A/N: Well it turns out the other vamp knows the Cullen name. This could be good or bad, time will tell. To all of my reviewers… you are amazing. Thank you! I also want to say thank you to all of my readers. Let's get onto the story… Bella is finally graduating. That means only 4 more weeks until D day (or I guess we can call it V day); that is unless something else happens. Victoria's little cronies are still out there… R&R if you can.
Chapter 22 – Graduation, Finally!
Bella had been anticipating this day, craving it really. She wanted nothing more than to graduate and get out of school so that she could spend more time with her dad and Jasper. She was hoping to also take a trip down to Florida to spend some extra time with her mom if possible.
Bella's mom, Renee, had gotten in late the night before and that meant no real time with her yet. Renee's husband, Phil, had to stay behind due to his baseball schedule, but had already called Bella and told her good luck. Today was graduation and tomorrow her mom was heading back to Florida. She was hoping that she could convince her mom to stay at least one more day so that they could have mother/daughter bonding time before she left, but it looked like it was going to be a no go. Jasper promised her that she would be able to spend time with her mother before she was changed and she put her faith in him. She only hoped that if he was sending her south, he was planning to go with her. If she needed to, she would use the argument that someone needed to protect her because you never know where team Victoria was in hiding. It was a sound argument to her ears and Emmett was in agreement.
On one of the many trips that Jasper had gone hunting and Bella was at the Cullen house, Bella had decided to talk to Emmett about a few things. He was such a big teddy bear and Bella loved the fact that she could talk to him about almost anything. She tried to find out if Jasper was sending her down south or arranging for Renee to come back north. He wouldn't break, so Bella changed tactics, "Well if he sends me to Florida, he should come with me. I mean we don't know where all of Victoria's thugs are. Someone could be down there and get me. Before we know it, I am a vampire's next meal."
Emmett was nodding his head in agreement. He knew that Jasper had arranged for her to spend a week in Florida after graduation, but his brother kept going back and forth on if he should go with her because she needed quality time with her mother. Everyone had told him to go and not relax his guard now. Vampires could be found everywhere and Jasper knew it. This was the perfect argument to convince Jasper to go and Emmett was going to use it, "You are right Bells." As soon as Jasper returned home, Emmett had given him that argument and Jasper immediately made the decision to go whether Bella wanted him there or not saying that he would not let her out of his protection. Emmett laughed.
Now graduation was upon Bella and a new life lay just around the corner. She thought she should feel more nervous or edgy about the direction her life was going in, but she didn't and couldn't bring herself to feel anything but happiness. She was anxious for it to happen and she felt ready for everything that was coming her way. The only thing that gave her pause was the fact that she would be saying good bye to her parents, at least for a good while. They were going to use the ruse of college in Alaska to deal with her change. Eventually when it was safe, she was sure she would attend university, but right now she had to concentrate on getting out of the newborn stage of life. She was ready for it all.
When Bella had woken up that morning, Jasper was right there with her like always. He had already arranged to ride to the ceremony with Charlie and Renee. His suit was hanging up in Bella's closet and out of sight of prying fatherly eyes. Jasper would get dressed there and hop out the window, going to the front door in order to make it look like he just arrived with the excuse that his father dropped him off. "Do you want your graduation gift now or later?" Jasper asked as soon as their good morning kiss had finished.
"Please don't tell me you spent a lot of money. You know I don't like that," Bella said as she sat up.
"First off it is my money to spend how I see fit and second, this one didn't cost a lot in the grand scheme of things. It is also too late also because it is already bought and you cannot return it," Jasper smirked.
Bella rolled her eyes. The grand scheme of things to him could still equate to too much money to her. She looked at the look on his face and broke into a grin. She couldn't help it so chuckling she said, "Now I suppose."
"That's better," he grumbled jokingly. He produced a small box with a white bow and handed it to her.
Bella could tell that it was jewelry immediately and really hoped that he hadn't spent too much on her gift. She hated receiving gifts, but Jasper didn't do it too often and his gifts were never over the top so she went with it. Before she opened the box, she noticed that there was no paper wrapping the gift and ergo no chance for a paper cut. She laughed a little and saw Jasper's questioning look, "No paper equals no paper cut?"
