Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. It belongs to Stephenie Meyer.

AN: This chapter takes place a month after the last chapter.

Bella sat next Jessica waiting for her name to be called. The Cullen's had already gotten their diplomas and were now whispering to each other. Jessica nudged her, making her look over.

"I'm about to fall asleep, how about you?" she whispered.

"I'm bored out of my skull."

"I thought that this would be more exciting."

Bella nodded in reply before looking out over the audience. She found her dad and Billy easily. They were on the floor with Sandra and Mae. Her dad beamed with pride when her eyes met his. She continued looking, starting from the top and working her way down.

Embry, Jacob, Quil, Claire, Kelly, Leah, and Emmett were halfway up. Her eyes met Embry's last. He gave her a lazy smile knowing that it would drive her crazy. She turned her attention back to the front realizing that it was almost time to go up to the stage.

A few minutes later she was accepting her diploma. Jasper was the last person to be called and once was it was all over, they all threw their caps in the air.

"Thank God that's over!" Jessica said in exasperation.

Bella laughed as she shook her head. Jessica pulled her in for a hug, squeezing her tightly.

"I know that I'll see you next Saturday, but I don't know when I'll see you before that. I'm gonna miss you," she said with a sad smile.

"You'll see me. We work together, remember? I'll call, and you can call me whenever you want."

"I was hoping that you would say that. I'm gonna go talk to talk to Angela."

"I'll be right there."

Alice made her way over to her with a smile.

"I finished the dress. You can pick it up whenever you want."

"Thank you for making it."

"You're welcome. You're going to look beautiful in it."

"I hope so," she said with a laugh.

"When does your mom come in?"

"Tomorrow, she was supposed to come in yesterday, but her flight got cancelled because a hurricane came through."

"I can't wait to meet her."

"She can't wait to meet you either. I've told her all about you."

Alice gave her a bashful look before looking over Bella's shoulder.

"Charlie, Billy," she said with a wave.

"Little one," Charlie said with a teasing smile.

"Hi Alice," Billy said with a nod.

Alice waved goodbye before walking away. Bella turned to see that Sandra and Mae now joined her dad and Billy. The four of them smiled as she hugged each of them leaving her dad for last.

"Well, you did it," he said.

"Yeah, I did," she said with a laugh.

"I'm proud of you Kid."

"Thanks Dad."

"We're all proud of you Doll," Mae said.

"The boys are getting antsy. Let's give them a turn," Billy said.

Bella looked to her left, seeing Quil give her a goofy look. She shook her head with a smile as she pulled him to her.

"You are such a dork," she laughed.

"At least someone appreciates my talent."

"Being a dork is a talent? I had no idea."

"It takes a lot of effort to be like this," he said giving her an admonishing look.

"Next," she said looking at Jacob.

Quil handed her off and she noticed Angela standing off to the side.

"I'll make this quick. I promise."

"Okay," he said.

"You're the greatest best friend a girl could ever ask for."

"Back at ya," he said with a wink.

"Go see your girlfriend," she said pushing him away.

"I'm next," Emmett said with an evil grin.

"Why do I not like that look?" she asked.

"How do you feel about getting dizzy?"

"I'm totally against it," she said giving him a scared look.

"Then suck it up," he said picking her up.

He spun her around several times before he finally listened to her pleas and set her down in front of Embry.

"You let him manhandle me like that?" she asked as she gripped his arms.

"Better him than me. You would have been pissed if I had done it."

"You're right. I would have."

He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her waist. Her arms were around his neck before she kissed him lightly. He held her tightly before seeing a flash of light. His mom was holding a camera ready to take another picture.

"One more, I promise. Charlie will want some too since your mom can't be here."

"One more," Embry said.

Bella placed her head on his shoulder and he kissed her temple. That was the picture that Sandra took. Her dad took nearly a dozen pictures of her by herself plus another dozen of her with friends and the parents. By the time he was done she was nearly blind.

"Can you see?" Jacob asked.

"Barely," she said blinking quickly.

"Come on. I'll lead you out of here," he said taking her hand.

"Thank you."

Outside it was so bright that she had to shield her eyes from the sun.

"You need these more than I do," Kelly said holding out a pair of sunglasses.

"When is your graduation?"

"Tomorrow, there's an award's ceremony tonight that I have to go to," she said rolling her eyes.

"What time tomorrow?"

"Eleven. Are you coming?"

"I had planned on it."

"I'll see you tomorrow. I have to go home and get ready."

"Do you want your glasses?"

"You can give them back to me tomorrow," she said with a smile.

Everyone piled into cars and headed back to her house. She rode with her dad and he was quiet the entire time.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it's just hard to believe that in a week you won't live with me anymore."

"I'll still come over."

"It won't be the same. I'll be an Empty Nester before I'm forty."

"That's what you get for having me so young. Mom and Phil have been alone for over a year."

"That's different. You lived with your mom for fourteen years."

"I guess you're right."

Inside she was thinking about what he had said. Embry noticed something was wrong as soon as he saw her. She told him what her dad had said then he went to talk to his mom. He was back by her side ten minutes later.

"I came up with a plan. I talked it over with my mom and your dad. I'm moving in here. He's right, he just got you back. I can't expect him to give you up like that."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Your mom is okay with it?"

"She can't wait to get rid of me."

Bella laughed before wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Thank you," she whispered.

He kissed her lightly before putting his forehead to hers.

"What about school?"

"I'll be eighteen by the time school starts. I can go wherever I want."

"I can't believe that you did this," she said with a smile.

"I'd do anything to make you happy."

"I know."

So much was changing with more changes to come. Things were changing so fast that it was hard for them to keep up sometimes. Things would settle down once they were in California together. They still had one more year to get through.