Cinderella
Chapter Five: Telling Chad
A/N: Hey, hey, my homedawgs, what is up? If you read chapter four, you would notice my use of the word, "canoodling." I am sorry, it was such a fun word, and some of you are like, "What? Canoodling?" Anyways, I present to you… Cinderella, Chapter Five.
After exiting the library to get away from Tonya and Blake (her boyfriend), we sat down in the lounge.
"I wonder if Chad knows that Tonya has a boyfriend? I mean, it's not as if Chad knows Blake all that well, and I don't think Chad would purposely cheat with someone." I wondered aloud.
"I don't know. Tay, maybe I better tell Troy after all. I mean, he is friends with Chad, and he could pass on the message that Tonya has a boyfriend. And he could monitor Chad's actions, to make sure everything goes according to plan." Gabriella suggested.
I bit my lip. I wasn't quite sure about telling Troy. I mean, he's a great guy, but he cannot keep a secret! And I do not want my plan to get out to him.
First, let me describe the plan to you. My parents leave at 7 o'clock and Gabi arrives at 7:30. We leave at 8:30, and get there at 8:45. That way, we aren't the first ones there, and don't have to do a lot of introducing and explaining. I will try to catch Chad's eye, and dance with him. I'll ask him if he's with anyone, very casually, and if he says no, I'll ask why not? And if he says yes, I'll ask with whom? After that, I kind of play it by ear. With Tonya trying to cheat on her boyfriend, the plan should go without a hitch.
I snapped back to attention. I had a hard decision to make. "Well," I started, "Troy's a great guy, Gabi." She nodded vigorously. "But, you have to admit, he's a bit of a big-mouth."
Gabriella looked downcast, and I continued. "What I mean is, Chad's his best friend, and he might let it slip, or might hint at something that could give it away."
Gabriella looked at me with pleading eyes. "Please? It's so hard to keep a secret, and I know he could help! And I'll make him promise not to tell, no matter what the situation."
I gave in. "Fine. Just make him promise not to tell, OK? And monitor his actions closely."
"Oh, thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!" Gabriella screeched. You would have thought I had just given her the Nobel Prize! I continued. "Anyways, the plan will be easier, and everything will go according to the plan that way."
The bell rang then, signaling that there was five minutes left until class. Gabi and I looked at each other in horror. We both had LA next, and that was on the other side of the building! We grabbed our books, and ran to the other side of the building. We slid into the classroom the moment the bell rang for the second time. I could hear kids scrambling to get into class, and waited for Mrs. Darbus to appear. I saw her coming down the hall, or should I say, smelled her coming.
"Good afternoon, class," she greeted us, swirling her polka-dotted shawl. All the patterns were starting to make me dizzy. "In light of the fact that we are having a masquerade, we will be doing research on the different types of masks worn to a masquerade, and what they represent. (A/N: I don't know if the different types of masks matter, or if they mean anything. I'm just making it up.) You will present, and hand in, a written essay, due Monday. It will be 1000 words or more. You may begin."
A groan went through the class. 1000 words?! What a way to wreck our weekends, Mrs. Darbus.
I went to the computer lab right away. It was actually kind of interesting. I could hear Chad groaning away about how this was a girl assignment. That could have been because he was sitting in the computer beside me. I wasn't quite sure why he sat there. There were at least 10 other computers available. I thought nothing of it, though. He probably wanted to cheat off me. Though I do admit, I got shivers up my spine whenever our legs touched.
I learned that smaller masks, made of bright colours and with ornate edges, meant that a woman was single. I also learned that larger masks, made of dark materials, with plain edges, meant that a woman was with someone. It's more conservative. Pretty cool, if you ask me. (A/N: I made all that up, just FYI) Men could wear about any mask they want, but they, just like the women, wore brighter colours for single men, and darker for taken men. I wondered if Chad was paying attention, and if he was, what kind of mask he was going to wear.
The rest of the period passed by in a flash. I even had my outline done by the end of the class! I figured I would finish it tonight, as I was mask shopping on Saturday.
The hard part of the day had now come. Telling Chad that I was not going to be at the dance next Friday. Gabriella and I had already figures out how. We would start up a conversation with Troy and Chad. Gabi would all be talking about her dress, and Troy would say that he was taking Gabi, blah, blah, blah. I would be looking so downcast Chad would have to ask what was up. I would tell him that I couldn't go. It was foolproof. And now that we had Troy on our side, nothing could go wrong.
We approached them after LA class, while we were walking down the hall.
"So," Troy started up. "You're going to the dance with me, right Gabi?"
Gabi grinned. "Of course. I already have this amazing dress, you should see it, it is so gorgeous." Gabi blabbered on and on about her dress, giving me a perfect chance to look downcast.
"Hey Taylor," Chad said, sounding concerned. "What's wrong? You look so sad!"
Ha! He had fallen right into my trap. I kept a straight face, though the way he had said my name had sent shivers down my spine. "My mom said I can't go to the dance."
Chad looked at me. "Why?"
I swore in my head. I hadn't thought of that! Luckily, Gabriella saved me. "She has to look after her two little cousins."
I silently thanked Gabriella, and vowed to put her in my will. "Yeah. My cousins are sweet, but I would rather go to the dance. But, I couldn't get there if I tried. I can't leave them alone! They're only three and five."
Chad put a consoling hand on my arm. I felt goose bumps erupt on the spot. "That sucks. Poor you, it should have been fun."
I relaxed at his words, and then stiffened. Should have? Did that mean that he wasn't going to the dance? "Are- are you going to the dance?"
"Yep." Was Chad's response.
"Cool. Are you going with anyone?" I knew that this was a risk, but I didn't care.
Chad frowned. "Nope. And I don't think I'm going to ask anyone, either."
My heart leapt. He wasn't going to go with anyone! I felt like doing a little victory dance, but restrained myself.
"Well, see you guys later!" I said, and pulled Gabriella off to our lockers.
"Oh, my gosh!" she screamed as soon as we were out of earshot. "He so likes you! Did you see the way he looks at you? And he sat beside you in LA. And he isn't going to the dance with anyone! Oh, this is perfect."
I smiled happily, and then frowned. "Only one thing left. Troy has to tell him what a freak Tonya is."
"I got it covered." Gabi said. "Troy will tell him tonight. He's coming over to his house. Besides, I think Chad liked you from the start. I think Tonya was only to make you jealous! I mean, he sat beside you in computer today." She said it as if when someone sat beside you in computer, that automatically meant that they liked you.
"Oh, he probably just wanted to cheat off me." I brushed it off.
Gabriella gave me a sidelong glance. "Whatever you say, Tay. I guess we'll see at the dance."
"Yep." I agreed with her. "So, we still up for mask shopping tomorrow?"
"Yeppers. See you around." She said, and set off towards Science for the next two periods. I had Phys. Ed and Health. I grimaced. Some way to end that day.
HSM-HSM-HSM-HSM-HSM
School ended in a blur of kids running down the hallways, and me almost (but not quite) missing my bus. When I got home, I grabbed a snack, went to my room, and started my homework. Today had been a very good day to me.
A/N: That was chapter five. What do you think? I noticed some people have me on their story alert list, but they don't review. You have it on your alert list, so review it! Please review? puppy dog eyes