"Are you ready for graduation?"

The question snapped me out of my daydream, and I looked sheepishly at Bella who was smirking. We were sitting in my room while getting our graduation announcements ready to be mailed out; Bella had claimed the floor and I was sprawled across my bed.

"Did I interrupt another daydream?" Bella teased, causing my cheeks to turn pink.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to zone out."

"That's the third time this week. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." I glanced down at the opened notebook in front of me. A name grabbed my attention as soon as the page registered in my mind and I sighed. "No, I'm actually not okay."

"What's up, Leaf?" Bella asked worriedly, putting down her pen.

"It's just... this list of people hasn't been updated since we moved here. And my ex-best friend's name is still there..." I trailed off, unable to finish my thought.

"You haven't talked to her since she told you she was pregnant, right?" Bella continued. "And now you don't know if you should send her a graduation announcement or not."

"Pretty much."

"Do you miss her?"

"All the time."

"Then I say send her one. The worst thing she could do is not show up."

Before I could reply, there was a knock on the door and Mom stuck her head through the doorway. She flashed a genuine smile at us, her eyes lighting up her face.

"Bella, Edward just called. He wanted me to ask you if you were still planning on having dinner with his family tonight. He and Carlisle have been in Seattle all afternoon, and he said he could pick you up on the way back."

I shared a look with Bella, her eyes as wide in fear as mine at the mention of Seattle. Quickly, Bella coughed and shook her head to distract my mom.

"Oh, crap." Bella smacked her hand against her forehead. "I completely forgot, I'm making dinner for Charlie tonight. I probably should go call him back."

Mom moved into the bedroom as Bella hurried to call Edward. Her smile appeared wider as she approached me with her hands behind her back, and I couldn't help but be suspicious.

"Mom? What are you doing?"

"Someone has some mail," she said in a sing-song voice, handing me a couple of envelopes. My eyes darted to the return addresses and I squealed.

"These could be acceptance letters!"

"Well, go on. Open them!" Mom laughed as she sat down next to me on the bed.

"Okay, okay. Which one first?" I spread the envelopes out in a fan spread and looked to Mom.

"This one," she picked up one from the middle. "It's from... the University of... Michigan."

"I forgot I applied there last year. Before we moved." I stared at the logo printed in the corner. "Chloe and I were supposed to go there together."

"Oh, Leaf. You don't have to open that one right now." Mom held out her hand to take the envelope; I shook my head.

"No, I should open it." Taking a deep breath, I mentally counted to three and carefully ripped the envelope open, pulling out the folded letter. My hands shook slightly as I unfolded the paper and scanned the page.

"So? What's the verdict?" Mom asked anxiously.

"I... GOT IN!" I passed the letter to her as I jumped off the bed. "I got accepted into the Music Program on a full scholarship!"

"That's awesome, Leaf! I'm so proud of you!" Mom's eyes began to tear up. "Open the other two, let's see what they say."

I picked up the envelope from Washington State University and opened it the same way I opened the letter from the University of Michigan.

"Accepted!" I squealed. "In the English program, specialized for Creative Writing."

"Oh my gosh, that's amazing!" Mom grinned. "I didn't know you applied to Washington State."

"I did after we moved here," I admitted sheepishly, reaching for the last envelope. "I wasn't sure if I wanted to go back to Michigan after what happened with Reed and Chloe."

"I understand that. Maybe better than anyone." Mom squeezed my knee reassuringly. "So? Three for three on good news?"

"Saginaw Valley State University." I closed my eyes and exhaled a breath before reading the letter. "And accepted!"

"I'm so proud of you, Autumn." Mom said once we were done squealing in delight. "And I will support you in any decision you make. I want you to know that you can always come talk to me about any concerns or questions you have about college, or not going to college right away. I want you to be comfortable with whatever you decide."

"Thanks, Mom." I threw my arms around her, laying my head on her shoulder. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"So, where are you at on graduation announcements?" Mom asked as Bella appeared in the doorway. I noticed her expression was slightly more relaxed than earlier; her phone call with Edward must've been good news.

"I think I'm almost done." I turned back to Mom. "I'm just having a slight dilemma."

"What's wrong?"

"Chloe's name is still on my list," I showed her the notebook. "I'm conflicted."

"I think she should send one," Bella spoke up, plopping onto the empty side of the bed. "I'm not saying what she did was right, in fact I think it's messed up. But... They were best friends, and Autumn misses her. I'm sure she misses Autumn too."

"I have to agree with Bella," Mom shrugged. "If you miss her and think you could possibly make amends in the future, send one. Show her that you're willing to at least reach out. It could lead to a conversation either way."

"Yeah, you're right." I sighed.

"How about this? You fill one out for her and by the end of the week, you can decide to mail it or trash it." Mom gave me her famous "you know I'm right" face and I laughed.

"Okay, fine. I'll do it."

"Good. I have to go to the bakery for a few hours. Are you okay staying home?"

"Actually I might go hang out with Jacob if that's okay?"

