A/N: STILL DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT OR ANY OF THE COPYRIGHT LAW THINGYS. BUT I DO HAVE A JAPANESE CHIN NAMED STORMAGEDDON.
"You know son, I need to you to think about staying a little longer. This doesn't run its self and I'd like to learn the ropes." He started coughing into his glove." I'm not gonna be around forever you know."
"Yeah right papa, you're going to outlive all of us." Rose said as she walked her horse over to ours.
"Rosie-posie I wish that was true." He smiled at her and looked back in the direction of the stables."Alright kids, lets head on back to the house, what do y'all wanna do today?"
"I don't know papa, can we go to town today? I want to go shopping." He thought about it for a moment and nodded.
"Alright I guess we can go into town if you want. What do you think son?" I nodded.
"Sounds great papa, I need to pick something up for Bella anyways." I said pulling the brown mare towards the stables.
"Rosie-posie why don't you head back and get ready to go; I wanna talk to your brother, okay darlin?" He asked as we started to slowly trot back to the stables.
"Yeah, no problem." She said, looking at me for permission, I nodded to let her know I'd be alright. She clicked her tongue and the horse started a small run.
"Son, tell me about Bella." He said slowing down his horse even more." how would you describe her." That was a weird question, but grandfather never did anything without reason. I sighed and decided to answer him.
"Bella is my best friend I guess; she's turning sixteen in a couple months. She has this dark brown hair that is always soft and sweet smelling. Her eyes are brown with flakes of yellow. It's like she has stars in her eyes papa. She gets on to me for staring at them. Then she'll turn pink across the bridge of her nose and you can see millions of tiny freckles on her nose and cheeks. She is so smart but she doesn't let people know, she is funny too." I realized I was rambling and felt a little silly.
"That's good, but tell me how she makes you feel son." He asked looking at me with a serious face.
"Why?" I asked, wondering what the old man was up to.
"Indulge an old man; I've heard about this young lady for ten years, I just want to know more about her." He replied with a small smile on his face.
"I don't know. She makes me feel strong I guess. I mean when she's around I want to be strong for her, protect her anything that could hurt her." I stopped and looked at him hoping this conversation was over.
"So she makes you feel like you have to take care of her." He said looking straight ahead.
"No, not at all, I mean I feel strong like I can take care of her. She makes me feel like I could fight any battle as long as she was there with me. She makes me feel smart; she makes me read to her so I try to find things she'll think is interesting. I don't know papa." I didn't want to embarrass myself more.
"Why do you read to her?" he asked stopping his horse, crossing his arms over the saddle to look at me. I stopped my mare and turned it around to face him.
"At first she thought it would help me more comfortable with my accent, and then it just became something we do together. We just sit on her porch swing and I read while she works on her writing or homework." I said thinking about our time together on our swing.
"That sounds a little like what your daddy use to do with your mom." He said with a sad look in his eyes. He use to sit and play his guitar, singing her old love songs while she danced around the house."
"I remember, the three of us use to dance together listening to him play. He started teaching me how to play before he left." I said, we both looked at each other and nodded. He clicked his tongue and started to trot back to the house.
"So does she know?" he asked quietly. I was confused what was he talking about.
"Does she know what papa?" I asked looking at him, he started laughing.
"That you're in love with her son." He said with a smile and a wink.
"I ain't in love with her, she just my friend you know." I replied after a few second, I felt the blood rushing to my face.
"Son, what's the first thing that comes to your head when you wake up?"
I thought about how every morning I look out the window to see if Bella was up yet. She likes to over sleep.
"If Bella is up yet." I replied, hoping this was the end. Then he chuckled and took a breath for his next question. His moustache twitched from a quick smile.
"And when you go to sleep?"
"I check my phone to see if Bella texted me good night" I replied without thinking.
"Jasper, how do you really feel about her son? I ain't gonna tell anyone and this conversation doesn't leave this yard." He said looking at me with his gray blue eyes, he was so serious now.
I had been avoiding this conversation with everyone including myself for as long as I could remember. I knew he wouldn't let it go till I fessed up.
"I've loved her since the day I met her. She is part of me and its killing me being so far away from her. Every day I feel myself falling for her more and more and I can't tell her." I had started crying and brushed away the tears with my gloved hand.
"Why can't you tell her?" He asked quietly not commenting on the tears that fell.
"Because I need her like the earth needs rain and if I lost her I couldn't handle it. She's always telling me how great of a friend I am and how much she can't lose our friendship. I can't tell her that I see her wearing grans wedding dress, or bringing sweet tea out to me and our gran kids on the porch. That when she smiles I feel like I have been hit by lighting. Because the moment she says she doesn't feel the same our friendship is over. And that would kill me." I finally took a breath and pushed my tears back into eyes with the rough glove.
He took his hat off and ran his hand though his dark grey curls. He smiled and clicked his tongue heading back to the stable.
"Son, I thought the same thing about your gran; she was my water, my air. I was so nervous when I asked her out the first time. Bless her soul; she would be so proud of you. You have turned out to be a fine young man. "He climbed of his saddle and took the horse to the stall. I followed him and did the same.
