Moonlight
Graduation
BellaPOV
Edward and I hurried towards the car rental place and the guy behind the counter quickly got us a car but I believe a bit of a money bribe was used to do it off the books. Edward promised to have it back tonight and we took off.
As we drove over the border of Forks, my heart started to race. Could we really pull this off? Charlie must be mad with anxiety and now I am just going to come waltzing in with Edward saying we went on a holiday.
Edward drove carefully and soon we were pulling into the police station. I looked at Edward and he looked at me.
" You can do this Bella. I surprised you with a holiday and we left straight away. There was no satellite at the cabin and we didn't think they would worry," he said holding my hand. I gulped and nodded as Edward stopped the car. I put on my best beseeching face and stepped out of the car.
Charlie came charging out of the station before my foot even touched the ground and pulled me into a hug. My face got squished in his chest before he held me out at arm's length.
" Where the hell have you been young lady!" he thundered.
I gulped and stepped back towards Edward, " Edward surprised me with a holiday,"
" And you didn't tell me!" Charlie yelped.
" We left straight away and there was no service at the cabin," I whispered.
" NO SERVICE! You didn't think to leave me a note. ANYTHING!" he screamed and I cowered beside Edward.
" I-we-um-" I stammered.
" I take full responsiblity for this sir. It was my idea," Edward said, stepping forward.
" I should think so young man. I have spent the last three days in terror that my daughter has been taken from me and you took her on HOLIDAY! Wait til Carlisle hears about this. Bella get in the car we are going home," Charlie thundered. I squeezed Edward's hand and hurried to the car.
Charlie soon joined me and we drove home in utter silence.
When we arrived home I jumped out and headed inside and straight for the stairs.
" Hold it," Dad said just as my foot landed on the bottom stair. My shoulders sagged and I turned around.
" What were you thinking Bella?" he asked, his voice thankfully soft.
" I-I don't know Ch-Dad. I guess I was just so blown away at the surprise that I didn't think through the consequences," I said humbly, wondering what dad would say if we told him the truth about where we had been.
" Yes, well you are grounded. For the rest of your life by the way," Charlie said. My mouth dropped.
" Oh come on. Dad please. Don't be like that! I am nearly graduating. I don't think now is the time for grounding," I whined.
" You should've thought of that before you ran off. And I think that if Emmett was here he would agree with me too,"
" Oh don't you bring Emmett into this! This has nothing to do with him,"
" I would've thought with both your brothers gone that you would realise how much I miss them and not go galivanting all over America with your boyfriend causing me unneeded stress,"
" You don't think I miss them too? I do every single day and Edward is always there for me when I feel sad, unlike you. You're too busy fishing or working at a station where the most danger you face is an angry speeder. I am growing up Charlie, and I am not your little girl anymore. I have my own life. I am about to graduate high school. Let me live my life," I yelled before turning on my heel and storming up the stairs.
I flopped on my bed, crossed my arms and cried.
It has been a week since Charlie and my fight and I am brushing my hair. It's graduation day.
All day Alice has been "getting me ready".
" It's not everyday that you graduate high school," she kept saying.
" How many times have you graduated?" I kept asking.
" That's besides the point," she would always reply.
I shook my head at the memory and went back to brushing my tangled hair. My eyes flicked to the clock. Two hours to go. Alice was coming over in ten minutes to "fix my hair".
" What if I do it nicely?" I had asked when she told me.
" You won't," was all I got back.
So instead of wasting time doing it just for Alice to rip it out again, I just continued brushing.
Dad was at work. I hadn't seen him since our arguement. I felt bad but he needed to know how I felt and anyway, I would be leaving him soon as well.
" Bell-lllaaaa,"
I groaned as her sing-song voice got louder and suddenly she was there, tsk-ing at my hair.
" Too much brushing, lovie,"
My eyebrows rise so high they are in danger of disappearing, " YOU TOLD ME TO BRUSH!"
" Yes but not this much. I thought you had something to do this afternoon, otherwise I wouldn't have left you,"
" Just fix it quickly," I grumbled, leaning back and closing my eyes.
As Alice hums quietly, her nimble fingers combing quickly through my hair, I doze on and off. I think. Finally, after about half an hour, Alice sighs in relief.
" Alice, it's grad not a wedding," I laugh. She just spins me to the mirror.
My brown hair has been lightly GHD curled. Then using an inifte number of pins, it has been styled to the right side, starting higher than my ear and falling over my shoulder, my fringe, twisted and hidden in the rest. On the left side, a lonely curl frames my face.
" Wow," I mouth.
" Howzat? Ha Edward won't be able to take his eyes off you," Alice smirks, " Now what were you gonna wear?"
" I was gonna wear my jeans and that flowy purple top under the gown and then change into my pink vintage dress for the party. Sound good? Does it meet your standards, Ms Cullen?" I smirked.
