"Trust your hunches, they are usually based on facts filed away below the conscious level."

-Dr. Joyce Brothers

***

I stayed at the hospital with Bella all day, well... when I could.

The doctors dragged me away to a different room shortly after we got there. He said that my heartbeat increased dramatically and my breathing slowed, so they wanted to make sure I wouldn't pass out or something. The main thing I learned from this whole experience is that oxygen masks are very uncomfortable.

"Court!" I heard the familiar musical voice of Alice Cullen cry as she walked into the room. I waved at her from my upright position, tapping on the mask with my pointer finger.

"Holy crap, are you okay? I thought you were gonna pass out! Jasper wanted to be here, but he doesn't really do well with blood- you know how it is. Oh my gosh, are you okay? I know I already said that but-"

I held up my hand, flashing Alice a thumbs up as I fiddled with the mask over my mouth.

"No, honey, you need that! Please don't take it- okay, you took it off."

I took a deep breath, thankful to rely on my own lungs again. "On the contrary." I began, my voice raspy. "I think that this is a n excellent learning experience for me. I mean, are you really living if you haven't been to the hospital at least once in your life?"

Alice shook her head, a sad smile on her pink lips. "That is such a weird outlook on life."

"I know." I shrugged my shoulders, running the thin fabric of the hospital sheets in between my fingers. "But I have never been normal."

My phone vibrated from inside of my pocket, and I slipped it out, pulling the hood of Jasper's sweater up. "It's Jazz." I informed Alice, coughing once deeply, a sound that threw my friend into a panic frenzy. "Put that mask back on right now!" She ordered, dancing over to me and fitting it over my mouth and nose. I rolled my eyes, focusing on the screen in my hand.

Jasper:

Are you okay? Please tell me you're not dead.

Jasper:

Courtney??

Jasper:

Come on doll, if you don't answer I will break into the hospital.

I couldn't prevent the smile that slipped on to my face at Jasper's over-protective nature.

Courtney:

I had a mild panic attack, I didn't get shot. Take a deep breath.

Courtney:

I would do that too, but the oxygen mask makes it hard not too.

I gestured for Alice to come closer, she wrapped her arm around me and playfully pouted at the camera, while I flashed Jasper a piece sign. I grinned at the selfie from inside of the bulky mask, sending it to Jasper.

Courtney:

I will take more then a couple minutes of barely breathing to get me.

Jasper:

That picture is all kinds of cute.

Courtney:

I know, and BTW, you are never getting this sweater back.

Jasper:

That's okay. Right when you get out, I am coming to your house.

Courtney:

Ohh... Charlie won't like that.

Jasper:

One of my skills is breaking into houses.

Courtney:

Same!!!!!

Jasper:

See you soon, doll.

I leaned my head on Alice's shoulder, putting my phone back in the big pocket of Jasper's My hoodie, when I heard voices from behind the curtains that separated me from Bella.

"I am fine, the car didn't even hit me! Look, I am better then I have ever been!" I heard Bella's voice, and I was sure she was trying to assure our father.

"You can leave me alone dad, I don't think I could manage hurting myself in this hospital room! Go see Courtney, she was pretty freaked out."

I heard some more mumbling that I couldn't make out, and then the curtain was pulled aside, revealing a very distraught looking Charlie, and Carlisle, who moved his finger over a pile of forms.

"Courtney Swan." Carlisle flashed me a white-toothed grin as he looked up from his papers. "How are you feeling?"

I flashed him a thumbs up, waving at Charlie, who dropped to his knee's in front of me and examined my face, as if thinking he could see any physical damages of a panic attack.

"Mild panic attack, symptoms may include shortage of breathing, increased heart rate, and feeling faint, which, I assume Miss. Swan experienced today." Carlisle explained to my father, while I pulled at the straps of the oxygen mask.

"Let's get that off of you." Carlisle came and pulled the mask off, I took another deep breath, not-so-subtly inhaling the scent on my new hoodie. It was calming. And right now, I need a little calm.

While Carlisle and Charlie signed my release form, I pulled out my phone on more time to text Jasper.

Courtney:

Just leaving now, if you really want to break in through my window, I have blue curtains and will be home in about an hour.

Jasper:

Got it.

I chuckled dryly, standing up and stretching my legs. He has a weird sense of humor as well, as if he is going to climb in my window.

"You ready to go, Court?" My dad asked, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. I nodded, turning to give Alice a hug. She didn't squeeze me as tight as she usually did, but I appreciated the comfort that her cold skin provided. "Thank you." I whispered, resting my cheek on her sleek hair. "It was nice to have someone here for me."

