Chapter 13: Graduation

Emmett's POV

Graduation was finally here.

Well, it would be in two days. We were in the auditorium for the dress rehearsal. I saw Bella and Shane talking, waiting for Ms. Martin to tell us to line up. I stood there, watching them as if I were a stalker.

I felt two arms wrap around my waist and looked down, smiling. "Hey, baby. Are you ready to graduate?"

"Well, I wasn't at first, but now that we're goin' to the same college, I think I'll be just fine," Marie answered in that beautiful, southern accent.

When she said this, I suddenly realized that we were both going to UCLA. I was going for football, receiving a full scholarship, not that I needed it. Marie wanted to major in Theater, Film, and Television. She would be amazing in any of them, but she wanted to have her own T.V. show.

I suddenly wondered where Bella and Shane would be going. I told Marie to come with me and headed over to them. "Hey, guys."

Bella cocked an eyebrow at me. "Hi, Marie. Emmett, what brings you over here?"

Her calm attitude, which I'm sure was a façade, broke my act, and I began to stutter. "I…um…was just wondering what…uh…college you guys were g-going to."

Shane smirked a little, but tried to hide it. He was a good guy whether I wanted to believe it or not.

She looked really excited. She almost squealed, saying, "Well, Shane, Edward, and I are all going to Dartmouth together! Shane can afford it, and so can Edward, but I got in on a full scholarship! Isn't that awesome?"

"That's great, Bella. I'm really happy for you." But I wasn't happy for me. I wanted to be able to come up and see her on break, but now, she's going to a school on the other side of the U.S.

"Emmett, can we go somewhere to talk for a minute?" she asked.

I nodded, and she kissed Shane on the cheek. I kissed Marie's forehead, and we went to a small hallway leading to the large room.

"Why did you have to come talk to me?" Bella was almost in tears.

"I wanted to know where you were going…"

"No, really, Emmett. I want to know the truth. We haven't spoken in seven months, and you just walk up to me and start acting like we're closer than ever. I'm not going to play into that shit. I mean, even after I told the entire school that I was still in love with you, you didn't come up on stage or wave or say a single word to me in the halls. I was devastated, but luckily, my boyfriend was there to fix the destruction." Now, she was crying.

I pulled her into my chest. "What are you talking about?"

"The karaoke night…"

"Oh, Bella…I left right after I sang that song for you. It was a sad song, but it explains how I feel. If I had never fallen in love with you, we wouldn't be in so much pain."

"I like pain," Bella whispered.

"Why?" I asked incredulously.

"Pain brought me to Forks, to you. Pain led the way to your heart, and I love you for sharing my pain with me, even if that sounds really odd. Emmett, pain doesn't matter to me anymore, not when I have you."

I leaned down and kissed her lovingly until we had to breathe. I couldn't resist.

"And pain just made me kiss you again," I smiled.

So did she. "I love you, Em…"

"I love you, too, Bellaboo."

She giggled, but her face went back to be anguished as she said, "Too bad it won't last…"

Then, she walked away. We had to line up anyway.

Adam Levowsky was the only person who stood behind Marie and me, and I could hear her talking animatedly to Sarah Matthews.

"Miss Loughton! Stop talking to Miss Matthews, and pay attention for once!" Ms. Martin yelled.

"Yes, ma'am. Would you like me to bring you some water while I'm at it?" she asked sarcastically.

The guidance counselor just smiled back innocently. "Why, that would be lovely. We'll wait until you return to begin." She handed Marie a cup.

Marie took it, jaw dropped open. We all laughed, and she just huffed away to retrieve the beverage. She returned only a couple of minutes later looking pissed, so I gave her a kiss in front of everyone, then went back to my spot.

She smiled. I smiled. Bella frowned.

If it would make things better, I would dump Marie right now, but I loved her, and Bella and I both knew she refused to let me into her life. I don't even know the reason as of why. I doubt she does, either.

We finished the dress rehearsal, and it went smoothly. Two days later, it was for real.

Bella was deemed valedictorian, barely beating me. When she gave her speech, she looked radiant and spoke perfectly. I imagined her to be the perfect angel.

They introduced her, then she began. "Hello, fellow graduating students. It is such an honor to receive this award, but there are many other people who deserve it more than I do. For instance, Emmett Hale. He's the star quarterback, makes perfect grades, and has a girlfriend. He balances everything very well. I, on the other hand, devoted my senior year to making good grades. I really am grateful to have this, but Emmett, would you please come retrieve what is rightfully yours?"

