A/N: Well, I don't think I got three reviews (sad, right?), but I'm posting the next chapter because I can! Thank you to all who put my story on alert and favorites, and whoever reviewed. I was sitting in photography checking my email on my iPod, and I was like, YAY! It made my day. I'll be in the car tomorrow for eight hours, so I'll write some more chapters. I promise it will get more interesting, just give me some time:)

Chapter Two

Graduation

Before I was ready for it, graduation was staring me right in the face, laughing.

Liz was frantic, of course, running around the house making sure everything was in its correct spot for the small gathering we were having after the ceremony.

While Liz was resetting the table for about the fifth time, I debated on what to wear. Everything I tried on was either too short of too long, too loose or too tight. After about twenty minutes, Liz knocked on the door.

"Come in," I said, throwing a red blouse with a huge stain on the front on the floor.

"Having trouble?" she asked. I nodded.

She left my room only to reappear with a silky blue blouse with a black belt around the middle.

"Here," she said, handing it to me. "Try it on." I hurriedly put it on and checked my reflection in the mirror. It was perfect.

"It's gorgeous, is it yours?" I asked.

"Yeah, I've only worn it once, and it looks so much better on you. Consider it a graduation present," she smiled.

"Thank you, so much," I told her, giving her a quick hug.

"Your parents would have been so proud of you, Bells," she whispered.

I turned away from her, feeling my eyes start to burn with the mentioning of my parents.

After Liz curled my hair and did my makeup, we were on our way to Forks High School. When we got there, parents went in the front entrance and the teachers tried to herd all the seniors into the back entrance of the gym.

"Bella!" I heard Jessica Stanley call, waving her hand frantically at me, trying to get my attention. I walked over to her and put the ugly green and gold graduation gown, which had been slung across my shoulder, over my clothes and stick the equally ugly cap on my head.

"Aren't you just so excited?" she gushed. A smile seemed to be tattooed on her round face. "It feels like we just started high school! I'm so glad I got to know you, Bells." She went on and on about how great high school had been, but I wasn't paying attention anymore. Instead I searched the auditorium for the two people I wanted most to be here, but I knew they weren't going to be. But I kept watching for them for some reason, intent that my parent's murder was just an ongoing, awful nightmare.

"Bella?" Jessica snapped me out of my daze. "It's time to sit now," she told me, looking at me like I had lost my mind. I followed behind her and sat in the seat with a sticky note with my name on it.

Once everyone was seated and somewhat quiet, the valedictorian went on and on about how "this end is just a new beginning" and a bunch of other things I didn't listen to.

"Isabella Marie Swan," I snapped my head up to realize that I was my turn to walk across the stage. How did I miss everyone getting their diploma? I hurried up the stairs; my face flushed with embarrassment, walked to the podium to get my diploma, and shook hands with my principal.

"Congratulations, Bella," he said. I walked back to my seat and looked around again. Proud parents, grandparents, and siblings were applauding for their family member. I wanted so desperately for my parents to be here.

"Congratulations to Fork's class of 2008!" the valedictorian shouted gleefully into the microphone, tossing her cap into the air. The rest of us did the same.

"We did it, Bella!" Jessica shouted over the thunderous voices of students, hugging me.

"Bella!" I looked over to see Liz running towards me, dodging jubilant parents and students scattered around the auditorium. I put on a fake smile.

"Congratulations, sweetie," she said, also hugging me. When she finally broke the embrace, I saw tears falling out of her eyes.

"Let's go get ready; everyone will be at the house in about an hour." I suggested, trying to lighten the mood.

This party was going to be hell.

This was one of my longer chapters, hope it was okay! I'll be in New Jersey until Sunday, and I won't be able to update until then. Reviews make me SUPER happy!

-Kristin