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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐓𝐖𝐎

    𝐀 𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐀𝐓 dripped down the back of Liz's neck, her heart rate slightly elevated and a slight pain coming from her knee with each step she took was more than bearable. She was pushing past her normal rate, wanting to beat her record for how many minutes she can last on the treadmill. She was reaching her limit, but she was so close that she persevered.

    Her physical therapist was by her side with a stopwatch in hand and a clipboard of her chart tucked under his armpit. Antonio has been by her side since she came back from California. Her last PT in Santa Cruz was a young woman named Cynthia. She was nice, but kind of a pushover and didn't really have an authority tone when it came to instructing her patients. Physical therapists are supposed to push you to face your fears, help you through the healing process and make sure you don't overdo it.

    Cynthia had been new to the job and Liz was one out of two of her patients so she was still getting the hang of it. Liz preferred Antonio. He was older, mid forties and was built almost as big as Emmett. Definitely a lot taller than Emmett though, just not as built in muscle. He was kind of attractive for his age, dark skin with making eyes. His voice was so deep that it screamed authority. When Liz first met him, she had to admit she was a little intimidated by him. But in her mind he was a total upgrade from Cynthia because he knew what he was doing.

     Plus, he had a way of sympathizing with her about her knee without making her feel less about herself.

    "Okay," his deep voice snapped the blonde out of her thoughts, hitting the button on his stopwatch and grinning up at her to show off his pearly white beautiful set of teeth. "Twenty-one minutes and fifty-six seconds. You've obviously beaten your record of twenty minutes and twelve seconds."

    Liz let out a breathless laugh, looking over at the stopwatch. "Oh I know I can go for longer than that."

    Antonio immediately shook his head and reached over to turn the treadmill down from the speed it was going in until it came to a steady stop. "Not today, little one. Your leg is starting to shake. Come with me to the table, I'll stretch it and then we are done for today."

    Normally a stubborn Liz would argue, but she has learned that it doesn't work on Antonio. Cynthia, yes. She would have caved against her better judgment. Another reason why Liz liked Antonio better. She just hopes Cynthia gets some backbone in her soon before she lets a patient push themselves past their breaking point.

    So she limped her way towards one of the stretching tables and took her time laying down flat on her back. She lifted her left leg and Antonio unstrapped the brace as he always does before starting and set it aside before slowly taking ahold of her leg and slowly bringing it up to her chest. Liz winced, the first stretch always the most painful after the exercise but soon adjusted very quickly.

    "Remember to breathe," Antonio told her and she listened, closing her eyes and taking slow and steady breaths.

    This part was always her favorite of PT because it is where she felt most relaxed. It has taken her a long time not to resent this place and her attitude has changed remarkably. So much so that even Antonio pointed it out during the summer. She just shrugged it off, not really giving much detail as to why she went from being an angry teenager who lost everything and would be reluctant to do anything to this girl who gave more smiles then he has ever seen. She wasn't always rainbows and sunshine, but she was definitely different.

    Antonio didn't really understand until he saw a blonde male waiting outside for her one day to pick her up. It all became clear then.

    Liz's silent peace only lasted for two minutes when a loud voice startled her out of her blissfulness. "Don't fucking touch me!"

   Liz lifted her head in the direction of where that voice came from, scanning the room until her eyes landed on a dark haired male across the room by the front desk. He had tanner skin than Liz was used to seeing around here, making her immediately think of Danny and Jacob. His hair was dark brown, almost black, short and curly. He wore a plain white t-shirt under a blue, black and gray flannel with blue jeans. His facial expression was twisted into a deep scowl as an older woman who shared similar features stood beside him, who was most likely the person he spoke so harshly to.

    Oh another fact, he was in a wheelchair and he sat in it like he was sitting on a throne of nails. Now Liz has seen many people in this place in wheelchairs but never one with that wore the darkest look she has ever seen.

    The woman seemed to be talking to him in a calm manner, and in a low voice that Liz could not make out what she was saying, but her words only seemed to anger the young man further. His words weren't so subtle and quiet. "I said I want to go home. I don't want to be here. It's fucking pointless and a waste of fucking time."

