Novocaine ▸ Jasper Hale [1]

VII

SEVEN; CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE

"Where are you going?" Charlie asked Cassadee when she came down the stairs.

"What makes you think I'm going somewhere?"

"You're dressed... on a Saturday."

"A person, yes. You, not so much." Bella said from the kitchen, finishing the pizza that the three had for lunch.

"I can get dressed on a Saturday without going out!" Cassadee defended herself, throwing her hands up in the air.

Charlie gave his eldest daughter a knowing look. "Cass."

"Fine," Cassadee huffed and sat next to her father on the couch. "I'm hanging out with Jasper."

"The Cullen boy? I thought you refused to date anyone."

"Hale." Cassadee corrected her father before continuing. "And first, I never said I refused to date anyone, you did. And second, we're just friends." She said the last part for Charlie's benefit. Sure, she wasn't exactly dating Jasper but they weren't just friends either. She wasn't completely sure that they were.

"Actually-" Bella stated before Cassadee cut her off.

"Don't you have a book to read or something, Bells?" Cassadee asked her sister, turning around to look at her as she washed the dishes.

Before either of them could say anything else there was a knock at the door. Charlie and Cassadee rose at the same time, the teenager turning to look at her father with raised brows. "What are you doing?"

"I want to meet him." Charlie stated, as if the fact was obvious before walking past her to open the door.

"He's just a friend, Dad!" Cassadee whined as she followed her father. Cassadee heard Bella come up behind her, looking out the glass on the white door. "What, is this a family affair now? Is this how we're going to answer the door all the time?"

Bella shrugged, "I just want to see how this goes."

"Don't you usually do that from a distance?"

"Friend or not, I want to meet whoever managed to get you out of your pajamas on the weekend." Charlie said, ignoring his daughters, and opening the door, revealing the blond vampire who gave the Swan's a smile.

"Hello, Chief Swan, Cass, Bella." Jasper greeted each, his eyes not leaving Cassadee once he greeted her.

"Cass?" Charlie asked, turning to his daughter. "You're on a nickname basis?"

"I'm on a nickname basis with everyone, Dad. Even Bella's on a nickname basis." Cassadee pointed out before rolling her eyes and walking out the door. "I love you guys, bye!" She tried to leave before either of them could say anything else but Charlie grabbed the sleeve of the tan cardigan she was wearing, pulling her back enough to whisper something in her ear.

"You still have the pepper spray, right?"

"Of course, and just to ease your mind, nothing is going to happen to me."

"I'll have her home in a few hours, Chief Swan." Jasper assured the man before Cassadee grabbed his hand, ignoring the icy and hard as stone feeling, and pulled him to his car. "Don't you think I should meet your family if you're about to meet mine?"

Cassadee turned to face Jasper, letting go of his hand since she figured it would be a struggle for him. "You just met my dad, and you already know Bella."

"That was a greeting, not meeting." Jasper pointed out, looking down at the human that he was falling in love with. "Are you afraid that I'll kill them?"