(A/N - coming at you with a new story! This is based off of all the Cinderella stories, but mostly the movie, 'Another Cinderella Story'. A lot will change, though, forming it into Austin&Ally. Enjoy!)
Monday
Beep! Beep! Beep! I woke up with a loud, groan, slamming my pillow over my head and reaching over to my bedside table absentmindedly, attempting to shut off my alarm. The beeping seemed to grow consistently louder and more irritating. Finally, I just yanked the pillow off my head and ripped the cord out of the wall outlet, silencing the clock.
"What a lovely way to start the day," I mused to myself sarcastically. Many days started out like this for me, as I have to get up hours before any normal student. Why? Well, it's due to the long list of chores that the Wicked Witch of the East Coast leaves me each morning. Do normal students have to wake up before dawn, just to do pointless chores before school? No. Do I? Yes.
Probably because I'm not normal. Don't get me wrong, I'm a plain Jane type of girl - I hate sticking out, and I'm relatively simple. It's my history that isn't normal. At some point, I had two loving parents, and we were a nice little family. I don't remember those times well, though, because they were cut short at the death of my mother when I was three. I don't remember her well, but I know she was a great person. My father, the owner of a music store, Sonic Boom, then remarried when I was nine. This wouldn't have been so bad, had he not married the worst woman to ever walk this planet.
Barbara Sommers is easily the angriest, most bitter woman I have ever met. And I have the pleasure of calling her Mom - well, stepmom. She had a son and two daughters, who then became my step-siblings. The son, Joey, was nice enough to me - he actually treated me like I have worth in my life. Unfortunately, Joey is off to college, and I only see him on holidays and during summer vacation.
The daughters, however, are a completely different story. Jessica and Natalie Sommers, fraternal twin sixteen year-olds, who seem to want to make my life miserable. Between the two of them, Barbara, and the death of my father when I was thirteen, my life hasn't been all that great. When my father married Barbara, she was never all that nice to me - but my father never noticed. I don't blame him either, because it was hard for most people to see past her super-model exterior, and "kind personality" that was really as fake as her breast implants.
But sadly, when my father died, the woman became even more rotten to be, as well as rotted a bit herself. She looks terrible now, a real Hollywood wash-out. Since the time I was thirteen, she treated me horribly, and forced me to do ridiculous chores, as a 'repayment' for her letting me stay with them. Repayment? Letting me stay? I would have gladly been adopted by another family after the death of my father - my best friend, Trish's parents even offered. But, Barbara insisted that I stay with her, and she legally adopted me. If I had it my way, I would have gotten out of here long ago.
After glancing at the list that Barbara left for me to do, I sighed and rolled my eyes. Sweep the ceiling? Water the fake plants? Clean out the pool, but keep at least three oak leaves in it? I told you these were ridiculous and unneccessary - and all in two hours before school. I got to work anyway, fearing what would happen if I ever refused to do the work. I'm not sure how Barbara could make my life any more miserable, but knowing her, she would find a way. An hour and a half later, I had my chores done, leaving me only ten minutes to get ready for school, before Trish came by to pick me up.
Of course, even though I am sixteen and Barbara is rich, she would never buy me a car, not even a junker. And of course, Jessica and Natalie, in their fancy, matching, 2012 Mustangs, would never give me a ride to school. I yanked on a pair of jeans and a nice top, letting my curly hair fall loose around my shoulders. I stuffed my songbook into my backpack, and headed into the main house to grab an apple before I leave. At least Barbara feeds me. Sometimes.
I grabbed a Go-Gurt out of the fridge, before dashing out the door to where Trish was waiting. "Allyson, did you finish your chores?" Barbara called out from behind me.
"Yes, I did everything as usual," I snapped back over my shoulder, shutting the door and running down to the street, where Trish was waiting in her 2002 Honda Civic. It wasn't the best car around, but it ran smoothly, and hey, free rides.
"You're late," Trish said in a sing-song voice, as I stepped into the car. She quickly pulled away from the house, not wanting to be around much longer. Trish and I met in kindergarten, and became best friends quickly. We always went to each other's houses all the time, until my father died. After that, Barbara said she didn't want to see any of my friends crawling around the house. Okay, I really don't have that many friends that are close enough to even come over - just Trish. And I'm pretty sure she doesn't crawl.
And I can never go over to her house, because, between all my chores, school, and my shifts at Sonic Boom, I never really have a chance to do anything except sleep. So we spend all our time together at school, and the occasional visit she gives while working another one of her crazy jobs in the mall. And yet, we have stayed best friends through it all.
"I know," I groaned, trying to fix my hair in the side-view mirror. "The Wicked Witch gave me even more ridiculous chores than usual. I know it's because of the singing competition coming up."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Trish asked, fuming at the thought of Barbara. Trish has a bit of a temper for such a small girl, and it is actually quite admirable. I'm a small girl as well, but I have the shy personality to match.
"Exactly," I exclaimed, throwing my hands in the air. "Finally someone else who understands that she makes no sense. She thinks that I am going to go to Sing-A-Long night, and ruin any shot of Jessica and Natalie winning."
"Okay, first of all, those two trolls would never have a chance of winning," Trish said, shaking her head. "Their voices are just like their appearances, and trust me, it's not pretty." I laughed my agreement. "Second off, you are probably the best singer for a ten-mile radius, but you have stage fright, so it's not like you would perform anyway. I don't know why she is loading you down with all these chores, since you would never go in the first place."
