A/N: Two year hiatus! Ahh. I'm back and I will finish this story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Landslide: Dixie Chicks

"Well, I've been afraid of changin'
'Cause I built my life around you
But time makes you bolder"

Jaylenes POV:

"No! No! No! No!" Krista shouted out pointing at one of the girls on the dance team. "Rhea, it's an eight count move not a seven. It can't be that hard to remember one simple step! What, did you forget how to count?!"

The small girl looked down at her feet and shook her head.

"Then what is the problem?" Krista screeched.

I looked at Krista in confusion never seeing her so harsh on any of the girls before. "Krista, that's enough!" I spat.

She looked at me with anger in her eyes but said nothing.

I looked towards my teammates; they were all sweating and panting from the four-hour practice we just went through. The home coming date had been pushed back two weeks earlier and we had less than a month to get everything in order. Unfortunately we had to move our practices to weekends since we were able to have the dance room for longer amounts of time.

"I think we've all had enough for today, lets go home!" I said to them as they all thanked me and quickly grabbed their things and ran out the door leaving me alone with Krista.

"Way to make me look like the bad guy, as always!" she said glaring daggers at me before grabbing her things and walked out.

I caught up to her and yanked her arm back forcing her to look at me. "What the hell is your problem Krista?"

She scoffed. "Like you don't know."

It had been a month and half into the last semester of our senior year and its been proving to be a difficult one. On top of our grueling dance practices every weekend, I had to be at the school everyday after the last bell rung due to the school play coming up a week right after the homecoming game. It just so happened that our teacher for drama class, which usually consisted of just reading Shakespeare and writing papers about it, decided it would be fun to actually play out Romeo and Juliet to the entire student body. And unfortunately, since I decided to show up late to class that day Juliet was the remaining role left.

"Krista, I don't know. You're not making any sense. I've never seen you act like this towards anyone especially not me. What's wrong?"

Still she said nothing. I began rubbing my head at the oncoming migraine I was starting to feel. Exhausted doesn't even come close to how I felt at this moment. I barely had anytime for myself juggling with schoolwork, a school play, a dance team to coach, and a boyfriend I hadn't spent time with other than lunch I was starting to loose my sanity.

"Ryan barely talks to me anymore," she whispered lowly, "He's too caught up in this stupid play and basketball practice he barely makes an effort anymore. I call in just to check up on him and he always says he doesn't have time. It's taking a toll on me Jaylene, it's taking a toll on us." Her green eyes became glassy and I knew it was only a matter of time before she started crying. "I don't mean to take it out on you Jay, it's just I'm jealous that you're the one who gets to spend time with him everyday after school because you're both the starting roles."

I caught her in a hug trying to soothe her. "I'm sorry Krista, Ryan hasn't told me anything. You know he loves you more than anything just hang in there. You know it hasn't been easy for Paul and me either. We can't go a day without fighting with each other and his temper has been getting too much for me to control and that's saying something."

She looked up at me. "I'm so sorry I didn't mean to add on to what you already have going on and I know it's been years since you and Ryan had a thing but maybe my insecurity has been making me more paranoid than usual. I know you would never do anything like that to me Jaylene."

I wiped her tears and gave her a smile. "Silly girl, what the hell is going through that mind of yours?"

She started laughing and I knew her anger had finally disappeared.

I checked my watch and saw that it was already 6pm, I had to be at First Beach in an hour for the bonfire and if I wanted to shower and change I had to leave now. "Just let me get my things and I'll drive you home, you don't need to call your mom."

"Thank you Jaylene."

An hour later and I was dressed in a thick pair of black leggings and an oversized knit sweater that hung loosely over my shoulder. I stuck my feet in a pair of tall brown boots and grabbed my jacket before meeting my Grandpa in the living room.

"Hey Gramps, I'm ready!"

He turned his head away from the TV and smiled. "Let's go kiddo."

I turned the radio on and flicked through the channels before my grandpa started talking to me. "So how was practice?"

