CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
GRADUATION

"It's graduation tomorrow and I haven't got anything to wear!"

Dakota launched yet another dress across the room, narrowly missing Montana.

She ducked her head out of the way just in time, and the dress landed in a crumpled pile beside her on the bed. Montana picked it up and held it out in front of her, examining the simple black bodycon which she might like to steal.

"I mean, this is a perfectly good dress," she stated. Dakota turned around and glowered at her. "Or not."

Dakota shut her closet door and traipsed across the room. "And we have that party at the Cullen's on Friday too," she groaned, flopping down onto the bed.

"You know, you don't have to go to that," Montana reminded. "The boys and I are only going with Quil because he wants to see Dina."

"I know..." Dakota trailed, staring up at the ceiling. "I'm just there for...uh, emotional support."

Montana raised her eyebrows. "You mean Sian."

"Yeah, I mean Sian."

Montana chuckled. "Are you gonna finally stop being a pussy and ask her out?"

"I'll try my best." Dakota rolled over onto her side, looking up at Montana with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "On the subject of relationships. How are things with you and Jacob? Have you...you know?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. Montana picked up a pillow and launched it at her. "I'm just asking!"

"Mom is in the other room!" Montana hissed.

"So? I'm sure she'll be happy her daughter is finally getting some–"

Montana smacked her with another pillow. "Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

"God, you try and talk boys with your cousin and this is what you get." Dakota rolled her eyes over dramatically.

"I think you should stick to taking about girls only," Montana replied.

"Well, it is my favourite subject." Dakota grinned. "So, do you think Sian's like...you know?"

Montana nodded. "There is no way she's straight."

"True, but I live in constant fear that I'm wrong," Dakota said. "What if I chat her up and then look like an idiot?"

"Well, maybe Sian will make the first move." A teasing grin crossed Montana's lips. "She did seem into you. At least I gathered from the longing gazes and all."

Dakota sat up. "Did she?"

Montana laughed. "Yup, it surprised me too." Dakota whacked her with the pillow, but Montana was not deterred. "Remember how she said she liked your name and you said 'thanks, it's like the state'"

Dakota covered her ears. "No, no, no."

"And then you said you were totally juiced?!" Montana recalled, laughing louder. "What does that even mean?!"

Dakota moved back onto her front, burying her head against the covers. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Please," Montana pleaded. "Just tell me what juiced means and I'll shut up."

Dakota exhaled heavily. "It means excited," she mumbled.

Montana chuckled. "You're a fucking idiot."

"I'm aware."

"On second thoughts, maybe you shouldn't approach Sian," Montana said. "I'm not sure how you're going to recover from that last disaster."

"I hate you."

"Then again, you never know know, maybe she likes her girls lacking in brain cells."

Dakota turned her head so she could glare at her. "My GPA is a 3.7."

"Wait, really?"

"Oh my god, why do you sound so surprised?!"

"You just...you never turned in homework!" Montana defended. "And you never went to class?! How did you manage this?!"

"You can balance school and fun, you know?" Dakota replied matter of factly. "And not spend every weekend working on essays."

Montana huffed, laying down next to her. "You could have told me this, like, a few years ago."

"Don't worry, now school's out we can go out partying every night," Dakota grinned.

"I'm not a party person," Montana reminded. It was most likely the last place to find Montana. The party at the Cullen's was going to be only her second that year.

"By the end of summer, you will be," Dakota sounded confident of that. "Plus, how do you expect to go to college without engaging in party culture. It's part of the whole experience."

College.

That one word struck an unimaginable amount of dread within her.

Montana hadn't actually thought much about college since applying last year. In complete honesty, she wasn't even entirely sure what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. College seemed like the next step, but she wasn't sure whether it was the right one to take. It felt as if she was being constantly drawn closer to home.

"I'm thinking about deferring for a year," Montana blurted out. She hadn't been meaning to tell Dakota, at least not quite yet.

"Woah." Dakota looked up at her in surprise. "Really?"

