Spring break! Woohoo! I still have four days of school left as I'm writing this intro, but… it's close. And soon after that, I shall be in Cleveland where wireless internet access is plenty and my writing skills are peaked by being surrounded with beloved family members that make me laugh! So I think spring break will be a time of much writing. I can't wait. Anyway, I suppose you're here to read the tenth chapter of Three Wrongs Make A Right, and I would just like to make it clear once more that I am NOT Stephenie Meyer. I do not own Twilight.
Chapter Song: Dark of the Night from the Anastasia Soundtrack (yes, I am that much of a dork to put on a song from the Anastasia soundtrack on here)
X-x-X
Chapter 10: A Troubling Call
Riley
"Riley, try it again. Just one more time, and then we can be off for lunch," Edward instructed me firmly, his green eyes locked on Seth, Ben (Mr. Cheney), and I as we rehearsed a full scene for the first time.
"Stop looking at me like that! Were you some kind of vulture in another life?" I demanded towards Seth as he pretended to circle around me with appraising eyes. I glared at him, the script in my hands. I was aware of my mother watching me from the audience along with my Uncle Jasper and Uncle Emmett. Aunt Alice was off-stage, figuring out costumes for the show and Aunt Rosalie was practicing her lines in the dressing room.
"I don't believe it," Seth said, loud enough for the audience to hear as he circled me some more. I glared at him until he turned to Ben. "Do you see what I see, Vlad? Look at her. She's the perfect example of-"
"Am I allowed to demand of you to stop talking about me?" I demanded, folding my arms tightly across my chest. Ben looked me up and down for a moment before a lightened expression spread across his face. Seth was smiling, with his arm around Ben's shoulders.
"Yes! Yes I see it, Demetri," Ben commented, his eyes alight with curiosity. "She is perfect!"
"Perfect for what?" I asked, curious.
"You say you want to go to Paris," Ben said before Seth could open his mouth. He shook off Seth and put an arm around my shoulders, I nodded. Ben nodded too and smiled. "Well then, little dove, we have the perfect opportunity for you. We too are going to Paris, little one. But we are bringing someone very special along. Do you know who that special someone is?"
"Demetri's concubine?" I asked with raised eyebrows. I heard my Uncle Emmett guffaw out in the audience, and I was proud of myself for making someone laugh.
Ben too laughed lightly and glanced back at Seth, who was pretending to glare at my back. "No, no, dearest," Ben told me as he began leading in the opposite direction. "For you see, the long lost heir to the Russian throne is going to be found. Her name is Anastasia, and we are waiting for her to accompany us."
"Anastasia?" I asked skeptically.
"Great job!" Edward exclaimed from his chair at the front of the audience. He stood and stretched, and the few of us on stage visibly relaxed a little. It had been a hard morning, and we'd been rehearsing for three hours straight since this rehearsal began. Being an actress was harder than I thought. "We'll take a two hour lunch break. When we return, I'm going to have chorus on stage with a choreographer, and I would very much like the three of you to work with Rosalie back stage on the scene at page 53. Does that sound appealing enough?"
We all nodded.
"Good. Lunch!"
The few people sitting in the audience got up and stretched as well, and I dashed down the stairs to meet my mother. I threw my arms around her neck and buried my face into her black sweater.
"Did you like it?" I demanded brightly, looking up at my mother with intent eyes.
"Of course I did. I loved it," she assured me, kissing my forehead. "Are you ready to eat? You must be starving. Alice wants to take us and Rosalie out to lunch while Jasper and Emmett finish up a bit here."
"Yeah, I'd like that. Girls' time, right?" I questioned as she began leading me backstage to grab my coat and my two aunts.
"If that's what you want to call it," my mother laughed. I liked the sound of it coming from her – it sounded natural and it made her sound younger. It made me happy whenever she was happy. It was an automatic reaction I had developed over the years with living with her. "Alice will probably spend most of the time dragging us around department stores looking for new clothes."
"And what is the problem with that?" Alice was suddenly behind us, looking cheerful as she pranced around to be in front of us. "I'll go get Rosalie, and then we can head out! Do not move, Isabella Marie Swan and Riley Renee Swan, or so help me I will make sure you're not invited to my wedding."
