Hey, saidI was posting it right after didnt I!

Ok, so heres the next chapter. Keep reading and reviewing, and hopefully enjoying.

Maddy xxx

The mask sat elegantly on the pillow in her room; it's curved up corners beautifully pointed, and the left side with two feathers, one white and one black. She had spent 10 minutes admiring the effect of the mask together with her new re-hemmed dress. The dress lay beside it, looking effortlessly sexy. She had already rung Jon back to say she would come, feeling she had no option now that she bought the mask, and had arranged for him to come and pick her up. The prom started at 8pm and he would pick her up then, taking them half an hour to get there, depending on traffic of course, and giving a nice long evening together. Also it meant she wasn't slipping in late and people wouldn't look and point her out for it, the less attention the better. It was 4pm so she had plenty of time to get ready, plus she had already done the main things earlier, shaving and hair washing etc.

She just had to do her hair, make-up and get dressed. It seemed simple enough, but the way her nerves were she wasn't sure she was going to get through it as simply as that.

The thing that was currently keeping her going was the thought that she was finally doing what her mother had told her to do, make friends and go to the prom. Well she had made friends namely in the form of her two best friends Ethan and Samantha, and now Jon. And with a little persuasion she was also going to the prom.

After she had called Jon back she had dialed Samantha's number and got her to add Ethan into a three way call. She had then retold the story of her days events and the current outcome, to which both her friends expressed great delight.

'Well I'm glad he managed to knock some common sense into you even if we couldn't. I like his sneakiness, clearly we underestimated his intelligence.' Was Samantha's response.

Ethan had been very happy too, commending her for not giving up on the idea and just backing out.

Ethan and Samantha both had dates and were both attending the prom, and had for weeks been telling Marie that she should just sneak out and go to prom anyway, and if she did the three of them would just go together dateless. Their attempts had failed and they had given up deciding to go with dates. Ethan's prom partner was his girlfriend who attended a different school, namely an all girls school, and she otherwise would not be having a prom, because her school didn't do proms.

Samantha's date was one of her latest flings. Ethan and Marie had met the guy, Joshua, and hoped he would last because although he wasn't the most amazingly good looking guy he was attractive, talkative and funny.

Samantha was tallish, had dirty blonde short hair, blue/gray eyes and without being Barbie doll beautiful was very attractive. Her features were not extravagantly curved, nor was the body a perfectly curved form, but she was very pretty and the guys loved her looks. She was highly in demand, but the thing that Marie most liked about her was that she knew she was good looking but didn't spend her entire life worrying about her looks, nor did she show off or try and attract attention with them.

Ethan wasn't gay. Marie had first thought this because he liked to hang around with girls and looked after his appearance. But the truth was Ethan was just comfortable with the way he looked, without being feminine and he relaxed more around the female of the sex saying he hated the whole macho pretence that being in a crowd of guys entailed. He too was no nerdy unattractive person, with dark hair, naturally bronzed skin, brown eyes and a generally fit body. He was often a hit with the ladies, and in the same way as Samantha wasn't ignorant of it but didn't dwell upon it. But what Marie really liked about him was that no matter what situation they were in he managed to find something good or funny, something to make them laugh.

She was pleased that she would at least be able to see her best friends all dressed up and met their dates, and they met hers. Well technically they knew her date, but had probably never held a conversation with him, actually she knew that they had never held a conversation with him, they had been friends since the start of secondary school.

But it was like on a totally different level, Jon being there with her instead of with the popular crowd, meeting her friends. She was still nervous in the pit of her stomach she was still worried, but the main core of her now was buzzing, her mind focused on having a good time, and enjoying the prom as much as she had the right to.

After some time she decided to go and get something to eat, the food at prom would probably be prepared by the school cooks, and it was bad enough that they were aloud to poison them on a daily basis during the week without having to put up with throwing up at prom from the usual disgusting tripe they managed to throw together.

She went down to the kitchen and began to prepare herself an omelet, colleting her ingredients from the fridge and pantry. She whisked the eggs violently wishing her sisters were eggs and she could just as easily beat them. She added all the ingredients, whisked and poured into the pan, and began to cook the omelet in the usual way she had learnt when she was younger and her father had made her learn to cook for them. She packed the dirty things away and placed the milk and butter and cheese into the fridge, the eggs to the pantry and sat down to eat her nicely browned omelet.

Just as she finished the phone rang and she wondered who it could possibly be, who would be ringing now?

Maybe it was Jon to say he was going to be late, or wasn't going after all.