"Yeah," she affirmed. "It just...I don't know, it doesn't feel like the right time to leave."

Dakota was quiet for a moment. "Have you told mom this?"

"No," Montana replied, looking over at her with wide eyes. "Do you think she'll be mad?"

"Not if you're doing it for the right reasons," Dakota said, looking at her questioningly, as if testing the waters.

Montana's brows furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I just..." Dakota hesitated. "Are you– are you sure that, on some level, you're not just...retreating, because, maybe a small, tiny part of you is...well, scared?" Dakota paused for a moment, watching for her reaction. "You know, to like, leave this place and everyone in it. Go out into the big wide world. I mean, it's all you really know, right? What happens when you don't have me, or Jake, or Embry and Quil by your side?"

Montana swallowed thickly. "Does it...does it not scare you?"

"Nah." Dakota shook her head. "I wanna go out and explore the world, you know? Get to do the things my parents didn't."

Montana nodded along. That made sense. It made a lot of sense, actually. She couldn't imagine Dakota staying put – she wanted to go on and do great things, pursue her dreams and education, explore the world. Dakota wasn't tied to this place like she was. Montana couldn't imagine leaving, even briefly.

"I belong here," she said in quiet realisation.

"I get you," Dakota assured. "Hey, maybe it's the imprint bond? Like, this is Jacob's home, the lands he's supposed to protect. So you're supposed to be here too. It makes sense, right?"

Montana's nose scrunched up in distaste. "Great, so I'm bound here forever because of Jake."

Dakota smiled. "Then get out of here for a while."

"It's just not the right time," Montana dismissed. "It feels wrong. I don't know why, something's telling me I need to hold on a little longer. I mean, maybe it's a good thing? I have these witchy powers that I have no idea how to use, I don't wanna, like, accidentally blow up my college dorm room or something."

Dakota chuckled, seemingly at the thought. "That would be so funny."

"It wouldn't, I'd feel terrible!"

Dakota laughed even harder. "Honestly, I think they gave powers to the wrong one of us."

Montana scoffed. "Like hell they did, you would absolutely abuse those privileges."

Dakota grinned. "I would cause so much chaos."

"It would be horrible," Montana disagreed.

"But fun," Dakota added, facing her again. Montana simply shook her head. "I'm sure you'll figure things out when Uncle Chey and Kaia get back."

"I hope so," Montana said. "I feel so useless. Like, what if I have the power to blast Victoria off the earth and I have no idea? It would solve so many problems."

"I would love to see that."

"So would I. I'm so fed up of her," Montana grumbled, her mood dampening. "Why's she even after Bella when it was the Cullen's who killed Victoria's mate, or whatever happened. It's stupid."

"The entire situation is stupid," Dakota agreed. "I mean, the whole forbidden love, human falls in love with a vampire, blah, blah, blah. Who gives a fuck? I mean, the guy is dead. His heart isn't even beating. Like, what the fuck is Bella thinking? Isn't that technically some sort of necrophilia or something?"

Montana burst out laughing. "Please say that to Bella. I'd love to see her reaction."

"Honestly, she's so fucking dumb sometimes," Dakota muttered. "Plus, Edward is so...mouldy."

"Mouldy?!"

"Yeah. Like, old and...crusty." Dakota shuddered at the thought. "Also, how can she choose him when Rosalie is literally right there."

"Which one's Rosalie?" Montana asked curiously. "Wait, how many of them actually are there?"

Dakota countered on her fingers. "So there's Carlisle and the 'mum'," she said, using air quotes. "Then five 'kids', I think? Rosalie's the blonde, aka the only one I care about," Dakota said. "I've only seen her around a couple of times but she is smoking hot."

Montana suppressed a chuckle. "I'll take your word for it."

"Honestly, I'd be tempted to risk it all for her."

"We don't need a Bella 2.0."

"Don't worry, I'm all about the butch basketball gays," Dakota reassured. "Did you know Sian plays basketball?"

"That would be a yes, since I was the one that told you," Montana pointed out.

