A/N Hi! So I am very excited to report that I got a review from Dalonega Noquisi and another one from Da RaNdOm Person. Thank you! I am also here to tell you that the closer it gets to the school year the more time there will be in between chapters getting published. Hopefully is shouldn't go over a week but I will make two weeks my max. If I haven't published in that time feel free to hit me over the head with a Psychology text book. This one took a little longer because my mom deleted half of it and I had to retype it. Oh, and I don't own Twilight, unfortunately. And also, I don't have any medical experience; I'll try to my best with the injuries and from what I learned from a single trip to the emergency room. Don't eat me if it's not that good.
There's snow covering the ground, and I have to drive again this morning. I argue with Jace throughout breakfast that he should drive because he has more experience than I do. I haven't had my license very long because I have a late birthday. I'm only sixteen right now. Michigan laws are strange.
Finally just before we leave my mom solves our dilemma. She says she agrees with me that Jace should drive. I can tell from the way she does it she's trying to get on my good side.
"My revenge is complete," I say as I get into the passenger seat of the car. I attempt an evil villain expression and Jace looks surprised as he turns the car on.
"This is your revenge?" He seems skeptical. I have to admit this rather tame compared to what I've done before. Once, Jace read one of my stories and I had told everyone in my family not to. I put tampons in his bag for Boy Scout camp. It was hilarious when he came back and told me it had fallen out right in front of his pack leader. He was thirteen. He quit Boy Scouts the very next day. Another time he stole a book I was reading. First I turned his room upside down to see if the book was in there, and then I covered it in toilet paper. There were some that were even more outlandish, but I won't mention them here. In short, you would think he would've learned to not do things I don't like. But no.
"Yep," I reply. "I don't have time for your stupid pranks right now. I have a mystery to solve."
"What kind of mystery? This isn't something you're making up in your head is it?" he groans. Last time I wrote a short story about a mystery it was action packed, and I needed a test dummy for fight scenes. Jace excelled at being dragged onto his rear end by me in some way or another.
"No, this is a real mystery, it's called Jasper Hale." I say Jasper's name with a little emphasis. Normally, I don't like to pry where other people don't want me, but Jasper is just irresistible. I had spent previous night writing up a story about a character that reminded me of him. In the story the main character, Shane, has a secret. The secret is that Shane is cursed. Whenever somebody loves him, whether it's brotherly, motherly, or romantic love they die a terrible death. Because of this, Shane is aloof from society and just trying to make it through high school without killing anybody. Then he figures he'll just get through his life alone, working for some big corporation.
"Lizzie has a boyfriend!" Mark calls from the back seat. He says that every time I mention a guy that isn't related to me.
"You wish, Squirt!" I smile and look at my grinning little brother in the rearview mirror. "Then you could tell Dad and freak him out." My father would freak out if I got a boyfriend, especially now that he was going to be so far away all the time. He'd get just a little over controlling and then we'd all be in trouble.
"Yes," Jace rolls his eyes. "That would bode well for all of us." Jace has a girlfriend named Bekki back in Michigan, who is also one of my best friends. Once he graduates from high school he plans to go back to our home state and go to college with her at the University of Michigan.
"It'd be interesting to say the least." I sigh with longing as we reach the end of our driveway. I've never had a boyfriend.
My brother decides that now is a wonderful time to point that out.
"You've never had a boyfriend, Liz. What makes this guy so worth investigating? Isn't he the one I almost egged in the head with that snowball?"
"Yes, you did almost whack him with a slush ball. Fortunately he was able to defend himself." Then I have to put into words what makes him so interesting. "He's worth investigating because, well… He's just so different and… so inviting." I think about how odd Jasper Hale is. First off his eyes change colors drastically. I've never met a person whose eyes change from black to gold. Second, he's so standoffish, and no one really knows why. I doubt it's because the Cullens think they're better than everyone else, except maybe Rosalie. Third, he told me he's dangerous, just not in those words. He said. "After this project you should know to stay away from me." It's exactly like something Shane from my story would have said. The way Jasper said it though; it felt like a challenge, even if it wasn't meant that way. I'd have to solve this mystery if I wanted to sleep at night.
