I should probably update Reputations or the New Me or the story on my other account, but I'm much too lazy. Plus, the inspiration just isn't coming to me right now. As for this story, the inspiration is flowing like CRAZAY.

Ch. 6:

Max POV

Friday. That's what today is. Well, maybe I should elaborate, today is Friday, October 31st. As in Halloween. As in the Halloween Dance.

Unfortunately, I was stuck scrubbing floors like a madwoman instead of at the dance. I was almost done with the list, but I couldn't go to the dance because of Anne.

I heaved a sigh and continued to scrub at the floor of the giant house I resided in.

Slam!

I looked up, curious to see who it could be that had slammed the door open so forcefully. Standing there, dressed as a pirate, was Iggy, my Cinderella dress in hand.

"Time to go to the dance, Maxie." He winked tossed the dress my way. I immediately dropped the scrub brush I was using to scrub the floors and caught the dress.

I began to realize all the things that could go wrong in this situation.

I bet you want to know how I got to this point, though, right?

I flopped down on my mattress, exhausted from mowing the lawn for the third time this week. I mean, really, Anne was loaded, couldn't she just get a gardener? That lawn mower is heavy.

I walked over to my computer and saw that Clad was on his IM account.

ILostIt…Again: Hey.

CladInBlack: Hey, Lost. Something just hit me: How am I going to find you at the dance?

ILostIt…Again: We could… have a codeword? Like Snickers Bars?

CladInBlack: Sure, that'll work well. We'll go up to some innocent person and they'll say, "Um… do you want one?" Scratching out that idea. How about we meet in the middle of the dance floor?

ILostIt…Again: In the writhing mass of bodies? I'd rather not. Here, I'll just tell you this: Look out for Cinderella.

CladInBlack: Well, that's a bit ominous.

ILostIt…Again: Bye, now!

CladInBlack: Wait!

With a smile, I clicked out of the window.

"Max!" Anne's screech sounded through my intercom, and I pulled myself up and dragged myself to the kitchen, where I knew she'd be waiting.

"Yes, Anne?" I asked once I had arrived.

She didn't spare a glance at me as she took a sheet out of her paper and tossed it at me. "Chores." She explained.

I stared down at the list.

Clean out the fridge

Check expiration dates on all food in pantry and write them down. Throw away expired food.

Take out all the trash.

Scrub the floors of every room.

"Anne… I can't finish all this. I'm going to Nudge's and Angel's in just a minute to get ready for the Halloween Dance."

Anne laughed airily. "Oh, honey. You aren't going to that dance. Not a chance. Now, chop chop! Get started on your list."

Anger flared within me towards Anne. "You don't understand. I have to go to this dance. I have to."

"You don't have to go anywhere. In fact, you'll be staying here while my girls go out to the dance. I'll be back with the girls at midnight. If the chores aren't done and you aren't present, I can promise you won't be a happy camper, got it?"

Slowly, I nodded my head.

I ran back to my room and began to text Nudge and Angel.

(Max, Nudge, Angel)

Looks like that dress is going to waste. I can't go to the dance.

No way, Max! You can't chicken out now.

I'm not chickening out. Anne gave me a whole list of chores; I'll never make it in time.

But MAX! Forget Anne! You need to go! It's a necessary thing!

Well, there goes that plan. I'm going to kill Anne.

Go ahead. By all means, go ahead. Well, see you tomorrow?

Yeah, bye.

Bye.

I fingered the lacy mask Angel and Nudge had let me take home.

With that, I began to set out working on the list.

That brought me here. I had practically finished the list, but I couldn't just leave. Anne would kill me, bring me back to life, rip away my college savings, and then kill me again. That isn't a fate I particularly would like.

"What are you waiting for?" Iggy asked impatiently.

"I can't go." I said flatly. "Anne-"

"I heard from Nudge, Max." Iggy rolled his eyes. "Which was why I brought backup." He gestured behind him, where Ari was standing, a gleam in his eyes.

"What's he going to do?" I asked Iggy, quirking an eyebrow.

"Your chores." Ari said, letting out a smile that only he could give.

"I'm nearly done with them and-"

"Just let me finish them for you, Max." Ari smiled, picking my scrub brush up off the ground. "Now, go get ready, you're already 15 minutes late!"

I grabbed the dress, the mask, and ran to the bathroom. I didn't bother with makeup, but put my hair in a tight bun on my head, though a few strands fell astray onto my face. I raced back out of the room, breathless.

"Max," Iggy gaped, "you're unrecognizable."

I smirked a little bit. "Good."

"You look good, little one." Ari said before wrapping me in a hug.

"Thanks." I grinned, turning to look in the mirror, but as I did so, I gasped. I truly looked like another person. Out of the baggy T-shirts, I was no longer the same Max everyone was used to. It was kind of nice. I slipped on my converse, successfully completing the 'Modern Cinderella' look.

I began to walk towards the door, Iggy at my heels, when I stopped in the doorway.

"Wait. Lissa and Brigid will recognize my truck." I pointed out.

"Take my car." Ari said, tossing me his keys lazily.

"Really?" I asked, incredulous. His car? His convertible?

"Really." He winked. "Now, go!"

Fang POV

I anxiously checked the clock on the wall inside the auditorium once more. Lost was already 20 minutes late because I hadn't seen a single Cinderella since I had arrived here.

"Hey, dude. Why do you keep staring at the clock? You waiting for a chick?" Dylan asked from my left.

I shot him a cold glare. "Yes, okay. Yes."

"Who?" Sam asked from my right.

"I don't know… Cinderella. Have you seen anyone dressed as Cinderella?" I asked, suddenly hopeful that maybe the boys had glimpsed someone I hadn't.

"Nope." Sam shook his head. I let out an exasperated sigh I didn't know I had been holding.

"Dude! That's why you ditched our costume at the last second." Dylan crossed his arms. "That's why you ditched the Mario, Luigi, and mushroom-dude costumes to be stupid prince charming."

I smirked at Dylan and Sam, who looked truly ridiculous as Luigi and Toad without their Mario. I then glimpsed down at my own dark attire. A dark blue riding coat, a dark red sash, and some gold badges that truly made me look like prince charming.

I heard a chorus of gasps around the room and looked up to see a beautiful girl entering through the double doors of the auditorium.

She seemed entirely uncomfortable with the amount of stares on her, but walked ahead anyway.

The attention seemed to fade away from her, but I continued to stare at her. I stared at her white dress, her lacy mask, and finally, her purple converse.

"Is that her, dude?" Dylan whispered from my left.

"I sure hope so."

Woot! Dance next chapter!

~Cake.