A/N: Okay, so this took forever. I should be writing a research paper on Chicago the Musical and yet, here I am, finally coming around to publishing this story. Anyways, this chapter may seem rush but I really didnt know what to do with it so, let me know. Also, there IS Mature Content in here. It's not hardcore porn but... you've been warned. if you don't like that kind of stuff, although I don't think it's that explicit, then jump to the dialogue? idk.

massive thanks to tiamaria89, Shakilove, anaylen, lizyeh200, layla347, megan (guest) Z123bird and Dove (guest) for your lovely reviews! I appreciate them with all my heart.

Also, thanks to eeryone who has favorited and followed since last chapter, and THANK YOU for bearing with me! I was wrong, we're not two chapters to go but the end is coming soon, sadly. People have asked me about a sequel? but I don't know. If everything goes as planned, I don't think we'll need one.

anyways, let me know what you think cuties xx

Chapter 37:

The school auditorium was busy with chatter. Parents were taking pictures, little kids were running about. Some girls had even started to cry already, as they hugged each other and promised never to stop being 'BFF's. I walked through the crowd, once in a while having to duck so I wouldn't get pushed, with an inner calm I didn't know I possessed. Somehow, all the pre-graduation havoc was making me feel at peace. Nothing could harm me here; there were no bitter vampires, no army, and no beloved shape-shifters. I was safe. Or as safe as I could be, I mused, as an excited Angela appeared out of nowhere and forced me into a picture her mom was kind enough to take.

"Thank you, I guess." I laughed.

"This is most likely going to be the last time we see each other," she shook her head. "And I want memories." Angela explained.

While I hadn't been the best person I could be the last few months, I did admit I would miss Angela. She had pretty much stood by me for quite some time, going as far as actually accepting my sudden change of attitude and understanding why it had occurred. I had only gotten half way through telling her what Edward had done before she had shaken her head, pulled me into a hug and demanded I gave him hell. She hadn't been so happy over my anger towards Bella but she still tried to be my friend. I wished her a long happy life at whatever path she decided to take. Angela and I dived into the thick crowd of Forks High School graduates, trying to find the rest of our little group. Jessica was a sea of tears before we were even within an arms reach. All she did was pull both of us into a giant hug and blabber about how this was not the end and we just had to see each other again this summer and even after. It didn't seem to dawn on her that Angela was going to Cali for college and she to NYU. All she wanted was to see us.

"Of course we will!" Angela assured her, drying her own tears by putting one finger under her lashes so her make-up wouldn't get smudged.

Jessica hadn't been so lucky. I could clearly see a small black blotch under her lower lashes that would slowly drip into her cheeks if she didn't hurry and fix it. Sighing, I opened my small clutch and retrieved my compact powder.

"Here," I said, opening and dabbing some of the product into her face. "You've got a little smudge." Was my explanation to her startled expression.

We stayed huddled together, talking about plans and the future for about ten minutes. Graduation officially started in half an hour, which gave all those unpunctual parents and students and other family members plenty time to arrive. The three of us were mid-laugh—I had already resigned myself to stop being a total bitch and simply be a selective bitch; right now, I was enjoying life.—when Angela's eyes widened and she stiffened.

"What?" Jessica asked her, following her line of sight over my shoulder. "Oh."

I raised my eyebrows and turned around, expecting to see some scandal like some boy coming to graduation with his pajamas. Instead, my stomach hit the floor and I turned back around just as quickly. Jacob and Billy Black were here. They were here at my graduation. I had seen Jacob just yesterday, we had practically said our goodbyes, and he hadn't mentioned anything about coming to graduation with his father. My heart was beating faster than was medically advised.

"What is he doing here?" Angela asked me with a worried frown.

"I don't know." I shook my head, fighting the urge to turn and ask him just that.

"I know." Jessica commented. She was looking at them, so Angela and I turned.

