Unpredictable

Chapter 15

The phone rang multiple times before I picked it up. "Hello?" I said groggily. "Girl! This is the third time I've called you. Why aren't you picking up?" Rowan's voice came over the phone. I looked at my alarm clock from my bed. "Because it's 3 in the afternoon. OH BOY!! 3?!?!" I scrambled out of bed, but my foot got tangled in the covers. I fell flat on my face.

"Opal?! Ope!! Are you okay??" I reached for my phone. "Yeah. Just fine." I said, voice muffled by my carpeted floor. "Look, why are you sleeping so late??" She asked, sounding worried. I sat up, hugging my knees to my chest. "It's a long story." She sighed. "A long story is about how I ended up getting stuck in a saddle on Sid. Cough it up." I snickered. Sid was her white large pony, and I didn't want to hear the long story. "Okay okay. I'll tell you."

I told her everything. When I finished, she didn't say what I expected her to say. "Opal, I know you're protecting us, and getting his authority on our side is a great step. But Rosie and I can handle ourselves. Stop putting yourself out there for us." I smiled when Rowan said this. "Don't worry. The last thing I said to him was have a nice life. I'm done with that guy." I could just see her smile. "Good."

"Audition for Cinderella with me!" Alice pleaded in the hallway. "Please! Please please please please please please!!!" I held a hand up. "Alice! You know I would never make it! I can't sing, remember?" Alice scoffed. "That's a matter of opinion. I've heard you sing plenty of times and..." "Wait. I only sing in the shower. Do you listen to me when you're over?!" I asked, interrupting. She shrugged. "Not the point, the point is you're great! You just have trouble admitting that." I scoffed. "Do not! I've had people tell me I'm terrible." She waves that off. "Only your brothers. Just audition for fun! PLEASE!!" I sighed, knowing I couldn't escape this. "Fine. I'll do it." I've never heard anyone squeal so loud and high pitched.

My phone rang that night. Around 2 in the morning. I looked at the number and it didn't look familiar, but in case of emergency I tapped the green pick up button. "This better be important or else I'm reporting this to the cops. I'm pretty sure waking teenage girls at 2 in the morning is a felony." I heard a panicked voice on the other end. "Opal?! You picked up!! Listen... we messed up really bad this time." I rubbed my eyes and slipped my glasses on. I have terrible vision, and usually wore contacts, but of course I took them out to sleep. "Rosie? Is that you?" I asked. She sounded sad in her response. "Yes. And Rowan is here too." I sighed. "Where is here?" I asked tentatively. "Um, in jail."

My heart stopped. "I'm sorry. For a second I thought you said jail." I could hear her swallow. "We... we are." Worry and rage flowed through my veins. "YOU WHAT?!" I whisper shouted. "Yes. We can explain everything. Right now we need you to come get us out of our holding cell. Can't talk anymore, Officer Schwartz is telling me I'm over our time limit. Gotta go!" Before she hung up, I heard Rowan shout, "More like Officer Butt Face!" Then hung up. Even in times like this they are immature and dorky.

After all that, one thing stuck with me. Officer Schwartz. That name was key in this situation. I slipped on a leather jacket over my T-Shirt, and left my fox pajama pants on. I was in a panic don't judge me. I grabbed my purse, my phone, adjusted my glasses and ran down the stairs as quietly as possible.

I dialed the number quickly in my driveway. "Hello?" Came the voice groggily after the 5th ring. "Oh thank goodness you picked up. I need your authority." I could hear Park sit up in his bed. "Um, why do you need it now? At 2:15 on the morning." I ran my hand down my braid. "Your last name is Schwartz right?" He sighed. "Um, yeah. Why?" I started pacing. "Do you have a family member who works for the police?" I could hear the surprise in his voice. "Yeah. My cousin. Why?" I threw my fist in the air. "Perfect!! Come to my house! Like right now. It's a really big emergency. My address is 552 Gold Rush St. Come now!!!" I hung up before he could protest, hoping he would come.

At around 2:30, I saw his car come into view. He did come!! I hid my excitement. He came up to me, jeans, simple gray shirt, brown jacket. "Why oh why am I here right now?" He asked, sleep still evident in his brown eyes. "Like I said, I need your authority." He groaned. "What for??" "I'll explain on the way there now get in the car." Luckily he didn't complain, I'm guessing he was too tired to try.

"First things first, fox pajama pants?" He asked. "Okay, like you I just woke up so don't judge me. I look amazing in these pajama pants." He rolled his eyes. "Okay whatever. Where we heading?" He asked. "The jail where your cousin works." He gave me a crazy look. "Um, why?" "You'll see when we get there now stop questioning why I need you. You already promised to let me use your authority." He sighed, obviously knowing he couldn't push it. The rest of the ride was dead silent.

I ran into the jail, busting through the door. The sleeping cop awoke with a start, falling out of his chair. He grabbed the desk and helped himself back up, giving me a once over. "What's a girl like you doing here so early? And in pajama pants?" I brushed myself off. "You have some friends of mine in a holding cell." His eyes widened. "Those maniacs are your friends? You have really bad judgement." I sighed. "Tell me about it." It was then Park came in, out of breath. "How do you run so fast at 3 in the morning?" As I shrugged the officer stood and approached us. "Park?" He looked over at him. "Marcus! Hey!" They did that guy hug thing. "How you been man?" "Fine fine. School and what not." The officer pointed to a room. "Friends are in there kid. Go ahead and talk to them while I catch up with my baby cousin."

"Guys?" I asked as I tiptoed in. "OPAL!!" They cried together. "WE'RE SO GLAD TO SEE YOU! YOU'RE OUR SAVIOR AND..... Why are you wearing pajamas?" Rosie asked. I sighed. "I'm here to bust you out and how I do it is my business! Now tell me what happened." Rowan looked at the ground and began talking. "Well, we were looking expensive phone cases tonight right? Well I had completely accidentally left one on my phone and walked out. The mall beeper things caught me, so we stood in panic wondering what we did wrong. When a security guard approached us, Rosie panicked and punched him right in the nose. When she was apologizing another security guard rushed over, scaring me so I may have tackled him. By the time the cops arrived two security guards were unconscious and six were holding us down. That's how we ended up here, in a holding cell." I face palmed myself. "Why am I not surprised?" I asked myself.

"Yes, they were quite the ruckus." The cop said as he walked in. The only resemblance to Park I could see was his eyes. "But, since my cousin Park here is friends with them too and I trust his judgement, I'd say about a 250 dollar fine, and they're out." I gave my friends an annoyed look as I handed over my credit card. "You are so paying me back for this."

When they came out they tried to hug me, but I pushed them away and lectured them till I was all lectured out. I'm the mom of the group, it's what I do. Park had to drive them home and me too. When he parked in my driveway I faced him. "Listen, that was a big job you did for me. Let's break off the deal now. I can no longer use your authority, and we are out of each other's lives for good this time. I mean it." He nodded. "That sounds good." I gave him a small smile. "Well, see you around I guess." He gave me a small wave. "See you."