"Ooo, inviting, such a spectacular quality," Jace taunts. Then he glances back at my little brother. "Hey Mark don't unbuckle-"
"Jace look out!" I shriek. A deer has just appeared from the woods on the side of the road and we're about to hit it.
"Shit!" Jace swears out loud and swerves. The worst thing he can do, and the ice on the road doesn't. We careen towards the woods and into a large tree trunk. The airbags inflate with a crack on impact and we are all thrown forward. The windshield shatters. I feel like I'm being hit by a steam engine when I collide with airbags. All of this happens in less than 15 seconds.
After this I'm incredibly lightheaded and woozy, but surprisingly conscious, though I cannot comprehend what just happened. It all went by so fast. Slowly the lightheadedness fades and I then I snap back into reality.
"Shit!" I repeat Jace's words and look at him next to me. He's in an awkward position, leaning slightly to the right since he just turned from looking at Mark. There's some blood dripping from his head down the dashboard, I can't really see the rest of his body.
I try to turn and look at Mark, but there's a pain in my right leg as I attempt to shove off and turn around. I don't even look to see what it is; if I do I might pass out. My next thought is: cell phone. Then I groan, all the cell phones are in our school bags in the trunk. Jace can't use his while driving and I only really use mine when I need too. Crap
"Mark," I say, but my voice is shaky. "Mark?"
No reply. I close my eyes and lay my head against the head rest. If we get out of this whole I'm never letting Jace drive again. You never swerve to avoid deer. It's better to hit the breaks or hit them head on. Always maintain control of the vehicle! Didn't he pay attention in driver's ed.?
I open my eyes. There's got to be a way to get out of this. Then something moves in my peripheral vision. Lord knows if it's that deer I'm going to strangle it. But it isn't a deer at all.
Jasper Hale walks out of the woods, and though he's walking, he looks perplexingly still, like he's not breathing. Then he randomly takes a deep breath and walks up to the SUV.
The first words out of his mouth are, "Have you called the emergency services?"
Honestly, I was hoping for something a little more emotional like "Are you okay?" but I guess that works too. Anyway if he had said are you okay I probably would have said something similar to "Does it look like it?"
Currently, I shake my head no. He instantly backs up a few steps and whips out his cell phone. The exchange takes less than a minute and then he starts to walk back into the woods. All of a sudden I'm scared. I realize how alone I am with my two unconscious brothers.
"Don't leave," I whisper in my still shaky voice. I'm so quiet and he's so far away I doubt he can hear me. But then he turns around and stares at me. I stare back, I feel… vulnerable. That's never a good sign.
Jasper visibly exhales and leans against a tree one hundred yards away, watching me. He barely moves until the ambulance arrives. Once it does, Jasper turns away and disappears into the trees.
The paramedics see that I'm awake and tell me that they're going to get my brothers out of the car first because they are both unconscious and probably in more serious condition. I agree by a simple shake of my head. They make quick work of getting the two of them out and then come back for me. I try to tell them that I can almost certainly limp but they say not and put me in a neck brace and on a stretcher just like my brothers. My knee is huge. It's the size of a balloon I swear.
My ambulance goes back to Forks hospital without all the sirens and flashing lights. My brothers on the other hand aren't so lucky. I hear their sirens blaring away. Everybody is asking me questions. I answer to the best of my abilities.
We quickly arrive at Forks Hospital, and all three of us are put in the Emergency Room. Since I am the only one who is lucid, I get barraged with questions about all three of us. Then a doctor tells me my brothers' conditions. Jace is apparently the worst. He most likely has a concussion, his nose and a few ribs are broken, and one of the ribs has punctured a lung. His ankle is twisted and may be broken, and there are probably some cases of internal bleeding. He has a crack in his skull and might have a concussion. They tell me he's not anywhere near dying, but he is going to be in a lot of pain for a while.
Mark is in good condition compared to Jace; he's coming around and may have a minor concussion and a big bump on his head, but other than a few minor bumps and bruises. Apparently he was buckled in.
