I took a sip of my black coffee and it burned its way down my throat. I hated coffee. It was nasty and smelled awful. However, on busy days like this one I needed the caffeine so I tolerated the disgusting stuff. It was too early for soda. I was sitting at my desk and it was 6:30am.

Why I am here so damn early? I asked myself.

I knew why. In less than 2 weeks all the students of Forks High School would be on winter break, which meant finals were next week. The last few weeks had been very busy for me. Students were finalizing their schedules for next semester; seniors were preparing for graduation and deciding what college to attend next year while juniors were preparing to be seniors. Then there were the parents of the 8th graders who would be freshman next year. It was such a busy time in the counselor's office. I was one of two counselors at the high school. That meant half the students came to see me and the other half saw the other counselor. Most girls at our school preferred him over me.

I was checking my email. Mostly it was responses from parents about a dinner event we were holding in January for next years new class. It looked like almost everyone would be in attendance. My homework over the break would be preparing a slide show, pamphlets and a speech about our school. The speech would not be so hard since I did attend school here so many years ago. I was only here junior and senior year but I knew the school well and had many fond memories of it.

I had one email from my friend Angela Weber. She also worked at the school. I opened her email and read it.

Bella,

Have you read today's paper? Here is a link that you will be interested in.

Come see me at the library if you can get away.

Angela

She posted a link which I clicked it on. It brought me to an article about an upcoming wedding that was taking place here in Forks in just a few weeks. There was a picture of the happy couple at the top of the page. I gasped with surprise.

Alice and Jasper! Engaged! Getting married!

I was so very excited for them as I read the article about how they met and attended school here. They were getting married at a church in Portland that their family had once belonged to but the reception would be held here in Forks… at the high school?

W-what? How come this is the first I am hearing about it..

Apparently the school offered them the gymnasium and would be turning it into a banquet hall for the night. This was not uncommon. We were doing the same thing for our upcoming dinner. Someone should have told me though… I continued to read the rest of the article. It seemed that the church and reception were by invitation only. However, after dinner was served they would have an open invitation for anyone how would like to celebrate their marriage with them.

They didn't invite me... maybe they don't want me there.

I saw that Angela sent me this email before she left work yesterday. It was almost 7a now. She would be busy now getting ready for the school day. I would have to go see her at lunch.

I kept myself busy with my phone calls and appointments. The day seems to fly by. My cell rang around 11am. I check the called id. It was my husband.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hi" was his bored response.

"Hi." I responded back. I could recite how this conversation would go. It was the same one every time he called me on his lunch break.

"How has your day been?" he asked pretending to be interested.

"Fine." I replied, I never gave him any details. I knew he really wasn't interested.

"That's good." he said.

This time I sighed. Usually I would ask him how his day was and then what he wanted for dinner. It was a very routine conversation.

"What's your problem?" He asked with a slight irritation in his voice. I knew he wasn't concerned but that he was just playing the husband role.

"What? Oh. Um, it's just been one of those days. Uh, did you read yesterday's paper?" I knew he wasn't expecting me to actually engage him in conversation.

"What? Oh, the paper… no I haven't. Why?" He was confused at my attempt at conversation.

"Oh, nothing. There was just an interesting article, that all." I really didn't want him to read about Alice. He probably wouldn't let me go even if I wanted to.

"Well I have to get back to work. I don't know if I will be home tonight." this was not an unusual statement. He often went out with his friends and did not come home until morning.

"Alright. Bye" I replied and hung up after his good bye.

I had been married for a little over 5 years. Marriage was supposed to blissful and happy. I didn't feel that way about mine. Mine was very routine. I wasn't even that happy. I just put up with him because he was my husband and I really did not want to be a 29 year old year old divorcee. I knew that somewhere deep down my husband did still love me. He was always in love with me, since the day we met all those years ago at this very high school.

