A Perfect Mistake

|Chapter Twenty Four| - A Second Set of Introductions

Brielle laid across her bed, math worksheets everywhere. Ella was on the floor beside Brielle's bed. Her things weren't quite as spread out as Brielle's but it was close. "So, Isaac understands this?" Brielle asked.

Ella nodded. "He said after class he knew exactly what Mrs. Beryl was talking about. I think he's lying considering he slept for the majority of the class."

"Call him and tell him to come over. He can help us out." Brielle said.

Ella rolled her eyes but went ahead and called him. "He'll be here in five minutes." Ella announced.

All three of them lived relatively close to one another. It was an extremely small town. Brielle and Ella were related to half the town by blood and the other half by marriage. Brielle's mom swore that her daughter and Ella were related somehow. Isaac's mom had moved to North Carolina from Virginia when she was about fifteen. Not long after, Isaac was born.

It had been three months since Brielle had returned home. Three months since Ella had been suspended. It was light, considering this was the first time Ella had ever done something wrong at school. Two days at home and then she was allowed to come back.

The doorball rang and both girls ran to get it. Brielle opened the door and smiled widely at Isaac. "Hi!" Brielle said excitedly.

"Come on in!" Ella said.

Isaac stared at the two girls. "I will never understand the female race." He muttered.

Ella and Brielle shared a look before they both began to laugh. "Oh, Isaac. Now, come on in. You're our personal math tutor." Brielle said before smiling and innocent smile.

"And if I refuse?"

Ella looked at her boyfriend. "Do you really want to know?" She asked.

"I handle a knife extremely well." Brielle chipped in.

Isaac laughed with the girls. "Of course I'll help you. Just, get out of the doorway so I can come inside."

They walked inside and to the kitchen where Brielle's mom was beginning to make dinner. "What are you cooking, momma?" Brielle asked.

"Your favorite. Breaded chicken with bacon-and-cheese potato casserole and green beans." Mrs. Blackwell said as she focused on slicing a potato.

"Thank you!" Brielle said, kissing her mom on the cheek.

Brielle grabbed some snacks and followed her friends upstairs to her room. They laid down on the floor and began to work.

Isaac was extremely brilliant, and so were the girls, but he was a genius.

"I knew there was a reason I decided to date you." Ella said after Isaac had shown her how to do the problems.

"So you can get free math help?"

"Yep."

Brielle laughed and looked at Isaac. "There's a reason I wanted you two to get together. You're a genius and Ella's pretty dang smart as well."

Isaac smiled. "Aw! You wanted me and Ella to be together before I asked her out? That's so cute and ironic!" He cooed.

Ella glare at them both. "No, it was freaking annoying. She didn't shut up about 'Ellaac' or whatever she calls us." Ella muttered.

"'Ellaac is a beautiful ship that represents a beautiful couple." Brielle said.

Isaac looked at her. "That was pretty deep."

Brielle shrugged. "I can be from time to time."

A ringing noise went through Brielle's room. She looked over at her desk where her laptop was sitting. "Quinn's calling. You two can finally meet him." Brielle said.

Ella grinned an evil grin. "It's about time." She said.

Brielle glared at her friend while she accepted the call. "Don't scare him." She said, watching her computer try and connect to his.

"He's dating you. He can't be afraid of much." Isaac said.

Brielle smiled innocently. "If you only knew what I done and seen." She said.

Finally, the call connected. "Hi, darling!" Brielle said.

"Hi!"

"Quinn, these are my two friends, Ella and Isaac. They're literally the cutest couple on the planet." Brielle explained.

Quinn laughed. "Hi!" He said.

Isaac waved and said hi. Ella smiled widely. "Listen, Quinn, I'm more like Brie's sister than I am friend, so let me just say if you ever hurt her in any way, I will be meeting you face-to-fist and you won't enjoy. My hand hasn't been out of a cast for very long and the reason it was there to begin with is because of the piece of crap Brielle dated before you. I'm not scary, just protective." She said.

Brielle shook her head. "My friends are delusional." She said

Quinn laughed again. "You've met Holly, Ed, and Greg." He looked at Ella. "You have made yourself clear. No harm shall come to Brie."

Ella smiled widely. "Good. We should get along nicely."

**

Across town, Jarred was sat in his jail cell, alone. Mitch had been taken to the visitation room. Jarred realized just how much they actually conversed and how quite it was now.

He watched a guard come walking to his cell and unlock the door. "You're needed in the visitation room."

Jarred walked down the hallway and stopped at the door. "Am I allowed in there? Isn't Mitch talking to someone?"

The guard remained emotionless. "You both are wanted." He said.

Jarred nodded and walked in. He looked to his left and saw a young woman, about the age of Mitch, who was clearly crying. Mitch was as well which led him to wonder who she was.

He sat down beside Mitch and picked up a second telephone. The prison had upgraded slightly in the past few months.

"Is everything ok?" He asked.

The woman stared at him before beginning to sob. Jarred looked at Mitch who was shaking his head. "I can't believe I didn't see it." Mitch whispered.

Jarred looked back and forth between the two. "What's going on?" He asked.

"Jarred, I'm Melody Young. You won't remember me because the last time you saw me you were about a year and a half old." She started before having to stop and try to control her crying.

Mitch picked up a phone. "Jarred, you know how I told you one night I went out and got extremely drunk and then beat my wife? Melody was my wife. Her mom, Jenna, just happened to walk in the house as I was...finishing my assault." He said, tears streaming down his face.

"I was locked up instantly. We have a son, he was a year and a half at the time. The reason Mel's- Melody's mom came by our house is because she had been watching him that night. He had split food and drink all over his clothes and Melody had forgotten to pack another. Her mom made the two hours journey to our place just to get him some clothes. She almost killed me on the spot."

Melody began to speak. "Jarred, the point of this is, you are our son. I had to put you up for adoption because I couldn't support us without Mitch. I saw on the news three months ago about the incident and did some digging to find out if it was you. Turns out it was."

Jarred stared at them. "Really?" He asked. Both adults nodded.

Jarred smiled a ghost of a smile. "It might be an improper way to meet my parents, but I've wanted to meet you for a long time."

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