who are you when you're alone?

[self_composed]

A week later, Bella receives a fancy acceptance letter from Stanford. Squee!

[I'm in,] she tells Alice merrily.

Comments

[edgeofyourseat]

He doesn't know he's going to do it until he does, but what he does is in fact give her a hug that lifts her right off the floor.

"Awesome!"

[self_composed]

"Eep! Yes, yes it is," laughs Bella.

[edgeofyourseat]

He puts her down. Then he hugs her again.

"What's the occasion?" inquires Hilary from down the hall. Alice judges that this is Bella's moment to brag some more.

[self_composed]

"I'm going to Stanford in the fall," Bella trills. She thought she was loud enough to be heard in the kitchen - that's why she bothered to repeat herself aloud even to Alice - but she doesn't mind saying it again.

[edgeofyourseat]

"That definitely sounds like a hug moment," says Hilary, and holds out her arms.

[self_composed]

Bella hugs her too. "I'm very excited," she agrees.

[edgeofyourseat]

Hilary grins.

"Well, lucky for you, we've got a beautiful batch of cookies in the oven which I now officially rededicate to the cause of celebrating Bella Swan's Stanford acceptance."

Alice applauds.

[self_composed]

"Oooh, my very own celebratory cookies," exclaims Bella happily.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Well, I hope you'll share," Hilary teases.

"She'd better," says Alice, glancing at her as though to judge the capacity of her stomach. "I think if she tried to eat all those by herself she'd explode."

[self_composed]

"I bet I could do it if I really wanted," Bella sniffs. "But I'll share anyway."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Generous of you," says Hilary.

"Well, she did get into Stanford," says Alice.

"Do I detect a hint of envy?" asks Hilary.

"Nope," says Alice.

[self_composed]

Bella snickers. "What manner of celebratory cookies am I sharing?" she asks.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Oreo cheesecake!" says Hilary. Alice beams.

[self_composed]

"Tomorrow I'm going to read the entire course catalog," Bella says. "It's long."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Have fun with that," says Alice.

"Sounds thrilling," Hilary agrees.

[self_composed]

Eventually cookies are de-ovened, and cooled, and eaten. "Mmmm."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Do I smell baking?" asks a voice from just outside the kitchen.

"Yes you do!" says Hilary. "We're celebrating!"

"What are you—oh. Hello, Bella," says Judith as she steps inside.

[self_composed]

"Hello," Bella says. She's not sure what she should be calling Judith now, but she can get away with not knowing for a while. "We're celebrating me getting into Stanford."

[edgeofyourseat]

"Oh," she repeats. "Congratulations!"

Entirely sincere, and entirely without thought of contrasting this accomplishment against her delinquent son's dwindling likelihood of ever graduating high school. Alice smiles.

[self_composed]

"Thanks! I'm excited. I'm going to join the soccer team and the orchestra, and maybe if the practice times don't conflict I'll try out for some plays or something, and of course there's classes."

[edgeofyourseat]

"That does sound like a lot," Judith says vaguely. Alice hands her a cookie just to give her something to do other than ramble.

[self_composed]

"I'm going to be busy," Bella agrees.

[edgeofyourseat]

"Busy being awesome," says Alice.

"Yes, I think that's clear," says Judith, and smiles.