Bella was happily jogging towards Jake, circling her arms around his neck. Jacob hugged her back somewhat awkwardly and she moved towards Billy, who gave her the most genuine smile I had ever seen come from the man. I narrowed my eyes. They had come for her. Not for me. I wasn't sure why that surprised me, though. Everything seemed to be about Bella as of late.

"What a bitch." Jessica observed with a scoff.

I hummed in agreement. "Let's just go to our seats."

The graduation ceremony started quite fast after that. Carlisle and Esme tried to motion to me for the customary family photograph but I denied; I didn't feel like standing next to Edward and pretending to love him just like in all the other pictures. The difference was, I did love him back then. I thought he wanted what was best for me, just like I did him. I thought he was my friend, my family. He'd proven he wasn't so I wanted nothing to do with him. So I went to my seat with a frown stuck to my face and a glare to anyone who decided to look at me twice. After the principal gave some words about this class being this and that and how they would miss us dearly, Jessica got up and went to the podium for her speech.

"When we were five, they asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up." She started after a deep breath. Her eyes seemed to jump from one classmate to the other and while I knew it was probably from nerves, she made it look like she was actually focusing on each and every one of us. "Our answers were things like, astronauts, president… or in my case, a princess. When we were ten, they asked again. We answered, a rock star, cowboy, or in my case, a gold medalist." She laughed at herself. "But now that we're grown up, they want a serious answer. Well, how about this. Who the hell knows?"

The students let out hoots and laughs, as well as some claps. I laughed out loud, completely agreeing. Humans never knew what they wanted, not at 18, not at 60. They lived for too little, missed too much. Usually, they ended up doing something they hated but at least paid the bills. My amusement died quite quickly with the next words of her speech.

"This isn't the time to make hard and fast decisions. This is a time to make mistakes." She assured. "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." She explained. "Change your mind, and change it again, because nothing's permanent. So make as many mistakes as you can. That way, someday, when they ask what we want to be, we won't have to guess… we'll know."

Make mistakes. Make mistakes. Make mistakes. Those words echoed in my mind until the principal called my name and even then, it was the only thing in my mind. When was the last time I made a mistake that would benefit me and the ones I loved?

I sent the principal a blinding smile as he gave me my diploma and put my medal over my head. As I walked down the stairs back to my seat, I knew I had made up my mind. Not for the reassurance I felt in my chest, but from the surprised gasp coming from Alice when I disappeared from her Sight. I walked past my row of seats and straight to Carlisle and Esme. They shot me confused looks as I handed them my diploma. I had graduated, we all had, which meant they wouldn't stay in Forks much longer, which meant I was free of them, free of any deal we had ever made. I was suddenly very happy, I realized as I turned to where I knew Jacob was and took off running.

I ran as fast as humanly possible from the beginning of the big auditorium to the end, not caring I was attracting so much attention even the principal stopped calling names. Jacob seemed confused. I was barely able to see his expression turn to hopeful before I slammed into him and kissed him. The momentum made me slip and nearly trip but Jacob's hands were suddenly in my waist, keeping me up as we kissed.

"Marie Antoinette!" Edward shouted in what could only be described as rage. I flipped him off over my shoulder. I heard the student crowd cheer and let out hoots as they clapped.

"But I thought—" Jacob started between kisses. I didn't even let him finish.

"I love you." I admitted.

"What?" he blinked, looking down at me.

"I'm in love with you." I laughed, shaking my head. "And I don't care."

I didn't care. Maybe we weren't meant for each other, if that was the case I didn't care. Maybe he would leave me for a more suited girl; maybe it would happen in a week, or a month, or a thousand years. I did not care. I loved him and he loved me. And that was all that mattered from now on. Spiteful vampires and love potions be damned. Jacob smiled a relieved smile and captured my lips with his. We kissed slowly like we would run out of time if we tried to rush this, like we had never kissed before. I could hear cat calls from the students and laughter from some amused parents. I swear I even heard a 'oh, teenage love' coming from the principal. I wasn't surprised. This was a small town and rumors spread like lice on a preschool. They probably all knew who we were.