    Liz finally turned to look at Antonio who was also watching the scene and who looked like he wanted to step in but resisted. "Antonio, who is that?"

    "New patient. Started last week, sort of." Liz started up at her PT with a confused look, as Antonio sets her leg down and slowly starts massaging the base of her knee. "His name is Nolan Reed. He was supposed to start last week but he threw some fit and he refused to let another touch him so he just sat in his wheelchair for an hour until his mother came back to pick him up."

    Liz did not recognize the name at all, which is strange because if you lived in Forks everyone knew your name, that's how small the town was. "What's he in for?"

    "Spinal injury, I believe. He apparently was supposed to go to Notre Dame on a football scholarship, full ride and everything." Antonio explains, sounding quite impressed. Liz was as well. Notre Dame. That is one of the top schools in the country and damn near impossible to get into. Kid must have been extremely talented. "From what I read on his chart, he went biking with his friends during the summer and tried to jump off a ramp. Idiot never did it before, thought it would be safe, but he wasn't holding onto the bike and was trying to flip in the air and ended up landing flat on his back on solid concrete."

    "Damn," Liz muttered, letting her imagination run wild with how high that ramp must have been. "Is he paralyzed?"

    Antonio shook his head and was finally done with the massaging, holding out his hand to help her sit up, which Liz accepted. "Nah. From his chart, it looks like the lower vertebraes were just damaged, not the spinal cord." Antonio noticed the confusion on the blonde's face and elaborated. "The bones surrounding the spinal cord. He'll walk again, but he'll never be the same as he once was."

    Liz completely understood what he meant. "And so he'll never play football again. So he can kiss his full ride scholarship to the best school goodbye."

    Antonio pointed at the girl. "Bingo." He scribbled something on her paper before patting her on the back. "Alright, we are done for today. Good work, glad to see you pushing yourself harder, but remember-"

    "Don't overdo it," Liz recited with a gentle smile. "I know, Antonio. Thank you."

    The older male grinned back. "Alright, kid. I'll see you in two weeks. Remember to keep doing your stretches."

    Liz promised and the two of them bid each other farewell, Liz going to the lockers in the back corner to grab her jacket and water bottle before making her way towards the front door.

    "I want to go home. This is pointless." Liz was brought to slow stop, turning to see Nolan Reed continue to argue with the woman who she assumes is his mother and Shawn, another PT who apparently was assigned to the boy.

    "We drove three hours for this appointment. You were kicked out of two different clinics already because of your behavior. This is your last chance because I don't know if I can find another clinic willing to take you in." His mother's voice cracked, like she wanted to burst into tears from frustration but held herself together well. Nolan didn't seem to notice and rolled his eyes.

    "I don't fucking care."

    Shawn crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at his patient. "Nolan, I get it, alright? You feel worthless and broken. You feel like the universe is against you and you feel like nothing will ever be the same. But you're wrong, because all we want to do is help you. If you keep refusing to stand, your back will never heal properly and you could become wheelchair bound for life. Is that something you want?"

    Nolan didn't say anything for the longest time, just glared down at his shoes with his hands clenching the handles on the chair. Liz couldn't help but see herself in the male. She was very hostile and rude towards Cynthia when she first started and the first two days she refused to listen to the woman. But that was until her Nana got word of her resistance and nearly knocked some sense into her. Made Liz feel like an idiot for refusing the help that she clearly needed, not if she wanted her knee to end up worse than it already was. So she complied, but she wasn't happy about it.

    After several seconds, the young boy finally looks up and glares at the PT with a deadly look. "What I want is everyone to leave me the fuck alone and for you to get your damn face out of mine."

    Shawn let out a sigh and stood back up, turning to Nolan's mother who looked so embarrassed by her son. "Mrs. Reed, may I have a moment?"

    Nodding softly, Mrs. Reed followed the man towards the other end of the room, talking in hushed whispers. Liz felt bad for the woman, as she could see her bury her face in her hands and her shoulders shook from tears, Shawn placing a comforting hand on her shoulder to console her.

