Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter One

Bella and Angela sat side by side in their high school gym watching Jessica give her valedictorian speech. "When we were five they asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. Our answers were things like astronaut, president or in my case a princess. When were ten they asked again. We answered rock star, cowboy or in my case gold medalist. But now that we have grown up they want a serious answer. Well how about this? Who the hell knows?" Bella and Angela smiled at each other as they clapped and cheered with the rest of the students. "This isn't the time to make hard and fast decisions. This is the time to make mistakes. Take the wrong train and get stuck somewhere. Fall in love, a lot. Major in philosophy because there is no way to make a career out of that. Change your mind and change it again because nothing is permanent. So make as many mistakes as you can. That way someday when they ask what we wanna be we won't have to guess. We'll know."

Everyone cheered and clapped then. They handed out diplomas next. Charlie stood up as Bella took hers and she grinned back at him.

"Can you believe we have actually graduated?" Mike asked his friends as they stood in the crowd after. Mike, Bella, Angela, Jessica and Eric were all stood in a circle.

"I know," Jessica agreed. "We're supposed to act like adults now."

"Whats the plan for you guys next?" Mike asked. "My folks are pushing for University of Washington in Seattle."

"I've got into Brown," Jessica told them.

"I'm heading to Massachusetts next week. I'm in an advanced program at MIT," Eric said. "What about you guys?"

Everyone turned to Bella and Angela. "We're actually taking a year out," Bella said.

"What?" Jessica demanded stunned.

"My mums sister had just moved to Santa Carla in San Francisco with my cousins. We're renting an apartment out there and taking a year off before we going to college next year."

Bella loaded her bag into the taxi that was waiting outside Angela's house. Once they were all loaded up they turned back to their parents. Charlie took Bella to one side. "I'm so proud of you Bells. You were so sad after the Cullen's left but here you are graduating and taking a gap year," Charlie said and Bella hugged him. "Here." He handed her a cheque and Bella looked up at him shocked. "I've been saving this since you were born, you're eighteen now. You should have it." Bella grinned and wrapped her arms tightly around him.

"Come on, Bella," Angela said with a laugh. "We've got to go or we are going to miss the plane."

Bella finally released her dad and followed Angela to the taxi. They both turned waving until they lost sight of their parents as they rounded the corner. "This is going to be amazing," Angela said grinning.

"It is," Bella agreed. Angela had become her best friend after the Cullens left. Bella has even gone as far as to tell Angela the truth about the Cullens. She had shown her the bite mark James had left her with.

They arrived in Santa Carla and headed straight to their apartment. They didn't even unpack before they went to bed.

It was midday before they got up the next day. They dressed and walked down to the boardwalk. "Auntie Lucy," Angela said happily as they walked into the video store.

"Angela," she greeted, stepping round the counter to embrace her. "I can hardly believe you and Michael are eighteen already. You must be Bella."

"Nice to meet you," Bella said and reached out shaking Lucy's hand.

"Michael and Sam are down on the beech surfing if you want to go find them."

Bella and Angela took their shoes off and walked along the beech barefoot. "Hey," Angela called and waved when she spotted her cousin. Sam stood up running towards them.

"Hi, Ang," he said.

"Hey, where's Michael?" Angela asked. Sam pointed out to where Michael was surfing.

Bella and Angela sat on the beach with Michael and Sam for the rest of the afternoon. As the sun started to dip down over the horizon Sam and Michael left to change and get some tea but they arrange to meet them in an hour on the boardwalk.

The two girls paused by concession stand that did piercings when Angela first noticed the Lost Boys.

David led the guys out of the video store with a smirk and they rode away. They pulled their bikes in further down the boardwalk. Angela turned when she heard the bikes and she watched them all get off. Paul looked up and caught her staring. He smirked and Angela looked away. David and the others followed where he was looking. David's eyes skipped over Angela and landed on Bella.

She had her short blonde hair that hung almost straight around her shoulders. She was wearing a white top tucked into a pair of denim shorts with boots. David grinned at her. Angela looked up catching Paul's eyes again. She noticed David eyeing Bella and she grinned. All four boys were looking at them now.

Bella hadn't even noticed the Lost Boys. She was watching a girl have her ear pierced as her friend assured her it wouldn't hurt. "What is it with guys always seeming to stare at you hungrily?" Angela asked Bella gesturing to David, not knowing the boys could hear every word. Bella turned looking where Angela was pointing.

Bella met David's intense stare and she grinned. "He's hot," Bella told her and Angela laughed.

"I think the blonde one is sexy," Angela responded. Bella chuckled, looped her arm through Angela's and set off walking. "Could you imagine if Edward and Ben could see us now?"

"Ben was immature but Edward was controlling," Bella said. "You must stay human, Bella. I will not damn your soul!" Bella imitated Edward and both girls fella about laughing. Bella looked up as they passed by the boys.

They all wondered what Bella had meant when she talked about what they assumed was her ex insisting she stay human. Had she been dating a vampire? David was still openly watching Bella and Paul had his eyes fixed on Angela. David raised his cig to his lips and took a drag. Bella bit her lip and then she lost eye contact with him as they turned the corner heading for where they had arranged to meet Michael.

A/N: Posted on 01/10/2015. All outfits are on my profile. Violet x.