"Cinderella!"

"Shit!" Ella stuffed her clothes beneath her mattress in a panic, storing them and turning around just as her stepmother opened the door. The permanent sneer on her stepmother's face peered down at an all too suspicious Cinderella but she shook her head and straightened herself.

"We are leaving for the night." She said, looking around the room, "I don't want any complaints from the neighbors tonight when I get back." The Lady Tremaine stepped forward and snatched Cinderellas wrists, pulling her up from where she was kneeling on the floor. "I've given you everything." She whispered, "Food, a bed, a place to sleep and still your ungrateful ass decides to run away."

Cinderella flinched, feeling her mother's fingernails dig into her skin as she leaned closer. The stench of bubble gum toothpaste and her horrendous perfume burned Ella's nostrils as she avoided eye contact.

"You are to stay in your room. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am." Cinderella quickly mumbled. Tremaine scowled and released her, shoving her back. Tripping on her own feet, Cinderella fell, hitting her already bruised shoulder on the corner of her bed. She hissed, curling inward and reaching to her wound.

Not another word was spoken and her stepmother closed the door. Cinderella stayed down, her ear to the floor as she stared purposefully at the ground. She listened to her step mother's footsteps, followed by her step sisters giggling. She heard the front door close and bolted straight up. She kept her eyes on the clock on her nightstand. It was eight o' clock. Her step mother and sisters will be returning around five in the morning.

Quickly, Cinderella reached for the phone hidden underneath her mattress along with the clothes she had stuffed. She hit the speed dial and held the phone between her cheek and her shoulder as she slipped off her faded jeans.

"Ella?"

"I'm okay." Cinderella smiled at the sound of Aurora's voice. "I'm okay."

"Has she left already?" Aurora whispered. Cinderella rolled her eyes and walked over to her window.

"Yeah, her BMW isn't in the driveway."

"I'm pulling up."

A sudden flash of light came from the corner street and Cinderella watched as her best friend pulled up into the driveway in her car. Smiling, Cinderella darted out of her room, down the million flights of stairs and into the base floor where she flung open her front door. Aurora greeted her with a smile and hopped out of the car.

"Boy, did I get a hell of a treat." She smirked, walking over to a pantsless cinderella. "Nice panties by the way."

Ella rolled her eyes and hugged her friend.

"Thanks for this." She smiled as Aurora returned her hug.

"God knows we've needed a night out."

Cinderella pulled back and tugged Aurora inside. "She'll be back at five," she said as they raced up the stairs to the attic, "We have exactly eight hours to enjoy the night."

"I'll have you looking good in about thirty minutes and we'll be out of here!" Aurora squealed, taking the lead and bursting into Ella's room. "Leave it to me, girlie!"

As promised, it took about half an hour to get ready. Cinderella into a navy blue dress she had "borrowed" from Anastasia. It was light, coming up to mid thigh and she loved it. Aurora had spent weeks planning this night. One night to sneak out and go dancing. A night where Ella could be free from chores and her stepmother. Just a precious eight hours of bliss.

Admittedly, Cinderella wasn't too thrilled at first. There was too much to lose, too much at risk. Her life was literally on the line and she could fall victim to Tremaine's endless torture. But she had just turned eighteen. Nothing has ever happened in her life that made it worth living. And Aurora always knew just what to do.

Cinderella pulled on a leather jacket, slipping on the silver pumps Aurora let her borrow weeks ago so she could practice walking, running, and climbing up the window in them.

That's how she had gotten caught two nights ago. The neighbor thought it suspicious to see her climbing up the wall in heels and had called her mother immediately. That night, Cinderella paid dearly, earning her several hits to her back with a baseball bat. But old Muriel was at church for Bingo Night. She'll be dead asleep by the time Ella came back.

Once they finished, the two girls ran to the car, giggling and bubbling with excitement. Hopping in, Ella felt as if she were dreaming. Her best friend smiled at her, glowing with her messy blond hair in a high ponytail, sporting tight jeans and a black crop top. Cinderella hoped she looked just as stunning as her beautiful soul mate.

"You ready?"

Glancing back the house, Ella swallowed her heart back in place.

"Let's go!"

Despite her heart refusing to slow down and her muscles refusing to relax, Cinderella felt the thrill seeping into her as they pulled into the driveway of Kingly's Nightclub. There was music blaring and she felt the bass from the parking lot once they stepped out of the car.

"You going to be alright in heels?" asked Aurora, giving her a worried look. "I have emergency flats in the trunk."

"I'm a dancer. I've had to wear heels in performances." Cinderella reminded her. To prove her point, she spun herself around on her toes and strutted ahead of her friend with feigned grace.

Aurora stared at her unimpressed and rolled her eyes. "Ella, those were not even one-inch heels. Those-" she said, pointing accusingly at Cinderella's feet, "Are five-inch stilettos!"

