"Well, Rin. What a pleasure. I see you have water for the clothes." Miku said this like she was very close to cutting her with words. If looks could kill, Rin thought. Miku put the caramel down and walked around Rin circling her like a vulture. "I know your little secret. There is a boy seeing you at night. Who is he? Where does he come from? Did he give you this caramel?"
"What makes you think it is a boy? Who said I was I was seeing anyone? For all you know I could have bought the caramel at the market. Sister please, I mean no harm. Please give them back." Rin was so very close to crying and wanted to beg on her nees if she had to.
"Your luck is out. How long have you been seeing him?"
"I haven't been seeing any one." Rin knew she was a bad lair, but she had no other choice. She couldn't loose Len. Not now, or ever.
"Whatever. I have the letter right here. It's funny that Rin is your name. Your name is Cinderella, not Rin. Or I see the problem, it's addressed wrong. Fess up."
"Fine. Yes I have been seeing some one." Miku's face lit up a little when I said it, "His name is….his name is Romeo. He gave me those flowers, and the caramel. Please, please don't tell stepmother. If she found out she would kill me. Please. I beg you." Rin allowed a few tears to fall onto her checks. Miku looked at her shocked, as if she had not yet seen her Stepsister cry. At first she felt bad for Rin, but in the end her hatred won out. She smiled cruelly.
"Cinderella. I'll keep this a secret if you'll do me a favor."
"Anything." Rin breathed a sigh of relief.
"I want you to make sure that Len falls in love with me when we go to the ball." Miku smiled proudly at herself while Rin smiled a false smile, for inside she was slowly dyeing. A few tears fell but she acted as though they were tears of relief.
"Okay I will." Miku smiled then walked off to her room. Little did she know that Len was the same person as Romeo. Sobbing now, Rin went to her room. Inside all she could do was cry and look at the clock. In 3 hours he would be there. Her Len. Knock, knock. She heard it at her door. Rin feared it was her sister, or worse, her stepmother. Carefully wiping her tears she went to the door. "Who is it?" She called.
"It's me, Miku." Rin felt dizzy and opened the door.
"Yes?" In addition to being dizzy, she was nervous. The worst combination.
"I would like to know when you plan to see him again; so that I can deem him worthy of my sister." Miku said with a smile. Rin knew what she really meant was, "I want to see if I want him".
Rin smiled a said, "Please let me read the letter and I will tell you."
"Fine." Reluctantly, Miku got the letter out of her pocket and handed it to Rin.
Dear my Sweet Rin,
I have some wonderful news! I hope that you will be able to help. Do you by chance know of anyone named Al? If so, please send him to me. This will be of much help. I love you my queen of lilies.
Good bye until we meet again.
After reading it, tears stung Rin's eyes. She secretly had hoped there would be more, but unfortunly not. Miku looked at her impatiently and tapped her foot. Now it was Rin's turn to talk.
"We are meeting in a week from now."
"Thank you. I plan to be there." Said snootily and then walked away, leaving Rin to cry in her room. Neru heard Rin's sobs from her room and went to go see what was wrong. When Neru walked in she saw Rin in tears and on the bed. Neru wanted badly to go comfort her but at first she feared her Mother. Soon she decided against it and carefully sat by Rin.
"Cinderella? Are you okay?" Hearing Neru's voice shocked Rin and she instantly sat up. Wiping her tears, Rin tried to prepare herself for all the teasing that was sure to come. "I asked if you were okay." Neru said this with a tender, motherly voice.
Shakily Rin answered, "So you're not here to tease me?"
"No." Rin nodded her head and wiped the last tears out of her eyes. "So then why
Are you here?" Rin asked sweetly.
"I want to know what's bothering you." There. She had said it, she finally had in her own way admitted that she cared, even the slightest for her.
"You would not care. Please leave me be." Rin was a little shocked that her stepsister had asked. Did she really care about her? The thought warmed her, and suddenly she wished she could take back the words that had come out of her mouth. At that moment, Neru left Rin to be alone.