As for myself, I beat them both. I have just been tested negative for a concussion and have a few little bumps a bruises. My only problem is my leg which is really swollen at the knee. After an x-ray the doctor says it's slightly dislocated and bruised, but after a few weeks and a minor adjustment it should be back to normal.
Then my mother comes in.
"Oh my goodness, Lizzie you're alright." She instantly comes to my bed and attempts to hug me and I put my arms up in front of me in defense.
"Yes, Mom. I'm fine. Mark is over there, and he's worse than I am, you should go see him."
"He worse than you?" she is upset now, Mark is her baby.
"Yes, Mom," I say, playing on her fears. "He might have a concussion so he won't remember who you are."
This freaks my mother out and she starts heading to his area when a blond doctor walks up to her. A very good looking blond doctor. He reminds me of someone on a soap opera, only much better looking. His expression is very caring.
"Are you Mrs. Monarch?" he asks my mom.
"Yes," she nods and looks fervently at my brother's curtain.
"Well it's a good thing you're here," he smiles, and the chuckles to himself. "Well I suppose it's not a good thing, but I'm sure your children are glad you're here. I'm Dr. Cullen," he formally introduces himself, and explains to me why he's so good looking. "I'll be taking over for Dr. Gerandy." He says this for my sake and not my mother's.
"So how are my children?" Mom questions. "Will they be okay? Are they going to need surgery? How long are they-?"
"Calm down, Mrs. Monarch," he soothes her in a methodical voice. "All three of your children will be fine. They were in a low speed car accident with a tree. They were only going about thirty miles per hour according to your daughter. She's in the best shape. She as a few bumps, but the worst part is her knee. We'll have to snap that back into place and she'll have to wear a cast for about four weeks and she might need some physical therapy but after that she'll be perfectly fine. She can go home today. Your younger son has a mild concussion and we're going to keep him here until it passes. Your older son is more serious, and we may have to keep him here a while. If you can come with me please…" He motions with his arm towards where I presume they are keeping Jace. Then he addresses me, "Some nurses should be here soon to fix your leg. After they do that and your mother finishes visiting your brothers, you are free to leave. I don't think you should be driving with that leg." He smiles warmly. I like Jasper's adopted father.
I close my eyes and lie back, because I obviously have nothing better to do. It's also kind of relaxing until-
"Lizzie?" a startled voice comes from my left.
My eyelids snap open, and I crane my neck. "Bella?"
Bella has a neck brace on and is being transferred from a stretcher to an actual hospital bed. A flurry of hospital personnel ensues around Bella's bed, and during that time three nurses come to relocate my leg, which is currently swaddled in bandages.
"Now sweetheart," the nurse who is apparently in charge of the operation says, "this is going to hurt. I'm going to put your knee back in place while Nurse Hilliard and Nurse Conway hold you down. Try to stay calm please. Then we are going to put your knee in a brace. Are you ready?"
"Um, sure?" I've never actually had anyone tell me that something is going to hurt. Most people try to break it to me nicely.
One nurse grabs my calf while the other seizes my upper leg very tightly. The head nurse, whose name tag says Nurse Melanie Vale, glances at me and then starts unwrapping the temporary bandage. My knee is nasty. It's literally the bigger than a softball and is black and blue all over. It's a gruesome sight. Very carefully Nurse Vale begins to manipulate it and it hurts like hell. I end up gripping the bed sheet with both hands and arching my back in pain. I grit my teeth and tell myself grin and bare it. You can hear cracking when she moves it in one direction.
After a long minute she removes her hands and I relax slightly. It still twinges but it is far more bearable. Then the nurse prods it quickly and thoroughly. She decides her work is satisfactory and grabs the brace from the table beside my bed. She's careful when she puts on, trying not to hurt me anymore. Then she smiles.
"You did wonderful, dear. Now, you will have to use crutches for a month or so, but after that if you come back and get your knee checked out and the doctor says everything is okay your life should be back to normal. I'm pretty sure Dr. Cullen said he would bring your crutches by. If he doesn't just give us a ring." She motions to the little remote attached to the bed. Then she and the two other nurses leave to attend to some other patient. I sigh in relief and almost fall back to my bed, but then I remember Bella. I throw my legs over the left side of the bed and turn to face her. She's wide-eyed and slightly green.
