A/N: Thanks to xMysticxMoonx for telling me my error!
Days went on like this…well except for the food fights.
I took Seth out for his birthday lunch. It wasn't anything special but it was good to see him smile. We laughed like crazy fools and may people give us that 'cute couple' stare.
Before we had to leave so he could get home to celebrate with his family, I gave him a present. He slowly unwrapped it and looked at it shocked.
It was a collage of pictures from the day on the beach. Most of them were of us being silly and looking stupid, but the one of us smiling was in the middle.
"Thank you Bells." He whispered hugging me.
I nodded and kissed his cheek. "Come on, let's get you back."
Seth and I both ended our day with a smile; enjoying each others company.
And since then, Paul didn't like when I was home alone by myself so I hung out with the gang. Paul wasn't home quite a lot, so when I didn't really feel like doing much, Seth gladly came over and joined me. It was the middle of the summer and it was filled with fun and games.
Today, Seth was helping me finish applying to colleges and found it really disinteresting.
"Why do you even have to do this?" he asked, looking at the essay topics I printed out.
I grabbed it from his hand; that was the one I needed.
"Because colleges require it." I mumbled.
"Why?"
"I don't know, they just do." I said, writing down some important info.
"But why?" he whined.
I sighed in frustration and stopped what I was doing.
"Seth, you sound like a 5 year old going through the 'but why' stage. Please, don't take this in offense, but, shut up."
The silence finally followed and I finished what I was doing.
"Alright, I'm done. What should we do now?" I asked, putting away everything.
"I don't know." He said watching me. "Your room?"
I looked at him and nodded. "Sure let's go."
We got up from the table and headed up the stairs.
The picture frames that ascended on the stair wall were now all filled with pictures of us.
Seth and I just hung around and talked for the while being before a door slammed and we got up.
"Paul?" I asked walking to the stairs.
I saw Paul agitated and walk to his room, which was on the first floor next to the coat closet.
"Paul? What's going on?" I asked from the doorway. I watched as he packed a bunch of things in bags.
"Getting out of here." He grunted. My heart started pounding in my chest.
"What do you mean?" I asked panicking.
"Exactly what it means." He snarled.
I gulped and tried again. "Where are you going?"
"To live with Sam."
"Sam? As in Sam Uley? I thought you hated him?" I said shocked.
"Yes Bella. Sam Uley. Problem?" he growled.
"N-no…" I stumbled. Why was Paul being like this?
"Good, wouldn't want to piss off the princess." He said, shoving past me and through the door.
"Excuse me?" I asked, now getting angry.
"Oh get off of it Bella. I'm tired of your stupid little games. We aren't some perfect family in some perfect little world. Sorry to 'break your heart'" he said with sarcasm. "But I'm moving on."
Tears welled up in my eyes. Was I really pushing too far?
"What's going on?" Seth asked from the middle of the stairs.
I heard Paul snarl and begin to shake.
"I'm out." He snapped, not looking at me. The door slammed shut, shaking the frame and the walls.
I stared at the door, thinking maybe it was just all a joke; like he was playing a prank on me.
"Bella?" Seth asked softly coming towards me.
"No." I said shaking my head. "He is coming back, I know it."
Tears fell down my face like a waterfall and Seth held me up while I crumbled to the floor and cried.
Everyday since, Seth has been coming over to try and cheer me up. A few times it works. He makes me forget my problems. But whenever he leaves…its like I can't breathe again. Everything hurts inside. Whatever I see or touch, it comes back to him. My brother. Paul.
He took a part of me with him and it kills me inside to feel this weak.
I was sitting on the top of the stairs, watching the door, just like I did everyday. Our friends have been leaving us one by one, which killed me even more inside. My eyes fell on the pictures that cascaded the walls of the stairs. They were with all of us, smiling like fools; having the best time in the world. Then my eyes glanced at the one with Paul and me.
"Damn it Paul." I said and got up, wiping my tears.