    Not knowing what compelled her in that moment, but suddenly Liz found herself walking towards the dark haired boy. He didn't bother to look up at her as she approached, she just leaned against the receptionist desk and picked a jolly rancher Megan always has on display for everyone.

    "I know it sucks, but you should really start treating your mother and the people here with some respect."

    Nolan snapped his head to the right to look at the girl for the first time, a bit surprised by her sudden presence which indicated to the blonde that he had not noticed her approaching him. He frowned at her. "What?'

    Liz knew he heard her, but seemed to be just shocked that she was speaking to him so didn't bother to repeat herself and continued. "You're being a real dick. They just want to help."

    His bewildered expression turned sour yet again and he shifted his gaze away from her. "How about you mind your own business?"

    "Well, you see, when you treat the good people in this clinic like shit, people who have been nothing but kind towards me and you, it becomes my business." Nolan rolled his eyes, and that only annoyed Liz more as she not so gently shoved his shoulder, causing him to look back up at her in surprise. "Hey! You are not the only one here going through shit. I get it, you feel like a piece of your life was robbed from you because you did something stupid. But that does not give you the right to treat others, especially your mother, like shit because of your own reckless actions."

    Nolan turned his head completely towards the blonde and snarls. "You don't know me or how I feel. No one does. Everyone here didn't have their dreams snatched from right under them just before they were about to come true. You will never understand what it's like, no one ever will. What's the point in all of this if I can never play football again. So no offense, princess, but whatever you are in for is nowhere compared to mine. So fuck off and leave me the hell alone."

    Okay. I tried being nice.

    "Fine. I tried being nice, but now you've brought out my inner bitch." Liz stated before leaning down so she was face to face with this ignorant piece of shit, both her hands were now gripping both sides of his wheelchair. He backed his head away from how close she now was, and did not miss the clear darkness in her blue orbs.

    "There is one thing you should never do in a physical therapy clinic, Nolan and that's assume you know someone's story. Because you sure as hell don't know mine. So let me make something very clear to you and I'll use language you are very familiar with." Liz said, her words laced with venom that sent a nervous chill down the older male's back as he blinked at her. "I know how hard it must be to have your dreams and the future snatched away, trust me. I know. But how about being fucking graeful you are alive to be here to get this kind of help? How about being fucking grateful your mother is here by your side to help you through it? Be fucking grateful that you only lost your damn scholarship because it could of been a whole lot fucking worst."

    Nolan stared directly at Liz, not knowing what to say in response. Liz just let out a breathless chuckle, as if she didn't just yell at a stranger just a second ago. She kept eye level with him but removed her hands from both sides and unwrapped the jolly rancher, popping it in her mouth and gave the male a nod in understanding. "Think about that next time you want to make your mother cry. Have a nice day, Nolan Reed."

    Without another word, Liz left the clinic with a stunned former football player staring after her as she left.

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    𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 arrived at her party at the Cullen household when Liz assisted her best friend by stealing Bella's keys and then sneaking out of the house without being noticed and towards Bella's beat up, rusty old truck. There, Liz was helping Emmett install a new radio he had gotten her for a birthday present.

    Well, help is a loose word. Basically she just sat in the passenger seat chewing on a bag of gummy bears Esme had gotten because she knows how much she likes sweets while occasionally handing Emmett the wrong tools when he asked for them and the male having to describe in great detail what the specific tool looked like.

    Emmett was currently screwing in the radio after finishing connecting all the wire, but was now laughing loudly after Liz just finished telling him the story of what went on during PT this afternoon. She went home, shower and got dressed, in sweatpants and a t-shirt in hopes of making Alice stick to her 'threat', which the pixie vampire did. Now Liz was in a simple short navy blue dress that flowed when she spun. It was simple and elegant, and she loved it.

    Liz threw her head back and groaned when Emmett wouldn't stop laughing. "It's not funny, dude. I really should have minded my own damn business."

    "Yeah but that's not your style," Emmett smirked, his shoulders still shaking from laughter. "Sounds like this kid needed his ass handed to him. You are just a little firecracker waiting to be lit, aren't you, speed racer? I only wish I was there to have seen it."

