she didn't say much to me, but that was because I was typing away at my own computer, working on a spread sheet.

The plane landed around 7:30, and we got a car from the airport to the beach-side mansion my parents recently bought.

"What are your parents like?" she asks.

"They're both good people. My mother is sweet and my father is nice, but a bit intense." I tell her. She nods.

"I'm a little nervous to meet them." she admits.

"You'll be fine." I reassure her, if I knew anything, she would definitely make a good impression. Even if she was very unlike any woman I had ever 'been' with. My longest relationships had always been strictly physical, so I suppose they weren't really relationships at all.

"Do you think I should have worn something nicer?" she asks, looking down at her jeans.

"No." I tell her. Even if she was simple and plain, it was a good look on her.

"Do you have any younger siblings?" she asks.

"I have one younger sister, she's 18 and I have two baby cousins, one is 3 and the other is 4." I tell her, referring to my uncle's children. The age gap between him and my father was shocking at times.

We soon pulled up to the house and I heard a sharp intake of breath. I looked over at her.

"Woah." she mutters as we get out of the car. She tilts her head way back, looking up at the huge home, and then she looks out to the ocean behind the house. "I mean... wow."

"Come on." I say chuckling slightly and placing my hand on her lower back, leading her to the front door. The driver gets our bags, and I knock on the door. Immediately there was a loud commotion from behind the door.

The doors were yanked open to reveal my mother, blonde hair curled, in a flowing dress and looking completely overjoyed.

"Nathan! Darling!" she declares and embraces me for a tight hug, taking me by surprise.

"Mother." I say, trying to get her off me. She releases me and I brace myself when she turns her attention to Isabella.

"Hi, I'm Isabella Smith." she says sweetly. My mom smiles widely.

"I'm Mrs. Price, but just call me Rose." she says, taking her in a loving hug as well. I make a face. "It's so nice to meet you." she gushes. "Come in both of you, the others are all out back enjoying the beautiful sunrise."

"Okay." says Isabella softly, and she was swept away by my mom. I trail behind, walking through a long grand hallway, to a large deck, which was literally right off the beach. The sun was lighting the sky brilliantly, there was an abundance of fancy patio furniture on the deck and my mother had clearly been preparing breakfast because it was all set out on a long buffet. I am greeted first by my uncle, who is holding a mug full of what was most likely extra dark coffee.

"Nathan!" he says loudly, his voice abnormally deep and boisterous, giving me a bone-crushing hug. "So good to see you, Heather." he calls to his wife. "Look who I've found!"

"Oh my god!" she shrieks from down on the beach, where she had been standing with Lucy and Jackson, she runs up onto the patio and jumps me. I groan. I had barely had a chance to say anything, this was irritating.

"Bryce and Scarlett have been asking constantly about seeing their big cousin Nathan." she tells me, referring to their children. But before I can say anything she speaks again. "Show me this girl you brought."

"She 's over there." I say pointing to where the rest of my family had gathered, around her and my mother. She was currently introducing herself, either shaking everyone's hand or getting a big hug. My brother and Lucy, had just joined them.

"Oo, she's so pretty." she tells me sweetly.

"Gorgeous." says my Uncle. "Well, then, I must introduce myself. Come on Heather." he motions her along and I follow.

"You're way to pretty for Nathan." I hear Sarah, my younger sister, commenting loudly.

"I'm sorry?" I say.

"Oops." she says giggling and Isabella looks over at me, looking a bit freaked out. I knew my family would be too loud for her.

"Take that back young lady, my son is a very handsome young man." says my mother and everyone else chimes in.

"So Isabella, did you have a nice flight?" asks my dad.

"Yes." she says politely. "When did you all get in?"

"We got in last night." he tells her. "Nice flight, we got here just in time for the sunset. You could have seen it, if it weren't for my hard-working son."

I scowl. "I'm sure it was beautiful, but I personally like the sunrise better, so it worked out." she says. He nods, smiling at her. I already knew my whole family liked her.

"Well, let's eat!" exclaims my mother and everyone cheers.

"She's so great bro." says Jackson coming up to me as I walked over to the food. "Not what I expected though."

"You've seen her before." I tell him.

"I know, but not upclose. She's just like a normal, pretty girl you know? No boob job or hug ass, not blonde. Not what I expected, like I said." he tells me. "Very pretty though."

"Jesus, will you drop it?" I mutter and he chuckles.

I get my food, and go over to Isabella who had sat down on the elevated part of the deck, with all the fancy chairs with cushions.

"There are so amazing Nathan." she tells me when I sit down next to her.

"Not too much for you?" I ask and she shakes her head.

"Not at all. I wish I had grown up with something like that." she says.

"I didn't grow up with them." I snap and she just smiles.

"I know, but you still get them for your family." she points out.

The others came over and we all started eating.

"So, what career are you pursuing Isabella?" asks my dad.

"Well, I've always loved both reading and writing, but the publishing industry really caught my attention, so I chose to go after it. I actually recently graduated with a Business and English degree, and got a job with a publishing firm in Manhattan." she explains and my dad nods, along with every one else, impressed.

"Excellent, sounds like you work very hard for what you want." he says.

"Oh we like hard workers." says my mom and I glare, she was trying to set us up to date, I could see it.

"Mom." I snap and she looks at me, shaking her head.

"Tell me a little bit more about you." says my mom.

"Well I grew up in outside The Hamptons, in a little beachside town. I'm an only child but my parents were pretty good to me." she says smiling and I look over. "They're divorced now, but I recently talked to my dad and he's doing well."

Everyone nods and remarks something along the lines of "very nice" or "It's sad they're divorced, but good they're doing well". She left out a lot, a whole lot actually, but I suppose she was guarded too. Something I could understand perfectly.

___

Alright everyone!

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xoxo

-Keara Rose