Note: I've been writing a new (original) story losely based on Hit By Destiny, which will be available to download for free when it's done. With that in the works, and another project, I felt like I needed a break and just write something short - and somehow I found my way back to Twilight and Hit By Destiny in particular. I hope you enjoy this outtake, which is the first thing of Twilight I've written in nearly 8 years.

This is not edited by a professional, all mistakes are mine as always.

Graduation Party

"I look like I'm trying to hard," I said, wanting to laugh at my reflection. Alice, Rosalie and I were in Seattle, trying to find new outfits for the big graduation bash, which was taking place at Lauren Mallory's house. Everyone was talking about it, and everyone was going.

I was currently wearing a black dress, which was tight over my chest but with lots of ruffles below the waist.

"I'm not wearing this," I said. Alice sighed on the other side of the drape.

"You are too!" she argued.

I rolled my eyes and pushed the drape aside.

"I look like a burned turkey. Why can't I wear something more… subtle?"

I knew that Alice wanted to argue about my taste, but she didn't. The turkey-look didn't escape her either.

"Fine," she said. "Rosalie! Help!"

Rosalie peered out from her stall.

"Yeah, a total pass on that one," she said. "Try this. You can wear it with dark jeans."

She threw a black top at me.

I pulled off the dress and tried on the top. It was tight and revealing. My cleavage looked bigger than my usual humble B's, but not in a slutty way.

"Jasper texted, they're at the burger joint, they wanted us to come too," Alice said.

"Finally! I'm starving," Rosalie said.

We paid for our items, and I smiled at our purchases. Alice got away with four bags while Rosalie and I only needed one small each. I knew Alice would never be cut off from her parents' finances, with their traveling all the time.

We reached the parking lot by the burger joint, and Alice shoved all her bags in my arms, before searching her purse and coming up with a car key. She stepped over to Jasper's white sedan and threw her bags into the trunk.

The guys were sitting in a booth near the back when we entered the burger joint, they scooted together so we could slide in. I picked a French fry from Edward's plate, and he raised an eyebrow.

"Buy your own damn fries," he said, acting offended. I rolled my eyes and took another.

"So how slutty are we talking?" Emmett asked. "I'm expecting see-through fabric. Perhaps knee-high stockings and…" Emmett got a faraway look in his eyes, his goofy grin wide. Rosalie hit him upside the head with the menu, and he pulled it together. "What?"

"You might want everyone to drool all over your girl, but I'd rather not."

"Well, excuse me," Alice said. "But none of you guys have any say in how we dress."

"As long as you're not dressing like stereotypical nonsense hoes, then I have no objections," Edward said.

I looked at him. "And what do you mean by that? Like Julia Roberts' get up in 'Pretty Woman'?" I asked.

"No exactly like that, but… yeah, you know what I mean. We have Halloween for slutty get-ups. Graduation should be sacred."

Jasper snorted into his soda. "Hah, like you ever craved modesty from a girl."

"People change," Edward replied.

"Yeah, they do, and if I want to dress slutty then I will," I said.

"But Spar-"

"No buts," I said, cutting him off. "My body, my choice."

"Fine."

The others snickered under their breath. This wasn't the first time Edward tried to decide over my head, what I should wear, who I should meet, or what I should do. I told him off most times, but sometimes I was too tired to argue. It wasn't like it used to be between us anymore. When I asked Edward what was wrong, he'd just shrug and tell me 'nothing'.

I met his gaze and he lifted the corner of his lips. I smiled back, an automatic response.

"You've changed," Alice said, smirking with her bloody red lips.

"I know," I replied. "It's been hard not to." I tried working the eyeliner and sighed when it got too thick again. The left eye was never a problem – but my right eye was impossible.

"Let me," Alice said, taking the brush. "So, how are things between you and Edward lately?"

I sighed. "I don't know. He tries to decide everything for me. Did you notice how I wasn't even allowed to walk to the bus stop from Jasper's last weekend?"

"Yeah, but he's just worried about the crazy people."

I rolled my eyes and Alice pinched my arm in response. "Keep still, damn it," she chided. I resisted rolling my eyes again.

"There's nothing to worry about anymore," I said. "It's been almost 18 months now. I haven't had the need for my sleeping pills for over a month either. I feel safe now… I think."

"You think?"

"Yeah, I mean…" I sighed. "The bad guys are behind bars. Mom is in a maximum-security prison. She's as locked in that she'll ever be. And I've already talked to the people of the reservation, and I know they don't support what happened."

"But… how can you be so sure?" she asked.

"Because it's the only option I have. I don't want to live in fear. If they take me again, fine. The difference this time is that I can fight back."

"That's my girl," Alice said, smiling widely. "So feisty! Now, let's go and drink the night away!"

She crossed the street, from Alice's to Lauren's house. Through Alice's window, we could see how people had been arriving for over an hour. Alice didn't want to leave until she knew she could make an entrance. I could see why. She was dressed in a black ballerina dress, with the tutu layered in all the colors of the rainbow. It was especially breathtaking when she twirled around, and the small tiny diodes lit up in all the colors. The dress was just as beautiful as it was technical. Alice could never do anything half-way, and of course, she had made the dress herself.

