The last summer before college was bittersweet. They were all making plans for leaving Forks but also trying to spend as much time with each other as they could. There were applications for student housing, packing, and trying not to cry every time Jessica realized she wouldn't be around her friends anymore. They would Skype and keep up with each other but it wouldn't be the same as they would be across state lines.

The Cullens were all getting ready to move and Jessica wondered about the big modern house in the woods and whether they were going to sell it. Edward told her that there currently weren't any plans to sell it and it was destined to sit empty in the woods, standing out against the nature around it. Angela and Jacob were having some issues with having to be away from each other. Seattle wasn't too far but it was still a three and a half hour drive.

Lauren was excited to be back in Seattle and was taking the impending separation from her adolescent life better than everyone. Jessica heard Ben Chenney and Katie Marshall broke up as she was planning on going to college out of state and they both agreed they wouldn't survive the long distance. It made her wonder what would've happened to her and Edward if he hadn't decided to follow her to Stanford and if Alice hadn't applied for him months ago. Mike's student visa was approved and he already booked his flight for the UK and Jessica still couldn't understand why he would take rainy London over sunny California.

Days passed by and it could've just been the summers before. They would go surfing at La Push and Jacob and Angela kept close to each other like they were afraid the other person would disappear if they didn't hold on tight enough. They ate s'mores by the bonfire and talked about all their best memories with each other as if they happened only yesterday. Eric took as many photos, trying to document every second.

Since the Cullens were not allowed on Quileute land, Jessica brought Edward to any other hangout they had. Edward had never been to any of Mike's parties and he got a crash course in a game of beer pong and pretending to get drink. After Edward's superior reflexes, guaranteed him and Mike an easy win against Tyler and Eric, Mike gave him one of those manly hugs with back pats like they were old friends. Edward didn't seem to know how to react and he kept still as Jessica laughed at him from where she was watching.

Mike drew away from him. "You're alright, Cullen."

"Thanks," Edward replied, uncomfortable. "You're not so bad yourself, Newton."

"Just between you and me, I wasn't so sure when I learned that you and Jess were a thing."

"Why is that?"

"Jess deserves good things, you know? She's smarter than everyone here and she's destined for big things," Mike explained. "She deserves someone who sees that and appreciates it about her."

"And you think I'm the right guy?"

"Well, that's for Jess to decide, isn't it? She wanted it to be me but I would only hold her back. You push her, okay? She needs pushing sometimes," Mike pulled away. "See you around, Cullen."

Edward made his way to where Jessica was seated and took the cup of beer she was finishing. She was crossing the line from tipsy to drunk and he knew her mother wouldn't appreciate if he brought her home wasted.

"I'm closing the tap for you tonight," When she tried to take it back from him, he held it high over her head. She looked like she wanted to kick him. "Listen to me okay? You said to stop you before you go too far. You made me promise."

"I'm not that drunk yet," she argued. "One more and I'm good."

"Fine," He handed her the cup. "One more and that's it."

"Okay," She took his hand as they made their way to the keg and she fumbled with the nozzle to fill her cup. "What were you and Mike talking about?"

"You. He basically gave us his seal of approval," Edward answered. "Do you think maybe you and your friends are too close?"

"We are nowhere near as inappropriate as you and your siblings." she countered before she began singing. "Like a virgin touched for the very first time-"

"Stop," he groaned. "I concede. Nobody is as bad as my siblings."

"Once you get past how hot you all are, you're just a bunch of dorks," Jessica declared. "Don't know why we were so intimidated for all these years."

Mike was the first to leave. He had the earliest flight and his parents drove him to the airport in Port Angeles. They had a going away party for him the day before and Jessica tried not to cry. He pulled her into a sideways hug.

"Don't cry, Jess," he told her. "I'm not gonna be gone forever."

"I know."

They would all return to Forks at some point but it wouldn't be the same. They were going to be different people. And who they were now was not who they would be in a few years. They would change.