Cinderella crossed her arms, making a point to pop her hip out,"If you're going to wear five-inch heels, so will I. I'll manage."

Her best friend raised her arms in defeat, "Fine, your call. But trust me, honey, you will die in the first few minutes of hip swishing."

Cinderella smiled as Aurora locked the car and stuck out her hand.

"Shall we?"

Squealing, Ella grabbed her and they both raced to the entrance. They could see the lights coming from inside and Cinderella's heart soared.

It took a few minutes to get in. They were checked and carded at the entrance. Once inside, Ella was astounded to see so many bodies, so many carefree spirits, jumping up and down, moving and swiveling their hips to some Latin pop music. Aurora smiled and pulled her friend onto the floor.

"THIS IS INSANE!" Ella shouted.

"I KNOW!"

"WHAT TIME IS IT?"

Aurora checked her watch. "IT NINE THIRTY! WE HAVE SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS!" Ella smiled, feeling herself finally relaxing. She felt the bubbly feeling in her toes, whirling around at her hips as she danced. She felt the bass move her heart and the song control her body. The girls took turns spinning each other around, twirling like lunatics, laughing so freely. Ella danced until her feet ached. She refused to remove her heels, still spinning and shaking. Who cared about sore feet. It didn't matter to Ella. She wanted the full experience.

"Do you think they'll give us drinks?" she shouted over the music. Aurora shrugged, trying and failing to shuffle. Ella threw her head back laughing, shaking her head. Grabbing her friends shoulders, she shouted, "I NEED WATER!"

"NO, I CANT CALL MY FATHER!" Aurora shouted back. Cinderella rolled her eyes and motioned to the bar. "OH, WATER!"

"YES!" the other girl giggled. She grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the bar. After ordering them two bottles of water, Cinderella dramatically collapsed on a stool.

"Are you tired!?" Aurora cried out. Ella wiped the sweat from her forehead, her chest heaving.

"No, I'm good. I'm dancing all night," she said with a grin. Aurora laughed, plopping herself right next to her.

"I'm so glad I decided against makeup tonight," her friend sighed, "I would be such a hot mess. Look! I'm all sweaty!" She motioned at her drenched top in disbelief.

Cinderella laughed, crinkling her nose, "Gross,"

Aurora smiled and leaned against the bar just as the waiter set down their drinks.

"Finally!" Cinderella snatched her glass and downed it. She gasped loudly, feeling the water cool her body and she beckoned the waiter for another glass.

"Ella,"

"Jesus I needed that." gasped the blond, wiping her mouth, hunching herself over.

"Ella.."

"wAt." Ella quacked, spinning to face Aurora.

"Cuties at six o clock." her friend coughed, trying nonchalantly to sip her drink.

"Huh?" Cinderella turned to face the crowd.

"No no no! Don't look!"

Too late. Ella had spotted exactly who Aurora was trying to point out. One was a gorgeous Asian fellow, tan, muscular, with a mysterious aura to him. Clearly, he worked out. The other was tall and blond. He had long hair and easy blue stared right back at her and smiled. Ella waved and turned to Aurora.

"How am I the social one here?"

The blond playfully slapped her arm and Ella had to hide a wince. Ouch...

"Oh hush!"

Ella turned back and noticed the boys were headed their way.

"Looks like they're coming over here."

"Yeah?"

"Play it cool?" Ella asked, thanking the waiter as he set down her second drink.

Aurora shrugged, "I came here for you, not for boys."

Ella smiled and took a sip of her glass as the two men approached. Cinderella smiled and raised her glass.

"Gentlemen."

"Ladies." The blond man smiled. He was the first to stick out his hand invitingly which Ella shook.

"I'm John Smith, this here's Shang," John shouted. Shang nodded, giving her a shy smile.

"I'm Ella and this is my friend, Aurora."

Aurora waved, taking a sip from her glass and shaking John's hand. "Howdy."

Cinderella bit back a laugh and could feel Aurora's slight embarrassment. Although Cinderella might have been sheltered and lived semi antisocially, Aurora was worse. With eighteen years of homeschooling and lack of normal teenage contact, it was a wonder how she was the one to pull Cinderella out that night.

It wasn't just her first night out.

It was Aurora's too.

"Do you guys want to dance?" John asked, pointedly looking at Aurora. The girls looked at each other, silently debating it among themselves. They smiled and shrugged.

"Why not!"

Ella grabbed Shang's hand as Aurora grabbed Johns and the four spun back onto the dance floor.

"I'm not that good at this dancing thing," Shang warned.

Ella smiled as he spun her, "Don't worry about it!"

He was right. Shang was a bit stiff when it came to dancing, not that Cinderella minded. She found it cute how he tried to move his hips. Throwing her head back, she laughed, stepping closer and guiding his arms to her waist.