_ATh_
"So what did y'all talk about out in the field" Rose asked looking at some necklace in a case.
I didn't want to tell her so I thought of some half truth to tell her.
"We talked about gran and dad." I said hoping she bought it. She gave me a small hug.
"Okay. Do think Emmett would like this?" Picking up a leather cuff bracelet, I shrugged.
"Probably, I'm still trying to find something for Bella birthday." I saw this ring in the case, it was blue topaz. I asked the lady if I could see it. She pulled the tray out.
"That honey is the state stone of Texas, it's a beautiful set. Dontcha think?" I looked at it and felt my grandfather large hand on my shoulder.
"It sure is darling, how much does that ring go for?" he asked giving the lady a big smile.
"Well it's a set and its pure gold it normally sells for about fourteen hundred." That a little too much for me, but I knew Bella would love it; it was a round blue stone that had a leaf design circling it like a hug.
"How is it a set?" I asked still looking at it. She picked it up and pulled it apart it was two rings; one had the blue stone and a single leaf to the left. and the other had to leaves that formed a half circled that hooked into the other ring.
"It's a wedding set honey." She said with a soft smile.
"You know what ma'am this ring is perfect, my grandson wants it for his girl back home." Grandpa had lost his mind there is no way I can pay for this.
"Really honey, how long have you been together?" she asked me I didn't know how to tell her that Bella wasn't my girl. I gave her enough truth to not be lying.
"I've loved her since I was seven years old ma'am." I said with small smile.
"Well I think that's the sweetest thing I ever heard." She leaned in a little closer to us and lowered her voice." You know what; y'all seem like good people, so how about I give you this at factory cost, only three hundred. Just don't tell my boss okay?" She gave us a wink and a tall man with a big black hat came behind her.
"Don't tell me what?" He said causing her to jump a little.
"Damn it Frank I'm going to put a bell on you. I was just telling this fine young man that I'll give him this set for factory cost." She said with a smile on her face and giving me a small wink.
"Oh, really? And why is that?" He said crossing his arm and a serious look in his eye.
"It's for his childhood sweetheart, plus it's a Whitlock man, he'll be back." She said giving grandfather a smile. So he knew them why that explain her being so nice to us.
"Alright, that's fine, how you doing Jack?" he asked shaking grandfathers hand.
"Pretty decent, been spending time with my grandkids, thanks for helping us out. Can you put it on my account?" He said taking his hand back and placing it on my shoulder.
The lady put the ring in a box and handed it to me. I was still in shocked so I just nodded and said thank you.
"Well we're going to head out Frank, gotta get these youngins back home soon." He said motioning Rose to come join us; she had a small bag probably with that cuff for Emmett.
"Good seeing you again, the necklace you ordered should be ready in a couple weeks." Frank said walking to the back of the store.
"Papa I can't take this its way to expensive". I said as we walked to the truck, trying to offer him the ring back.
"Nonsense son, you have been working your butt off all summer, I think I got off cheap. Man I don't think I could afford to pay you what I owe you anyways." He laughed. "Give it to Bella however you want to, tell her what it means or don't it's up to you."
"Okay" I smiled and looked at the box.
_Ath_
"I missed you so much!" she yelled as she jumped into my arms, I barely caught her."I hate the summer, you have to take me next summer." she smiled and ran to Rose and gave her a big hug too.
"I would love that" I said looking her over. She had gotten a couple inches taller and filled out a little more. I'm going have to be in a few more fights this year.
"Oh Bells I missed you, I was surrounded by men all summer, after our toast can we have slumber party, at your house?" Rose said with a devilish smile.
"You just want to sneak into Emmett's room after I fall asleep." She said taking a step back from her with her own smile. They stared at each other for a few seconds.
"See this is why I missed my bitch." Rose said giving her a big hug picking her up a little bit.
"Rosie" a voice boomed from Bella house and Emmett came barreling out. He picked her up swung her in circle. "I missed you baby". They started kissing and I walked over to Bella.
"I wished they wouldn't do that in front of us." She said leaning into my side. I took her hand and walked over to the porch. Our little playhouse didn't fit us anymore so we changed it to the porch.
"Do you really mean I can really go with you next summer." She said sitting on our swing. She smiled up at me as I stood behind the swing pushing it softly.
"If Charlie says it's fine then yeah I'd love you to meet papa." I said giving her a big smile.
"What do I have to fine with?" Charlie said coming out the front door in his uniform. He went and sat down next to Bella." Good to see you son, these two have been moping around all summer with you two gone."
"Glad to be home sir. Bella asked if she could come with us next summer." I hoped he's say yes, but it's a year away I won't push him.
"You know what? if Emmett goes I don't see a problem with it." He replied. "Now I have the night shift and Sue doesn't get off till three this morning so keep the doors locked and don't go anywhere without calling one of us." He stood up and kissed her head.
"Daddy, Rose wants to stay the night tonight is that okay? She missed having girl time" she smiled her smile that gets her whatever she wants. He made a face and looked at me.
