To anyone that had read this story when I first began posting it, I'm sorry that I never finished putting it on here. As with all stories on fanfiction, I do not own it. I just like to play!

Acceptance

"Did you let Jacob see the dress?" Jessica asked me Monday at lunch. I had chosen a hot pink floor length gown with silver rhinestone designs across the bodice that extended down the skirt. It had been Jessica's oldest sister Grace's dress for the girl's choice dance her junior year.

"No. I just let him know the color," I told her. "Thanks again Jessica, I really appreciate it." I was dying to ask her what made her suddenly change her attitude toward me, but I didn't. Maybe she had decided that Lauren was nasty enough to me, she didn't need to add to the insult. I just figured that I would enjoy the bit of friendliness. If more followed, I would take it in stride. But if she returned to the anti-Bella posture that she and Lauren had shared, I was prepared for that also. Maybe Jessica had determined that we only had a little over a month left together, so she would try to play nice for that bit of time.

"I told you, my mom was going to get rid of them." Jessica shrugged.

"Did you let Jason see your dress?" I asked. Jessica had told me while we were looking through the closet in her sister's old bedroom that she was going with a boy from Port Angeles named Jason Metz. They had been going out for a couple of months.

"Actually yes. We were out together when I found it, so he saw it then," she said.

"I've seen Angela's dress," Ben said in between bites of macaroni and cheese. "I haven't seen it on her, but I bet she will look radiant."

Angela had been excused for the afternoon to attend a program at her twin brother's pre-school. She wasn't even there to hear the compliment.

"Did you find anyone to do the alterations for you?" Jessica asked.

"No not yet. Charlie told me to ask my friend Leah from La Push," I told her. "I'll give her a call tonight." Grace must be about my height, but judging by the fit of the dress, she was ten to fifteen pounds heavier. Or at least she had been when she wore that dress.

"Mike, what color is Amanda wearing?" I asked, making conversation.

"Color?" he asked, in typical guy fashion which set off a round of eye rolling.

People came and went at our table throughout the remainder of the lunch period, all talking about prom. I tried to remember what lunch time conversations had been during the previous weeks, and I couldn't really think of anything specific. Maybe I was noticing the whole prom topic more now that I had plans to go. I had made a point to check out many of the colorful posters announcing the dance strewn about the school corridors since Jessica had pointed out to me over the weekend that I had previously ignored them. Some of my peers had obviously put a lot of time and effort into designing them, the least I could do was notice.

The remainder of the day passed in the usual blur. It seemed that once I realized school was winding down, it started winding faster and faster. I wonder if Einstein developed his theory of relativity during his last weeks of high school.

I was surprised to see a visitor waiting by my truck when I walked out of school. "Leah, what are you doing here?" I asked as I approached. I noticed that she wasn't leaning against it; she was literally bouncing back and forth in front of it.

She held up a large manila envelope. "I got in!" she screeched.

"Leah, that's great." I hugged her tightly before I remembered that she wasn't really the hugging type which was alright, because neither was I. The excitement of the moment must have made her forget that aspect of her personality, because she hugged me back rather firmly.

"I hope you're not mad," she said taking a step back, "but I stopped at your house and got your mail."

I crossed my arms and raised my left eyebrow. "That's a federal offence you know," I said trying my best to keep a straight face, but failing miserably.

"I stopped at the station and asked Chief Swan if I could so…nah," she said sticking her tongue out at me. She thrust an envelope exactly like hers at me.

I felt my book bag slide off of my shoulder, and I did nothing to stop it. I stared at the envelope that may or may not hold the key to my future. I slowly took it from her hands.

"It's thick like mine," Leah said, "I bet you got in too. Oh, would you open it already!"

With one swift movement, I tore the flap off. I pulled the letter out and began to read it out loud…

Dear Ms. Swan,

We are pleased to inform you that your application was more than satisfactory and we would like to extend…

I didn't get any further.

"You got in!" Leah screamed. She grabbed me in a tight squeeze that made the one I had given her seem mild.

"I got in," I echoed.

"Let's celebrate," Leah said picking up my bag off the ground and throwing it over her shoulder. She began leading me toward her car, a gray Focus, parked a few spaces from my truck. "I have to be at work in an hour, so it has to be quick. What do you want?"

I climbed in the passenger door. She put the key in the ignition, and looked over at me.

"Ice Cream," we said in unison.

The gorgeous weather from the weekend was still hanging on. She drove to a little, seasonal place that had just reopened a couple of weeks before. I read over the remainder of my letter en route. "I got a small scholarship too," I said genuinely shocked.

"How much?"

"Five hundred dollars a semester."

"That's better than nothing," Leah pointed out.