"Yes, that's fine. As long as you got all of your homework done."

Bella giggled as Mom shot us a wink, causing me to roll my eyes as she started to walk out of my bedroom.

"You already know it's done!" I called after her. I waited until the front door closed and the car engine had started before turning to Bella. "So, what's going on with Edward?"

"He and Carlisle were sent to Seattle by Alice to get stuff for a graduation party."

"Alice is throwing a graduation party? We better wrap you in bubble wrap." I joked, sending Bella into a fit of giggles.

"Don't say that to Edward, he might actually do it."

"Too late."

We both turned toward the doorway to see Edward leaning against the wall, silently laughing at us. His smile widened when Bella met his gaze.

"What are you doing here?" She asked him, confusion in her tone. "I thought we were hanging out later."

"I know you said on the phone that you're making dinner for Charlie tonight, but I have something to show you afterward. You'll be out pretty late, so I thought I'd ask Charlie in person for permission first. Do you mind if I steal her away, Autumn?" Edward smirked.

"Not at all." I laughed at Bella's surprised expression. "I was just going to call Jacob and see if he wanted to hang out."

"I don't think a phone call will be necessary." Edward smiled as he stepped away from the doorway, revealing a smug-looking Jacob. As soon as I realized it was him, I jumped off the bed and ran over to him, throwing my arms around his neck.

"It's a good thing I have wolf strength," he chuckled as he kept us balanced from the weight of my body colliding with his. "I wasn't expecting to be tackled by my girlfriend."

"Oops." I giggled as I let go of him and took a step back. "What are you doing here?"

"I saw your mom on her way to the bakery and she said you were going to call me. So, I decided to surprise you." Jacob grinned. "Besides, she was worried about leaving you alone. Because of the unknown vampire, and Victoria still being out there."

"Well, I should get home." Bella glanced at the clock on my wall. "I want to start dinner before Charlie gets home. I'll call you later, Leaf?"

"Okay. Bye, Edward! Don't get shot by Charlie!" I called after them as they descended down the stairs. I could hear Edward laughing as the front door closed, signaling they were gone.

"Charlie still mad at him?" Jacob asked, chuckling.

"Oh yeah. For a while, Edward wasn't even allowed to walk through the front door."

"But he never said anything about windows, right?" Jacob burst out laughing at my expression. "Oh, come on, Autumn. If we were in their situation, you don't think I would've came through the window to see you?"

"I guess you're right. It's just funny, you and Edward being on the same page lately."

"Well, maybe that's because we're sort of friends." Jacob teased as he reached for me, pulling me closer to him.

"Friends? Isn't that against your nature?" My eyes locked with his, and I saw the twinkle in his gaze, my heart slipping a beat when I realized what he was doing.

"Hm, maybe. But we're not in love with the same girl anymore." He whispered before his lips found mine.

My eyes fluttered close as soon as Jacob kissed me, and fireworks erupted through me just like our first kiss. Too soon, he pulled away from me and I automatically pouted, causing him to smile.

"You haven't had dinner yet," Jacob stated as my stomach grumbled loudly.

"No," I said sheepishly.

"Emily's throwing a dinner tonight if you want to go. You'll have to dress up a bit though." A sly smile tugged at Jacob's lips and a little voice in my head told me he was up to something.

"What do you mean, dress up a little?" I asked suspiciously, my eyes narrowing.

"Not like you're going to prom, but like a nice dinner. Like you would if your mom was taking you out to dinner back home."

"Oh!" A light bulb went off in my head as I got an idea. Grinning, I shooed Jacob out of my room.

"Why do I have to leave?" Jacob pretended to pout in the hallway.

"Because you can't see what I'm wearing yet. Besides, you have to go get ready yourself." I shook my head at his implication and closed the door between us.

"Fine!" He called through the door, laughing. "I'll be back in half an hour, okay?"

"Wait..." I yanked the door open and grabbed him by his shirt to pull him down for a deep kiss before releasing him. "Please hurry back."

"I'll always hurry back for you." He murmured as he kissed my forehead. "Half an hour. You better be ready."

Without another word, Jacob left and suddenly the house felt strangely quiet. Shaking it off, I closed my bedroom door and headed for my closet. I shifted through my dresses until I found what I was looking for: an off-the-shoulder, wine-red hi-low dress Mom had bought me two birthdays ago. After digging through my drawer for a strapless bra, I gathered what I needed and went into my bathroom to get ready.

Twenty minutes later, I was just finishing curling my hair when the doorbell rang. Making sure the curling iron was turned off and unplugged, I grabbed my purse from my desk and headed downstairs, careful not to snag my heels in the carpet.

"I wasn't expecting you for another ten minutes," I said as I opened the door, my voice trailing off as I realized it wasn't Jacob standing on my front porch; my eyes widened in surprise at the blonde-haired girl in tattered clothing, tears running down her face as her horror-stricken eyes met mine.

"Autumn," she whimpered, "please help me."

"Chloe!?"