Chapter 2: Decided
Alice looked behind me, then smiled at me. "Bella, your boyfriend is coming over." She said. I gritted my teeth. "He is not my boyfriend." I whispered. "Hey, Bells." He said, sitting in the empty seat next to me. "Hi, Jake, what's up?" I asked, casually. "Nothing really, trying to decide on a college." Jake shrugged. "See! I am not the only one who hasn't decided on a college." I told Rose and Alice. "There are so many choices. Anyway, Alice when is the graduation party?" Jake asked. I groaned, everything always revolves around the damn party. "Two weeks from tomorrow. Right after graduation." Alice said. Alice turned and looked at Edward curiously. I followed her gaze, and saw Edward glaring at Jake. How weird. "So, Bells, are you gonna be the star of the party?" Jake smiled, nudging me playfully. "Ha ha, absolutely not." I said, "you know me and parties, we don't mix well." Alice and Rose glared at me. "Non sense, you're great." Jake said, truthfully.
"It wont really matter, anyway, I am probably not even going to go." I said. Jake frowned slightly. "She is lying. She will be there, whether or not I have to drag her by her ear." Alice said, sternly. "Um, Alice, I don't even think you could pick me up." I said. Edward and Emmett stifled their laughter. Alice turned and glared at me. "My size has nothing to do with it. You are going and that is final." She said, pointing at me with her index finger. "What are you? My mother?" I asked her. "Well, someone has to be, you are obviously lacking one." Alice said. My mouth fell open. "Ladies, ladies, retract the claws. Please." Jasper said, trying to calm the situation. Yes, these people are my best friends, minus Jake he is the one who has been in love with me for two years, but there are still things about me that I haven't told them. One reason I haven't told them, is because I don't want to relive it, and second, there wasn't a point in them knowing. But that is not the case at hand, Alice has never even met my mother. She has no right to say that.
"I have to go to class." I said, and stood up. I was aware of Emmett calling my name. Him and I are really close, he has been my over protective big brother ever since I moved here. I took my seat in Biology II, Edward soon joined me. "Bella, Alice didn't mean-" He began. "Don't worry about it Edward, I'm a big girl. I can fight my own battles." I said. He stared at me for another moment. "You really aren't going to go the party?" He asked. "Oh no, not you too." I groaned. "It's just that everyone is going to be there, our whole graduating class, I don't think you will want to miss out on it. By the way, Emmett has that new karaoke machine set up, I highly doubt you want to miss that." Edward smiled. He was right, in January when Emmett and Alice turned 18, they got a karaoke machine. Emmett singing is the funniest thing. "I don't know Edward." I said. "Oh, c'mon. if you go, I promise I wont make fun of you for the whole night." He bargained. "As tempting as that sounds…how about I think about it, okay?" I said. "Deal." Edward said. We shook hands on it.
After biology I went straight to my car, and went home. I cant actually stay mad at Alice. Sometimes, she is very stupid about what she says, and when she says it. But it does feel good to be mad at her for something. It was already five, Charlie would be home within the hour, so I began to make dinner. "Hey, Bells, sure smells good in here. What are you making?" Charlie asked, when he walked through the door. "Chicken fajitas. You can sit down, I am almost done." I said. I heard him hang his gun up on the hook, and then sit down at the table. I got two plates together, and set them on the table. "So, kiddo, how was school? Only got two more weeks left." He asked. "School, is school. And if you think about it, it is really only one week left, because the final week before graduation is all finals." I shrugged. "Speaking of that. I heard the Carlisle and Esme are having a party." Charlie said. Nothing stays a secret in this small town. "Yeah, you heard right." I said. "Do you think you are going to spend the night at Alice's or drive home?" He asked. "Um, dad, I don't think I am going to go." I said. He put his fork down and looked at me. "Bells, honey, I think you should go. It will be fun, you know, one final goodbye to your friends." He said. Wow, when Charlie says I should do something, I probably should.
