Hey people,

Here's the second chapter. Hope everyone's enjoying it so far. Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter.

Hope you enjoy, and review if want and feel free to comment on what you like and don't:D

Maddy xxx

Marie woke up the next morning and went through her usual Saturday routine, washing, cleaning, ironing and all the other tiresome jobs that her father and sisters did not feel they had the time or energy for. She made herself a late breakfast after she had finished and watched TV. She had only just settled when the phone rang.

'Hello?' She answered

'Marie? It's Katie. Look we forgot to bring the cameras. You'll have to drop them round here.'

'Can't you come home and get them for yourself, it's not far.'

'No. We have company. Look Marie, your going to bring them round here in one hour and you are going to turn up looking half descent and you are not going to embarrasses me or Suzy in anyway or we'll get daddy on to you. Do you understand? One hour.'

The line went dead and Marie replaced the handset.

Half descent? She wanted Marie to look half descent? Fine. She'd knock them off their feet. Marie marched up the stairs and crashed through her bedroom door, she found her nicest jeans and most beautiful, low cut top and put them on the bed. She fished out the case which held the very little make-up she had, taken from Suzy or Katie's own cases.

She washed her hair shampooing twice and conditioning twice, she blow dyed it using Katie's spare hair dyer and straightened it. She shaved her legs finely, creamed and moisturised to within an inch of her life and sprayed on her mother's favourite perfume. She pulled on her jeans and top and looked in the mirror.

She looked good, Marie was not an unattractive person, she just didn't get noticed because of her sisters. She had beautiful dark brown hair that didn't quite reach her elbows and deeply green eyes that sparkled when she smiled. Her eye brows were naturally a good shape and she had never had to pluck them, her skin was not greasy and without any treatment she had never gotten spots.

No Marie was actually very pretty, and she was proud that at least she didn't look as ugly as she felt.

Marie did her make-up carefully applying it so she didn't over do it, and once she was done she was quite pleased with the result.

She checked her watch she had 10 minutes to get round to their friends house and it was a 20 minute journey, she would have to ride her bike round there. She grabbed the cameras lying in Katie's desk top draw and threw them in her bag. Locking the house and unchaining her bike she rode round to the house.

Katie, Suzy, Trisha and all the other 'Girls' where sitting out on the wall talking to some guys from their school. Katie liked one of the guys, Jon, a tall guy with a sense of humor, dark hair and was fit from all the sports he played. He was the quite one of the group of lads outside the house, Micheal and Tad where the main contenders for speech, Breke, Tommy and Phil where chatting and Jon sat quietly not really included in the conversation.

Katie looked over at her her prom dance partener, Tommy, and back at Jon. There was such a difference between them, Tommy was blonde, very chatty, took time in his apperence you could tell he spent time in the mirror, but Jon was effortlessly cool and casual. He looked good without the effort, he was funny and chatty when it was the right subject and he never left anyone out of the group, but sometimes did not include himself in disscussions.

Along time ago Suzy had liked Jon too, but when he made no advances she gave up on him and since then had been dating her prom partner, Tad. He was nice too, also dark and good looking, he talked a lot and loved himself maybe a bit too much, but when it came to Suzy he actually did care. He bought her valentine's presents and never forgot her birthday. He'd always say good morning to her and to Katie, to be polite, and he treated her with care. Once he had got in a fight with a guy from school because he'd tried to corner Suzy in the bathrooms and try it on. Tad had been so insulted for both himself and Suzy that he had to sort the guy out. Of course he had been suspended but he hadn't cared.

They chatted, the girls flirting with the guys, prom dates or not, and were not aware of the approaching bike. Well all except Jon. He had heard the sound of the wheels turning, the chain pulling as the girl changed gear, the scuffing as the girl's trainer hit the floor to slow the bike, clearly the brakes were broken.

