Chapter Twenty-Seven
As I peered at myself in the mirror which sat in the corner of the room, I ran my pale fingers against the ugly golden hued graduation robes I was wearing. My signature locket was tucked underneath the black simple dress I was wearing, thankfully Alice allowed me to wear a simple black dress. Only because every woman needed that one little black dress in their closet. It had mesh sleeves that were somewhat puffy, and the skirt ended mid-thy. My hair was curled, hair sprayed, and pinned back. My graduation cap sat perfectly placed on my dark locks. The sunlight that came in through the single window in my bedroom cast off the crimson highlights.
Alice was sitting on my bed; she was wearing a black dress too. Her robes sat on the bed next to her, but she was wearing her cap. She had glued little flower onto the cap—little yellow wildflowers. She had put little daisies onto my cap, so they were cutely decorated. She had made Rose wear a rose printed sundress, so that both of her sisters had flower themes along with her. Of course, Rose was wearing a tighter dress, so the bodice would look beautiful against her figure. She was also wearing red high heeled shoes with ribbons tied around her legs to keep them on.
"You look beautiful, Bella," Alice sighed, her knees were down, and her hands were underneath her chin—her elbows were propped on her knees. She craned her head to the side, as though she had thought of something before, she smiled even more. I turned my head, arching my eyebrow at her.
"What did you just see? I don't trust that look," I demanded, my eyes narrowing. My face was defined drastically due to the professional done makeup I was wearing. I quietly thanked Alice for going to cosmetology school once more, though she hadn't told me what years she had gone.
"Oh nothing, just Jasper decided what he wanted to wear at your wedding," Alice mused, giggling when I was putting my feet into the slightly heeled black shiny shoes I had. I almost fell but managed to upright myself, "please tell me that you're joking. I'm already going through a big life changing event right now, I don't need to be told what Jasper is going to wear at our wedding, whenever that will be."
Alice merely swung her legs back and forth, the both of us pausing when Charlie came into the bedroom and was struggling with the dress shirt that I had gotten him, well technically Alice had picked out for me (she knew what material wasn't scratchy on him and the fit he would look best in).
"Damn buttons! Damn tie!" Charlie groaned as he managed to button up his shirt but was helpless when it came to his tie. Alice rolled her eyes as she got up from her spot on the bed and skipped in his direction, "I can help you, Charlie!"
Charlie blushed in embarrassment, "it's fine, Alice. Don't trouble—"
Alice grabbed both ends of the tie and shook her head, "nonsense! The men in my family are hopeless when it comes to ties, even Carlisle!" This made Charlie feel better, if that doctor who looked like he belonged on medical dramas couldn't do his ties without help then that meant Charlie wasn't the only one having trouble.
Alice finished the tie in a perfect swish, making Charlie come over and look at the mirror to see how he looked. Alice gasped, "Charlie Swan! I thought that you would have more faith in me! I would not let you have an imperfect tie!"
Charlie chuckled, "sorry, sorry! I won't make the mistake twice! Thank you for the help, Alice."
Charlie turned, stopping when he saw me standing near the window and mirror. He smiled softly, "you look beautiful, Bella. I'm so proud of you."
I blushed before I quietly thanked him. He nodded his head; I knew he wasn't one who told much but he let me know in shortness how he felt. "I'll be downstairs, you'll be taking Bella to the school, right?"
Alice nodded her head this time, "of course! It makes things easier. We'll be there before long, you go ahead." Charlie left the bedroom, his dress shoes thundering against the wooden floorboards. The front door opened and shut, letting us know that it was just her and me now.
"Renee isn't here," Alice whispered, making me frown and pain radiate throughout me. She lied to me, telling me she and Phil were going to make it. Alice hugged me, careful to make sure she didn't winkle my robes and dress. "It's going to be all right, Bella. She doesn't deserve you as a daughter. You'll dad will be there, along with all of us. The ones who matter will be there."
I fought the urge to cry, nodding my head, letting her know that meant a lot to me. "Anyway, enough sad news, we should probably head out now. We don't want to be late for our own graduation!"
Curiosity peaked as I turned towards her, she slipped on her graduation robes while looking as though she was a model still wearing them. "So…how many graduations have you gone through?"