"It would be hard to do a wedding without a maid of honor and ring-bearer, Alice!" my mother called after her with a good-natured smile.
All I heard in response was a frustrated theatrical sigh.
My mother laughed and wrapped an arm around my shoulders with a bright smile. Lately, she had been a lot happier, a lot freer than she had been. Not that I minded at all – it was perfect for her. But I couldn't help but wonder what had brought all of this sudden happiness on. My thoughts briefly went to Edward, and I mentally bet with myself that he had something to do with it. I would have to ask Mom for details later.
"Come on, we'll grab your coat," my mother said cheerfully, and together we ventured to her office backstage. Angela was in there, sorting through papers when we entered. As my mother's personal assistant, she was often back here sharing the office space. She smiled warmly at the pair of us.
"Going out?" she asked.
"Yes," my mother answered with a returning warm smile. "Alice is taking us out somewhere. Is Ben taking you anywhere, Angela?"
My mother's assistant shrugged and let out a sigh. "I don't think so. Ben is probably just going to practice his lines downstairs. You know how he gets during production season. I doubt we'll have a date for another few weeks, what with this lead role he's landed himself in," Angela replied with a small smile.
Mom nodded and smiled at me. "You ready to go?" she asked me as she handed me my coat. I smiled slightly and nodded. "Come on then, let's go. Alice is taking us in her car. I don't know where she's taking us, so keep that coat handy. I can't have the best actress on stage catching cold in the middle of rehearsal day, can I?" She winked, and now I was really beginning to wonder where this sudden cheeriness was coming from.
"Uh…"
"Come on, you two!" Alice groaned. She was leaning against the doorframe, her green eyes on us, as she looked ready to pout. Rosalie, in her beautiful glory, stood beside her proudly, observing us carefully with her wide blue eyes. It seemed that she too had noticed my mother's attitude.
"We're coming. See you, Angela!" Mom called over her shoulder as she gently pulled me out to where Aunt Alice and Aunt Rosalie were waiting.
"My G-d, Bells," Alice complained as soon as we were out of Angela's hearing range. "How come you never wear the clothes I buy for you? You know I hate it when you wear measly jeans and t-shirts." She shuddered at the horror of that thought.
"Alice, do you ever think that Bella might actually want to be comfortable?" Rosalie teased, coming to my mother's defense before I could. "You have to admit some of those clothes you buy make a girl want to rip their hair out."
"Only some of the outfits," Alice grumbled.
Mom laughed, her arm still around my shoulders as we made our way to Alice's pride and joy – her shiny black sports car that Jasper had bought her for a birthday a while back. Her laugh brought a smile to my face, and Alice's and Rosalie's too. It had been a long time since my mother had laughed this much.
"So I heard you went on a date last night with Edward Cullen," Aunt Rosalie commented as we made our way to the car. My mother's cheeks turned a faint pink. "Does that have anything to do with this sudden joyful attitude you've developed?"
Suddenly, the conversation was right where I wanted it to be. I looked up at my mother curiously, and she looked back at me like she knew exactly what I was thinking. A small smile lit her expression, but it was nothing like the cheery grin she'd been smiling just a few moments ago. It almost looked as though she were afraid to tell me something, like there was a secret she was keeping from me.
"It might have something to do with it," my mother informed the two other women, but her eyes never left my face.
I could tell from her eyes that she wanted to tell me something. And since I knew her so well, I could tell that it was killing her that she hadn't told me yet. So that, of course, made me wonder what it was she was so worried about revealing to me.
"Ooh! I knew it!" Aunt Alice cooed as she pranced in circles around my mother and I. "Aren't I a genius, Bells? I told you that some nice quality time with him was the perfect way to get together!"
"You two are together?" I asked, surprised now. Was this what my mother had been waiting to tell me?
Mom shook her head, and Alice's face fell. Rosalie must have seen this, because the beautiful blond woman stuck her hands on her hips and tilted her head at the pair of us. "Then what the hell are you so happy about then, Bella?" Aunt Rosalie demanded. "If Edward has to do with it, but you're not going out with men again, what could he have possibly to get you so perked up this morning?"
