…

My eyes slowly fluttered open and I was met with the blank white ceiling. I had slept in a painful position with my neck and head on the bed while the rest of my body sat on the floor. Pictures littered all around me, a small smile played on my lips knowing that they all had sentimental value to me.

I sighed before cringing, as the muscles in my neck had stiffened uncomfortably, I needed to relax. Slowly but surely I stood from my original position. Stretching my limbs until I heard multiple pops indicating that my joints had cracked, as disgusting as it was, it felt amazing to feel unwind, instead of being all coiled up.

Grabbing the soft towel from the computer desk chair, I headed for the shower but never made it as I tumbled to my bed with a small thud. What the hell? It was my shoes that were on the floor, and I tripped over them, and people wonder how I'm on the lacrosse and basketball team. I could be graceful really, but sometimes in the morning, the tiredness got to me.

Entering the bathroom, and I quickly turned the water on, hot with a hint of cold water. The shower steamed up before I stripped and got in, the extremely scalding water met with my front and I turned to lean my forearms on the tiles, loving the hot boiling water beating down on my back. It lulled me to a relaxed state, to where if I stayed long enough, I would probably fall asleep in the shower, and I've done it before.

Thoughts of last night came flooding back to me, jolting myself out of my deep relaxed mental state. Dad and Henry wanted me to go to the hospital and meet the colleagues of theirs. I didn't really want to but since it's my first official day, I had no idea what there was to do nor did I even know anybody that was my age or close to it.

Since I understood Henry a bit more, I knew that he would have probably dragged my ass there if he had to, so I politely accepted the offer, not wanting to be roughed up or anything this early in the morning. It was only 5:30 in the morning since dad worked as a doctor; he had to be there bright and early.

I soaped my body and shampooed my hair, the massaging of my scalp felt nice, and the stuff of yesterday seemed to leave me as the water cleaned me and going down the drain. I would be clean and new after the shower just like I would be a new fresh me, here in Alaska.

Sighing, I turned the knobs and turned the water off. Getting up this early for practice or meeting was normal, so it wasn't new to me but didn't mean that I had to like it or anything. Stepping on to the rug, trying not to get the floor wet with the droplets falling relentlessly from my dark –wavy– hair. I snatched the towel off the sink and wrapped around my thin tanned body and grabbed the other one, which was under the first towel, and put my hair into a turban style.

I went over to the door and peeked out to see no sign of life peeping anywhere. Sometimes Henry or dad comes into my tower for something without realizing that I could be undressed or getting dressed. I stepped out the bathroom with steam following me, time to pick an outfit for the day.

Appearances were important but it was a hospital for Christ sake, it's not like I needed to impress anyone. Choosing a pair of casual jeans, comfortable tennis shoes, and a long sleeved white shirt, I dried myself before putting them on and a small dab of vanilla perfume that belonged to Sarah's mom, who gave it to me as a bon voyage present. Dad would let me use some of his old coats since he had all the right and appropriate cold weather attire.

Finishing with finally touches, I grabbed my cell phone, gum, a set of house keys (never know what might happen if dad loses the keys, I have an extra.) Dad yelled from downstairs for me to hurry up or he'll 'drag my ass down there and to the hospital.'

I would love to see him try that.

"I'm here, I'm here. Let me grab a bagel and we can hit the road." I cried before running over to the counter and grabbed a bagel out of the loaf before putting butter on it and put it nice and neat into the napkin, so I could eat it on the way to the hospital.

"Excited to meet the infamous Dr. Cullen?" Henry asked batting his eyelashes femininely.

"Of course, why do you think I'm prettified?" I scoffed in a posh voice, using my hands up and down my body.

I was just kidding. I didn't date men and that would be well known throughout this place since the population literally was 3,982 people. The number may sound and look big but in reality, it wasn't. At my old school they had that many kids in the whole building or close enough.

"He's way too old for you." Dad spoke gruffly, almost embarrassed.

"I don't swing that way, daddy." I teased jutting my hip into his before following Henry out to the car with dad in tow; he was pretty much pink at forgetting things about my sexuality. He wasn't embarrassed of me because of that but it would take him a while to get used to.

