RPOV

I watched him leave his office and walk across the gym toward our group. None of my family members seemed to notice him yet, but I couldn't take my eyes off him. I knew in an instant who he was. How could I not?

I was partially hidden behind Emmett's back, so I knew he hadn't seen me yet. I was grateful for Em's massive back because I was petrified at the thought of locking eyes with him. So many emotions swirled through me, I honestly couldn't pick what my first reaction to seeing him was. I could feel my pulse pounding through my entire body and my stomach churned and bucked.

My Jacob…..

Vaguely I registered my family's reaction to his introduction, but it felt like it was happening far away from me. I was barely even aware of them surrounding me, much less the other 15 or so human kids in the class with us.

I tried making some sense of what was happening. Why was he here? How could he be here now, in this town, in this school?

My mind ran through a slew of random thoughts related to the details of Jacob's presence ten feet in front of me, knowing all the while that none of it really mattered. I was mindful of the fact that all I was doing was trying to keep my mind too busy to process the intense feelings threatening to incapacitate me.

The first emotion I registered was absolute joy…The second that recognition set in, I felt whole again. I'd forgotten what that was like, to not feel like some vital piece of me had been ripped out, leaving a gaping hole. My mind immediately started a reel of our happiest memories together, and the sensation of security and unconditional love that accompanied it was overwhelming.

In the next instant though, my mood soured as those thoughts were replaced by a replay of that terrible morning, and all those that followed…

Waking up, eager as always to see my Jacob, wondering what fun things he had planned for me today, knowing that he would be there to rescue me from my lessons before long. Mom explaining that I didn't have to go to 'school' today, immediately thinking that meant more time with Jacob, until she explained that I had to go with Aunt Alice instead. Getting back from that grueling shopping trip and racing through the cottage looking for him. Daddy trying to tell me that he wasn't there, but I couldn't believe that – he was always there for me to play with. Running over to the big house, thinking that maybe Grandma was feeding him over there. The shock of seeing everything all packed up there, the furniture covered with sheets. Confused, not understanding what was going on – where was everyone? Mom and dad explaining that we had to move on, couldn't stay in Forks any longer. Hearing that Jacob wasn't coming – that he was 'a grown man with a life of his own, had to lead his pack and take care of his dad.' Dad saying that hanging around with a little girl everyday was keeping Jacob from building his own life and that I needed time away from him too…. Screaming at daddy, fighting and flailing at the car restraints…..Crying all the way to our new house, and for weeks afterward…..

So, I guessed this was the life he had needed time away from me to build. As I listened to mom and dad whispering furiously but nearly silently to each other, I wondered if Jacob had missed me like I missed him. The despair and heartache from those months after we moved flashed to mind, and I couldn't help but hope that he had felt them too.

A second later, those thoughts and memories were replaced by a crushing sense of fear and confusion – what was I supposed to do now? How do I act, what do I say? How will he handle all of this? I was suddenly petrified….I had no idea how to handle this.

Holy crap, he's a teacher now. My teacher… What would this mean for us?

And um, wow….was he always this hot? What? Ok, that errant thought just kind of snuck in there…but seriously, I remember always thinking he was beautiful, but this is something else entirely….

I heard dad and mom stop conversing and dad growl lightly under his breath. Apparently he heard my last thought, but I was too confounded to care.

I didn't know what to do, so I did nothing. I didn't answer when mom asked if I was ok. I didn't look up when Aunt Rose tried to make eye contact with me. I felt like running out of the gym and not stopping till I reached my bedroom, but I knew I couldn't trust my legs to do my bidding . So I stayed in my head and allowed myself to revel in my thoughts.

I heard him start roll call. His tone icy cold when he called out my family's names, fierce emotions flashing across his face that were gone a fraction of a second later. When he got to my name, his voice cracked audibly. I raised my hand, unable to speak in that moment. He continued through his list and I couldn't believe how he was able to act so calm and collected. Was this really not affecting him like it was me?

"Alright class, have a seat on the bleachers. I have to grab something from my office, then we'll go over the schedule for the semester. Keep it down," he stated, as he walked quickly away.

As we found seats next to each other, I heard my parents and aunt and uncle discussing the situation, too quietly for the humans to hear.

"How the hell did this happen?" Rosalie hissed.

"How the hell should I know? And what does it matter how, anyway? I think we need to leave" dad replied.

"Remember what Carlisle said – do nothing to threaten blowing our cover. We're supposed to go along acting like typical high school students, not bring any attention to ourselves. It wouldn't seem very 'typical' for the five of us to get up and walk out right now!" my mom insisted.

Dad gave her a strange look, but agreed. "Fine, we stay for now. But as soon as we're through here, I'm going to the office to see if there's another class we can all be switched too instead of this one."

"So we're just going to stay here? Let a dog teach us?" Rosalie asked scornfully.

"For now, yes, and you need to calm down and act normal."

"Relax, Rose…it'll be fine" Emmett soothed.

"Shutup, jackass" Rosalie responded. Emmett just grinned at her.

Jacob returned to our group then with a stack of papers. He began handing them around.

"We'll start the semester with a conditioning and weight training unit, followed by basketball, volleyball, football and finally swimming. I expect everyone to show up for class dressed and ready to go, and I deal with any and all discipline problems with laps, lots and lots of laps. Any questions?"

No one said anything.

"No? Ok, let's start with a few laps around the gym, then line up for exercises. Get moving." Jacob said, never once making eye contact with any of us. We left our schedules on the bleachers and began to jog, concentrating hard to keep pace with the rest of the class.

A short time later, we were arranged loosely in rows going through the exercises Coach Black yelled out at us. I discovered it was easier to focus on what we were doing, and watching the kids around me to make sure I stayed at their speed than it was to allow myself to think about the inconceivable situation I was in. I tried for a moment to block out his presence, but gave up when I realized that was impossible. I couldn't keep him out of my mind for more than a second or two, but I still wasn't sure what I really thought about him.

Part of me was so hurt; the heartbreak of his sudden absence from my life never went away. Why didn't he come after me? Why did he never contact me in all these years? Did he really not want me in his life? Did he resent all the time he wasted taking care of me for those few years of my childhood? But if so, why did he sound so choked up when he called out my name? Why did I keep catching him looking at me funny, only to look away quickly when our eyes met?

A bigger part of me was happy, exuberant really at the sight of him again after so long. A sense of 'rightness' had settled over me when I saw him that I was fighting, hard. Happiness was a selfish emotion, I realized, since he obviously meant more to me than I did to him. I decided I had to quash that feeling and never let it show. Things were obviously very different now, and I guessed I'd have to learn to live with that.

"Alright class, follow me next door to the weight room. We'll spend the rest of the week learning the machines and making up individualized training programs for each of you to follow for the next few weeks. No one touches anything in there before I say so." Jacob instructed.

"Oh boy!" Emmet exclaimed, rubbing his hands together with an excited glint in his eyes.