Alice sighed, wrapping her arms around my waist. "Of course, that's what best friends do."

***

The car ride home was awkward and silent, Bella was still at the hospital, but would be discharged soon.

"Are you sure you feel alright?" Charlie asked yet again, staring at me from the corner of his eyes, as if waiting for me to snap. I nodded. "Yes, dad, I am okay... promise." I added the promise at the end, so I could slip out of the car without any further examination. "I love you." I smiled softly at my dad, who grinned widely in response.

I made a beeline for the fridge as soon as I made it into the warm embrace of my home. I grabbed a granola bar, before running up to my room. I grabbed my glasses off of the bathroom counter, cleaning off the lenses as I walked into my room, slipping my glasses on as I entered.

I screamed, dropping the granola bar in my hand as I saw the blond boy sitting cross-legged on my bed. He was up in a flash, standing in front of me and shutting the door with one hand. I stood there, my hand over my mouth as I listened for Charlie. I heard his cruiser pull out of the driveway, and exhaled in relief.

"What are you doing?" I hissed, stepping around Jasper and into my room, thanking my past self for cleaning earlier.

"I came in through the window." He defended, following me as I glanced out my window. There was literally nothing he could have used to climb up here.

"What? Are you a professional stunt man now?" I asked, gesturing out the window. He bit his lip, shrugging. "Yes."

Despite the situation, I laughed.

"oh." I sighed, running my hands on my face. "Charlie is so going to kill me."

"No he won't." Jasper defended. "I won't let him."

"How sweet."

I sat down on my bed, patting the spot next to me, which Jasper sat down on.

"I'm glad you're okay." He muttered, staring at my face so intensely that it was probably bright red. "Thank you." smiled softly at him. "And thanks for being there for me, it was nice to have the comfort."

"Any time."

We sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, my head on his shoulder, his cold finger tracing intricate patterns on my shoulder. "Courtney?" He finally mumbled, breaking the spell on the room. I hummed in reply, my eyes already drooping.

"You know, you should always feel safe around me." He began, tightening his grip around my shoulders as I yawned. "I would never let anything happen to you."

I could only half-comprehend what he was saying now, as I unconsciously snuggled into his side. "Your special, Courtney." He twirled the ends of my hair, "and I-"

That was when I slipped into unconsciousness.

Jasper didn't know how long he laid there, just watching her sleep. He had scooped her up in his arms, not faltering, because her whole 130 pounds felt like feather weight to him. Jasper gently laid her on her bed, watching the sun set below the horizon. He heard Bella enter the house, and go straight to her room. So he stayed, just staring at Courtney's relaxed face. He soaked up her emotions, letting the pure contentment roll over him like a wave on the ocean.

She looked so peaceful in her slumber. Her whole face was soft, and her lips were lifted at the edges in a small smile. He leaned his head on the pillow, listening to her slowed breathing.

Once the sun had completely disappeared, Jasper slid out of the window, jumping down and landing on his feet, as graceful as a cat. He took off running, his hair blowing behind him and the wind caressing his face. When he arrived at his house minutes later, cracking the door open and slipping inside, praying that he wouldn't encounter any of his siblings.

"Where have you been?"

Jasper clenched his eyes shut tight, sighing deeply as he turned, and was faced with an amused looking Alice, who smirked at him with her hands on her hips. He shook his head. "Nowhere."

Alice smirked again, shaking silently as she tried to withhold her giggles. "Sure." She muttered. "You smell like lavender."

Jasper's mouth dropped open, and if he could blush, he would. "I do not!"

"Hey, who smells like lavender?" Emmett asked as he walked in the room. His face was already smug.

"Shut up." Jasper grumbled, trying to maneuver around his big brother.

"Why are you guys so interested in my life? Edward watches Bella sleep at night." Jasper defended, crossing his pale arms.

"Yeah, but Courtney is my best friend." Alice pressed, following Jasper up the stairs. "I don't want either of you to do something you'll regret."

Sensing her unease, Jasper whipped his body around blocking the top of the stairs. "What do you mean?"

Alice sighed. "Courtney has a temper, and she is really... outspoken. I don't want you to loose your temper and do something you'll regret."

Jasper's nostrils flared. "You think that I would do that?" He asked, his voice softer and his face betraying the hurt he was feeling. "Do you seriously think I would hurt her?"

"No!" Alice was quick to defend. "No that's not what I meant!"

"well, I'll have you know that I would never hurt Courtney. I would never hurt a human." He sneered the word like it was venom.

"Not again."