"If there's a blackout, you know what to do," I told her. She laughed and twirled across the street. She was her very own disco light.

She hooked her arm with mine when we entered the house. She stopped, looked around, a bright smile on her lips as she scanned the room. I did have some confidence and sense of self-worth nowadays, but it was dirt on a shoe compared to Alice. She was the shining light in any room.

And she was my friend.

We steered through the crowd, toward the living room where a lot of people were hovering around the table of alcohol. I expected a couple of kegs, but I had seriously misjudged Lauren's ability to conjure up alcohol in all its forms. Like the people at a table doing tequila shots, lemons and salts and all.

"Someone went all out," I commented.

"Obviously," she said. "I bet it was Lauren's brother. He's like twenty-two or something, and he's always at Lauren's parties."

"Ew." I wrinkled my nose.

"I know, right? C'mon."

"I don't think I even know what he looks like," I commented. I had been to a few of Lauren's parties, but I couldn't recall a brother.

"It's because he's probably busy sleeping his way through the cheerleader squad. Steer clear from the bedrooms."

"Too much, Alice. Too much." She laughed, her usual Tinkerbelle like sound. We walked through the house, and Alice divided the sea of people like it was nothing. An older guy was standing by the large table with booze and he gave Alice a long look. He even licked his lips.

"There's the devil," she said, through clenched teeth and bright smile.

I wasn't surprised. Lauren's brother was obviously checking out the market. He looked at me, and I looked away. He looked like a predator.

"What can I get you fine ladies?" he asked.

"Nothing," Alice replied and grabbed a bottle of raspberry vodka. "Come on, Bella."

With the bottle in a tight grip, ignoring the protests, we made our way out of the room, and toward the living room. Our friends had already reserved us a two-seat couch and a chair. Alice plopped down in Jasper's lap, and I sat down on the armrest on the chair that Edward occupied.

He looked me up and down – and his look didn't give me the heebie-jeebies like Lauren's brother. But he didn't look happy. I leaned in and kissed Edward's temple and he frowned.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Your clothes for starters," he said. He didn't even bother to act casual.

I raised an eyebrow. "My clothes? Since when do you care how I dress?"

"Your top," he said, and took a large drink from his beer.

I sighed. "My top? It's black, it's cute, it's… what? What could be wrong with this top?"

"It shows your boobs more than it covers. I just don't see why you need to be dressed like a ho-"

"Oh, you did not just say that," I snapped.

I got up and walked away, Alice called after me, but I ignored her. Edward had been acting a little strange for the past few weeks, but this was the first time he said something that hurt. Were we drifting apart? I had been accepted to a psychology program in Seattle, and Edward had yet to decide what he wanted to do. He was lost, and I had no way of helping him find his way. I wasn't even sure if he was going to Seattle with me, or if he was going to stay in Forks.

I climbed the stairs to the next floor, walking through the hall to the large balcony, looking out over the impressive backyard. People were playing in the pool, and some were making out in the shadows. I sighed. This was supposed to be the best night of my life (so far). We were graduating tomorrow! High school was officially over. We were adults!

But I had never felt smaller and more insecure. Was psychology really my thing? Maybe it would hurt more than help. I had still so many issues, and my therapist said that I was suffering from PTSD. I might never really be okay. A grain of paranoia would always reside in me. Always wondering if my mom would get out and try again – the only difference was that she wouldn't have any backup if she ever tried.

"You look thirsty." A red cup popped up in front of my face and I took it.

"Thanks," I said, taking a drink.

"So… are you a close friend of my sister?"

I glanced to my left, realizing it was Lauren's brother. Oh c'mon.

"No, I can't say that I am," I replied.

"So… how single are you then?"

"Not at all."

"Oh, but why are you standing here all by yourself?" He narrowed his eyes at me. Then he gasped and smiled triumphantly. "You're the cult-girl!"

"Excuse me?"

"You're the girl those people in the reservation went Freddie Kruger on!"

He pointed his finger at me, looking so damn satisfied with himself. As if he finally managed to figure out the solution to two plus two.

"What ever happened over there?" he asked. He let his eye survey me one last long time. "I can see why they wanted you though. A fine piece of a-"

I threw my beer in his face, absolutely seething.

"Maybe you should consider going to parties with people your own age," I said. "But I guess there isn't much alcohol in the ball pit of a Chuck-E-Cheese."

He snorted and coughed, but still had a layer of laughter underneath, when I turned around and went back downstairs. At the bottom of the stairs, I met Jasper.

"Hey you," he said.

"Hey."

"Still angry with Edward?"

"No, Lauren's brother was a pain. He recognized me as the 'cult-girl'." I sighed. "Apparently that's what I'll be remembered as when we leave."

"Does it matter what other people think?" he asked. "We won't keep in touch with anyone when we're gone."

"But still," I argued. "I'm the cult-girl. Alice will be known as the fashionista, Rosalie will be known for being queen without effort, Edward is the guy all the girls fawned over, Emmett was the multi-athlete and you…"

"And me?" He smiled.

