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Chapter Fourteen

"Cinderbones, I'm hungry!"

"Cinderbones, where's my tea?"

"Cinderbones, run me a bath!"

Temperance sighed as she hastened to get everything done before she had to leave. Angela rushed around the kitchen, fixing tea and roasting a chicken for the blondes' dinner, while Temperance ran a bath for Rebecca, making sure to make it the perfect temperature. Otherwise, she'd have to redo it and get yelled at about wasting good water.

She made sure it was boiling hot, the way Rebecca liked it, before helping the nasty blonde out of her bathrobe and into the water. She was about to leave the bathroom when Rebecca called her back.

"Where do you think you're going?" Rebecca asked.

"I'm going to serve Tessa her tea and help Angela with dinner, before I go to class tonight." Temperance lied. She knew Rebecca wouldn't let her out of the house if she knew she had a...meal with a man.

Rebecca eyed her suspiciously. "It's Friday night. You don't have any classes on Friday night."

Temperance inwardly sighed. Of all the things to remember...

"Not usually, no..." Temperance said, trying to think of something to cover up for herself. "But Mr. Stires scheduled a last minute class to go over the material for a test next week and I really have to make this class if I want to pass."

Rebecca continued to eye her suspiciously, but relented. "Alright then...but you be back as soon as that class is done. I need you and Angela to do the last minute hemming for our costumes for the Masquerade Ball tomorrow night. I expect my girls to woo the Prince with the most beautiful costumes there." Rebecca said, smugly.

Temperance scoffed. "Yeah, right." she murmured under her breath.

Rebecca's eyes snapped to her. "What was that?" she demanded.

Temperance's eyes widened in confusion. "What was what, Stepmother?" she asked, playing dumb.

Rebecca's eyes widened, as if she thought she'd gone crazy. "Oh...nothing, I guess." she said, sounding befuddled.

Temperance giggled quietly as she left the room.

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Nearly three hours later, finally done with all her chores, Temperance slipped out the door, bag slung over her shoulder as she raced towards the Village Square.

She was just in time to see Tony Scallion get up and start walking away.

"Tony!" she shouted, running up to him. She was still a few feet away when he turned around, face quizzical.

That is, until he saw Temperance. Then his face lit up like a fireworks display. "Roxy." he said, grinning. He smiled at her and held out a bouquet of daisies and daffodils that he'd been keeping in the picnic basket around his opposite arm. "These are for you." he said, with a grand bow, chuckling the entire time.

Temperance smiled and laughed as well, taking the bouquet and bringing it up to her nose. "How did you know these were my favorite flowers?" she asked, teasingly.

Tony chuckled. "Just a lucky guess, I suppose." He looked at her book bag. "Why'd you bring that?" he asked.

Temperance rolled her eyes. "Don't ask." she said. Then, she smiled. "Thank you for the flowers. They really are nice."

Tony blushed. "Aw, shucks!" he said. "It was nothing, really." He looked up into her sparkling blue eyes. "Ready to go?" he asked.

Temperance nodded. "Definitely. Get me away from here." she said, thinking of Tessa, Rebecca, and Hannah.

Tony grinned and held out his hand. "Well, come on then." he said, grinning charmingly.

Temperance smiled and cautiously took his hand, allowing him to lead her into the forest, and into a whole new world.

Okay, so that last line was sorta cheesy, but I wanted to make it a lead-up to the next chapter. PLEASE REVIEW!

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Also, I have a new advice blog, so if you wanna help me out by spreading the word, that'd be great. I give advice on all things, all unbiased and anonymous. Here's the site.

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