CHAPTER ELEVEN

"This is shit is sooo dope." Justin announced. We were at his house inside his dance studio. He told me many times that it wasn't a dance studio it was a choreography studio but looking around, it was a dance studio.

"So I am going to start the song and go through the whole thing. Now I have placed this partition here to symbolize the wall between your two. I need you two to try to imagine the whole dance with both of you doing it." Justin held up his remote and let the intro play.

He moved around the space almost exactly how I had envisioned it. Embry looked a little pale at all the work he would be required to put in. In the past, his performances usually consisted of spitting into a mic while graphics played behind him and hot chicks swarmed him. But he made the mistake of asking me to create this performance and now I would expect nothing less than hard work from him.

The song came to a finish and Embry and I got into place to start learning the moves. I wasn't exactly a dancer either but at least I gave a hundred percent. Embry was already having trouble following along and I could sense his heart wasn't in it. Finally I stopped and asked for Justin to give us a moment to talk.

"Look, I know you're not much of a dancer and neither am I but you have to look at these moves as going through the motions of your everyday life. Every move we make is moves we would normally make in our lives except they're just a tad bit exaggerated."

I got into place. "We walk in and act like we are slamming the door shut. We go over to the chair or couch and frustrated we jump up. We walk over to the mirror and slam our fists on the wall. We place our backs to the wall and slide down it." I went through most of the motions piecing out the choreography.

"B. I've never done anything like this before." Embry started to say.

"Your whole album is unlike anything you have done before. But you did it and it works. I know this can work. Just give it a chance."

"This isn't my thing; I don't want to look like an ass."

I paused for a moment; he was really starting to piss me off. I could understand if Justin had made difficult moves but he wasn't even trying.

"Embry. You asked me to plan out the performance. I know you would feel much better just standing on stage and singing while lighting and special effects did all your hard work, however that's not who I am. You have no idea the amount of pressure I am under right now. Forget about the music video that I committed myself to do. Forget about the albums I am supposed to be working on promoting. Forget the fiancé I have pushing up our wedding date to February. The pressure I have for this performance outweighs it all. Not only will this be the first time that I have ever performed on platform this large but you have also put me in charge of your comeback performance. You haven't performed since you cancelled your tour back in 2006. I don't think you grasp just how of a big fucking deal this is. So you have two options you can call up the AMA's and change your song selection or you can really start putting an effort into learning this choreography. I don't have the time to waste waiting on you to make a decision so I will be at home until you do decide."

I could feel my face heating with the anger inside me. You have to understand that throughout my relationship with Embry Call, there would be many times when we would be frustrated with one another. Many times when we would be upset and have no problem calling each other out on the other person's bull shit however I can honestly say that in the forty plus years of friendship only two times would I say our arguments were serious. One being the intervention a couple of months ago and the other was still to come.

I made it back to the house and started back on my work; tomorrow I would be meeting with the casting agent and see who they had turned up for the "Jacqueline Waynesque" part. I just hoped that that would go better than the other project I was working on.

I didn't see Embry the rest of the day or even at dinner. I'm not even sure if he spent the night at the Cullen Casa but I wasn't focused on him, I couldn't allow myself to be focused on him.

The casting session I attended was more positive than I could have ever foreseen. Monday morning I arrived bright and early to meet with Deborah Banks and see who she had asked to come back and meet with me. The Liberty Project boys didn't care who I choose so they left this decision completely up to me. It was kind of crazy because Deborah had six different girls all lined up for me that all looked similar to Jacqueline Wayne.

Before each girl would come in she would give me a quick rundown of the girls' previous acting jobs. I told her that I wanted to interview each one of them and then if I liked them, we would make them do some improv. It was important that the girls be able to be physically expressive. I needed to believe the fear and pain they would have to express.

Over the years I worked with Deborah quite a few times because she always knew what I wanted in an actor. Of course the ability to act was important but she had also learned that I favored personality as well and I would never hire anyone who I felt could turn into a diva or arrogant asshole.

The Erase Me video was the first time I had ever worked with Deborah and she learned quickly what my additional requirements were. I didn't care how long your résumé was, I dismissed the first two girls after only three questions; Deborah knew then on I was a different kind of filmmaker. Girl three was actually nice enough but when we did improv, she would give some of the weirdest faces and I didn't want that detracting from the video. Girl four, I like very much and I could see the potential in her however I knew we had found our girl when girl six came in for her audition.

