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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐓𝐖𝐎

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐘 finally returned from their honeymoon and the civilization Liz had managed to find between her and her big sister basically had crumbled the day of the wedding. It was hard for the youngest Chambers sister to look at Ester. The whole situation with the pearls was a serious eye opener.

It made Liz think back to those months before the accident and how everything had gotten so messed up. She thought about when she had come home from school to a screaming match between the three of them, where she learned Ester had just told them that she was not going to any of the Ivy League colleges she had been accepted to.

Liz remembers the betrayal on her parents face, mostly her fathers. Robert Chambers has never been a strict man. He has always been so supportive and proud of both his children. He never favored one over the other, even the days Liz was feeling insecure that he might, she was always proven wrong when he would be celebrating her win at a track meet and taking time off work he knew he couldn't afford just to watch her in the championships, ready with flowers even if she didn't win.

Robert Chambers always knew both his daughters were destined for greatness, he said as much almost every chance he could get. Just because Liz never excelled in school like Ester did, did not make him think she was any less capable. He just knew they were on different paths and Robert was determined to make their dreams come true. Their dreams had become his dreams.

Yale was the goal when it came to Ester Chambers. It always had been ever since she was ten years old and Ester learned that everyone on her mother's side had gone there. She wanted to keep the tradition and Robert wanted nothing more than to make that happen for her. Ester has always been naturally brilliant, her mind sharp as a whip and was the top of her class every single year, even became valedictorian. Robert and Lori Chambers were so proud, everything Ester had wanted was coming true.

They didn't even put up a fight when Ester started dating Danny. They believed her when she told them he had changed and had seen it first hand that Danny was trying to turn over a new leave. They gave him the benefit of the doubt, which is more than what he deserved. They trust Ester to make her own decisions and had always welcomed Danny over for family dinners.

That might be why they were so distraught when Ester came home one day and stated she wasn't going to Yale or any of the other schools she had applied for. It just didn't make sense. It was something she always wanted, something she always talked about, then suddenly she changed her mind at the last moment? Her parents never pressured her about her grades, Liz remembers her father telling her to stop studying so much and go out and be wild once in a while. He always told her to calm down and helped her when she had a panic attack over receiving her first ever C her sophomore year.

Liz remembers thinking C's were her saving grace, because they were so much better than a D. She even thought Ester was being a bit over dramatic, but she didn't understand what it was like inside Ester's head. The need to be perfect at everything all the time, especially her grades. She thought any bad grade would ruin her chances at getting into Yale.

But Ester ruined it herself without a valid explanation. Robert did not mean to react so terribly, but when Ester just told him that she was not going to Yale without a valid explanation and was taking a gap year and moving in with Daniel Black, he was in denial. He was sure Daniel, the notorious bad boy who had been arrested more times than he could count and hangs out with sketchy losers and drinks more than anyone of legal age, was behind his daughter's decision. He had corrupted her somehow and in his eyes, he was ruining her future.

The fight was very, very bad. Ester had packed a bag and left. Liz remembers how heartbroken her parents were, her mother who had agreed with her husband was a total mess. They hadn't spoken for two months until Lori tried to rekindle the relationship. Liz remembers being caught in the middle, not knowing which side to agree with. She understood her parents' reasoning... Ester had wanted to go to Yale for as long as she can remember. Her bedroom was sporting nothing but Yale flyers and logo stickers. But she didn't want Ester to be upset with her either, so she never voiced her opinions.

When it was revealed that Danny and Ester were engaged, Robert did not handle things well once again. Liz even knew he could have reacted better and had told Ester she was ruining her life. He regretted it immediately, but Ester did not want to hear any apology. She shut her father out of her life completely and just because she knew Lori would try to play peacemaker, she shut her out too, which broke their hearts.

They tried their best to keep it together for Liz, but Liz would often find her father sitting at the kitchen table in the middle of the night, crying one too many times because he realized how much he had messed up and Ester refused to acknowledge any of their apologies. She had cut them out completely and Liz had to watch as it slowly broke her parents in half. They knew their mistake, but Ester was too stubborn to forgive them. She pretended like they didn't even exist in her life anymore.

"Do you think she'll ever forgive me?" Robert had asked his youngest daughter when she first caught him in the kitchen, the young girl just going to hug him as he held onto her so tight.

All of that hatred towards her sister was now back and now that she and Danny were back from their honeymoon, Liz had a hard time being in the same room as them. Mainly Ester who seemed to be in newlywed bliss to notice.

Now her Nana was packing to return home and Liz wanted nothing more for her to stay. She didn't want to be left alone with Ester, because she doesn't trust herself not to beat the shit out of her. She needs to talk to her about the pearls... about the deception.