"Right. Because–"

"Dina told me," Montana finished for her.

"Dina told you." Dakota nodded in affirmation. "And you've been remembering information to relay to me."

"Yes," Montana said. "Because you have a huge fucking crush on her best friend."

"Honestly, man, I can't wait for this graduation party," Dakota started to grin again. "I just know it's gonna be the best night ever."

"We have to get through actual graduation first," Montana reminded.

"Shit." Dakota sat up straight. "I still haven't found a dress."

"Oh man, it's gonna be a long day."

—

Dakota did eventually find a dress, borrowed from Leah, who had way cooler clothes than Montana would have ever thought. Honestly, she was so full of secrets. Like, in what world would Montana ever think Leah Clearwater was the kind of person to own a crop top? But there she was, proven wrong.

Montana had opted for a white midi dress, and, much to almost everyone's amusement, Jacob had not been able to take his eyes off her all day.

The ceremony went smoothly. By that, Montana means she managed not to step on her gown and trip up on stage – a huge win.

Uncle Chey and Kaia had, to everyone's surprise, actually arrived on time that morning, though Montana barely had any time to speak to them before Kaia was ushering her and Dakota into the bedroom to help them get ready.

The two of them sat amongst the crowd with her very proud parents, Quil's grandparents, Tiffany Call and Billy, Rebecca and Rachel Black – who had returned to La Push for the weekend.

Jacob's sisters returning was a nice surprise that none of them was aware of. Montana knew he missed them a lot, even though he didn't talk much about it anymore. He used to confide in Montana when they had first left, adding to the void that his mom's death had caused. She understood why they had to get out of La Push, but sometimes she wished they'd visit Jake and Billy more often.

It didn't matter now though, they were here for one of the most important events of his life. And their little group was, by far, the loudest and noisiest of the people there. Montana loved them all very much.

After over an hour of photographs being taken outside school, she was more than ready to move on to the after party, and the boys were certainly ready to get some food – Embry stated that if they went any longer than two hours without eating they would, simply, "die." Montana told him she was tempted to test the theory.

Sue Clearwater was hosting everyone outside for a cookout that evening. Montana found herself situated on a camping chair, wrapped up in a blanket for the foreseeable future.

"Looking cosy," Jared commented. He sat down opposite her, two paper plates of hot dogs, burgers and fries balanced in his hands.

Montana pulled a face. "God, how are you still hungry?"

"Sue said there were leftovers, I said I was happy to help out," Jared shrugged, taking a bite of his hot dog. "Hey, did you hear Paul imprinted on Rachel?"

"Yeah, Jacob almost killed him," Montana replied. The smile on Jared's face grew. "It's not funny, he was really upset!"

"Trust me, no one is more upset than Paul," Jared said through his mouth full. Montana grimaced at him. "He was so sure he wouldn't imprint on anyone. Didn't want to 'belong' to someone else."

"And what do you think about that?" Montana asked him.

Jared shrugged again. "I've got Kim now, so." He glanced over to where his girlfriend was stood, wrapped up in conversation with Dakota. A smile spread across Jared's face, and Montana felt her heart warm.

"Naww."

Jared turned back to her. "Shut up."

"But you two are so cute."

"So are you and Jacob," Jared shot back with a grin.

Montana leaned forwards. "Oh my god, keep your voice down."

"Wait, they still don't know?!" Jared asked, referring to her, hopefully clueless, parents.

"Yes, and I would like it to stay that way," Montana hissed at him.

Jared laughed. "You two are ridiculous," he commented. "Have you even kissed yet?"

"Of course we have."

"Have you..." Jared trailed off, raising his eyebrows. "You know?"

Montana sat back in her chair, feeling her face getting hot. Why did everyone keep asking that lately?!

"That's none of your business."

"Nah, you haven't," Jared came to the conclusion. "I would have seen it in the mind link otherwise."