"I'm sorry, I am having a little trouble trying to figure out the pronunciation of your name." I apologized while the girl took her seat. She was a little taller than me but looked like a baby. She had fair skin and long brown hair which I thought could work well with the video. Her lips looked to be the perfect shade of red and she wore light makeup. She was a very pretty girl.

The girl laughed a little. "I get that a lot, my parents fought over what to name me. My dad wanted to name me after his mother Desma which was short for Desdemona and my mom loved Renata so I ended up being Renesmee. And no my parents aren't actors so they don't even have that excuse."

We all laughed, "Renesmee Wolfe. Wow. That is a mouthful." I replied. "How old are you?"

The girl looked like she was fifteen.

"I just turned eighteen a month ago." That was a relief; you have no idea the amount of work that goes into hiring underage actors.

"Well, I know that you don't have a lot of professional experience but don't worry neither do I." I smiled at her.

"Thank you." I believed her sentiment; it was hard to get a job in Hollywood with no prior experience. Almost like getting your S.A.G. card. It was a catch twenty-two, in order for one to obtain your S.A.G. card you had to have worked on a S.A.G. project however in order to work on a S.A.G. project you usually had to have your S.A.G. card. Frustrating, I know.

"How about we work on some improv and see how it goes."

Renesmee did a very good job and we told her we would call her in a couple of days to inform her on our decision. Of course I already knew that I had found my girl but it was formality to inform the other producers of my decision first. At the time I even thought that maybe I could introduce Renesmee to Kyle and see if he liked her at all. I should probably tell you now that my matchmaking skills were never on par.

The amount of relief that I felt after deciding on hiring Renesmee was welcomed. I had started to think about Embry and I began to feel bad. I knew that I kind of unloaded on him and unfortunately he became a target for my stress. I needed to see him and make sure he was okay.

I made it my first order of business to find him when I arrived home. He was outside on the basketball court. Embry wasn't even trying to shoot hoops he just sat on the ground rolling the ball around. I quietly approached him and he saw me when I was a couple of feet away from him.

"Hey." He said when he saw me.

"Hey." I replied. "What are you doing?"

"Well, I came out here to shoot hoops but then realized I was much too sore for that so I just sat here and have been thinking ever since." He replied.

"Sore?" I asked.

Embry smiled a little in my direction, "Yea, this psycho chick verbally kicked my ass and made me realize what an ass I was being. So I have been working with Justin ever since. Let me tell you, I think I have spent way too much time with that fool."

I sat down beside him, "Really?" I laughed a little.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause you more stress in your life. When AMA called me up and asked if I would perform something off my upcoming album my immediate response was, hell no. I haven't performed since my wife died. Part of me has been scared to. Before she killed herself we had gotten into a big fight and I was thankful I could run away and focus on my tour. The night that I received the call, I will never forget. I will always blame myself for what happened to her; I made my career more important than her or my kids. Going back out on that stage and picking back up again…" he sighed. "I'm scared."

"I had tickets to your concert tour; Angela and I were supposed to go. Of course we understood when you had to cancel but I have always waited for you when you decided to come back. I wish I could tell you that you don't have to do this but I think you do. Not for me or for your millions of fans but for yourself. I didn't know your wife and anything I do know about your wife has been tainted by Hollywood's version of things but I do know your children and those girls are the most amazing girls. You took time off to be there for them. You have struggled with more than most. I know you love making music, you love performing and I think that it's time for you to be a part of something you love again. I will be here for you and I know Savannah and Gracie will be there too."

Embry nodded his head. "Thanks, B."

"I'm sorry for going all psycho chick on you. I probably took out a little more than I should have on you."

Embry brushed it off. "Ahhh don't worry about that, B. I deserve it. I'm sure it won't be the last time I come in contact with your alter ego."

"I hate to say it but I'm pretty sure you're right." We got off the ground and I started to walk toward the house, I could see Embry kind of taking it slow.

"Wow, really Em; you're not that old to be hurting like this." I laughed.

"Shut up. You have no idea just how hard I worked. I stretched places I never even knew existed on my body."

"If you'd like, we have a nice warm spa downstairs you can go and soak yourself." I thought for a moment of the dirty things Edward and I had done it that spa but we used chlorine so it should be fine by now.

"Don't think I don't know what that look is for." Embry pulled me from my daydreaming.

"What? What are you talking about?" I tried to play it off.

"I practically invented that look. I think I will be just fine taking a bath in my own private tub in my room. God knows what you and Edward did to that spa."

