Hey everyone! Thank you so much for the reviews! Huge thanks to Quirky Del for adding this story to the Fireman's Ball. Cyber Hugs all around!

You make me feel out of my element

Like I'm drifting out to the sea

Like the tides pullin' me in deeper

Makin' it harder to breathe

-Aly & Aj

-Happiness.

Maddie winced as she slipped on her high heels. Dance class was in ten minutes. Adjusting the straps the best she could, Maddie quickly hurried out of the changing room.

Maddie wobbled down the hallway to the ballroom, trying to put as little pressure on her feet as possible. A strap had broken on Maddie's dancing heels three days ago, so she had been borrowing her sister's old ones. The only problem with that was that her sister wore a size six.

She entered the classroom and smiled at everyone.

"Alright.' Said Esteban rubbing his hands together. 'Brent, Natasha, today we're going to be starting a classic cha-cha. Maddie…?'

Maddie walked over to him feeling a little confused.

Esteban took her hand and turned back to Brent and Natasha. 'Me and Maddie are going to show you a dance that we put together using some original cha-cha steps."

Maddie felt shocked. The feeling was quickly replaced by embarrassment at the thought of having to dance in front of a 'crowd'.

Esteban pulled her into the starting position, and smiled.

The nervousness quickly rolled off of Maddie. Realizing now that their after class dance sessions weren't hidden from the others Maddie chanced a glance at Natasha.

She was looking shocked, and to Maddie's amusement, a little angry.

Esteban motioned for Brent to start the music.

Maddie did her best not to wince as she started to cha-cha around the dance floor with Esteban.

Her feet hurt, but as she got into the dance, she really didn't notice any more.

Faster and faster they danced, the music building to the climax.

Esteban grabbed her hand, flung her out… Maddie twirled, then the music ended with a bang, and they both threw their arms out in pose.

Maddie felt her feet let out a huge scream in agony. She simply ignored them, and smiled as Brent…and Natasha, applauded.

Esteban beamed, stood up, and kissed Maddie on the cheek.

She suddenly felt dizzy, and wondered if she needed to work on her twirl technique.

After Brent and Natasha stopped applauding, they divided into pairs.

"Do, you need a drink?" Brent asked before they started.

"No, why?" asked Maddie taking his hands.

"Oh, you just look a little flushed."

Maddie felt her face go crimson. If it had looked flushed before, she knew it wasn't anything compared to what it was doing now.

"I'm fine.' She said smiling. 'Let's start."

Maddie started to count out the steps with Brent when, suddenly, he stumbled.

Fire shot though her foot.

"Oops, sorry." He apologized.

"That's okay." Maddie gasped, biting her lip hard.

"Are you sure?" He asked, looking a little concerned.

"Yeah,' Maddie said, trying to smile. 'I'm fine, really."

"Ok-ay." He said sounding a little doubtful.

Maddie smiled reassuringly.

He took her hands, and they began a slow, and painful cha-cha.

Maddie&EstebanMaddie&Esteban

I know a girl

She puts the color

Inside of my world….

The forty-five minuets of dance class were finally over.

As Brent and Natasha quickly grabbed their things, Maddie loosened her shoe straps, and rubbed her feet.

She quickly slipped them on again, and stood up.

Natasha was still talking to Esteban, and seemed reluctant to leave.

"You know,' Natasha said. 'I'm really not sure about this cha-cha dance.'

She smiled. 'Maybe, we should, like, get together and practice."

Esteban smiled. "Oh, don't worry.' He said. 'You're doing fine. I'm sure well get it down in class."

"Natasha, let's go!" said Brent who was half out the door.

Natasha flashed a smile at Esteban, which came out looking more like a pout.

She passed Maddie and grabbed her duffle bag.

"See you tomorrow." Maddie called after her.

She turned back and shot Maddie a look that could freeze lava.

"See you."

With that Natasha slung up her duffle, and marched out the door.

As scary as that was, Maddie just smiled and walked over to Esteban.

He grinned. "Are you ready to start a new dance?" He asked.

"Why do you think I'm hear?" Maddie asked happily.

"Okay.' Esteban said, taking her hand. 'We are going to learn Jive dancing."

Maddie smiled. "Okay… That's the goofy looking stuff right?"

Esteban rolled his eyes. "Only when Mr. Moseby does it."

Maddie's jaw dropped. "Mr. Moseby danced Jive? When was this? Where was I?"

Esteban laughed. "When we entered that dance competition. You were visiting you're grandma."

"Oh, yeah.' Said Maddie. She pouted. 'You taped it right?"

Esteban grinned sneakily. "Of course."

Maddie laughed. "You have got to make me a copy."

