So, alright. I watched Anastasia again (yes I'm still watching cartoon movies… where's your inner little kid, folks?) and so I know a bit more about it and therefore can give you a good 'adaptation'. But once again, I will be making up stuff just for the purpose of making it seem a little more realistic/play-like. I also don't really know how it works in the theatre business, and I've never seen this kind of stuff like auditions before. I only know how we do it in the minor leagues. Disclaimer is in Chapter 1.

Oh, and I've changed something from last chapter (the last few paragraphs, anyway), so… I'm posting the change here.

Chapter Song: This Is Your Life, By: Switchfoot

Featured Song: Love Story, By: Taylor Swift (sung by Riley for try-outs, I DO NOT own the lyrics.)

Here's the change:

Bella too seemed sick of this.

"Whoever's next, come on out and give us your name," she called out.

The person to walk on stage at her call was not a twenty-year old woman. It was Riley, Bella's daughter. She was trying out for Anastasia. (Edward's POV, and I made it so that Riley wasn't the first to try out for Anastasia).

Chapter 4: Sing Your Heart Out

X-x-X

Bella

As soon as Riley came out on stage, I could feel myself tense. I felt Edward glance at me, and he looked unnerved by my expression, whatever it was. I didn't know. All I knew was that Riley, my baby, was trying out for Anastasia and was going out to be an actress. So this is what Alice had been keeping her late 'after school' for.

I felt three emotions at once: frustration, pride, and anxiety.

"Riley Swan," she said confidently, grinning out at the audience (I think she was grinning at me and Edward).

Edward looked staggered, and he looked at me again. I shrugged, trying to look nonchalant as I looked up at my daughter on stage.

"You have an accompaniment for your song, I hope?" Edward continued sounding business-like as he looked down at his clipboard and marked a couple of things down.

Riley nodded boldly. "I had some music recorded, if that's okay," she stated.

Edward looked at her and dipped his head. "You can begin singing as soon as you'd like, Miss Swan," he told her. I kept my mouth shut tightly, for fear I would scream or cry or whatever my body would do if I lost control of it. Edward seemed to understand this and kept quiet to me.

Riley dipped her head in return and didn't take five minutes to prepare like the other actresses had. She just cued someone off stage (I bet it was Jasper or Emmett or even Alice), and music filled the auditorium. It was guitar, and it built up for about ten seconds until I heard Riley sing for the very first time. She never sang in front of me, and Alice said she rarely sang period. I wondered to myself what my future sister-in-law had done to get her to come out here and sing. But right now, I was focusing on my daughter's voice.

"We were both young when I first saw you

I close my eyes and the flashback starts

I'm standing there, in the back and needing summer air.

I see the lights, see the party, the bargains,

I see you make your way through the crowd and say 'hello',

Little did I know.

"That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles

And my daddy said 'stay away from Juliet',

And I was crying on a staircase, begging you 'please don't go'.

And I said,

"'Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone

I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run,

You'll be the prince, and I'll be the princess,

It's a love story, baby just say yes."

We didn't stop her, because her voice was beautiful. She sounded better than Taylor Swift (I had heard this song on the radio plenty of times, so I knew which song it was), and I looked over at Edward. He was just gazing at my daughter speculatively, hitting his pen that he was holding gently against his jaw. He didn't stop her either, so I took this as a good sign. I turned back to the stage when the second verse began.

"So I sneak out to the garden to see you,

We keep quiet, 'cause we're dead if they knew,

So close your eyes, and escape this town for a little while.

"Cause you were Romeo, I was a Scarlet Letter,

And my daddy said 'stay away from Juliet',

But you were everything to me, I was begging you 'please don't go'.

And I said,

"'Romeo take me somewhere we can be alone,

I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run,

You'll be the prince, and I'll be the princess,

It's a love story, baby just say yes.

'Romeo save me, Good Charlotte tell me how to feel,

This love is difficult, but it's real,

Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess,

It's a love story, baby just say yes."

