Disclaimer- I don't own any of the characters or anything that may have to do with Stephenie Meyer work but I do own my own ideas for this story
Chapter 9
It's finally the end of the school year and we are graduating. The Cullen's have been very helpful since Charlie's passing and that has made it easier. Edward has taken me on a few dates, but I just don't feel anything between us. Yes, he is extremely beautiful, but I can't be with someone who is always trying to tell me what to do and what is best for me. The things that I have seen in my short time here have made me grow up faster than most.
I work and I go to school.
What does he do?
While I have to do everything that I can just make ends meet, he simply goes to school, and has his parents pay for what he wants. I didn't even get to save back much money for little bit I did have saved back was solely because Mrs. Newton was paying me a little more than the others.
But it looks as if I have been blessed in my hard times. Someone had paid a full tuition scholarship so I could go to "Aldo Galli" Academy of Fine Arts in Como, Italy. I have done some research on the school and it is a private institution. You have to take two tests a general knowledge test based on the medieval times and modern art history. I took both of them online and passed with flying colors. Then I had to do an interview over the computer in Italian which I passed. I have to thank Angela for that. She started teaching me Italian when I first got the scholarship which was four months ago. I studied everything that she gave me so I would be able to pass. I mean it's not every day that someone gets a full paid scholarship to go to a private institution. Angela has been wanting to go into the same field that I am so I talked her into trying to go to the same school as me. Her parents are willing to send her and pay for everything. So now she is just waiting to see if she is accepted. I hope so. She has passed everything as far as we know.
"Come on, Bella get your head out of la-la-land. Your class is about to go into the gym." Alice said pulling me from my thoughts.
"All right I'm coming." I replied getting up and walking to meet the rest of my class. Alice walked back into the gym with her family I don't have anyone else other than my mom to be here to see me graduate so they said they would come and watch the ceremony.
Angela walked over to me with the biggest smile on her face that I have ever seen, "You wouldn't believe what I just got in the mail this morning!" She said with excitement.
"What?" I questioned, silently hoping it was what I was thinking.
"I got accepted!" She squealed.
As soon as it left her mouth we hugged each other and started jumping up and down like little children. I can't believe it! I wont be going by myself now. Plus Angela is my best friend. There is no way we can lose contact now.
Mrs. Champion decided to walk in at that moment.
"Alright class when you hear the marching band that is your clue to start walking out." She instructed us.
(Time passed slowly. I know because what was about ten minutes passed by in what seemed like a hour. You could hear the inpatient murmerings of the students everywhere as everyone sat waiting for the commencement ceremony to begin.
Suddenly the roar of the brass band came through the doors of the gymnasium. The murmerings soon grew into excited chatter and we all rose one-by-one to begin our march.
This was it. Graduation.
Suddenly the time that just wouldn't pass seemed to fly by. The ten minutes that it took to seat all of us passed in an instant. When I sat down, my eyes immediately scanned to the audience. I wanted to see the looks on the Cullen's and my mothers faces. It was too bad that Phil couldn't make it, but I understood. He did have a game to attend to after-all.
I'd just have to give him extra hell about it later...
When I finally found them, I was greeted with the sight of their smiling faces as they watched on with pride.
I grinned back and raised my hand and sent a small wave their way. With that, the loud music fell silent and I saw the principal rise to the podium. I never understood why speeches had to be so long winded. It was a graduation after all. We all knew what was expected of us. Why make a show of it?
Unfortunately, that's exactly what the principal decided to do. After he droned on for a while, he called Jessica, our class valedictorian up to the podium.
Jessica was a decent friend but she loved to gossip. News was practically her lifeblood. To be honest, it kind-of got annoying after a while. Her speech wasn't that long. Not quite as long as the principal's anyway. She was presented her diploma and then the principal started to call everyone else up.
I knew it would take a while for me since my last name started with an S, so I sat back and watched everyone. This was a once in a life time experience that I wish my father could have seen. He would be so proud of me right now.
I can't let that bother me though. I have to let the past stay where it is, because otherwise I won't be able to move on.
Finally at last "Isabella Marie Swan" The Principal said.
The entire Cullen family stood up along with my mother and started shouting and clapping.
Wait... Was that a fog horn that I just heard?
I looked over and saw a familer pair of mischevious eyes. Alice was grinning like a school girl, leaping up and down on the bleachers and waving the offending piece at me.
Dear god, is she trying to embarrass me?
