"Healing doesn't mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls our lives."

-Unknown

***

THIRD PERSON POV

"Fucking shit."

A short, pink haired girl shoved her way through a hospital, opening the door of a room with enough force to break a million bones.

"Oh my God." Her hand flew to her mouth as she took in the scene in front of her. Nearly the entire Cullen family were gathered on the uncomfortable seats on a hospital bed. They all weren't supposed to be in there, but they got too since their dad works at the hospital.

Courtney Swan lay on the bed, her hair fanned around her head like a halo, various tubes attached to her arms. She looked too pale, and her lips were down turned like she was having a bad dream. Jasper Hale was at her side, holding her hand in his and pressing his lips against her skin. He hates hospitals, everyone knows, but nothing matters to him right now other then the girl on the bed.

"Oh, um, hey." The newcomer waved awkwardly, not exactly knowing how to react to her newfound knowledge of the world. She was staring at a room full of blood sucking mythical beasts.

"You're all... super hot."

A few of the Cullen's managed weak chuckles at the girls straight forwardness, Rosalie taking note at how Alice's lips parted slightly when the other girl walked in. Suddenly the whole smelling the pillows thing made sense.

"Is she okay?" Sadie asked, her eyes widening in concern at the girls opinion.

"She just almost killed plus stabbed with a small blade, but yeah she's fine." Rosalie elbowed Emmett's stomach, at the same moment Alice reached over to smack the back of his head. Sadie managed a weak smile.

"She got a concussion once playing baseball-"

"Yeah with that Bitch Kelly Davidson."

"She was a bitch." Sadie Michaels mumbled, "she was in the hospital, and the first thing she said when she woke up was that she wished she had hit her harder."

"Why?" Alice asked, keeping her eyes on the girl. She was entranced by the way the dyed pink strands around her head floated, and how the bandage around her head probably meant she wasn't supposed to be here.

"Wanted to have to wear a bandage, like this I guess-" She self consciously pulled a strand of her hair. "Said it would make her look bad ass."

"She is bad ass." Emmett muttered. "She jumped right on him, managed to knock him over."

"I know. I feel bad. I should've done something."

"You couldn't have." Alice jumped in, standing up, and then immediately sitting back down next to Rosalie, "I mean, you didn't know anything about this, it would have been confusing as well as scary for you."

"I thought it would be." Sadie blushed deeply, and the fairy-like Vampire wished more then anything Edward was here to say what she was thinking. "But none of you are scary... except for you-" She pointed at Emmett, who laughed loudly. "And, you." She pointed to Rosalie, who smirked in satisfaction, leaning back into her husbands embrace.

"Still super hot though, like damn." She whistled through her teeth. "I may be super gay, but that much is obvious."

"She shouldn't have gone." Jasper muttered, still staring holes into her head, as if his emotion control could will her awake. He had snapped at Alice right after, reprimanding her for letting Courtney go on her own. He wasn't really mad though, just scared and overwhelmed.

Nobody spoke, nobody knew what to say.

"She'll be fine, Jazz." Alice finally spoke. "Carlisle fixed her. She'll be fine."

Jasper stood up abruptly, turning and flashing Sadie a look that would make even the toughest of vampire falter. Sadie tilted her chin up, keeping eye-contact. "Shouldn't you be in your room?"

"You're not the only one who cares about Courtney." Sadie sassed, and the three spectators all made faces and looked away.

"She went off when she knew it was dangerous, to save you."

"Because that's what Courtney does. She helps the people she loves. I am sure she would have done the same to you. I am sure she knew the risk. I am sure she knew."

"That I am the better twin? I'm pretty sure I already knew that."

"Courtney!"

The girl herself blinked a few times, as if she forgot where she was. She then winced once. "Goddamn." She mumbled under her breath. "Usually when I say I am going to stab myself I mean it as a joke."

"You saved Bella's life." Jasper whispered, bending down to hold her hand. Courtney let out a short, dry chuckle.

"Why the hell are you in a hospital?" She scolded, and Jasper bent his head to laugh, "I wanted to make sure you're okay."

