AN:

Cast & Crew

Tessa/Bella/Cinderella — Evie

Reed/Prince Charming — Chad

Georgie — Jane

Freddie — Dom Tremaine

Divine — Ally

Olympia/Drizella — Lonnie

Athena/Anastasia — Audrey

Bianca/Show Lady Tremaine — Ruby Fitzherbert

Janet/Show Fairy Godmother — Maddy Mim

Show Steward — Student (formerly); Luke Williams [Anthony's friend]

Two show stage hands — Two students (formerly); Ray Beech & Robbie Valentino [Anthony's friends]

Teacher Director — Miss FG (Fairy Godmother)

Student Director/Writer — Ben

Choreographer — Carlos (head choreographer) & Diego

Minor characters/Dancers/Extras — Uma, Harry, Gil, Diego, Harriet, CJ, Gaston Junior, Gaston the Third, Ginny Gothel, Zevon, Claudine Frollo, & Hermie Bing

Scenic Design/Stage Hands — Mal (painter), Jay (construction), Aziz (design), Jade (construction), Harry Badun (set tech) & Jace Badun (set tech)

Lighting — Doug

Sound — Clay

Wardrobe — Anthony Tremaine & Jordan

Hair & Makeup — Dizzy Tremaine & Freddie & Celia Facilier (respectively)

Trigger warnings: highly toxic relationship (manipulation, harassment, non-sexual non-con), implication of non-con/abuse.

Thursday, after school…

Ben and Miss FG stood on the stage of the school's auditorium, watching their A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits cast and crew members file in for their first ever rehearsal.

"Good afternoon, everyone!" Miss FG commenced once everyone had arrived, "I hope that we are all excited to start! Now this play is going to take a lot of hard work, dedication, time, and effort, but with the students we have selected for the job, I have full confidence that this is going to be a wonderful production!"

"At the end of our lunch meeting two days ago," Ben continued, "we handed out all of the scripts or plans, schedules, sheet music, and all other necessary documentation to date and we hope you've been going over them or at least scanning through them since then. And if anyone missed collecting their respective material, we have copies here, so you can come on up if you need to."

It didn't surprise anyone when Anthony and his crew got up and did so since they were the latest additions to the play and since they cared so little that they didn't even notice they'd had to take something with them last time.

Ben absentmindedly handed each boy their papers, his eyes travelling past them and to his girlfriend and crush.

Mal was seated between Jay and Carlos and Uma, Harry, and Gil and just behind Evie, who was sitting beside Audrey and their two best friends on one side and, of course, Anthony and his buddies on the other (well, currently their empty chairs).

The student director couldn't help but smile and silently chuckle to himself, watching the two girls quietly converse during Miss FG's introductory speech. "Good to know she's already jumping right at every opportunity to talk to Evie for someone who didn't even wanna be here in the first place."

He was going to hold this over her head for the rest of her life.

His attention was abruptly drawn back to the other boys in front of him though as Anthony harshly ripped the papers from his hands but still subtly enough to not cause a big scene in front of anyone but the five guys.

They collectively glared at him as they walked away, making him raise an eyebrow and internally roll his eyes at the ridiculous attempt to intimidate him.

Anthony, though, maintained eye contact as he made his way back to his seat, an extra malicious glint in his glare. He immediately yanked his girlfriend out of her seat as if she were a doll, not to mention literally tearing her away from her conversation with Mal, and tugged her onto his lap as he sat down, instantly smashing his lips against hers.

Ben furiously watched the toxic couple as well as all of his friends' reactions, his cheeks suddenly burning up and his ears inadvertently drowning Miss FG's voice out in his silent fit of rage.

Mal's eyes flashed dangerously and her lips twitched with the desire to scowl at the possessive boy before meeting her own boyfriend's eyes with matching anger and jealousy within them.

Audrey turned at the sudden feeling of her best friend disappearing from her side. Luckily, she was just able to catch the things Evie had been forced to drop because of Anthony's actions before they clattered to the ground, all the while glaring at her best friend's boyfriend.

Carlos eyed the scene with a dark look, trembling momentarily as if he had just been about to lunge over the seats to throttle Anthony.

Jay, Uma, Harry, Gil, Lonnie, Jane, and a few other students surrounding the group meanwhile watched as well with annoyance and disdain in their expressions.

Evie herself allowed her boyfriend to kiss her for a couple seconds before pulling away and attempting to get back into her own seat. She was not permitted though as one strong arm completely encircled her waist and the other held her in place by her thighs, effectively trapping and preventing her from moving.