I'm fine with the shouting and clapping, but the fog horn? Come on, lets not go to extremes now.
I walked up to the Principal and the other teacher that where waiting. We shook hands and he gave me my diploma. When everyone was finished I was ambushed by the Cullen's and my mother.
"OH MY GOD BELLA! That was awesome; I can't wait until I graduate!" Alice said with a excited smile. While bouncing around like she was on one of those bouncey balls that you would buy at Wal-Mart
"Yeah yeah, it's a once in a life time situation. I'll try and be here when you do graduate" I told her. I hadn't came out and told any of them about the scholarship I got. Especially when I'll have to be going across the Atlantic just to go to school. Who knows if I will ever see any of them again.
"What are you talking about Bella?" Alice asked with a confused look on her face. The others looked like her too.
"I got a full paid scholarship to go to Italy for my college and I will be leaving tomorrow. Angela, is coming too." I explained looking at everyone of them to see what kind of expression I would arouse.
"Oh, that's okay Bella. You have to promise to keep in contact with all of us though. We can also come visit you and vice-versa." She replied all-to-happily. I was looking for them or her to at least her to beg me not to go, but I guess I was wrong. This was a lot easier than I thought it to be.
"What school will you be attending?" Esme asked me curiously.
"Aldo Galli, Academy of Fine Arts; I have looked into quite thoroughly. It costs 21,000 euros just to go there, and it's a private institution, so whoever decided to do me this favor; I am grateful for it. I said looking at them to see which one would own up to it.
They all looked at one-another then back at me.
Carlisle smiled and said, "Bella, I wish I could say that we were the ones who did this for you, but it wasn't anyone of us."
"Oh, then who would do this for me?" I questioned, "All I know is that it was an anonymous person."
"I don't know, just be glad that you have some money to go to college on. The only problem you have now is buying books and somewhere to stay." Carlisle said thoughtfully looking at me.
"I'll be able to cover it for my first year or so. I have a few thousand dollars saved back and when I get there I'm sure I can get a job somewhere to help me out." I replied looking around for Angela, but she was talking to her family.
"Well, if you need anything while you're there you can always call me or Esme and we would be more than happy to help you through college." He said, while smiling at Esme then back at me with a nod.
"Yes, Bella you know that I will always be here too. I am your mother after all." Renee said, she looked as if she was about to have a emotional break down.
After Carlisle and my mother had said this Edward decided to be known then.
" Bella, are you sure you want to go to Italy on a full paid scholarship that someone happened to anonymously pay just for you?"
Why does he always have to be like this? He thinks he knows what's best for me.
"Edward, I have no other choice, and I don't like to mooch off people as you can see. Whoever paid this was very generous, and there is no reason for me to waste the money that they gave me to go to college on." I told him annoyingly. He really gets on my nerves at times.
"What if this person is a rapist or even worse a murderer!" He shouted at me throwing his fist in the air. He really looks like a child when he does such things.
Carlisle and Esme gave him a look of disapproval, but he paid them no attention. My mother just rolled her eyes. She doesn't really like Edward anymore. She use to adore him. She thought we were great for each other, but after a while she started to see how he would try to boss me around. Well, you know how mother want their baby girls to be more independent and not have to depend on a man. That's what Edward has been trying to mold me into. A submissive women, not a chance in hell will I put up with that.
"Edward, you don't know that, okay. So stop trying to rain in on my parade. This is my chance to get out and I'm taking it whether you like it or not." I shouted back just as loud.
Esme decided then to step in, "Son, why don't you go to the car and wait for us." She stated as calmly as she could.
"Why are all of you allowing this? Do you not care if she is damned or not?" Edward was yelling. At this Emmett started pulling him away.
What is he talking about? He has got some serious problems I'm just going to college and he is talking about me being damned. What a jerk. Gah! Have I already said how much I dislike him. Well now I'm starting to hate him.
"Bella, forget about him. He's just being a jerk. Plus you and him were never meant to be." Alice said with a knowing smirk.
"Oh trust me I know. I knew after the first couple of dates we had. He thinks he knows what is best for me. Well news flash honey! I'm a grown damn women and I make on own decisions." I laughed and everyone else joined in.
"I'm sure you will find someone in Italy way better than my brother." Alice mumbled in my ear as she hugged me.
"I'm not going there to find love, Alice. I'm going to better myself and hopefully like you said I will become the next Lizzy Ansingh or even greater." I replied while hugging her back.
