*TAPS MIC*

This sequel will, likely, have a Part III, which will pick up and keep posting after this part ends. I may change my mind and keep it all in this one, but I doubt it.

I don't care how stupid you think Bella is or blah, blah, blah.

Do you want a story to read? This is it—it was always going to be this.

Posts Mon-Thurs, except this week, where you'll only get the first 2 to ease you into it. As always, if I write more, you might see more. If I don't we'll slow down.

Rudeness stifles creativity…

ESN foreshadowed this, so here it is…

NOW
JUNE 1993

I'm Every Woman—Whitney Houston

I pull the teal crushed velvet mini dress over my head and tug down the hem, turning my back to Alice. "Can you zip me?"

We're in my room, and I'm Every Woman is blasting from the stereo as we get ready for our high school graduation. Alice zips me up, and the dress clings to my body before flaring out at my thighs. I spin, checking to see if she needs any help with her tight black leather mini before sitting in the chair at my vanity table that's gotten a little wobbly in its old age.

I brush my wet locks before adding a palmful of Finesse mousse and working it through my hair. Grabbing my large round brush, I turn the hair dryer on high and start giving myself a blowout, rolling the brush through the length and curling it away from my face as I go. I pay extra attention to the sides just above my ear, adding my trusty Aqua Net to make it lay flat so it'll fluff out like a wing.

I pull the top into a ponytail at my crown, and it creates shorter curls that blend perfectly with the layers in the back. The final product is long, flowing spirals that hang to my ass, while my cap covers the pony on the top. Once that's done, I add some mascara, liquid liner, a touch of blush, lip liner, and shiny pink gloss to finish up the look.

"Not bad," Ali says as I smack my lips. "Who decided that liner goes below the lashes anyway?"

I huff a laugh, eyeing my BFF in the mirror. She's still wearing dark black, except it's thicker and rougher than before thanks to the grunge makeup movement. "I like it. Maybe you'll join me on the dark side one day."

"As if," she says, rolling her eyes.

We both burst out laughing.

"Can you believe we made it?" I grab my keys, following Alice down the stairs.

"I always knew we'd be exactly here."

"Ha." I don't buy it. "Graduating together, for sure, but both with shiny 4.0 GPAs and our choice of colleges? Nah, I couldn't have predicted that when we started Forks High."

"You were too in love to predict anything back then."

At the mention of Edward, my chest clenches, but I don't let her see. "Puppy love." I say it in a joking way, but it cuts me to the bone to reduce it to so little. It was the best time of my life. "I've grown up."

Even my best friend isn't party to the turmoil I still indulge in when it comes to him. It's the kind I keep locked up tight, only allowing it to surface when I'm alone in the darkness of my room in the middle of the night.

She scrutinizes me for a long ten seconds before shrugging it off. "I guess, but I always thought you were perfect together."

"And you and Jasper weren't," I say, giving her a pointed stare. "But look how that turned out."

She pauses, turning to me with tears in her eyes. Happy tears. "He's worked so hard these past few years."

"Of course, he did." I grab her and hug her hard. "My best friend is the coolest chick in the whole world. He'd be a fool to lose that."

"Ditto, sista." I ignore that because she only knows a tenth of the things Edward and I have been through since the breakup.

"Enough of this sappy shit." I pull her to arm's length, my heart full of emotion. "Time to kiss high school goodbye. You got our gowns?"

"Already in the car."

"I'll meet you there in twenty."

Alice races off to the yellow Mustang that's parked in her drive while I trudge to my '63 Chevy truck. After stopping by the diner to pick up Mom, we arrive at the ceremony just as they're lining up in alphabetical order. Alice tosses me my cap and gown as I race past her, and I pull it on as I hurry to the Ss. Twenty minutes after that, I'm walking across the stage to receive my diploma.

Emmett's loud whistle draws my eyes to where my family is seated near the back, and I give them a little wave. But something just beyond that catches my eye. Right past the back row of seats, rows of people are standing, and a flash of sun-streaked copper freezes me in place.

My heart races.

Mouth dry.

Feet frozen.

My eyes hunt, leaning to the right to look past Mr. Banner's shiny bald noggin, searching for another glimpse of that familiar head of hair. Sure, it's closer cropped on the sides and perfectly coifed on the top, but I'd know that shade anywhere.

"Thank you, Miss Swan," Principal Greene says, urging me off the stage.

"Y-yes, of course." I hurry down the steps, jogging toward the back of the crowd.

I don't see him again, but I do see red.

Edward's Trans Am is pulling away from the curb.

Anguish and elation soar through me, swift and confusing.

I heard he'd be home this summer.

I also heard his girlfriend would be with him.

Ouchhhh.

See ya Thursday :)