Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: This story has now been beta-ed and improved by Reviewers Anonymous whom I highly recommend for a Beta! I will not be continuing it though I have other stories I would like to write. I am sorry for those who wanted more.
When Char Finds Out
Char offered me his hand, and I took it. Before I knew it we were dancing
across the floor – it felt wonderful. I loved leaning into him grasping his
waist, it was heaven. Then suddenly he stopped and looked into my eyes. I was
puzzled for a moment – had I not been dancing properly? – then he leaned
forward and kissed me.
"I've been wanting to do that for a long time," he said.
"Really? Then do it some more," I said, so he did.
Forget heaven – this was beyond my wildest dreams. Suddenly I heard
footsteps, and I groaned inwardly. Please don't let them be for me.
"Ella! Stop kissing him now!"
No such luck. I obeyed the command, and sighed as I did.
"Ella, no, don't stop! Kiss me!" Char said, so I did.
"No! Ella, stop!" Hattie said, so I did.
"Ella why are listening to her?" Char asked.
"She can't help it – she always does what you tell her to do." Olive
said. She smiled at the dumbfounded prince, proud to know more than someone
else for once.
"Olive! Why did you tell him?" Hattie asked angrily.
"Is this true?" Char asked, turning to me. Hattie answered for me. She
seemed to have decided that now the secret was out, she might as well try and
take advantage of it.
"Yes, watch! Jump up and down three times, Ella."
I jumped.
"Ella, tell me why you're like this," Char pleaded.
I didn't want to say it in front of Hattie and Olive, but the curse was
trying to make me obey. I began to feel dizzy, and swayed on the spot.
Luckily, Char saw my struggle, and steadied me with his large hands. Glancing
from me to my stepsisters, he figured it out.
"You two go away!" he ordered.
Hattie's mouth opened in indignation, and was going to say something, but she
realized it was best not to argue with the prince and left, dragging Olive
behind her. I held on until their footsteps had faded, and then I blurted it
out.
"I'm under a curse a fairy gave me when I was born. I'm forced to obey
any command given, whether it's to hop on one foot for a day and a half, or
to chop off my own head."
"That's terrible!" Char exclaimed.
"I know it is, but I wasn't supposed to tell anybody – my mother
ordered me not to a long time ago," I said.
"Oh in that case here, Ella: do not tell anybody about your curse," he
said, smiling.
"Thank you" I smiled. I couldn't believe that he knew about the curse,
and he wasn't trying to use me, or to ridicule me. No, he was helping me, and
accepting me. It seemed as though the day couldn't get any better.
"No problem," he said, interrupting my thoughts. I realized with a jolt
that his hands were still around my waist, left there since he had stopped me
from falling.
"Now where were we before your stepsisters walked in?" he asked, smiling.
"Oh, I remember."
He leaned in to kiss me again, and I realized I had been wrong. The day was
about to get a great deal better, starting the moment his lips touched mine.