She picked up.

'Hello?'

'Marie? Hi! It's Ashley again. Just thought I'd ring and find out how everything's going, wondering if you and Jon are going together that sort of thing.'

'Ashley? Oh yes, Jon's sister. Ye, me and Jon are going together, but why couldn't you have just asked him?'

'Oh well he would think I was butting in if I rang and asked him, thought it would be safer to ask you instead, and if you weren't then maybe I could spend time persuading you to. However you are going and so it's all OK.'

'Yes. Right.' She was uncomfortable and unsure what to say to this person she barely knew other than to be Jon's sister who moved to New Zealand.

'Well I had better be going, but I thought you might want to know that Jon really likes you, so just enjoy yourself tonight and don't spend half of it worrying if you look ok, or if your sisters will see you. Just have fun, Jon will look after you ok.'

'OK. Well thanks.' Said Marie, unsure of what else to say. 'Bye!'

'Bye Marie. Have fun and we'll talk again soon.'

The line went dead and Marie put it on its hook.

She turned to her omelet and looked at it, she touched the top and found it to be still quite warm, she placed it in the oven just to heat it a little first though. Well that was strange, she thought mildly to herself while she waited for the omelet to re-heat.

The doorbell rang through the house, and it would have been eerie if she hadn't known who it was. She opened the door and looked at his handsome face, so brooding and sexy. His eyes bore into her and she blushed embarrassed, attention wasn't something she was used to.

He took her in, she looked incredible. The black and white dress hugged her figure so perfectly, she was wearing heels so was a little taller, her make-up and hair was done, she looked flawless. It seemed that if she had angel wings sprouting from her back it would not look out of place in the slightest.

She blushed as he looked at her and she only seemed more beautiful in his eyes. She looked away; she looked anywhere so as not to look at him.

She was frozen unable to move or speak or breathe. He looked so sexy in his tux she hadn't thought about what it was going to be like when he turned up.

She would have to say something soon, anything. Invite him in, give him a drink, she sure needed one her throat was so dry she could sand wood with it.

'Hey. You look amazing.' He had to say something, it felt so weird, and yet so right being there, just him and her.

'Thanks. You look pretty great too.' It was a miracle, she'd found her voice.

'Do you want to come in? Have a drink or something?' There! See that wasn't so hard was it!

'Ermm…sure, if you want.' He stepped inside, the entrance went straight into the lounge, a great cream room with matching sofa's, curtains and stools.

'Water, juice or coke? 'Fraid that's all we've got.'

'Waters fine thanks.'

She went through to the kitchen to pour the drinks, whilst he sat on one of the immaculate sofas, it was the sort that sinks down like your sitting on a bouncy castle.

Marie came back in with the drinks, both glasses filled with water.

'Wow. Love the sofas they are great, you must have a great cleaner, you know to keep the sofa cushions all puffed up and stuff, mine deflated ages ago, they lie at all kinds of weird angles now.' He was ranting now, nervous. As great as it felt being close to Marie, it was making his head spin and he couldn't think of a single sensible thing to say.

'We don't have a cleaner. Here's your drink.' She passed it over. They both downed their waters within about 30 seconds, too nervous and thrusty to be natural.

'So…ermmm…are you ready to go?' He had to get out of here, he felt so strange being here, maybe at the prom it would be better, and he only had to worry about the car ride there.

'Sure. I've just got to go get my mask and bag; I'll be right back down.'

'Ok.' Thank god they could leave.

Marie ran upstairs, and upon reaching her room gasped for breath. Now he was here she wasn't so sure this was a good idea, maybe she could just go back down stairs and tell him she was feeling sick, that she was sorry but he should go anyway.

No she couldn't do that. Ethan and Sam were waiting for her, they'd ask him if he turned up alone and they'd know she was lying. No she'd have to go now, it was too late.

She picked up her bag and mask and turned back toward the stairs, toward him. Her heart fluttered, she felt faint for a second, and the thought of him spending time with him was so weird.

The stairs seemed like they had doubled in number and it took forever to reach him.

He watched her come down toward him, he couldn't believe it, for the second time today he realized he was taking her to prom, for this night she was his. He didn't know if he'd ever get this opportunity ever again, he was going to make the most of it, tonight was their night.

As she reached the bottom of the staircase he held out his arm to her and she took it, they headed for the door.

Once outside she locked and bolted the door, they got into his car and started the engine. It roared into life, and they drove off toward this night, their night.

They sat for several moments in silence, the strange feeling between them hanging in the air like something magical frozen.

