Chapter 26: A Perfect Fit

Following the events of the Fall Semester Ball, Cindy was too embarrassed to speak with Char even at school. Though their dance together was great and they had a nice long conversation, he didn't seem to recognize her. This in turn irritated Cindy, but then she realized maybe it was for the best in case her stepmother and stepsisters found out about her being there. Then when the clock struck midnight, her nice blue dress started to change back into the pink ragged one she wore not too long ago. On top of that, her slippers changed from plastic back to glass. While running away from Char, she attempted to take off the glass shoes but only removed one before hailing a cab to get home.

She used her stepmother's credit card to pay for the fare, which she normally used to buy groceries and other necessary items but this was an exceptional emergency. Plus, Cindy's desire to get revenge on her stepmother for what she allowed Ana and Trissy to do to the dress she made still burned in her mind. At first, though, Cindy feared her stepmother might suspect she was at the Ball because of that piece of evidence. In the end, though, Mrs. Tremaine attributed the unusual fee to identity theft and so she ordered a new credit card for Cindy to use.

Feeling relieved, Cindy continued school as normal until one day in spring when the PDA suddenly turned on and a charismatic voice said, "Good morning, students! Gene Lampman here, and I'm here to make a special announcement! Kingsley Industries, one of our school's main benefactors, is holding a special contest to see whose foot will fit inside an unusual glass slipper to determine who will marry to the soon-to-be heir Charming 'Char' Kingsley! If you're interested in participating, please sign up online or talk to Char in person and Kingsley Industries will send a representative to your house with the slipper for you to try on for size. Have a nice day!"

As the PDA turned off, the students began talking fervently about the announcement until Miss Fairy had to quiet them down to begin the lesson.

This is too weird, Cindy thought. Char wouldn't go this far just to find me, right?

###

A few days later, Cindy was doing homework when she thought she heard a click. Looking towards her door, she saw no one come in and continued working. She then heard a car and the sound of footsteps.

"Girls, he's here!" called Mrs. Tremaine.

While more footsteps followed, which Cindy guessed were Ana and Trissy's, she attempted to leave her bedroom but found the door handle to be locked. After trying to open it several times, she thought back to that click she heard earlier and realized what was going on.

"You think you can keep me in here, Stepmother?" Cindy snapped. "Away from the Kingsley Representative so your daughters can try the slipper on without me to interfere? Well, I'll get out of this room somehow! Just you watch!"

But her hope sank when she tried various items to unlock the door such as the house keys and a pair of scissors, which didn't work. Then she turned to the window and removed the screen from it by force. Below her was a steady drop with no window ledges, so Cindy took off all her bedsheets and comforter. Tying them into a long rope, she wrapped it around a bedpost and threw it out the window.

In the living-room downstairs, Mrs. Tremaine and her daughters were meeting with the Kingsley Industries Representative who was a tall and thin man wearing a royal blue suit and carrying a monocle. Meanwhile, a small assistant carried the glass slipper on a velvet cushion and proceeded to place it on Ana and Trissy's feet. However, the slipper was too small for them no matter what they did to try and fit it on.

Sighing, the Representative asked, "Is there anyone else in your home who could possibly try on this slipper?"

"No," Mrs. Tremaine answered bluntly.

"Very well, then," the Representative said as he got up from the couch he was sitting on. "Thank you for your time, and we'll tell you who the contest winner is via email."

Then as he and his assistant were about to head out the door, Cindy came in blocking their way.

"Pardon me, child," the Representative apologized. "We were just about to leave."

"Wait," Cindy pleaded. "May I…try on the slipper, please?"

Surprised, the Representative adjusted his monocle. "And who might you be?"

"Cindy Tremaine, Mrs. Tremaine's stepdaughter," Cindy answered.

The Representative looked back at Mrs. Tremaine, who gripped her cane with both hands nervously. "Is this true, Madam?"

"Yes, she is my former husband's daughter," Mrs. Tremaine explained.

"But why did you fail to mention her when I asked if there was anyone else in your home?" When Mrs. Tremaine didn't answer, the Representative huffed. "I'm not sure what your game is, Madam, but I don't appreciate being lied to!"

Just as he turned away from her, Mrs. Tremaine used her cane to trip the assistant causing him to drop the glass slipper which shattered to pieces on the carpeted floor.

"What have you done?" The Representative exclaimed, trying to gather the pieces in his hands. "Mr. Kingsley will surely sue you for this, Madam!"

"Not necessarily, sir," Cindy assured. "Because I have the other slipper."

From her skirt pocket, she pulled out an identical slipper which shocked Mrs. Tremaine to the point where she fainted. Luckily, Ana and Trissy caught her while the Representative took the slipper from Cindy's hands and placed it on her bare but dirty foot. Like a glove, it fit perfectly.

###

"You know you could have just told me instead of waiting for my Dad's Representative," Char said to Cindy while the two were on a fancy dinner date arranged by Char's father.

"But why didn't you recognize me in the first place?" Cindy asked, attempting to figure out which fork was used for the salad.

"Well, you looked different," Char admitted sheepishly. "With your hair tied up, wearing a pretty dress…"

"I suppose," Cindy sighed, settling on the smallest fork. While eating bits of salad, which she thought tasted worse than her homemade ones, Cindy muttered, "So…do I have to marry you?"

"Oh, that was my father's idea," Char explained. "I'll talk to him about it and see if we can…take it slow, if that's what you want."

"Yeah, I would like that," Cindy smiled, and placed her hand on Char's.

For a moment, the two silently stared at one another while the Representative lurked nearby. While he wasn't looking, they left their table and exited the restaurant. After taking a long moonlit walk, Cindy and Char found a nearby diner where they ordered decent burgers and danced to some swing tunes that were playing on the jukebox. Then because they danced so well, the staff gave them a free dessert out of the deal. Later, they got picked up by the Representative after he called Char to find out where he was and the two left the diner holding hands before getting into the limo.

End of Chapter 26