Broken Howl (Twilight)

4

Wednesday, January 28, 2006

It was just another day of school, and a nice pile of donuts well on the phone with Jasper to celebrate our 1 year anniversary, before I headed home to Billy and Jacob. Jacob was doing his homework in the kitchen well Billy watched a baseball game in the living room. I threw my bag onto the ground beside the kitchen table and pulled out my English homework as I sat down and began reading the book that was assigned for this months assay. How to Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee was a book that I've read many times before but it was always a book worth re-reading. The house was quiet with nothing but the sound of the baseball game as we all did our separate things.

"Alex, have you talked to your dad lately?"

"He hasn't reached out since I turned 14, why?" I looked up from my book over to Billy as he twisted around in his wheelchair to face me.

"No reason." I gave him a questioning look before going back to my book.

I couldn't focus on reading and I eventually got frustrated enough that I grabbed my phone and walked into my room. I dialed my dads last known number, but the only thing I got was an automated message telling me that the number was no longer available and was disconnected/disabled.

"Of course he changed his number, asshole." I threw my phone onto my bed and went back to the table and grabbed my book as I sat back down.

Non of us said anything as my leg bounced causing an annoying tapping noise. I finished maybe 3 chapters before Jacob reached under the table and held my knee down. I looked up at him and he let my leg go only for it to start bouncing again.

"Alex!"

"Sorry, I can't help it." I readjusted myself so my legs were tucked under me so my legs couldn't bounce.

"What's up with you?" I glared at Jacob but he didn't let up.

"That asshole changed his number."

"Who?" Billy turned around in his wheelchair and told Jacob to back off as I began to get visibly agitated.

"My father, I tried to call him but it was disconnected." I turned to Billy as I closed my book on the table.

"What's the real reason you asked about my dad?"

"You living with us was meant to be temporary till Sam was old enough for him to take you in." Billy wouldn't look me in the eye like he was ashamed.

"What?"

"Your parents didn't put a legal guardian down if anything happened and since your father hasn't contacted you in years, it's classified as abandonment. You should talk to Sam though, and before you ask why, it's just better if you talk to Sam." I wanted to get up and do as Billy was telling me but I really needed to finish reading my book.

"Fine then, I'll talk to him." I shoved my things into my bag and tossed the messenger bag over my shoulder before storming out of the house.

It wasn't long before I was knocking on the door of Sam and Emily's house. Emily answered it and ushered me into the house with no questions. Sam wasn't home but Emily busied me with making muffins for the boys when they return from patrol. When the boys returned from the forest it was clear they were all hungry as they all sat down at the table. I dropped the large basket of muffins onto the table as Sam and Emily had a small conversation in the kitchen.

"Hey, Sam, I wanted to talk to you about something." Sam turned around to me as I leaned against the counter.

"What's caught your mind, kiddo?"

"Billy told me I should talk to you. Something about legal custody of me?" Sam sighed and told me to sit down, I jumped on the counter and got ready to listen intensely to what he had to say.

"Emily and I have been talking, and we want to take you in and become your legal guardians."