"Bella," Edward whispered the next morning.

My eyes opened, and I looked at him. "Morning."
He smiled. "Morning love. Alice is here now. She asked Charlie if she could take you to the house so she could do your hair and stuff for graduation."
"What did he say?" I asked before yawning.
"He said that was okay. I mean, it's Alice. He loves her." Edward kissed me softly. "I'm going to go through the front door. Be right back."
He ran out the window, and I blinked.

I brushed through my hair, and I ran downstairs.
"Edward's here too," Alice announced.

Charlie looked at me. "Morning Bells." He kissed my forehead. "Nervous?"
"A little," I said before walking to the front door.
Edward was just about to knock. "Hey," he said happily.
I smiled. "Hello. Come on in."
He smiled. "If you insist."
I yanked him inside.
"So," Charlie said blankly. "Edward, are you nervous?"
Edward shrugged. "A little," he lied smoothly. "I'm actually excited."
"Excited to get out of the house?" Charlie asked curiously.

"Well, not exactly. I'm really going to miss Carlisle and Esme, but I'm excited to go out on my own," he explained.

Charlie nodded. "That's understandable."
"So, Bella," Alice said eagerly. "Come on! Edward, that means you too."
Edward laughed his warm, short and sweet laugh. "Alice, we've got all day. You don't have to rush."
I frowned. "How did I ever let Alice talk me into this?" I moaned.

"I have no clue," Alice said smugly. "Now, come on!"
I sighed. "Can I at least change?"
"No!" Alice exclaimed. "Your pajamas are fine. Now come on!"
I kissed Charlie's cheek. "Bye. I'll see you tonight."
He nodded. "Okay. Bye Alice, bye Edward."

"Bye sir," Edward said politely.
"Bye Charlie," Alice called before yanking me out the door.

"I'm amazed," Edward said as he crawled in the backseat.

"What?" I asked with a frown.
"Charlie likes me now," he said with a smile. "He was thinking, 'Maybe he has his reasons. Maybe he tried. Because he's not too bad. I mean, Alice defended him. I think I like Edward again.'"

"See?" I said. "I told you there was no reason for him to hate you."

"This is going to be fun!" Alice squealed.

I groaned. "Not for me."
"How mean are you going to be?" Edward asked curiously.

I jumped.
I didn't notice he had his head right beside us.

"See? I am too scary," he teased.
I rolled my eyes. "You just keep telling yourself that."

We pulled into the long driveway.

"So, what exactly are you going to do with me?" I asked warily.

"It's going to be gorgeous!" she squealed. I groaned. "Bella, it's your last night as a human! You have to look amazing! Well, more so than you already do."
I put my hand on my face. "How bad will it be?"
"You'll see," she said before putting her car in the driveway.

She got out and ran inside.

I tensed up. "She still here?"
Edward kissed my neck. "Love, relax. Alive agreed to let me stay with you all day."

"Really?" I asked happily.

"Mmhmm," he murmured against my skin. He continued kissing my neck.

I smiled. "Tell me something."
I felt him smile against my neck. "What love?"

"Does it not bother you anymore?" I asked softly. "You know. To kiss me."

He sighed and pulled away from my neck. "Well, when I left you, I realize exactly how important to me you really are. You're way more important than the thirst."
"Well, after tonight, you won't even have to worry about it," I said happily.

"Yeah," he said quietly. Was that disappointedly?

"Edward, are you still upset about it?" I asked sadly. "I don't want you to be said."
"Well," he sighed. "I don't want to take things from you. Like, I'm taking away your soul. I'm taking away your chance to have kids. I'm taking away your chance to see the people you love."
"I can live without that stuff," I said before rubbing my finger softly across his ice cold cheek. "I can't live without you."

He smiled. "As I can't live without you, which was proved before."

"Yeah," I agreed. He kissed my neck again. "Tell me something else."

"What?" he breathed, his cool breath tingling my skin.

"Are we ever going to go inside? I am perfectly fine right here," I said firmly. "We don't have to. Here's good."
He chuckled. "We can stay here as long as you want."
I smiled and climbed in the backseat. "Really?" I put my knees in his lap, and he nodded slowly. I kissed his forehead and ran my fingers through his hair. He kissed my wrist and then my lips.

I leaned him back against the window, and he tilted his head.
Amazing.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the windows fogging up.

