A/N: So, here is the next chapter for this story. I won't have time to post tomorrow so I'm gonna go ahead and post now. Thank you to everyone reading this story of for all the people who review. I heart you all. Gabby 1017 pre read this and Sunflower Fran betas. Love you both.
The next weekend Edward and I were in the basement, playing some new video game that had just come out. I had just taken the controller from him because he kept dying; he was doing it on purpose because it was funny. We were fighting over the controller when Esme popped her head in, scaring the crap out of me, causing me to drop the controller.
"You guys got a minute? We need to talk."
We got out of the chairs and followed Esme upstairs, bickering the whole time.
"She's mad because you broke the controller."
"I didn't break it, and your mom loves me, don't you, Esme."
"Of course, dear." She said, putting her arm around my shoulder.
I turned and stuck my tongue out at Edward, and he started laughing. Edward and I turned to head to the living room, but Esme shook her head and jerked her head towards the dining room, where I could see Carlisle was already sitting. We shared concerned glances.
Edward and I sat down next to each other, across from Carlisle and Esme.
"What's going on guys? I'm starting to get a little concerned."
"Well, we are a little concerned as well. Tell us again your plan for college."
"We've done this before, Mom."
"Well, then humor us."
"Okay, I plan on going to Peninsula College for the fall and spring semester. Bella graduates in December, so she was going to join me for the spring semester. Next academic year, we were planning on applying to some east coast colleges and UDub. Depending on what Bella and I can get for scholarships, that would be how we will decide which college to enroll in."
"Well, that is where our concern comes in. This came today." Esme said, holding a heavy-looking envelope that had the U Dub logo on the front. It was an acceptance letter. "Now, while I understand that you guys want to stay together and go to the same colleges, it seems silly to go to a tiny community college, when in the same state, there is a more prestigious, four-year university."
"Because that prestigious four-year university costs more money."
"Edward, you don't have to worry about money; we have money put away for college."
"He's going there because of me," I said, trying to diffuse this situation before Edward got mad, which I could see coming. "With me graduating in the fall semester, there are a lot of scholarships I won't be able to apply for; it's twelve thousand dollars tuition in Seattle."
"That's correct, and it's nine thousand dollars in Port Angeles. Esme and I have looked at apartments and rentals, and we found two places, and I'm not comfortable with either of you living there. Bella, have you talked to your dad about the money thing? Had he ever said that he couldn't afford for you to go to UDub?" Carlisle asked.
I sat and thought about that for a moment because when I tried to pick out certain conversations we had about college, we never really discussed cost. I know he freaked out a little bit about east coast schools, but he never said why he was upset. "I don't think we've specifically talked about it. I just assumed."
"Do me a favor, look up how much a sheriff in Forks, WA, makes with your dad's experience and remember that he managed to pay a nice house off in fifteen years with only one income. Then have a conversation with him about money. I imagine you will be surprised." Esme advised. Edward looked a little surprised, and I was confused. "I would feel so much better if you guys would keep an open mind about this. Look up places in Port Angeles; it's quite underwhelming." She finished.
Carlisle and Esme got up from the dining room table, and Esme kissed Edward and me on the head as she passed. I picked up the mail from UDub and handed it to Edward. "Open it, I said."
He sighed and opened the letter. He pulled out a full-page letter and a course catalog. "I got accepted."
"Of course, you did, congrats," I said, trying really hard to be happy for him. It's what I wanted. I didn't want him to go to Peninsula College when he had the options to go to a four-year university; a really good one too.
"Come on," He said, standing and putting out his hand. I took it, allowing him to pull me up, and followed after him.
"What are we doing?"
"We have some stuff to look up."
I laughed and continued to follow. He sat me down at his desk and pulled another chair up to sit next to me. We moved the laptop closer to us and turned it on. Edward brought up a few different web pages and then said whoa. He turned the screen towards me.
"What? This is in Forks?"
"Yeah, it says, 'Sheriff officer Forks, WA."
On the screen, in black and white, it said that with my dad's years on the force and his schooling, he should be making close to one hundred and twenty thousand dollars a year, which was a lot. I was honestly stunned, but looking back on it, it made sense. We never had money problems. There was always food in the house, the utilities were always on, and if I needed extra money for school events, we had it.
"I had no idea, I mean it makes sense when I think about it, but like, I was not expecting that."
Edward nodded and started typing on the keyboard. I knew by the look on his face he was looking at places in Port Angeles.
"Let me see."
He turned the screen, and I was stunned. One place was between a motel that looked shady as hell and a homeless shelter. The entire block where one of the places was situated looked like it was just waiting for a mugging or murder to happen. The other didn't look much better, and it was almost eight hundred dollars for four hundred sq. ft. That was it, two extremely divey options that weren't worth the price. Edward closed the laptop and turned so our knees were touching, and we were facing each other. He took my hand in his and leaned forward.
"What do you want to do, Love? I have until the beginning of next month to decide on which school I'm enrolling in."
"I never wanted you to go to Peninsula College. To me, it felt like the completely wrong place for you to go. I know you can take the same classes, and med school really won't matter until you get your bachelor's degree, but UDub is a good school. I need to talk to my dad."
Edward smiled and nodded. We went back to the basement and watched Emmett play the new video game and smiled and laughed at the parts he got stuck on. We just hung out, enjoying time together until the absolute last minute, and it was time for me to go home before I got in trouble for being home late.
When I got home, I was happy to see my dad was home and had not yet passed out on the couch.
"Dad, we need to talk."