I walked down the stairs and checked the mail.
There were two big fat envelopes from some colleges I applied to.
When I got back inside, I opened them up.
'Dear Bella McGrath' it read.
'We are please to announce that you have been accepted to our university. As we have looked upon your acceptance essay and grades, we are also pleased to announce that we would like to offer you a scholarship. Please look below to see the full information. Thank you.'
I looked at the letter, reading it over and over. I was accepted.
Opening the next letter, I found the same thing. I was accepted to both and got scholarships.
I sat down at the table, looking at all the information, still in shock.
When I was done, I found I had almost a full scholarship to an Ivy League school. And another one with a full ride to a university in California.
I rushed up and grabbed the phone. I first called Phil. I hadn't talked to him since I was first moving in.
"Hello?" the gruff voice called.
"Phil?" I asked, sort of yelling. He was somewhere where it was really noisy.
"Bella?" he shouted.
"Yea!" I said.
"Hold on a second." There was shuffling in the background and then it unexpectedly became quite.
"Bella?" he asked.
"Hey Phil!" I greeted, surprisingly cheerful.
"How are you honey?" he cooed.
"I'm…doing ok." I stumbled. "But anyways, today I checked the mail and found out I got accepted to Columbia and UCLA!"
"That's amazing Bella! Congratulations!"
I smiled. It was like a huge rush of excitement. "I got a pretty good scholarship from Columbia. It actually covers most of everything and UCLA I got a full ride." I squealed, sucking in a huge breath.
"Wow, Bella. I knew you could do it." He said proudly. He was about to continue when someone started talking in the background.
"Look Bella, I have to go, but I want to call you later so you can fill me in on everything ok?" he said gently.
I smiled on how much he cared. "Of course Phil. Talk to you later."
I hung up the phone, but dialed Seth's number quickly.
"Hello?" a woman chimed.
"Hi Sue, its Bella. Is Seth there?" I said, barely hiding my excitement.
"Oh hi Bella! You sound happy. Yes, he is here; just let me get him for you."
"Thank you." I sang.
"Hello?" Seth said concerned and serious.
"Hiya Seth." I said full off happiness. God I feel like I'm on drugs.
I laughed at myself.
"Bella? Are you ok?" he said very concerned now.
"I am now. What's up?" I asked. He was being really paranoid.
"Why do you sound so happy?" he asked, avoiding my start of a conversation.
"Welll…." I said dragging the word.
"Bella." He whined.
I laughed and just came out with it.
"I got into Columbia and UCLA!" I shouted.
"What?" he shouted.
I didn't know whether to take it as a happy 'what' or an 'uh oh what'.
"Seriously?" he said giddy.
"Yup! I just got the letters in the mail!"
He let out a cry of excitement.
"Seth, what on earth is going on?" Sue said in the background.
"Bella got into UCLA and Columbia mom!" he said and then turned back to me
"Congrats Bella! We have to go celebrate!"
I laughed and felt my smile widen. "Alright. Where are we going to go?"
"How about the diner that your dad used to take you to when you were little?"
I thought about the place and nodded. "Sure, that place sounds good." I heard shuffling and wondered what he was doing.
"Alright. Meet you there in an hour?"
"Sure, see you then Seth!" I said excitedly and then hung up the phone.
I rushed upstairs and got ready.
Finally, I was happy for once.
Just as I was finishing, I looked at the clock and found it was time to go.
I grabbed my bag and was out the door to meet Seth.
I pulled up in the gravel parking lot and saw Seth waiting by his car.
"Hi!" I chimed.
He gave me a bright smile and hugged me to his side. "Hey you."
"So hows it feel to accepted to some great schools? With scholarships I might add?" Seth asked lightly as we walked into the place.
I looked back to him and smiled. "It feels….good." My smile faded away as I turned my head and found the back table filled with my ex- friends.
They all looked up, my voice registering in their mind.