I struggled hard not to show my disappointment. I had been hoping it had been good news like that. Or something similar.
"I… I just simply enjoyed his company last night," Mom answered, still looking a little guilty for whatever reason. I looked up at her worriedly, and took her hand in mine as Aunt Alice opened up the back door to her car for us to climb in.
"Mom, what's wrong?" I whispered as I was putting on my seatbelt. Neither Aunt Alice nor Aunt Rosalie seemed to hear me.
She looked at me for a second, and she looked like she was having an internal battle with herself. But whatever this battle was, she seemed to overcome it pretty quickly. "Riley… I… I told Edward. About… about what happened to us," she murmured, and then Mom winced away from me as if she were expecting some kind of anger.
I frowned, and she winced again. "Mom, why are you acting like that? I don't have a problem with it," I murmured.
"… You don't?" Mom looked surprised.
"Of course I don't!" I replied quietly as Aunt Alice started up the car. "It's better that he knows. This way, he can treat you better. He knows now that he shouldn't make certain jokes or say certain things to make you feel uncomfortable. And we can trust him, and he shouldn't be kept in the dark. Think of how mad Aunt Rosalie was when she finally found out, and she accused us of being sneaks because we didn't tell her for like a year…"
"What are you two geese squawking about back there?" Aunt Alice asked as she pulled out into the streets.
"Nothing," I replied. "We were talking about what you were going to do to torture us in a clothing store today."
Aunt Alice looked offended, but Aunt Rosalie and Mom laughed brightly. But when Aunt Alice turned her head to glare at me through semi-furious green eyes, I shrank in my seat and gave her an apologetic smile – which she seemed to accept.
"And we are not geese!" my mother added brightly, though she still looked she was contemplating my reaction.
"You dress like some," Alice muttered under her breath. When she continued though, she was happy again.
"Well, I was thinking about… Oh! Oh my goodness, I can't believe I forgot about this! Bells, Rose, Riley, guess what?" Alice was beaming now, seeming to have forgotten her so-called anger with me. She was practically bouncing in her seat, and my mother looked like she was about to warn Alice that she was in fact driving and that she should focus on the road and the cars around us (which my mom normally ended up doing whenever in a car with Alice OR Emmett OR Jasper, since all three of them drove unnecessarily fast).
"What?" Mom asked warily.
"Jazz and I decided last night over dinner that we were going to bounce up our wedding! I mean since we have most of the outfits picked out and the wedding planned and all that… we're going to get married in a month! Which reminds me: Riley, you still need a dress and Edward is going to need to get fitted for a tux and Bells, you need to find some earrings to go with your dress…"
"Alice!" Rosalie, Mom, and I all exclaimed at the same time.
"What?"
"Keep your eyes on the road," my mom said quickly before anyone else could voice their objections.
"Oh, tut, Bella," Alice fretted, frowning as she hunched down in her seat and looked straight out at the road. "You still need to find earrings. Oh, and a necklace or something! We can't have your neck bare either…"
Aunt Alice was talking about it the entire way to the restaurant she was driving us to, and I came to find that I was fearing these next few weeks. There would be shopping, fitting, and planning galore for Aunt Alice's and Uncle Jasper's wedding, and I was going to have to be a part of it. In fact, I would have to have a big part in it, since I would be the one carrying the ring for most of the ceremony for Christ's sake. And Aunt Alice would want to make sure I would get everything perfectly right, or I didn't doubt she would wring my neck afterwards.
"We're here! What do you guys think?" Aunt Alice cooed as soon as we pulled into a parking lot. I looked up to see where we had gone.
Aunt Alice was parking at an O'Charley's… a place I hadn't been to in a while. It was one of my favorite restaurants, but for the purpose of saving money my mom and I hardly ever went out to eat unless it was some kind of special occasion.
"Oh, and everything is on me today," Alice announced as we were getting out of the car.
"Alice, you know Riley and I are perfectly capable of-" Mom tried to protest, but Aunt Alice cut her off by putting her hand up and shaking her head.
