Temper, Temper: Chapter Five: Difference Nudist and Exhibitionist

Sun, a surprising thing in La Push, streamed through the house and onto Alex's face. She was used to the chatter that occurred every morning from the Uley kitchen, unless Embry, Quil, Jared or Jacob chose to disturb her, it rarely woke her up. The sun however, being a new surprising development in the weather made her eyes peak open. When a thought crossed Alex's mind she jolted out of her 'bed', everyone in the house looked at her in shock, not only because of her sudden outburst but rather than pyjamas she was clothed in lace underwear. Sam, Jared and Emily were looking at her in shock, those that hadn't imprinted (Jacob, Quil and Embry) even paused inhaling their food to stare at her. Paul's expression wavered; he went from staring angrily at the others to appreciating the view in front of him.

"It's Saturday!" A sing song began in Alex's voice, "Saturday, oh yeah! No patrol. Zero patrol. Patrolling is off the to-do list. Strike it off because…it's Saturday!" Her arms struck out in the air as she jogged from the house, leaping off the porch landing on her hands and springing backwards into a series of somersaults. Dramatically, like a professional gymnast she held her hands above her head, raised her chin and closed her eyes. It was only Jacob, Paul, Quil and Embry were stood on the porch looking at her, everyone apart from Paul was clapping dramatically, he had his arms crossed giving her a narrow look.

"You gonna stand there all day? Everyone's going to think you're a nudist" Paul said, "Put some clothes on"

Not even Paul's disapproving words were putting Alex off her stride today, she ran back to the house, "No frowny faces today because today is…?"

"Saturday!" The other boys finished for her in loud voices, Alex laughed and tweaked Paul's cheek that was twitching inch by inch into a smirking smile.

"That's right" confirmed Alex. She was back in the kitchen, snatching the fresh crumpet from Jared's hand as he went to take a bite of it, "And this means, no patrol for me!"

"So, continuing Paul's question, are you planning on doing something with this Saturday or remain a nudist all day?" Sam was still giving her the 'parent' eyes, but his voice remained upbeat, feeding off the high energy Alex emanated around the room.

"Oh contrary Sammy, if I wanted to be a nudist, my vagina and boobs would be out, as it happens they are not meaning that, presently I am merely an exhibitionist" It was Emily's shocked expression that made Alex chuckle lightly as she continued her answer to Sam, "and I don't have any plans yet"

"No plans with the Cullen's? How's your training going?" Emily said, her own delicate hand choosing an apple from the bowl,

"…I still have over a month to work on it" Alex answered instead. In honesty training wasn't going well; if she managed to maintain a neutral mood during the times the Cullen's tested her patience by physically trying to anger her, and that was rare, she would almost always phase when they said something that hit a nerve with the wolf.

"I'm going to explore" Deciding on her plans, Alex nodded her head, confirming them to herself before eating a peach that was too tempting to resist. When Jacob offered to join her, Paul's fists tightened on the worktop he was leaning on. Saturday may have been Alex's day off patrol, but Paul was still on the shift, as were Quil and Embry, watching the borders. His grip got even tighter when Alex's happy mood influenced her positive response.

"Don't worry we won't go pillaging villages or grinding bones to make our bread" Jacob told Sam as they headed out the door; Alex laughed airily, enjoying it when the boys came out with these witty statements.

"Isn't that ogres? Or is it giants?" She inquired

"I don't know I was stereotyping the supernatural species" Jacob said, just audible to the others still in the Uley home, as they got further away their voices died away to silence.

"She'll come around sooner or later Paul" Emily smiled at the boy who still had shown no mercy to the counter in his grip, Paul stared at her hoping she was right.

"I have to tell her at some point, if she knows I have then she'll accept us, and me a lot more" Paul said, it was more comfort to himself than anything, he didn't really want to talk about this, not to anyone.

"Or maybe she'll come to her senses and imprint on me"

"Or me" Quil and Embry joked between them; they liked Alex, when she wasn't threatening to maim or mutilate people she was really funny and down to earth. When Paul, looked at them reflecting all his inner anger, pushed away from the worktop and stormed into the forest, the best friends had to admit the similarities between the new wolf and Paul. Their tempers, body language, attitudes, everything was very similar, like mirrors.

In the forest Paul couldn't help but worry about the younger wolves, they hadn't been shifters for as long as him and had to try exceptionally hard to hide private thoughts from the group, he was a little more skilled at it. He didn't want Alex to find out the secret everyone knew but her via wolf telepathy, how would he explain that one? No he had to plan it, pick the right moment.

