So Happy New Year and here is a new years present for you guys. Sorry it took so long for it I was between Mississippi and Louisiana during Christmas and could not write. I finished this up late as in three am late I wanted to get this up. So I hope everyone had a good Christmas and new years. I will try to keep writing and get things up faster but because its my last semester in college and my graduation hangs in the balance of passing my classes (one of which I didn't pass last semester physics sucks big time and I swear I will never use it) I might be a bit slow but I will try to not stop writing entirely. So please for the next four months stay with me not only do I have classes, work, and keeping a apt up iam looking for a job after graduation as well. And trust me sending out a resume by email to so many people is not a easy or quick thing. Ok enough of this on with the story as always please review I love getting them.
Chapter 21
Katie
My graduation was today and I was at a lost of how to feel about it. Not only did I feel happy and excited that high school was over but I dredged picking up the sheet of paper that said I was a high school graduate. But this also put Seth and I years a part on where we are in our lives. But Seth wasn't the only man I was thinking about today. My dad drifted into my mind as I slipped on my dress and shoes that I was wearing under my gown.
After I pulled on both of my black pumps I sat on my bed and picked up the framed picture of my parents and I fishing on a pier. Dad had on his favorite hat and was smiling at me holding up a huge fish of some kind, Mom was standing next to dad and I laughing. We had taken it a month before his accident it was our last family outing together. That day we spent the morning fishing then that afternoon swimming in the ocean and laying on the beach. It was a normal summer day in Virginia Beach with the beach being crowed but we didn't care. Dad had talked about it being our last summer together before I became a real college girl and how proud he would be when I got my diploma and went off to get my college degree. The memory stung me to my very core my farther who only wanted to see me walk across the stage that I was about to walk across wasn't going to be there to see it.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized how much I really wanted him there. There was a knock at my door and I quickly tried to wipe the tears away before I called to who ever it was to come in. It was my mom she took one look at me and rushed over to me and sat down pulling me in to a tight hug. I didn't have to tell her what I was upset about mom knew.
"He's here honey I promise he's watching us right now." Mom pulled back but rubbed her hand up and down my back to clam me.
"I know mom it's just he should be here he shouldn't have been taken from us." Because of one mans careless actions we get robbed of so much.
"Well that man is getting what he deserves for doing that to us. But I do have something dad wanted you to have." Mom opened her fist and there sat a gold and pearl ring. Four small pearls made a circle around a slightly larger pearl. But what made it special was the center pearl was a black pearl while the four smaller ones where white. Mom placed it in my hand and I picked it up to study it farther. "This ring has been handed down in your dad's family for generations. He planed on giving it to you on your graduation day. From what dad figured out it's at lest a hundred years old and has been handed down mostly during weddings or big occasions .
"It's beautiful mom." I slide it on my right index finger and it fit perfectly there. I would wear it while I received my diploma to have part of dad with me.
"Now I'm going to grab my purse and check my make up why don't you get your cap and gown and we will go ahead and leave for the school. Is Seth coming with us?"
"No he's going to be there with Billy, Chef Swan and, Jake.
"Ok I will met you down stairs." I watched as my mom left my room to go to her bedroom the click of her heels echoing in my ears. I ran my fingers over the ring on my right hand thinking about dad I said, "I love you dad I promise to always do you proud and to keep you in my thoughts." Blinking back my last few tears I stood picking up my cap and gown, and making sure my tassel was attached to my cap I made my way down stairs.
After the drive to the high school to the crowed parking lot I pulled my gown on and mom put on my cap for me mom again just like prom took way to many pictures. I spotted Seth and Jake over everyone's heads I shouted at Seth to come over. Mom took pictures of Seth and I and then Seth took pictures of mom and I. When it was time to go line up I had to pry myself away from mom who was holding back tears. I hugged mom then stood on my toes to kiss Seth on the cheek before walking in the gate with all my classmates to line up. I took my place between the two students that I didn't know and waited for the band to start playing.
We heard the pomp and circumstance song began and we started the slow march to our seats in front of the stage. After sitting through all the speeches and talks of how bright our future is and good lucks in college they started to call names. After sitting though the names and cheering for a few friends I got my turn to walk across the stage. They called my name and I walked up the stairs nervously to shake the principles hand and take my diploma. I heard a loud hoop and hollering in the stands and saw Jake, Billy, and Seth along with Charlie yelling as I walked across the stage. Feeling my cheeks turn red I walked the last few steps to the stairs to return to my seat.
Sitting though the last names I zoned out and started to think. This was it I'm done with high school all those years of working hard paid off. Now it was time to move on and go to college and the start my life with Seth. The last name was called we sat through the principals last words all of us waiting to hear that line to declare us true high school graduates. When it came" I now present the class graduate class 2010." we all yelled stood up and threw our caps. After finding our caps we heard the band start playing again and we took the long walk out.
