Chapter VIII

Dear diary,

Day of graduation. I can't wait. I feel a bit nervous. But just a bit. I'm so excited that I don't know what to write on his paper. I just know I'll come there, dress in yellow robe, listen to Jessica's (epic) speech, take my high school diploma, introduce Edward to Sean and then go to a graduation party at Cullens' house.

So excited!

-Mia


Mia looked at herself in the mirror and smiled at her gorgeously placed thin line of eyeliner and perfect curls falling down her shoulders. She wore black floral dress to her mid tights and black heels that made her look taller. Mia smiled to herself widely, moving her hair a bit from her face.

"Mia?" Sean called behind the door of her room.

"You can come in." Mia said and Sean opened the door, making him stop almost immediately as he stepped inside. "What do you think?"

"Are you trying to make every boy fall for you?" Sean asked and Mia laughed.

"No one will see my dress under that robe." Mia said.

"Wait, you are admiring your dress?" Sean asked strangely.

"Yeah." Mia nod.

"Lottie, have you seen your face?" Sean asked and Mia nod. "Good, because that face with that make up will make boys whistle."

"A-ha." Mia said sarcastically before she picked the yellow graduation robe and graduation cap from the bed. "Since graduation happens only once, I want to look beautiful to myself. That's not wrong is it?"

"Not at all." Sean said.

"Today, I'll introduce you to Edward." Mia said as she walked out of her room and Sean followed.

"Can't wait." Sean said behind her as they walked down the stairs. "I have a date later." Mia stopped in her tracks and looked up towards Sean.

"With Leah?" Mia asked.

"Yep." Sean proudly smiled.

"Do you…like her?" Ma carefully asked.

"Why are you asking?"

"I'm just curious."

"I do." Sean answered. "She's tough, but she's sweet."

"Yeah, and has a glare to kill." Mia murmured as she turned around.

"Huh? Didn't catch that." Sean said as he followed after her down the stairs.

"You weren't supposed to." Mia said back.


"When we were five, they asked us what we wanted to be when we grow up. Our answers were things like astronaut, president, or in my case, a princess. When we were ten, they asked again, and we answered, rock star, cowboy, or in my case, a gold medalist. But now that we've grown up, they want a serious answer. Well, how about this…who the hell knows?" Mia laughed and clapped with the rest of graduates at Jessica's speech. "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's 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."

Everybody started to clap as Jessica finished her speech and Mia felt like she was on verge of crying out of no reason. But Mia smiled, making that feeling disappear somewhere else. As names were called, Mia waited for hers to be called. When it did, she walked up the stairs to the stage and took her diploma. She looked towards the crowd to see Sean on his feet, clapping loudly and whistling. Mia couldn't help but to smile at her cousin before she left the stage.

Later on, when everyone disappeared outside and was already planning on going to Cullen's house where the party was. Mia pulled Edward towards Sean who was talking to a few old friends who have arrived back to Forks at almost the same time Sean did. As soon as Sean saw Mia walking towards him, he said bye to his old friends and made his way towards Mia and her boyfriend Edward.

"Hey Sean, this is Edward. Edward this is my cousin Sean." Mia introduced them and they shook their hands. Just don't comment his cold skin...

"A bit cold, man, huh?" Sean asked as they released their hands. Dang it!

"Bad circulation." Edward answered.

"Oh" Sean nod and placed his hands into the pockets of his pants.

"Well then." Mia awkwardly clapped with her hands. "Edward and I will go. See you later, Sean." Mia waved briefly before pulling Edward with her.

"Hey, Edward." Sean called and they stopped for Edward to look at him. "Take good care of my cuz."

"Always." Edward said back, adding a small smile before he was pulled by Mia.

"That was short and awkward." Mia commented to Edward as they walked out of the crowd and towards Edward's car.

"I think it went well." Edward said and Mia gave him a smile.

Edward unlocked his car and then started to take of his graduation robe. Mia took it off as well and thrown it into the back of the car where Edward thrown it as well. Mia sat into the passenger seat and looked towards Edward who just sat inside and looked at her.

"You look beautiful." Edward complimented, looking deeply into her eyes.

"When people are serious and they are complimenting me, it makes me feel nervous." Mia said, looking away from him.

"Next time I'll try to look less serious." Edward said and Mia shortly laughed.

"And don't look me directly in the eyes." Mia said as she looked at him. "It's hard to look away then." Mia added in a murmur as she turned away.

Edward smiled widely at her adorableness before he turned on his car and drove out of the parking lot towards his house. They quietly sat in the car until they arrived there and Edward parked his car into the garage. Edward and Mia separated as soon as they walked inside the house and Mia made her way up the stairs, hoping to find Jacob already there.