This time she looked out at the audience, but we were all quiet as we stared at her on stage. She took this as a good sign and she waited for the interlude in the song to stop before she began singing again.

"I got tired of waiting,

Wondering if you were ever coming around,

I faith in you was fading,

When I met you on the outskirts of town.

And I said,

"'Romeo, save me, I've been so alone,

I keep waiting for you but you never come,

Is this in my head? I don't what to think.'

He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said,"

The music had been steadily growing louder, and I felt like crying when she belted out,

"'Marry me Juliet, you'll never have to be alone.

I love you, and that's all I really know.

I talked to your dad, you'll pick out a white dress,

It's a love story, baby just say yes.'

'Cause we were both young when I first saw you."

Complete silence was met at the end of her song. By the looks on our faces, she looked abashed and looked down at her feet. There was grief in her expression, and I gasped internally in disgusted shock. She thought we were quiet because we though her singing was bad. Seeing her face, and being her mother, I could just feel it.

"That… that was amazing, Miss Swan," Edward told her reassuringly, looking speechless. "Would you like to stay and read from the script? Let's just make sure you can get this role down."

Riley looked at him disbelievingly. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice a little shaky.

Edward smiled and looked at me. "Well, if your mother Ms. Swan here agrees with me, I think you'd be perfect for Anastasia," he said in the general direction of the stage. "Mr. Clearwater, are you here?"

"I am." Seth Clearwater stood from his seat in the audience, staring at the stage in awe. Apparently he'd been watching Riley's performance. The way he looked at her now made my blood boil, but I gritted my teeth as the boy playing Dimitri came up and got two copies of the script from Edward.

"Now, if you two don't mind. I'd like to see how you interact on stage together. As the leads, you'll obviously need to work together on the stage throughout the production. Miss Swan, I think you'd be amazing with Anastasia, but I need to make sure. I hope neither of you mind," Edward explained dutifully after Seth took the scripts and began moving towards the stage. I frowned slightly when both of them shook their heads frantically – they didn't seem to mind at all. Riley looked more excited than anything.

Seth got up onto stage, handing her one of the copies. She took it gratefully, and their eyes met for a second. I scowled now, folding my arms tightly as I watched Riley's face light up and she smiled. I couldn't believe this. I was beginning to regret Alice making her try out. And I was beginning to regret that my daughter was so good at singing. But like always, I wasn't mad at my daughter. I was mad at the way the world was beginning to pull everything apart at the seams.

Edward gestured for them to begin the scene.

Riley nodded and looked down at the script. "Dimitri, how could you do this to me?" she demanded. Even though this was the first time she had ever seen the script, she put anger into her voice and even sent Seth an irritated glance. I secretly enjoyed that.

"Anya, can't you let me explain?" Seth asked, his voice sounding almost pained. He'd have to work on that, but he was doing well.

Riley shook her head frantically. "No," she snapped. "Because I wouldn't believe you anyway. You've lied to me. The entire way here, you've been using me just so you could make some money!" She turned away from him, and I shot a glance at Edward. He was watching the acting pair with intense eyes, and I suspected that he was making his judgment on whether or not Riley was perfect for the part.

"Yes, that may have been true when we first started out," Seth pleaded. He was very good; I had to admit. "But believe me, please, when I say that you really are the princess!"

"Just leave me alone," Riley growled at him, her back still turned. "You know, I believed in you. But I guess taking homeless girls off the street is what your kind do. Stay away from me." She began walking away, but then Seth reached forward and grabbed her arm like a desperate man would. I frowned at the contact.

Riley looked surprised that Seth had actually touched her, and Seth just held on, looking at her face in earnest. "Anya, I know I've lied, but please believe me. You're the princess Anastasia, and that's the truth. I've screwed up your faith in me, and I'm sorry. Can't you forgive me this one time?" He looked like he was about to get down on his knees and beg, and a puppy-like expression crossed his face.

