Elena's POV: (Opening thoughts)
Graduation! A mere few days away from when I become a vampire. But I am now feeling a little unsure. Not about Edward but about other things the people and the things I would be giving up... especially my twin. And then there's Edwards terms for me to become one of him by his turning... Is it so bad? If I want to be with him forever anyway, why cannot I live with being married to the love of my life?
*Elena Swan in Eclipse*
Jessica is now saying her Valedictorian speech. I am in the middle of Edward and Bella, Jasper and Alice are a few rows behind us and our other friends are all around us.
"When we were five they asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up," she begins reading her speech and as she goes on we laugh. "Our answers were things like astronaut, president or in my case... a fairy princess. When we were ten they asked again. We answered rock star, cowboy or in my case a gold medalist. But now that we've grown up they want a serious answer. Well, how about this? Who the hell knows!" We all laugh, clap and cheer at that last sentence. "This isn't the time to make hard and fast decisions. This is the time to make mistakes. 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. Change your mind, and change it again, because nothings 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."
We all cheered. But her speech gave me even more to think about with the deadline on my human life coming to an end.
It feels weird as I walk up to the podium, after bella to get my diploma. I smile though as Charlie cheers as loud as he can as both of us go past.
*Elena Swan in Eclipse*
I cannot believe you have talked me into this," Bella says as I walk towards the Cullen's house and she drags her feet a little as she follows me. "The Cullen's and I are like vinegar and water, fire and ice and everything else that is complete opposites of each other."
"Bella!" I groan wanting her to stop being enemies with the Cullen's. "I don't want to spend my graduation celebrating without you... I am sure you can handle this for one night... You might have to get used to them being family anyway."
I had whispered the last part and I hear Bella glance at me and I just smile a little.
We enter, only the Cullen's are there right now.
"Elena!" Alice cheers as she comes over and hugs me. "Oh hello, Bella. Glad you could make it."
"Alice," Bella nods at her before looking around at all of the over the top decorations. "That's a lot of decs."
"Yes it is," Esme says with her usual warm smile on her kind face. "It's nice to meet you Bella."
Bella nods. "You must be... Esme?!"
I nod and Bella shakes her hand and everyone else's. Not long after everyone else starts arriving.
*Elena Swan in Eclipse*
The party is now in full swing. I climb the stairs to see everyone actually enjoying themselves to say no one really knew what a party here would be like.
Angela and Jessica approach me.
"You made it!" Angela says and we both hug.
"Hey!" Jessica greets as I hug her and when she pulls back she immediately begins to speak. "So what do you think of my speech? Too easy breezy? Too self helpful? You hated it?"
"No, I think you pretty much nailed it," I promise her. Or loosened the nail that had pinned down my future.
"Yeah," Jess agrees with a smile. "It's like I was born to lead right?"
Angela hears the song and begins to pull Jess towards the dance floor. "I love this song. Let's go!"
As they both run off I begin to look and move around again.
I am actually shocked by how many turned up. I turn around as four more people come up the stairs and I am shocked to see Damon, Jake, quil and Embry. Four werewolves in the Cullen house. Bella approaches them and Jake kisses her on the lips and she turns to Damon and nods at me. I glare at her but she shrugs as Damon approaches me. Embry and Quil stay behind him as Bella and Jake are sneaking off too dance.
"What are you doing here?" I ask him. "Jake makes sense. Celebrate his girlfriend's graduation but not you."
"You invited me remember?" Damon points out.
I look down still angry. "Was my right hook too subtle for you? That was me uninviting you!"
"Look Elena, I'm sorry," he says to me and he does look truly guilty. "...about you know, the kiss and your hand. I'd blame it on the whole inner animal thing but it was really just me... being an ass. I'm really sorry. I brought you something," he holds out a bracelet. "A graduation present. I made it myself."
It is a chain bracelet with a homemade wolf figurine on it.
"Wow!" I tell him happy and shocked. "You made this?" He nods a little and smiles, glad I don't seem as angry with him now. "It's really pretty. Thanks." I look at the stairs as Alice comes down them but she stops and gets that far off look on her face and I know I need to go to her. "I'll be right back."