The brunette looked down at the ground in embarrassment and discomfort while Anthony began nibbling at her jaw, neck, and ear in front of everyone in the auditorium who was paying attention to them more than FG.

Audrey leaned over the now empty seat and whispered harshly to the football player, "What the hell, Anthony? Could you not see she was talking to Mal and you just very rudely and aggressively interrupted them?"

"Mm. Fuck off, your highness," Anthony carelessly replied, his voice slightly muffled by Evie's skin against his mouth, using the nickname he had for Audrey that he knew drove her insane, "She's my girlfriend. I just wanna show her some attention."

Audrey bristled. That damn nickname. She couldn't stand it and he and his buddies knew it. The way they would say it made her sound like she was some self-entitled, self-absorbed princess.

Okay, so her parents were pretty well-off and she lived in a big house, but she worked so hard to make sure she didn't come off as some stuffy, spoiled heiress. The boys also knew this though and therefore they realized how much that nickname bothered her, which is why they used it on her when they were especially annoyed with her.

She was about to snap back at Anthony with a sharp remark, but, to a lot of people's surprise, Evie beat her to it.

"Anthony, how many times have I told you not to call her that?" she scolded her boyfriend, still bearing her gentle nature but with an added austerity to her tone and disposition.

Yes, she backed down from him most of the time, but never when it came to her friends and family. That was a line he was not allowed to cross.

"Relax, baby. It's just a nickname," the boy replied, still trying to make out with his girlfriend.

"Yeah, one that she hates," Evie replied, finally succeeding in removing her restraints, "So I'll repeat myself. Please don't call her that. I make an effort with your friends. The least you could do is make an effort with mine. And please, I'm tired of asking you not to do this in public again."

The brunette sighed as she slid back into her own seat, shuffling as close as she could to Audrey and away from Anthony. She propped her elbow up onto the arm of the chair between her and her best friend and tiredly leaned her head against her fingers.

Anthony pouted angrily, his scowl only deepening as he watched Audrey lead Evie to completely rest her head against her shoulder and comfortingly take one of her hands into one of her own.

"You really need to just leave Evie alone, man, especially when she's not in the mood," Carlos commented before crossing his arms and sinking into his chair, leaning his own head against his boyfriend's arm.

Anthony shot the younger boy a dirty look and replied, "And you need to mind your own fucking business, De Vil, as usual."

"Shut the fuck up, Tremaine," Jay defended the freckled teenager at the same time that someone, he'd suspect his little friend with the darker skin since she was sitting right behind him, gave a sharp kick to the back of his chair and Mal told him to, "Leave Carlos alone, Anthony."

Anthony scoffed in annoyance, shaking his head and leaning back into his chair. "This play is gonna be absolute hell."

Once Miss FG was done with her intro, she allowed Ben to take the reins.

Though watching what had happened between Evie and Anthony had dampened his good mood a bit, he plastered on his usual smile and started handing out orders.

The crew was fairly easy to direct. They pretty much knew what they needed to work on already.

Mal and Aziz were going to help Jay and Jade with the construction of sets any way they could. Aziz was obviously more competent in constructing things than Mal was, especially since he was the one who had designed these pieces, but she would still be able to make herself useful.

Jordan (reluctantly) took Anthony to fetch the fabrics they'd need for costumes from the art room, wherein they stored them. Freddie, Dizzy, and Celia would be helping them too until makeup and hair were needed. The members of wardrobe, makeup, and hair would all be intermixed throughout this process since each of them had the skills to be in really any of those departments and they all could use each other's help.

Doug, Clay Clayton, and Harry and Jace Badun went off with Miss FG to discuss the "choreography" of the lighting, audio, and sets.

That left the actors and dancers with Ben. Well, actually just the actors since Carlos and Diego were taking the backup dancers to the dance room for their first choreography lesson.

"Okay, guys! So did you all get to read through the script these past two days?" Ben asked and was pleased when all except three cast members nodded or did the so-so hand gesture.

Of course those three actors were Anthony's friends since they were just given their scripts about five minutes ago.

"Okay. Great! So then how about, Ray, Luke, and Robbie, you guys step to the side and, uh, read over your lines and the rest of us will do some readings of scenes without your characters and then you can join in once you're ready?" Ben suggested with a polite smile to hide his disdain for the other boys.

"Dude, we've got like ten lines in total between the three of us," Ray pointed out in a mocking tone as if the other boy were stupid.

"Well, yes, you guys have more minor roles of your own, but it's also important to know everyone else's parts, to know the entire script as well as possible, especially the lines before and after yours in order to know your cues, to understand the scene, to—" Ben explained, trying to keep his patience.

