Party people in the house say YEAH!

So I'm SOOOO close to being done with school for the year-just two more days, man! Unfortunately, those two days are going to include a 6-8 page research paper, a final exam, and moving everything I own out of my dorm room in this blistering heat when I live on the fourth floor of my building.

And since that's gonna be crazy and probably leave me exhausted for a few days, I thought I'd update this to tide y'all over for a while.

Reviewer response? I think yes.

Galaxina-the-Seedrian: Is it bad that I immediately thought of Larry yelling, "GET TO THE CHOPPA!"? I think it is. Hey, there is nothing wrong with being a fangirl. *huggles plush Companion Cube and plush Atta simultaneously* And I'm honored that you're a fangirl over my story. I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint!

magictoast15: Hey you! I'm glad you still like it, despite it being driven by me now. Hope you like this chapter as well!

So like I said, this chapter's much more interesting than the last one, not to mention much longer. Huzzah!

Enjoy!

CinderJenna went to the farm next. She'd never been to this part of town before, so she was uneasy. Plus, the list didn't say who was supposed to be the groom. Was she just supposed to know?

She ran Angela's words through her mind again, and started to walk towards the house.

WHAM!

"Ow!" CinderJenna rubbed her head. Someone had just hit her with something small, but very hard-a rock?

She was suddenly bombarded by them and covered her face with her hands.

"Who's doing that? OW! Show yourselv-AH!" The rocks may have been small, but they hurt pretty bad.

The bombardment stopped, and she looked up to see two boys and a girl with slingshots, looking defiantly at her.

"Who are you, an' why are you here?" The redheaded boy asked.

"Um, I'm-"

"You're old enough, shouldn't you be at the ball?" The girl with the pigtails and freckles challenged.

"Well, see, that's just-"

"And why would you be here late at night anyways?" The redhead spoke again.

"I was just-"

"Let's get 'er!" The girl cheered.

"Wait, guys!" The blonde boy stopped them. "We have to let her answer before we chase her out, remember?"

"Oh, yeah," The redhead nodded.

CinderJenna waited a moment to make sure she wouldn't be hit with more rocks before speaking. "Well, uh, to answer the first question, my name is CinderJenna, and to-"

"CinderJenna? That ain't a name!" The girl laughed.

'Well, it's kind of a nickname." She admitted. "But anyway-"

"Wait! I remember you!" The blonde boy shouted.

"You…you do?" That wasn't the answer she was expecting at all.

"Yeah! I'm James, remember?" He said, sounding excited.

She quickly racked her memory banks for the name James. Suddenly it hit her. "Oh yeah!"

She was out in the village, doing errands for her stepmother and stepsisters. She read over the shopping list again, trying to figure out the fastest route to get everything done as fast as possible.

"Mom? Dad?"

It was a tiny voice, but she heard it, and it sounded on the verge of tears. Instinctively, she followed it.

After weaving through the thick crowds, she spotted a boy with blonde hair hiding under an unattended flower cart. He was curled up in a ball and sobbing.

"Hey, what's wrong?" She crawled over to where he was.

"I don't know where my mom and dad are! They were right in front of me and then I saw a puppet show so I walked over to it for a second and when I turned around they were gone and now I can't find them and I may never find them and then I'll just be lost forever and ever and ever!" He started crying all over again.

"Hey, hey, calm down." She took out her handkerchief and held it to his nose. "Here, blow.

He blew his nose noisily, then sniffed and looked up at her.

"How about I help you find your parents?"

"Really?" His eyes widened with hope.

"Sure! I'll bet they're worried sick about where you are. C'mon." She held out a hand and helped him out from under the cart.

"Thanks, ma'am." He smiled, wiping his eyes.

"Oh, please, no ma'am stuff. I'm CinderJenna." She smiled down at him.

"CinderJenna?" He laughed. "That's not a name."

"Well, it's more of a nickname. And you are?"