Knock Knock

I looked up and saw the other counselor at my door. He was not from Forks. He had moved across the country from Florida a few years ago. I think he was a few years older than me, already in his thirties. He was about 5'10" and handsome. His deep blue eyes and light blonde hair fit nicely with his tan complexion. It was like he wore a constant tan even there was never any sun here. He had a bigger build to him like he may have been a quarter back in high school or college. He looked like he still worked out. One time he had to break up a fight in the lunch room. He was able to pin down the football team's linebacker in one swift moment. The poor kid didn't stand a chance. James was definitely handsome and strong. Too bad I was married; otherwise I may like him as more than a friend.

"Hey Bella, sorry to bother you." He said as he entered and took a seat across from me.

"You weren't interrupting much, I was just getting ready for a lunch break." my stomach growled as if on cue. He laughed softly at hearing how hungry I was.

"This will just take a minute. I was wondering if maybe I could get out early today. I will work late for you tomorrow if you'd cover my shift tonight." his blue eyes were pleading with me to say yes.

How can I say no to that perfect face.

"Sure, why not." I said and his face brightened. "My husband will be out with friends so it's not like I have anything to do tonight anyways."

"Thanks Bella! You really are a sweetheart, you know that?" I blushed at his comment. I wasn't attracted to him like every other female in this town was but I still got embarrassed whenever he complimented me. Oh who am I kidding, of course I was attracted to him but I kept those feeling in check. "My sister in flying in tonight and I want to spend some time with her before she heads to Seattle tomorrow for a business function. She won't be home for Christmas this year, so this is the only chance I will get to see her."

Ohhh... how sweet. He would be a great catch for some lucky girl someday…

"I wish I had a brother like you. Instead I just have Charlie." I smiled at him and his face lit up like a kid in a candy store. "I better not see you around here after 3p, you got that?" I teased him. Then my stomach growled again as a reminder that I needed my lunch.

"Thanks, again. Now go eat. Maybe I will bring you breakfast tomorrow." He winked at me as he strode out of my office and back to his.

I wouldn't mind coming in early again if meant breakfast with him. Stop! Married woman... married woman… Oh well, it didn't hurt to daydream.

"Thanks, James!." I called after him. Then I headed out to lunch to tame my grumbling stomach.

By 6pm I was regretting taking James' late shift. I was so exhausted. All my work was done for the day. However, due to the upcoming break and finals our counseling hours were extended to 6:30p so I needed to stay just in case I had a last minute walk in.

I was playing a game of solitaire on my computer and thinking about my conversation with Angela this afternoon. She wanted to attend Alice's wedding for the open invitation and she convincing me to come with her and her boyfriend. I was still undecided. Then I had changed the subject and told her about switching my shift with James. She is convinced that he has some kindergarten crush on me. I reminded her that I was married so the feelings were not mutual. Certain things I kept to myself. No need for anyone to know that I did kind of have a crush on him. What's the point? It was just a crush and nothing more. I was also convinced that the only reason he liked me, if he even did, was because he saw me all the time. I was too average for anyone like him to notice someone like me.

That's what you thought in high school too. Remember who noticed you back then?

My thoughts were interrupted by the office doorbell. I stood and walked around my desk and out into the small reception area to greet my last minute walk in.

This person did not see me right away. They were shaking the rain off of them and wiping their shoes off on the doormat. My heart felt like it was falling when I saw who stood in front me. My head was spinning and I felt very dizzy. That's when I realized I was not breathing.

I just had to switch shifts tonight!

I slowly let out my breath that I was holding and cleared my throat. My guest looked up at me. Our eyes locked for what seemed like an eternity.

"Hello Bella" they greeted me.

Be strong. You can do this. Just talk as if it were a student and not... not…

I couldn't find my voice though. I just walked back into my office and stood in front of my chair. My guest followed me.

"It's been a long time."

Yes, yes it had been a long time. 9 years to be exact.

James owes me big time for this one.