"Okay, so basically what you're saying is like ten lines to know and like thirty more to recognize. Awesome. Cool. We can just go through it though. I think we can handle it," Ray replied in the same condescending tone.

"And I think you should just listen to our director and do as he asks, Ray. This is all a little more complex than you think," Audrey retorted, not appreciating the attitude he was giving her oldest friend.

"And I think you should do as Anthony says and fuck off, your highness," the blond boy spat back.

After almost two years of having to defend her friends against Anthony and his friends wearing her down by the minute as well as this being the second time within less than ten minutes, Evie tiredly yet imploringly objected, "Ray, please—"

"Evie, sweetheart, just shut up. You've already upset Anthony enough today. Don't do it again by targeting his best friend," Ray dismissed her protest, habitually using the pet name "sweetheart" for her in that aggravating and belittling way that so many other misogynists did.

"Wh—I-I-I'm not—" Evie tried to defend herself, but Audrey, Lonnie, and Jane just about pounced on the boy for his dig at their best friend before she could say anything more.

"Screw you, Ray! Don't fucking talk to Evie like that!" Audrey yelled.

"She isn't fucking targeting you, asshole!" Lonnie shouted as well.

"You're the one targeting her best friend, Ray!" Jane added.

"Anthony Tremaine isn't upset! He's a fucking piece of sh—" Audrey was about to continue, only to be interrupted by an irritated Ben.

"GUYS! Please calm down! Come on! It's the first day! Okay, I know we all have our differences, but please, for the sake of the show, let's be professionals and set them all aside during rehearsal and performance times," the student director requested.

He obviously hadn't heard anything that had happened in the seats (he was probably going to hear all about it from his girlfriend afterwards anyways). However, he had seen that Anthony had been an asshole to Evie and other people.

Nonetheless, though Audrey and the girls had every right to be angry and he himself wanted to punch both Anthony and Ray, at their current rate, they'd never get any work done.

In any other setting, he'd support his crush and friends, no question. However, as student director, he couldn't allow himself to show favouritism at the moment because that would surely only come back around and bite him in the ass, especially since Anthony and his crew were involved. He had to bring down the hammer for everyone equally, even for his friends.

"Look, I'm not a teacher, so I'm not gonna punish you for fighting or force you guys to apologize to each other, although I'd highly recommend it since it's only proper common courtesy. You guys work stuff out on your own time if you want, but while we're here, let's please just maintain peace and focus on the play instead of constantly jumping at each other's throats, yeah?" Ben said.

Everyone nodded, even those not involved in the argument, and Audrey, Lonnie, Jane, and Evie still apologized to Ray for yelling and swearing, albeit reluctantly.

"Eves, you didn't do anything. You have nothing to apologize for," Audrey told her best friend softly, "You either Jane."

She was the one who had spoken up against Ray. He had fired back. She had returned. Lonnie had cursed at him. Evie and Jane though had only tried to help her when he had insulted her and the former. Hell, Evie hadn't even been able to get a single, full sentence out.

However, Ray, apparently deciding to really test his luck that day, mumbled in response, "Not to me at least."

Did he have a mute button?

"Ray, I'll apologize to Anthony later if you and the guys please just cooperate with Ben and try to get along with everyone," Evie pleadingly negotiated.

"A favour like that's gonna take more than just an apology, Evie. You'll have to make it up to him too," the blond boy replied with a disgustingly insinuating smirk.

Audrey, Lonnie, and Jane wanted to tell him that Evie didn't owe either of them anything and it was actually the other way around. However, Evie spoke before any of them could start another verbal war.

"I will, Ray. I promise," she gently responded, looking even more tired and miserable and anxious now.

Ray smiled in an off-putting way and replied, placing a hand on the girl's lower back and a quick peck on her cheek, "That's all you had to say, sweetheart."

Evie strived not to flinch and move away from her boyfriend's best friend. She simply closed her eyes and let him flirt with her, knowing that denying him would be like denying Anthony himself.

Ben watched suspiciously.

What the fuck was going on there? Anthony hated Carlos, him, and every other guy for flirting with Evie, but Ray was an exception? Did he have a thing for his own best friend's girlfriend? Even if he did though, he was way too loyal to Anthony to try anything with her behind his back.

At least, Ben thought so. Unless Anthony knew and he had permission to…All the same, there was something messed up going on there. He'd definitely have to bring that up with the others later.

