Chapter 3 – Graduation Day
Seth
I was surrounded by a sea of purple. The history department was up and I held my breath waiting to hear Nessie's name. She looked beautiful as she started across the stage. She turned to me, locking eyes for a moment. My best friend. I was going to miss her so much.
"Renessme Carlie Cullen", the voice on the loudspeaker echoed. There were cheers to my right, and I looked to see my favorite group of freaks. My pack, the Cullens, Charlie, my mom, Billy and the most adorable almost 3 year old in the world. Nessie paused before leaving the stage, blew them all a kiss and moved her tassel on her cap.
I still had three more departments to go through until it was my turn. Finally all the premed students were called to the stage. I made small talk with my fellow classmate. We were all friendly, but I wouldn't call any of them a friend. I waited at the stairs and turned to my family. Nessie had joined them and they all looked at me with so much love. Tomorrow I would be telling them goodbye. I couldn't think about that right now because I would turn into a blubbering idiot.
"Seth Clearwater"
As I crossed the stage, the light bulbs hanging high from the ceiling exploded, sending a shower of sparks through the air. Instantly I looked to Sophie. She smiled at me, but Jake was not happy. He was whispering in her ear and the smile left her face. It broke my heart that as I moved my tassel, she started to cry.
After I left the stage, I made my way out to the parking lot to meet everyone. I heard Sophie before I saw her.
"Seth", her sweet voice echoed off the cars. I knew that is what I would hear as I closed my eyes each night for however long I was away.
Sophie ran to me and I picked her up, swinging her through the air.
She put her mouth to my ear and whispered, "I gave you fireworks".
I laughed and kissed her forehead, "Yes you did, but you have to be more careful. " Her joyful expression started to change to sadness, and I couldn't have that. "But I loved it. Thank you."
We all piled into our cars and headed back home. I still had some packing to do and I wanted to spend as much time with Sophie as I could before I left in the morning. Thanks to Carlisle's help, I was accepted to John Hopkins. I would be leaving for Baltimore at first light in the morning. The Cullen's had offered to pay for my ticket to fly and have my things moved out, but I got my truck working pretty well and I was looking forward to the drive. Hoping that as the miles sped by, I would feel better about my decision. I had my things all loaded in the truck already, so all I had to do was pack the last few things in my room tonight.
None of us talked on the way home. I was in Nessie and Jake's car. Sophie fell asleep after about five minutes on the road, her head resting on my shoulder. All the rest of the family formed a caravan back to the main house. We were bringing up the rear and as we got closer to Forks, Jake slowed down and put distance between us and the other cars.
"Hey Grandpa, it's not Sunday, and I am not Miss Daisy. Why you driving so slow?" I had to get as many digs in as I could.
He just laughed and slowly pulled into the driveway. We drove slower than I had ever driven before down this dirt road.
"Sophie, you need to wake up baby." Nessie gently grabbed Sophie's foot. Her eyes fluttered and she met mine, and her smile brightening my day.
As we turned the corner to the main house, the rest of the family was standing in the yard, and in the middle of them was a brand new, bright red Dodge Ram. It had all my boxes in the back and a big purple bow on the hood.
"Surprise", Sophie yelled.
I laughed and poked her nose. "Yes it is." I exited the car and made my way through the crowd, exchanging hugs and endearments with the most wonderful people in the world. When I got to Edward and Bella, they handed me an envelope. I opened it and a black American Express card was inside.
"For gas, food, whatever you need. This is on us. All of it until you are done with your residency. There is no argument." Edward pulled me into a hug, and Bella joined in.
"We love you Seth. Come home often." She kissed my cheek and then the two of them disappeared. I looked around and everyone was gone except the pack, Jake, Nessie and Sophie.
"Make sure you phase every night so we can talk." Quil shook my hand, then pulled me into a hug.
"Don't think just because you are all the way across the country that we can't make record time to kick your ass." Paul got his usual death glare from Sophie.
I made my way around the pack and they all retreated to the woods, yelling their goodbyes.
Sophie and I climbed into the cab of my new truck and I drove her home. Jake and Nessie followed in their car. We decided before Sophie's Birthday that we needed to extend the driveway to the house. Having to cart all the things a kid need for trips was just too much of a pain.
"I picked the color. Do you like it?" Sophie was very proud of herself.
"It is perfect Baby Girl." I couldn't say anything else. I was cementing this moment in my memory.