    Liz couldn't help herself from joining in on the laughter, finding it amusing. She had been embarrassed after her confrontation with Nolan Reed. She regretted it immediately, not knowing what had come over her. She didn't like the way he was treating the good people at the clinic almost as much as she didn't like seeing the way he was treating his mother. So she snapped.

    "Next time I'll try to get my explosions on tape."

    "Promise?" Emmett asked playfully, which only earned a shoved nudge from the blonde. She couldn't blame Emmett for finding this amusing, mostly because when she told Jasper on the way over here what happened, he too could not contain his laughter.

    Emmett finished up rather quickly and the two made their way back up to the house where everyone was gathered. Bella had disappeared with Edward upstairs when she arrived, Alice claiming she wasn't finished setting everything up. Liz's eyes locked with her favorite golden pair and separated from her best friend, taking Jasper's outstretched hand interlocking their fingers, while she grabbed his arm with her other hand. Jasper leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek.

    "Get a room, you two." Emmett teased, taking his place beside a bitter looking Rosalie who nudged him in annoyance. Jasper just sent him a sharp glare while Liz flipped him the bird.

    "Do you two need a time out?" Esme said, a part of her serious while the other was trying to hide her amused smile.

    "Sorry Esme." Liz immediately said while Emmett mocked her. Rosalie hit him in the arm just in time for Alice to appear with Edward and Bella behind her, the latter pausing at the top of the stairs at the sight of what Alice and Esme put together.

    It was very beautiful. Candles lit all over the room with several boutiques of red and yellow roses, softly music playing from the stereo. There was a small birthday cake, one Liz was excited to dig into. The only good thing about birthdays was not the presents, it was the cake. Alice even made her day by telling her it was chocolate.

    Bella stared at them a bit stunned and slightly embarrassed from the attention but shook out of it as Alice led her down the steps, Edward silently following behind. Carlisle and Esme approached the birthday girl first, Carlisle reaching out to take the brunette's hands. "Sorry about all of this. We tried to rein Alice in."

    "As if that were possible," Esme mused, pulling the girl into an embrace. "Happy birthday, Bella."

    "Thanks." Bella muttered just as a flash went off.

    "I found it in your bag," Alice confessed, holding Bella's new digital camera. "You mind?"

    Bella simply just shook her head, as Liz raised a hand, stepping forward and away from Jasper's grasp. "Can I say it now? Everyone else is saying it. Please?"

    The Cullen's chuckled, knowing what the girl was referring to and Bella joined. "Fine."

    "Happy birthday!" Liz practically squealed, throwing her arms around the brunette, Bella catching the girl and returned the gesture.

    "Dating an older woman." The sound of Emmett's comment broke the two girls out of their embrace and turned toward the larger male standing next to his brother with a grin. "Hot."

    "And you are a pig." Liz commented.

    Emmett only looked around confused, especially from the disbelief look Edward was giving him. "What?"

    Liz only rolled her eyes and went back to Jasper, who stood the farthest back but as close to the rest as possible. He seemed to be less tense once she was back at his side, as she leaned towards him. "Did you control her emotions when I said it?"

    Jasper shook his head and whispered in her ear, "No. Though she does feel very overwhelmed right now."

    "I liked my party better." Liz tells him, remembering that spontaneous day at the arcade and the surprise party at Angela's place.

    "So did I," Jasper admitted, staring down into her bright blue eyes. "Especially the moment in the photo booth. That was the first time I realized how badly I wanted to kiss you."

    The blonde sucked in a breath, her eyes glancing down to his lips briefly. She knew she couldn't initiate the kiss, but it was hard when he said things like that. She could see it in his eyes, he wanted to kiss her too, and he would have if Alice didn't announce presents and thrust something into Rosalie's hand. The couple reluctantly tore their eyes away from one another and towards the blonde vampire who took the small object and handed it to Bella.

    "It's a necklace." She told Bella begrudgingly, not giving the girl enough time to open it and find out herself. "Alice picked it out."

    Bella did not let Rosalie's sour attitude affect her and gave a shy smile. "Thanks." 