Firstly he noticed the rusting on the bike, it was a nice bike, or had been but had gotten neglected. Maybe he could offer to fix it up, mend the brakes. Then he looked at the girl riding it. She seemed medium height, slim, dark and quite beautiful, dressed simply yet elegantly, hair flowing freely behind her back. As she neared the group she pulled up on her bike, jumped off and wheeled it up the street to a near by house laying it on the floor. Jon supposed she must live round here, and wondered if she went to his school, if so why hadn't he noticed her before, and was she free to come to the prom tonight.

He was slightly surprised when the girl left her bike grabbed the bag from the back and started to walk toward the group he was sitting with. She drew closer and closer, head bent downward, looking at the ground rather than to look up at the people she was approaching. Jon suddenly realised that he had been staring at her for some time and looked back at the group, who were apparently unaware he had lost concentration, and still oblivious to the girl. When she drew right near them she coughed slightly, no one heard or maybe they didn't really care. She was standing closely to Jon and he could smell this lovely aroma of some flower he couldn't name. He felt bad that no-one was looking at her, so turned at the second cough.

'Hi. Can we help you?' He said trying to sound nice instead of rude.

'Ermmm…well…' She stuttered.

'Oh Marie! There you are. Got the cameras?' Broke in Katie suddenly noticing Marie's presence.

'Yea. Here.' Said Marie as quickly as possible and handed over the bag she had brought them in. In her hast she swung the bag and it hit Jon on the side of his head.

'Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!' She exclaimed, worried she might have hurt him.

'Marie! You idiot! You can't even do a simple thing like bringing me some cameras. Your useless.' Katie exasperated in a high pitched voice.

'No, Katie. Really it's ok. Marie? Is that your name? Don't worry about it, it didn't hurt I'm fine really.' Said Jon in a desperate attempted to keep the situation cool, and anyway it really hadn't hurt him.

'Sorry, I'll go now. I'll see you later. Sorry.' Marie apologised for the last time, turned and walked away at the fastest possible speed her legs would carry her without actually running.

As she closed in on her bike she grabbed it off the floor and swung it to face the other direction, as she did, she looked up back at the group. The others had all turned back to their conversation, but Jon, who she only knew from school, was looking at her. He sent her an encouraging smile, to say it really was ok, but it only made her feel worse.

She climbed back on her bike and rode off, face bright red, breathing heavily and smiling slightly inside. Jon had smiled at her.

Later that day Jon walked through the door of his house and called out to his mum that he would be in his room, and to not disturb him. He crashed out on his bed and looked up at the ceiling above his head, it was littered with old posters and pictures from when it used to be his sisters room. He was close to his sister and so when she had moved out she told him to have her room, it was twice the size of his and had an en-suite. But somehow he had never gotten round to removing those posters and pictures, they left a mark on the room, a presence of her being around even though she lived in New Zealand now, miles away from England. He thought of her now and rang her number on the phone in his room.

'Hello?' She said.

'Ashley, hey it's Jon.'

'Hey Bro! How's it going on? What's up? Are mum and dad ok?' She sounded worried.

'No they are fine. Why would you think there was something up? Everything's cool.' He replied slightly defensively.

'No reason just you don't ring a whole lot now your in your final year and all, and when you do it's because there is something up. So spit it out, what's happening?'

'That's not true. I ring for other reasons too.'

'What ever Jon, just tell me why your upset.'

'Upset? Who said I was upset? I'm not upset.'

'Jon, the man doth protest too much me thinks.'

'I'm fine. Really.'

There was silence from the other end of the line, she waited for him to get uncomfortable and really explain.

'OK, ok. Well it's just…I met this girl today, she seems nice but she's Katie and Suzy's sister, and so I can't really be nice to her. I feel so bad though because when she hit me over the head with the bag today she was so shocked and upset and sorry, and Katie was so rude. And I tried to make the situation better, make her not feel so bad, but it didn't work and I think I made everything worse and she went bright red and I'm sure she'll never speak to me again. And you can bet if she did then Katie would get her in trouble in some way you know because she likes me and all. I don't know what to do and I know if I keep this up then I won't enjoy prom tonight at all.' He finished, slightly breathless.

