A/N: Returning to the scene is my second story to work on since the writer's block. I'm impressing myself with all these updates. Hopefully I can get one out every other day. Maybe I shouldn't set limits for myself. Well, regardless this is the next chapter for The Game 2, which I renamed Tip Off! I hope you like it!
Bella's POV
The bad thing about being injured and klutzy was that it made you three times as slow as anyone else. Angela smiled apologetically as she left the locker room. Everyone was getting ready to wait in the gym area before the bell ending school rang. I wished I was so lucky, I grumbled to myself. I had just gotten undressed. I walked over to other side of the room to get my clothes and glanced at the clock.
"I'm taking forever," I mumbled to myself as I limped awkwardly to the wall where the baskets were. My basket was the only one without a lock. My fingers would always slip when I tried to dial the combination.
Jessica and Lauren came out of the shower area, a cloud of heavily perfumed air following them. I attempted to hold my breath. Jessica smirked at me as they passed. Lauren laughed.
"Have a nice . . . night, Bella."
Jessica giggled and they hesitated at the door and then slammed it shut.
An ominous feeling settled in my stomach as I stared at the door. I knew Lauren disliked me, but what was that about? Obviously they had done something. Oh well, I would find out soon enough.
For claiming to be evil, they were really pretty harmless. All of their attempts to steal Edward away from me had failed miserably. I suppose the fact that he was a vampire who could read their minds helped a bit, though. Shrugging, I walked over to my basked and pulled it out and tried to remain calm.
My basket was empty.
That was fine, I consoled myself, I would just wear my gym clothes.
I went back to the changing bench and swallowed hard. My t-shirt and shorts were gone. Okay, this was not fine.
Maybe . . . maybe . . . My brain searched for a way out of this situation. Yes! I mentally snapped my fingers. I would stand behind the door and see if Angela was in hearing range. She could give me the combination to her basket. I would wear her gym clothes until I got a hold of Jessica and Lauren, then I could throttle them.
Yes, that would work.
My crutches were gone too. I sighed mentally; some people were just so petty.
I limped jerkily to the door and tried the handle.
It was locked.
No . . .
The bell rang. The shrill ring added to my tension headache. I rubbed my temples and exhaled. Maybe this was what Edward felt like when he pinched the bridge of his nose. If it was, maybe I shouldn't have laughed at him when he did that.
I tried the doorknob again hopelessly.
This was bad.
I jiggled the handle.
The door locked from the inside, which was why it was never locked.
"Key, key," I murmured, searching for the little peg beside the door.
Gone.
Of course. I almost laughed. This wasn't funny.
Jessica and Lauren would pay. That was, if I ever got out of here.
"Have a nice night Bella," I mimicked to myself.
What did I do to them?
Uselessly, I jerked on the handle. Panic was starting to set in.
"Bella, are you in there?"
Thank goodness, Edward was here. I breathed out in relief.
"Yes, but I can't get out."
"Stand back and I'll open the door."
I backed away from the door. Then my eyes bugged as I realized my state of semi-undress.
"Uh, wait! Edward, seriously, do not come in here." My voice came out a little high pitched.
"Why?" He was obviously confused and my face flushed before I even said it.
"Uh, well, someone locked me in here."
"Jessica and Lauren." It was a statement, not a question.
"Yeah. Wait! You knew and—"
"I heard them in the parking lot. They locked you in and stole the key. I believe Jessica put the key down her, ah, shirt. There was no getting it back." I could almost envision his shudder.
"Well, they locked me in, but they, uh, well they took my clothes. I guess they hid them somewhere."
Silence.
"Oh." His voice was slightly different and had an odd tone. "I'll go . . . get Alice."
"Good plan." Just as I started to relax, Lauren's spiteful words flitted into my head. She's such a crybaby; I wouldn't be surprised if she ran to the Cullens.
Maybe Lauren was right. Maybe I did rely on Edward and his family too much. Maybe I was a crybaby.
"Edward, don't get Alice." My voice firmed and resolved as my decision became more certain.
I didn't need to rely on Edward's family for everything. I was independent. I could tackle my own problems. I could do this.
"Bella, I don't know what's going on, but I really believe Alice should handle this situation."
He sounded worried; worried and slightly confused.
"No, it's fine. I'm going to get myself out of here." Confidence exuded from my voice. I was feeling empowered.
"And your lack of . . . attire?" His voice sounded a little strangled.
Oh.
"Uh, well," I paused. "I wouldn't mind if Alice got me some clothing to wear." That wouldn't count, would it? "After I get myself out of this room," I confirmed.
"Is there any particular reason that you seem to need to rescue yourself today, Bella?"
"Nope, I just realized I rely on you far too much. Don't worry though, I can do this."
"Bella," he sighed. "I'll be right back. Just, please don't injure yourself when I'm gone. Be careful of your leg."
I waited until I thought he was out of earshot and then released my pent up breath. Great, now how was I really going to do this?
My gaze landed on the basket of lost and found.
An eyebrow rose.
Step One: Procure a lock picking tool.
I rummaged around inside the basket until I selected a slightly bent bobby pin.
Okay, good, now for step two.
I hobbled over to the door.
Step Two: Pick the lock.
This, unfortunately, was easier said than done.
I pushed and prodded and twisted the bobby pin to no avail. It was definitely not as easy as it looked on Burn Notice.
"No, open, open." In frustration I pounded my fist against the offending door.
"Bella?"
I groaned.
Oh no.
"Mike?"
"Bella, why are you still in the locker room?"
As guilty as I felt for being an accomplice to Mike's torture, he was annoying me.
"Mike, it's fine, I've got this under control."
"Why aren't you coming out?" He paused. "Are you stuck in there?"
