A/N: Characters belong to SM.
May, 2012
~81~
I wait impatiently behind Jessica Stanley, trying not to gag on the overabundance of perfume that she apparently thought was necessary for crossing the stage.
This is it.
I'm only minutes away from finding out what my future holds for the next four years.
Will I be able to leave and attend Stanford; the school that I've wanted to go ever since I was eight year old and first watched my dad in court, knowing at that moment that Law was where I was destined to be?
Or will I have to stay in Forks, working two jobs and gathering small scholarships that can eventually add up to enough; enough to attend a school nearby with a relatively decent Law program?
Once Jessica crosses the stage, it is my turn.
I hear my name being called and it is something that I both want to run towards, and far away from. How can my entire future rest on what the principal will say within the next minute?
Taking a deep, cleansing breath, I walk out onto the stage and cross it without tripping, stumbling, or looking down. The principal reads my name once more, and follows it with:
"Isabella had the highest academic standing in her class. Therefore, she has been awarded the Cullen Scholarship for this…"
And anything else that he says, and I know he is still talking because his lips are moving, doesn't register. In fact, I think I'm frozen in shock.
Isabella had the highest academic standing in her class. Therefore, she has been awarded the Cullen Scholarship
Isabella had the highest academic standing in her class. Therefore, she has been awarded the Cullen Scholarship
I shake the principal's hand, still in shock, his words ringing through my head. My diploma is placed in my other hand, I exit the stage, and find myself right in my dad's arms.
"Dad?" I question, in a daze, "What are you doing here? Why aren't you in your seat? Why…"
"Bella, Bella! You're forgetting something," Dad snickers, the biggest smile that I have ever seen lighting his face, "I'm the Chief of Police, remember? I can do whatever I like, and right now I want to give my brilliant, beautiful, wonderful daughter a hug."
I laugh, and find myself spinning in his arms, both of us giggling and acting like children. After a few moments, I kiss him on the cheek and we part once again, Dad going back to his seat and me finding my own, with the graduates at the front of the auditorium. Luckily, there are only a few students left to graduate, and it seems like no time passes at all before our class is announced and my peers toss their caps up into the air. Still in shock, I miss this memo and belatedly drop mine to the floor.
I stand up once the applause and cheers dies down and Angela and Ben find me right away.
"Bella!" Angela cries, squeezing me hard. "I'm so proud of you. You did it girl!"
I nod, still in the hug, and peer over her shoulder.
And my eyes light upon Esme and Carlisle Cullen, standing all alone about twenty feet away.
Where before Esme dressed flashy, always being sure to gain the attention from everyone in the room, she is currently wearing a dress that is just…subdued. A pale grey, plain dress that does nothing for her figure, Emse really just looks washed-out, and blends into the walls of the room.
I also can't help but notice the body language between Esme and Carlisle. They stand a good two feet apart, turning their bodies slightly away from each other. Neither are smiling, or speaking. In fact, both are staring at the floor, not even looking for their son.
And on the inside, at first I can't help but feel gleeful at their misfortune. However, thinking about Alice and Edward, a pang strikes my heart. No matter what, they don't deserve the obvious dysfunction that exists in their family.
At least Alice is thousands of miles away.
I look away from Esme and Carlisle as Angela pulls away from the hug, and push thoughts of the Cullen's from my mind. I need to forget about them, at least for today. Because today, I'm celebrating my graduation and scholarship with my number one man, my Dad.
A/N: Hey guys! If you haven't looked at my profile, I've been traveling in southeast Asia for the past four months and that is why this story has been on hiatus. Sorry about that, it should update quite frequently now. Also, be sure to look out for a new story of mine that I will be posting right away!