"Jasper you stay over and keep Emmett in his room okay?" he said as he put his hat on and headed to the car.
"Yes sir." I said, like I could make Emmett do anything, or Rose for that matter.
"Emmett let the girl come up for air, good to see you Rose." He said as he got into his car. They both stop and turned bright red. He drove off and they went to Emmett's truck, bringing back a red and white box.
"Now let's do this toast properly" Emmett said as he handed each of us a beer. "And Bells don't tell dad okay?"
She nodded and held the can like it was a bomb. She finally opened it and sniffed it causing her to make a funny face.
"It doesn't taste any better than it smells." I whispered to her making her smile a little.
"To being best friends forever" Rose said, raising her can.
"To always being there for each other" Bella said joining Rose's can.
"To love" Emmett said grabbing Roses hand then joining the other cans.
Then it was my turn and I had no idea what to say. Bella gave me a smile and I took a breath.
"To the future." We clank our cans together and took a drink. Emmett guzzled his beer and opened another one. We sat on the porch and caught up on each other's summer. Emmett had a couple more beers, while I nursed one beer.
"Come on Rosie." Emmett said hopping up and grabbing her arm. She started laughing and ran inside; we heard them run up the stairs.
"I'm going to pretend I don't know what they're doing." I said as I picked up the cans. Bella started laughing and couldn't stop. I looked at her and saw she had three cans in front of her. She was still sipping a beer. I gave her a worried look.
"You're so pretty when you make that face." She said then her face turned bright red.
"That's enough for you darlin." I said taking the can away from her. I took her hand and helped her up. She kind of stumbled into my arms.
"You smell nice, I missed you so much." She said with a slight slur. She looked up at me and licked her lips. She was drunk; I'm going to kill Emmett.
"Why don't we go inside darlin, get you something to eat." I said leading her into the house. I could her Emmett and Rose in their room, so I turned on the T.V. I lead her to the couch and she pulled my hand to sit down. Her face was still red, she smelled sweet and like beer.
"Bella, darlin let me go get you some water and some food okay?" she nodded and she let go of my hand. "Why don't you find something to watch okay? She nodded and picked up the remote.
Great, she's drunk and coming unto me. It's like hell and heaven all in one. Part of me wants to go along with it but the gentleman in me won't let me. I made her a turkey sandwich and grabbed a bag of chips and a water bottle. I heard the Doctor Who theme song playing; she had turned on the turn left episode. I know this meant she wanted to watch the next two episodes.
"This one again?" I moaned as I gave her the water bottle and sat the food on the coffee table. She threw a pillow at me and smiled.
"I love the doctorDonna, shut up." She said opening the bottle spilling some of it on her shirt. "Great" she mumbled trying to air out her shirt.
"So, what made you decided to match drinks with the bear?" I asked leaning back unto the couch. I put my arm behind her and started stroking her hair.
"I don't know, just didn't want to be in house knowing what they're doing." She replied quietly pointing at the ceiling. She leaned forward grabbing her food and sat back to eat it. We sat in silence while she ate, I kept stroking her hair. She finished her food and took it to the kitchen. I started the next episode and she sat down next to me. She turned and put her legs over my lap, then pulled my arm over her shoulder so I could keep my hand in her hair.
"That feels so good Jas, make everything seem okay." She said quietly as she snuggled into me. This made me worry a little; she had been doing a lot better.
"What's wrong darling?" I whispered pressing my nose into her hair, giving her a small hug. She sighed and started fiddling with her hands. I grabbed them with my free hand, both of them almost fit into my one hand. She shrugged and looked back at the screen.
"Bells?" I said trying to get her attention.
"It's just, Emmett has Rose and every girl at school wants you, and no one wants me. I'm turning sixteen in two weeks and I've never been kissed." She sounded like she was going to cry I hate hearing her so sad.
I wanted to kiss her so bad at that moment, she was only inches from my lips; it would be so easy to kiss her. I also knew that once I started kissing her I would never stop, I would spend every day kissing her. So I was a gentle man and tried to comfort her in any other way.
"Bells, you are beautiful and smart, any man would love to kiss you. Don't worry darling one day you're going to be kissed and the world will stop turning for that second. There's no need to rush into anything, you have your whole life to be kissed." I said as I held her a little tighter.
"Thank you Jas, you're my best friend you know." She said her eyes getting a little heavy. I smiled and kissed the top of her head. We watched our show and she started to breathe deeply.
"Did you get me anything?" she mumbled snuggling closer to me to get comfortable. I laughed a little.
"Yeah but you have to wait till your birthday." I said wrapping both my arms around her. She made a disappointed sound.
"Okay, love you." She whisper kissing my cheek then closing her eyes and she fell asleep.
"I love you too." I whispered knowing she wouldn't hear me.
A/N: SO I'M NOT SAYING UNDERAGE DRINKING IS OKAY, I'M JUST SAYING IT HAPPENS. WISH IT DIDN'T, BOOZE MAKES PEOPLE DO SOME STUPID THING AND IT ISN'T SAFE. HOPE YOU ENJOY PAPA WHITLOCK, I THINK HE'S MY FAVORITE.