"Bella, you need to stop worrying about people getting things for you. Because it isn't going to stop. I am paying for this lunch, so you had better march yourself right in there, eat whatever the hell you want, and deal with it," Aunt Alice snapped, and she narrowed her eyes at my mom menacingly until Mom finally caved with a sigh.
"Alright," she grudgingly agreed.
"Excellent!" Aunt Alice grinned and looped her arms through Aunt Rosalie and Mom's. I walked by my mother's side the whole time, relishing in the joking smile on the adults' faces as we all marched into O'Charley's to eat our lunch.
We were having a good time, and eating plenty. It was a great lunch, until we started getting to deserts. Aunt Alice insisted that we have a full meal, so she was going to buy us all ice cream with hot fudge on it to top off our excellent food. I had no problem with it, and if my mother did, she did her best not to show it. That was when her cell phone rang.
X-x-X
Bella
My cell phone rang, and I flipped open to see the number. Several people turned their heads to gaze at our table in annoyance, and I bit my lip to hide my embarrassment. Seeing no point in avoiding the call, I clicked the green phone and held it to my ear.
"Hello?" I asked cheerfully, and all the people who had been staring at us returned to their meals. Alice, Rosalie, and Riley were all still watching me carefully – they seemed to be as confused as I was about this mysterious call.
"Miss Swan?" It was a voice I vaguely recognized, but it wasn't someone I had been in contact with recently. I tried to figure out who it was as I responded.
"Yes, this is her speaking."
"This is Officer Embry Call from the Chicago Metropolitan Police Department," Officer Embry Call informed me, and a block of ice slid into my stomach. "We tried calling your home phone just a few minutes ago, and nobody was home. You gave your cell phone number a long time ago, so I hope you aren't alarmed that I'm calling."
It was too late for that. "That's fine," I said, my voice sounding hoarse. Instantly Alice, Rosalie, and my daughter leaned in, looking intense. Riley looked worried, and I couldn't help but wondering what my face looked like right now.
"I assume you're familiar with the name James Wilson. Am I right, Miss Swan?" Officer Call asked me.
James Wilson. James. The man who I'd thought I'd loved. The man who I'd given my virginity to. The man who almost killed my daughter. How could I forget? "Yes, you're right," I whispered. Riley looked really worried now, and she took my hand under the table, and squeezed it. I could hardly manage giving any pressure back. Alice's eyebrows furrowed anxiously, and Rosalie frowned. I could only imagine that they were worried about me.
"Twelve years ago he was arrested on the charges of assault, illegal possession of firearms, and attempted murder of an adolescent," Officer Call informed me. Once again, that was a fact I simply hadn't forgotten. "You gave us your contact information just in case we ever needed to contact you. In all cases like this one, the police department likes to contact victims before we release the prisoner."
"R-Release?" I stuttered out, my eyes widening. All the blood left my face, and went to my stomach where it boiled and churned. I felt like I was going to throw up. Riley squeezed my hand under the table again, and now my two friends looked really worried about me. "What are you talking about?"
"James Wilson's sentence is about to be expired, Miss Swan. He was sentenced to twelve years in the county jail, and then would be released from custody with a month of observed parole," said Officer Call. "In exactly three weeks time, Mr. Wilson will be released. We wanted to let you know."
"Thank you," I murmured, and I felt like if I said another word I was going to throw up.
"You're quite welcome Miss Swan. If you have any questions, you can contact me at…" He gave me a phone number, which I wrote down on a napkin using a pen that was in my purse. "Please feel free to call, Miss Swan. It was a pleasure speaking with you." With this, I clipped the phone shut. The half-eaten ice cream sitting in front of my didn't look so appetizing anymore. Nobody else had touched their food either in that five minute conversation, because all of their eyes were on me.
"Mom?" Riley questioned quietly. "You okay? Who was that?"
"The police department," I responded automatically. Riley tilted her head curiously, and Alice and Rosalie frowned.
"What the hell would they call you for?" Rosalie demanded, also very curious. "Was Riley caught for doing drugs on public property again?" She snickered, but nobody laughed at her joke. Riley was too focused on me, and Alice was seriously beginning to look worried.
"Bells?" It was Alice's turn now. "What's wrong?"