'So how comes you didn't already have a date for tonight?' She plucked up the courage to ask, hoping he wouldn't say his date had blown him off and he thought she was probably desperate for a date.

'Didn't really want to ask anyone else, no one felt right to me, until I met you.'

It was a remarkably improved answer than the one she had feared; in fact it was probably the greatest compliment she had ever received. She smiled to herself.

'Are your friends going to be coming tonight?' He asked, wondering if he would have to share her, he couldn't bare it.

'Yea. But they both have dates, they'll probably leave early.' She hoped that they wouldn't leave too soon, not without her getting to see them dressed up, for them to see her.

'Well I know your friends are going to be there, two of them being my sisters. I wonder if Katie actually managed to decide on her necklace, you know it took her 3 months to choose between 60 necklaces, and by Friday night she only had it down 5.' She smiled at the shallowness of her sister.

He laughed. 'That's the exact kind of thing I would expect her to do. Just goes to show, she is only skin deep.'

They both laughed. The strange magical air had melted, now it was more buzzing.

For the rest of the journey they laughed at what they assumed people would end up as, career wise, from their personalities currently.

They laughed the entire journey and by the time they reached the school, 20 minutes late, they were totally relaxed. Well until Marie realized that her sisters were going to be inside that building, dressed up and not excepting to see her. She put on her mask, feeling only slightly hidden surly they would see through the mask, she hoped not.

Jon got out of the car, went around to the other side and opened the door for her, offering him her arm again. He locked the car and they climbed the stairs to the entrance, through the door and were surrounded by music, people and gowns.

They handed their tickets across the counter, and were admitted to have their pictures taken before entering the grand hall.

'Hey, you two are a cute couple, but I think we need to remove the mask missy to see that beautiful face.' Said the photographer, slipping off her mask with a flourish. 'It's ok you can have it back after I promise.'

There wasn't much she could do, she let it go, and she doubted that her sisters would ever see the picture.

'Ok sweetheart stand just in front of your boyfriend, just to the left, and you sir put your arms around her hold her hands in front of her body. That's right, now smile, you two are really are such a great pair. Ok ready, here we go.'

He took the picture quite a few times, expressing his glee at how perfect they were for each other. After the fourth they told him they could go, and he gave Marie back her mask, which she quickly slipped back on.

As they walked away toward the great hall ahead of them, where the music was blaring, Jon took her hand.

They say in these cheesy novels of romance books about how his hand fits perfectly into hers, well his didn't, it fitted like anyone else's would have, but the difference was the feeling of great joy and happiness that shot through her hand as he took it.

He squeezed her hand gently as they went through the great doors. Across the room they saw Katie, Suzy and the entire popular crowd.

They saw Jon appear in the doorway, and then registered the girl standing beside him, holding his hand in an incredible black dress. Katie stood shocked for a moment, Suzy froze and they all gazed amazed. The girls stared at the dress, Katie at him having brought someone and the guys at the girl, because dude was she hot.

They stood aware they were being gapped at, until he tugged her hang lightly moving her away from prying eyes, toward the drinks table.

As they approached the table Maries face broke out into a smile as she recognized two faces. They saw her too, smiling back and waving.

'You look beautiful! I can't believe you actually came.' Said Samantha, she turned to Jon. 'Well done. I don't know what you did but you've performed a miracle upon this Cinderella. A good job well done.'

He smiled; glad he had been so readily brought into the conversation.

'I'm Samantha by the way; this is my date Josh…' Pointing to her date. '…and of course Ethan and his date are here too, gone to the ladies I think.'

'Hey Josh, Ethan, I'm Jon.'

'Jon you don't need to introduce yourself, everyone in this hall knows who you are, where you live and your last 3 girlfriends names. And yet you decided to pick our sweet little Marie to bring tonight, and for that I respect you.' Said Ethan sounding as gay as ever, he was such a strange creature.

'Eth! Come off it will you. You want a drink Jon?' Marie was feeling slightly uncomfortable with her friends making a public display of the situation; the point was to be discreet not to draw attention to her not fitting in with him and his life.

'Sure, I'll get you one, I'll be right back.' He walked off to the other end of the table where the drinks were served.

Marie picked up a stick sausage off the food table they were standing next to.

'He's looking cute and your looking fantastic. Look we are going to dance have a good time tonight, and come find us if you need us ok. If you can't see us, call my phone and I'll come straight back ok.' Samantha made her promise.

'Ok, ok. Look you guys go, have fun too ok.' Ethan's date turned up beside him and they went off dancing leaving her standing by herself.