~BTS~
In the months that had passed, Edward and I continued to strengthen our relationship while making different plans for our futures. Edward was going to attend UDub in the fall, and I would be following him in the spring. I was so wrong about our financial situation. My dad had put away money for my college fund.
While we didn't have enough to get me through four years of tuition at an east coast school, the money was there if scholarships didn't sustain me when we transferred. It was the end of May, and Edward had finished his last day of high school yesterday. The last day for seniors was usually two weeks before the end of the year for everyone else. I was standing around with Rose, Emmett, and Alice at lunch, feeling really weird with Edward and Jasper not being there. I want to be a dramatic teenager and say it felt like I was missing a limb, but I was missing a source of comfort. I was torn between pining for Edward and trying to distract myself with the conversations my friends were having. I knew that I needed to get used to this because, in a few months, I wouldn't be able to see Edward after school; he would be in Seattle, which was now a four-hour drive away, instead of only an hour. Edward and I had decided that I still needed to visit him on weekends, but it would only probably be only once or twice a month. My classes would be super early next semester, but Charlie would have a problem with me gallivanting off to Seattle every weekend, especially since I would be moving there soon after.
"Earth to Bella," Alice said, breaking through my musings.
"I'm sorry, what?" I said, distracted.
"What's up with you today?" She asked.
"Um, hello. Have you not noticed that Edward is not here, Ali?" Rose asked.
"Well, obviously, I did, but I was trying to be nice and not bring it up, and it reminds me that Jasper is gone too."
Emmett wound his arms around Rose's waist and pulled her closer to him. "That's why you date in your own grade. "Rosie can't shake me now."
"Yep, no matter how much she'd like to."
Emmett smiled. "You're mean when you miss Eddie."
"You know he hates being called that."
"Well, then it's good he's not here."
"That's what you think." I heard a velvet voice say behind us. I whirled, and there was Edward.
I practically vaulted in his arms. "What are you doing here?"
"I had some graduating stuff to take care of, and I knew you guys would be on lunch break right now." He murmured into the top of my head while kissing it. I burrowed into his neck, inhaling his scent, while everyone said hello to him. "I also wanted to see if you were interested in going with me to Seattle this weekend. My mom wants me to look at rentals. She found a lot of nice places near campus. I figure you can help since you'll be living there too."
"Hmm, are we staying the night in Seattle?"
"We might." He answered.
"I'll try. It might be a hard sell for overnight, but I can at least do a day trip." I explained.
"Okay, let me know, and we will plan accordingly. You still riding with Rose today?"
"No, I drove myself. You want me to just come by after school?" I asked.
He nodded, and I smiled, kissing him. He bid goodbye to everyone, and I couldn't watch him walk away, so I turned to face my friends again.
After hanging out with Edward after school, I was glad to come home and find Charlie there, awake, and in a good mood.
"Hey, Bella."
"Hey, Dad."
"So, Esme called me today and told me you were invited to go see apartments with Edward this weekend."
"Oh, she did? Yeah, Edward asked me earlier. I told him I needed to discuss it with you."
"Yeah, I was a little more concerned that you never mentioned to me you had planned on moving in with Edward in January when you go to school."
"Well, when we were going to go Peninsula, that was the plan because the only other option was commuting every day, so we just kept that plan."
"Bells, you can understand how I, as your father, am uncomfortable with this idea. You will be seventeen in September. He turns eighteen in less than two weeks, and now you're planning on shacking up with him in January."
I tried really hard, but I wasn't successful in stifling my giggle. "Shacking up? Really." His mustache twitched, and he smiled. "Dad," I said, getting myself under control. "Why is age such a huge thing with you and Edward's parents? I know I'm not legally an adult yet, and I still need financial support, but I'm a logical thinker, and I care about school. What are you so scared is gonna happen if I live with Edward? It's not like I'm gonna come home pregnant."
"Well, that is always a concern. Another is what if you guys break up? I mean, I know you both love each other, but there is a lot of change from the teen years to young adulthood. Not only that, but transitioning from high school to college is also tough."
"I don't think that will happen, but if it does, I don't think he would kick me out. I would like for us to remain friends if we ever broke up. Now, if he did kick me out, I wouldn't be afraid to unleash Esme on him."
"He can't be that afraid of his mom."
"Um, you're older than her, and you're afraid of her, Dad. You said I could go, didn't you?"
He harumphed. "Maybe Edward is smarter than I give him credit for," He chuckled. I shook my head and laughed with him. We talked a little longer about inconsequential things, and it was nice just to have a simple talk with my dad. He and I had always been close because he was all I had for a long time. Lately, we hadn't been spending as much time together because I was wrapped up in spending as much time with Edward as I could before he left. It was that thought that made me realize I had been neglecting my other friends, too. We saw each other at school, but that wasn't real quality bonding time. I bid my dad goodnight once it started to get late, and I called Rose and Alice on a three-way call. We made plans to hang out Thursday after school because Rose and Ali had dates on Friday night.
I got ready for bed, feeling highly optimistic and happy that everything was starting to fall in place. Edward had made a complete one-eighty from where we were a couple of months ago. I was really glad he was going to a good school, and I had the ability to follow him. I know he had made the decision, but eventually, I would have felt guilty for holding him back and not fighting him on going to a better college. Now I could apply for scholarships, and if it didn't work, I could stay at UDub and still get a great education.
I grabbed my phone and texted Edward to say, have a goodnight and sweet dreams. He replied the same to me, and I sank into my mattress, in complete bliss.
A/N: Little bit of a shorter chapter, but how are we feeling. Let me know what you think. I have a facebook group for my fics and I usually do teasers, except today I just posted instead. www. facebook groups /249102266165411. See you all later!