Alice sighed, "I would think you would have better manners then that, Bella Swan! Revealing how many graduations I have gone through is like a woman telling you how old she really is! A no-no!" I giggled at her, before I agreed with her, she was the kind of vampire that would never tell anyone how old she really was—well except for Edward, those two didn't keep secrets from each other.
The drive to the school was peaceful, Alice had the local radio station on. It was playing some popular songs that were on the top Billboard charts. She was singing along with them, sounding even more beautiful than the powerfully high noted singers that were singing.
The parking lot was beginning to become full when we pulled into the school parking lot. Students with their robes were heading towards the side hallway to the gymnasium, where we would be standing in preparation before we would go into the gymnasium in a single file line to our seats.
Carlisle and Esme were standing by their car, with their children gathering around them. Rose and Emmett were talking to them, Emmett enthusiastic—I knew he was thinking about all the different times he had graduated high school. Rose didn't have that much of an expression, probably thinking of when she had graduated high school when she was a human a long time ago.
Edward was politely waiting for Alice and me, he had his hands folded in front of him. Listening with rapt attention he turned his attention towards Alice's car when we pulled into the parking lot. He quickly made his way towards the car when we parked, opening the driver's seat so that his wife/mate could come out. He held his hand out and she put her thin hand into his—allowing him to pull her out.
I smiled, turning towards the passenger door. Jasper had just reached us, knowing that almost using his vampiric speed would send me to a cardiac arrest. He opened my passenger door and I unbuckled before I put my hand into his cool one. He helped me out of the car and shut the door for me, his eyes lit up when he studied me. He leant forward and kissed me on the cheek, "you look lovely."
"Thank you, you look handsome," I remarked, making him smile even more. He kept his arm in mine as we headed towards the family. Charlie was standing with them now, conversing with Esme and Carlisle. Carlisle was chuckling at what he was saying, probably a dad joke more than anything else.
Reaching them, Esme smiled largely, "oh Bella you look beautiful! I'm so proud of you, our little Bella is all grown up!" I liked to imagine that I grew up with Esme as my 'aunt' and Carlisle as my 'uncle' and they had been there since I had born. If only that was possible.
Edward gave me a soft smile, as though he heard someone say something about me in a strong positive manner. He, just like Alice, looked like he was in a Greek God and she a Greek Goddess. They both were so perfect it was almost unfair, how they were able to wear anything and they could look as though they were meant to wear it. They could be wearing garage bags and they could make it a new trend.
"Oh! We need to get to the corridor!"
Alice popped up next to me, I knew her having her gift allowed me to know she could come and interrupt us if it had something to do with her gift. Well for things that mattered like this, I didn't want to know about the clothes she would see me deciding on and whether she would agree with it or if she would think I could wear something that was better for my figure or my skin tone.
Saying goodbye to everyone, I went towards the corridor where the other seniors were waiting for the graduation to start. She was skipping happily, as though she was leading me through a hidden trail towards a meadow. Edward was following beside her; she had reached her hand out and taken his in hers.
Everyone turned towards us when we entered the corridor, none of them having surprise when they saw me with Alice and Edward. They knew I had made my choice with being with them instead of normal people and they didn't hate me for it. It was refreshing though they thought the whole thing was odd, but maybe they knew I would find support and love from the family. In the end they did, and no one had any ill words to say about it.
Edward and Alice led me to where my spot was. Alice gave me a sisterly kiss on the head and Edward was squeezing my hand as though to let me know they were going to be there for me. I gave them smiles as they went up to where their spots were.
I didn't know how long it was but when one of the teachers came in, with pride shining in her eyes, she ushered us forward as though to let us know it was showtime. Everyone straightened their backs up, made sure their robes were situated good on them, before we went forward and went through the doors that led into the gymnasium.
I kept my eyes forward and made sure I didn't turn to look at Charlie or my surrogate parents. It was a good thing that side of my face was welcomed with blackness, obsidian. A warm blanket that secured me, this was what it felt like and I took it eagerly with open arms.
We sat down in the uncomfortable metal folding chairs and faced forward. None of the family and friends sitting in the bleachers were clapping, obvious manners towards no clapping when students came into the gymnasium for their graduation.
