The last few weeks of school flew by and before any of the seniors knew it we were rushing around frantically trying to study for exams and make preparations for leaving home. I was no exception, but on top of the normal graduations highs and lows I also had to deal with my upcoming engagement announcement, wedding and impending 'disappearance,' as Edward had started calling it. I knew as I sat in my truck in the school parking lot for the last day I would spend as a student at Forks High School that I was never going to see any of these people again and I was going to hurt a few in the process. The night before Edward and I had talked for hours when I should have been sleeping and we came to many conclusions. One being what we would tell everyone and how we would get away with it.
"I can't believe it's the last day of school tomorrow and that the ceremony is the next day," I said wistfully.
Edward shrugged. To him graduation wasn't anything special. He had already been through the process a half dozen times.
It seemed at first like I was going to be doing all the talking because Edward seemed to be deep in though. Eventually Edward came back to reality but only with the help of my hand waving impatiently in front of his face, "Hello, any creepy monsters in there?" I joked.
His eyes darted from side to side and he relaxed his shoulders when he saw that it was only me, "I should probably leave you to finish your studying," he said cautiously.
"Yeah you should, but that doesn't mean I want you to," I gave him a slight smile, "God knows I'm going to do this again someday."
Edward had been inpatient for the last week while I tried to study. Tried being the key word here, let me tell you it's quite difficult to study when you have your unnaturally gorgeous vampire boyfriend hovering over you the whole time. I didn't get much studying done and I regretted instantly when I sat down in my Chem. exam. Who really needed to know how to balance equations though I kept telling myself as I was writing it? Not me defiantly. My life was already laid out in a clear path.
I stood up from my chair and walked over to my jewelry box. I carefully opened the ornate wooden box that had been my Grandma Swan's. It took a minute of digging through costume jewelry to find the real thing that I had buried at the bottom so Charlie wouldn't accidentally stumble across it. It still dazzled me every time I looked at it, I couldn't believe that anyone in their right mind would spend that much on a piece of metal and a stone. I slipped it onto my finger and as always it fit perfectly. Turning around to show Edward I noticed that the door was open and Edward was gone. Oh no. Even though enough time had passed Charlie still was in no mood to forgive Edward for what he had done to me.
I blinked and Edward was at my side again and the door was closed.
"What was that all about?" I asked.
He held up my camera in his hand and smirked, "Picture time."
After a picture snapping war we settled down to discuss the finer details of our plan. We had already decided that I would wait a week after graduation before we left. We would be married whether in a ceremony or done privately we were still tossing over. We would inform everyone that we were going on our honeymoon and probably wouldn't see them the rest of the summer nor before everyone went away to University. What we really would be doing was spending a couple days together before Edward finally changed me. That was all we had for ideas. We were both drawing a blank when it came to how we were going to let everyone know that we weren't returning. Edward had suggested an accident where we both would 'perish' but I really didn't want to do that to Renée or Charlie. That was a last resort along with just disappearing, never to be heard from again. The final option was no better and that involved me storming away mad and saying I never wanted to see them again and don't ever try to contact me. Each of the ways was horrible and involved Charlie and Renée suffering unnecessary pain. We had held off on deciding which way to go because we both secretly hoping that some other option would mysteriously appear.
Before I drifted off to sleep Edward gave me a slow and tender kiss before saying for me to close my eyes because it was quite late-or early-and I need to be completely awake to write my Trig and History Exams.
So there I was sitting in my truck with my pencil case at my side. The school yard was gradually filling with excited people as they welcomed the beginning of summer. When I had no more reasons for sitting in silence in the truck I got out and slammed the door. I walked across the campus to the gym where all the exams were being written. I was led to a seat by an assistant and only then did I scan the crowd. I could see Angela four seats in front of me talking animatedly to Ben who was two rows over. Mike was sitting two seats back and a row over and he started up a conversation. Ever since Edward had agreed to change me I add tried to pull away from my human friends as to not make it as difficult on them when I eventually did disappear. It hadn't been easy but I think I did as good a job as I could have. Mike was an exception, he noticed that I was pulling away and that worried him.
"Excited Bella?" he asked me.
"About writing a Trig Final? Of course I am, I've been looking forward to this my whole life," I replied testily.
He put his hands up in surrender and said, "Sorry, I guess I hit a nerve there."
"Yeah no problem," I muttered just as I saw Edward walk in the gymnasium doors. Stunning as usual the assistant blushed as she led him to his seat 3 rows away. He shot me a dazzling grin and I felt my mood instantly lighten. I returned the grin and added a thumbs up. I even felt good enough to say to Mike, "Hey Newton, good luck."
He grinned at me and nodded, "You to."
No sooner than that was the gym called to order and everyone fell silent. Exam bubble sheets were handed out and almost instantly the sounds of pencils scratching away could be heard.
The last day of high school, what could be better?
xxx.:.x.:.xxx
a/n So what did everyone think. Good, bad? Not much happened I don't think but it was necessary to get where I want to be for the next chapter. Bear with me but please still review. Thank you