"You think it'll take that much to get rid of me?" She teased, her lips quirking up in a smirk. "Please, I thought you knew me better then this, Jazzy."

"You scared me."

"That asshole James scared me." She sighed, "Can you get me that video so I can destroy it?"

Emmett smirked, standing up and walking over. "Already took care of it."

"Good.... I really don't need to see myself get beat up on video. Maybe beating people up, but not getting beat up. Hey is Bella okay?"

"Bella's fine." Sadie spoke up, and Courtney visually relaxed. "Hey, Sade."

"Hey bitch, did you miss me?"

"Hell yeah. I would hug you but I don't want to spontaneously combust. Allie, come over here so I can see you better."

Alice swanned over to the bed, inhaling deeply when she past the Michaels girl, an action that didn't go unnoticed by Courtney Swan. "Wanna smell my pillows?"

If Alice could blush, she would've. She settled for a playful glare. "I'm glad you're okay, Courtney Swan."

Her expression turned serious. "I am going to have to chip you or something."

"Whatever happens, I'll just roll with it."

This whole time, Rosalie had stayed silent. She just stared at Courtney's face. She looked tired, and worn, and relieved. But she looked beautiful. It donned on the blonde female that she wouldn't mind having Courtney as a sister for the rest of her life.

"You know what I realized when I was fighting with James?" She asked, her voice small. Se was staring at Jasper, and Jasper only. They didn't seem to notice anyone else in the room. It was like it was only them in the room.

"I didn't even think about...dying."

Jasper winced at the word.

"I just thought about what you would feel. What Bella would feel. And Alice, and Sadie, and my Dad, and my mom, even Phil. And Phil's a jackass."

"True that." Sadie muttered, sending a shy smile to Alice, who sent a similar look her way.

"I didn't want to cause anyone pain. And I just think that... life is too fragile to live it always worrying. So I'm just gonna say it." She grabbed Jasper's hands. "I have always been scared of... love. I know that probably sounds dumb. But my parents had a horrible relationship, and I guess I didn't want my life to be like that. Married to a young minor-league baseball player who is more competitive with his seventeen year old step-daughter then his actual teammates."

Sadie held back another laugh, as to not ruin the moment.

"But... You helped me realize that it isn't something to be afraid of. It's scary as shit, sure, but it is also really beautiful. I feel like even when I first met you.... My thought was immediately that you were super hot, which, don't get me wrong, is the truth."

Jasper's lips quirked up in a grin.

"But... I was confused. And intrigued. I was confused at why Alice automatically wanted to be the weird new girls friend, and why Rosalie stared me down before shaking my hand. Or, how Emmett already knew a bunch about me because Alice told him-" She chuckled. "Or how Edward was described as the 'emo' kid, but then got into a super weird debate with Emmett. Carlisle and Esme both welcomed me with open arms despite not knowing anything about me as a person, just, witnessing that... I realized that love doesn't have to just be with one person. Sure, I love you in a different way, but I love all of you. You guys are like the perfect family I never really got. I love Bella, I love my dad, I love my mom.... but you guys are the first people to understand me more. So I love all of you for that. And I just wanted to say thank you."

Jasper bit his lip, leaning down to peck Courtney's forehead. "You are the best friend I have ever had."

She grinned, blushing. "Ditto."

She looked up to see Sadie looking down at the pair. She had her teeth clasped around the inside of her cheek. "I love you too.. Wanna go to prom?"

She chuckled. "Yeah. Yeah I do."

"Because you're not." She pointed at Jasper. "I know."

"I'm expecting a dance from you too, Als... don't know how much I trust Emmett."

"Yo, if I don't dance with you, it's not a real prom!"

Courtney giggled. "Assuming I'll be discharged by next week."

"You should be. And Bella's doing great. She'll have to wear a cast, something she won't like, but it'll be fine." Sadie informed. "Also you're gonna have a badass scar."

Courtney laughed again, squeezing Jasper hands and letting herself get lost in his eyes.

"I'm okay with that." 

A/N: We have a prom chapter, and then some sad shit is gonna start.... Get excited, guys!