Chapter 21 – Three Months Later

I stayed with my mom until graduation. I learned more about myself and what really happened between her and my dad. She caught him cheating, this time in the house and had finally had enough.

"Sure there were times I wanted to call him. ask him to come home just so I would have someone to hold at night. but I got over it and so will you."

And she was right. I did get over Rose. But Bella was a different story. I didn't want to lose her or get over her. I wanted her back. She was the one who accepted me at my worst and still tried to find the best within me.

I completed a program for alcoholic dependent people similar to AA. My counselor helped me see how I used alcohol as yet another crutch to keep everyone's at arms-length.

Three months later and I was walking across the stage receiving my Master's.

"I am just so proud of you. of both of you." My mom cried again, congratulating Edward and me. we made up just a month ago when I finally picked up the last of my stuff. I apologized for th way I carried when I was his roommate and the way I treated Bella. I didn't do the whole cliché of asking if she still cared for me. instead, I left her a letter explaining my actions and asked for her forgiveness.

"You know if you hurry, you could probably catch her coming out of her last class. I know her and Alice are leaving for break in a couple of hours. It's now or never."

Thanking him for his blessing and promising my mom I would be home later, I took off running in dress shoes and pants through slushy snow piles and slick sidewalks. Despite sliding a few times I managed to reach the fashion building in somewhat decent condition.

Out of breath and freezing, I stood at the bottom of the stairs hoping she would give me the time of day. She emerged a few minutes later, bundled in a purple winter parka and wool cap. Alice noticed me first, nudging Bella. They both came towards me, Alice giving me a slight nod.

I smiled. There was so much I wanted to say to her but at that moment all I could muster was, "Hey."

And after what felt like an eternity, she replied, "Hey."

AN: Sorry it took me so long to post the rest of this story. Things in my personal life has overshadowed all other hobbies and taken a lot longer to deal with than I originally planned.