Edward offered to take me home, and I told them that my cover story was that they saw me walking home and offered to drive me the rest of the way. Alice had reluctantly given me my clothes back so Charlie didn't get suspicious. On the ride home, it started to drizzle, and despite that and me being in a car, I cringed. Edward muttered something angrily as we saw who was standing on the porch. Jacob and Billy Black. "This is crossing the line." Edward said furiously.
"He came to warn Charlie?" Bella guessed. Edward merely nodded. "Let me deal with this."
"That's probably for the best. Be careful, though. The Child has no idea."
"It's no use calling him a child, Edward." I said. "He's not that much younger than Bella, and to me, you're a child." Edward smirked.
"Just get them inside so I can leave. I'll be back around dusk."
"Do you want my truck?"
"I could walk home faster than this truck moves."
"You don't have to leave."
"Actually, I do. After you get rid of them." Edward glared darkly at the Black's. "You still have to prepare Charlie to meet your new boyfriend." I laughed as I opened the door and slid out of the car. Bella followed me out. We hurried to the porch.
"Hey Billy, hi Jacob." Bella greeted. "Charlie's gone for the day, I hope you haven't been waiting long."
"Not long." Billy replied. He eyed me wearily. I could feel the distrust radiating off him in waves. "I just wanted to bring this up." Billy gestured to a brown paper back resting on his lap.
"Thanks. Why don't you come in for a minute and dry off?" I bit back a scoff as I unlocked the door. I hurried into the house as Bella waved them to enter before her.
"I'll take that." I muttered, trying to at least be civil. I offered my hand for the bag. Billy married his eyes for a second before handing it to me.
"You'll want to put it in the fridge." He told me. "It's some of Harry Clearwater's homemade fish fry, Charlie's favourite. The fridge keeps it drier." I nodded. I walked over to the kitchen and opened the fridge as Bella took over the conversation.
"Thanks." She repeated. "We wererunning out of new ways to fix fish, and he's bound to bring home more tonight."
"Fishing again? Down at the usual spot? Maybe I'll run by and see him."
"No." Bella said, too quickly.
"Dad told us that he was gonna try a new place, we're not sure where." I covered. "I'm gonna head up to finish up some homework." I announced. "Call me down when dinner's ready." I hurried up the stairs to escape the stench of dog that had filled the loungeroom and kitchen. I hope that my scent smelt just as bad to them. Charlie got home soon and I could hear them talking about Edward.
"Where's Alex?" Charlie asked.
"She's sleeping." Bella lied. "Went to bed when she got home, exhausted." I smirked. I decided to change into my baseball outfit. Black workout tights, a blue baeball jersey with white lines, sneakers, and my old Glasgow Galaxy baseball cap. It was pretty worn, something from home that I had always brought with me. I snuck out of the house after Charlie checked up on me 'sleeping'. I followed the faint scent of Edward and Bella to the jeep that they were riding in. I easily lept onto the top, sitting cros legged as Edward drove to wherever we were going to be playing baseball. The jeep stopped at the end of a road, surrounded by thick trees. I jumped off the jeep and stretched. Edward got Bella out and I walked around.
"Meet you there?" I questioned. Bella jumped almost a foot in the air, surprised by my presence.
"Rosalie is already waiting for you." Edward said. "She's been waiting to see you." I laughed before racing off, following the scent of the other Cullens. When I got to the clearing, I raced over to Emmett and jumped on his back. I managed to tackle him to the floor and put him in a headlock, giving him a noogie.
"Alex!" He sputtered. "What the hell!" I laughed. Letting him go and standing. I dusted myself off as Rosalie slid off the rock. Emmet and Esme decided to go talk to Edward and Bella that had just arrived.
"Don't tell me the human actually decided to come." Rosalie pleaded. I shrugged helplessly.
"Blame Alice." I told her.
"It's time." The pixie-haired woman announced. Rosalie and I headed to get started. The thunder rumbled overhead. Edward was out in the far left field, Carlisle was in between the first and second bases and Alice was was standing on the pitchers mound. Emmet was swinging an aliminum bat around as he got ready. Jasper was catching for the feilding team.
"Alright!" Esme called. "Batter up!" Alice stood still for a moment before her right hand snapped out, the ball appearing in Jasper's waiting hand. Strike one. Jasper returned the ball. ALice let herself smile for a quick smile before throwing again. The ball made contact with the bat like a clap of thunder, and it soared overhead. "Out!" Edward broke through the tree's with a grin. That's how the game went. The batters switching between everyone as wel as the fielders. It was now my turn. I took the bat and stretched, my shirt riding up. I got into my stance, and watched Alice intently. Her hand snapped out, and I swung. CRACK! The ball shot low across the feild. I tossed the bat and ran, the balls of my feet digging into the dirt. Out the corner of my eye, I could see Carlisle running with the ball. I put on a burst of speed and slid onto the home plate. "Home run!" Esme decided. I jumped up, dusting myself off. I heard a gasp, and my gaze flicked to Alice. "Alice?"
"I didn't see…" Alice breathed, her eyes wide. "I couldn't tell…"
"What is it, Alice?" Carlisle asked as we aproahced the pixie-haired woman.
"They were traveling much quicker than I thought. I can see I had the perspective wrong before."
"Nomads?" I questioned. I got a scattered nod in response.
"What changed?" Jasper wondered.
"They heard us playing, and it changed their path." Alice informed. Her voice sounded sad, as if she was responsible for their change in course. Everyone looked at Bella quickly and then looked away.
"How soon?" Carlisle asked, turning his gaze to Edward. Edward concentrated for a second before responding.
"Less than five minutes." He announced. "They're running, they want to play." He scowled. "One of them thinks they reconise one of our scents, I don't know who."
"Can you make it?"
"No, not carrying...Besides, the last thing we need is for them to catch the scent and start hunting."
"How many?" Emmet asked.
"Three." Alice answered tersely.
"Three! Let them come."
"We don't need to resort to violence." I spoke up. "We can end this without a fight." We turned to Carlisle. Despite me being the oldest among us, he was the coven leader, his word was final.
"Let's just continue the game." Carlisle decided. "Alice said they were simply curious."
"You catch, Alex." Edward told me. "Esme, you can have a turn on the field. I'll call it now." I nodded. He planted himself in front of Bella protectively. I got into position ready to play, though we did so reluctantly. Everyone had mooved inwards, and our eyes scnanning the trees. I was listening intently for any disturbance. I heard Edward's breath hitch, and then I smelt it. The nomads. I froze, one of the scents was familiar, eerily so, one that I could never forget. My head snapped over to the right field as the Vampires approached.