"You're just you," she said.

"I should be offended, but I'll let it slide. C'mon, let's get something to drink and join the others."

"Is Edward still being a dick?" I asked.

"He never stopped."

We stood huddled in the backyard. Just us six. We didn't talk or join other people in their socializing. We were happy being just us. It would be the last time for a while. Everyone was up and leaving – except for Edward who still hadn't decided what to do.

Edward pulled me away, and we walked away from the lights and the people. We sat down in a gazebo, near the edge of the yard. He stroked a few strands of hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear. He gingerly touched my jaw and urged me to lean in and meet his lips. Kissing Edward was easy as breathing. My heartbeat still skipped a beat, my body buzzed, and all I wanted was melt into his arms and never let go.

"I love you, Sparrow," he said.

"I love you too." With each and every atom.

"I don't think I'm going to Seattle with you."

I froze. All my atoms froze.

"Oh." I swallowed thickly, hoping my voice wouldn't show exactly how hurt I was. "But… what are you gonna do?"

"I don't know yet," he said. "My mom has a friend in Chicago, so I'm thinking of maybe going there and see what's there."

"You don't have to go there to find out. Just google it!" I said.

"I don't mean like that."

"So you… you want to break up?" I asked, pulling away from him. The space between us now an inch. "You want to leave me?"

He sighed, dragging his hands through his hair.

"No," he said. "Fuck. I don't know. I just… I don't know where I'm going, okay? I just… I'm fucking lost."

"Yeah, I can see that. But don't you think you can do soul-searching in Seattle?"

"You don't get it!"

He stood up. The space between us grew. Not just physical. He paced. Dragging and pulling at his hair. Groaning.

"Sparrow, I love you. But you know what you're doing with your life. You're doing this college-thing, and I'm not. And you're gonna find people that are doing the same thing and… you won't need me."

"But, Edward… how can you possibly think I won't need you? I'll always need you! I want you! I love you! What else do you want me to say?"

"Sparrow, maybe we should… just…"

"Break up? Yeah, why shouldn't we? Since you don't believe our relationship can survive me doing the 'college-thing'." I made air quotes, just to show him how ridiculous he was being. "As if I would automatically stop loving you just because I get an advanced education."

He glared at me.

"You're not getting it! You're so dense, Sparrow. College isn't just education. Have you looked at yourself lately? If you keep dressing and looking like that, then what do you think will happen at frat parties?"

"Oh c'mon, so now I can't dress the way I like or use some makeup and a curling iron? And since when am I the type of person you'd find at a frat party anyway?"

"You're here, aren't you?"

"This isn't the same."

We both glared at each other. I tried to come up with the right words to fix this – but even if I found them, why should I say them. He was the one losing his faith in me. He was the one who thought I would become a slut the moment I stepped my feet on campus grounds.

He wanted to control me – and I had promised myself to never be controlled again. No matter how much I loved Edward, and no matter how much he meant to me. And apparently, he wasn't going to be happy if I wasn't locked in somewhere safe.

"Why are you trying so hard to misinterpret every damn word I say?" he asked. "Why can't you show just a little consideration, huh? You're the one leaving, and I'm just supposed to be okay with that. You can't say that things won't change when you leave. Everything will fucking change, and you're dumb as a damn duck if you think otherwise. Stop living in a bubble where we'll be happy as long as we're together."

I gaped at him. Stunned in silence.

"So what do you need me to do?" I asked. "If I can't live in a bubble, then what am I supposed to do? What can I actively do to make this work?"

He sighed. "I don't know."

"Then why the hell are you throwing all this shit at me? Why can't we try and see where life takes us, and then decide if we need to change or do something to make it work? Isn't that what we always said we would? Since the future is impossible to see. One day at a time, wasn't that what we said? We can't just assume it won't work because of things are changing. In that case, why are we even bothering?"

"I want what's best for you," he said. "But I also don't want you to become someone else."

"I am someone else," I said. "I'm not the same girl you hit with your car."

"I know."

"So how much am I allowed to change before it's a problem?"

"I don't want you to go to Seattle."

I tensed my jaw.

"Edward, you can't ask me to stay in Forks for you. You can't."

"But I am. I want you here in Forks."

I slowly stood up and relaxed my face.

"If you're asking that of me, then I guess there's only one thing to do."

His stature relaxed, and a small smile tugged on his lips.

"Really?" he asked in a small breath.

"Yeah. I'm moving to Seattle. I need to move to Seattle. And since you can't seem to handle it, then maybe we should just do the easy thing and break up. It's what would have happened anyway, right? Since you don't trust me." I paused. "And I don't ever want to come back here. In Forks I'll always be the Cult Girl, and that's not something I want to carry with me. So…" I stepped out of the gazebo. "I'm not your girlfriend anymore, Edward. Please don't call or text me. We've hurt each other enough."

I turned around, walking as quickly as I could away from the gazebo. I tried keeping the tears from falling, but they fell the moment I made the mistake of turning my head, looking back at Edward. He stood in the shadows, his head hung low, his shoulders slumping.

A broken man.

And I broke him.