Ben looked over at Audrey and noticed she was furious but unsurprised, so obviously this was regular, creepy behaviour for Ray.

How could they justify calling himself and Mal wanting Evie as their girlfriend weird and messed up when Anthony was possibly okay with Ray hitting on his girlfriend?

What a bunch of psychotic hypocrites. At least he and Mal actually cared about Evie and wanted a real, healthy relationship with her.

Ben cleared his throat loudly, eventually regaining everyone's attention, including Ray's as he'd intended, and said, "Ray, Luke, Robbie? You guys wanna go ahead and step aside to read through your lines?"

Ray smirked and replied with a mock salute, "Aye, aye, captain."

He then looked at his two friends and nodded towards the side of the stage, actually following his directions for once at last. Robbie and Luke followed after, the former creepily toying with some strands of Evie's hair and the latter grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking a bit in what he considered to be a playful manner, but was truly a pretty rough one, as they passed by the girl.

Evie immediately straightened and readjusted her hair once they left her alone. She then looked down, an arm awkwardly wrapped around herself, lightly pinching her eyebrow between her nails in embarrassment and discomfort and using her hand to hide her face a bit.

No one spoke for a moment until Audrey awkwardly cleared her throat and said, "Um, Ben?"

Said boy suddenly regarded his oldest friend, not even realizing he as well as everyone else had been staring at Evie pitifully until then.

"Maybe we should start now?" Audrey suggested, hinting at how very uncomfortable her best friend was at the moment under all of the attention.

"Yes. Right. Of course," Ben replied, taking a much needed moment to regain his wits after all of that drama and suspicious behaviour, "Uh, okay! So let's go from the top."

At the end of the rehearsal, all of the cast and crew were reassembled on the stage, satisfied with the productive period but eager to go home.

"Okay, that's a wrap on our very first rehearsal! Great start, guys!" Ben announced, applauding for everyone, which prompted them all to enthusiastically join.

"Remember: rehearsals are on Mondays and Thursdays after school until 4:00, just like today. Don't forget to bring all of your scripts, sheet music, etc. If you happen to though, it's not the end of the world. We do have extras just in case, but they are blank, so you'd be missing any notes you might have taken on your own copies," Miss FG reminded the teenagers, "Thank you, everyone for the fabulous work and I can't wait to see you all next rehearsal!"

"Wait! Wait! Sorry, Ben, Miss FG, if you don't mind, I have an announcement of my own! I'll be really quick though, promise!" Audrey hurriedly spoke up before anyone left, "My parents are gonna be gone this weekend and I got their permission to throw our very first cast and crew party, so you're all invited!

"It's gonna be on Friday night. Each of you can bring a single or two plus-ones, but I'd just like to clarify that only you get just one or two and that neither of your plus-ones can have a plus-one at all. Sorry 'bout it, but we want to have a fun party, not a total, out-of-control rager. I'll create a group chat on Insta and message you guys all the deets. Hope to see everyone there!"

A chorus of cheers and thank-you's directed at the party hostess sounded as people began to file out of the auditorium, chatting excitedly about the new upcoming event.

"This is awesome, Aud! Everyone sounds so hyped! It sounds like it's gonna be a blast! Can't wait!" Audrey's best friends lingered behind as they were caught up conversing excitedly.

"Ladies! Can we interrupt?" Ray asked, doing so anyway as he came up behind Evie and wedged himself between her and Lonnie, "Hate to break it to you, humble hostess, but the guys and I can't make it."

"Aw, that's too bad. We'll save you some snacks," Audrey sarcastically replied, trying to suppress how wide and giddy her grin truly wanted to be.

Big party with her friends and the cast and crew minus Anthony and his annoying assholes? Yes please!

"Yeah, well, don't get too excited because Evie over here can't go either," Ray informed matter-of-factly, heavily draping an arm over said girl's tense shoulders.

"What?" all four girls exclaimed in confusion and surprise, the brunette quickly slipping out from underneath the boy's arm and facing him.

Evie had literally been helping Audrey plan this entire party and she was really excited about it. All of her friends were going to be there and her mom already knew about it. Why wouldn't she possibly be able to go?

"What's wrong?" Ben asked in concerned curiosity as he, Mal, Carlos, Jay, Uma, and Harry joined the other group at the sound of the girls' collective shout.

"It's really none of your business, LeBon," Ray responded with a fake smile.

"Look, Ray, if you and your fellow Neanderthals can't come, by all means, don't fucking come. But Evie can and she obviously wants to and you can't just decide she won't go for her," Audrey stated with an overly sweet grin.