She would be the next to leave since the rest of her friends would be leaving later in the summer since Seattle was nearer. She agreed to let Eric travel with her since they were headed the same way. Once they arrived, he would take the train from Palo Alto to Pasadena. Edward would be travelling with them but separately in his Volvo.

As her departure grew closer, she talked to Emily and reminded her about the chocolate cake she needed to bake for their mom in April. She would be back in December and take care of the Christmas lights. She just needed her sister to be able to do the cake and advised Emily to ask Mrs. Weber for help if she messed it up. She might have to even call Emily in case she forgot.

She had one last sleepover with Angela and Lauren the week before. Lauren talked about the housing Leah was able to get for them, a three-bedroom house within campus.

Jessica asked, "And you've figured out the whole full moon thing?"

"Leah found some place I can shift for that and she'll be there," Lauren answered. "And we have a Plan B if things go awry."

"What's Plan B?"

"Tranquilizers. Leah knows a guy and they're strong enough to take down an elephant so that should work," she replied. "But it's for emergencies only."

"What would that even do to your system?"

"Let's hope we never have to find out," Lauren said flippantly. "How about you? Are you staying at the Residence Halls or are you gonna find an apartment with Cullen?"

"I'll be living at the Florence Moore Hall," Jessica explained. "And it's too soon for me and Edward to be living together."

He had brought it up as he didn't want to stay in the dorms. He found an apartment within campus and asked her if she wanted to stay with him and she could have her own room. She didn't think they were ready for that. They'd been dating for around eight months, less than a year.

It was too soon to be co-habituating. He visited her regularly and they had shared a bed, her sleeping and him pretending like he didn't watch her through the night like the creep that he was. An apartment together was a big step. A step she wasn't sure she wanted to take anytime soon.

It wasn't that she never wanted to live with him. Maybe in a year or two they could revisit the subject. If she truly hated living in the dorms, she could move in with him. He had said his door was always open and she knew he meant it.

The day of her departure finally came and she got up bright and early. Her stuff was all packed and she stood outside her house and tried to remember when they first moved there from Maine. She couldn't quite remember any memories as she'd been too young but she did try to imagine her dad leaving the house he grew up in and going to Bates College alone. Not for the first time, she wished he was there and she wanted to hear him tell her that everything was going to be okay and that she was going to do great.

Edward took her hand. "I know I'm not who you want to hear it from but you should know that everything is going to be okay and that you're going to do great."

"Thanks," She squeezed his hand. "Where's your family? Aren't they going to see you off?"

"They actually left town a few days ago," Edward explained. "Besides, I'll see them during the holidays."

She hadn't known his family had left. She didn't even get to say goodbye to them or wish them a safe trip. She wished Alice the best in fashion school and hopefully Jasper didn't eat anybody in New York. She'd been so focused on her own loss, she forgot that Edward would be without his family too, the people he'd been with for decades.

She asked, "Are you going to miss them?"

"No," He snorted. "That's a lie. I probably will in a few days."

She squeezed his hand. "You'll still have me there. Just don't sneak into my dorm in the middle of the night. You might scare my roommate."

"I can't promise I won't," he quipped. "I get bored at night."

He had to be so creepy. She still had a lot to work on with him.

She said goodbye to her mom and Emily. It had been hardest to leave Sunny who didn't understand what was going on. Her golden retriever looked older than she remembered. She still remembered when her dad had brought her home as a puppy when she was eight.

Sunny had been with her all this time and now they had to be separated. She petted Sunny and held her tears. Emily agreed to let Sunny sleep in her room and she would see her during the holidays. She wished she could sneak Sunny into her luggage and find a way to hide a big dog in her dorms but knew that wasn't happening.

They picked up Eric at his house and they were off.

The drive from Forks to Palo Alto was over fourteen hours. They had to stop for food and gas but mostly powered through till they reached their destination. Eric had made them a playlist for their road trip and they sang along. Eric put himself on snack duty and they munched on whatever he could get from convenience stories.