Clutching my diploma I just picked up I went to find my mom in the sea of people I spotted Seth before I saw mom. He ran up to me picking me up and spinning me around kissing me on the cheek the whole time. After setting me on my feet Seth bent down to kiss my lips. "Congratulations" Seth pulled flowers out from behind me he must have been holding them while hugging me. "These are for you."
"Thank you there wonderful. Have you seen my mom I can't find her?"
"She's just over there with Charlie you know they went to school together."
"Really?"
"Yeah come on I know she is waiting for us." Seth took me hand and pulled me to the spot where everyone was waiting. As soon as mom saw me she pulled me in to a hug tighter than Seth's.
"Congratulations sweet heart." Mom kissed my cheek and added yet more flowers to the ones Seth gave me, pink and yellow roses. Mom took my diploma from my hands and opened it looking at the small piece paper that I have been working to get for twelve years. Out of no where Jake came beside me to poke me on the shoulder.
"So I guess you get one more congratulations and here." Jake handed me a single rose to add to mom and Seth's flowers. "I gave Bella one too." I could feel Seth's chest rumble behind me. "Hey man you know I wouldn't she's a wolf girl."
"Sorry you know it's hard to control sometimes."
"It's alright well I better get dad home and check in with Sam."
Seth and I both said buy to Billy and Jake. Mom Seth and I then got in the car to head to the only nice place in town and everyone was there. We saw Chef Swan's car there along with a good majority of the graduating class. After a short wait we got a table and sat down to wait eat not far from Bella and Chief Swan. Dinner was full of mindless talk and chatter that filled the whole place. After dinner the three of us went back to our house where I changed for the party at the Cullen's.
Seth was sitting back on my bed hands behind his head while I brushed my hair and put on a little make up. He was watching my actions like he was trying to memorize my motions. "I really wish you wouldn't go. I know there your friends but something could happen to you. I don't what I would do if I lost you espically to one of them."
"I will be fine Seth, Alice, Edward, and Jasper have been around me and I was fine."
"That's at school where they have to stay in control you will me at there house."
"With the entire class and Bella as well I will be fine if anything goes wrong I will call you. Please just trust me."
"I do trust you just don't know the extent of how much I need to protect you." Seth stood up walking to me in front of my mirror. "You have no idea how much the wolf in me wants to follow you there and stand guard over you." Seth raised his hand to stroke his fingers down my cheek. "And how hard it is to pull back the wolf and just let you walk right into danger knowingly." Seth put his hand on my cheek. "I trust your judgment just know it's not an easy thing to do. I love you I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I love you too. I can't even begin to understand how imprinting on me affects you the worry and protective side. But thank you for trusting me I will have my phone text me if it will make you feel better."
"I might just have fun and be careful please."
"I will."
"I should go mom is expecting me home soon. I will see you later." Seth kissed me on my cheek and headed down stairs I heard him say good bye to my mom and the door open and close. Mike, Ang, Ben and Jessica must have pulled up as Seth was leaving because I heard mom tell Ang that I was in my room. Soon I had Ang and Jessica coming through my door.
"Hey was that Seth that just walked out your front door." Ang asked with a confused look on her face.
"Yeah he was heading home."
"There wasn't another car." Jessica stated.
"He was meeting his friend Paul at the end of the drive by the road a few of his friends where heading into town and pick him up on there way out."
"Oh well are you ready to go the guys are waiting." Jessica asked.
"Yeah." I took my phone off my bed slipped it in my pocket and headed downstairs with Jessica and Ang behind me. I stopped by mom saying good bye and promising to keep my phone near me. And we all pilled into Mike's truck. Ang asked a question I knew everyone was dying to find out. "So why isn't Seth coming with you?"
I hate lying to them but I had to the pack was more important to me. "He has things to do tonight." We pulled up to the turn off to the Cullen's house Alice had lined the trees with white lights. Bella had told me that since Alice planned it she would go all out on it but even I didn't expect this. As Mike pulled up to park and we all got out I saw everyone was slightly nervous afraid to be the first to the door. It made me wonder if they really knew the Cullen's would they even have gotten this far. I smiled to myself as I led everyone up there front steps to the door. I knew they knew we where here and the thing is they knew I knew about them. I knocked on the door and there was Alice standing there smiling at us. "Hi come on in." Alice had it like a night club in the house. There was lights every where a table with food and drinks to the side of one room. There was music going in one room that served as a dance floor. She over did her self by a long shot. Everyone went out to meet other people but Alice pulled me aside.
"I asked Bella if you knew about us and if you where ok with it she said you where. Is she right?"
"Yeah Alice I'm perfectly ok with what you are. Seth is worried about it but I'm not you're my friend."