I walked up there and whispered, "Bella, don't do this."

She mouthed a "sorry" to me and continued. "Emmett Hale, you deserve to be the valedictorian." Then, lower, I swear I heard her say, "And you deserve my love. But you already have that."

I took from her shaking hands, our fingers brushing. An electric shock went through me, and I was positive she felt it, too.

"Well, as you all know, I'm Emmett Hale. I will gladly accept the award, but only because it is Isabella Swan giving it to me. You see, I love this woman. She is amazing, wonderful, beautiful, and incredibly sweet. I have one word to sum all of that up, and it's definitely not valedictorian. It's perfect. Bella Swan is the most perfect girl I have ever met, and I would love to be in her life, to be her only one. But I'm not, so I'm stuck with Marie Loughton," I said the last sentence with humor, and everyone laughed, except for Marie. "You know I'm kidding. I love you, babe. And I want Shane Winston to know that he is a very lucky guy. He has the smartest, hottest girl in school. Beauty and brains, I guess you could say. And I don't want anyone to get mad at me when I do this…" I kissed her.

She was taken by surprise, but ended up kissing me back, throwing her arms around my neck. She pulled me close, and my body was flush against hers. I wrapped my arms around her waist. We finally pulled away when someone yelled, "Get a room!"

I smiled down at Bella. "I love you. And I'll miss you. I guess I'll see you in ten years. High school reunion, okay?"

She began to cry silently on the stage. "Emmett, I love you so much. I'm going to miss you even more. A school year I can handle, but ten years? Are you kidding me?" She held onto me tighter.

"I'm going to UCLA, and you're going to Dartmouth. Bella, I'm sorry. It would be hard to visit you, but I…I can try…" My voice began to break with sobs.

"You can't just say you love me, and then leave for ten years. Come with me! Please…You can afford it!" The look in her eyes was hopeful.

"UCLA has one of the best football teams. Everyone wants to go there, and I actually got in. Bella, I want you to have fun in New Hampshire. Have fun with Eddie and Shane."

"I'm not going…" she trailed off.

The whole audience gasped. For a moment, I forgot we weren't alone. I forgot that Shane was out there, that Marie was out there. But right now, I didn't care.

"Yeah, that's right, Dad! I figured I'd disappoint you once again!" she exclaimed, then begun to run offstage. I grabbed her arm in time.

"No, you're not, Isabella! You're going to that college!"

"Oh, you are so mistaken!"

"You'll go because you love me. You'll go because you know that's what's best, what I want for you. I'm going to miss you terribly, but you got into an Ivy League school. Do you know what some of these people would do for that? Killing a person is probably only number ten on the list." She giggled slightly. "So will you go, Bells? For me?"

"I'll think about it. I mean, we still have three months until I have to think about it really. I can spend time with you for these next few weeks." She smiled brightly.

My expression was distraught. "Bella…" I placed a hand on her cheek. "Oh, Bella, I'm leaving next week. Marie and I got an apartment in L.A. not too far from the school. I'm so sorry."

"You're leaving? So soon?" I nodded. "Why? Why are you so ready to leave Forks behind, to leave me behind?" she asked hysterically.

I hated to say this, but maybe it was the only way she'd let me go, so I whispered, "If I recall correctly, you wouldn't let me into your life." The sad thing was now that she had, I had to begin living another one.

"And if I recall correctly, you told me never to bother you again, Emmett Hale! Damn it, why can't you just let me be?! I was doing fine until you came up to me and asked about colleges!" Then, in a voice only I could hear, she said, "I haven't cut myself since September. I figured the emotional pain of letting you go was hard enough…" She looked up into my eyes, tears highlighting her chocolate brown orbs and falling down her now pink cheeks, and whispered, "It was good knowing you, Emmett. Thanks for helping me out this past year and a half. I couldn't have done it with out you." She walked away and back to the podium. "So…as I was saying, Emmett Hale is the real valedictorian. I decline the offer, but thank you, Forks High! For everything! I love you all, and I know that we'll all be successful in our futures. Woo!" She screamed with false excitement, then threw her hat up into the air with everyone else's.

I just took mine off and let it hang from my index finger.

Just like everything else in my life, it was so close to the edge, yet not close enough to simply just…fall.

And sometimes, I wish it would.

Sometimes...I wish that I could.