" Huh, that's Mrs Swan to you and yes, surprisingly, it does. Well done Miss Swan," Alice smiled, " Now let's get you dressed and we're off,"
I grinned.
Dad arrived home ten minutes before we were to leave. Alice had slipped out and I was watching Channel V when he opened the front door. I stood up, the delightful (cough) yellow gown folded over my arm.
" Wow Bella," he said before walking over and crushing me in a hug. I buried my head in his shoulder.
" I'm sorry Dad," I blurted out when he released me.
" I am too darling. You just scared me that's all. I love you,"
" I love you too," I sniffled, careful not to spill tears. Alice would kill me.
" Let's go," Charlie smiled.
Edward said he would meet me there so Charlie and I had the ride to the school to ourselves.
" I can't believe you are all done. All my kids, done with school. You're not going to leave me as quick as your brothers did are you?" Charlie said after a couple of minutes of comfortable silence.
I didn't answer straight away.
" Yeah I'm all done. I can't believe it," I said carefully, not answering his quesion.
" You're gonna leave me," he said and it wasn't a question.
" I-I don't know Dad. I mean I want to go to college and things like that...and then there is Edward," I murmur.
" Hmm Edward," Charlie mumbles.
" I love him Dad,"
" You're 16. You don't know what you want Bella. You don't know what "love" is,"
" I know enough from Jasper and Emmett. And you. Please trust me on this one Daddy. I don't want to fight now but please you have to trust me,"
Charlie looked at me but didn't say anything as we pulled into the school carpark. I sighed with relief and exited the car.
Charlie came around to my side of the car. He took me by the shoulders and stared into my eyes. He put one hand on my hair and stroked my temple with his thumb. His big brown eyes filled with tears and he pulled me into a crushing hug, one hand on my head, the other on my back.
He shakes a little and I know he is crying. My own eyes fill with tears and I hug him back, wrapping my arms around his waist.
" I love you Isabella. No matter what you do with your life,"
" I love you too Daddy,"
We pull apart and he bends down to my height.
" I trust you Bella, I know you will choose the right path for your life,"
I give him a watery smile.
" You remind me of Nessie so much and I feel grateful, for though I lost her all those years ago, I never really lost her because I had you. I love you baby,"
I hug him again and kiss his cheek, " Love you too Daddy,"
We pull apart again and I wipe my tears away.
" Now let's go graduate shall we?" he asks and puts his arm around my shoulders. We walk into the hall together.
As we near the door, I tug the gown on and smash the cap on my head.
" Beautiful," Charlie smiles and I roll my eyes.
The hall is abuzz with activity when we enter.
" Ah Miss Swan. The S's are down there," Mr Bancroft says when he spots me, " And hello Chief,"
Charlie squeezes my hand and I leave him chatting with the principle.
I squeeze in behind a curly headed guy.
As I am scouring the hall for Edward, my "line buddy" catches my attention.
" Bella Swan right?"
" Ah who's asking?" I reply raising my eye brow.
" Riley Stonton," he says offering his hand. I shake it carefully.
" How do you know me?" I ask.
" Oh I think everyone knows the Swan's," he laughs, " The first people in the school to befriend the Cullens,"
" Is that the only reason you know me? Because I am dating a Cullen?" I ask.
" Not just that. You're one of the prettiest girls in school, even if you are a year younger," Riley grins wickedly.
" Um thanks, I think," I frown, looking for Edward more forcefully now. This guy was creeping me out.
" Yeah, so when you're down with Cullen, here's my number," Riley pushed a piece of paper into my hand. I stared at it in shock.
" You do know I have been dating Edward for like four years right?" I ask, just to make sure.
" Oh yeah I know. I just want you to know you have a back up plan,"
" Oh right silly me. So you should know that I really appreciate this," I smile sweetly. Riley grins and steps forward. My grin widens and I hold the paper right up in his face, before tearing it slowly.
Finally, I spot Edward. He quickly appears at my side.
" Do we have a problem here?" he asks, sliding his arm around my waist. I smirk victoriously.
" No we do not si-I mean Cullen," Riley stutters and turns around.
" Didn't think so," Edward says softly.
My smile widens as he turns me to face him.
" Yellow suits you," he smirks playfully. I poke my tongue at him.
" There are people here to see you. Look for us in the audience. Charlie probably won't agree so they will disappear and the re-appear at the party. Okay?"
" I'm intrigued now. Who are these mysterious visitors?"
" Secret," Edward grins wickedly but before I can probe him more Mr Bancroft called us to attention. Edward gave me a quick peck on the cheek before he disappeared into the rows of seats.
We all filed up the aisle and took our respected seats. Riley kept nudging me, but after I rammed my foot onto his he sat still.
