You can say it. I know I suck. I really am going to try and get this updated more often, also while this isn't the last chapter I feel like it's fast approaching. I'm not exactly sure how it's going to end yet though. I always love your feedback and as always even though it's not as long as I'd like it to be I'd love to know what you think.
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The time leading up until prom and graduation passed by slowly and then all at once. Bella was quiet and tense, she didn't tease Emmett or joke around with the guys in her gym class; she went to her classes, did her work and when lunch time rolled around she would drop herself into Jasper's lap and they would plan.
Everyday for the rest of the year they would sit and plan for their trip to Italy. Every. Last. Detail. At first Bella argued that they shouldn't come with her, she could take whatever the Volturi had to offer, but had quickly decided that arguing with them was a waste of time. The Cullen' s had considered it a win even though they knew she wasn't happy about it.
Carlisle and Esme made a show of inviting Bella and Charlie over for dinner and asking Charlie's permission to take Bella on their family trip to Italy after graduation. Charlie for his part had been polite in his grudging acceptance that due to the fact that in the eyes of the law Bella was considered an adult that she could do as she pleased. "As long as she could afford the trip," he had added on the end with a sly smile, thinking that he had managed to trap her in Forks with him.
At which point of course Carlisle and Esme had jumped in saying that they would be paying for everything, as a graduation gift for Bella, raving about how she was like another daughter to them and they wouldn't dream of asking for a penny for the trip because they had invited her along. Charlie's smile had become a bit more forced at that point but he had already agreed and there was no backing down from it at that point.
Bella had acted properly enthused and thanked the adults profusely before running off to 'tell Rose the good news'. At least as far as Charlie knew, in reality she planted herself on Jasper's lap once more their lips pressed to each others ears as they went over every possible scenario that could possibly come up when they met with the Volturi.
The week before graduation and the subsequent trip to Italy was prom. Not that Bella had given the dance the slightest bit of thought since receiving her summons. Prom was a silly thing to worry about when what she needed to be thinking about was making sure she got herself and her mate and his family out of this situation safely. She had effectively put the dance completely out of her mind and was under the impression that they were no longer attending due to the need to finalize the last of their departure plans.
Needless to say she was a bit shocked when Rosalie came waltzing into her room with a dress bag in one hand and a pair of heels in the other. The blonde was already dressed and ready to go and simply rolled her eyes at Bella when she didn't move from where she had been.
"Hurry up and get changed Bella, Jasper is on his way to get you now for the dance." Rose said calmly as she pulled the dress from its bag while Bella stared at her as if she had grown two extra heads.
"I have planning to do before we leave, there isn't any time to worry about prom." Bella said frowning as she spoke unable to register why they didn't understand that.
"There's nothing more you can possibly plan for, we are as ready as we can be for this. Now tonight you will go and you will have fun with your mate and spend some time with those silly human boys you've made friends with. There's a good chance you won't see much of them, if you see them at all after graduation and you haven't spent any time with them lately. I'm sure they're dying to know what's wrong with you, not to mention what college you're going to in the fall."
"I wasn't aware that I was going to college in the fall." Bella said amusement tinging her voice as she began to prepare herself for the dance.
"Of course you are, you're coming to Yale with Jasper, Emmett and I. All four acceptance letters came weeks ago not that you've paid any attention to it. You've been too busy worrying about Italy to pay any mind to anything else."
The rest of their conversation was cut off as the doorbell sounded from down stairs, signaling Jasper's arrival. Walking sedately down the stairs they found Jasper and Emmett standing side by side in the small hallway being stared down by Charlie who was still in his police uniform.
"You look as beautiful as ever Bella," Jasper said said smiling adoringly at her as she and Rose made it to the bottom of the stairs.
Had she still been human Bella would have been bright red the the compliment, especially coming from somebody as handsome as Jasper. Now though she simply smiled back at her mate and slipped her hand into his with as much ease as if they had been together for a century. "Shall we go?" she asked simply tugging him towards the front door.
"As you wish," Jasper agreed with a bow.
"I'll see you later dad, the dance goes until late so don't wait up." Bella tossed easily over her shoulder as the four of them headed out of the house.
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