I fell so guilty. i switched service providers for my internet at that messed up EVERYTHING. i could rant on and on about his but finally guys, here's your chapter. :)

Hope

Cindy woke up the next morning, thinking about the spectacular dress in her closet. A small smile began to grow on her face. This simple present made her happy, and gave her joy beyond believe. She still felt like she owed Jaq, but she'd get to that later.

Cindy walked down the stairs and found her step sisters and Kate sitting around the dining table. This puzzled her, as they were never up this early in the morning, ready for school and work. Kate had her morning cup of coffee in her hand, steaming and hot. The girls even had their breakfast of waffles stacked high in front of them.

Now she was afraid. But she plastered on a smile and said to them," Good, morning."

" Good morning Cinderella. Come sit with us, the foods getting cold." This would sound like something a normal mother would say, but the ice in Kate's voice suggested otherwise.

Cindy sat down on the end of the table opposite Drizella. The four of them ate in an awkward silence for a while, with only the sounds of forks on plates to fill the room. Cindy quickly became aware of Kate watching her, but continued to eat anyways. After a bit more of this Kate decided to have the first word.

" As the girls and I will be out this coming weekend for the party, you'll need to take care of our share of chores."

Cindy didn't think Kate would ever use the words 'share' and 'chores' in the same sentence. But what do you know, she found a way to make in work in favor. " Alright, as long as a have a list."

Anastasia snickered, " That won't be a problem." " Not at all." added Drizella.

Kate shot them both a look, then continued. " As the girls have said, it won't be an issue." Out of her robe pocket she pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper. She reached across the table and put it beside Cindy's juice.

" This is all your work for Friday." Before Cindy could even unfold the paper, Kate, Anastasia, and Drizella stood up from the table. "Come on girls, you'll be late for tennis practice."

Just like that Kate, Drizella, and Anastasia left the house with Cindy alone sipping her glass of OJ. Cindy ate her breakfast silently but confused. What was all that about?! In all her years of living with Kate nothing has been that awkward. She sighed and got up to put all the dishes in the sink. Cindy slipped the folded note into her bag so she could get ready for school. She changed into a baggy blue sweater and her favorite pair of jeans then went downstairs to wait for Jaq and Gus outside. When she got out onto the front porch she decided to read the note of chores Kate had given her.

When she unfolded the letter Cindy's jaw dropped to her knees. It wasn't one, but two pieces of paper. TWO! Some of things on the list were ridiculous ; Clean Barbeque. What?! It was the middle of autumn! The pages were sectioned off into things to do and things to buy. They ranged from fruits to medicines. She didn't know what half the things looked like, and half of those things she didn't know existed!.

Cindy slumped onto the side of her house. Boy, she thought. This is going to be a LONG weekend.

"How the hell am I supposed to get this all done in time?" Cindy huffed. Jaq, Gus and herself were at the boys house after school doing a group project for English class.

Gus sipped his ice tea and took the list out of Cindy's hand. " I don't know if the three of us could get all this done in one night, let alone one person." he handed the list to Jaq.

His brother let out a long whistle. " I have connections to almost everything, but the cleaning business..." he scratched his head.

Just then the boys' mother walked in to the living room. "What's up you three?" she asked, putting her load of laundry on the floor and getting out the ironing board.

" Cindy has to get a shi-" their mother coughed, " I mean, a lot of chores done if she wants to go to the masquerade ball this weekend." Jaq explained

Helen, the boy's mother was the complete opposite of Kate. She was tall with brown curly hair and chocolate skin. Her hair was streaked with grey, but her smile made her seem younger than she really was. Helen had 5 kids and a full-time job, which was something Cindy really admired. She was loving and kind, and gave motherly advice to anyone who needed it. Cindy never told them this, but she wanted a family just like theirs. They had many cousins, aunt, and uncles, who would always visit for the holidays. If she didn't have that much work to do at home, she would come here and help out. It made her feel good, because they treated her like family.

"Let me see that list." Helen said. Jaq gave it to her and she looked it over. " This is a lot of work... How much time do you have to do this dear?" She asked Cindy.

"One night." she replied, just talking about was making her back ache.

"Right, right. My sisters are coming over, and we'd be happy to do this for you."

Cindy was in shock. " You don't have to do it, really. I can find a way. It's so much trouble and-"

" No, no, no." said Helen, " You help us out here all the time, taking care of the kids, cooking dinners when I had overtime at work, you've helped my sisters too. We owe you this."

Cindy began to protest, but Helen wouldn't take no for an answer. She dashed out of the room with the laundry and left the three teens to their work.

" Please convince her to stay home and rest." Cindy asked the boys.

" We'll try." Gus said, " But mom's pretty stubborn when it comes to things like this."

Jaq nodded in agreement. Well let's get going on our project we only have one hour left.

Cindy returned home exhausted and with a writing-cramp in her right hand. She plopped her backpack on the couch and went up to her room to look at the dress Jaq gave her. She was so happy she could cry. Everything was solved, the chores, the dress. She never thought this could happen, not in a million years. She wanted to look at the dress before Kate and the girls could come home and ruin her glimmer of hope.

She pushed her door open and ran to her closet. Instead of the dress in its hiding spot, it was out in the open, right in the middle of the closet. Cindy's smile slipped of her face. The once beautiful dress was torn to shreds, covered in mud and grease. She held it in her hands, and realized it was damaged beyond repair. Right then and there did her glimmer of hope go out.

Suspense... Did you guys like this chapter. If you did write me a review and get ready for next time, because all hell breaks loose...

~sasha56dance