"Alright.' Esteban smiled. 'Ready?"

Maddie nodded and blushed as she realized that he was still holding her hand.

"Okay.' He said, apparently not noticing anything. 'Now, I want you to step back as I step towards you, and then vice versa, okay?"

Maddie nodded. Esteban gave the beginning count, but as Maddie stepped back, she twisted her foot slightly and all of the pressure went to the side of her foot, pushing it sharply into the strap.

Maddie yelped, and fell to the floor.

"Maddie!' Esteban exclaimed, quickly kneeling down next to her. 'What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Maddie nodded the affirmative, eyes scrunched tight, and rubbing her foot.

"Did you twist your ankle, or-?" Esteban stopped as he looked at her foot.

A drop of red plopped onto the floor from under the strap of her heels.

"Maddie, take it off now.' He said quietly.

"Esteban-" She began.

"Now." He said firmly, reaching over to loosen the strap himself.

Maddie bit her lip, holding back the tears, as he gently slipped off the sandal.

Esteban breathed in sharply. The strap on Maddie's sandal had rubbed against her foot so badly that it was bleeding. There was a pink outline around her foot where the straps had rubbed off blister after blister.

Carefully, he lowered her foot, and took her other sandal off. There was the same story on that foot.

"Alright, Cinderella.' He said gravely, looking at the sandals with disgust. 'How long have you been wearing those shoes?"

Maddie opened her eyes. "Since my other ones broke…Four days ago."

Esteban stared at her in disbelief. "You've been dancing in these tiny shoes for four days?"

"They were my sisters.' She explained. 'There all I've got."

"So why didn't you just buy new ones?" asked Esteban feeling slightly frustrated.

"I-I just-" Maddie hung her head. 'I don't have the money."

"What?' Esteban asked, feeling angry now, his voice rising. 'I'm going to have a talk with Moseby. You work your butt off here, and you don't even have enough-"

"No!' said Maddie feeling slightly scared. She had never heard Esteban refer to Mr. Moseby as 'Moseby' before.

"It's not Mr. Moseby, he pays me fine, it's just,' She stopped.

Esteban waited quietly for her to continue.

Maddie took a deep breath and said, 'My dad is an author. He doesn't have a job."

Maddie felt Esteban stiffen beside her. Slowly she continued. 'So, most of my money goes to the family."

Maddie chanced a glance up at Esteban. His dark eyes were flinty. When he spoke his voice sounded strained. As if he was trying keep it under control.

"So your dad lives off your income?" He clenched his jaw so tightly, Maddie was sure he was going to break all of his teeth.

"Well, now that my older sister is married…yeah. Pretty much. Her husband won't even let my dad talk to her any more."

Something in Esteban's eyes flickered.

Maddie went on. "My brother in law said that I could live with them, but I got to look after my little brother, and granny, and-"

She trailed off, and looked up at Esteban again.

His eyes seemed to smolder.

"Maddie-"

"No, Esteban,' Maddie said quickly, putting a hand on his arm. 'It's fine. Really, it's just the way things are."

Esteban swallowed, and put his arm around Maddie.

Maddie felt goose bumps come out on her arms.

Esteban looked as if he were going to say something, and then thought better of it. He looked down at the ground.

Then Esteban quickly stood up. "I'll help you to the changing rooms."

He took her arm and helped her up.

Maddie bit her lip hard as she stood.

Esteban half carried her across the room. When they reached to doorway Esteban stopped and looked down at Maddie.

"No more tiny shoes, okay?"

Maddie looked up at him, and nodded.

"I'd dance with you bare footed, you know that."

Maddie felt tears well up in her eyes. "Okay." She said softly.

…Fathers be good to your daughters

Daughters will love like you do

Girls become lovers who turn into mothers

So Mothers be good to your daughters too.

Madddie&EstebanMaddie&Esteban

Two days later, Maddie went over to her duffle to get her slippers before she headed for dance class.

Her feet were doing much better.

As Maddie unzipped her duffle, she stopped and gasped.

Laying right inside was a pair of beautiful, black, dancing sandals. There was a note pinned on to them.

Maddie picked up the shoes, and plucked off the note.

To Cinderella, I hope the shoe fits.

Maddie felt warmth spread through her whole body. Carefully, she folded the note, and tucked it into her pocket. She set the sandals down, and slipped her feet into them. They fit perfectly. She smiled, as she felt happiness surge through her.

Everything fit perfectly.

I know, it took me a long time to update, but hey. At least it's a pretty long chapter. Let me know if you like where the story is going, or if you have any ideas! The song that is written in the story is called 'Daughters', and John Mayer sings it.

On to think of chapter five!