…

"Gloria, this is my daughter, Jolene." Dad introduced me to a plump woman sitting at the receptionist desk, with obviously dyed red hair, chubby cheeks that you couldn't help but want to pinch. Oh, I could describe her as the female Santa Claus. With her rosy cheeks, tip of her nose was pink and leaned on the chunky side but so darn cute. Not like that, but in general.

"Oh, your dad has told me so much about you." She squeaked out before leaning over the reception counter, pulling me in a tight hug, and nearly over the counter, it shocked me about how straightforward she was. "Sorry, I'm a little too excited. Really, it's finally nice to meet you."

Jeez, she reminded me of Gloria from The Penguins of Madagascar.

"Good things, I hope." I blushed at the attention of people gossiping about me.

"The best, he could never stop blabbing on about his daughter, you, he never told us how beautiful you are. Shame on you Liam, where have you been hiding this pretty young lady?" she mocked in horror before scolding him as if he stole the last cookie from the jar, his expression was priceless, almost like a deer caught in headlights. Definitely would be labeled as a Kodak moment.

"That's good for the ego, thanks ma'am." It really was an ego booster.

"My, and what a polite woman, too. Wish my daughter was like you, unfortunately she decided to be rude and impolite, and basically she had been grounded for a long time." She sighed seemingly frustrated. I feel bad for the poor woman, I would hate to have an out of control kid but hey, we teenagers have a tendency to want to taste a bit of the wild side.

"Gloria, as much as we loved to stay around and talk, I wanted to introduce her to everyone." Dad said sweetly, not wanting to hurt her feelings. Her face dropped for a second but snapped right back into her jolly happy mood, it was infectious.

"Oh of course, I'm sorry dear. Hopefully, you'll be around?" She asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Definitely." I smiled sheepishly knowing that I would be around a lot more, maybe even apply for a small job as an assistant or work at the reception desk, really I had no clue but it's an opportunity worth chancing and earn a small amount of money.

"What woman can you manage not to charm?" Henry asked jokingly but I decided to be serious for a moment.

"Mom." I answered shortly; the whole elevator ride went silent, with the exception of the ding at every floor. Finally on the fifth floor the doors opened, Dad's beeper coincidentally started to beep wildly and he peeked down at it before letting out a big sigh, looking sympathetic to me.

"Sweetheart, I'm sorry but this an emergency." He started but I wasn't expecting him to be with me 24/7. I smiled at this because he was so considerate which mom should have learned from him. Okay, enough about that horrid woman.

"Go, I'll find something to do." I sighed dramatically, playing the fake damsel in distress and pretended to fall over into the chair, which he chuckled.

He hugged me before heading towards wherever he needed to be at.

I decided to walk down the halls, you know what could one do in a hospital that doesn't cause destruction? Yeah, it was hard to look for something but wonderingly aimlessly seemed pretty good so far, saying 'hi' to nice old ladies and gentlemen, I stopped upon hearing an slightly frustrated nurse in room 506. I didn't know whether to peak in or keep walking, minding my own business.

Curiosity won the battle.

"Mrs. Norris, will you please eat something, how about a fruit?" The nurse asked irritatingly, that wasn't the polite way to tell someone to shove good down a patient's throat. Sure, it wasn't as bad as literally doing it but if the lady didn't want to eat then she shouldn't have to. Just slip food into the tube or something. I'm not even a doctor or a nurse and I know that.

"I'm old, not stupid." She huffed. That's a witty comeback.

I decided to walk in with a little skip in my step. The nurse glanced at me seemingly wanting to slap this woman and couldn't say that I blamed her. It gets annoying when someone gets a little too difficult when all they had to do was open their mouth, chew the food, and swallow.

"Hi, I'm Jolene." I waved to the both of them.

They just looked at me and the nurse nodded in acknowledgment while the old woman, just turned away while watching the small snowflakes falling down to the ground. The nurse left in an infuriating sharp intake of air, I dismissed her with a smile, which she happily ran out of the room, not literally but still close enough.