Ashley who had been patiently listening on the other end of the line suddenly sighed.

'What?' Jon asked her.

'Jon, you have finally felt it. You have finally experienced the troubles of having a love life. The mixed web, the love triangle the whole thing, you did it.'

'What are you twittering on about?' Said Jon confused.

'Oh come on Jon! Can't you see that you like this girl, but you won't do anything because of Katie? You remember when I came home two years ago and fell on the sofa crying? Yea well that was when I met Mike. But I wouldn't do anything because I was already involved with Sam. But you see it's easier for you because you're not actually involved with Katie, she just likes you.'

Jon was silent for a minute wondering about what Ashley had just said, and if it made any sense. Maybe she was right. He remembered a slight tingle in his fingers when he saw Marie, the sweeping feeling of great happiness that he might be able to help fix her bike. The worry about what Katiehas said to her and how she'd treated her. Maybe, just maybe Ashley had a point.

'You really think so?' He asked, still not 100 sure.

'Yes. Look Jon, ring her and ask her to come to the prom with you tonight, I bet you still haven't asked anyone so I'm sure your free.'

'She might not be. And if I ring her house then Katie or Suzy might pick up then ask questions as to why I want to speak to Marie.'

'Marie? Is that her name? OK, how about this. I ring her house, ask her to ring you and then she will be the only one who knows ok.'

'You sure?' He wasn't sure, so he hoped she was.

'Yes, give me her number and I'll talk to you tomorrow ok.'

He gave her the number and they said their goodbyes, promising to call tomorrow to tell her everything.

He sat back on his bed wringing his hands out. This was such a strange feeling, something he had never felt before, and the absolute fear of what she was going to say. Ten minutes later the phone rang. It rang again. He edged closer as it rang for the third time.

'Hello?'

Marie had been woken by the phone ringing. Once she had arrived home she felt exhausted and couldn't bare to do anything else except lie back and fall asleep. At first she was so tired that she couldn't actually slip under its spell, but her body ached from riding so fast and her heart rate, which for some reason was elevated, slowed and she slowly fell deeply asleep.

She sat up to reach over to the phone and grabbed the handset and sat back again.

'Hello.' She asked nochantly.

'Hey.' Said a woman's voice. It had a slight twang to it, something she couldn't place. 'Is this Marie?'

'Yea. What can I do for you?'

'Actually this is going to sound weird but I do need you to do me a favour. You met my brother today and he wanted to ring you but was worried he might get one of your sisters. Anyway, could you give him a ring and it would get him off my back.'

'Errmm…sorry. But who is your brother? Who are you? And are you Australian?'

She had thought the accent might be Australian the twang was only small but recognisable.

'Well firstly, no I'm English I just moved to New Zealand two years ago. My names Ashley and my brother is Jon.'

'Jon? Wait let me get this. Jon, popular school Jon, who my sister fancies wants me to ring him? And he got his sister from New Zealand to ring up and ask for him?'

'Well, mostly that's it in context. So will you?'

'Yea, I suppose. What's his number?'

Ashley gave Marie Jon's number, thanked her and hung up.

Marie sat amazed for a moment on the sofa. Jon wanted her to ring him. Why? What had happened? Was it a trick? If she rang him up was Katie going to pick up and laugh in her face for ringing back hopefully.

Why did she feel so hopeful? It didn't mean anything. Did it?

She realised she wasn't going to get an answer just sitting there. She dialled the number Ashley had given her and waited for it to ring.

Her heart bubbled at the first ring.

Her mouth was dry by the second.

The third made her knees were shaking.

Then the phone clicked. 'Hello?' Jon answered. He too sounded nervous but she felt ten time worse she was sure.

'Hey. It's…Marie. You wanted me to call you?' She waited. Waited for the moment when Katie's voice would sound at the other end of the line and laugh at her, her stomach clenched and she closed her eyes wincing ready for the pain to come. But nothing happened. He didn't reply. No-one replied.