"Well then if your ok with it then come met the rest of my family." Alice pulled me over to Dr Cullen and women who Dr. Cullen had his arm around. She gripped my hand loosely her coldness surprised me but I knew it was just her. We stopped in front of them and the women smiled at me. "Well this is Carlisle and Esme my parents."
"It's nice to see you again Katie and with out that bandage I suspect that boy took care of you."
"He did and I'm happy to see the bandage go it was annoying."
"I'm Esme," she came up and hugged me, "It's so good to met a friend of Alice's." A tall man that looked like a pale football player came up behind Esme and Carlisle with a stunning blonde at his side. "Is this the one he asked in a deep voice?"
Alice raised a hand this is Emmitt he's harmless enough to a human us another story and this is Rosalie. I waved at them and he stepped forward. "So you're the one with the wolf and he let you come into our house."
"Yeah he's not too happy about it but he trust me I trust Alice and Bella."
"I like her lets keep her." Emmitt smiled down at me. Esme looked up to him, "Emmitt she is not some lost kitten to take in."
"It's just not the often we find a human that's ok with us being vampires."
Alice looked over at me our heights being about the same it was easy to talk and never have to look up "Let's go dance." Alice pulled me over to the other room to dance Jessica and Ang soon joined us as the guys looked at us. I don't know how long we danced but Alice saw the door open and stopped in walked Jake followed by Quil and Embry and lastly Seth walked in. What where they doing here I thought. Alice left going up stairs while Bella went to stand in front of Jake they where talking about something. I decided to go see why Seth was here. I walked up to him tapping him on the shoulder he turned around.
"Hey having fun."
"Yeah Alice is great her family is ok with me knowing about them. But why are you guys here you told me it was dangerous for you to be here."
"Bella invited Jake."
"Yeah I remember and a few days ago she punched him."
"Yeah well he wanted to give her a present."
Alice then walked back down the stairs Bella and I both looked at her she had the blank look on her face. I had never seen it before but from what Bella told me it was Alice's vision face the look where she's off in some other world. Jasper came out of nowhere to check on her taking her hands quietly. Alice turned around and with Jasper behind her went back upstairs with Bella, Jake, Quil, and Embry following. Seth being part of the pack followed Jake and the others up the stairs I took his hand before following as well. Everyone seamed to be gathering in there the Cullen's and the members of the pack that where there. I felt out of place standing there clutching Seth's hand and arm as they where talking. I didn't understand much of it something about new vampires' dangerous ones coming here. Then I heard something I didn't like Jake agreed that they would help that the wolfs would be there.
I looked up at Seth he was smiling smiling at the idea of going after vampires. Yeah I'm not expert on them but from what I just gathered there not good or nice. Yet these four guys wanted to go after them. Bella went off saying they shouldn't they would get killed and I agreed I pulled on Seth's hand.
"I think Bella's right its dangerous just take a minute to think about it."
"We are made to handle them it will be fine. You shouldn't be here to hear this why don't you go back down stairs."
"No, what has to do with you has to do with me I'm staying here with you. Maybe I can help."
"You can't." Edward spoke to me I forgot everyone could hear our conversation and he could read our minds. "The pack can and by him fighting he protects you. And yes I would be just as worried as you are if it was Bella fighting. And if the pack refuse the army won't stop because they killed us they would hunt here kill the people in Forks."
I had to accept that Seth would be fighting I had to trust him as much as he trusted me to be here tonight alone in a house full of vampires. I held Seth's hand leaning on him as they talked I zoned out trying to not think about Seth in a fight just taking in his warmth his hand in mine and his warm arm I leaned against. It took a minute to realize Seth was making a move to leave.
"Do you want to stay or go with us Jake drove?"
"I will stay it will be odd of I leave for no reason."
"We are meting tonight to train I wont be able to come see you tonight."
"I want to go with you."
"It will be late maybe you should stay home."
"I want to go please." Alice walked over to us, "Edward is taking Bella out with Emmitt's jeep she can ride with them and stay the night here. It will be fine and I can see her here so you might as well not argue."
"See I will be fine."
"Alright I will see you out there." Seth kissed me and gave me a massive hug. "Be safe call me if you need me. Love you."
"Love you too." Alice turned to me after we watched the guys walk out the door, "So you're the only human that has been here late besides Bella and I see lots of fun."
"Really Alice?"
"Yes when everyone leaves in a few hours we are going to watch a movie and have some much needed fun. Bella's off with Edward so it's going to be us to girls. So until then let's get back to the party." So I let Alice pull me down stairs back to the party where we danced laughed and enjoyed ourselves. I had a feeling Alice was trying to make me forget about what the pack was going into. But I knew I could never forget about it they where about to risk there lives. And to put the cherry on top Alice would be fighting as well and Bella was the one they wanted. The day that they fight I might lose so many people I care for. I just had to hope they make it out alive and trust in there ability to fight.