"Do you player chess?" I asked, sitting on the edge of the bed and top of the white starchy covers and sheets.

"No." She responded, not skipping a beat.

"Sorry?"

"What?" Her face scrunched up in confusion.

"The game, Sorry." I explained shortly.

"No."

"Rummy?"

"No."

"Solitaire?"

"Will you leave if I agree to play a game of yours?" she asked getting annoyed; at least she was saying something other than 'No'.

"Yes."

I didn't even hear someone enter the room, no less the cane scrapping against the floor. "It's no use. Penny, here, wants to mourn and grieve by herself, let her. That way she can pass on peacefully without any ignorant children trying to befriend her."

The woman or elderly lady; had wild curly hair that she probably had been called sexy about forty years ago and just couldn't part with it. Her body showed that she took care of herself but with old age includes the wrinkles, smile lines and obvious loss of muscles unless you exercise everyday and eat the healthiest crap. Extremely pale but nothing compared to an albino woman.

"Um…I was just trying to be nice." I stated like it was obvious.

I had to admit that she scared me. Besides she had a weapon of choice, her cane. I swore it looked like she was about to hit me with it or something. Mrs. Norris must have noticed the straightening of back and the looks we were shooting each other. "Freda, leave her alone. We're about to play checkers, and I don't need your negative attitude in this room towards her when she's clearly trying to help me."

My mouth almost dropped open; she had the checkerboard already set up, what the heck? When did she do that? I don't remember her having the table pulled over her legs, it had originally been used to put the tray of food on but now occupied with the red and black board with the pieces on their opposing color.

"You'd rather talk to this…child, then hang with us over at the bridge table?" Freda snorted incredulously.

I was about to retort with a yell at her and say that I wasn't kid, although I was pretty young but she made it sound like I was five or eight. Dad would probably get pissed at me for being rude to a patient but would be happy to know that I was trying befriend one of the ladies that was considered to be unbreakable.

"Yes." That was all Mrs. Norris had to say before Freda stomped her foot. Yes, she actually stamped her foot on the ground before walking out with the loud banging of her cane onto the floor.

"Cool beans." I muttered quietly, just amazed at her mood swings but she was sticking up for me.

"What?" she asked curiously.

"Nothing, are you ready to play?" I asked with a bright smile.

"You are warned, I'm a master at this game." She boasted with a proud face while sticking her nose in the air ignorantly, playfully of course, which I scoffed at this display causing her to raise her eyebrows as if to say 'challenge me, I dare ya'.

"Oh, I smell a bet, grandma." I joked, but serious in a way.

She raised a white eyebrow. "Yes, as you kids call it. I place a bet, name your price."

I didn't know old people talked like that, but of course she was an exception. Because she seemed much more real than what you hear in those stories about elderly women are so melancholy and soft spoken while this woman, had laid the truth down and laid it on thick.

"Hmmm…if I win…you have to see your children again." I spoke softly not wanting to accidentally push any overemotional buttons and cause her to lash out at me.

"How'd you know about that?" she asked, surprised and shocked at my assumption.

"I didn't. You just told me."

"Sneaky girl…okay…if I win, you have to come visit me every day for this week." She spoke quietly with a hopeful voice; I feigned horror which she rolled her eyes. I watched her movements as her hand held up in mid air, I just stared at it before figuring out that she wanted to shake on it.

"It's a done deal."

We shook on it, bad move.

…

"Having fun, Mrs. Norris?"

I turned my head to the door of Penny's open door to see a gorgeous doctor, and looked to be about in his late twenties but damn; he still looked too young to be working as a doctor. He also looked like a model; he has blond hair, and is slender but muscular.

"It's been the utmost fun in years." Her voice sounded childlike but intensely trained her eyes on the checkerboard, contemplating her next moves; I'm losing big time. She was right; she is the master of this game. Checkers wasn't something I was good at especially since it required patience.

"I'm–" the blonde doctor started but I cut him off.

Politely, mind you.