The blond boy simply chuckled and corrected the girl, "Oh, but I'm not the one deciding. She is. Well, her and her boyfriend. See, she's already booked. She and Anthony have a date Friday night."

"No, we don't," the lead actress replied, perplexed.

She had absolutely no recollection of planning a date on the same night of the party. Why would she even do that?

"Yeah, we do," Anthony chimed in, sliding in right against his girlfriend's back from behind and making her jump.

"No, Anthony, I don't think you do. Evie sure doesn't seem to know you did, so," Mal chimed in, eyes narrowed at the manipulative boy.

"She knows now," the boy replied simply with a shrug.

"That's not how this works," the blonde girl retorted, scrunching her nose a bit and shaking her head lightly.

"Jesus, Mal. Just leave it alone already. LeBon, why don't you man the fuck up and control your girlfriend, huh?" Ray suggested in a falsely helpful tone.

"Uh, because she's right and she's my girlfriend and not my puppy dog, Ray," Ben responded with a sassier version of his regular charming smile now that he was off the clock as student director, making all of his friends laugh.

Even Evie snorted out a short giggle, which she muted immediately after receiving a scowl from her boyfriend.

"Anthony, please. Can we just reschedule? I committed to the party first," Evie requested hopefully.

"No, you committed to me first," Anthony corrected her, annoyed with her recurring disobedience that day.

It was these stupid friends of hers. They filled her with too much confidence and security.

"Dude, that's so not fair. Not cool holding stuff over her head, man," both Jay and Harry bluntly scoffed with a huffed laugh from the former at the other boy's ridiculousness.

He desperately needed lessons on how to treat his significant other. Like, two years ago. Probably before that even.

"Okay, Anthony and company, listen up because I'm about to break it down for you," Audrey said with a deceivingly sweet smile but in an authoritative voice, "This is the first cast and crew party we're talking about here. Last I checked, this Friday has no importance to your relationship. It's not an anniversary, not a birthday, not a holiday. You could literally reschedule this date for any other day. Hell, you could reschedule it for the day after.

"But we can't reschedule this party. The date's already out there and spread to at least like thirty-five other people and my parents have already okayed for everything to be on Friday. Food and drinks, neighbour warning, blah blah blah. It's all set. And Evie obviously would prefer to go to the party, which she also knew about and helped to plan this entire past week.

"So I'll say it again: You can go ahead and miss out all you want. In fact, I strongly encourage you to. But Evie is going and she's gonna fucking have fun."

Anthony clenched his jaw and his nose twitched almost like he wanted to sneer at his girlfriend's best friend. His eyes seemed to be burning invisible holes into her head. He really hated this girl.

Everyone thought he was about to explode until finally, he loosened completely and replied, "Fine. But she's not going alone. You said everyone in the cast and crew is invited, right?"

Audrey chewed the inside of her cheek at the attempted bait as she matched Anthony's challenging glare. "That is what I said, yes."

The heated exchange between her boyfriend and best friend was making Evie feel nervous and guilty, so she quickly interjected, "Guys, you really don't have to fight or sacrifice anything for this. It's okay. It's not a big deal. I'll just go on the date with Anthony—"

"No, Evie. He doesn't get to win all the time," Audrey refused to accept another victory for Anthony, especially at Evie's expense.

"Yeah, babe. It's cool. We'll be there. Can't wait," the boy said, a malicious tinge to his voice, before addressing his girlfriend directly, "You can find your own way home?"

Before even allowing a chance for Evie to respond, Anthony and his friends walked out of the auditorium, causing the brunette girl to blush and look away in embarrassment at having been blatantly ditched by her boyfriend.

"I'll drive you," Lonnie offered, lightly knocking elbows with her friend, which earned her a fleeting yet genuinely grateful smile, "Later, guys."

The others returned goodbyes of their own before Evie, Lonnie, and Jane left. Audrey went to follow them, but Uma held her back and spoke lowly to her so that the other three girls couldn't hear, "Why are you actually letting them come?"

"It's either they come or Evie doesn't and she deserves a little break. Sure, it might not be a total break, but it's something. Besides, we'll all be there for her instead of them being alone," Audrey quickly replied.

"I really hope you know what you're doing, Rose," Uma told the other girl, letting her go.

"I wouldn't mess around when it comes to Evie," the actress swore, dead serious.

"We know," Jay assured truthfully, "But you just invited the devil and his demons to your party."

"Well," Audrey said as she began to catch up to her best friends, "it's a sacrifice we have to make. We can't have the angel without getting the devil."

AN: Thanks for reading!