    Alice then forced Edward next to his girlfriend for a picture and held out the camera. "Show me the love." Alice hesitated to take the picture and sent a glare over Edward's shoulders. "Liz, stop it."

     Everyone turned to the other human who was holding up two figures as high as she could over Edward's head to give him bunny ears, and dropped her arm with a frown. "You're no fun, Alice."

    Jasper tugged her out of the frame and a picture was snapped. Afterwards, she handed Bella another present. "This one is from Emmett."

    Bella shook the clearly empty box and turned Emmett in confusion. "Already installed it in your truck. Finally a decent sound system for that piece of-"

    "Hey! Don't hate the truck." Bella told him, earning chuckles from the rest.

    "I just would like to point out I helped him install it into your truck so the present is from both of us." Liz informed the brunette with a grin.

    Emmett scoffed. "You just sat there eating gummy bears and handed me the wrong tools every time."

    "Well, that is your fault for assuming I know tools. Plus I stole her keys so we could get into it." Bella sent her friend a wide eyed look. "Relax, birthday girl. They are safely back in your bag."

    Bella's shoulder's relaxed as Alice skipped back to her and held out an envelope. "Open Esme and Carlisle's."

    "Just a little something to brighten your day," Carlisle told the girl. Esme nodded in agreement.

    "Yes, you've been looking kind of pale lately."

    Liz squeezed Jasper's hand and he returned it, the male turning to look at the beautiful woman beside him, finding himself perfectly content. He had everything he has ever wanted standing right beside him and vice versa. Neither knew in only a couple seconds that was going to be snatched from them.

    Bella started opening the present, everything all and well until a slip against the sharp edge of the wrapping paper cut her and blood began to drip down her finger. Bella winced, holding her finger in front of her. "Paper cut."

    Everything happened so quickly that Liz barely had time to really process what happened. One minute she was holding tightly onto her boyfriend's hand, the next he was completely stiff, stiffer than she has ever seen him go. Liz looked up at Jasper whose eyes immediately turned dark and his regular soft expression was replaced with a vicious, animalistic hunger. Liz still held onto his arm tightly, wanting to reach out to him, to pull him away from the craving but it was too late.

    It was clear on Edward's face that he read Jasper's mind, causing him to react as swiftly. Before anyone knew it, Edward shoved Bella so hard that she flew back smashing against the small table, shattering it to pieces.

    "Jasper-" Liz tried to say, but her words went unheard when Jasper did exactly the same to the woman he loves, shoving her out of his way when she tried to restrict his access to the fresh blood he sees and smells. Liz barely let out a gasp as she was thrown back, slamming into the wall with her side so hard that, that it left an indent from the impact. Thankfully she managed to avoid her head.

    The blonde fell to the ground, unable to witness the chaos going on in the room as Jasper fought off his family members, not when her shoulder was screaming in pure agony. She cried out, holding her shoulder where she felt the dislocation. The same shoulder that James had dislocated.

    Liz breathed through the pain and managed to force her head up, only to see all of the Cullen's were now staring at Bella, who too was on the floor after being thrown, but now instead of a little paper cut, her entire arm was leaking blood from the glass vase she slammed into. Liz noticed the grand piano was now destroyed and Jasper was being held back by both Carlisle and Emmett as Alice tried to console her best friend, only to realize what the others realized and turned to Bella.

    Liz didn't care that her shoulder was out of it's socket nor did she care that the pain was more severe then when it happened the first time. Last time she had been beaten so badly by James that she couldn't pinpoint where her pain was coming from. But she didn't care about her pain. All she cared about Jasper and the pain he must be feeling.

    "J-Jasper," Liz forced out, but he did not tear his eyes away from Bella. Esme seemed to hear her, turning towards the girls and rushing towards her.

    "Carlisle," she called out to her husband who looked between the two injured girls.

    "Get Jasper out of here." He instructed through gritted teeth, rushing towards Bella to help stop the bleeding. Emmett started dragging Jasper out of the room, when the blonde male paused when his sight finally locked with the girl on the floor and Esme by her side.

    Pain like Liz has never seen before spread on his face, the realization of what he had done truly settled in his mind as Emmett forcibly dragged him away, Liz watching him go intensely as a single tear fell down her cheek.