She knows damn well Ester took advantage of Liz's condition at the hospital to do something very selfish. The whole thing was just messed up and she really did not want her Nana to leave, not when Liz felt like she was the only person who was really in her corner when it came to this.

"What's going on in that beautiful head of yours?" Vivian asked, while she continued packing her things into her suitcase while Liz sat on the couch staring out the window at the pouring rain.

Liz only shrugged, trailing her finger down the window, following the raindrop until it reached the bottom sill. "I don't want you to leave."

"Oh, honey. I know, I don't want to leave either." Vivian tucked in one of her scarves before sitting down on the recliner with a tired grunt. "Trust me, if I didn't have to get back to work, I think I might just stay."

"Maybe I shouldn't have come back," Liz said softly, leaning away from the window and pressing her one knee to her chest with her other leg tucked underneath her. "I should have stayed in Santa Cruz with you."

Lord knows nothing has gone right since coming back to Forks. She could have started a whole new life in California. Maybe she could have been happy there. Maybe she would have healed faster without the broken heart added to the mix. Maybe she wouldn't feel so numb most of the time.

Vivian knew what she meant without her having to say it. "Lizzie-bear, you know you would have been more than welcome to stay with me if that is what you truly wanted. But you and I both know that California was not a great fit for you. You hated the constant heat and the busy roads. You've never been a city girl. Despite what you've been through with that idiot boy who better pray I never cross paths with him, you love Forks too much to leave it behind. This is your home. Also, you came back because you wanted to be closer to your friends and Ester."

Liz tried her hardest not to show her disdain at the mention of Ester, but it was a major fail. Vivian frowned at that reaction. "What?"

Liz shook her head, not really wanting to get into it, especially with the two of them in the room and could come out any minute. "Doesn't matter. I guess I just think, maybe if I stayed in California with you, I would be in a better place than I am now."

There would have been no Jasper. There would have been no James or Victoria. She wouldn't know anything about vampires or shape shifting werewolves. She'd still be oblivious to the supernatural world like any normal person is supposed to be. She wouldn't be having nightmares of Victoria almost every night since she thought she saw her at the bachelorette party.

Vivian noticed the distraught look on her face and immediately went to her, pulling her granddaughter into her arms and holding her tightly. "No one can see the future, Lizzie-bear. You have your whole life to decide what you want to do with it. If you want to come down to Santa Cruz after you graduate, you will always have a room with me. But make sure you are doing it because it is what you want, okay? Don't feel obligated to anyone but yourself. You have a bad habit of that and though I love that you always look after everyone, you need to look after yourself once in a while."

Liz buried her face into Nana's shoulder and held onto her tightly, not wanting to let go. "I love you, Nana."

"Oh honey, I love you so much."

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𝐈𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐖𝐎 weeks since her Nana went back home and it's also been two weeks since Liz and Angela both revealed major life changing effects in their lives and the two girls were closer than ever before.

Liz had meant every word she had said to her friend about moving forward however she wished. If she wants Liz to pretend like she doesn't know anything, she will put it to the far back of her mind and forget it completely. If she needed a shoulder to cry on and encouraging words, Liz knew exactly what to say.

Mainly what Angela needed was just someone in her corner helping her when she finally broke things off with Eric and then told the others about her mother. At her request, Liz was waiting outside on the porch when Eric had come over a couple days after Liz found out herself, far away so she could give them space but close enough to be there for Angela from the aftermath.

Apparently, it had gone better than either one of them expected. Eric felt completely awful about not knowing about Angela's mom and had comforted her when she struggled to explain. When it came to the whole situation with college, Angela explained to Eric her feelings on the subject. She told him that her father is barely remembering to eat himself and how getting Hallie to and from school has become her responsibility. She even has been making dinner and going grocery shopping when her father would forget.

She explained to him that going to college so far from her family was not something she would even consider and doesn't know if she ever will. She does know she will be attending Seattle University when and if things start to settle down more, but she will mostly be taking a gap year for the time being.

Eric had been so supportive and understanding through it all, had even offered to take a gap year with her, just like Angela feared. Angela immediately shut that idea down and told him that he deserves the best college experience life can offer him and he should do it with a clear mind, without worrying about her twenty-four/seven. Eric didn't want to break up, he made that very clear, but unfortunately, Angela had made up her mind. They parted ways as friends, just like they used to be.

Liz had hugged Eric tightly when he left and he just whispered in her ear to take care of her. Liz did not need to be told but she promised him that anyway before he left. Once he was gone, Liz comforted her best friend in her room with a tub of cookies n' cream ice cream and a marathon of Lord of the Rings, which was secretly Angela's favorites that only a select few knew about.

