All publicly recognizable characters belong to Stephanie Meyer

Chapter 2

"Jacob, hurry up we're going to be late. We still have to drop everything off at First Beach for the party!" Our oldest daughter was graduation high school today and as is tradition we're celebrating at First Beach afterwards.

I walked into the bedroom to see if Jake had heard me since he hadn't responded. He had just ended a phone call and was looking a bit stressed.

"Hey, is everything okay Jake?"

"Something came up at the shop, can you take everything to the beach and I'll meet you at the football stadium?" Jake responded.

"Um... yeah, sure, I guess I can. Can't Embry handle it, he knows Hayley is graduating today." I asked quizzically.

"Something is wrong with the lift and he can't figure it out, it's probably just the hydraulics, easy fix."

"Fine, don't be late." I huffed.

I finished loading everything in my truck and drove down to the beach. Something has been off with Jake lately. I know we've had problems before, but we've worked through them. It's been almost 10 years since our last big problem and I can't help but to feel like something is brewing.

Jacob is late to the graduation, but I'll deal with it later. Today is about Hayley.

"Sorry I'm late, has she given her speech yet?"

"No, but they're about to announce valedictorian, so you're just in time."

Hayley worked hard in school, she's graduating valedictorian, with an I.B. Diploma, Suma Cum Laude and her A.A. Degree in engineering. She was duel enrolled at the local college her last two years and will be awarded her college degree today as well. She doesn't know that the President of the college will be presenting it to her after her speech. She finished Suma Cum Laude at Port Angeles College as well as being inducted into the Nation Honor Society. I can't be more proud of her and to know that her siblings are on the same track elates me.

Later at the bonfire after we ate and everyone was hanging out and enjoying the company, Hayley approached me followed by a cute short girl with short, spiky, black hair, black boots, and a red and black skirt. Very punk rock.

"Mom, I want you to meet my girlfriend!"

"Hey baby," I said, pulling her into a hug, "I'm so proud of you, this must be the infamous Alice I hear so much about!"

"Hi, Mrs. Black, how are you?" Alice stutters out with a shy wave.

"None of that Mrs. Black shit, call me Bella." I said pulling her into a hug.

Hayley met Alice at the college and they've been together for about 6 months now. Jacob wasn't too happy about Hayley coming out, but he'll either get over it or not, she's our daughter regaurdless.

"Mom, I can't find dad anywhere, I wanted to introduce him to Alice."

"Dad said something about going over by the fire to hang out with Sam."

"Nope, Sam hasn't seen him and neither has Aunt Rachel."

"Not sure honey, did you call him?"

"Not yet, okay mom, love you, but we're gonna go."

"Love you too Hayley, welcome to the family Alice! If you see your brother and sister tell them to head to the truck, it's getting late and we're going home."

"Kay, mom."

When I got to the truck, I called Jake to let him know we were heading home. I hadn't seen him since we were done eating and he went to go find Sam. He didn't answer his phone and it went to voicemail. I left a message and then sent a text, just in case he doesn't check his messages.

-S-

I woke up the next morning alone, which was odd, Jake always sleeps in on Saturday since he doesn't open the shop until noon. I went through the house looking for him and to get the kids up for breakfast. When I didn't find him I went to call him, but noticed he texted me that he stayed at Sam's since he had too much to drink last night and he'll see me at dinner.

After breakfast, I told Hayley to keep an eye on the kids that I was going to the gym. Not only was I a D.N.P., but I was also a certified personal trainer. I worked at the gym on Friday and Saturday when I didn't see patients at the clinic. I kind of fell into it by accident. I have always been a regular at the gym for the last seven years. I was twenty-nine years old with three kids and was unhappy with my body. After about a year of working with a trainer, I started helping others at the gym learn how to use the equipment and putting together work out plans. About four years ago the owner approached me and suggested I become a trainer so I can get paid for what I'm already doing.

Today I had a new client, some Hollywood hotshot actor that needed to buff up for an upcoming role that was going to be shot in our small town. I was told there were a lot of scenes where he was shirtless. So imagine my surprise when I get to the gym and see the one and only Edward Cullen. He had taken time away from the big screen to do the indie thing and this was his first big movie in years.

"Hi, Mr. Cullen, I'm Bella Black." I said as I held my hand out to him.

"Hi, Bella, I'm Edward. I hear you're the best trainer around. I was hard to get in with you since you're only here two days a week."

"I don't know about all that, but I'm also a Mental Health Specialist by day, personal trainer is just my hobby."

I took him to the back weight room and went over the basics, what were his goals, had he lifted weights before, what did he eat, and any medical issues that could impair his work out. After that I took his vitals like I do with all of my clients. I like to have a baseline to make sure they aren't overdoing it.

We got started on his work out and we spent the next hour getting to know each other. I was pleasently surprised at how humble and down to earth he was. I told him about my husband and three kids, and when he found out that I was thirty-six he told me he thought I was no older that twenty-one. I guess my years at the gym had paid off, go me! At the end of the session I explained to him that he'd be on his own during he week, but I wanted him here four days a week and I would work with him every Saturday for the next six months. I got my own workout in before leaving at 5pm to go to make dinner and have it on the table before Jake came home at 6:30.

6:30 came and went and Jake never showed. His phone was going straight to voicemail every time I called him. I was worried so I called Sam. Sam said he hadn't seen him since the bonfire, that Jake never stayed there last night. At 10pm I heard Jake's car pull up. I asked him where he's been, that I had been worried. He walked past me without saying a word. I followed him to our bedroom where he was packing a bag.

"Jake, where are you going?" I asked, panic in my voice.

"Bella, I'm just not happy, I think I'm going to stay at my dad's until I figure out what I want." he explained.

I was shocked, I didn't know what to say.

"Is it the sex? I'm sorry I've been so tired lately, I'll try more."

"No Bella, I just don't know what I want. When I think about it, I think I only married you because of Hayley. By the time I started to realize I was unhappy we already had Devan and Maddox." Jake told me.

"So, you've been unhappy for the last nine years and you're just now saying something." I screamed, I'm an angry crier and I didn't want him to see my tears.

"All we do is work and take care of the kids, I don't even know who I am outside of that."

"I get that Jake, I do, I feel the same way sometimes, but is leaving your family necessary." I pleaded with him.

"Bella, please give me time to figure this out." Jake asked of me.

"I guess, whatever, just know that I love you and we can work through whatever this is. We always work through our problems." I told him.

Jake said good-bye to the kids who were just going to bed and left. I went to my room and cried my eyes out. Something told me he wasn't coming home.