I looked at all of them, taking it in; Embry, Quil, Jake, Leah, Kim, Emily and Paul were all sitting at the table. My eyes fell down to an empty seat, which I guessed was Sam's.
"Bella, we can go somewhere else if you would like." Seth said, shaking my arm.
I broke out of my daze and shook my head. "No, that's ok. We are here now anyways. I'm going to have to face the facts one day." I grumbled to him.
He nodded to me apologetically. The guys were all staring at us which became nerve-wracking.
Seth was staring at them with hatred in his eyes.
I put my hand on his arm and he tore his gaze away. His eyes filled with love and sorrow.
"Say something. Anything, please. Just stop giving them the death glare. It won't help."
He sighed and looked at me. "So what are you getting?"
I laughed. Wow, smooth move.
"What?" he asked, now smiling up from his menu.
I shook my head and let a grin spread across my face.
"Nothing."
"Bella Swan, are you laughing at me because I asked you what you are getting?"
I couldn't hold back. I let out a giggle. Seth's eyes shined with happiness and began laughing along with my nonsense. A growl echoed through the room and we turned to look at the table.
Paul was shaking and Emily was trying to comfort him.
He stared right at us, his eyes never leaving us. "She's a McGrath." He said to Emily, who was nodding.
I shook my head, looking back at Seth.
Ignore them. I thought.
"So what were you doing when I called?"
"Huh?" he asked confused.
"It was like you were getting out of bed or something." I said.
"Yea, I was. I have been pretty tired lately."
"Sorry." I mumbled. It was my fault. He was pretty much at Paul's…I mean my place everyday.
"No it's not your fault. I like spending time with you. I've just been tired."
I nodded and the waitress came to take our orders.
"So did you tell Phil?"
I smiled and nodded with enthusiasm. "Yea, I called him right after I read all the papers. I figured he would just say congrats and hang up."
"And did he?" Seth asked curious.
"Yea, he had to go. But he did say he wanted to call me later to talk about all of the paperwork and stuff."
"I'm happy for you Bells." He smiled.
"Thanks Seth. You know, you helped me get in." I told him.
He raised an eyebrow. "I did?"
I nodded and smiled. "You sat there annoying me death till I made you shut up and let me finish."
I laughed hysterically as he blushed and threw a straw wrapper at me.
"Love you." I cooed.
I growl sounded through the restaurant again, but Seth and I ignored it.
"Yea, yea." He muttered, still shaking his head with laughter.
Our food was served and we continued to talk and eat. We talked about our plans for the school year and what we should do before the summer ends.
"Can we have another photo session?" I smiled happily.
He laughed and beamed. "Of course. Let's do it the day before you leave ok? That way the pictures will be fresh and young looking."
I choked on my food laughing. "Are you saying I'm going to look old when I come back to visit?"
The guys at the back table snickered and I threw them a death glare. They all immediately shut up and looked away.
I noticed Sam had joined them. He was playing with his straw in his pop while talking with Jared, ignoring the guys. Sam had black hair that was buzz cut. He seemed tall and was tan skinned. The black tee he was wearing hugged his muscles in all the right places.
He slowly began tearing his eyes away from Jared, and I quickly looked away.
"I didn't mean you were going to be old looking when you come back. It's just…like a reason to come back ya know? Kind of like a remembrance of the good times."
I nodded and smiled. He really knew how to make my heart melt.
"Seth, as long as you're here, I will always be back. Maybe if you have a break around the same time as mine we could go to my place in Florida."
His eyes lit up like a kid at Christmas. "That sounds amazing Bells."
The table full of our ex- best friends were all silent which I found was weird. Throughout this whole dinner they had some sound effect that was supposed to be like a snarky comment or something.
"So which college are you going to pick?" Seth asked as he paid for the bill.
"Seth, I can pay to ya know!" I said, trying to take my bill.
"Nah, it's my treat. Kind of like a congratulations. You did it type of thing."