Jasper laughed, "Honestly sweetheart, I didn't even think of wrapping anything. I am not a wrapper."
Bella laughed to and opened the box. Her breath caught. Inside the box was a beautiful necklace made of white gold. The pendent had two hearts entwined and at the two points where the hearts crossed each other, there was a ruby and a diamond. It wasn't big, less than half an inch. She thought it was too much, he thought it wasn't enough. She looked into his eyes and saw the smile on his face, the happiness reflected in his eyes as giving her that necklace and she knew that she could not turn it down. She leaned over and kissed him, "It's beautiful. Will you put it on me?"
His grin widened, "It would be my pleasure Miss Swan." He took the box from her and carefully put the necklace around her neck. When it was clasped, he leaned forward and kissed the back of her neck where the fastener lay. He saw the chills that he caused. He knew some of it was probably his body temperature, but he knew that was not all of it and smiled a knowing smile.
Bella turned around and caught his smile. She rolled her eyes again and leaned forward for another kiss before she got up and grabbed her things to take a shower. She knew while she was gone, Jasper would change and then "arrive" at her house via the front door. As she closed her bedroom door, she paused a moment and smiled. Her dad liked Jasper so much more than he ever liked Edward and she had to admit that although what she felt for Edward was different, what she feels for Jasper is so much more. She was with the right guy now.
Jasper quickly got dressed and jumped out the window. He made his way to the front door and rang the bell. Charlie answered within a few moments and greeted the "younger" man with a handshake and grin explaining that Bella had just gotten up. "That's ok Charlie. I am a little early. My dad had to make his rounds before the ceremony, so he dropped me off on his way to the hospital. Is that ok?"
"That is fine. You know you are welcome any time! Renee should be here any moment also. Are you hungry? I was just about to make Bella some breakfast," Charlie responded. He actually didn't have a problem with Jasper. He was polite and considerate of the house rules. He understood the need for father/daughter time and never tried to overstep his boundaries. If he had to lose his daughter to someone, he didn't mind that much that it was going to be Jasper and was grateful that they were going to be studying at the same college together. He knew he could count on Jasper to keep an eye on his daughter.
"No thank you Charlie. I actually ate before I came over here."
"Honestly, it was probably better than what I can cook, but I will try to make something edible for her," Charlie laughed and Jasper joined in.
"Before Bella comes down I wanted to let you know that I was able to arrange the trip to Florida for both of us. My dad said that he talked to you about me going also. I want you to know that while Bella stays with her mom, I have a hotel room fairly close to the house," Jasper explained. He wanted Charlie to be comfortable with him going on the trip also. The plan was that he would get a hotel room, but he wouldn't really be staying there. His clothes would be, but that is about it.
Charlie poured himself a cup of coffee and looked at the man in front of him, "Yes, he called me and I am fine with that idea. Just make sure that you allow her to have some alone time with her mom also."
"I plan to. We actually have family in the area and I will be visiting with them while I am down there. That is one of the reasons I wanted to go on the trip also, but didn't want to go with her unless you were ok with it."
Charlie smiled at the boy. He had to give it to his daughter, she picked a good one this time and he appreciated how Jasper acted, a true gentleman, "I am fine with it. In fact, I am completely ok with you dating my daughter. I hate to speak bad about your family, but I didn't like Edward. You I do like."
Jasper smirked, "Thank you Charlie. That means a lot."
Male bonding was interrupted by a knock at the door and the door being forcefully pushed open. Jasper heard Charlie mutter "crazy woman" under his breath and suppressed the urge to laugh. He walked towards the door to greet Renee while Charlie went back to his coffee and cooking.
"Mornin' Renee," Jasper said we a smile on his face.
Renee looked up and saw her daughter's boyfriend walking towards her position at the door. His southern charm and manners had made her like him and the way he treated her daughter completely won her over. She loved him. She returned his smile, "Good morning Jasper. Where is Bella?"