"Just follow my lead!" She helped him move with her, rocking with the music as best as they could with hundreds of bodies moving with them. Song after song they danced, spinning and turning and laughing. She glanced back at Aurora who was giggling as John kept spinning her. Guiding Shang, she shuffled closer to her friend.

"Aurora!" she shouted, pulling her friend away, giggling. "Aurora, what time is it?"

"What?"

Ella rolled her eyes and tapped her wrist, "TIME! THE TIME!"

"Oh!"Aurora glanced at her watched and her smile fell. "Shit."

"What?"

"We gotta go." Aurora turned and shouted to the boys, "WE HAVE TO GO!"

Without waiting for a reply, she shoved Cinderella out of the crowd.

They raced out of the club, Aurora practically sprinting at the car, pulling along Cinderella.

"What time is it!" Ella shouted in panic, trying to get Aurora to answer.

"Just get in the car. Hurry, come on!" Her friend threw open the driver's door and started the engine. Cinderella barely hopped in, hadn't even closed the door before Aurora began gunning it out of the parking lot.

"Aurora!" she shrieked, frantically putting her seat belt on. She stole a glance at the digital clock on the dashboard and screamed.

"We're fine! We're fine!" Aurora hushed, moving a hand to hold Ella's.

"Oh my god it's four fifty!"

"We're fine. We'll make it."

"I'm dead!"

"Ella we're fine."

"I'm going to literally die this time!"

"ELLA!"

She had gunned it past four yellow lights by now, barely making it before stop lights turned red.

"I am not going to let you die."

"We won't make it," wailed Cinderella. She felt her eyes well up with tears and panic rose to her chest as she heaved in a breath. "Aurora she's going to come home soon."

"No, no she's not. I'm not going to let anything happen to you." They served at a corner and kept going. "I don't care what it takes. I will run through every damn stop light if it means you will make it home safely."

"Four fifty-five."

"Ella don't look at the clock!"

Aurora swerved around two cars, cutting them off. Cinderella felt her head spin as she was thrown from one side of the car to another.

"Aurora, look out!"

"I know what I'm doing!

"There's a car!"

"I can see it!"

Two more yellow lights.

"How are the cops not here yet!?" Ella shrieked, holding on to the dashboard as Aurora hit a hard left.

"I planned ahead."

"What?"

"I'll explain later! Long story short, Phoebus is in on this and has given the police a heads up."

"Who's Phoebus!?"

"Chief of police!"

They were coming up to her neighborhood. Ella felt the slight hint of relief at the familiarity but panic hadn't left her yet. She glanced at the clock.

"Five ten."

"You're fine."

They turned the corner and she could see her house. Her heart dropped.

"Oh, Aurora..."

"You're fine." But now Aurora didn't sound too sure. Tremaine's BMW was in the driveway. Aurora slowed down and killed her headlights. She pulled over to the side of the street, and the two girls sat in silence panting. "We can leave, I can take you out of here right now."

But Cinderella was already getting out of the car.

"Ella,"

"You gave me these heels a month in advance just for this," Ella said, not turning to look at her. "You know why I can't just leave."

"I'll call someone to pick up your father too."

Ella shook her head. She turned around and gave her friend a tearful smile.

"Thanks for today. I love you so much."

"Stop that."

"She might not have checked yet," Ella whispered.

"Text me," Aurora whined. Ella didn't even nod. She took off shoes and tossed them into the car, making a mad dash for her driveway, She sprinted to the darker side of the house, where a tree was planted in honor of her mother. Her heart racing, she leaped, grabbing onto a branch. Pulling herself up, she kept climbing the tree, ignoring the splinters that cut into her feet and hands. She could hear her sisters arguing inside and her mother screaming at them to shut up. That gave her the hope she needed as she reached the top of the tree. Three feet to her left was her window sill. Opened. Just as she had left it.

Ella mustered up as much courage as she could, prayed to her mother she'd make it, and jumped.

"Omf!" her stomach hit the edge of the window hard, but she leaned forward, half her body dangling and the other half reaching to pull herself inside her room. she leaned forward and quietly fell onto the pillow she had laid on the floor. She allowed herself a moment to just lay there, her chest heaving and her head spinning. She let out sputtered gasps and smiled, quietly chuckling.

"Oh my god I'm a mad woman...,"

two minutes passed before she finally stood up and changed out of her clothes. She threw on her shaggy nightdress and thin socks to cover her feet. She carefully hid the clothes back underneath the mattress. She sent a quick text to Aurora, confirming that all was okay. Slipping into her bed, Cinderella allowed herself to finally breathe, her conscience drifting.

That's how Anastasia found her five minutes later. Asleep in bed with the window still opened. She walked over and shut it quietly, removing the pillows from the floor and hiding them.

God knows what mother might if she knew...

She did another check around, making sure everything was the way it should be.

"That dress better not be ripped,..." She whispered to no one in particular, as she went back downstairs to tell mother Cinderella was fast asleep and that the suspicious noise was just the cat.