Angela ended up telling Jessica, Mike and Tyler the next day, wanting to rip the bandage off now that they would clearly be questioning why she and Eric broke things off. They were very comforting and caring about the whole situation. Liz had almost seized the opportunity and told them the truth about her eye condition, but had chicken out at the last minute. Angela didn't even know she planned to tell them, so the girl was not expecting an explanation later on, but Liz had apologized and told Angela she will tell them soon. She just needs more time.

As much as she can get.

Angela did not pressure her and promised her when she is ready, she will be there for her when she does decide to tell them.

The two girls have been attached to the hip since, spending most of their time together whenever they could. Liz has gone over to Angela's most of the time and they have been spending a lot of time with her eight year old sister to keep her mind occupied from their very sick mother. They take the girl out almost every day after school, whether it's to the park or to get some ice cream or to dinner at the diner, Liz wants to make sure she keeps both Hallie and Angela's mind off of the reality that was sadly waiting for them back at home.

Mitch has even come around from time to time to hang out. He and Hallie have basically adopted one another, the miniature version of Angela Weber has the guitar player wrapped around her little finger. Mitch is very good with kids despite being an only child. Hallie basically worships him and gets very upset on the days when they pick her up from school and he is not with them.

Mitch does not mind and has never once asked why they always bring along Angela's little sister, which was greatly appreciated by not only Liz but Angela as well.

The four were currently at La Push on a Saturday afternoon, it being a surprisingly sunny day Hallie insisted on building sand castles. Two days prior, Mitch had promised Hallie that he would one day help her build the biggest sand castle in the world and she has declared that that day would be today. Liz and Angela were sitting on a blanket in the sand, listening to one of the mix CD's Mitch had made.

They were currently listening to 'In The End' by Linkin Park and going back and forth between watching a random freshman attempting to surf and Hallie ordering Mitch around. Both situations were very hilarious to watch, mainly because Hallie had declared herself Queen of the sand castle and Mitch, her court jester who she bossed around a lot.

"Oh my god," Angela suddenly broke Liz's obnoxious singing to the song, pointing to the cliffs far across the ocean. "Do those guys have a death wish?"

Liz squinted her eyes, finding it difficult to see exactly where she was pointing at until she finally noticed the figures on the edge of the large cliff, immediately knowing who they were despite her vision being too blurry to see that far. "It's okay, they are just cliff jumping. They do it all the time, apparently."

Angela lifted her brow at the blonde. "You know them?"

Liz nodded reluctantly. "Yeah. That's Danny with his friends."

Angela's brown eyes widened, her jaw going slack. "That's Danny? What the hell is he thinking?"

"They are just idiot boys thinking they are having fun." Liz muttered, remembering when Danny told her about cliff jumping and how much fun he claimed it was. If Liz wasn't sporting two injuries, she might have tried it herself, just as long as Danny was there in case something happened.

"Who are those other boys with him?"

"Sam Uley, Jared Cameron, Paul Lahote and I believe Embry Call." Liz had learned a few days ago that they had gained a new member to the pack. She didn't know Embry Call well, only that he was very good friends with Jacob. Danny had raised his concerns that Jacob might phase soon and was praying he wouldn't. Liz hoped so too.

"Wait, Paul? As in your ex-best friend Paul who totally screwed you over?"

Liz nodded stiffly. "Yeah, that Paul." Angela had been there when Paul first shut her the weeks before the accident. Angela and Paul had only met a handful of times, but the two never became friends despite Liz considering both of them her best friends.

Despite learning about the wolves and the reason he had to cut her out of his life, Liz still hasn't had the courage to face him again. She doesn't know if she could ever forgive him. If it was just the fact that he told her they couldn't be friends anymore and she found out about this whole werewolf thing would have been a different story. But she needed him in that hospital. She begged him in a pathetic voicemail to come see her, to show up for the funeral where she barely could stay there herself.

Call her selfish, but she just couldn't forgive him for that betrayal.

"Bigger!" Hallie basically demanded Mitch who was continuing to build the castle with a grin on his face.

"Yes, your majesty." Mitch obeyed and continued to dig more sand into the buckets.

Liz laughed in amusement. "Hey, Hallie. I think next time you should make Mitch wear a clown suit, just to be the best jester in all the land."

The blonde haired mail sent a harsh glare at the girl while Hallie jumped up and down in excitement. "Yes, yes, yes! You would be the most bestest jester ever!"

Hallie went to get more water for the river they dug up around the castle and Mitch pointed the toy shovel at both giggling girls. "Laugh it up, ladies. But just know, payback is something I'm not afraid to inflict on either one of you."

Angela put a hand to her chest. "I didn't say anything!"

"You laughed, so you dug your own grave."

Liz shook her head. "You mean you don't want to be a court jester dancing for your queen?"

"Not if I have to do it alone." Mitch stated, just as Angela jumped up from her hastily.

