Sign Of The Times || Jasper Hale

chapter 037

"Not today." Alex replies to her brother as she narrows her eyes at the page. She only wore her glasses at school but apparently, they were needed for real. This was not something that she had expected, vampires see perfectly and so do wolfs.

"How come?" He asks as he plops down on the couch next to her. She sighs and closes the book, carefully placing it next to her on the side table.

"Because I'm going to Billy and I don't want to reek of vampires." Peter narrows his eyes. "Well I don't think he stinks, I know full wolfs do."

"No, you think he smells like rainbows and daisies." Alex rolls her eyes and playfully pushes her brother.

"What are you doing today?" Peter shrugs.

"I might go and get some men time with Emmett. He's been bugging me about a rematch that he lost when you were in Egypt." He slumps back. "What time did you say?" Alex turns her head to look at the clock.

"In about 20 minutes."

"So you're going to come clean?" Alex raises an eyebrow at her brother.

"Come clean?"

"You're the one dating a vampire." His voice showcasing the 'no shit sherlock' vibe.

"And that's none of their business." Alex replies.

"That's why you didn't want to smell like one?"

**

Alex walks into the Black household and knocks on the doorpost as she enters the living room.

"Anyone home?" She frowns as she hears nothing. "Billy?" She looks around and purses her lips. The house wasn't big so she would have to hear it if there was someone.

"Boo!" She hears closely from behind, making her turn around and snarl. She quickly recovers as she notices the young boy watching her altercation with the man in the wheelchair.

"Dammit Billy!" She scoffs as she slaps his arm. "Grow up will you?!" He laughs but gestures towards the living room.

"Coffee?" He asks her and she nods as she walks towards the kitchen. "I can make it." He huffs as she starts the proces.

"So can I." She retorts, making him bellow out a snort like laughter. "Hey Jacob." She smiles at the boy who is still leaning against the doorpost. She couldn't really call him a boy anymore, he was taller than her. Even his hair was longer than hers.

"Jake." He replies with a grin. She nods.

"Oh, growing up on me now?" He rolls his eyes before walking over to her and engulfing her in a hug. She chuckles and wraps her arms around him, or at least tries to. The young man had grown larger since the last time she'd seen him, and that was only a few months ago.

"You stink." He suddenly says before letting go of her, chuckling while he does. Not knowing that Alex' heart is suddenly beating rather fast. "It was a growth spurt." He replies and nods to the coffee machine. "I'm going to Embry's so I won't have time." Grabs his jacket and waves to his dad. "Don't wait up." He walks away and blows a kiss to Alex to which she smiles. Jacob was always an outgoing young man, though he seemed to be losing that trait a little.

"He doesn't know yet?" She asks Billy who had raised an eye when Jacob said that she smelled.

"Doesn't need to yet. If it keeps being the Cullens, he won't have to." Billy replies just as she pours him a cup too. "He's young."

"True." A familiar police car pulls up unto the drive way and Alex raises an eyebrow at the man. "Charlie?" Billy nods as he makes his way to his hiding spot, making Alex chuckle. That man would never get old with that attitude.

Alex walks into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee for the chief of police, right as he enters. "Charlie!" She smiles at the man who nods in return. He had always been the silent type. "How are you?" He looks around.

"Good. Have you seen-.."

"Boo!" He jumps at the sound and turns around to smack his friend.

"Dammit Billy!" Billy quickly wheels away and Charlie runs after him.

"Boys!" Alex yells out. "Come get your lemonade." They get inside with a chuckle and Alex smiles. It was nice to see the two back on good terms. Charlie had taken it hard when Billy had disapproved of the new doctor in town but apparently they had put aside their disagreements.

"So what's new?" Alex asks Charlie as they sit in the living room with their coffees.

"Well," he begins and leans a bit forward. "That's why I came here." He looks at Billy. "You said you might want to sell the truck?" Billy raises an eyebrow and Alex takes a sip, listening intently.

"For the right price."

"Bella is coming to stay with me." Alex inhales sharply. This was a touchy subject, she knew that. Both the men had a daughter or daughters that were never at their place.

"That's great news!" Billy smiles at the other man.

"It is. I hope she'll like the town." Charlie mutters. "That's why I wanted to buy the truck."

"As a bribe for her?" Billy chuckles.

"Sort of." Charlie smiles at his best friend.

"But chief," Alex grins. "Bribes are against the law right?"

"Not if they don't know."