Noonday Sun: A Post-Breaking Dawn Twilight Fanfiction

Chapter 9, Graduation

Chapter 9, Graduation

Bella

Edward and I had enjoyed our three and a half years in Dartmouth. Edward had finished his residency. He had arranged a fellowship with Carlisle at the Forks hospital.

I had been worried about how I'd do in an Ivy League school, but my perfect recall as a vampire made everything ridiculously easy. I took extra classes and was able to receive my Masters in Comparative Literature.

Rosalie and Emmett had received their pilots' licenses. They flew out regularly in the Challenger. That time, they would be carrying Charlie and Sue in addition to the regular Cullen group. Edward and I would be flying back with them so we could attend the graduation of Nahuel and Leah at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Since the Challenger only fit nine passengers, either Jacob or Nessie wouldn't be able to fly with us. We understood how difficult it would be for Jacob to be away from Nessie, so we were trusting Jacob to drive Nessie home in the black Cadillac Escalade we'd bought for him after the wedding of Nahuel and Leah. He'd really enjoyed the Escalade Alice had bought to fit us all, so we bought him one just like it to use in New Hampshire. We were nervous about having Nessie apart from us, but we knew Jacob would take good care of her.

We had already packed up the few items we wanted to take back to Forks from the house we'd called home for the last few years. I would miss the house, but no house would ever feel as much like home as our cottage in Forks.

Renée and Phil were arriving in Lebanon a few hours before the Cullens. They were arriving at four thirty. The Cullens were planning a later arrival. Due to a promise of several million from Edward and the excuse that I had a rare skin disorder that wouldn't allow me in the sun, the school of English and Humanities ceremony started at twilight; I wouldn't have been able to attend the normal outdoor morning ceremony. The cap and gown just wouldn't have gone with a cape.

Jacob drove his Escalade to the airport in Lebanon. Phil and Renée were just stepping out of the doors when he arrived. He jumped out and ran to the side to let them in. "Hi." He smiled; amiable, as always.

Renée looked puzzled. "Where's Bella?"

Jacob quickly replied, "Bella, Edward and Nessie are already at the Turnbill Inn. They're meeting us there for dinner. I volunteered to pick you up." He knew very well that he couldn't tell them our reasons for not picking them up had a lot to do with the afternoon sunshine.

That seemed to satisfy her. She and Phil climbed in.

We were planning on having a private dinner at the Turnbill Inn with them before picking up the Cullens. Phil and Renée were spending the night there. Their flight back to Florida wasn't until the following afternoon.

As they pulled into the drive, a valet walked out to get the Escalade, but backed away quickly when Jacob glared at him. Jacob wasn't going to let anyone near it. Phil and Renée stepped out, and Jacob drove off to park in the underground parking. They hesitated a moment, then walked through the door. "Cullen party?" Phil asked. The clerk behind the front desk stepped out and directed them to the restaurant, where the maitre d' led them to the correct table.

Phil's expression registered controlled attraction. He obviously hadn't gotten over my astoundingly attractive features, but he'd come expecting it. They really were a happy couple; he wouldn't want to hurt Renée. She moved quickly to me and gave me a hug and a kiss, then moved to Nessie, bestowing her with a similar greeting.

"You've grown so much since we last saw you." She gave me a meaningful look. We had discussed the growth hormone issues, so this wasn't anything that would give Nessie's true nature away. Luckily, Nessie's growth spurt had slowed down. She could pass for a 15 year old, but the changes from the eight year old Renée had met a little over two years ago weren't as astonishing as the changes had been that Charlie had witnessed. He had watched her grow from a months' old infant to a six year old in less than a year.