Inhale, exhale.
"Yes."
"Don't worry Bella, I'll get you out."
I cringed as I heard the macho, heroic tone enter his voice.
"Mike, it's okay—hey, why are you still in the school at this time?"
"Oh . . . I just noticed that you didn't come out of the gym and Cullen was still waiting. I figured something was wrong, so I followed him. Obviously he couldn't get you out of here, but don't worry, I can't get you out of there in a jiffy."
"Do you always watch for me to come out of the gym every day?"
I did not want to know this answer.
"Well," he hedged, defending his actions, "I just notice you Bella. It'd be hard not to watch out for you. You're a very striking person, you know."
"Mike," I groaned.
"No, no, don't say another word. I'll get you out of here using my brute strength, something Cullen is obviously lacking. Stand away from the door Bella."
I banged my head against the door.
"Mike, don't—"
I felt a slight tremor in the door and a muffled moan of pain.
"Mike? Don't try to open the door again Mike."
"Don't worry Bella, I won't hurt myself and run off crying like that pansy Cullen."
"I don't believe that's why she's trying to stop you, Newton."
I closed my eyes at the sound of Edward's perfect voice.
Great.
Edward's POV
I could have stopped Newton before he threw himself into the door. I could have prevented it, but I found a strange satisfaction watching Newton injure himself.
As soon as I spoke, his head whipped around and he glared at me.
"Oh really, back for more, Cullen?"
I restrained my eye roll.
"More what exactly?"
He nodded his head slowly, emphasizing his words with both eyebrows raised. "Oh, you know what I'm talking about."
Heaven help the human race if this was their future.
"Regardless of your . . . theories, I am not opening that door for the soul reason of Bella's propriety."
He looked at me and then the door.
"Someone appears to have taken her clothing."
My mind was assaulted. It was miracle I kept from attacking.
"Could you not?" I growled, forgetting myself.
He broke from his reveries to frown at me. "Not what?"
"Stop the inappropriate fantasies, Newton."
"Wait, how would you know what—?"
An eyebrow rose, "You've got a very open face."
He had the dignity to flush.
"I wasn't—"
I brushed past him, impatient, not wanting to listen to his lies.
"Bella, are you still doing all right."
"Fine," she called out, distractedly. I could hear her scraping whatever small tool she'd found against the lock. It was small. I assumed it was a small hair object.
"Do you have a bobby pin?"
"I'm not even going to ask how you knew that," she muttered, still stabbing at the lock.
I bit back a smile, "Which is probably a good thing considering we have company."
"Mike, are you still there?"
"Of course Bella. I don't trust Cullen. You need someone here to defend your reputation."
Oh, he was certainly the right man for the job.
"Mike, go home," Bella said, sounding irritated.
"I'm here for the duration, Bella."
There was another sound of the bobby pin being jammed into the lock.
"Bella, bend the pin a little down."
I heard the pin move and change shape.
"Okay, now insert it in the lock," I continued, counting the seconds until I could escape from Newton's vile mind.
The bobby pin went slowly into the lock.
"Good, now—"
"Hey! I can do this on my own," Bella complained, realizing what I was doing.
"I know you can, love."
Mike turned to me with disgust. Love? he mouthed childishly.
"Now, now, Edward." Alice skipped toward us with a bag on her wrist.
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"A little to the left," I called, desperate to get away from Newton before I strangled him.
"I'm not listening to your little hints. That would be cheating."
Regardless, I heard the lock click into place.
A wave of revulsion filled me and I glared at Mike.
"Down a little," I said desperately.
"Stop helping me!"
The pin moved south.
It unlocked.
Bella exuberantly called out, "Yes!"
Alice's eyes went blank and then she called out, "No! Bella, don't—"
I saw the action in Alice's mind before it unfolded. I couldn't stop it.
Bella happily yanked open the door, forgetting about her state of undress, at the same time, Newton stepped forward to open the door. They collided together, Bella falling flat on her back with Newton falling on top of her with little separating them.
I saw Bella's eyes widen with shock before I lunged, jerking Newton's body into the air. I set him back down quickly before he realized how fast I had done that. His startled face seemed to be wobbling into a euphoric smile.
"I hope you enjoyed those three seconds, Newton, because they'll be the last happy ones of your life."
My body shuddered with repressed rage.
His pupils dilated.
"Don't worry Mike," Alice chimed, tugging at my grip on the slime's shirt until I reluctantly let go. "He's just playing around."
Mike nodded weakly at her.
"I saw that smile," I said lowly, my eyes narrowing.
His gaze leapt up from Bella back to me guiltily.
"Let's get you to a safer—I mean . . . how about some fresh air Mike?" Alice asked, a tad anxiously.
He allowed himself to be led away, taking one last nervous glance at me.
I glared at him and mouthed, soon.
After he rounded the corner, I was brought back to the present by Bella's voice.
"Uh Edward? The bag?"
I started to hand her the bag and froze. In all the commotion, I had forgotten . . .
Her face was tomato red.
"Bella, were you hurt? Did that . . . did Newton hurt you?"
She shook her head. "I'm fine; the cast provided really good impact reduction for my leg."
"Uh would you mind if I just stepped around the . . .?"
"Not at all," Bella said quickly, sounding relieved.
Sneaking one last look, I ducked around the corner.
"Edward?"
"Yes, Bella?"
"Did I do okay?"
"Hmm?" I was preoccupied berating myself for my own improper thoughts.
"How did I do on my own?"
I smiled gently, shaking my head, her hopeful voice drowning out everything.
"I couldn't have done it better myself."
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the update. I really like this story and think I will continue with it shortly. Please review and tell me what you thought!