They stopped twice for meals and Edward went on an extended 'bathroom break'. Jessica coughed and gestured to a spot of blood on his collar he missed and they had to tell Eric it was ketchup. Eric didn't question it and was too busy taking photos of the scenery around them. Jessica let him drive for the last few hours to give herself a break and it was night when they arrived at Palo Alto.

They dropped Eric off at the train station. Eric pulled her into a hug and they were both pretty grimy from the long trip but she didn't push him away.

"I'm not gonna be too far, Jess, so don't hesitate to call me to meet up if you need me," Eric told her. "I'll always be there."

"You too, Eric."

He got on the train and they made their way to the Stanford campus. Edward insisted on helping her with her luggage up to her dorm before going to his apartment which she was grateful for as his super strength made it easy. Her dorm room was empty and her roommate probably hadn't arrived yet and she was able to call dibs on which bed she liked. She took a seat on the bare mattress and looked around her tiny dorm room.

"I can't believe we're finally here," she said. "I've been waiting for over two years for this and now I don't have to imagine."

Edward dropped her luggage on the ground and looked around. "I keep forgetting how small college dorms are. You sure you don't want to stay with me? You won't have to share the bathroom with everyone on this floor."

"Good point but my answer is still no," She lied down on the mattress and closed her eyes. "I'm so tired. I never want to move from this spot. You're going to have to feed and water me from here."

He laughed. "Whatever you want."

"I'm not kicking you out but you should probably head to your apartment and unpack your staff."

He walked over to her and took a seat on the mattress next to her. "I have all night to do that. I don't sleep, remember?"

"Are you going to stay here till I fall asleep and watch me again?"

He paused then said, "No."

"Don't lie to me," She opened her eyes and stared at him accusingly. "I know you."

"Only for like an hour," he confessed and dodged her when she moved to smack him. "Fine, fine. I won't."

He leaned down and kissed her lightly. "I'll see you in the morning. We can go out for breakfast."

"Okay," She didn't really want him to leave. "Breakfast."

He got up and she held unto his hand. He stared down at her and she pouted. He smiled and let her hand go. She sat up and watched as he left the room, feeling bereft.

It had been a long day. Maybe she should've asked him to stay the night. All the changes were beginning to take their toll. Wanting some semblance of normalcy, she got ready for bed.

Lying in bed under her duvet and staring up at the ceiling, she found she couldn't sleep. She wished she told Edward to stay. She didn't want to be alone. She turned when she saw the window opening and a shadowy figure make its way into the room.

Unsure, she called out, "Edward?"

"It's me."

Thank God. She wasn't in the mood to be murdered her first day on campus. She pulled back the covers to let Edward in and they fit somehow on that single mattress. She was still homesick and she wished Sunny was there but Edward's presence helped. If she tried hard enough, it could feel like she was home.

"Hey, Edward…"

"Yes?"

"I'm really glad you're here," She cuddled closer to him. "Thank you for coming with me."

"As if you could keep me away," He kissed her hair. "I'll go wherever you go."

Her heart so full it might be burst. It took a long time for them to end up there. It scared her to even think of the many worlds they didn't end up together, where they would've never known what they could be to each other. She was glad she was in this world where they found each other in spite of everything.

She wouldn't have it any other way.

Jessica's high school life ends and her college life begins. Originally, I wasn't going to write about Jessica in college. I was going to do a time jump and it was going to be a spin-off with Lauren going to New Orleans but people were excited to see Jessica in college and I got curious too. It will be interesting to see how her relationship with Edward develops as she grows more as a person.

1. Why does Mike go to college in the UK? He doesn't in the books/movies. It's actually a reference to my other fic, Equinox, where he goes to college in London (and later gets his girlfriend there pregnant Maybe he's not gonna be a young dad in the universe or maybe he will).

2. Pasadena is five hours away so Eric won't be making a lot of appearances in the sequel. Everyone else is in Seattle so we are saying goodbye to Jess' friends though they keep in touch and give updates about what's going on with them. And all the Cullens are in New York so Ed and Jess are by themselves there.

3. Chapter title is from the movie Summer Stock starring Gene Kelly and Judy Garland.