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    𝐁𝐎𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋𝐒 𝐒𝐀𝐓 in Carlisle's office, Liz staring out the window in a spare chair, completely numb to the excruciating pain coming from her shoulder. She insisted Carlisle work on stitching Bella up first, while Liz tried so hard to wash Jasper's heartbreaking expression from her mind. All she wanted to do was go to him, comfort him. But she couldn't. H

    He needed time, she understood this. But she knows him... better than anyone. He won't forgive himself for this and that worried her to her core.

    "I never wanted to have a party." Liz was hardly paying attention to Bella and Carlisle's conversation, but this comment made Liz start listening to what they were saying.

    "It's not your fault." Carlisle reassured her, picking out the pieces of glass that stuck in her skin. "Jasper hasn't been away from human blood as long as the rest of us." He paused to look over at the blonde, her cheeks still stained from the unwanted tears that escaped earlier. "He was improving greatly being with you, Liz. This was only a fluke."

    Liz didn't respond but did turn her attention away from the window and shifted in her seat, groaning loudly from the pain that shot through her arm and down her back. She turned to watch Carlisle start stitching up Bella's arm. She tried to pay attention to them and not listen to the nagging thought in her mind telling her to go find Jasper and make sure he was okay. Because she was close to listening.

    "How do you do it?" Bella questioned.

    "Years and years of practice."

    "Did you ever think of just doing it the easy way?"

    Carlisle thought for a split second before responding. "No. I knew who I wanted to be. I wanted to help people. It brings me happiness, even if I am damned regardless."

    Bella looked up at the doctor through her lashes as he focused on her arm. "Damned? Like hell?" Carlisle only shared a look to confirm and Bella immediately shook her head. "Carlisle, you couldn't be damned. You couldn't. It's impossible."

    "Damned is for the wicked," Liz finally spoke for the first time since she told him to work on Bella first. Both of them turned towards the blonde who was slowly snapping out of her shocked state. "None of you are wicked."

    Carlisle smiled. "Thank you, Liz. Bella. You two have always been very gracious about us."

    Bella stared up at the doctor, realization settling in her eyes. "So that's it? That's why he won't change me?"

    "Imagine the situation in reverse." Carlisle says, finishing up wrapping the brunette's arm in bandaging. "If you believed as Edward does, could you take his soul away?"

    Carlisle then lit a match and set the bloody gauzes he used to clean Bella's arm on fire, blowing out the match. Bella did not have a response as the doctor turned towards his next patient. "Ready?"

    Liz got up from the chair and took Bella's spot on his desk, with Carlisle's help, of course. There was no way she was getting up there on her own. He gripped a hold of her arm and looked the blonde in the eyes. "This is gonna hurt."

    Liz breathed deeply in through her nose and out through her mouth. "Do it."

    Carlisle didn't bother counting to three, just positioned the arm correctly and carefully set the bone back into the joint. Liz let out a painful scream, but once the shoulder was back in it's socket, the pain seized and soon Carlisle grabbed a sling he had in his medical bag. Telling her she was going to need to keep it on for at least a week to be safe.

    Sooner than she would have liked, Liz found herself seated in Bella's truck with Bella in the middle and Edward behind the wheel. She did not get the chance to see Jasper like she wanted before Edward came and insisted that he was taking them both home. The ride was completely silent and Edward pulled up in front of Liz's house first, the blonde looking at the house that most definitely awaited questions about her shoulder.

    Reaching for the handle, Liz paused, turning towards the driver who refused to meet her eyes. "Edward... is he alright?"

    Without looking at her, he shook his head slowly. "No, Liz. He is not alright."

    Liz felt her heart sink to her stomach, but she knew he was only telling her the truth. She muttered a soft goodbye to the both of them and made her way towards her house. She got to the front porch when she found herself pulling out her phone and sending a quick text to Jasper.

    I love you.

    Jasper did not respond.

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I actually quite like this chapter. Hit me in the feels.

Also what did everyone think of Nolan? He's gonna be an interesting side character.

Let me know what you thought!