'Hey, punch?'

'Yea thanks.' She turned and smiled at Jon who was standing behind her holding two cups and a wearing a huge smile upon his face.

They stood talking for quite awhile drinking and picking at the food.

They were so engrossed in each others company they didn't realize that a large group was closing in on them. It was only when they heard a cough behind Marie and looked up did they see that Katie, Suzy and the entire group had caught up with them.

Marie began to panic inside. They were sure to recognize her, they would see who she was, or maybe they had already realized who she was and where they to grab her by the hair and throw her out. They'd call their dad and that would be the end of her, literally.

'Hey Jon, how's it going? Who's this? You didn't tell us you were bringing anyone.' Katie came straight out with it, no if's or but's, just whys and what's.

Jon suddenly felt extremely defensive of Marie, there was no way they were going to ruin their night, her night.

'This is my girlfriend, Cindy, yea the decision was kind of last minute.'

They were shocked; surprised that he hadn't mentioned her before. None however was a shocked as Marie. She held back a gasp that had come up as soon as he had called her his girlfriend. Maybe it wasn't a gasp, maybe it was her heart, she was sure it could and had jumped that high.

'Wahoo, dude! Why didn't you say before? Cindy? Great name, I'm Michael; this is Breke, Tommy, Phil, Tad, Katie, Suzy, Trisha, Paula and Kim. Nice to meet you.'

The guys all nodded at her smiling, the girls all glared, raising their perfectly plucked eyebrows at her.

She smiled slightly back at them all.

'Hey, nice to meet you all too, Jon's told me loads about you guys.' She spoke with a slightly foreign accent, like maybe a French person who had lived in England for a long time and had lost most of her accent, but just sounded a bit individual. The accent sent an invisible vibe out to they guys who instantly had a feeling of jealousy toward Jon. The same vibe made the girls only more uncomfortable; all accept Paula, who being from France herself felt quite entranced by the pretty girl in front of her.

Jon too had felt the vibe, and felt he could no longer stand here in this group, it was too weird.

'Anyway, me and Cindy were just about to go and dance, so we'll see you guys later.' He took Marie's hand and lead her away to the dance floor. He felt her grip tighten alittle as they moved away and her body seemed to relax a great deal. As they reached the dance floor a slow song came on, and they moved toward each other, looking each other in the eye.

'Thanks, you really saved me back there. Where did you come up with the name by the way?'

'Ahhh well actually that was thanks to your friend Samantha, she called you Cinderella, and Cindy is the short version of that. And anyway I don't mind rescuing you, especially if you keep up the French accent where did that come from?' He smiled at her.

'I'm good at accents, always have been don't know why. But thought if I had my usual voice on, they'd figure it out in seconds. It probably made them more suspicious of me but it needed to be done.'

'Well it's cute.' He smiled at her, glad they were alone again. 'Don't worry about them; if they come up to us again I'll get them to go away, I won't let anything spoil this.'

'You really are my knight in shinning armor aren't you?'

'Only if you want me to be, I'll always be here for you.' Something in his eyes and voice told her that he really meant it. She leant her head on his shoulder breathing in his smell, surrounding herself in him. They moved together all through the song silently, his head bent over her head, smelling her hair, breathing her in and hoping the song would never end.

The song did end and then went on to a lively tune, they stepped apart and looked at each other both grinning they danced their way through 3 songs, before they were both exhausted and needed a drink.

The whole thing went well; no-one approached them and about 10 O'clock they saw Samantha and Josh creep out the back door which backed on to the car park. Then about 11 they saw Ethan and his date leave through the same door. They grinned mischievously knowing exactly where they were heading off to.

Soon after Marie looked at the clock to see it was midnight, she couldn't believe she'd stayed out that late, she'd been at home by 8 ever since her mum died. She was so glad that her dad had gone away for the weekend; otherwise she wouldn't have had this opportunity. She'd had a great time, she'd never laughed so much and she now had a smile plastered on her face, which she would need surgery to remove. As much as she wanted this night to last forever she knew she had better get back home as soon as possible.

She looked away from the clock and up at Jon.

'Jon, I really don't want to say this but I think I should be getting home.'

'Yea I know the feeling, but yea, your right we should probably get going.'

'OK, you don't have to leave too if you don't want to, you can stay and you know hang out with your friends if you want.'

'No no, I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for you, no when you go, I go. Come on we'll get our stuff and go.'