"Alright," the principal cleared his throat. "Alright! Let's continue, please."

I giggled and broke our kiss, happy to stay on Jake's embrace. It wasn't like I could go anywhere, though. His arms had me locked against his chest, forcing me to stay put.

"Marie Antoinette," Billy Black called. I turned to him reluctantly, expecting the worse. He regarded me with those dark eyes that were so much like Jake's. "Welcome back," he finally said, nodding as he offered me his hand.

"Thank you." I blinked, surprised, as I took his hand.

I was expecting a firm handshake and nothing else, but he held my hand and raised his other to cover mine. He kept it for a few seconds before dropping it. I smiled at him. Billy pretended not to see it as he turned back to the auditorium's stage.

The Cullen household had never had so many humans in it before. It was a hazard, after all. But now the little fact that any of the Cullens could lose control and eat our guests seemed to be forgotten. It was replaced by post-graduation cheer. I was excited. I had changed my dress twice, eventually opting for a white sleeveless one. I looked smoking hot, truth be told. But I was also bored. I refused to talk to Bella and my only two human friends seemed to want to be with her all night. So I ended up by the make-shift bar, nursing a glass of vodka, eyes stuck to the door like a hawk. I jumped from my seat the second it opened and the people I was waiting for came through: my real friends. Jared, Embry, Paul and my sister came in, led by Jacob and all in all looking like they wished they were anywhere else. I didn't care. I only had eyes for Jake.

"Hey," he greeted with an easy smile.

"I can't believe you actually came." I returned the smile just as easily.

"Yeah, me either." Jared snorted.

"Oh, stop it." I brushed his comment aside, grabbing Jacob's hand and starting to walk further into the house. They all followed. "Drinks are over there, food's around there, here's the dance floor." I rushed, barely paying attention to where I was pointing.

"Okay?" Charlotte raised her eyebrows.

We stopped by the stairs, with Jake and I two steps above them.

"Yeah, so… have fun!" I exclaimed, already running up the stairs, Jacob lose behind me.

"They are gonna be pissed." He laughed, arm snaking around my waist.

We reached my room quite quickly and I was suddenly hit by nerves. So I turned around and pressed my back to the still closed door, gazing up at him. He was just as beautiful as always but something had changed. He suddenly didn't look as defeated as he had some days past. Could I have done that? Had my declaration of love really been the thing that had brought the spark back into his eyes? I didn't want to believe it. But, yet again, he was the reason I could breathe freely again. So maybe I'd help him too. With a deep breath, I opened the door behind me, letting him through first.

"So this is your room." Jacob stated as he looked around.

I closed the door and mumbled a spell, watching it glow golden before it turned back to white. Happy knowing nobody would be able to go in unless I wanted them to, I turned to Jake. He was standing in between my bed and the space where the piano used to be. My room, though now empty of lots of stuff that had been given to me by the Cullens, was at least three times Jacob's room. I knew that and I knew he knew that. It showed on his face, the way his eyebrows were slightly down and how he just kept looking down at himself with his worn navy blue T-shirt and his black pants. My room was the perfect image of luxury, while he was humility incarnated.

"You've never come up before, have you?" I asked softly.

Jacob just shook his head and went back to exploring everything. He walked to my dresser, where I still kept a Polaroid of us from one of our dates. I didn't say anything and neither did he; he simply smiled at it slightly. It was from way before he shifted, from that summer before senior year when everything was calm. I was guessing it brought him memories of simpler times. He didn't stay there much longer, though. Jacob next went to my desk, which was now relocated to be right by the window. He chuckled and turned to me, my sketch book held up so we could both see what was inside.

"When did you draw this?" he asked, still smiling.

"Around the time we had that little encounter by the river." I smiled, rolling my eyes in embarrassment.