"Dr. Carlisle Cullen, I'm Jolene Larsson. Nice to meet the man who is the constant topic of our household, and you are a handsome man, I thought they were just joking." I mumbled that last part but he seemed to have heard the whole thing; clear as day.

"Nice to hear that." He laughed musically but deep.

That's just weird. I've never…ever…had a man speak the way he did. Whoever his wife was, she was one lucky woman; I noticed the wedding band on his finger. Plus dad told me about how he had a wife and children, all adopted and whatnot.

"I win!" Penny yelled cheerfully.

The other elderly patients watched in shock at this old crazy lady playing games with me. She couldn't have been that bad, sure she had her issues but that doesn't call for judgment right away, you just have to try and keep trying until you break that shell. Even the doctor was shocked; okay…he seemed so…angelic. Definitely could turn lesbian, straight. Well, of course not me but others.

"Aw, come on." I cried outrageously before throwing my hands up. She laughed loudly.

Her ice queen peeled off revealing her true identity. Believe it or not, all she needed was a push in the right direction and has said that being in therapy with a group, who seemed to care about getting sympathy from another, which she made it obvious that she didn't want that. Instead she bottled it up inside

Dr. Cullen smiled and turned to me. "Your father had pointed out to me that you're attending college in the fall, and would like to get a tour around the campus." He spoke and I thought about it, dad must really trust this dude if he's going around handing out my information and concerns.

"Yeah, just to know my way around, so I don't look like a complete idiot on my first day." I offered while looking down at the thought of walking around the place (college) without knowing anyone or getting help especially since I just arrived, I don't think many people would associate themselves with the new kid, or the new person in this place.

Dr. Cullen looked thoughtful for a moment. "My son, Emmett, he can drive you there. All my children are attending to the college in the fall, I'm sure he isn't busy as we speak." I meant Carlisle; he insisted that I call him that since I was now a part of the 'hospital family'.

"That would…be great!" I grinned knowing that I get to meet his children. Dad had spoke of them being a lot like Carlisle but different in their own ways. Apparently they are very diplomatic and accurate about a lot of things but never really hang around the hospitals a lot of the times. I wouldn't either; it gets depressing at times.

"Let me call him, and we'll see." He nodded before leaving the room, to call his son.

Emmett, definitely not a name that I would give for my kid but it seemed to fit.

"Awesome." I called after him. "I demand a rematch, young lady."

Penny let out a snort. Definitely not ladylike but who cares? It was just the two of us, and I'm pretty sure that I'm not that ladylike either. I could see myself in her, except for the coldness against the world. The only conclusions that I could come up with are; A) she lost the love of her life and children, B) messed up in the brain or C) she was just plain miserable.

A, would be my answer.

…

I'm officially bored. Mrs. Norris or Penny had been asked to get rest because of her old age, oh how silly. Dad allowed me to sit in his office and play around with all the equipment although I got to see what it did. The one piece of equipment that I remembered in my life was the defibrillator, it's treatment for life-threatening heart diseases like for instance; cardiac dysrhythmia, ventricular fibrillation, and pulseless ventricular tachycardia which gets the heart beating or the pads to shock the muscles to work again.

That had a lot to do with my grandma, who had died of cardiac arrest, never could I get her picture out of my head since it happened when I was young, too young to see someone die in front my eyes. She was amazing, she loved to cook, dance, and shopping with grandpa, who would hang on to every word that came out of her mouth, but since she passed on, he was bitter cold and preferred to be isolated.

Stating and I quote: 'It would be too hard to see a loved one die again.'

"Hello there."

I jumped three feet in the air at the sudden silence breaker. It scared the crap outta me, while my heart began to hurt from the hard beating and the amount of blood pumping to my heart. I saw and literally craned my neck up to see a huge pale man, just like Carlisle staring down at me with a wide smile and dimples. What's with everyone looking this good, it's gotta a major blow to all people's self esteem.

"Err…Who are you?" I asked not realizing my voice had wavered.

"Emmett Cullen, I'm your ride around the college campus."

What? This is gonna be interesting to say the least.