"Charlie said that she had just gotten up when I got here about ten minutes ago," Jasper replied and to reinforce his statement, the bathroom door open and shut followed by the opening and shutting of Bella's bedroom door. Jasper looked towards the ceiling and the noises coming from upstairs, "She is still getting ready."
Renee laughed while she was also looking up, "It appears so." She walked towards the kitchen to harass Charlie, "Charlie, are you actually cooking?"
Jasper chuckled to himself and followed her into the kitchen. He didn't figure they would like it if he went upstairs to help his girlfriend get dressed.
Charlie looked at his ex-wife, "I am cooking. I am making breakfast for Bella, so if you will excuse me, I am going to finish it." He turned back towards the stove and tuned her out.
Soon enough Bella made her way downstairs and to the kitchen. She stopped and gave Jasper a quick kiss before moving further into the room where her parents where. "What's all this?" Bella said as her dad put a plate on the table for her.
"I made her breakfast. I know it isn't much, but scrambled eggs and toast were easy," Charlie said smiling proud of his accomplishment.
Bella gave him a smile and kissed him on the cheek, "Thanks dad." She then walked up to her mother and gave her a hug and a kiss, "Thanks for coming." When she got her greetings out of the way, she sat down at the table and started to eat her breakfast. It actually wasn't too bad. A little bland, but that is what salt and pepper were for, "This is pretty good dad. Thanks!"
Charlie beamed like he had been given the dad of the year award, "Good to hear Bells. Did you want some Renee?"
Renee looked over her shoulder at Charlie, "I would like that, thank you." She turned to Jasper, "Are you going to join us?"
"He already ate before his father dropped him off," Charlie said for him. He handed Renee a plate before dishing up the remaining food onto a plate for himself.
As Renee sat down she noticed the necklace around her daughter's neck, "Where did you get that Bella?"
Bella lifted her handed and felt the pendant lying on her chest. A dreamy look on her face appeared and she said, "Jasper gave it to me for graduation."
Renee turned to Jasper and smiled. She turned back to her daughter, "It is beautiful honey."
"I thought that you…" Charlie stopped when he saw the shake of Jasper's head.
"Thought what dad?" Bella asked confused when her father stopped and didn't continue.
"Nothing, nothing at all," Charlie said and dug into his food.
The rest of breakfast passed by without much talking and before anyone knew it; they all piled into Charlie's police cruiser and headed for the football field where graduation was going to take place. There was no rain, which would have pushed the graduation into the gym, but it was a nice cloudy day that would allow the Cullen family to attend the ceremony with no problems. Once Charlie parked the car, everyone got out and with one last kiss for Jasper, Bella left them to join the rest of the graduating class. Jasper had to trust Edward to keep an eye on her for now.
"Are your parents coming? Should we save seats for them?" Renee asked Jasper has he watched Bella walk towards the other graduates.
Jasper noticed that Edward was already there and they sent a nod towards each other. It was the passing of the baton if you will. It was up to Edward to watch Bella for now. He turned towards Renee and Charlie, "My mom might already be here because Edward is here already. My dad should be here shortly and I think my siblings are coming also." The trio made their way to the bleachers and Jasper immediately spotted Esme, Emmett, and Rosalie, "There they are now. Would you like to join them or sit elsewhere?"
"I would love to meet your family Jasper! Let's sit with them," Renee said making the decision for their little group.
They walked towards the Cullen's and Renee had a huge grin on her face. Jasper played the dutiful son and made the introductions, "Mom you already know Charlie. This is Renee, Bella's mom. Renee this is my mom Esme and my siblings Rosalie and Emmett."
"It is so nice to meet you all. I know he was adopted when he was older, but I have to say that you raised a wonderful boy here and he is so good to my daughter," Renee gushed.
Esme's smile grew and she thought to herself, "If she only knew." Out loud she said, "Thank you. I tried my best and he was always a good kid." She heard Emmett and Rose snicker beside her and shot them a warning glance. They immediately stopped.
The group took their seats and Carlisle soon joined them. He was introduced to Renee and all of the parents were caught up in their own little conversation. Jasper was watching anything and everything. He didn't want something unexpected to ruin this day for Bella. This was her first high school graduation after all. Edward had plenty of graduation experience so he wasn't concerned about his brother. He wanted to make sure it was special for Bella though.