"They're going to release James. In three weeks," I whispered, my voice barely audible in the idle chitchat going on around our table. "He's going to be free."
I heard Riley's gasp, and a frightened whimper followed after that. Alice gasped too, her hands flying to her mouth in horror. Rosalie just scowled, and I saw her hands clench into fists on the table. All I felt was the need to make sure my daughter was alright, the terror in my heart, and the helplessness this knowledge gave me. James was going to be free in three short weeks, and a month after that he would be observed carefully by the police. That time, at least, I knew we would be safe – hopefully. It was after that I was worried about.
"Waitress?" Alice called, and our waitress, whose name was Kate, came bustling over. "Check, please." Kate nodded and scurried off. The little pixie turned her attention back to me and reached over the table to pat my arm gently, her green eyes soft and soothing. "Bells, don't worry, you're going to be alright."
"If that bastard even thinks about coming anywhere near you, I'll give him a thing or two to think about," Rosalie hissed defensively. Her eyes were suddenly lit with malice as she hunched her shoulders and narrowed her eyes. She looked very much like an angry cat with its back arched.
But I wasn't paying attention to them. My eyes were on my daughter, and her eyes were on me.
In that one look, I could tell that she was afraid. Her chocolate brown eyes were wide, and all the blood had left her face too. Her frame was rigid, and she had a death-grip on my hand. Her ice cream was too forgotten as she stared up at me with terror in her eyes.
Kate, the waitress, came back with a receipt. She laid it on our table, oblivious to the panicked situation going on there. "Thank you for dining at O'Charley's," she said daintily before sauntering off to tend to another table. Alice absentmindedly pulled it over to her and put two twenties on the bill and then pulled all three of us out of the booth and swiftly led us out the door. I hardly noticed.
I didn't realize I was shaking until Alice gently tugged on my arm. "C'mon, Bella," she said reassuringly. "We're going back to the theater, and we're going to tell Jasper, Emmett, and Edward. They'll be able to help. You're going to be okay. We have three weeks and a whole month after that. You and Riley are going to be alright until then. You have to walk. Let's go." I felt like an animal being herded.
Riley's hand was still in mine as the pair of us staggered to Alice's sleek black car, and Alice opened the door for us. Rosalie got in the passenger seat without a word, fuming. I thought I heard a few curses towards James under her breath, but I couldn't be sure. Alice started up the car as I buckled myself in, and helped Riley get her seatbelt on – she seemed so in shock that she couldn't move. I didn't really blame her.
Alice sped back to the theater, and as soon as we reached it, she yanked the door open and pulled us out. Wrapping each arm around Riley and my waists, and led us into the theater. Rosalie stalked after us, her blue eyes still narrowed.
"Rose, babe! I missed you," Emmett cooed as soon as we came through the door. He tried to wrap his arms around her and kiss her, but she stormed past him, and he stuck out his lip in a pout. "What did I do?" he asked.
"Just come with us," Rosalie instructed him harshly. "Get Jasper and Edward and tell them to meet us in Bella's office. If they're not here, Em, damn it call them. We have an emergency on our hands." Then she turned her attention back to us and helped Alice take us into my office.
"I… um, okay," Emmett said. He seemed to notice that something was up, so he went scurrying off towards the green room.
X-x-X
Edward
"Edward!" Emmett came rushing towards me, his face flushed like he had been doing a lot of running. I was just about to get into my rented Volvo when I heard his shout. I raised my head curiously.
"Emmett? What's going on?" I asked, worried.
Emmett was panting when he came up to me. "Damn it, Edward, I looked everywhere for you and Jasper said you'd gone to lunch and your fucking cell phone wasn't on. Then I asked Angela and she said you'd just come out to your car. Rose is super pissed, and Alice and Bella and Riley are like dead looking. Rose said I had to get you and Jasper in Bella's office because there's some kind of emergency…"
That was all I needed to hear. If there was an emergency, and Bella was involved, then I had to be there. I rushed off back towards the theater after slamming my door shut and I heard Emmett curse behind me and then his heavy footsteps as he rushed after me.