I pass the three and head to where Alice is stood. Now what?
"Alice, what'd you see?" I ask her worried.
"The decisions been made," she tells me and I worry about her tone of voice.
Damon appears behind me and he actually sounds kind as he asks. "What's going on?"
Jake and Bella, who must have noticed us all approaching Alice, also look curious.
"Everything okay?" Bella asks me.
I don't answer her as I look straight at Alice.
"You're not going to Seattle?" I ask actually kind of relieved.
"No," she says not sounding as relieved as I am. "They're coming here."
Oh no!
*Elena Swan in Eclipse*
The Carlisle, Edward, Alice, Jasper, Damon, Jake, Embry, Quill, Bella and I are all in the lounge after the party, discussing Alice's vision. I am sat leaning next to Edward, Bella and the Wolves are on the opposite side of the room and Carlisle is pacing in between all of us. Alice and Jasper are to one side.
"They'll be here in four days," Alice tells us and I begin to panic.
"This could turn into a bloodbath," Carlisle states the obvious.
"Who's behind it?" Edward asks looking at his sister.
"I didn't see anyone I recognised," Alice tells him but then she seems to think about it. "Maybe one."
Edward looks at him through her thoughts. "I know his face. He's local. Riley Biers. He didn't start this."
"Whoever did is staying out of the action," Alice points out.
Carlisle has finally stopped pacing and he looks down.
"They must be playing with the blind spots in your vision," he points out.
"Either way the army is coming and there isn't enough of us to protect the town," Jasper points out.
Damon steps forward. "Hold up! What damn army?"
"Newborns," Carlisle tells him politely. "Our kind."
"What are they after?" Embry asks and he keeps his tone politer then I thought possible.
Alice looks at me. "They were passing around Elena's scent. A red blouse."
"What?!" Bella asks in shock. "They're after Elena!"
I nod and she looks worried.
"What the hell does this mean?" Jake asks as he places his arm around Bella to comfort her.
"It means an ugly fight," Carlisle explains to him. "With lives lost."
Damon turns to Embry and Quill who both nod and then he glances at Jake who also nods and Bella looks like she doesn't know what to say.
"All right," Damon says to Carlisle making me look up in worry. "We're in."
"No!" I snap and Bella looks like she agrees. "You'd get yourselves killed no way."
"He didn't ask for permission Elena," Jake says and I see him pat Bella as she looks as frightened as me. "Bells we'll be fine."
"Edward?" I ask my boyfriend for back up but he is staring at Damon and Jake in a way that worries me. Please tell me he doesn't agree.
He glances at me with a look that says he does. "It means more protection for you."
"Damon, Jacob?" Carlisle begins and the two Black cousins look straight at him. "Do you believe Sam would agree to.. an understanding?"
Jake is the one to answer. "As long as we get to kill some vampires!"
"Jasper?" Carlisle turns to the blonde besides Alice.
"They'll give us the numbers," Jasper agrees glancing at the wolves before turning to Carlisle. "Newborns won't even know they exist. That'll give us an edge!"
"We'll need to coordinate," Carlisle says as I jump to my feet.
"Carlisle, they're gonna get hurt!" I point out to the leader of the Cullen clan.
"Or worse!" Bella says staring into the eyes of her love.
"We'll all need some training," he reassures me. "Fighting newborns requires training that Jasper has. You're welcome to join us."
Damon steps towards him and says as politely as possible again. "All right name the time and place."
"Damon, Jake," I say and my friend and ex turn to me. "You both don't know what you're getting yourselves into."
"Elena... this is what we do," Damon says gently to me. "You should be happy all of us getting along and even Bella wanting to work with them."
Bella still looks unsure and I share a glance with her.
"He's right," Jake agrees wrapping an arm around Bella. "You are the one who wanted us to get along Elena and I know how much you miss your twin Bella."
QUEENC2020:
And another chapter done. Bella met the Cullen's she didn't before and Damon and Jake are in agreement to help the Cullen's... trying to get this story finished this week if not early next.