I was both experiencing everything a slow motion but also fast, I couldn't focus on anything other than the fact I was graduating high school. I wouldn't have to go through high school every time we relocated. Sometimes I would go to high school but other times me and Jasper would go to college together so that we could be with each other experiencing time without others.
The moment I took my high school degree was done. I smiled at the camera man that was at the bottom of the wooden stairs, a crystal photograph of me holding my degree. In the corner of my left eye I noted Charlie and Esme were taking pictures rapidly, making sure they got everything. I blushed and went back to my seat, sitting down quietly, and waiting for the rest of the graduating class to get their degree.
It wasn't long before I pulled my tassel to the right side of my cap and threw my cap in the air, it was distinct because of the flowers Alice had glued into the cap. I picked it up and put it back on my head before I turned and found Jasper coming towards me. I smiled at him, not expecting him to kiss me right then and there in front of everyone. I stiffened for a second before I loosened up and wrapped my arms around him too. He lifted me up a little and just held me, pulling away to see we both had silly smiles upon our lips at the small union of our lips.
Pulling away from me, Jasper let me go. Esme wrapped her arms around me next and hugged me tightly against her. Her soft scent upon her skin was warm and comforting and I took it eagerly. She pulled away and put her hands on the side of my face before she leant forward and kissed me on the head. She pulled away completely, and then Carlisle gave me a fatherly kiss on the head too.
Charlie chuckled, "hey, where's my turn?"
Guilt flooded through me, I should have wanted to be hugged by Charlie before I was hugged by Carlisle and Esme. I reached over and hugged him the hardest, knowing that I only had a limited time before I would turn into a vampire and I would leave him forever. He couldn't know about me becoming a vampire, he couldn't be welcomed into that life style without becoming one too and I couldn't see him becoming one. He deserved to grow old and die, though he would never have grandchildren. It was something I couldn't give him.
A flash of a camera made me come back to reality. I turned, there was understanding in the golden eyes around me. I gave them an assuring smile, one to let them know I had made a final decision. They all accept my decision but Rosalie, the girl in the rose printed dress peered at me as though I had sold my soul to the Devil himself. She was trapped in immortality; it was obvious she hadn't asked for this. She had been changed without her permission.
"Oh!" Esme exclaimed before she turned towards us one more, "I would love for the both of you to come to dinner tonight! It would be wonderful for us to celebrate our graduates!"
Charlie nodded, not knowing that he was accepting a dinner with vampires. I also knew that said vampires were going to eat food and hate every minute of it. I almost smirked at that, though I knew Jasper could feel what I felt. He shook his head at me with amusement before he reached over and took my hand in his.
"We'll see you at seven then!" Alice chimed this time, having decided what time it was we were going to come over. I shot her an exasperated amused look, which in return made her giggle. She wrapped her arm around Edward's, making sure they exhibited a picture-perfect aesthetic about themselves.
Thankfully, Charlie never mentioned Renee to me when we were at home. I knew he was angry about her almost if not more than me. He knew her better than me, but how much did he know about her anymore? How much had she changed since they had both divorced? I was certain she must have changed a good bit, because he didn't seem as though he was more surprised than me.
I kept the same dress as earlier but had put on the locket I had gotten from Jasper for my birthday. I brushed my fingers against the cool mental, finding comfort. I didn't need Renee in my life, she had let me know she thought going to my graduation wasn't important enough for her to do so. She hadn't even told me she wasn't coming; she gave us no warning. So, I was stuck waiting for her to show but she never did.
The hours passed and all I wanted was to be with my family once more. I counted down the clock and excitement took over me when it was time for us to leave. I made sure that I wasn't jumping up and down in excitement, I had changed my shoes to the cliché black heels, making sure my heels were a little higher. I was probably going to take them off when I would get into the house, as weird as that sounded, but none of them cared because I was family.
The ride to the house was filled with some pop music, Charlie was probing me about how the house looked on the inside. He might have been good friends with Carlisle, but he never went over to the house. There was no reason in either of their eyes to do so but they would talk whenever they were in each other's presence and slowly had their friendship grow.
Charlie whistled low, allowing me to know he was impressed with the house. "Didn't you say that Esme renovated the house to preserve its history?"