Mia walked up the stairs with her heels clicking against the ground as she did. She went onto the first floor and looked towards her right to see Angela and Jessica skipping towards her carefully so then they don't end up face-flat on the ground.

"Hey!" Angela greeted her. "You made it." She added before she gave her a hug.

"Hey." Jessica than greeted her and they hugged each other. "What'd you think of my speech?" Jessica immediately asked as they pulled away. "Too easy-breezy, too self-helpful? You may admit it."

"No, it was epic. You almost made me cry." Mia half joked.

"Aw, I'm so happy." Jessica exclaimed. "It's like was born to lead, right?" Don't be too sure…

"Oh, great. I love this song, let's go." Angela said before she pulled Jessica with her to dance where the rest of the people danced.

Mia stared at them for a while before she turned around and walked to the other side where others danced and hanged out too. She searched for Jacob with her eyes, but he was nowhere to be found. Mia sighs before she turns around and just then sees Jacob with Embry and Quil stepping on the first floor. Jacob looked around before his eyes stopped at Mia walking towards her with a smile on her face.

"Wow…"Jacob spoke quietly as he looked her down and up. "You look nice."

"Thanks." Mia thanked. "I'm glad you made it." Mia said and Jacob nod.

"Hey, I brought you something." Jacob said as he took something out of his pocket. "A graduation present. I made it myself." Mia stared at the bracelet with wolf made of wood handing on it.

"Whoa…" Mia took it into her hands and examined with her eyes. "It's pretty." Mia smiled to Jacob. "Thanks."

A figure suddenly stopping on the stairs that lead to the ground above them caught Mia's eyes behind Jacob. It was Alice. And by the look on her face, Mia could tell she was seeing something. Alice's eyes finally moved and she looked at Mia with a worried face.

"I'll be right back." Mia walked pass Jacob and his friends to get to Alice. "What did you see?" Mia asked.

"The decision's been made." Alice answered.

"What's going on?" Mia glanced at Jacob who stopped behind her.

"You're not going to Seattle?" Mia questioned and Alice shook her head.

"No… They're coming here."


Mia leaned against a desk next to Edward while they were in a room away from the party with Jacob, Embry Quil, Alice, Jasper and Carlisle. They all had troubled look on their faces because they knew what this meant, especially Carlisle who's been pacing besides them slowly.

"They'll be here in four days." Alice informed them.

"This could turn into a blood bath." Carlisle worryingly said before he leaned onto the desk near Mia.

"Who's behind it?" Edward asked Alice.

"I didn't see anyone I recognize." Alice paused. "Maybe one…"

"I know his face." Edward spoke as he read her mind. "He's local, Riley Biers. He didn't start this."

"Whoever did is staying out of the action." Alice pointed out.

"They must be playing with the blind spots in your vision." Carlisle said.

"Either way, the army is coming and there aren't enough of us to protect the town." Jasper said.

"Hold up." Jacob spoke up, feeling confused by their entire conversation. "What damn army?"

"Newborns. Our kind." Carlisle answered.

"What are they after?" Embry questioned.

"They were passing around Mia's scent. A red blouse." Now I know where my red blouse disappeared… Mia commented Alice's information.

"They're after Mia?" Jacob questioned. "What the hell does this mean?"

"It means an ugly fight. With lives lost." Carlisle answered.

Mia looked at Jacob and noticed him looking at Embry and Quil. Their heads moves in soft and sure nods and Mia already knew what will be the next word that will come out of Jacob's mouth. Jacob looked back at them, decision already made in his head.

"Alright…We're in."

"Uh, no, you're not." Mia immediately spoke after him. "I'm not going let you get yourself killed." Mia said as she glanced at each wolf in the room.

"I wasn't asking for permission." Jacob said back and Mia's eyes briefly wide before she scoffed.

"It means more protection for you." Edward added to her.

"Jacob. Do you believe Sam will agree to…an understanding?" Carlisle asked.

"As long as we get to kill some vampires." Jacob answered.

"Jasper?"

"They'll give us the numbers." Jasper answered. "And the newborns won't know they even exist. That'll give us an edge."

"We'll need to coordinate." Carlisle said as he stood up from the desk. "We'll all need some training. Fighting newborns requires knowledge that Jasper has. You're welcome to join us."

"Alright. Name the time and place." Jacob said.

"Jake…" Mia pushed herself of the desk. "Are you sure about this?"

"This is what we do, Mia." Jacob answered. "You should be happy." Mia narrowed her eyebrows at him in confusion. "Look at us, working together. You wanted this, right?" Mia stared at him for a while.

"Yeah…"