"So…" I try diffusing the tension, "Why are you here?"
"Car accident," she replies.
"Oh me too," I say, somewhat relieved that I'm not the only one who butted heads with misfortune. "You don't look as banged up as I do though."
"It's… difficult to explain," her face contorts with frustration, the Edward Cullen glides in and stands at the foot of Bella's bed.
"Oh, hello Elizabeth," he says when he notices me. "What happened?"
"Car accident."
"Oh, Bella and I were just in one as well, though it doesn't look like it was as serious as yours." His full attention turns to Bella. "So what's the verdict?"
"There's nothing wrong with me at all," Bella complains, "but they won't let me go. How come you aren't strapped to a gurney like the rest of us?"
"It's all about who you know," he answers. "But don't worry, I came to spring you. I suppose I can help Elizabeth as well, it looks like she should be about done here."
"Thank God," I mutter silently. I though I was going to be stuck in the hospital forever.
Dr. Cullen then sweeps by my bed, leaning crutches up against it.
"There you go Elizabeth; you are free to go whenever you have someone to drive you." He transfers to Bella. "So how are you feeling Miss Swan?"
"I'm fine," Bella replies, she sounds wary of those words.
"Hmm," Dr. Cullen walks over to the wall and turns on a light board with x-rays of a cranium.
"Your x-rays look good," he remarks. "Does your head hurt? Edward says you hit it pretty hard."
"It's fine," Bella repeats. I wonder how many times she has said that today.
Dr. Cullens probes her head much like the nurse probed my knee. Bella winces.
"Tender?" he asks, concerned.
"Not really," Bella's lips pull into a tight smile.
"Well," Dr. Cullen sighs, "Your father is in the waiting room- you can go home with him now. But if you feel dizzy or something is wrong with your eyesight report back here immediately."
"Can't I go back to school?" Bella pleads. Lucky. At least she actually made it to school.
"You should probably take it easy Miss Swan," he says patronizingly.
"Does he get to go to school?" she looks pointedly at Edward.
"I don't think he has to," Dr. Cullen chuckles, "It appears that the majority of your classmates are in the waiting room."
"Oh no," Bella moans at the same time I slap my hand on my forehead. Dr. Cullen and Edward look my way.
"What?" I ask innocently, "They're my classmates too."
"She is right," Bella runs to my defense.
"Well," Dr. Cullen's brow puckers. "You could stay here."
"That won't be necessary," I reply as I inch towards the crutches. "I'll just go find my mother and let her know I need to evacuate the premises as soon as possible." Hopefully my mother would understand my need to avoid attention and just get some rest.
"Your mother is very worried about you brother Jace," Dr. Cullen interjects. "It may be a while." I hesitate. There's no point in going and begging her to leave Jace. That'd just be cruel and unfeeling. I'd want to see him and Mark myself if I wasn't so worn down.
"That's okay," Bella says. "I'm sure Charlie wouldn't mind taking her home."
"That'd be great Bella," I say. It's much better than staying at the hospital.
"I assume that means you plan on going home too Miss Swan?" Dr. Cullen inquires.
"Yep," Bella nods.
"Take some Tylenol for the pain," he suggests to her. He smiles at me and says, "I'll go tell your mother you have found a way to 'evacuate the premises.'" I'm glad he found my wording so amusing. The gorgeous blond doctor leaves Bella, Edward, and me alone.
"Lizzie," Bella requests, "Can you go into the waiting room and tell Charlie you will be riding with us? I'll only be a minute." She eyes Edward, thick with implications.
I give them some privacy and go wait with Charlie. He's easy to find because he's the only one dressed like a policeman.
My father calls me after I've been home for a couple hours. He's freaking out and apologizing profusely for not being able to come down and see me. It takes me several minutes to calm him down and assure him none of us are on the verge of dying. He says his work is keeping him from seeing us. I tell him we understand and tell him I'll see him this weekend.
I write more about Shane that evening, once I figure out how to navigate the stairs. Jasper has given me a ton of material to work with. Now, if only I could figure out his secret.