"I guess I will go." I sighed. "Now that we got that squared away. College?" He asked. I groaned. "I narrowed down my choices." I said. "To what?" He asked. "Well, Miami sounds good, and I will be closer to mom. I also really like Dartmouth." I answered. "Hmm. What is it you are thinking of taking?" Charlie asked. "Probably literature, or something like that." I shrugged. "Dartmouth has an excellent literature program. A very good campus, and I know a lot of people that went there, and say it was the best four years of their lives." Charlie said. "Now, dad, this wouldn't have anything to do with Miami being close to mom, would it?" I asked. "No, not at all. I would never keep you away from Renee. I was just saying for the long run, Dartmouth is the better choice." He said, truthfully. I thought about it, it would be easy to go there. I would start off with having friends, and wouldn't have to worry about being a loner with no friends. Also, I could always transfer if I didn't like it. Charlie was looking at me, waiting. "Alright, dad, I will give Dartmouth a try, but if I don't like it I will transfer to Miami." I said. "Sounds good to me, Bells. I would go email them saying you accept." Charlie said. "I will clean up here." He added.
I took Charlie's advice, and email Dartmouth right away. Within an hour they had already replied, and said they were glad to have me. I took a long, hot shower, and watched a movie. I wasn't paying much attention to the movie though, I was trying to figure out why Edward was glaring at Jake at lunch. I didn't understand. I fell asleep around ten, just like every other night, I dreamt of Edward Cullen. I woke up, and went right into my usual morning routine. I was running a little late, and made it to school right before the warning bell. "There you are! I was calling your cell all night. Why didn't you answer?" Emmett asked when I got into first period, Spanish 4. "Relax, Em, I shut my phone off and fell asleep really early." I told him. "Good, cause damn Bella, you had me worried." Emmett said, relief in his voice. "Sorry I worried you, Teddy." I said, rubbing his head. "Just promise me, you wont do that again." He said, staring at me. "I promise." I said. See what I mean, way over protective.
I was walking to lunch with Emmett. We just got out of study. "Hey, Emmett guess what?" I said. "What?" He asked. "I decided on a college." I said. "Oh, really? What one? Seeing how you had many doors to walk through." He laughed. We got into line, Emmett grabbed a burger, a pizza, and nachos. I wonder where it all goes? I just got nachos. We found the table, and everyone was already there. "I'm going to Dartmouth." I told him, as we walked to the table. "Really?" He asked, hopeful. "No genius, I am going to Timbuktu." I said. We sat down at the table. Everyone looked at Emmett curiously, because he was frowning. "What's got you down?" Edward asked him. "Bella's moving to Timbuktu." He said. I laughed. "You are?" Edward asked, shocked. "No, I just said that because Emmett is really gullible." I said. "I am not!" Emmett yelled. "Right." I laughed. The seat next to me scraped against the floor. "Bella, what's up?" Jake asked. "Same old, same old. You?" I answered. "I choose a college." He said, smiling. "Really, that's great. Where you heading?" I asked. "Miami. My mom went there, so I decided I would go. What about you?" Jake asked. "Eh. Not sure yet." I said. Yes, I know I was lying, but I wasn't ready to tell them yet.
"Better get cracking, Bells, by the time you decide maybe the college wont want you." Jake joked. Alice made a humph sound. I ignored her, she is the one that owes me an apology, I'm not going to break first. I looked over at Emmett, to see if he heard my conversation with Jake, but he seemed to be enjoying his three course meal to have noticed. I laughed. "When are you moving to the dorms?" I asked. "August 26." Jake said. "Oops, sorry Bella, I have to take Billy to the doctors, I will talk to you later." Jake said. He smiled at me once again, and walked out of the caf. "You know, for someone who swears they aren't dating, she sure has taken an interest." Alice half whispered to Rose. "I heard that, pipsqueak." I said. Before Alice could say something back, the bell rang.