'Hello?' She wanted to see if the line had gone dead. Maybe they had just hung up on her. It was nearly as bad.

'Hi. Sorry. I dropped the phone. Yea I was just wondering…well if you…were ermm…going to the prom…tonight I mean.' He stumbled across the words uncomfortably.

'I would. But I can't. My dad won't let me. Why?' She had had to ask. It was such a strange question, one she had not expected at all. She thought maybe he had rung to say it was ok about earlier and would then hang up. But no, he asked about prom. Why?

'Oh well I was just wondering. You know.'

'Oh ok. Well sorry again about earlier, I didn't mean to.' She felt disappointed, not sure of what she had excepted him to say.

'Oh no, don't worry about it really didn't hurt. Seriously I thought Katie was a bit harsh on you, it was only an accident. You should have stuck up for yourself a bit more.'

'Stuck up for myself? Are you mad? If I had my dad would be imprisoning me in my room for life only letting my out for school and chores. No it's ok, you wouldn't understand, you don't know the real side of Katie and Suzy. You can't understand my life. And if you're so heroic why didn't you stick up for me? You're the hard man right?' Marie burst out. All her tension was flowing out of her mouth and into these words, down that phone line and she suddenly realised, attacking someone innocent.Her face glowed, ashamed!

'No, I didn't say I was the hard man, I just said I thought you should have stuck up for yourself. Man you didn't need to go off on one, so you can't go to the prom, get over it, your life maybe hard but there are others who have even harder ones. You need to think twice about that next time you feel like shouting at me.' He shouted back defensively, slightly hurt that she was shouting at him for no apparent reason.

'Your right I shouldn't have shouted at you, but then again you shouldn't play tricks on me. You go to your prom with all you mates and have a good time, but don't come back rubbing it in my face. Why did even call me? Really what did you want? Admit it you just wanted to laugh at my expense. Show off that you get to go and I'm stuck at home on my own, not aloud to live my life.' She was now convinced that in the background Katie and Suzy and all their friends were just sitting there listening into the conversation, laughing at her, it made her face burn and she felt angry.

'Laugh at you? Why would I laugh at you? And I would never rub in being able to go to prom, I'm not even sure I want to go. And you really want to know the reason I called? Fine, I called to ask you if you wanted to go with me. But you want to accuse me of playing tricks on you fine go ahead but its not like I'm going to care I barely know you. But what I know of you I think is stupid, ok maybe you'll get in trouble, but if you want to live your life, live it. Go out, have fun, go to prom stop letting yourself be ruled.'

He was angry too now; angry that she thought he would purposefully try to hurt her. That he would ever play tricks on her, and also because she was feeling sorry for herself and he hated it when people just sat around feeling sorry for themselves.

'You wanted….to ask…me…to prom?' The realization of what he had said suddenly hit them both. She was shocked at what he had said and he was amazed that he had admitted it.

'So…Katie and Suzy and everyone…they aren't there? You guys aren't joking around with me?' Still shocked at what it all meant, unbelieving and amazed.

'Katie? Suzy? Why would they be here? Why would I joke around about asking you to the prom?' He sounded put out, confused and slightly offended. She had no idea what to say or do, she couldn't just stay silent, but what would she say now?

It wasn't a joke. Jon had really asked her to prom. She couldn't go, but…maybe he was right. Maybe she had to take charge of her own life.

'Sorry. I…' She didn't know how to go on.

'Don't worry about it. I'll see you around.' He went to hang up the phone, but stopped at her voice again,

'No. Wait. Look I'm really sorry. It's just after living with Katie and Suzy you get to be suspicious of everything. That's no excuse I know and I'm sorry, but just wait a second.'

Jon was curious as to what she was going to say so hung on, sighed to tell her to continue and smiled.

'Look, maybe your right, about me taking control of my life, but if they ever found out I'd be dead meat. I really wish I could go, and I'd…well I'd be honoured if I went with you…but I can't. I'm sorry.'