I walked forward and took the notebook from him, looking down at the half finished drawing of a russet huge wolf. It wasn't finished, mostly because I had started crying half-way through it and had simple opted to put it away. And it had remained untouched until this morning when I attempted to finish it. It wasn't my best work ever and he ended up looking more feral than what I had intended, so I quickly closed the notebook and put it on the first drawer.

Jacob looked about ready to protest, so I simply leaned on my tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips. That silenced him immediately, and he kissed me back just as eagerly. Just as I was about to take things further, though, he broke apart.

"No," he shook his head. "I'm not done exploring yet."

"It's just a room, Jake." I laughed, sitting on the windowsill.

"It's your bedroom." He corrected me, now focusing on the small marks the piano had left on the cream carpet. "It's like getting to know you all over again." He shrugged before pointing at the rug. "What happened here?"

"Edward gifted me a piano a few decades ago." I waved it off.

"And…?" Jacob trailed off, knowing there was more to it than just that.

"I—I pushed it down the stairs two months ago." I admitted, nervously running my fingers through my hair. His eyebrows nearly reached his hairline. "I had my reasons."

Jacob hummed. I imagined he had done the math and figured out why my sudden hate towards the instrument I had always valued so much. His eyes then found the bed, though, and his sudden bitterness towards Edward was replaced by almost childish excitement.

"Is it as soft and jumpable as it seems?" he asked, already making his way to the queen-sized bed.

"Why don't you figure it out?" I teased him.

"You're inviting me into your bed?" Jake taunted me.

"You're the one who brought it up, remember?" I shot back, getting up.

Walking towards him, I slightly pushed him towards the bed. Everyone's reaction to my ridiculously comfortable bed was always extremely funny and I couldn't wait to see Jacob's. He walked to my preferred side of the bed and sat down. His eyes widened. Next he unashamedly took of his shoes and jumped fully into the bed, jumping like a worm for a few seconds before sitting up and leaning on the headrest. I couldn't help but laugh the whole time. I laughed so hard my face ached and it wasn't until then that I realized my muscles ached because I hadn't laughed a full-on laugh in such a long time.

"You don't get something like this in just any store." Jacob observed, still slightly in awe.

"Nope." I shook my head as I walked to stand next to him.

"Do I even want to know how much this is?" he asked me, grabbing my fingers with his.

"I doubt it." I admitted.

I wanted to be closer to him, a lot closer. But I wasn't sure if I could just pretend the last several weeks hadn't occurred and just go back to acting like before. But I wanted it so bad, god, I wanted him so bad I ached. Throwing caution to the wind, I kicked out my heels and climbed onto his lap, having to lift my dress slightly so I could straddle him with my thighs. His hands automatically went to my waist, practically enveloping me whole as if I were nothing but a porcelain doll.

"So you were inviting me to your bed." He teased me.

"Oh, shut up." I mumbled.

He grinned at me before leaning slightly forwards until our foreheads touched. My heart raced as I thought he was going to kiss me but after just staring at me for a couple of seconds, he simply closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. That one sigh was filled with so much longing and relief, it shook me to my very core. I didn't even bother drying the few tears that escaped my eyes. I hadn't been this close to him in weeks, I hadn't felt his skin burn mine in what felt like ages. Never in all the years I'd spent in this room had it ever felt so much like home. His hands went down to my hips and up to my waist again, once, twice, in the most comforting manner imaginable. Only then did I realize my tears had been followed by more tears. I bit my lip, trying to rein in my tears.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled, sniffing. "I am so, so sorry."

I'd hurt him time and time again and he kept forgiving me. I doubted he would now, though.

"We're okay," he said. I felt his breath against my skin. "Hey,"—he insisted, nudging my temple with his. "We're okay, Antoinette."