'Yup, let's go.' She smiled up at him, he really was the most sensitive, and kind and thoughtful guy she'd ever met. And yet too all this, he was clever, sexy and had a great sense of humor.

They left through the front entrance, passing Katie and her date on the way out. They waved and smiled at her, and left.

Katie's eyes followed them out the door. There was something strange about those two. Jon hadn't ever mentioned about having a girlfriend, and she had been listening to any hint to make sure no one else was in the line up so when she made her move she wouldn't have any competition. And that girl, Cindy was her name (?), well there was something strangely familiar about her, the accent would tell her that she was a French, but something in the way she held herself was…well so familiar.

Marie and Jon got into his car and drove off, chatting and laughing all the way home. As they approached her road though that magical air between them, froze once again. What would happen now?

Jon felt like her should just drop her off and leave, you know not pressure her into anything, but truthfully he wished he could lean across and feel the skin on her face, so smooth, on his hand. He wanted to taste those lips so red and soft, so round and so happy. He wanted to stroke her smooth hair and tangle his fingers in it.

But no, if there was any chance that she would want to stay interested in him then he'd have to back off a little, let her take her time.

Marie was uncomfortable, unsure of what was going to happen. Should she invite him in? Get him a drink, would he kiss her. Her hands shook. She half hoped he would and half hoped he wouldn't.

They pulled up her driveway and the car came to a sudden stop.

She turned to face him, unsure of what she was about to say. They sat for a moment in silence looking into each others eyes, Marie's eyes were so green and rich they seemed to draw Jon in, and before he realized what he was doing he was kissing her cheek, he closed his eyes and moved toward her mouth. Her lips were softer than even he could have imagined, his hand went around her neck, cupping her cheek, his fingers felt her heavenly soft brown hair.

She opened her mouth to him and he ventured into her mouth feeling her teeth, tasting her sweet tongue. He pulled out, kissed her gently on the lips. He opened his eyes to look at her, her eyes still closed, but opened softly, her mouth curved into a smile.

'What was that for?' She asked, not meanly, just inquisitively.

'Sorry, I just couldn't help it. You really are the most beautiful girl I've ever met.'

'No it's ok, really I didn't mind…at all. And thanks, but …liar!' She laughed.

He felt her breathe on his face, it smelt like chocolate from the prom sweets.

'I don't lie, not when it comes to you anyway.' He's hand was still on her neck, his other hand was holding her hand; her hand was so silky smooth.

'Well do you want to come inside, for a drink or something?'

'Yea, sure.' He moved his hands away, missing her touch already. They got out of the car and walked up to the house.

Once inside and had both got drinks they sat on the sofa. He sat close to her but not too close, just enough to feel his warmth and to smell him but not crowding her, she felt so safe.

Marie's hair felt so tight done up, and since the kiss the bottom of her hair had gotten messed up. She took out the grips and let it fall over her shoulders naturally curling softly from being held up.

'You look really nice with your hair down; you should have it down more often. I think it suits you.'

'Really?' She had thought that guys liked to be able to see a girls face, she told him that.

'No, guys like it when girls wear their hair loose.' He smiled his heart melting smile.

They talked for a while longer, Marie resting her head on his shoulder when she got tired, feeling so safe and secure with his arms wrapped around her, keeping her warm and comfy. When the clock sounded out to tell them it was 2am Jon got up to leave, he'd promised to be home for half 2 and it was a 30minute ride home, he'd be pushing his luck to stay longer.

'I'd better get going. Look thanks for this evening it was… amazing…'

Marie's heart skipped a beat; she had a feeling there was going to be a 'but' or some kind of rejection now the night was over.

'…can we do this again, another time?' He asked, he hoped with every fiber of his heart that she wouldn't reject him, that she felt the way he had about tonight…about her.

She smiled relieved he hadn't told her never to speak to him again, this was not only an improvement, this was him saying that everything that had happened wasn't just one way.

'Yep. You have my number call me anytime you want.'

'OK well… I'd better go. I'll see you later.'

They said good bye, Jon leaned over and kissed her cheek lightly, and she kissed his cheek back. He hugged her slightly tighter, leaning toward her ear.

'You really are beautiful; you deserve better then Katie and Suzy. Don't let them get you down. Night beautiful.'

He pulled away and opened the door, climbed into his car and drove off.

'Night Night Jon.'

Well hello there, so you made it!

Yea, sorryI know it was abit long butI really didn't want to split it up into seperate parts!

So review if you wish and let me know the good, the bad and the ugly!

Keep smiling!

Maddy xxx