My mouth dropped open and I started to head for the house thoroughly embarrassed. I turned around to him the last second and said, "How do you know we didn't do the same thing to your bathtub?" I laughed an evil laugh and ran off leaving Embry behind with a very disturbed face. We hadn't actually violated that bathtub…yet. But just thinking about Embry looking down on it and the images that might pass through his mind made me laugh.

I realized quickly that with Thanksgiving approaching and these two projects which would come to completion during this time, I was in desperate need of some help. I felt bad that I had to keep relying on Jacob or Edward to help out with Savannah and Gracie; both of them had jobs as well. So I talked with Edward and made a crazy decision.

I called my parents and asked if they would mind coming and spending a couple of days with us to help out with watching Savannah and Gracie. Of course I hadn't thought of what it would actually mean to have my mom always around. Edward and my dad got along well always razzing each other over their football teams but my mother made it her mission to bug me every moment on wedding details.

"So now that you swear to me that you haven't run off and eloped." My mom looked at me pointedly for confirmation grasping her information from the latest gossip magazine. "When is the big day?"

"I don't know…sometime in February, apparently." I huffed looking over at Edward sitting on the couch with my dad.

"It's in February and you still don't have a date?" she pushed.

"Edward said I wouldn't have to do a thing. We could hire people and I just need to show up. I can't really focus on a date at the moment."

"Isabella." My mom scolded me. "You only get married once. You would think you could put out the effort to at least make a date."

"Well mom we are in Hollywood; who knows just how many marriages I'll end up with." Obviously I was joking but my mom slapped me upside the head.

"Geez mom, I was just kidding." I replied shocked.

Edward got up and came over to the kitchen where we were and smiled a taunting smile. I knew he was enjoying this.

"Edward, I know she's your problem now but sometimes…" My mom said frustrated.

Edward came up and wrapped his arms around me. "I can handle her, Renée. Baby, don't you think that you could sit down and we can come up with a date to help settle your mother's nerves."

"Does anyone around here not understand just how much I have to do?" I looked around. "Daddy. Please save me."

My dad who was much too involved with the game looked up at me calling him.

"Huh? What? What's going on?"

"Never mind." I huffed.

"I have a calendar right here. It would only take a couple of minutes." My mom rushed over to her purse and brought out her pocket calendar. She placed it on the counter and I closed my eyes and dropped my finger down on the page.

"There, February seventeenth." I announced. "Done and done."

"Bella, try to be serious. You can't get married on a Tuesday." My mom replied.

"What's wrong with Tuesday? Good things happen on Tuesday's. There's taco Tuesday. Fat Tuesday." I rattled off.

"Bella." Edward admonished.

I sighed. "Well, then you pick out a date."

"What day do you see us celebrating on every year for as long as we both shall live." Edward smiled.

"December 21st, 2012."

"You're not getting married on the apocalypse." My mother almost shouted. She had a slight worry about this so called Mayan calendar ending. I couldn't help but laugh a little.

"Bella." Edward said a little louder.

"All right, all right." I sighed and looked down at the calendar.

"I choose….this date." I tapped my finger down on the calendar.

"Baby, really? Friday the thirteenth?" Edward asked.

"Why not? I would be sure to not forget my anniversary this way and maybe I can convince you to just roll my Valentine's Day gift into what I am already sure will be an ostentatious gift to begin with into an anniversary gift." I replied.

"It's a bad luck day." My mom answered.

"That's hogwash. Besides I already have enough bad things happening to me, Friday the thirteenth is usually a good day for people like me."

"Don't you want to get married on a Saturday?" she pushed.

"No. I like this date. Now if Edward wants to change it then by all means go ahead but I'm done. I have done my wedding talk diligence for now and I really do need to focus on other things."

And with that I pushed back and started off towards my office. Edward hadn't changed the date so in just a few short months I would officially be Mrs. Edward Cullen, something I'm sure I was supposed to be excited for but unable to do so due to stress.

We were coming up on the week before the AMA's; I had a dry run through of Embry and my performance on Friday, a dress rehearsal on Saturday and the final performance on Sunday. Embry was nice enough to be able to obtain some tickets so my parents could come and see me. Edward assured me that Rosalie and Emmett could watch the girls for the night.

I wanted to start filming this Thursday for the video just on the boy's portion and then we would continue on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week after the AMA performance. Next Thursday would be Thanksgiving and my mom said she would do everything for Thanksgiving dinner.

