Author's note: Another new chapter to make up for my previous absence! We are getting closer and closer to this story's climax. Thank you so much for the feedback! Keep it up, I love hearing your opinions as it makes me eager to write faster! Enjoy!
When Ella returned home, she immediately told the Tremaines the wonderful news of the grand ball. With delight, she told of how it was requested that every eligible maiden of the kingdom attend, for the prince was of age and ready to choose a wife. Her stepsisters were slightly overwhelmed at the idea of meeting the prince.
"The PRINCE?" screamed Drisella.
"He's looking for a WIFE?" shrieked Anastasia.
"He'll surely marry me!" Drisella cried.
"He'll simply fall in love with me!" Anastasia swooned.
The girls stood and began to jump up and down frantically while screaming at the top of their lungs, each arguing over who would win over the prince, for both girls assumed it would be them. The lady Tremaine remained speechless, her face in a state of shock. She went to Ella and put her hand on her shoulder, scanning her eyes for deception.
"Is this true, girl?" She asked slowly.
Ella nodded vigorously. "The king's messenger announced it in town himself."
Tremaine stood up straight and turned to her daughters, a devious smile stretched her lips. Ella could see a wild plan forming in her head.
"Girls!" The woman snapped, getting the daughters' attention. They quit their frantic celebration and looked at their mother with wide eyes. Their mother approached them and held their hands. "Listen to me carefully," she whispered in a hushed, serious tone, "one of you must secure the hand of the prince, you understand? You must! If you can do that, we will be eased of all the debt we held when we came to this horrid place. One of you must marry him!" She turned suddenly to Ella. "I want you to head to the village tailor right this minute and order three new ball gowns!"
Ella gasped at her step mothers sudden generosity. She was genuinely touched that the lady Tremaine would even think to order her a dress. "Oh, thank you!" she said, gushing with appreciation. "That's incredibly generous of you."
The three Tremaines looked at her with blank, confused expressions. "What do you mean?" questioned the lady Tremaine. Drisella began to snort out a fit of laughter and pointed at Ella.
"Mother, she believes the third dress is for her!" The stepsister laughed. Anastasia began to laugh just as heartily. The lady Tremaine glared at Ella.
"Foolish girl," she said icily. The third dress is obviously for me. I will not have you coming to the ball and messing up the plans I have for my family."
Ella was crushed. "Oh, please let me go to the ball!" she begged. "If you won't buy me a dress, I'll just wear my mother's, it won't cost you a thing! I have absolutely no desire to see the prince, even! I just want to see my friend!"
Anastasia scoffed. "What friend can you possibly have? A sewer rat?"
"No!" remarked Ella, "a baker." The stepsisters began to laugh even harder.
"You mean that rude, scrappy boy who made a delivery a few weeks ago and left without remembering to take pay? That dirty fool is your friend? How awful!" Cried Drisella in between her snorts.
Ella felt her face reddening with a mixture if embarrassment and anger. Who were these girls to talk about Greyson in such a wicked manner? Greyson was the nicest human being Ella had ever had the pleasure of knowing and yet her stepsisters talked of him as if he was garbage, sewage! He had more kindness than the whole Tremaine family could even fathom having.
"That's enough, girls!" the lady Tremaine snapped. "It is not important, we will discuss the details later. You must run to the tailor at once though, before she is swamped with orders! Go!" She yelled, shoving Ella out the door.
Ella went quickly to the tailor, her ears still biting red with embarrassment. Of course lady Tremaine wouldn't buy her a dress! She almost wouldn't even let her go to the ball! How foolish she was to have hope. These people were more wicked than she gave them credit for.
To keep her mind off her hurt feelings, she thought instead of the lovely time she'd have at the ball. She could easily fix up her mother's old dress to suit her. It would be ten times as beautiful as whatever gaudy creation the Treamaines desired to wear. She'd look like a dream. And when Greyson saw her...
Ella smiled despite herself at the thought of that notion. He would be blown away. She was excited to get to spend the whole night with her friend. They could dance the night away. It would be as wonderful as the first time they danced together in the bakery, with the moonlight shining on them and the local street band playing away by the pub. Only this time there would be the beautiful setting of the castle, and a professional orchestra. Ella let her mind wander off playfully to how she would feel, locked in his arms as the two would dance. Her arm around his neck and his around her waist and the whole palace spinning around them as they danced. Ella's cheeks were still red as she entered the tailor's, but not it was because of something entirely different and wonderful.
Ella ordered the dresses. The tailor was a charming old woman with a wide smile. "It's a good thing you got here early, miss," she told Ella. "I expect to get absolutely flooded with ball gown orders from every maiden in the kingdom. Everyone wants their shot at impressing his highness I suppose." she winked at Ella. "I'm sure you do as well, eh miss?"