"I suppose," I said. It was better than nothing, but as I looked down over the list of tuition and other expenses, it didn't seem like it would even make a dent.

"Just think of how many hours you would have to work at Newton's to earn that much."

"Excellent point, my friend." After that, it didn't seem so small.

I looked over the outdoor menu at the ice cream shop trying to decide exactly what would taste appropriate to celebrate collegiate acceptance. I opted for a root beer float. Leah chose a banana split.

"Did you get any scholarship money?" I asked between chilly slurps of sweetness.

"American Indian," she simply stated, pointing to herself dramatically. "Everything's covered - even books."

"Oh, so unfair," I teased.

"Hey, are you off this Saturday?"

"I'm pretty sure, why?"

"I already called and talked to my uncle," she said in her fast, excited voice that was so unlike the usual abrasive Leah. "He said he would love to have us come and see the place. My mom said she'd come along. I thought maybe Charlie would want to come and Jake too."

"I can ask," I said just as elated, but then I remembered the no rent offer. "But we will have to negotiate some sort of payment. It wouldn't be fair for me to live there for free."

Leah rolled her eyes. "Is it fair that I get my entire education paid for because I live on the right side of the reservation line and you have to work for yours?"

I was speechless. I had never thought of it like that. Leah pulled back up behind my truck at school. The entire trip had only taken us about twenty-five minutes. The hardware wasn't too far away so I knew Leah was not in that big of a hurry. I decided to ask my question. "Do you know anyone that can do alterations? My friend Jessica gave me her sister's old dress for prom, but it needs taken in."

Leah sighed. I suddenly felt guilty for asking. She looked like I had just stolen the cherry off of the top of her banana split. "Emily is a great seamstress," she said soberly. "I'm sure if you ask her she will alter it for you." Just as suddenly as it had left, the smile returned to her face. "Now get out! I've got to go earn some grocery money." She gave me a look that let me know there were no hard feelings.

"I'll talk to Charlie and Jake about Saturday, and I'll give you a call later tonight." I slung my bag over my shoulder and held my float in my hand as I climbed out of her low car.

"I get off at nine," she said taking another bite of banana before she would have to set it down to drive again. "Call me after that."

I stood there at the rear of my truck watching her tail lights disappear. It was no wonder Leah and I got along so well. Not only had she lost Sam, like I had lost Edward, but he had taken Emily with him just as Edward had taken Alice. I hoped there would come a day that Leah and Emily could be friends again; although, I was not naive enough to think that they could be as close as before. There are some things that a person just can't get past, and I honestly believed that would be one of them.

I climbed in my truck but did not start it right away. A smile slowly crept across my face as the gravity of the Bell State acceptance sank in. I slurped and smiled and smiled and slurped. I thought about the rest of my evening. I was dying to run to La Push and tell Jacob or to the station to tell Charlie, but I couldn't decide which one to tell first.

I started my truck and backed out of my space into the empty lot. Jake and I had already made plans for him to join Charlie and me for supper tonight. I pulled onto the road and headed for the grocery store. They could both wait and find out together.

I stopped at the bank and withdrew enough from my savings to buy four steaks. I knew I had potatoes at home from my last trip to the store. I bought some lettuce, grape tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, and mushrooms for a salad.

I set to work when I got home. Thankfully, I had gotten my homework done during some free time at the end of my physics class. I scrubbed four potatoes, wrapped them in foil and put them in the oven. I had learned from Emily to always double the amount of food for a werewolf at your table. I mixed some marinade and let the steaks soak. I washed the lettuce and other vegetables and tossed the salad together. I searched the cupboard for croutons and gave a little growl when I realized we didn't have any left, but before I could get too upset, I found some sunflower seeds. I sprinkled those on top instead.

I figured Jacob would arrive first. I knew Charlie wouldn't say anything about Leah coming to the station in case the news was not good. He wouldn't want to make me say something in front of Jacob.

When I heard the rabbit pull up to the house, I threw the steaks under the broiler. I heard the front door open. "Bells," Jacob yelled.

I tried to rein in my excitement. "In the kitchen," I called to him.

Faster than humanly possible, I was wrapped in warm arms. Jacob lifted me onto the counter so our height differences weren't an issue, not that we ever let that stop us anyway. I squeezed Jacob's shoulders and tilted my head back losing myself in our embrace. I nipped at his ear and giggled as he shuddered against me. I traced kisses down his neck to his jaw line.

"I've missed you," Jacob said holding my face in his hands and tilting my head to look at him.

"I love you."

"I love you too." Jacob pressed his mouth to mine again with renewed fervor.

We pulled apart when we heard the cruiser pull into the drive. My audience awaits, I thought.