"Hallie, stop!" She screamed just as Liz and Mitch looked over to the ocean to see Hallie trying to get her bucket that seemed to be floating farther out to sea, the water was already at her chest and soon Liz and Mitch were on their feet, the three chasing after the girl who Angela had mentioned couldn't swim. The PT therapy was helped tremendously because no pain came to her, but she was slower than her other companions.

Hallie was struggling to stay above the water and the three were almost at the water when suddenly someone came and scooped up Hallie in the air, as well as her bucket and held her in his arms. Liz recognized the male immediately but did not stop as Angela practically ran towards them, taking Hallie from his arms.

"Oh my god, Hallie!" Angela held her tightly in her arms before pulling back. "What were you thinking? You know better than to go out into the water without anyone with you."

"I'm sorry," Hallie cried. "My bucket floated away."

Liz finally looked up at the savor and tried to keep her composure. Paul seemed to have been swimming to shore after jumping off the cliff when he heard Angela's scream and saw the young girl struggling in the water.

"I don't care, you come get me or Liz or Mitch, you know you are not to go past your ankles." Angela said in distress, but pulled the girl tightly to her and squeezed the life out of her. Angela finally looked up at Paul, who was standing there awkwardly with the bucket still in his hands. "Thank you so much, Paul."

Paul tore his gaze from Liz to look at Angela. "It was no problem. Here, don't lose this again." Paul handed the girl her bucket which she took but did not stop crying into Angela's shoulder.

Angela adjusted Hallie in her arms and smiled at Paul. "No, you just saved my little sister's life. I need to give you something. I don't have much but I think I have a fifty dollar bill in my wallet-"

Paul was staring at her for far too long, his eyes had gone wide and he became suddenly very still. He looked scared for some reason and gaze never once left Angela's.

Liz took a step forward, frowning at the male in confusion. "Paul?"

Finally, Paul shook his head and snapped his eyes off of Angela, clearing his throat. "No. No, I don't need any money. I-I have to go."

Paul looked over at Liz, almost pleading, like he needed to get out of there before something bad happened. Liz looked over at Angela and then back to Paul and suddenly realization hit her like a ton of bricks.

Paul didn't even wait for anyone to say anything, just stormed away and over to where Sam and the others were standing farther down the beach. Liz told Angela and Mitch that she'd be right back before turning and jogging after Paul but he just disappeared with Sam, Jared and Embry, leaving Danny there who met his sister-in-law half way.

Liz stopped once in front of the tall male and gritted her teeth. "Please tell me he didn't do what I am dreading he did."

Danny sighed, looking almost as surprised as Liz was, but nowhere near as angry. "Like I told you before, we have no control over it."

"No control? Fuck, Danny! He just imprinted my best friend! Angela can't know about this, Danny. She is going through too much to deal with something like this."

"I'm sorry, Liz. But it's not your choice if she knows about this or not. It's Paul's choice now, when he tells her."

Liz needed to hit something. She wanted to find Paul and kill him for this. Control or no control, Angela does not need supernatural drama on top of taking care of her family. She is not in a good place and all Liz knows is she will be damned if she lets Paul put Angela through more stress than she is already going through.

So Liz took a deep breath and pointed directly at her brother-in-law before her. "Tell Paul, when he calms the fuck down, that I want to talk to him. I don't care where, I'll meet him if he's too stubborn to come to me. This conversation is long overdue."

Danny knew better not to argue, instead just nodded softly before going after his pack, as Liz made her way back to her friends, Hallie now receiving a piggyback ride from Mitch while Angela was gathering up their supplies. The dark haired girl looked at her friend with curiosity. "Is everything alright?"

It took everything in Liz's power to control her anger before nodding stiffly. "Yeah, everything is fine. How's Hallie?"

Angela looked over at Hallie with Mitch who had carried her towards Angela's car. "Well, she's Hallie. An earthquake could happen and she'd cry for five minutes and then be begging to play some random game she made up the next."

Liz watched Hallie with Mitch and grabbed her shoes from the sand as well as the sunglasses she brought to keep out of her eyes in order to prevent another headache.

"Liz?" Angela called out, gaining the girl's attention as they headed back to the car. "I know we are supposed to hate him, but Paul just saved Hallie's life. Since there is a chance you will see him again before me, can you just please thank him again for me?"

Liz bit her tongue to keep from expressing her annoyance and gave a stiff nod in agreement. She was right, Paul did save Hallie's life just now. He deserved the benefit of the doubt and she plans on giving it to him, right after she beats the crap out of him for imprinting on her best friend and making everything much more difficult.

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Soooo yeah, Paul imprinted of Angela. I have zero regrets in doing this either. This has been planned from the beginning as well lol

Also, only four more chapters before you know who returns!! So excited!!! Can you tell?

Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! Next one is gonna be a bit of an emotional one, honestly! Be prepared!