"Will you come by the house later, since you will be leaving tomorrow." She asked with her puppy dog face.
Who could refuse that?
"Of course. Just keep your brother in line. He has no authority over me." I told her sternly.
"You know I will and he might not even be there you never know." With that said she started walking away. Esme and Carlisle gave me a hug and joined the rest of the Cullen's and they left.
I looked back at my mother waiting for whatever she may have to say when she started smiling broadly.
"Bella, honey I am so happy for you. My only daughter is finally going off to college, and who knows you might actually find you a cute Italian boy over there, or better yet you might love it there, and become a citizen of Italy." She said with a dreamy look in her eye.
"Mom, like I told Alice, I'm not going there to find love I want to get my education and make something out of my life."
"Oh I know honey, but only a mother can wish that their daughter will find true love and not some little teenage punk." She said while laughing. I joined in with her. This is why I love my mother so much she knew how to a bad situation into a good one.
"Honey, I am going to have to leave now my flight is about to leave in thirty minutes. I wish I could stay longer, but I have to get back to Florida." She said remorsefully. "I just want to tell you one more thing. I know your father would be extremely happy about this. He would probably be throwing you a surprise party down at the dinner."
"Yeah, I know, mom." I replied finding the dirt more entertaining than the conversation at the moment.
"It will be okay, sweetie. If you need me just give me a call. You know I will always be here." She retorted while giving me a hug.
Once she walked a way I started looking for Angela and found her with Ben. "Hey guys what are you up too?" Ben gave me disgusted looked and walked away.
"What's going on?" I asked Angela
"I told him about me going to Italy with you and well, we broke up. He doesn't like the idea of a long distance relationship." She said looking as if she could cry.
"Oh Ang, don't let him bother you. If he couldn't handle you going away for a few years than he isn't worthy of you anyway." I said trying to comfort her.
She looked up at me and smiled, "You're right, Bella. I might find me some hot Italian guy anyway." We laughed.
"Sooo... I got some alcohol, since we are graduating I thought we could have a party just me and you. You know our last night in Forks." She said with a sneaky grin across her face.
I laughed again. I never knew Angela could be so bad. "What about your parents?" I quizzed.
"Their the ones who bought it for me you moron. How do you think I got it?"
"Well hell, I don't know maybe a fake id like most people." I retorted, then I remembered Alice asking if I could come by her house later on.
"Well, if we are going to get drunk off our asses tonight. then we got to go by the Cullen's first." I stated while pulling her with me.
"What? Why?" She asked taking her arm out of my hand, "You know I don't like how Edward acts around you." She said.
"I know I know. Look we won't stay long. I promised, Alice, I would and she is a friend of mine."I said looking her square in the face.
"If you really don't want to go, then I can just drop you off at my house."
"That would be better, Bella. It's not that I don't like the Cullen's I just get a creepy feeling around them that's all." She said looking down at the ground as she admitted how she truly felt being around the Cullen's.
"Why didn't you tell me this before, Ang. I would have never dragged you over there all those times." I said upset that she never shared this information with me before.
"I didn't want it to come between our friendship." She said now looking me in the face.
"Ang, that would have never happen." I said while hugging her again, "I'll take you by my house then I will go to the Cullen's for a little while. When I get back we will party on."
We both started walking toward my truck. When I started to driving, I looked over at her and asked, "So where is the alcohol?"
"Oh I hid it behind the seat in my bag just in case we get pulled over."
"Good idea. It wouldn't sound too grand for the ex chief of police's daughter to be riding around with a bottle in her truck." I said while smiling.
"Not just a bottle but three." She said with a cat grin.
"Get out of here. You think we are going to be able to drink three bottle together in one night." I looked at her as if she was crazy. We would surly die of alcohol poisoning since we don't drink all the time. Hell I have never been drunk a day in my life.
"No, but we will take some to Italy with us" She said as if it was as obvious as the nose on my face.
"You mean you are taking it because I'm not taking the chance of getting caught with it in my bags." I stated simply.
"Yeah yeah. I'll do it." She replied as we pulled up at my house and she got out. I leaned forward so she could pull the back of the seat up and get her bags.
"You're not going to take to long are you?" she asked still holding the door open.
"No I will be back soon. The key is under the mailbox." I told her as she shut the door and I drove off.
