Cinderella
Chapter One: Trouble
I had never particularly thought myself to be like Cinderella. I mean, my parents are married, I have, no evil stepsisters, I don't clean the house every day, you get the idea. But, in grade 11, as far as I was concerned, my mom was evil.
It all started out when I was going to the after party with Chad. We were having a great time. Oh, man, is he a good dancer. But in the midst of all the fun, I seemed to have forgotten something. It's not a big deal, or anything, but I guess it could matter just a bit.
It's a little thing I like to call "curfew."
Usually, I am home by my curfew, 12:00 pm sharp. I was never once late, and more than a few times I've been early. So you don't think my parents would freak out, right?
Wrong.
"Taylor Joanne McKessie! Where have you been! Your father and I have been worried sick about you! You are two hours past your curfew. Two hours! What do you have to say for yourself!" I winced.
"Geez, mom, take a chill pill." I guess that was not the right thing to say for myself.
My mom's voice turned deathly quiet. "What did you say, Taylor?"
I gulped. I knew I had crossed the line. Big time. In answer to my mother, I looked down at my toes and muttered something incoherent.
"That is not an acceptable answer, young lady!" Uh-oh. Now it was really big. My mom never called me 'young lady' unless I was in uber trouble.
Then she dropped the bombshell. "You are not allowed to go to the Winter Dance next week. You are grounded!"
My mouth dropped open. "What! Mom, you can't ground me! It was only once! Once!"
"Yes, but it could turn into a habit. You could do it again, and again!" My mom was on a role. "You could have been in a car crash, you could have been kidnapped! You could have run away, you could have eloped! You didn't even call to say you would be late!"
I sighed. There was no point in arguing back. Plus, it wasn't helping my case. I just put on my best puppy-dog face, nodded sadly, and went to bed. I hoped if I behaved well, mom would maybe let me go to the dance.
The thing is, I would have stayed late at the after party if it wasn't for what Chad had done. Or rather, hadn't done. He didn't kiss me, not on the cheek or anything! Or even told me that he liked me! At the door, all he said was, "I had a great time tonight." I mean, come on. Every guy says that. He is so unoriginal. Why on earth do I like the most unoriginal guy on the planet?
After sitting on my bed for about half and hour thinking, I decided to call Gabriella. She always knew how to help me sort out my thoughts.
Ring, ring, ring.
Gabriella picked up on the third ring.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Gabi, it's Taylor."
"Hey, Taylor, what's wrong? You sound like you have a lot on your mind"
"Oh, Gabi, it's the worst." I whined. "I was home late from the after party, and my mom grounded me! So now I can't go to the Winter Dance!"
Gabriella paused. "I wasn't aware that you had a date to the dance, Tay."
I sighed loudly into the phone. "Gabi, you know I was waiting for Chad to ask me! But now it looks like even if he asks me, I won't be able to go!"
"Taylor," Gabriella replied tentatively, "You don't know that he was going to ask you. I mean," She continued quickly, "He maybe decided to go solo. Or he could have asked a cheerleader." She said the last part quietly, as if she hoped that hadn't, and never would, happen.
I felt my voice catch. "Wha-what? Gabi, do you know something?"
"No, no, of course I don't, Taylor. I'm sure he wouldn't want to go with anyone but you." She tried to reassure me.
"Are you positive that you don't know anything? Not even a clue? Because I can take it, you know. I'm a big girl now."
Gabriella giggled at the last remark, remembering our obsession with the pull-ups commercial. "Positive, Tay."
"OK, thanks, I got to go now. See you tomorrow." I hung up.
Of course Chad would ask a cheerleader! I thought to myself. It's not like we were in a serious relationship. He had taken me to the after party, and not even kissed me. It was one measly date. Sure, I had liked Chad for the past, oh, two years or so. But if he didn't like me, I would give up.
A thousand thoughts ran through my head. Did he like me, and not know how to show it? Did he like a cheerleader, and I was too obsessed with him to see it? He had been flirting with Tonya, the most popular, ditzy cheerleader I know, at the after party, but I had brushed it off as his usual player style. He hadn't exactly given me hints that he liked me as more than a friend. What if….. I cringed at this thought, What if Chad had only asked me as a friend? Oh, my gosh, that would be so humiliating! What if I was taking his intentions the wrong way?
"Enough with the 'What ifs'!" I murmured aloud to myself. I was obviously going to need some intense therapy, ASAP.
I took out my diary from its secret hiding spot in my… special items drawer. No one goes in there! I started to write.
Dear Diary,
Today I had a great time with Chad at the after party. We danced, talked about everything from school to his mom's obsession with Phantom of the Opera, danced, ate some food, and did I mention dance? It was great, anyway. I really feel that I connect with him! We didn't run out of things to talk about for a minute! But I'm not sure if he likes me in the same way. Maybe he thinks of us as only friends. I don't think I could live it down if I told him I liked him, and he only liked me as a friend. But what if he likes me too, but doesn't know how to show it! Aargh, I'm only more confused than when I started!
Well,I should go to bed. Bye!
I slipped under my covers, still slightly shocked. I couldn't go to the dance! Well, I reflected, I guess I'm more like Cinderella than I thought.
A/N: OK, so that was my first chapter in my first Fanfiction ever! Please tell me if you like it, hate it, whatever. I would also accept ideas for future chapters, and flames are welcome! I accept anonymous reviews, so press the button! I want to hear what you people think!