I stormed into the theater, my eyes wide. Fear mounted in my stomach as I tried to figure out what was wrong. Had Bella been hurt? Had Riley gotten horribly sick? Had my baby sister Alice injured herself? Worries swirled around in my head as I barged into Bella's small office space. My fears were instantly relieved, only to be replaced by the anxiety I felt when I saw Bella and Riley's miserable and frightened expressions.
Jasper was already inside, his arms around Bella as he murmured to her. Jealousy bubbled like acid in my stomach as I watched him. Alice was hovering over Riley, quietly saying reassuring things in the young teenager's ear. Rosalie stood against the wall, her arms folded tightly across her chest. Emmett pushed past me and wound his arms around her waist. He too looked worried.
"What the hell is going on?" Emmett demanded.
"James," Jasper said tersely. "The bastard is going to be released from jail in three weeks."
James… the name sounded familiar, and suddenly I remembered Bella telling me about him and the horrible things he had done. How she had gone out with him, had sex with him, and then how he had shot Riley in the shoulder, nearly killing the three-year old at the time. Anger bubbled in my stomach at the thought of that monster getting within a hundred miles of Bella. It must have shown in my expression, because Jasper looked surprised when he saw it. He frowned, glanced at Bella and then back at me. I felt no desire to see if he made the connection or not.
"Bella, don't worry," I said quietly as I knelt before her and her daughter.
Bella raised her head, and looked at me with her beautiful brown eyes. They were glistening with frightened tears. Our eyes locked, and I noticed that her muscles slowly loosened as she gazed at me. As gently as I could, I laid my hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile.
"You're going to be alright," I murmured. "I won't let him touch you. I promise. I won't let him hurt Riley, either. It's going to be alright."
By G-d, she looked like she believed it too. Jasper scowled, but he seemed pleased that his sister was appeased slightly. He narrowed his eyes at me, and I saw Alice move from Riley to rub his arms.
"Jazzy, it's okay," she crowed gently. "Edward can take care of Bella. You don't need to worry about him hurting her. You're on the same side now." I heard Jasper mutter something in reply, and Alice clicking her tongue impatiently. My eyes were still on the frightened beauty in front of me.
"Bella, do you believe me?" I asked.
She nodded, and let out a shaky sigh. Riley, who had been sitting in a chair not too far away, came over and curled up into her mother's side. She looked so frightened, and I sighed. Looking between beautiful Bella and her daughter, I said,
"Riley, you and your mother can head home. You don't need to be in rehearsal this afternoon. Go and take the rest of today off, alright?"
Riley looked at me with such gratefulness in her eyes that a small smile spread across my face. She managed a faint one back.
"Edward…" Bella was looking at me, her brown eyes wary like she still wasn't sure what she was going to say. I observed her carefully as she continued to speak, captured in the soft whispers of her voice. "Edward, I… I was wondering if you would come home with Riley and me," she murmured. I was caught off-guard by the request, and I blinked rapidly. Had I heard this angel correctly. When she saw my expression, she blushed. "I just… I would feel safer if you were there with us. Will you, please? You don't have to, and I feel horrible for making you leave rehearsal, but…"
How could I refuse? I put a finger to my mouth to signal her to stop talking. "Bella, if you need me to come home with you, even to make you feel safe, I'll do it. You don't need to say another word. Alice." I straightened and looked at my little sister with a pleading expression. "Could you run the rest of today? My binder is still in the audience, so if you could just follow that and make sure that everything is running smoothly, that would be great."
Alice nodded. "Of course, Edward. Jazz will help me, won't you Jazzy?" She batted her eyelashes at her fiancé, and he gazed at me sternly for a few more seconds before letting out a sigh.
"Yeah, sure," he said, though I wasn't sure he was saying it in admittance to me or saying it in agreement to Alice. I took it as both.
"Come on," I said gently, helping Bella and Riley to their feet. "Let's get you home."
EOC: Ack, sorry for the really short Bella and Edward parts, but I couldn't really write it any other way, you know? What did you guys think? I wrote most of this at my uncle's house while watching Oh Oh Oh Sexy Vampire on YouTube and listening to Viva la Vida by Coldplay. I have no life. XD Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Hoorah! Until next update. – Dark and Wild