Mr Bancroft spoke for what seemed like hours. I closed my eyes and thought back to my first day at Forks High.
I was scared out of my mind. My brothers were teasing me as usual. I made five great friends. And I met my future family.
Since that day four years ago, I have found out that the Cullens were vampires. I have watched my two brothers get married and turn into vampires. I have fallen head over heels in love with the most perfect guy on the planet. I have grown closer to my father than I ever thought possible. I have found out that my best friend is a werewolf and it doesn't bother me. I have escaped four murderous vampires. I have found myself on the hit list of a coven of royal vampires. I have gained two sisters that mean everything to me. I have finally released all my feelings about Renesmee and it doesn't hurt to think about her anymore.
But most of all, I have grown into me. I have stopped looking into the mirror and seeing the sister I lost. I have stopped thinking that the wrong sister died in that fire. I have stopped thinking that no guy would ever like me for me.
Not only have I grown physically but mentally as well. I am older now than I ever thought I could be. I am me.
I opened my eyes as the valedictorian, Samantha, stepped onto the stage. At first, she stuttered through her speech. Some of the guys were laughing. But she looked out onto the audience and she must have caught someone's eye because she took a deep breath and tore her palm cards up.
" When we were five, they asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. Our answers were things like astronaut, president, or in my case...princess.
" When we were ten, they asked us again, and we answered, rock star, cowboy, or in my case, gold medalist. But now that we've grown up, they want a serious answer. Well, how 'bout this. Who the hell knows?"
A ripple of laughter went through the crowd because she was absolutely right.
" This isn't the time to make hard and fast decisions, it's time to make mistakes. Take the wrong train and get stuck somewhere. Chill. Fall in love. A lot,"
I smiled. There was one thing I wouldn't be doing.
" Major in philosophy 'cause there is no way to make a career out of that. Change your mind. Then change it again, because nothing is permanent.
" So make as many mistakes as you can. That way, someday, when they ask again what you want to be...we won't have to guess. We'll know,"
The crowd broke out in applause and I hurriedly brushed my tears from my eyes. But looking around I saw that nearly every girl was crying too. And so were some of the guys.
Mr Bancroft started to read out names and slowly he came to the S's.
" Swan, Isabella,"
I took a deep breath and walked up the aisle and up the stairs. Mr Bancroft smiled widely at me and handed me my diploma, " Congratulations Miss Swan,"
I smiled in thanks and walked over to stand next to Riley.
I looked out over the crowd and spotted Charlie standing up, clapping with tears running down his cheeks.
Standing next to him were Edward, Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper and Alice. Charlie had his arm around Jazz. Emmett looked like he was crying in the way only vampires can, as did Esme. Jasper just looked at me with such pride.
Bec, Ella, Skye, Summer and Sydney were all there with their parents clapping for me. I waved at them.
Edward caught my eye and nodded over to the corner of the hall.
Standing there was all the Denali clan. I smiled widely and waved at them. They grinned and waved back, Kate giving me a thumbs up. Slightly hidden behind them were, and I couldn't believe it, Maggie and Benjamin. My grin widened and I suddenly couldn't wait till the after party.
Now I understood why they had to disappear.
Suddenly everyone was throwing their caps up in the air. I laughed and threw mine a little too late. I reached up to grab it but it was plucked out of the air before I could catch it.
" Here you go Boo," Jasper said handing me the yellow cap. I grinned and launched myself on him.
" I can't believe you're all grown up," he whispered. I smirked.
" There will be time for mushy reminiscing later. I have to find Dad. How did he take to seeing you?" I laughed and we started pushing our way through the crowd.
" He just grinned and hugged me. No questions asked," Jazz replied, making a path for me. Everyone just seemed to move for him.
Finally we made it out and I saw Charlie and the rest waiting. Edward kissed me and said he would see me soon. The Cullens all hugged me and promised to talk to me at the party and soon it was only me and Dad standing in the quickly emptying hall.
" Hey Daddy," I smiled. Charlie smiled and hugged me tightly.
" Hey Bells,"
We walked hand in hand out to the car and I didn't feel like a little kid at all.
" Where do you wanna go? The Lodge, Sizzler, it's your pick," Charlie said as he started to car.
" Anywhere Dad, I don't care. As long as I am having dinner with you," I said. Charlie opened his mouth before closing it again. He settled with just grabbing my hand as we drove into the darkness.
" The Lodge it is then,"
And I laughed till we got there.
A/N: Okay I know I know... I'm sorry. It's been to long... way too long. But I guess Christmas preperations and stuff have kinda gotten in the way... But here it is. GRADUATION! Bella has finally graduated. This means that we are nearing the end of the story. Oh and the speech from the valedictorian is Jessica's speech from Eclipse :D
But... I have a new story in the works. I am not going to say too much but think World War One... Nurses,,, Soldiers...
Merry Christmas! 3