When we got home, we all piled out of the car and proceeded to have a pretty normal evening. Alice had offered to throw me a going away party, but I told her that would be too hard on everyone. So my last night at home consisted of all you can eat tacos and snuggling up on the couch to watch the Wizard of Oz with Sophie. By the end of the movie she was fighting sleep. Normally, she never makes it to the end, she is dead weight being carried up the stairs by now.
"Time for bed Baby Girl", I kissed her and lifted her into my arms to carry her upstairs.
"Seth, don't make me go to sleep." She started to cry and wrapped her arms tight around me, burying her face in my neck.
"Sophie, why don't you want to go to sleep? You are so tired."
"Seth, if I don't go to sleep, tomorrow won't come. And if tomorrow doesn't come, then you won't leave." I pulled her closer to me and fought back tears.
"Tomorrow will still come Baby Girl, whether you sleep or not. But if you don't go to sleep now, you won't be awake in time to see me off." She pulled herself away enough so her beautiful brown eyes bore into mine.
"Seth you wouldn't leave without telling me goodbye…Right?" The pain and exhaustion I saw on her face was almost more than I could stand.
"What do you think?"
She smiled and kissed my cheek, "My Seth would never do that."
I carried her up the stairs and put her in her bed. "Sweet dreams Baby Girl. I will see you in the morning."
As I left the room, I heard her breath in a deep, ragged breath. I knew she was asleep. The next time I came home, she might not want me to tuck her in. Hell I might not be home for years. I was going to try to stay away as long as I could. I wanted to give her the gift of as normal of a childhood as possible.
When I finally made my way to the hallway, Nessie and Jake were waiting for me.
"Are you headed to bed?" Jake's voice had an emotion I hadn't heard before.
"Yeah, I just have a couple more things to pack."
Nessie gave me a kiss on the cheek and silently took Jake's hand and they went to their room.
I walked up the stairs to my room and looked around. It seemed so empty. I opened the top drawer of my dresser and started to pack the box I couldn't bear to pack before; picture and trinkets that Sophie had given me over the years, each one a part of our story. We were only in the very beginning of a very long life together, or at least I hoped so. Right now I was putting my future into the hands of fate.
I packed the last of my things, got undressed and climbed into bed. I closed my eyes for what seemed like a moment and the next thing I knew, my alarm clock was going off. I sat up and looked around the happiest home I had ever lived in. I sighed because I needed to get this part over with. I needed to get on the road.
I took a quick shower, got dressed and grabbed the last two boxes and carried them out to the truck. I had all the boxes covered and tied down by the time Jake made his way out to greet the day.
"Looks like you have it under control." He had a cup of coffee in his hand and that same undetectable inflection in his voice.
"Yeah. I need to get this show on the road." I slapped his back and started towards the house.
"Seth", I turned to see a single tear roll down his cheek. "You are more than my friend, you are my brother. I am going to miss you man. I just wanted to tell you I love you. Come home as often as you can." I walked back to him and gave him a hug.
"I love you too man. You better keep all those dogs in line. And take care of our girls." I pulled away and quickly walked into the house.
Nessie was standing in the living room, a thermos and brown bag full of muffins in her hand. "I figured you'd want to get on the road." I walked to her and pulled her into my arms. "Seth I am going to miss you so much."
"Nessie, I love you. I will be calling you constantly, you know that right?" She laughed and squeezed me tighter. I took a deep breath and she loosened her grip. "I need to go, or I will change my mind." She kissed my cheek and we both turned to see Sophie coming down the stairs.
The sight of her was almost more than I could take. Her eyes still full of sleep, her black curls going in every direction. She had on her Disney Princess nightgown and bunny slippers. She smiled at me and she was the most precious thing in the world.
"Hey Baby Girl. I have to go." I crossed to her and her bottom lip began to quiver. I picked her up and held her tight, taking in the feel of her in my arms and her scent. "I love you more than you will ever know."
She put her lips to my ear and whispered, "Don't forget me."
I held her tighter and let the tears fall as I whispered back, "Impossible".
I carried her out to my truck and held her for a few more minutes before passing her back to Jake.
"Save travels my friend." Jake held Sophie close to his chest and she turned to look at me, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I love you guys. Baby Girl, call me whenever. Write to me. I will be back when I can." I leaned over and kissed the top of her head one more time before getting in my truck.
I took a deep breath and looked in my side mirror as I slowly pulled away. I saw Sophie start to pull away from Jake and as I rounded the corner and they disappeared from view I heard her voice being carried by the wind.
"Seth"