She frowned and shook him off coldly. "You had your chance, Dimitri. Get out of here," she growled.

"Alright, stop," Edward said, getting to his feet. Both actors on stage turned to look at him as he began speaking. Riley began fiddling with her script and looking down at the floor anxiously. This was the verdict. "That was fantastic," Edward continued. "I think you're both perfect for the roles. Miss Swan, I expect you to be at the first rehearsal tomorrow morning. I suppose that won't be a problem. Seth, excellent work. I think this is going to turn out nicely. Ms. Swan, would you mind coming with me backstage to confer with some others, and perhaps take a lunch break?"

I nodded. Edward was just so hard to resist. His business-like tone was amazingly beautiful and alluring in its own right. I couldn't trust my tongue around him. And I didn't want to say something that I would regret.

Riley beamed on stage and skipped off happily. Seth watched her go with some kind of goofy smile on his face and got off the stage too. A woman, who wasn't much older than him, met him – I guessed that she was his sister. But I didn't pay much attention. I followed Edward back stage, where Riley was waiting with Alice, Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie.

"Riley, I had no idea you were going to try out as an actress!" Rosalie was exclaiming when we arrived. "That was great!"

"Not as great as you, babe," Emmett teased, kissing his love on the cheek. Rosalie giggled and threw her arms around his neck.

Alice and Jasper were giving Riley hugs.

"Riley, that was great! I didn't know you had such talent in you!" Alice said. "Well, I mean, of course I knew you had talent, but wow! That was amazing!"

"Nice job," Jasper agreed with a serene smile.

When Riley turned to face me, she instantly looked ashamed and looked down at her feet. I could tell she was guilty about keeping this all from me, but how could I help but be so proud of her? There was a part of me that wanted to tell her that keeping secrets from your own mother was bad, but what child didn't keep secrets from their parents? Riley was a normal girl, and so she was going to do normal teenage girl things.

"Mom, I wanted to tell you, but-"

"Riley, I'm not angry." I cut her off – I didn't want her feeling guilty. "What you just did was probably the bravest thing I have ever seen." Excluding everything she had done for me when she was younger.

"Laurent, I wasn't talking about sex with him! I was just talking about buying a t-shirt with the clerk! Why are you so jealous all the time? Am I not allowed to speak to other men?" I demanded.

Laurent snorted, shaking his head. "You're a sly little bitch, you know that? How can you deny that to my face?" he shouted at me.

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"See? There you go again! What does it take for a man to get respect in this fucking house?" Laurent advanced on me, grabbing a kitchen knife along the way. "Do I have to kill you so you can go to hell and find out what you did? You good for nothing bitch?"

"Don't talk to her that way!" There was Riley, thirteen, standing on the staircase. When we had gotten home, she had been sleeping – apparently Laurent's yelling had woken her up. "Don't talk to my mom like that, Laurent!'

"You stay out of this, Riley!" Laurent shouted, throwing the knife at my daughter. She jumped out of the way – it hit the wall and stuck into the place where her head had been just a second ago. I gasped and tackled him to the floor – nobody threw a knife at my daughter. I had thought Laurent was different – I thought he would have been the one I could spend my life with. Would my bad judgment ever end?

Laurent rolled on top of me, his hazel eyes glinted over with malice and anger. "You like it rough, don't you?" he shouted as he ripped open my shirt – buttons flying everywhere. "How about I teach you a thing or two about talking to other men about this behind my back? How would you like that, you fucking slut?"

"Get away from her!" Riley growled at him, and suddenly she was there. She shoved my half-mad boyfriend off of me, her eyes filled with an outrage that practically matched his. "I dare you to call her a slut again! See what happens!"