I shook my head not really wanting to go into details. "It was long, too long. You know gramps I've been looking forward to my senior year forever now and I really wish I hadn't. I don't know how I'm juggling all the things I am right now and still standing."

My grandpa laughed. "Well Jay, you are taking what four AP classes? You know you should've taken an English class instead of Drama."

"Gramps, EVERYONE in La Push knows to take Drama their senior year, it's the easiest A you could possibly get! I mean who changes the tradition of reading Shakespeare for years to actually acting it out?! That seems a little unfair that it just had to be my senior year!"

If it hadn't been for Ryan and my friend Kim being in that class I would have easily dropped it the next day. But the excessive begging and groveling coming from the two of them just blew that idea out of the window.

He shook his head. "Jaylene since when have you ever taken the easy way out? You know that you took three AP classes your freshmen year when you didn't have to right? But no, you just had to push yourself and you did. You got through that semester like it was nothing. Whatever you have going on with school, your play, or the dance team, you'll get through them with no problem at all because that's just who you are. You don't give up on anything, no matter how hard it gets."

I smiled up at my grandpa. He knew me better than anyone on this earth ever did and for that I was grateful. Our relationship barely consisted of fighting because he just understood me without me even having to say a single word. "Thank you gramps, I really needed to hear that."

We pulled in next to the Clearwater's truck and started walking towards the beach. Immediately my eyes landed on Paul who was talking to Jared, they were both wearing sweatpants and an oversized jacket, if it wasn't for the different lengths in their hair you would think they were actually brothers.

"Jaylene!" Leah shouted breaking my gaze from Paul. I was immediately in a bone-crushing hug and for once I was really happy for it. "God, I missed you! What the hell!"

I laughed. "I missed you too. Holy crap I didn't think school was going to be this hard."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah I already heard from Paul who hasn't stopped complaining to Sam about it."

"Oh geez, sorry." Just then Sam appeared behind Leah wrapping an arm around her waist. "Okay Sam, I know it's only been a month and half since I last saw you on New Years Eve but holy crap I think you got even bigger."

"I'll take that as a compliment," he said with a deep chuckle.

"Mom and Dad have been looking for you so go on and say hi," Leah said before taking Sam to greet my grandpa.

I walked over to all the older council members and greeted everyone with a smile before I felt arms wrap around my waist and I instantly broke out in a grin.

Paul planted a kiss on my temple before speaking. "Hey you."

I inhaled his scent before turning to him and giving him a quick peck on the lips. "Hi."

He grabbed my hand and sat himself on the sand, rather than the massive log by the bonfire. He pulled me down to sit in-between his legs and I pressed my back closer to his chest. For the first time in a long time I was finally relaxed laying on Paul without having to worry about anything. Of course that didn't last long once my phone began vibrating in my pocket.

"God damn it!" I grabbed the phone from my pocket and looked down at the ID noticing that it was my grandmother, from my dad's side.

Paul noticed me hesitate to answer. "Who is it?"

"My grandma," I said in a whisper.

"Oh," was all Paul said because he knew the type of woman she was. "Please don't answer it. I just really want to spend this night with you and I don't want your mood ruined because I know she does that to you."

I sighed. "You know I can't Paul."

Cordelia Matthews is the epitome of elegance and perfection. When she walked into a room she earned respect from whomever she walked by. She was well known around the socialite scene in New York with her husband owning one of the most successful law firms in the east coast everyone knew a Matthews whenever they saw one.

Our relationship was nothing short of tumultuous. Every year over the summer that I would visit, she would waste no time in taking me to $25,000-a-plate charity dinners or sit in the front-row of exclusive fashion designers revealing their summer line. It was the type of scene that I definitely did not want to be in but did for my dad's sake who wanted nothing more than for me to have a relationship with her like I did with my grandpa.

I stood up and walked away from the bonfire towards the woods. I already had a feeling I knew what this was going to be about and I didn't want Paul around to hear it. "Hey grandma," I said leaning against a large tree.

"Jaylene. I heard through your father that you declined the early acceptance to Julliard for this spring." Her tone was sharp and swift cutting straight to the point, there was no such thing as a 'how are you?' to this lady.