I got to the Cullen's house as fast as I could so I wouldn't be a bad host and leave company unattended too for to long. As I pulled into the Cullen's drive way I silent hoped that Edward wouldn't be there but when I saw his silver Volvo park out front all hope faded. Christ this wont go well it never does with him around. I walked up to the front door and knocked twice then it opened so quickly I didn't even see it open at least I don't think so.
"Bella!" Alice shouted at me while grabbing me into a sisterly hug, "It took you long enough. What have you been doing?"
"Angela is at my house and is going to stay the night so I can't stay long." I told her while smiling. She smiled back like she already knew something but I didn't question her. I never do. She can be a bit weird at times but she has been a great friend to me.
"Well come on in and tell the family the great news. You know fill up in on everything." She pulled me into the living room as usual everyone and when I say everyone I mean Edward too. Unfortunately.
Alice and I sat down on the sofa together. I looked around and everyone's eyes were on me. Waiting for whatever I may have to say. Hell I better get this over with so I can get back to the house.
"Well as you know I will be attending a school Italy." I stated looking at everyone. They all nodded their heads at me and waited for me to continue. "Well, when I told Ang about the whole ordeal she said she would see if she could come with me to make things easier for me. She, like me wants to go into Graphic design so she will benefit from it as well. While she took the tests and pasted all of them. They wrote her back today to let her know that she had been accepted. So tonight we are going to party and leave some time tomorrow afternoon"
With that said I looked around and everyone looked grief-stricken except Edward he was outraged.
"What! How can you? How can you allow this?" He shouted looking at Carlisle and Esme.
What is going on? What is he ranting about now? I swear sometimes this boy can me so absurd. In every action I take he always has something to say about it. There is no reasoning with him. He thinks that he knows everything.
"Look Edward, I don't know what your problem is about me and Ang wanting to get a better education that you have to come off like this. So whether you like it or not we are going it's not everyday that someone can get a free college education. Especially at a private institution. If you are wondering about Ang then her parents are going to pay for hers." I yelled right back at him while getting up to gather my things to leave.
"Oh Bella you don't have to leave." Esme sounded remorsefully for her sons actions.
"I still can't believe this! You're going to let her go while knowing what will happen! Her fate will he sealed and soul damned. Along with Angela. It is bad enough that she is going through this, but now another innocent soul." Edward was screaming at everyone by now so I made my way to the door.
"Bella! Where are you going?" Alice asked me.
"I'm going home to spend time with Ang before we have to leave tomorrow and I will not spend one more second in this house listening to his absurdness." I told her with a apologetic smile then nodded to everyone else.
Then I thought about what Edward was saying. How will mine and Ang soul be and damned and fate sealed. "Edward!" He looked at me with a smile. Disgusting. What did I see in him on those few dates. "How do you think that our fate will be sealed and souls damned?"
Everyone glared at him. He was about to say something, but Alice cut him off saying, "You know how Edward is. He is a jerk that just does not want you to go. He fears he may never see you again and you may find someone in Italy. You need to forget about what he says, because if there is one thing we know is Edward is a over controlling jerk as you can see now." As she was saying this she was leading me to the door. Funny how she just didn't want me to leave a few minutes ago.
"You should get back to Angela." she said looking at me with a smile then got serious which didn't look right for her, "Me and the family with the exemption of Edward, of course, will come by and see you tomorrow before you leave." She stated as we walked out to my truck.
"Okay. Well, I guess I will see you tomorrow then. We leave a three o'clock so you better get there pretty early." I told her while climbing into my monster of a truck.
"We will come by an hour before you leave. See you then." She said waving at.
"See ya, Alice. Make sure to tell everyone I didn't mean any disrespect, okay."
"I will" with that she started to walked back into her house.
Once I got out on the road I pulled out my phone and called Angela. I told her that I was on my way back to the house. When I got there she was siting on the front porch.
"Hey, what took you so long?" She asked me
"sigh", "You know how Edward can be." I simply stated and walked into the house. It smelt like she had been cooking vegetable soup. I walked into the kitchen and my assumption was correct.
"Angela you know you didn't have to cook anything. You're my guest so it is only right that I cook something for you." I told her while taking in a whiff of the soup and it did smell pretty good.
"I know, but I got hungry and I assumed that you wouldn't mind me cooking something for us both. Besides it's light and after we get finished eating we can start drinking." She said smiling while popping a bottle.
"You mean after I eat I can start drinking. It looks like you have already ate and you're going to go ahead and get started with out me." I pouted while getting some soup out.