Ella smiled at the woman but shook her head. "Not me ma'am." She said cheerfully. When the tailor gave a questioning look, Ella replied "I'm meeting a special friend at the ball whom I'm excited to spend time with."
The tailor laughed cheerfully. "Oh, that's just as wonderful, if not more! I'll get your orders ready in a few days' time, miss. Thank you for stopping in."
On her way home, Ella began to wonder. She did hope sincerely that Greyson would go to the ball. He never did ask her if she wanted to go. She had only assumed that given their friendship that he wished to go with her. She began to panic. What if she was just making bold assumptions that were riddled with falsity? What if Greyson had plans to attend the ball with some other maiden, or to not attend the ball at all? Ella thought back to the numerous conversations the two have had. He never had mentioned a significant other, right? Surely if he had big plans to go to the ball with another woman it would have come up in their constant talks, right? Of course it would have!
As Ella began to panic more and more she found that she was standing right outside the bakery. Perhaps this was fate telling her to settle her inner qualm. She decided to stop in for a quick moment before she returned home.
She entered quietly to see that Greyson had customers. A mother was purchasing a loaf of bread while her young daughter gazed at the cake display, her eyes as large as saucers in pure childlike awe. Greyson smiled down at the little girl warmly. Her mother began to walk out, but the child remained, her eyes still hypnotized by the dazzling display. Greyson leaned over the counter to speak to her.
"Excuse me miss," he whispered. The girl looked up at him, embarrassed to have been caught in a daze. "What's you most favorite color?" He asked sweetly.
"Pink!" The girl immediately responded.
Greyson nodded. "Pink indeed." he agreed as he quickly went to the kitchen. The sound of shuffling boxes could be heard and within a minute Greyson returned with something behind his back. The mother stood by the door, watching her daughter with great confusion. Greyson knelt down to the little girl's height and from behind his back he revealed a small cupcake with bright pink frosting. The little girl shrieked in pure delight as she took the small cake in her little hands, admiring it as if it were a masterpiece. The mother lightly gasped in surprise. Ella felt her heart melt.
"That's so kind of you sir, thank you so much!" she said to the baker.
Greyson stood up and smiled. "Anyone who admires my work so much is in turn much appreciated. It was nothing." He said, gently patting the small girl's head. The pair left the bakery, one with a smile on her face and frosting on her fingers.
"That was lovely of you." Ella said softly, making her presence known. Greyson jumped, surprised at her visiting. The big smile on his face said he was happy to see her.
"Ella! What brings you here at this hour?" he asked.
"I'm not sure." Ella replied honestly. "I was worrying and it seems that my feet led me here." She pushed a loose curl away from her face.
Greyson felt his heart flutter at those words. "What a beautiful notion." He said under his breath. He pulled a chair out for her and took a seat at one of the tables. "So what's on your mind?" he asked.
Ella sat down and crossed her legs. Should she tell him her personal worries? Normally she wouldn't hesitate in the slightest, but this time it was different. This time it involved him. She decided to be direct, as it was the most honest. She looked up at the baker, who waited for her with an open expression and an eager ear that made her feel so lucky to have such a friend. "Are you going to the ball?" she asked suddenly. "The royal ball that the prince is having?"
Greyson laughed. "I was planning on it, yes. Is that all?"
Ella asked further. "Did you have plans? To take anyone, I mean? If I may ask."
Greyson smiled as he awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "I only had plans to spend time with you, if that's alright. I mean, why? Did you want to go with anyone else? Because that's perfectly alright! You should spend the ball with whomever you want to, Ella." he said sincerely, his face showed his honesty.
Ella sighed softly out of relief. "No, no, I was hoping to spend time with you. " she assured him. "I planned on meeting you there, I guess I was just worried about...logistics?" She said, not quite ready to put into words her complicated feelings.
Greyson laughed. "Well I hope you're not troubled too much with your logistics!" He looked into her bright blue eyes. "Seriously, worry doesn't suit you. You're always so joyful and filled with hope that it just looks out of place when you're upset." He walked over and knelt by her, taking her hands in his. He began to get nervous as he geared himself to voice something he hoped to have the courage to say for a while now. He looked up at her. "Ella, I will always be here for you, to help you with your...logistics whenever you need it. My door will always be open for you. I can't wait to have a wonderful time with you at the ball, because the truth is-"
Just then the door to the bakery opened and several customers arrived to purchase some baked goods. Greyson sighed at the interruption. He stood up. "Sorry I can't talk longer, Ella. But I honestly cannot wait to see you at the ball." He said sincerely as he gave her a sad smile.
Ella smiled warmly back at him. "It's perfectly alright. I look forward to seeing you as well!" She said happily as she left the store.
As she left for home, not one worry entered her mind. She was as eager as ever to return home and fix up her dress for the ball.