Laurent sneered at her and got to his feet. I got to my feet too, pulling the shirt around myself in an attempt to cover my stomach. Riley stood her ground, rocking back and forth on her heels as if she were ready to leap aside at any second. Laurent continued to approach her, looking as if he were about to wring her neck with his bare hands. Perhaps he was.

"You don't have any respect for adults, do you?" Laurent growled at her, looking positively stormy. "I'll teach you a lesson too, I guess, before I educate your mother on proper technique. I'll teach you to be quiet, you little brat. Maybe the best way is to do to you what I'm planning to do with your mother. How does that sound?" His voice turned into a deadly purr now, as his hands went to the buckle on his pants. He unbuttoned his jeans and slid them down as he was walking and kick them away. And from what I saw, he wasn't wearing anything underneath.

Oh, God. He was going to rape my daughter.

Riley seemed to realize this too. Her eyes went wide in panic as she dashed for the stairs. But Laurent was too quick. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him. I began frantically searching for something that I could hit him with. I had to stop this before my daughter was permanently damaged.

"Let go of me!" Riley said, but her voice was shaky in fear.

"Shut up, you miniature bitch!" Laurent sneered at her. I glanced over my shoulder to see that he was fiddling with her jeans from behind. I doubled my efforts to find something, but there didn't seem to be anything useful nearby. Where was a blunt weapon when you needed it?

I heard Riley whimper, and the sound of a zipper going down. I had to find something!

That was when I found a softball bat – Riley had left it on the table after practice today. Thank the Lord. I grabbed it and rushed to my daughter's aid before Laurent could…

Riley screamed.

I ran over as quickly as I could, whacked Laurent over the head with the bat, and he slid to the floor with a gentle thud. Riley was crying, and she was turned away from me. Was I too late? Had she…?

The look on her face told me everything when she looked at me. I was too late. My gaze flickered downward. Her legs were shaking, and I could see the faintest trickle of blood going down her leg. Oh, no. He'd broken her wall too hard. It broke my heart that he'd even broken her wall at all. Because of me, my baby girl wasn't a virgin anymore. It was all my fault.

She sobbed in my arms all night.

"Really?" Riley asked brightly, looking at me hopefully.

I nodded with a smile. "Sure. You deserve the part. What brought all this on, anyway?"

Riley blushed and glanced towards Alice, who grinned and gestured for her to continue. I sent a wary glance in Alice's direction and my future sister-in-law giggled. "I was telling Aunt Alice about how you wouldn't let me work in Chicago, and how I wanted to make money for us – I'm fifteen, Mom. I need to be helping out. So Aunt Alice suggested that I try out for the musical. I thought it was a great idea."

Edward laughed. "Well, it was," he told Riley. "Now we have the two best choices for our leads. You were great on stage." Riley blushed at the compliment; she was modest like I was.

"So you're really not angry at me for keeping this a secret?" Riley asked anxiously, looking at me now.

I laughed. "Riley, you're a teenager. If you didn't keep secrets from me, I would think there's something wrong with you. Don't worry about it, honey," I assured her.

Riley sighed in relief. Alice chuckled.

"I told you so," Alice snickered. "She doesn't have the ability to be angry with you. Or anyone else for that matter."

"You want to bet on that?" I sneered.

Alice just laughed. "Sure, Bells. Whatever floats your boat."

Jasper, Emmett, Rosalie, Riley, and even Edward laughed at that. I felt my face go beet-red, and Riley gave me a hug. Jasper wrapped his arms around his fiancé, and Alice smiled and leaned into his embrace. Emmett kissed Rosalie on the cheek, and the actress in his arms giggled. Edward shoved his hands in his pockets, smiling at my daughter and me. All I could manage was a measly smile in return. He was so handsome, and I sincerely hoped that he'd find someone he could be happy with someday.

X-x-X

Riley

My heart was still thudding from being on stage even when my mom was driving us home for dinner. I was so excited that I was going to be in Anastasia, and working with that hunk of an actor Seth Clearwater. He was so handsome, I felt like fainting in my seat just thinking about him. And I hadn't missed my mother sending him disapproving looks after lunch break – she must have noticed how much I liked him already.

