Disclaimer- Not Stephenie Meyer
Graduation day came at last, and time seemed to be playing tricks on me. From when I got up to when Pomp and Circumstance started playing over the gymnasium load speaker, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. I attempted to do something with my hair, but knowing that I would be receiving my diploma with all my classmates minus the two who mattered most, I realized it really didn't matter. Renee, Phil and Charlie took me out to lunch, trying to cheer me up on what should have been one of the happier days of my life, but all I could think about was how it didn't seem complete.
Forks High School covers a large amount of space on the Olympic Peninsula, so lots of students live more than 30 minutes from campus. Because of this, it is tradition to have graduation in the middle of the afternoon, so everyone can make it home to have graduation parties. Around 1:30 my parents dropped me off, royal blue cap and gown in hand, at the entrance to the school and I joined Angela and Ben in trying to get our tassels straight, and figuring out what was the front of the robe.
We lined up and the music started. After that it was a blur. Graduation was over and done in 30 minutes (I guess that's what happens when you have a graduating class of 59…wait, 57). All I could hear as I walked up to get my diploma was "Isabella Marie….." and then the loudest cheering I have ever heard come from one person. Jacob. I knew that I was going to break his heart tonight, and I wasn't looking forward to it, but it needed to be done for both of our sakes.
My parents, Phil, Jake and Billy all met me afterwards. I received hugs and well wishes from all of them, as well as bouquets from Mom, Charlie, and Jake. Charlie had originally wanted to go out to dinner, but I had convinced them that what I would like more than anything was just a quiet night at home with my whole family. I put together a lasagna the night before, so all we had to do was put it in the stove and chat while it cooked. We talked about going to Olympia next year for school, my memories since moving to Forks (minus the 9 month period I refused to acknowledge), and how Phil's team was doing.
After dinner, then adults all sat around drinking coffee and watching the Mariner's game, so I took Jake by the hand and led him outside. June in the northwest is a tricky sort of time. It could be warm, cold, wet, dry, windy, or calm. There were days where it was all of those things in one 24 hour period! We were lucky today, and it was warm with a light wind. Jake and I began walking towards the woods, as we did many nights. I knew he would want to be away from people when I said what I was about to say.
"Jake, I've been doing some thinking. About us. About where we are going and what we are doing." I paused, looking up at his face. I wasn't sure if he could see what was coming yet or not. It face betrayed no emotion, so I continued. "This relationship isn't fair to you. I have tried. You know how hard I have tried, but I still can't feel what I should for you. When Edward left, he left me broken. While you managed to put most of the pieces back together, I'm afraid that there are some that are lost forever. Pieces that he took with him. I will never be whole again, and you deserve someone who can love you with their whole self, not just the parts that are left. I love you Jake, and I would never ever want to hurt you."
It was quiet for a long time, just the sound of our steps echoing through the trees. I wasn't sure how far we had gone in to the forest, but I could no longer see my house so I was happy that Jake was there to help me find my way back again. For a brief moment, the irony of the situation struck me, but I pushed it out of my mind so that I could focus on Jacob entirely.
"Bella, I love you. I love you more then any person I have ever met. I love everything about you. And I love you for giving this a try. At least we can say now that it didn't work, for not knowing would have been much worse. Maybe if we had been together before you met him, things would have been different. But thank you for giving me the best two months of my life."
My tears finally spilled over and he pulled me into one of his big hugs that always managed to make me feel better. I shouldn't have been surprised that Jake took the news so well. He knew me as well as I knew myself, and he probably had seen this coming.
"Thank you Jacob. For everything. You will always be my best friend. I want you to know that. No one could ever replace you for me."
"Ditto, Bells."
We stood there for a long time, him holding me while I cried softly. Just as I was starting to feel better, I felt him stiffen under my arms and then start trembling. I looked at his face and saw a combination of anger and disgust written on his features.
"Jake, what's wrong?"
"Something…smells, Bella. Something smells bad. You need to back up, now!"
I let go but stood there staring at him.
"Bella, RUN!"
Jacob seemed to explode right in front of me. And then everything went black.