I winced back at her voice knowing that my night was not going to get any better talking to this woman. "Um, yes grandma."

"And why on earth would you throw away an opportunity like that? Did you tell Raymond about this decision? I hope he's been trying to talk you out of it."

I rolled my eyes as she said my grandpa's full name. "Grandma, the decision was mine entirely and he stands behind whatever I want to do."

She scoffed. "Of course he wouldn't try to change your mind, he's too passive with you. Always letting you do whatever you want without worrying of the consequences you face."

It took everything in me to not shout back at how much I loved my grandpa and hated her. Tell her how I was a straight A student who can juggle a boyfriend and two extra curricular activities on top of that. I hated how easily she judged my decisions, and me. She was the type of person who wanted to mold you to be exactly like her but I'd rather die than become anything like her.

"He's just trying to make me happy, there's nothing wrong with that." It took everything I had in me to not say what I wanted to say, I just wanted to hang up and go to the bonfire.

"Happy? How happy do you think you will be Jaylene once you've graduated high school and the only thing you have to look forward to is some community college?"

I said nothing because I knew nothing would make her see what I wanted her to see. She was too encased in her little bubble of money and social status to even understand what the meaning of happiness was.

"Since I know you deserve better than that I've pulled some strings with the dean of Julliard and they are holding your application so you can be accepted into the fall semester. No need to thank me, I just wanted what is best for my granddaughter."

I held the phone tight in my hand about ready to throw it against trees when I thought better of it and said the only thing that could rid me of my grandmother. "Thank you grandma."

"We'll that is all I called for so go on, I will speak to you some other time." And with that she hung up not even waiting for a response from me.

She was one of the main reasons why I decided to stay with my grandpa, as much as I know she meant well I just couldn't stand her controlling ways. 'Her way or no way' could have easily been her motto.

I checked the time on my phone and realized almost an hour had past by, so much for spending time with my boyfriend. I made my way back towards the bonfire and saw that my grandpa was almost finished with the story about Taha Aki and the Third Wife. I looked towards Paul as he sat with this legs crossed in front of him, he saw me walking towards him and made no move to changes his position. Instead he looked back towards my grandpa and slid over so I had room to sit between him and Leah.

I sighed and shook my head. He was mad at me and I knew he would be after he had been looking forward to this night to just relax with me. Instead I was too busy wasting my time with grandma. With the day I've had a fight between Paul and I was the last thing I wanted.

I plopped down next to Leah who gave me an apologetic smile before wrapping her arm around my shoulder and letting me lay my head on her lap. "Thank you," I whispered.

As Leah stroked my hair I started feeling the exhaustion of my long day and started feeling sleepy listening to my grandpa's voice. "The Third Wife was Taha Aki's imprint…" It was the last thing I heard before falling into a dreamless sleep.

"Come on Jay, it's time to go," Leah whispered stroking my hair again.

I looked up and didn't find Paul next to me so I scanned the crowd hoping to find him.

"He's talking to your grandpa, over there," Jared said appearing from behind me pointing towards the woods.

"He's mad at me isn't he?" I asked him already knowing the answer.

"He's just really frustrated right now Jay, I mean none of us has really hung out with you in a while. Even I miss you! I have no one to rant to about my girl problems."

I laughed. "Girl problems my ass." I looked at Jared then at Leah and Sam. "I'm sorry I haven't been around I'm just trying to survive this last semester."

Sam shook his head. "Jay, were behind you all the way. It's Paul you have to worry about."

Just then he appeared next to me. "I'm taking you home, we need to talk," was all he said as he walked towards the parking lot.

"I'll see you guys later," I said following Paul and gave them a small wave.

Getting in a car with Paul while he was angry was the last thing I wanted tonight but as we both slammed the car door I knew that it was inevitable with the ways things turned out. Paul suddenly took his jacket off revealing a tight black V-neck sweater, which clung on to every muscle in his upper body. For a second I forgot all about my worries and just stared at my boyfriend until he turned the car on and drove towards my house.