Everyone in the stadium was called to attention when the notes of Pomp and Circumstance started to play over the loud speakers. The graduates soon made their procession onto the field and to their seats. When the song finally ended, everyone sat and the speeches began. When the students' names were called, there was a bevy of yells for each graduate and you could make out where their cheering section was located around the bleachers. Edward and Bella both received cheers from the Cullen section, and Charlie even joined in because he was a good sport and Edward was Jasper's brother. Finally Fanfare and Recessional was played and the graduates threw up their caps into the air before they made their way out of the stadium. They were free of high school.
After the students left the stadium, the spectators made their way out of the bleachers to find their respective graduate. Jasper was in a hurry to get to Bella and actually started to head down before all of the graduates had made their way off of the field. He found her within minutes and knew with the crowd they had a bit before the rest of their group joined them.
"Congratulations darlin'," Jasper said smiling down at the woman in his arms. He gave her a brief kiss and then turned to Edward that was standing just a few feet away, "Congratulations again!" Anyone that heard that would assume that Jasper meant again because he had probably already congratulated his brother on this day, but Bella and Edward knew differently and laughed.
It took another twenty minutes before the Swan/Cullen party joined the three of them. Congratulations flew and hugs abounded. Charlie surprised everyone and gave Edward a hand shake and congratulations without being prompted. The Cullen's as a whole declined a dinner invitation stating that had already made plans and since Renee was leaving the next day, they wanted to give Bella time with her mother. Jasper accepted the invite though because he wanted to make sure that she was safe and he didn't want to let her go just yet. He explained that he lived with Edward, so they would do something later.
Bella, Charlie, Jasper, and Renee made their way to the car and were off to the restaurant to grab some dinner. Bella new that Jasper could eat if he wanted to and had a way of dealing with everything he ate that was not blood, but she also knew that it was not easy for him. She was grateful for him doing this for her.
At dinner Jasper gave Bella an envelope. When she opened it, there was a card and an itinerary. She looked at him with a question in her eyes. He smiled and answered her unspoken inquiry, "My parents and I are giving you a week, well a little more than that, in Florida for your graduation present. I am going with you, but will be staying in a hotel."
Bella jumped up and did a very unBella like thing… she squealed and hugged Jasper around the neck tight. "Thank you!"
"That's wonderful. Now I will be able to spend some time with you before you leave for college. Thank you Jasper and please tell your parents thank you also," Renee beamed. She had tears in her eyes and was trying to keep from crying.
"I will. They knew that you wouldn't be staying long and wanted to give Bella something for graduation," Jasper replied while putting his arms around his girlfriend. "I am glad you like it sweetheart and I am especially happy that you didn't fight me on this one," he leered jokingly.
Bella finished hugging Jasper and returned to her seat, "No arguments from me and I am happy that you are able to go with me." She was beaming.
"You know you don't have to stay in a hotel room. You are more than welcome to stay with us," Renee offered.
"My parents have already made the reservation. I don't want to intrude," he said. He knew that Charlie might not be comfortable with knowing that he was staying in the same house as Bella.
Charlie looked at his ex and then to the kids, "If she says it is ok to stay with them, it is ok with me. Just make sure that you stick to your respective beds."
Everyone laughed and Jasper spoke up, "I can do that. Thank you Renee."
"When are you going to be coming in?" The mother inquired.
"We will actually be there in five days," Jasper supplied so that Bella didn't have to pull out the itinerary, "I will send a copy of the agenda to Bella when I get home and then she can forward it to you since I don't have your email address."
"That is wonderful. I can't wait!" Renee bounced in her seat. She was ecstatic about spending some extra time with her daughter. She was grateful to the Cullen's for giving not only this gift to Bella, but to her as well.
Just then Jasper's cell phone rang. He looked down at the caller id, it was Carlisle, "Excuse me, but it is my father." He walked out of the restaurant to take the call. He couldn't understand why he would be calling during dinner, "What's wrong?"
Carlisle immediately filled Jasper in, "Sam's boys caught another one."