CHAPTER 2:

Arrival

I ended up being happy that my mom dropped me off at the airport so early. It gave me ample time to tie up some loose ends between transferring colleges before classes start on Monday. I didn't like change, and this was a big one. Transferring schools halfway through my entire college program while also running a successful business? I've debated just dropping out of college altogether once my website took off. I mean, if I'm already successful, what was the point? But I loathed the thought of not being taken seriously by investors without the very expensive golden ticket.

The airport was muggy. I was overheating in my brand new sweatshirt from Patagonia I snagged from REI. My mom assured me I would need a nice jacket to fit in with the students at UW, but I was starting to feel like I was standing out.

After a three-hour smooth plane ride, I took one step outside the Port Angeles Airport and the cold wind slapped me across the face. Mother nature was laughing at how wrong my intuition was about the drastic temperature difference. Sure it was 60 degrees outside, but I was from Phoenix, where anything below 70 was stay-inside weather. I was in for bigger life adjustments than I thought.

I heard an old chuggin' engine wrapping around the corner of the pick-up line. The Port Angeles airport was shaped like a bowl and sat in the middle of a mountain range, I was surprised that the old beat-up Chevy could make it without stalling. The truck pulled up to the curb and smoke blew out the back tailpipe as it backfired. I watched as everyone stared at the truck, or so I thought that's what caught their eye.

To my shock, it was not the truck, but the grown Jacob Black.

What was Jacob doing here? Where was Charlie? The reality was sinking in as he bee-lined it towards and I had grown up together. He lived on the reservation near Forks – Charlie and his father were great friends.

"Bella!" Jacob says with excitement as he hops over the curb and opens his arms. He brings me in for the biggest, warmest bear hug I've ever received.

"Hey, Jacob!" I say confused. I take a step to make sure my eyes are correct and not deceiving me, that Jacob Black was standing in front of me. And he is not the geeky kid I remember. Standing in front of me was a gorgeous, tall, dark, olive-skinned, chiseled man.

He must have seen the confusion splattered across my face. He interjects, "Yeah, I imagine I wasn't quite who you were expecting a ride to Forks with, huh?" He says with a half smile. "Charlie got caught up with a case at work and asked if I could take his place!"

Part of me was excited to see Jacob, especially his new biceps, and the other part of me was concerned for Charlie. He's never not picked me up, was something wrong he didn't want me to worry about? My first thoughts were getting home, additionally, how was that going to happen in this rusty orange accident-waiting-to-happen.

My phone digs – it's a text from my executive assistant.

Just my daily update text – everything went smoothly today. Let me know if you want to schedule a weekly meeting once you get through your first week of classes. Good luck!

Easy. Thank god for my team. I would not be able to successfully run this business and go to college without all of them.

As I was reading, Jacob took it upon himself to grab my measly one suitcase with barely anything in it and throws it in the back of the truck. As I look up from my phone, he's staring right through my soul holding the passenger door open.

Is Jacob hot?

I smile and put my phone back in my purse and head over thanking him for the gesture. He closes the door, shuffles across the truck, and smoothly gets settled in.

"Hungry?" He says.

"Starving," I say as I bite my lip. I never looked at Jacob as boyfriend material, but this grown man has got me a little interested. I do know he's pretty committed to staying around family, so the long-distance thing wouldn't work for me. And heck, who am I kidding? Taking on a boyfriend while also going to college, running a business, and caring for my father? I may be good but I'm not a superhero. I decide it's best to tuck those thoughts away – for now.

He starts the truck and heads into the foggy-rain abyss. He seemed so sure of himself, that he never even asked where I wanted to go. Next time I look up from my emails we were pulling into what looked like a 24-hour diner from the 60s. I'm not complaining, they normally have the best cheeseburgers – my guilty pleasure.

We get settled in at the diner and order our selects. Me, a cheeseburger with friends, Jacob, a chicken fried steak with green beans.

"So, Charlie mentioned you're a big-shot business owner now?" Jacob says in a curious but sarcastic tone. The last time I saw Jacob we were making mudpies, so I didn't really know much about him.

"Yeah, a side project gone viral," I said unsure of how to really answer. Of course, I was proud of my business, but I'm not the type to gloat or show off. It was just a measly website I created in some spare time and has turned into a money-making machine. I couldn't get a read on Jacob as to if he was interested, or bored and just making conversation.

"How about you? What have you been up to for the last five years?" I asked.

"Well, ever since my Sophomore year of high school, I got roped into being an alpha for my group of friends. We call ourselves the "protectors" – we roam the woods and protect the Pacific Northwest from what's out there, ya know, all the scary stories. I also graduated high school in the spring."

Jacob? An alpha? I remember him being too scared to talk to me, and now his friends refer to him as their alpha. I was curious to know more and probed for more information. What timing, just as our food comes out.

Realizing that Jacob nor I have spoken a sentence and have been stuffing our faces, I break the ice.

"What do you mean, alpha? Normally friend groups don't designate a leader – it either naturally happens or never does." I ask.

"Well, on the res, things are done a little differently than. We run a together ship than you pale-faces." He said with a smirk.

I wanted to probe for more details, but we had both finished and it was time to head to Forks. I would hopefully try and nap, depending on how well Jacob drives. Hopefully not like a maniac through these narrow roads.

She arrives at the Forks airport, to be picked up by Jacob, her childhood friend who had a secret crush on her since they were kids. She thinks he's sweet and wow did he grow up? But not enough to keep her in forks.

Pick up at the airport

Hit up a diner for a lunch spot

Tells him about her website

Make the three-hour trek back to forks with Jacob