I felt my heart melt. He was super sweet. "Thanks Seth, I owe you one."
"Nah, just take me to Florida and we will be even." He laughed.
I chuckled along with him and then headed out the door, not even taking a glance at the guys.
The outside air hit my face and I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding.
"I don't think I have ever wanted to be outside as much as just then." Seth commented with a smile.
I flashed him a grin and nodded.
"Now what?" I asked.
"Hang by the cars for a while?" he shrugged.
"Why not." I mumbled and walked with him.
Our cars were parked right next to each other, so I stuck my keys in the car and turned on some music.
"I love your car." Seth said randomly.
"Why?" I laughed, thinking that was just out of the blue.
"Because, you can hook up your iPod to it and jam to the music. The whole sync thing looks awesome."
Yea, I guess it kind of was. I thought to myself looking at it.
"So you never answered the question, what college are you going to pick?" he asked, leaning against his old beat up mustang.
I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. I mean I would love going to an Ivy League school. Apparently they have a great photography and English program. But it would also be really nice to go to UCLA. The sun and weather. It would be like Florida all over again."
He nodded and silence passed us.
The song 'You and Me' by Lifehouse came on and Seth gave me a grin.
My eyes narrowed, trying to figure out what he was going to do.
"Would you like to dance Ms. Swan?"
I blushed and looked around. "Seth, this is a parking lot."
He rolled his eyes and waited for me to take his hand.
"And I'm Seth Clearwater. Thank you for stating the obvious. Now dance with me?" he asked sweetly.
I laughed and went with it.
Why not? I asked myself.
We danced together, laughing and spinning.
Seth's arms wrapped around me and I relaxed, leaning my body against his. Being with Seth made me feel free and like I could be myself.
The song ended and I lifted my head up from his shoulder. "Thank you for the dance, ol' chap." I said with an accent.
He laughed which rumbled in his chest and made me feel like I was invincible.
"Any time." He gave me a wink and then let me go.
'Crazy in Love' by Beyonce and Jay- Z came on and Seth and I started dancing.
We sang her song in the middle of the parking lot, Seth rapping to the beat.
I laughed as he tried to actually rap a beat. He sounded like he was trying to imitate a choo-choo train.
"Got me looking so crazy right now, you're loves got me looking so crazy right now." We sang.
The song ended and we were both panting for breath. Between laughing and singing, it was quite a rush.
We stood by our cars just singing to 'Hate This Part' by the PCD (Pussycat Dolls)
"The world slows down but my heart beats fast right now
I know this is the part where the end starts
I can't take it any longer
Thought that we were stronger
All we do is linger
Slipping through our fingers
I don't want to try now
All that's left is goodbye to
Find a way that I can tell you
I hate this part right here
I hate this part right here
I just can't take your tears
I hate this part right here" I sang.
I looked over to Seth and saw him smiling at me.
"What?" I asked, finding myself grinning along with him.
"You've got a good voice Bells."
I blushed like a tomato and his laughter boomed loudly.
"Shut up." I teased, shoving his arm. He smiled and then waited for the next few words.
"I can't take it any longer
Thought that we were stronger
All we do is linger
Slipping through our fingers
I don't want to try now
All that's left is goodbye to
Find a way that I can tell you
But I gotta do this
I gotta do it
I gotta do it
I hate this part
I gotta do it
I gotta do it
I gotta do it
I hate this part right here
I hate this part right here
I just can't take these tears
I hate this part right here" Seth sang, not sounding too bad.
He smiled at the end and I knew he wasn't taking this seriously.
Next played 'Walking on Sunshine.' By Aly and AJ.
"I'm walking on sunshine. Woaaah! I'm walking on sunshine Woaaah! And don't it feel good?" Seth and I sang.
He twirled me around again and we continued to sing.