"What?" I asked as I pulled back. "But it's May!"
Edward looked around and laughed. "I honestly do not know." He brushed my hair behind my ears.
I crinkled my nose. "If Emmett saw this, we all know what he'd be thinking."

Edward chuckled. "Yes, love, we do. You don't even have to be a mind reader to figure that one out."
I sighed. "Alice might get mad if I don't go in now." I pouted, and he kissed my forehead.

"Probably," he agreed. He kissed my lips one last time, and all I had to do was blink for him to disappear.

He was standing outside my door, waiting for me to come out.

"After you," he said with a smile.
I got out and he shut my door. "Thank you."

He grinned. "Anytime."

I just stared in the mirror. "No. Way."
"Why?" Edward asked softly. "You look beautiful."
"But…but…but…but," I stuttered.

"Bella, it's too late to change it now," Alice said with a smirk. "It'll mess up your hair."
I groaned. "Do you honestly hate me?"
"Nope," Alice said happily. "We love you. Some more than others. But that's why we're doing this."
"Yeah. I can see the love," I mumbled.

Alice had my hair in rollers right now. Ugh. I don't even want to know what's she going to do once they're out. And, she had my hair in a ponytail. The rollers had my ponytail completely curled. Once they were out at least.
She had me in a dress and heels! How stupid was she? Did she want me to kill myself? I think she does.

My dress was black, and it came higher than my knees. Yeah. Higher. It tied around the neck.

"I'm going to kill myself," I said simply.
"You'll be fine," Alice promised.
I sighed. "If you say so."
"Never bet against Alice," Edward reminded me.
I stuck my tongue out at him, and he just laughed.
"Is she ready?" Rose asked curiously. "I've got to see this!"
"Yes," Alice said happily. "Well, as soon as we get the rollers out."

"Ha!" I heard Emmett laugh.

My cheeks heated up. "Shut up Emmett! I'm not gonna be just a puny human soon!"

"But soon, you'll be just a puny vampire," Emmett said as he ran in. "Now, that's great."
I rolled my eyes. "I will hurt you one day. You just wait."
He chuckled. "We'll see about that."

"Fine," I agreed. "How about we bet now? If I manage to hurt you after being a vampire for a week, you'll stop picking on me."
"If I win," he said with a smirk. "You're not going to like it."
"Now, what did I do?" Edward mumbled. "You don't have to be that mean."
"What?" I asked warily.
"Well, remember earlier today when I said, 'You don't have to be a mind reader to know that'?" he asked slowly.

I thought. "Oh."
"What was going on?" Emmett asked with a grin.
"Nothing you ass hole," I teased. "Now get out. I have to get ready." I started trying to push him out, but then I remembered…I was still just a human.

"Go!" Alice pleaded. "I'll let you embarrass her all you want…once I'm done with her."
"Okay," Emmett agreed with a smirk. "See? Even Alice likes me better."
I narrowed my eyes at him and he triumphantly walked out.
"He's not going to do anything," Alice promised.
I groaned. "Please kill me now!"
"No," Alice said happily. "We're doing that tonight,"
"Ha," I said sarcastically.

"Edward, would you please go get the final piece?" Alice asked.
Edward frowned. "You said I could be with her all night."
"Fine," Alice said before shrugging. "Gently take all the rollers out."

"Uh…okay," he said before walking over to me. Alice ran out, and he shut the door with his foot. I heard it lock too.

"Edward, how much do you love me?" I asked curiously.

"More than you could even imagine. Why?" he asked as he started taking a roller out.

"Enough to help me talk Alice out of the heels?" I asked with a smile.
He laughed. "Not that much."
"Hey!" I protested.

He kissed my cheek. "I'm kidding Bella. I'll try. But I can't make any guarantees. Alice rarely, if ever, let's someone change anything about her outfits. But, for you, I'll try."
I kissed his lips softly. "Thank you."
He smiled. "So, what are you going to do your last night of being human?"

I shrugged. "I'm not sure."
"Really?" he asked with a grin.
"Whatever it is," I started. "You're going to be with me."
"What if I don't want to be?" he asked teasingly.
"Too bad," I said softly.

He put his arms around my waist. "You look really sexy."

I smiled and kissed him. "I try."
"Whoa," he said with a smirk. "That's a first. For once, it's not, 'Liar,' or, 'No I'm not!'"

He ran and unlocked the door right before Alice opened it and ran in.