"Riley, honey?"

"Hm?" I looked up to the rearview mirror, where my mother was watching me carefully.

"What do you think of Mr. Cullen?" she asked anxiously.

I blinked in surprise. I hadn't expected that one, and definitely not coming from my mother. Still, I couldn't just lie. "Uh… I think he's cool. I mean, I don't know him very well but he seems like the good-guy type. Why?"

I saw my mother's cheeks go a faint, fluttery pink. I smirked. "I was just asking," she said.

"Why, do you like him?" I asked.

"Well, I… no," she responded.

I sat up straighter, folding my arms across my chest. "Come on, Mom. You can admit that kind of stuff to me. I'm a teenager, and I sort of understand. What is it about him? His looks? His smile? His talking? His personality? What is it? Tell me!" I urged her as I leaned forward in interest.

My mom frowned, but paused to think. "Well, everything, I guess. I like working with him – he's easy to get along with," she told me.

I grinned. "So you think you're in love with him?"

"Riley, I've barely known him for a day! What are you talking about?" she demanded. "I just said he was easy to get along with, not that I had fallen completely head over heels for him! Are you insane?" She tried to glare at me, but all it turned out to be was a disdainful look that made me giggle. I didn't respond; and she took that as a sign to continue on and to go in depth about how she felt.

"He's good-looking enough…"

"Good-looking enough to get in bed?" I asked.

My mother gasped as we pulled into the driveway of our house. "Riley Renee Swan! Who on earth taught you that? Wait, no, don't tell me. I'll deal with your Uncle Emmett tomorrow. Get in that house young lady, before I decide that its your fault for learning that kind of language. I didn't raise you to talk like that," she said sternly. I laughed.

"How did you know Uncle Emmett taught me that?" I asked slyly. "It could have been Aunt Alice."

"Because Aunt Alice doesn't have that kind of mouth, and she's actually a good role model," Mom shot at me, and I grinned. She was smart (not that she had ever been stupid).

Just as I was getting out of the car, a silver Volvo pulled into our driveway. My mom stiffened, and I froze. What was going on; who was this? Had my mother gotten another boyfriend that she hadn't told me about yet? But when the door to the shiny new car opened and the person who was in it stepped out, I almost dropped my jaw to the driveway and ran.

What was Edward Cullen doing here?

"Bella, you left some of your notes back at the theater. I thought it'd be nice to give them back to you," he said in a silky smooth voice. I shot a smug look at my mother, who glared at me and waved me off to the house. I giggled and went to unlock the door. I heard my mother say in a small voice,

"I thought you were riding with Alice and Jasper."

"The airport had my rental car ready," Edward explained to her, and as I opened up the door, I paused to listen/eavesdrop on their conversation. "Your notes?" Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him handing my mother the pile of notes. There were a lot of notes there – she really must have been in a hurry to leave if she had left all that back at the theater. I grinned to myself.

"Oh, thanks," my mother said quietly as she took them from him. "Do you want to stay for dinner?"

Whoa. Where did that come from? I froze, my eyes widening. Was my mother taking the initiative on this one? I turned my head to look at Edward's shocked expression, and my mother's own shy one. Oh, wow.

"Er, I suppose I have time for that," Edward replied. "Will Riley mind?" His gaze flickered to me. I opened my mouth to answer him, but my mother beat me to it.

"I'm sure she won't." I glared at her.

"Excellent," Edward replied.

Oh, boy. What had happened to Mom?

EOC: Oh! Finally got this thing updated. Sorry for the delay, guys. =] Dealing with a crazy family and school at the same time isn't the easiest thing in the world. So what do you guys think about the whole dinner thing? Too fast, too slow? Just downright hate it? I hoped you guys liked it. 'Til next time. – Dark and Wild