"Thank you for being the only person to understand me," I said to her, as we pulled into the school parking lot.
Then she snapped her fingers. "Wait, you're going to Sing-A-Long night," Trish said, clapping her hands. "It's a masquerade this year, so everyone will be wearing masks. You can go up and sing, showing everyone how amazing you are, but without having to show them you. I know, I'm brilliant."
"Never going to happen, Trish," I said, laughing as we climbed out of the car and started walking towards the school. Immediately, I felt something different in the air - girls were running around, squealing more than usual. I looked up to see a large mass of girls gathered together, screaming. "What's going on?"
Trish followed my gaze and laughed. "Austin Moon must be back," she said. Sure enough, you could see a head of floppy blonde hair, a bit taller than the squealing fan-girls.
"What is he doing back?" I asked, as we headed into the school. It seemed as though we were the only two girls not ogling him at the moment. Austin Moon is a sixteen year-old rockstar, born in Miami. When he was fourteen, he got his big break from an internet music video, and quickly turned into a celebrity. The past two years, he has been living it up in Hollywood, appearing on television, in magazines, and throwing concerts.
"You really need to read more magazines," Trish said, shaking her head. "He said something about wanting to go back to his hometown, and rediscover his roots. That he wanted to try living like a normal teenager again, and lay low for a year or so. He might even want to go off to a normal college after we all graduate."
"So, basically," I scoffed. "He is trying to get more attention and publicity by being a celebrity in a normal high school, right?" Trish shrugged her shoulders as we opened our lockers. I'm positive that is the case at hand - sure, he might have been nice when he was gone, I wouldn't know for sure since I never spoke to him. In fact, although cute, he was a bit of a dork before he got his big break. Nobody really spoke to him, except his odd friend, Dez, who seems to still be his right-hand man. After he became famous, however, it was like every girl in school was his best friend. They chased him around, not giving up until he was whisked off to Hollywood. Yes, I'll admit he is cute, and that his music is even pretty good. But, celebrities are all the same - rude and shallow. I would know, because I have a washed-up-used-to-be-celebrity controlling my life.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts, and suddenly we heard the screams from outside getting louder. Austin must have walked into the school, his crowd of fan-girls following. "Great, here comes the rush," I sighed. Trish and I braced ourselves for what was to come next. But instead of a mass of girls running around the corner, Austin and his friend, Dez were sprinting down the hall. "Ouch," I mumbled as I felt the impact of the hard, cold ground.
Austin had accidentally run right into me, knocking me to the ground. "Sorry," he exclaimed, quickly pulling me to my feet and ushering me into a janitor's closet. "Dez, cover for me." After pushing me into the closet and shutting it behind us, he peered out the small window on the door.
When the rush of girls approached and asked where Austin was, Dez and Trish both pointed down the hall, misleading them in the direction that Austin went. "I'm so sorry," he said, turning back to me. His face was full of sincerity, and I gave him a small smile. "Hey, I remember you."
"You do?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow at him. I'm pretty sure I never talked to him in middle school.
"Yeah, you sat in front of me in math, seventh grade," he said, nodding his head. He studied my face for a few moments. "Ally, right?" I nodded my head, shocked that he would remember that. Not many people take notice of me - I am a plain girl after all. Plus, Natalie and Jessica always try to steal the spotlight from everyone, so I'm surprised that he could notice anyone but them. "How have you been? Do you remember me?"
"I was doing alright until I wound up on the floor," I said, shooting him a pointed look. He gave me an apologetic smile, and I waved it off, not really minding that I got knocked down. It surely wasn't the first time. "And of course I remember you, you're a celebrity. Every girl here is chasing you, if you haven't noticed."
"Thanks," he said, with a sarcastic smirk. "I hadn't noticed. But, I did notice that you're the only girl who hasn't been obsessing over me since I stepped foot onto the campus. Why is that?"
"Because I'm not crazy," I shrugged.
He grinned. "Well, I admire that," he said, nodding his head. "Maybe we could become friends." I shrugged again, just as the closet door opened. Trish and Dez were standing there, ushering us out, since the coast was now clear. "Dez, do you remember Ally from middle school?"
"I sure do," Dez said, nodding his head. "I like it when you kangaroo." Austin, Trish, and I all shot him weird looks, but he just shrugged. "I like to speak in poetry sometimes."
"I swear, five minutes with this guy, and I think my IQ has dropped twenty points already," Trish said, shaking her head. Austin and I both laughed, keeping it quiet to not attract any more screaming fans.
"Well, I guess I'm off to get my schedule," Austin said. "I hope to see you later, Ally." He shot me a smile and waved, before walking off towards the principal's office, Dez following shortly behind.
"What happened?" Trish asked, turning towards me with excitement in her eyes. "You guys seem all buddy-buddy already."
"He remembered me from one of our classes in seventh grade, even though we never talked," I shrugged. "And then we talked about how I was the only girl not obsessing over him, and he said we should be friends."
"Oooh," Trish squealed, jumping up and down. "Ally, he is cute, this could be major for you."
"He's also a celebrity," I pointed out, shaking my head. "And celebrities are all the same, no matter where they came from, or how sweet they seem at first."
(A/N - Ta-da! Chapter 1! I'm sure a lot of you can probably guess how this story will play out, but I'm going to add a few twists, so no worries. (: Let me know what you think!)