As he paced the borders Paul let his mind wander to her; how would she react? Now there was a question to ask and, it one almost impossible to answer. Every time he thought he had analysed her to the point of knowing her like the back of his hand she would surprise him. Just like this morning.

Nobody really knew about Alex though, she was very closed off with her own thoughts and even when they weren't wolves, she didn't let on to her life before all this. No she didn't like sharing.

Alex was enjoying her free time; she and Jacob had travelled a fair distance. Though she couldn't say how far, her mind was focused on the beauty around her. The new scenery colours and smells were tantalizing, staying in one place for too long always made her hunger for a new journey.

She didn't know why but her thoughts strayed to the test all of a sudden, she didn't know what had suddenly triggered the unhappy thought but she wanted rid of them now. What if she didn't pass? All this freedom, despite it being limited for two months, could be snatched away forever. Rather than being in Wales, or even in La Push, she could be back in the Volturi's grasp and instead of practicing her anger management, she was running around like that nun in that musical about that woman who looks after those German kids.

'Sound of Music' She remembered, thinking the name of the movie with a triumphant rise in pitch.

'But you're not singing' Jake, trotted over to her, his eyes shining with her own reflection that looked back at her proudly.

'Well if you want me to, I can do a mean rendition of Waterloo' The wolf opposite her shook his head with disgust, and stepped back as though she had suggested something vile.

'Hmm, not a fan of Abba I see' Alex deduced this by his exaggerated response of repulsion, she sauntered forward to him mischievously, 'You know what you are?'

Jacob regretted asking her 'What?' because as soon as he had, his head was filled with her loud, singing, inner monologue.

'You are the dancing queen! Young and sweet, only seventeen!-'

'Please stop'

'Feel the beat from the tambourine-'

'Alex I'm serious'

'OH YEAAAH'

As she continued with the extended note, Jacob readied himself, as she sang he put out his paws, crouching low. When she opened her eyes to look at him, still singing, he leapt forward, tackling her to the ground and silencing her.

They wrestled for several minutes, enjoying the spare time and for once Alex was glad of another La Push Wolf's company, he had managed to take her mind off the dreary thoughts plaguing her mind and she was grateful for that.

When they finally did turn back and were nearing La Push, Alex thought of a clever idea to irritate Jacob. Being clever and irritating was an easy skill for Alex, she thought it was good fun.

'Hey Jake, what do banks give you?'

Puzzled Jacob answered, unsure of where this was going, 'Money'

He had answered right, but he regretted it when Alex gave him an impish look, he walked straight into it, again. Once again her voice sounded up, louder than ever,

'Money, money, money, must be funny, in a rich man's world' The last part of her sentence muddled together as she quickly evaded a pair of jaws that snapped at her ankles, Alex was running now, away from Jake and back to La Push. Her voice was still loudly shouting in Jacob's head though,

'Jake? Guess what I have in the night?' She knew he wouldn't reply so she sang on regardless, 'I have a dream! A song to sing!'

They were a lot closer to home now, frustration from the constant Abba lyrics being drilled into his brain, Jacob was running faster, trying to catch her and silence them. Still patrolling, Paul heard the two wolves, seeing as they were back in La Push the connection was back and he was present to their debate.

'What to kids call their mams' Jake?' Alex's words were broken up by her laughter, Jake was shouting at her to stop. 'Wow, Jake does not like Abba' Paul thought, pensively continuing hearing the conversation.

'Mamma Mia! Here I go again, my my, does it show again, just how much I missed you!' Alex suddenly crashed over the boundary and instantly stopped singing, and running instead she looked at the other silver wolf and tilted her head at him.

'Hey Paul' A set of paws pounding against the soil were coming closer to them, getting louder with each second she had paused, 'Bye Paul' Alex took off again, running away from Jacob and Paul who just shook his head and lay down again, resting his head on his paws and sighing deeply.

'I swear to God Alex, I'm going to kill you'

'If you change your mind I'm the first in li-' Paul was chuckling inside his head, Jacob had obviously caught up to her and from Jacob's shared thoughts, he saw Alex had pushed him off and was now pacing around him, snapping her jaws tauntingly while taking a small hop forward at intervals.

'I'd say she has you beat Jake' Paul was making his was to them now, he'd done his fair share of patrolling today and he knew that Emily would have a meal prepared for him as well as the others in a matter of minutes. She really did look after them well.

'Yes well you would say that' Jacob commented as Alex left the bond to shift and get dressed behind a nearby tree.

'Only because it's true'

'Yeah of course' sarcastically Jacob retaliated.