"Paul, please I'm sorry. I really don't want you mad at me," I begged knowing that I didn't have the energy to really fight back.

He sighed. "I'm tired Jay. I don't want to sound like a complete pussy but I barely see you anymore. The only times I do is right after rehearsal from school and all you do is come over my house and pass out next to me. Or it's during lunch but you're too busy talking to Ryan about the play and shit."

I sat there in silence just listening.

"I'm the one who's sitting by the fucking phone thinking maybe you'd call and say you 'll skip a day of rehearsal to see me. Or to just check up on me! How fucking pathetic do I sound?!"

"But you don't—" I started before being cut off.

"And now tonight, my first time seeing you in a couple of weeks and you wanna spend that time talking to your snobby grandmother who probably did nothing but shit on your life here thinking it's not good enough for you." His eyebrows were knitted together, his hands tightly gripped on the steering wheel not once glancing my way.

"Paul I'm really trying to balance everything out and I'm sorry if it seems like I'm neglecting you but please know that it's not easy. I just want you to understand."

"Understand what? I haven't said anything these past few weeks but I'm done being quiet. I fucking hate the amount of time you spend with Ryan. Whatever you guys had years ago is getting to me every time I see you two together. The way he fucking looks at you? It's the way he used to look at Krista but he barely notices her anymore."

I snapped my head towards him. "What the fuck are you talking about? We're friends, I would never do that to you or to Krista." It made me angry to even think he would hint it.

"You must be blind if you don't see it Jay."

"Nothing is happening between us. You sound just like fucking Krista. What, do you vent to her about me too because you're both repeating each other."

He scoffed. "I'd prefer talking to her than you at any time of the day. At least she listens."

His words stung and immediately I began to feel my eyes water. I was thankful that we were finally pulling into my block and he parked by my driveway.

I took off my seatbelt and opened my door not saying anything as I ran towards the door. I felt Paul's hand yank my arm back and turned me towards him.

"Fuck you," I said with tears streaming down my face. "Let go off me! I don't want to fucking see you or talk to you."

Paul said nothing as he let go of my arm and went back in his car and drove away. In a matter of a month and a half my life had turned upside down. My best friend thought that I would steal her boyfriend away and my boyfriend turned into an asshole that I didn't recognize. The tears began flowing down my face as I opened the front door, closing it behind me and falling to the floor.

At that moment, I didn't know what to do. I wanted to just scream at the top of my lungs and let all this stress and anger out. Instead I just walked towards the backyard and out into the woods following the small path I made that led towards my favorite spot on the reservation. I pushed through the leaves of a giant weeping willow and entered the end of a small cliff over-looking the far end of First Beach. My dad had found this place when I was younger and he would always take me here whenever I had trouble sleeping or I overheard another fight between him and my mom. He knew the sound of the waves pushing through the small rocks underneath would soothe me until I stopped crying.

I took in a deep breath of the fresh air around me instantly calming me. I laid down on the ground looking up at the stars remembering the times my dad would point out shapes. Though I saw my dad two months out of the year our relationship was a lot better than my non-existent mother. He always called in every chance he could between meetings and business trips. I was thankful that he called me on New Years apologizing for the way he acted towards me when I declined Julliard. I told him that I loved him for everything he did and I promised to make him proud one day.

"You make me proud every single day Jaylene. The way you take care of your grandpa and everyone around you makes me see just how caring of a person you are. You always put others before yourself and I wish I were there every single day to witness it. But I hope you're also doing what makes you happy. That's all I really want for you."

Thinking back to my dad's words just made me cry even more. As much as I tried to put up this façade in front of everyone, making it seem like I'm okay without my parents around, it still hurt. I wanted what Leah and Seth had with their parents and I wanted to see the type of love I saw in my grandpa's eyes every time he looked at my grandma when she was still alive. I wanted a normal up bringing with trips to the park and bedtime stories. But laying here on the ground alone, it was both stupid and impossible to want things to happen because I knew, nothing I ever wanted…happened.