- Chapter Two -

Edward's Interlude:

I was acting immature for laughing at my own son but hey, he laughed at me enough times. Like when I was being stalked by that crazy nurse from my previous hospital, Tanya wasn't pleased. But my wonderful heir, my one and only son practically peed himself laughing at my expense.

He then proceeded to recall the story to every person we met that week.

And the time we went to the zoo and I accidently killed one of the butterflies in that big bug house. I freaked out and decided to leave there as quickly as possible. But of course, Jason had to cause a scene by laughing at my 'stupidly scared face' as he put it.

With all those stupid laughed-at moments in mind, I proceeded to bawl in laughter at my own son. Life was good.

Esme had come over early and insisted on dressing him for his first day of school. He came out of his room with dorky black pants, pulled up over his belly button and a stripped red blue collar shirt. His hair was parted and obviously had been brushed continuously to look more normal and less vulgar.

"You look like a dork", I blurted out on first sight.

"He looks handsome", my mother squealed, pinching his cheek and giving him a hug. The millionth one today.

"No grandma. Dad's right, I look like a dork", Jason scowled, pulling at his collar. "Why not just write NERD on my forehead and get it over with. I'll never make friends dressed like this."

"Don't worry", I assured him, my voice soft, "I'm sure the nerds won't reject you."

And then proceeded to roll around on the couch, howling in laughter.

"Edward", Esme chastised. I sat up immediately. "I don't know why you're laughing. Come on. You're next. I've got to comb that hair. Are you hiding monkeys in there or something?"

"What goes around comes around, father", Jason laughed darkly.

"I didn't do this to you", I pointed out. He shrugged, pulling me to my feet and tugging me towards Esme. She was armed with a hair comb.

"Grandma, make sure to use the girly perfume", Jason instructed.

"Of course dear. Stop being a baby Edward, you'll be late for work", Esme grinned at me, "I'll work on your hair first. Oh! I've got your clothes already picked out."

Jason grinned at me.

Huh. Great.

--

--

--

We changed in the back seat and messed up our hair by running our fingers through it. My son was a horrible influence on me, surely. He convinced me to never invite grandma Esme to breakfast again. At least for dinner she couldn't embarrass us.

"Remember dad, three thirty", Jason reminded me, hopping out of the Volvo. "If you're late, I'm walking. And if I walk I might catch a ride with a stranger. And that stranger could be a kidnapper. If I get kidnapped, grandma Esme will fry you. Fry. Just remember that."

What is it with all the kidnapping?

I snorted. "I'll be on time. Grandma Esme can keep her frying pans locked up."

"Of course if that stranger was Bella, I wouldn't mind getting kidnapped", Jason mumbled as he walked through the doors. I narrowed my eyes at his retreating form, making sure he went through the doors before driving to Fork's hospital.

That kid still hadn't moved his dib on Bella Swan and it was getting on my nerves. Granted, we hadn't seen her since Friday night, the first time we actually met her but still. He kept on rubbing in my face that she shook his hand and not mine.

Yeah I was jealous of my own son. You got something to say?

Grumbling under my breath, I parked in the lot before walking in to work. I really hoped there were no giggling nurses in this hospital. God made miracles, didn't he?

One can always hope.

--

--

"It's three thirty one", Jason threatened me as he threw his bag over his shoulder on the back seat. I rolled my eyes at his drama queen behaviour.

"At least you didn't get kidnapped", I pointed out as I pulled out.

"I was so close to walking", he informed me, "but don't worry, I'm not mad that you're late."

"I wasn't worried", I said dryly. He glared at me before carrying on.

"As I was saying", Jason announced, grinning, "guess who my teacher is, father?"

"Why on earth do you call me father?" I exclaimed, bewildered, "dad works just as well, you know."

"Bella Swan."

"Where?" my eyes swept the street immediately.

Jason was laughing at me. Oh yeah, regular occurrence isn't it?

"No, I mean...my teacher", he prompted. I stared at him.

"What about your teacher?" I asked when he didn't speak.

"Watch the road. My teacher, I just told you who my teacher is", he snapped, frustrated.

"Calm your little butt down, Jase. And no you didn't", I shot back.

"Bella Swan!"

"Where?!" I cried, looking around.

He threw his head back laughing again. Damn kid.

"Stop doing that", I growled, "alright stop laughing."

Silence.

And then...

"It wasn't that funny", I snapped.

"Yes...it...was", he said in between laughs. I would've glared at him but I was pulling up in front of our house and something else caught my attention.

Some guy was knocking on Bella's door.

"Who's that?" Jason mumbled as we got out.

The guy was tall with copper coloured skin and short black hair. I narrowed my eyes at him. It figures, she was beautiful so obviously she was taken.

"Is that her boyfriend?" Jason mused aloud.

"How should I know?" I grumbled.

"Hey you", Jason called out. The guy turned around. I stared wide eyed at my son for a couple of seconds. Did he loose his brain cells today?

When a large boyfriend of the beautiful girl next door is next door, you don't ever attract his attention. Apparently my son did not get the memo.

"Are you Bella's boyfriend?" Jason asked the guy stride over to us.

And you do not ask if he is the said girl next door's boyfriend.

"Uh no. I'm one of her friends", the guy said, looking over at my Volvo and his eyes were flickering back to me and Jason. "I'm Jacob Black. You must be her new neighbours, then? Nice to meet you."

He nodded at me, then at Jason.

"I'm Edward Cullen, and this is my son Jason", I introduced.

"Jase", Jason hissed beside me.

"You the new doctor? At forks hospital?" Jacob asked, seeming curious.

"That's me."

"You seemed to have made a good impression on the nurses", he grinned at me, "I was just there a couple of hours ago. Didn't see you but my cousin Leah works there. You got a nickname and everything."

"At his last hospital it was Doctor McHot", Jason piped up, "what is it this time?"

"Nothing as creative as Doctor McHot", Jacob snickered, my son joined in shamelessly. "You're nickname is merely Dazzle-Me-Doc. Apparently you have dreamy eyes."

I was so close to growling.

"So you're not with Bella then?" Jason changed the subject before I couldn't hold my patience any longer.

"Naw. We're just friends", Jacob explained with a shrug.

"Good. Because I already called dibs", Jason said with a serious nod.

Jacob quirked an eyebrow at me. I shrugged at him.

"Good luck, kid", Jacob said half laughing, "Though you probably don't need luck, you've got Dazzle-Me-Doc for a father, eh?"

"I'm the one doing the dazzling around here", Jason informed him. Jacob laughed once more before leaving.