"That is so fucking gross, Jared–"

"It's not our fault!" He defended. "It's not like I want to share my thoughts! Or see Jacob thinking about you–"

"Oh my god, stop!" Montana cut him off. "Surely it's not that difficult just to not think about those things!"

"I mean–"

"Jared," Quil interrupted, walking towards them. "Stop annoying Montana, I need to speak to her."

"I'm not annoying Montana!"

Quil turned towards her. "Is he annoying you?"

"Yes."

"Traitor," Jared jokingly sneered. Montana blew him a kiss. He got up from the chair, and Quil leaned over and pinched a few fries from his plate. Jared smacked him round the back of the head before stalking off.

Quil rubbed the back of his head, whilst Montana shook hers. Boys.

"So, what's this burning question you need to ask me then?" Montana asked as he sat down where Jared had been previously.

Quil scooted the chair closer to her. "How did you know I needed to ask you something?"

"I can tell," Montana said. "So what's up?"

Quil glanced around them, making sure they weren't going to be overheard or interrupted. "I want to ask Dina out."

Montana's lips tugged. "Cute."

"How should I do it?"

"Hmm," Montana pondered. "Are you thinking of doing this at the Cullens' party?"

"Maybe," Quil replied. "Embry said I should serenade her on karaoke."

"Please never, ever, under any circumstance, take any advice Embry gives you."

"Noted," Quil said. "So what do you think I should do?"

"Well, not to break your heart or anything, but you do know that Dina's going travelling after summer, right?" She asked him. "And then after that, college. Unless you've suddenly changed your plans, aren't you staying put here?"

"Yeah but long distance doesn't matter to me."

"It might matter to her," Montana pointed out.

Quil glanced away with a thoughtful expression. "Huh, never thought about that."

"My advice, snog her at the party." The two of them turned around to find Kaia, Rachel and Rebecca approaching. Kaia sauntered over with a bright smile. "Problem solved."

Quil frowned at her. "How did you..."

"For as long as I've known you, you've always had girl trouble, Quil," Kaia said, patting him on the shoulder. "Now, I've got a few tricks up my sleeve for this kinda thing..."

Rachel sat down beside Montana, who turned her attention to Jacob's older sister and smiled. "Hey, Rach. How's it going?"

"Good thanks, it's so nice to see everyone," Rachel replied, matching her smile. "Although, that Paul guy was a bit...weird..." She frowned.

Montana bit back a knowing grin. "Maybe he was dazzled by your beauty."

Rachel's cheeks tinted red. "I don't think that was it."

"I'd be pleased, if I were you, sis," Rebecca said, teasing smile toying on her lips. "He's gorgeous." She and Montana shared an amused smile, whilst Rachel's blush deepened. Rebecca sat down on Montana's other side. "Now, we hear our baby brother has finally plucked up the courage and asked you out. Is that true?"

"Well, not quite," Montana pointed out. "We're taking things slow."

"Boringggg," Rebecca teased. She wrapped an arm around Montana's shoulder. "Only kidding. You two are adorable."

"Hey, where actually is Jake?" Rachel asked curiously, glancing at their surroundings, where he was nowhere to be seen. Jacob hadn't been at the cookout for over an hour now, working on...well, not ripping Paul's head off.

"Uh, I think he's helping Sam with something," Montana lied effortlessly. She was getting good at that lately.

"Oh," Rachel said, a little unconvinced. "Well, anyway, I'm glad you two are finally realising your feelings for each other."

Montana arched an eyebrow. "Finally?"

Rebecca beamed, squeezing Montana's arm. "Yep, always knew you'd be my sister in law some day."

Rachel, with a matching grin, nudged Montana's shoulder. "Totally."

When Jacob finally returned, his eyes naturally landed on Montana. She was sat between his two sisters, a blanket shared on their laps, and their heads thrown back with laughter.

Billy wheeled over towards him. "It's nice to have them back, isn't it son?"

"Yeah." Jacob continued to stare ahead of him, his heart warming at the sight. "It is."

A/N

I call this how many brotps can I fit into one chapter.