My schedule was packed to the max and I didn't have any time for even one more thing. Seth Clearwater tried to call me one day to go over the album covers and I practically came unglued. There was no way I could think about the photo session they wanted to have to achieve for their album covers. After that Seth said he would try back the week after Thanksgiving so I was able to add one more thing to be thankful of.

By the time I was able to get back into the studio with Justin, Embry was way ahead of me in terms of knowing the choreography and this past weekend kicked my ass. Of course I wasn't afraid to use the spa downstairs to soak my poor bones. Throughout the running around and preparing, something occurred to me one early morning.

I gasped as I jumped out of bed. I looked over at the clock it was three AM. Edward didn't seem disturbed; I fumbled around for my phone and crept off toward the closet. I shut myself inside and dialed my friend. I know I probably should have waited until a proper hour but I was almost shitting kittens.

"Hello." Groggy and pissed was what was awaiting me.

"Marcus." I practically shouted.

"What the bloody hell." He replied.

"Marcus. I completely forgot to get a dress for this Sunday's award show. I'm fucked aren't I?"

Marcus groaned. "Well, not because of a dress. However since you disturbed me at an ungodly hour I may send the hounds out to locate you and yes you would be fucked."

"I'm so sorry but I suddenly woke up and realized that I didn't have anything to wear this Sunday except for my costume which consists of jeans and a t-shirt." Embry and I went for the standard white tee and blue jean combo.

"Bella." I heard Edward calling for me. I placed my hand over the phone and through Marcus's rather colorful words I yelled out to him. "I'll be out of the closet in a minute."

I placed my focus back on Marcus who I caught the tail end of him explaining that he had something for me.

"Wait! What? You do?" I asked.

"Emma called me two weeks ago and let me know that you would be attending the AMA's, she said that you have been incredibly busy and that she knew you would need something to wear."

Emma. My godsend Emma. How I loved thee.

I exhaled and calmed down.

"Now on everything unholy in Hollywood; if you don't shut up and leave me be then I will make sure you have a wardrobe malfunction come Sunday." After that he hung up. I guess I would have to send him a coffee in the morning.

I walked back to bed slightly feeling a little better. Edward was sitting up in bed with his side light on.

"Who were you talking to at three in the morning?"

"Marcus." I shook my head. Edward gave me a weird pause.

"At three in the morning." He repeated.

I sighed. "I didn't have anything to wear for Sunday."

"Don't you think that could have waited until the sun came up at the very least?"

"No. It couldn't have waited because I am in the middle of hell week; hell I am in the middle of hell month." I snapped.

"Honey, just calm down."

"Don't tell me to calm down. Do I really need to rattle off the list of reasons I cannot calm down. I have a performance a music video, albums to prepare and you're not helping anything by allowing my mom to pester me to death over wedding details."

Edward looked at me for a moment probably trying to gage how much steam was coming out of my ears.

"Lay down." He replied softly.

"Edward." I started to protest.

"Lay down." He repeated with authority.

I looked over at him and after a moment I settled back down in bed. Edward wrapped himself around me and started to massage my scalp.

"After Thanksgiving, you will be done with two major projects." Edward started.

"Well, not really I still have post production on the video."

"Bella, you have an editor. You will be fine to relax a bit. After Thanksgiving you can start to focus on the albums. I want to go and sit down with a wedding coördinator during this time and I will explain to the wedding coördinator that we will give them a detailed wish list and then it will be up to her or him to go out and arrange everything. I want them to understand that we want a very low stress experience. Your mom will get off your back and maybe you won't be so stressed out. Okay?"

I nodded my head. His hands were working miracles on my scalp so I was only half listening but I had visions of what my life would be like after Thanksgiving and from where I stood it was the promise land.

Edward kissed me on my head. "I love you and I really am worried about you lately. I have been thinking of suspending my projects until after the wedding so I can help you out more."

"I don't want you to do that." I tried to defend.

"Bella, please just let me do this. I know that pushing this wedding up is my fault so I have no problem taking off some time to focus on it."

My eyes were really starting to get heavy.

"Okay, Edward. Whatever you want." I answered weary.

"No baby, whatever we want." Edward kissed me one last time and I returned to my dreams.

AN: I think this is the longest I have gone with an update on this story, but man did comic con kick my ass. I haven't slept more then three hours a night since Wednesday. Unfortunately I don't go for fun but for work. I didn't make it to any panels I wanted to see but i am hoping to go and see some tomorrow. Sorry it took so long to get this out; thank you for reading and reviewing!