I searched his eyes for any resentment, any hint of dishonesty. I found none. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

I nodded, leaning my head on his chest until the urge to cry disappeared. Everything was alright. Well, that I was not expecting. We stayed like that for a few moments, with his hands still up and down my body. The sounds of the raging party travelled all the way up to my room but it was still somehow calm up here, with the moon light drifting into the room and the warm light of my bedside lamp. Jacob's hand travelled down to my thigh, barely touching me. I got shivers all over my body and I giggled, lifting my head to glare at him half-heartedly.

"You did that on purpose!" I gasped, still giggling.

"You have no idea how much I missed that sound." He admitted as his hand settled on the inside of my thigh.

Something about the way he said it made my insides burn. I wanted him and I wanted him now. My hands found his face and I brought him forward, kissing him with my open mouth. He didn't lose any time, returning the kiss like I was the ocean and he was desperate to drown. My hand found its way to the nape of his neck, slightly digging my nails in his scalp and making him inhale. His tongue waisted no time in darting out, slowly touching the roof of my mouth and making me scoot even closer to him. His mouth skidded over my cheek, across my jaw until it found its own place, that small spot under my jaw line. He sucked on it until I moaned. My fingers fumbled with the hem of his shirt, trying to get it off, needing to have skin contact, desperate to feel his warmth as much as possible. I felt his hands sneak under my dress, gracing my bum. I rose slightly on my knees, dying to have him cover every single inch of me but he didn't stay there for long. His hands followed the low of my back, going up every little bone in my spine as I moved my hand down his torso. He shivered and let out a chuckled.

"I really missed you." I whispered, for some reason scared of raising my voice.

His lips found mine once more. He didn't need to tell me he missed me, I knew that already. So I was happy to going back to nothing but kisses and raw sexual magnetism. His hands kept going further up my body and I just waited for him to find my little gift as I thrust against him, leaving a trail of kisses down his neck.

"Shit, Antoinette." Jacob groaned.

I felt his body tense as his hand stopped right above my bare left breast. My dear Jacob was a guy and like every guy in this small world, he thought we were doing this because he wanted. He didn't know I had planned all this since the second I got home from school. And my evil plan included not wearing a bra. I lost my dress after that quite fast, although I couldn't tell you how it happened. All I knew was the feeling of him through his pants was killing me. I gasped when he found his way down to the cradle between my legs, as his fingers slowly rubbed my skin. Just when it was about to become too much, he would stop and pull away. Only to start again. I bit my lip; this was torture. My sweaty hands found the button of his jeans and I fumbled to pull it open, his fly too. I found him hot and hard as my fingers curled around him. Of course all this stupid clothes weren't making it any easier.

"Take it off." I mumbled, giving his earlobe a small nip.

Jacob pushed me off a little before he got up and wiggled himself out of his jeans and boxers, giving me the time to slide farther to the middle of the bed and remove my panties. He fell back into bed; his mouth didn't take long to find my skin as his hand traveled around my body once more. I wrapped my hand around him, stroking him all the way down and up over the tip of him slowly. He made me suffer before, so this was payback, I thought. It became harder though, when his lips went down to my right breast and one sneaky finger slid inside of me. My motions faltered. Jesus fucking Christ. The finger was followed by two more and while I may be trying to return the favor here, I was starting to lose sense of anything but his hands on me.

"Jake, please." I moaned, feeling my insides start to tense and arching my back upwards, closer to him.

"Yeah," he asked with a groan. I knew he was just as close as me.

"Jacob."

That seemed to be enough begging on my part, though, because with one swift motion he had me pressed to the bed and parting my thighs with his hand as he hold himself up on the bed with his forearm. He met no resistance as he slid inside of me. I closed my eyes and breathed in through my nose. When I opened them back again, I met chocolate brown. For the last ten minutes or so, all of our movements had been nothing but frantic and desperate, like time was running out but not now. No, now was forever.

"You okay?" he mumbled. His labored breath hit my face.