"I used to think maybe you love me, I know that it's true
And I don't wanna spend all of my life just waiting for you (just waiting for you)
Now I don't want you back for the weekend, not back for a day, no, no, no
Baby I just want you back and I want you to stay"
He twirled me again as the chorus hit and held me in his arms.
I felt as he went frozen and I looked to the source. It was Paul and the gang.
Sam was no one in sight again. Ironic. I thought.
Paul was growling and vibrating. It reminded me like the time in the kitchen.
Seth stood me up and we all stood across from each other. Seth and I were outnumbered, that was a given, but it didn't stop us from looking.
I watched as Paul growled even more and Emily was taken back behind the guys.
What was with Paul?
I looked from Leah, to Quil, and then Embry, and lastly to Jake.
I bit my lip not wanted to shed tears with them around. Jake never even said anything about leaving me. He just left like the rest of them.
"Come on Seth." I said, tugging at his wrist. He wasn't budging. He just stood there with anger.
"Please Seth, come on." I begged. Tears were evident in my eyes and he looked down at my pained face.
Just as he was about to go, Paul had to make a comment.
"Yea, go with your boyfriend Bella. Still 'just friends' huh?" he shook with anger and sarcasm.
My head whipped to him and I snapped. "You have no right. No right at all to be apart of my life anymore. You drew that line the day you left. So don't try to antagonize me. Im not going to stand here and explain it to you, or shed a tear for you, begging you to come. Cause I'm done." I said forcefully. Anger was boiling inside me.
How dare he.
He growled and stepped close to my face. The guys started to hold him back, but he inched as close as he could to me. I stood my ground and stared him in the eyes.
I saw right past his anger and found hurt and sorrow. I felt disgusted inside.
"Paul." A man said with a very deep and controlling voice.
I bowed my head and lowered my eyes. Seth pulled me back but continued to shake. I glanced at them and found Sam talking with Jake.
I scoffed at the scene and turned my back to them.
"Let's get out of here Seth." I said.
"Bella, we took separate cars remember?" Seth said, looking over my shoulder to them.
He let out a growl and I raised my eyebrow. The guys went silent as Sam and Paul stepped forward.
"Don't you dare come any closer." Seth growled to Paul and then glared at Sam.
I didn't look behind me. I just focused on Seth.
"Seth." I whispered, putting a hand on his firm chest. His heart was beating against my hand faster than I thought was humanly possible.
"It's ok Seth. Seth. Seth! Look at me." I said sternly.
His eyes went from the guys to me. I watched him; my eyes filled with passion and care. Seth's body unclenched and he let out a breath.
I took his hand and was shocked. "You're burning up Seth."
Paul came over and grabbed my shoulder.
"Stay away from him Bella." He said, watching Seth get angry again.
Anger hit me and my fists clenched.
"Don't…tell….me…what….to do." I said fuming.
He looked at me, his eyes becoming slits.
"This is none of your business Bella, now butt out." He commanded.
I pulled Paul's arm and he faced me. We were both angry now. Beyond angry.
Without thinking, I slapped him against the cheek. It may have hurt me and it may have not. I didn't know. The anger was too fresh and open that I didn't feel any pain.
"Don't you DARE tell me what to do. Or I swear to the heavens Paul, you will regret it." I threatened and pushed my way past all the people I once knew, making it back to Seth.
"Come on Seth. Let me drive you home." I said softly.
He shook his head. "I'm ok Bella, really. I'm just going to go home and rest."
I sighed, walking him to the car. "Are you sure? I don't mind taking you home. I can even drop you off at your house and we can get your car another time."
He shook his head and gave me a small smile. Seth was getting really pale and sweating profusely.
I ran my hand over the side of his face and nodded. "Alright. Call me as soon as you get home. I want to make sure you got home safe."
"Will do." He said weakly.
I kissed his cheek and watched as he drove away.
All the guys were still standing by my car, including Sam.
I pushed my way past all of them, not making eye contact.
Unlocking the car, I got in and hurriedly drove off.