"I'm James!" He announced, puffing out his chest to look manlier.

She laughed. "Pleasure to meet you, James. Now let's go find your parents!"

They walked all around the village, holding hands so as not to get separated. The boy couldn't see much from his viewpoint, but tried his best to identify people. CinderJenna tried looking for two people looking stressed out of their minds.

Finally, near the bakery, she spotted two people who fit the bill. The woman was looking around frantically, looking like she was just about to cry. The man had his arm around her shoulder, desperately trying to comfort her while scanning the crowd just as frantically.

She smiled, and lifted James up. "That them?"

He broke out into a grin. "Mom! Dad!"

She put him down, and he rushed to his parents, who threw their arms around him in relief.

CinderJenna smiled, then suddenly remembered her list.

"Oh no!" She ran to the center of town, trying desperately to remember the route she'd made up earlier.

She couldn't believe her luck.

"Should we hit her?' The redhead asked, looking back and forth between me and James.

"No! She's cool, Tom." James assured the freckled boy.

"Aw, man!" He threw down his slingshot. "That was the most fun I've had since we made all that cheese."

"So how come you're not at the ball?" The girl asked. "I mean, I'd go if I was old enough."

"Yer not purty enough to go, Rosie," Tom teased.

"Shut up!" The two stared a wrestling match.

CinderJenna looked to James, who just shrugged. "They're fine."

"Are you sure?" She looked back over at the mess of limbs and insults.

"Yeah, they do that a lot. So whatcha need?" He asked.

"Well…horses. And a groom." She said, fidgeting a little.

"I dunno what a groom is, but we've got horses!"

He led her over to the nearby stable and opened the doors.

Inside were four beautiful white horses.

"Wow," She gasped. "They're beautiful."

"Yep. I just brushed 'em yesterday." James drew himself up proudly.

"OY! JAMES!"

"Uh-oh." He shrunk.

CinderJenna looked where the noise came from, and saw an angry old man running up to them. Uh-oh was right.

"I take one measly nap, and look what happens! Your cousins are fighting, and you're showing our horses to a complete stranger! What am I gonna do with you kids?" He fumed.

"She's not a stranger, Grandpa! This is CinderJenna! She helped me find Mom and Dad that one time I got lost!"

"I-I apologize for intruding. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," She stuck her hand out.

He looked at her for a moment, then smiled and shook her hand "Not many kids your age have manners. I respect that. It's nice to meet you too, Miss…Cinder-Jenna, was it?"

"That's right, sir." She nodded.

"Well, CinderJenna, what brings you to our humble farm? A girl like you should be at the ball!"

"Yes, that's why I'm here. I need horses and a groom for my carriage." She explained.

"Well, our horses are used to pulling things, so they're perfect. And seein' as none of the other adults are around and I understand horses better than anyone in this village, I'd be more than happy to be your groom."

"Really? That would be great!" She smiled broadly.

"Not at all. It's the least I could do to thank you for helping my grandson." He put an arm around James.

CinderJenna smiled, a bit jealous, before coming back. "So just meet here with the horses at ten, then?" She handed him one of the slips.

"Will do!" He saluted.

"Great, thank you so much!" She couldn't help herself-she gave him a hug. Everything was going so well!

It was then she remembered everything else she had to do. "Right, I'm sorry, but I have to go-"

"Where?" James asked.

"The fabric shop-"

"Oh, that'll be closed. Elizabeth went to the ball."

"She did?" Her heart sank-she couldn't go without a dress!

"Wait, Layla will still be there! She'll open the door if I'm with you! Can I go, Grandpa? Please please please?" James begged.

"I'll bring him straight back, I promise!" She added.

He laughed. "Go on, you crazy kids."

"Yay! Come on!" James ran ahead, CinderJenna hot on his heels.

Well, that's all settled then, isn't it?

Next chapter, you all finally get to know what the dress looks like! Isn't that exciting?

Until then, dear readers!