AN:Thanks so much for the reviews! Here comes the next chapter...I hope you love it...

Chapter 8

As Penelope exited her room with her dress, tiara, and glass slippers on, she felt every inch the princess she was supposed to be. There was no way not to feel extraordinarily beautiful in something so exquisite. The satin bodice hugged her in the right places, and the flowing skirt with its many layers helped emphasize her waist and her curves. She owed her fairy godmother and planned on giving her a huge hug when she saw her at the Youth Center.

"Wow!" Vonda exclaimed breathily, her eyes nearly popping out of her head when she saw Penelope. "That is no put-together old cat suit!"

"Thank you," Penelope said, beaming with pleasure at the younger woman.

James gave a deep bow and then looked up from his stooped position and winked. "Milady, shall I escort you to the pumpkin carriage?"

Penelope laughed. "I suppose I have you to thank for this, too?"

James shook his head. "I'm just a messenger."

Smiling, she patted James's shoulder. "Well, my fairy godmother chose a good assistant. I have to thank Fran for that, too."

"This is so romantic," Vonda gushed. "I bet there is a prince waiting for you at the ball."

"I bet I know who it is," James added, causing Vonda to squeal excitedly.

Penelope's heart beat a little faster, imagining Derek there in his finery. Normally, he was extremely handsome, but tonight, he'd be just for her. Tonight, she could play the role of his princess to the fullest, and it would be completely acceptable. He would be her perfect match, destined for her from her fairy godmother...even if only for one night.

She shook any melancholy thoughts that rose and smiled. "My lovelies, if this fairy tale is true, I think I only have until midnight before this all disappears. Time is of the essence."

James pointed out the door at his older model car. "Your chariot awaits."

The Spooktacular Ball was exactly what Penelope had envisioned in her mind. The moment they stepped through the doors, fog and mist and joyful music poured through the portal, giving the interior an eerie yet exciting feel. Ghouls and goblins danced and mingled with ghosts and vampires—some sparkly and some more matte. Kids were drinking punch and bobbing for apples, while adults from the center cheered everyone on and supervised the happenings.

As they made their way inside, Vonda and James found their own areas to go to, leaving Penelope by herself. She looked for Derek but didn't see a prince anywhere.

"Boo!" Willie exclaimed, coming up to her with his full costume on and a fierce expression on his adorable face.

Penelope shook her head. "You have to try a little bit harder than that to scare me, mister."

His pout was evident even through his zombie makeup he was wearing. "Aww, man."

Unable to disappoint him, she leaned forward and touched the little boy's shoulders. "Telling the truth, my pulse rate did skyrocket."

"Yeah!" he cried, pumping his fist in the air before walking behind another, less suspecting, person and shouting, "Boo!"

"Penelope!" Fran, her fairy godmother, called out, carrying a big bowl of popcorn. She was dressed in Red Riding Hood's grandmother's nightgown; however, she had a wolf's tail peeping from behind, showing that appearances could be deceiving. She hurried to put down the popcorn and then rushed over to Penelope. "Oh, you look beautiful!"

"Thanks to you, Fairy Godmother," Penelope said, smiling radiantly.

"Thanks to me?"

"I...I don't know how to ever repay you." Tears stung her eyes at the generosity and compassion of this kind and lovely woman.

Fran frowned, causing extra lines on her grandmotherly face paint. "Why would you have to repay me?"

Penelope gave her an exasperated look. "Fran...this is not a cheap dress. It's real satin, and to get it tailored to my size and a perfect fit..." She shook her head. "It's wonderful, but I can't let you pay for it. It's too much."

"It's lovely," Fran said with a nod, "but I didn't pay for it."

Penelope laughed. "Fran, I know you're my fairy godmother. You don't have to tease."

Fran shook her head. "Dear, I don't know what—" A loud crash interrupted them. "Oh, no! Willie! Stop scaring people!"

Before Penelope could do a thing, Mrs. Morgan was off in a hurry, grabbing the young man in question and enlisting his help in cleaning up the mess he'd caused. Fran had everything under control...as usual. She would send a check to Fran for the dress later.

Penelope smiled, surveying the ballroom, and noticed Al standing alone in the corner, staring at the dance floor. Further investigation showed he was watching Cassie dance. Penelope had to give Al props on picking pretty girls; even with green face paint and a perfect Frankenstein's monster costume, the girl was lovely.

With a sashay of her multiple layered skirts, she headed toward the sulking young man in the James Dean costume. "Al?"

"Hey."

She stood next to him and sighed loud enough so he could hear. "I see you didn't take my advice."

"What advice?" he scoffed, staring away. When Pen leveled a stare at him, he mumbled, "It's too late... She's dancing with her date."

Penelope couldn't believe the obstinence of some men. At that moment, Cassandra was shooting mooney eyes over at Al, but he couldn't see the forest for the trees. The girl was crazy for him.

"I bet she really wants to dance with you," Penelope said, returning the favor and playing fairy godmother herself.

"How do you know for sure?" Al asked.

"I don't know for sure," she replied. "What I do know is that you need to find out."

He grumbled again, saying, "Easy for you to say..."

Penelope smiled softly. "Finding out is a lot better than standing in the corner."

He gave another longing glance at the dance floor and looked away when Cassandra looked back. "I don't know... She could laugh at me and then she'd never want to talk to me again." He winced. "It would be awkward."

Penelope couldn't imagine things being more awkward between the lovestruck teenagers than it was right now.

"Try, Al," she encouraged with a hopeful smile. "Be the rebel with a cause you're dressed to be, and go for it."

He looked down at his feet. "I want to, but—"

She held his shoulders, just like she'd held Willie's earlier and waited for him to look up. "Sweetie... if you don't give this a chance, how will you ever know how perfect it could be?"

Al pondered for a moment, and then he smiled at her. "I'll do it."

Penelope watched as he took a deep breath, and then slowly made his way to the dance floor. Al tapped the partner dancing with Cassie and then slid the beaming girl into his arms as they began to dance.

Happy tears sprung to Penelope's eyes, and her heart thudded rapidly in her chest as the words she'd just said rang in her ears. She was breathing hard herself. The irony was not lost on her, and she realized then and there...

It was time.

Penelope looked up and saw her prince standing there across the dance floor, talking with James and Vonda. With a smile on her face and a deep breath of her own, Penelope crossed the dance floor to stand in front of the man she would always love and meet her destiny that was seven years in the making.