"Hey, it's not my fault that you took so long at the Cullen's house." She replied while taking a big swig and gagged. I started to laugh at her, but with her glare I shut up quick.
I ate quick while she was drinking. After I was finished I washed the dishes and we went into the living room to find a movie to watch. We finally decided on "The Godfather 3". It's a alright movie, not my favorite out of the three though.
Once I put it in Ang started to pour my drink. "What are you making me?" I questioned her suspiciously. Don't get me wrong I just don't want to get shit-faced tonight. We are going to have to wake up early in the morning.
"I'm not making anything I'm just pouring you some vodka." she replied innocently looking up at me. Vodka, god this girl in insane. I hear that stuff is disgusting.
She walks into the kitchen and brings back one of Charlie's beers that was left in the refrigerator and a sun drop. When she sits everything down on the table she reaches into the brown paper bag and pulls out a bottle of one-hundred proof vodka, a small bottle of whiskey, brandy, and another small bottle of Peach schnaps.
"What is the beer for?" I asked her again silently hoping she wasn't about to say what I thought and she did.
"We are going to chase it with beer and if we cannot handle that we will use the sun drop. I was told that if you chase liquor with a beer it will cause you to get a high faster. " She looked at me with a sly smile. Gah! This girl is going to make us sick. Unbelievable.
"Yeah, if you chase it with a beer you're going to get sick everywhere! I will not be chasing it with beer, Ang. You have absolutely lost your mind!"
"Bella, you don't have to, okay. I just want to try it so could you at least try and calm down. You act like you're someones parent right now. Christ." Angela replied shaking her head.
"You're right. I'm sorry. I should not had yelled at you like that." I told her ashamed of my actions.
"It's all right. I just hope you don't like to fight when you're drunk" she looked at me a little wry.
By the time the movie was over I was feeling a little drunk but not too bad. Ang, on the other hand been puking her guts out. She looked so pitiful laying on the couch with a cold wet rag on her face.
I got up to take the movie out when Angela got up running to the trash can getting sick again. I sighed and walked over to her so I could hold her hair for her. I swear this will be the last time she and I do this. I told her not to chase the alcohol with beer, but she wouldn't listen to me. No one ever listens to me.
"Ang, are you all right now."
"Yeesh, I belieeve sho. I juz wanna go ta sheep. I don tink I wanna eva do dis agin." She slurred painfully.
I helped carry her up to my room and put her down on the bed. Once she head hit the pillow she was out like a light. I grabbed at bucket out of the bathroom and put it beside my bed just in case she got sick again during the night. I decided I was going to clean the house so we wouldn't have to do it in the morning. I know me and her both were more than likely going to sleep a little later tomorrow than what we had originally planned. I can't wait until we get to Italy. I just can't help but to think how our lives will be better once we get out of this town. I love Angela like a sister and we will stick together until the very end.
I have been having stranger dreams than before. It seems that every week I am having a different dream than usual. In one of my dreams I even had red eyes running beside the raven haired man. The only thing we did was laugh. I swear it's the man that was at the Cullen's that night, but they keep telling me different. I really don't know what to think anymore.
It is so confusing. I wish these dreams would stop. I mean every night that I have them I wake up thinking that it has to be that man that was at the Cullen's house that fateful night. He looks just like the man from my dreams. Maybe I'm just losing it, though. Maybe, Angela has had dreams like this before and she got over them. I doubt it, but I could confide in her about this. She may be able to help me. I know I can trust her with this and she wont think I am insane. But right now I just need to help her get through this night and make it to Italy before we talk about anything else.
A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the long wait, but I have a lot of things going on in my life right now. I don't want to talk about them, because they are too personal for me. I am truly sorry to leave you hanging for this long, but it had to be done. As you know it is summer time and some author's have more time to write during the summer, but for me that means I have a lot of work cut out for me. Work as in working outside and a job I have to do. I am working on chapter ten as we speak, but I don't know when I will have it up. Thank you for waiting this long for.
Please, leave reviews and let me know what you think. Also thank you for all the reviews that you all have been given me. They have really inspired me write me.
P.S I happy that all of you are liking it so far and I hope I didn't make Edward out to be to much of an ass. :)
Oh yeah, before I forget HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY PEOPLE! I know me and my folks are going to go watch the reenactments of the revolutionary war and the fire work display. Be safe
Love y'all
ShadowChild01