I hummed in the positive. I was more than okay. Jake lent down and kissed me before starting to move slowly. My heel pressed down into his lower back so I could raise my hips and meet him halfway. Usually, I'd be all for fast and easy satisfaction. But tonight felt different somehow and he seemed to think so too. Because he kept the same pace, his mouth on my neck and my hands buried deep within his hair, fingernails digging into his scalp whenever the pressure down there seemed to become too much. Our breaths mixed and I could feel and hear his heart beating against my breasts. Knowing he could feel the same seemed to turn me on even more, somehow.

"God, yes." I gasped, clinging to his back for some sort of support. He was taking me to heaven.

A strangled fuck was his reply as he couldn't help but pick up his pace. We were a loud mess by now and the thought that maybe we could be heard downstairs entered my mind. It escaped me quite soon, however, as I reached my apex. We came at the same time, with me crumbling loudly underneath him. Jacob tensed before relaxing entirely and collapsing atop me, his head in the crook of my neck. We were panting and I could feel a small sheet of sweat on his back. I smiled.

"That was amazing," Jacob said as he rolled off to my side.

I laughed and turned to face him, throwing my leg across his torso. "You say that every time."

"Right." He laughed as well, circling my shoulder with his arm and bringing me closer to him. "It was better than in the rabbit, that's for sure."

I snorted. Billy Black was one light sleeper, that or he never went to sleep if he knew I was staying over, so fooling around in his room was extremely hard, especially if each time things got really interesting we got a knock on the door. So we got creative. The beach caves were always an easy option but I loathed getting sand up my ass and other parts, so we sort of retorted to our respective cars.

"Remember that time I banged my head against the window?" I laughed, covering my face with my hand.

"You actually got a bump." Jake reminded me.

My laugh faded into a sigh. We fell into calm silence then, as Alice's wide arrange of music changed into a somewhat slow song downstairs. I watched as the wind rustled the curtain on my windows, letting the light from the back yard come in.

"So what now?" Jacob asked after a moment.

"Now." I started, sitting up in the bed. "We get dressed and go downstairs for the rest of the party."

"And we enjoy the time we have left together." Jacob nodded, turning his eyes away.

"Jake, I have to go." I reminded him softly. "I'll come back before you know it!"

He sighed, sitting up as well. One of his hands found my shoulder and brushed my hair aside, his thumb found a home in the hollow of my throat. My hand clung to his wrist, suddenly worried.

"I know." He nodded. "Doesn't mean I'm going to miss you any less."

"I'll miss you too." I admitted.

I didn't tell him that it would feel much longer for me. I didn't have the heart to look him in the eye and explain how his four months would be four whole years for me. Instead, I gave him a chaste kiss and buried my head on his chest, vowing to myself that after this trip was done, I would never leave his side. Jacob lowered his head close to mine and I met his lips halfway, more than willing to use this as a distraction. His lips were soft but firm against mine, making my blood sing, and when he pushed me back down into the bed, I didn't protest. He laid between my legs, left hand gripping my thigh as I wrapped my legs around him, keeping him close. Jacob just kept kissing me, my mouth, my neck, my breast, any place he could. And I just kept touching him, his strong arms, the muscles of his back, his hair. I'd press myself against him, legs tightening around his body, whenever his touch sent waves of pleasure all over me. Right before things could get too interesting, though, there was a hesitant knock on the door.

"I really hate to interrupt but… we need you downstairs. Now." It was Alice.

Serenity left Jacob in the blink of an eye. He glared at the door, a dangerous growl leaving his lips. My hands found his face and I was glad some of the anger seemed to seep out of him. His body stopped shaking.

"Wait," I said, pushing him softly away from me.

"You're kidding." He deadpanned.

But I wasn't. something was wrong. I could sense it in the almost unnoticeable tremor in Alice's voice.

"Something happened." I shook my head, already jumping from the bed and looking for my clothes.

"How do you know?" Jacob wondered out loud, starting to get dressed as well.

"I just do." I sighed.

I waited until Jacob was fully dressed before walking over and opening the door. The worry and fear reflected on Alice's face made my blood run cold. And here I was thinking things were finally looking up.