"Edward, you go get ready. Now. We have to go," she said urgently.
"Okay," he agreed. He ran out.
"Now," Alice said as she fixed one of the curls. "As soon as he gets back, I've got to go get ready."
"Okay," I said before nodding.
Edward ran back in. "Now, go."
She nodded and ran out.
Lots of running.
I stepped into the heels and sighed.
"You can't even begin to imagine how beautiful you look," he whispered.
"You look nice too," I said before walking over to him. "Now, about your hair…"
He frowned. "What's wrong with my hair?"
"Give me a second," I said happily. I ran my fingers through his hair, and he looked nervous. "Hey, I let you two chose what I looked like. Now, my turn."

He sighed. "Fine."
I smiled and started messing with his bangs. I started messing with the back part of his hair.

There we go.

"All done," I said happily. "Damn. That looks sexy."
He grinned and walked over to the mirror. "I actually, strangely, like that."
I smiled. "See? I know what I'm doing too."
He nodded. "Yes you do. Now, come on before Alice kills us both."

"What a shame that would be," I said while nodding. He laughed and grabbed my hand.

"Becky Ann Spenser," the principal said.

Crap. I was next.

"Isabella Marie Swan," the principal announced.
I took a deep breath and I swallowed. I walked up the stairs and across the stage.

In, out, in, out.

Gosh. Now I can't even breathe right. All the attention was on me as I walked across the stage.
I didn't want any attention, and especially now after Alice got a hold of me.

"Go Bella!" I heard Emmett shout. My cheeks started burning.

I saw Edward smiling at me out of the corner of my eye.

I grabbed my diploma, shook all the hands I had to, and I got off of that stage!

Was it just me, or was everyone still staring at me?

I sat down and looked over where Edward, Alice, and Jasper were sitting.

His head was tilted towards Alice, and she was whispering something in Edward's ear. He nodded, and for some reason, it felt like something wasn't right here. He whispered something in Jasper's ear, who just nodded.

I saw Charlie in the audience. He was sitting with Emmett, Rose, Esme, Carlisle, Tanya, Irena, Kate, Carmen, and Eleazar.

Oh no. Jake was here. Irena, and Jake, and Tanya, and me, and Edward, and…Billy? Sam?

Uh oh.

Seth!

He's cool.

Paul, Quil, Embry, Jared.
Of course.

Emily, Leah. The whole pack.

And all the vampires. Great.

"We now present to you the 2008 graduating class!" the principal announced.

Everyone threw their hats up, except me, Edward, Jasper, and Alice.
Edward immediately looked at me. "Bella," he mouthed.
I walked over to him, and he kissed my cheek.
"We have to get you out of here," he whispered softly in my ear.

"Hey Bells!" Charlie exclaimed.
Edward let go of me and he walked over to Carlisle, who was talking to Sam.

"What's up?" Charlie asked curiously.

"He's, uh, just talking to Carlisle," I lied.
"Oh," Charlie said softly. "You look really beautiful Bella."
I blushed. "Thanks."
"Bella!" Seth exclaimed.
"Seth!" I squealed. I walked over to him and hugged him. "How's my favorite…kid?"
"Good," he said while laughing. "Bella, you entertain me."
"Is that a bad thing?" I asked with a smile.
He shook his head. "You're funny."
I hugged him again.
"You look beautiful tonight," he observed.
"Thanks," I said bashfully. "What's going on?"
"Sam said I can't tell you," he said sadly. "Or I would. But I just can't."
"Oh," I said softly. "It's not your fault."
I felt something cold grab my hand. "Seth," Edward said.

"Hey Edward!" Seth said happily. "Congrats."
Edward smiled. "Thanks. I'm so sorry for being rude like this, but I've got to take Bella."
Seth nodded. "I know. Bye Bells!"
"Bye," I said as Edward pulled me out of the gym.

"Take your heels off," he ordered gently. "I'm not trying to be all bossy, but this is urgent."
I nodded and threw them in the nearest garbage can. "What's going on?"
"I'll explain later," he said. "Get on my back." I nodded and jumped on his back.

Good thing I wore shorts under this.
Edward ran quickly through the hallways, and I just prayed no one would see us.

He stopped suddenly, almost causing me to fly off of him.

"Bella," he whispered. "Everything's going to be fine."
I heard someone laugh. "That's what you think."