'Sorry for what?' He replied.

'Sorry for shouting at you and accusing you for something you didn't do. Sorry for being rude. Sorry for thinking you as low as the rest of that group. Sorry for not coming to prom. And sorry for having to reject your offer to go to the prom with you. Sorry for just calling your friends low. Just generally sorry.' She sighed at the end, wishing she was Cinderella andher magic fairy god-mother would turn up and let her go to the ball. She looked up and scanned the room. No such luck.

'It's ok. I understand. But Marie, if you want to take control then you should start now, and I'll help if you want.'

'How? What can you do to help me?'

'Well for starters do you have a dress?'

'I have a dress I could wear, but that doesn't stop them from seeing me if I turned up.'

'No, but did you know it was a masquerade prom? If you had a mask they wouldn't see you, remember Cinderella.'

'A masquerade prom? Are you serious? That's all well and good but I have no mask at all let alone one that might match.'

'Well what colour is your dress?'

'Black and white. Why?'

'Well, I know a guy who works at the costume shop he could probably get you a mask at short notice that might match. If he did have one…would you come?'

'I don't know. What if they wanted us to take off our masks?'

'No-one can make you remove it. And anyway if you stick with me I'll make sure no-one bugs you or tries to get you to take it off.'

'Ahh, but if I stick with you there is more chance that I shall meet my sisters.'

'Ahhh, but we can leave quickly and say 'we want to be alone''

'Oh so your making me out as your girlfriend now?'

She liked the direction of this conversation, his tone of voice was soothing and she felt more reassured that it might work. She might be able to go.

'I should never presume to make out such a thing, except in this case to protect you from your evil sisters.'

'Well in that case I would agree that you were doing the chivalrous thing instead of the cocky thing.' She laughed slightly.

'Me cocky? I should think not. No, I am the perfect gentleman.'

'Except for when it comes to girls who accuse you of tricking them. Sorry again about that.'

'Stop apologizing. It's fine really. But I think to make up for it you should just admit that I've convinced you and that you are now coming tonight.' She may not have sensed it in his voice, but he was deep with apprehension, fingers crossed, heart beating, almost sweating with the anticipation. Her answer was important to him. No, she was important to him.

'Ok, I admit you have persuaded me. But let me see if your friend has a mask first, then I'll make my decision. Ok?'

Her heart which had too increased its beat was now racing around inside her body trying to get out, the sheer shock of her saying that she might come, nearly made her faint.

Jon was too sitting there rejoicing, silently of course, but his face lit up with a smile and he felt gloriously happy.

'I'll ring my friend, and tell him that we'll be there at 12 ok.'

'We? You're coming too?' She was surprised assuming she would go alone.

'Well yea, I can probably get him to not charge, but only if I come.'

'No it's ok. I have plenty of money to use, don't worry about it.'

'Ok. Well just ring me when you get back and tell me if you're coming or not ok.'

'Ok. Look I'd better go, where is this shop?'

He gave her the details and they shyly said goodbye. Hanging up they both feel backwards, her on the sofa him on his bed. Marie smiled, this the rareoccurence thatmade her green eyes sparkle and gleam with a new life. She jumped up and raced out the door address in hand and money in purse, to find the tool that might just give her her life back.

Jon lay on the bed and looked up at his sister's posters, and saw the picture of Ashley and Mike, her boyfriend, standing together at prom her in her amazing dress and him in his suit. He hoped that was going to be him and Marie tonight. He hoped with more power of his heart than he knew he had.

He smiled gratefully at his sister's picture and closed his eyes.

Well hello,

hope that wasn't too long for you all, it was 3 times that orginally...so count your chickens..

i have the next chapter set up and am posting it directly after this because i might not have a chance for a while...

hope your enjoying it, if not tell me! and let me know what's good and bad!

Maddy xxx

ps. sorry about grammer in last chapter i posted the non-spell checked version! keep smiling :D