The porch lights were on, and the front door was open, letting in the somewhat warm air into the house. Footsteps came and out came Esme, with Jasper trailing behind her. He loomed over her, taller than her, and patiently moved behind her as they began to head down the porch and the stairs.
Charlie got out and I got out after him, the both of us reaching Esme and Jasper. Esme leant forward and kissed Charlie on the cheek in welcome, while Jasper reached me and kissed me on the forehead. He gently pulled me up the porch stairs and into the house, where streamers were hanging throughout the rooms and origami flowers hung in the dining room. Charlie was taking everything in, how the details were perfect, and nothing was out of place.
"You have a beautiful home." Charlie let his eyes stop when he saw the large television system up against the east wall of the living room. Emmett was sitting, watching a random sports show, taking from Charlie's eager expression it must have been one of his favorite sports channels.
"Do you mind?" Charlie turned to look at me, as though I was the mother, and he was the son. I nodded my head, he rushed forward and plopped down in the seat next to Emmett. Emmett immediately began to talk to Charlie, most likely was talking sport strategy.
"Bella, why don't you help me finish making dinner?" Esme quietly announced, I went towards her and she put her hand onto my back before she led me into the kitchen where she had put asparagus out so that she could put them in the oven. She ushered me over and I picked up the hot pepper flakes before I sprinkled them across the food, spicy asparagus was one of Charlie's favorites.
"Are you excited for college?"
Esme probed, I nodded my head, blushing but letting her know that I really was excited for college. I hadn't thought I would be excited for college in the past because I didn't think I would have any friends when I was there. Knowing that it was the next stage of my life, that it was the beginning of the end of changing into a vampire, made me more than thrilled. I was going to be there with Alice and Edward for a year, experiencing my last year as a human with my sister and brother.
"I'm ready to explore more, I've been stuck in Phoenix and I've been here in Forks long enough. I wasn't planning on staying here forever but knowing that I'll be able to explore more than I ever thought I'd be able to makes me ready," I admitted, earning a small smile from Esme.
She must have been thinking of places she had gone to over the years, of the majority of the last century. She turned towards me, "It's been a while since we've traveled. It will be nice to travel again, especially with you, Bella. Having someone who's seeing it the first time will make it even more fun."
Remembering that Carlisle was from London I turned towards her, "what about Carlisle? You said that he's from London…when were you last in London?" I didn't want to cross a line I wasn't supposed to cross, but apparently Carlisle must have heard me because he came forward into the kitchen.
"We never went," Carlisle informed me, soft but surely, I frowned as I looked at him. There was not as much longing as there used to be. I knew I would have missed England if it were my home, no matter the centuries I would go through I would always feel the need to go back home.
I opened my mouth, before shutting it, knowing that in time I would ask him the question but also knew for now it wasn't time. I let my eyes wander back towards the oven, where it beeped to let me know it was ready. "What time should I put on the oven for the asparagus?"
Esme turned towards me, telling me the time, and as I put the asparagus into the oven there seemed to be an understanding between me and them. They knew I wouldn't question them anything, I knew they would tell me something if they felt I should know it. I wasn't going to push them to tell me everything, within time they would tell me what I wanted to know or needed to know.
"So is the food almost ready?" Charlie's voice reached us before he did, but when he came in his eyes widened when he saw the assortment of food that Esme had made. "Wow. I haven't seen this much food since I went to my grandma's house growing up for Thanksgiving."
"Yes, it's almost ready, we're just waiting for the asparagus to finish," Esme warmly informed him, earning a nod from Charlie before he turned and looked at me. I gave him an assuring smile, knowing that my mind was on anything other than food and my graduation.
I was too busy thinking about my future. I was too busy thinking about what would happen when I would leave Charlie behind, him not knowing when I would leave Forks, I would leave my humanity behind and eventually him. Him visiting me in University would only be so limited.
So, as I stared at him, I knew I should put those thoughts away, I should focus on the time we spent together before I would leave him behind.
"I put pepper flakes on the asparagus, Esme didn't care," I told him as I followed him out of the kitchen and into the living room. I soaked in what was happening around me, the celebration now, since they were going to be limited with him.
TWILIGHT DOESN'T BELONG TO ME
