Gram drove Sienna to work the next day so she wouldn't be leaving her car unattended in the back of Frank's parking lot. When she was getting out of the car, Gram made a noise like she was going to say something, but stopped herself. Sienna didn't know how to respond. After yesterday, she felt further away from her grandmother then she had felt in a long time.

"Thank you for the ride," she said.

Gram frowned. "It was the least I could do."

"I should be back around dinnertime," Sienna said.

"Will he be with you?" she asked.

Sienna stalled for a moment. Would he come? Obviously, Paige and Matt knew each other. They were also both friendly with Camryn. Did they all work the party circuit? As Gram asked this, Sienna realized there was so much about Matt she didn't know.

"I'm not sure," she admitted. "Should I ask?"

Gram's lips pinched together and said, "If you must."

Sienna slammed the door shut and walked into Frank's bakery without even looking back.

The stupid ball was her idea! Sienna fumed. Now I've achieved something we thought unthinkable, and she lashes out at me? I don't know where this will lead, but I have to see it through even if it ends. Matt hasn't promised me anything and I don't feeling anything much more then friendship in this point in time. Maybe that's all Matt wants—a friend. I'm not doing anything wrong. Matt's a good person. What's eating her up?

Shaking her head, Sienna addressed the customers in the cashier line. The first one was an elderly lady dressed in fine, lacey clothing. When Sienna stepped forward to serve her, the woman's eyes grew wide and her mouth fell slack.

"Y…you're the Prince's girlfriend!" the woman shouted. "I'm being waited on by the Prince's girlfriend!"

The whole shop turned to stare. Yes, word had passed around—all of them knew of the Prince's chance encounter with the plain, brown-haired girl in the skintight dress.

"Is there anything I can get you?" Sienna addressed the woman as if she hadn't spoken. "I'm running a business here—order something or get out."

The woman's face paled and then reddened in anger. "I am a paying customer! You have no right to—"

"She has every right," spoke up Frank from behind Sienna. "She's also correct. This is a place of business, ma'am. Either take care of your business or get out. It's that simple."

The woman opened her mouth to speak, reconsidered, fluffed up her lacey shawl, and stormed out. The rest of the shop filed into line. Not one said anything to Sienna other than their orders. Still, Frank remained behind her, making sure none of them dared breathe a word. This went on until break time. Sienna threw down her apron, charged through the back door, threw herself down on the ground, and wept.

"Hey, hey, hey," Frank closed the door behind him and kneeled down beside her. "What's this about? I've never seen you snap at a customer before. Things messy at home again?"

"I'm not even living at home, Frank!" she wailed. "Paige and I moved in with Gram, Lori's suddenly giving me advice, a guy way out of my league—emphasis on way—asked me out, and my gram is giving a whole bunch of shit I don't deserve!"

For a few moments, Frank just let her cry it out. Her tears are short-lived and soon, the whole experience is over. Mature-thinking, kind-hearted, normal Sienna was back.

"I was so mean to that lady," she whispered.

Frank laughed. "You're still thinking about that lady? That lady got what she deserved—big old fart, she was. You could tell by the way her ugly face pinched up. There's not a doubt in my mind she hasn't lived half the life you have. Rich folks, they just don't understand; our lives are hardships and struggles, but that don't make us any less of people. If anything, it makes us even more human. Life is supposed to be a struggle. Without the challenges, how would we become the people we are?"

Even as he said it, attempting to help, Sienna's mind flooded back to her childhood and the night she banged against the bathroom door until her fists bled. Challenges created who we are—so what if we couldn't overcome them? Who did we become?

Sienna thought of Lori once again. Had Lori and Paige gone down a similar path? Did Sienna put too much faith in Lori, thinking, that if she wanted to, Lori could just stop whenever she wanted? Sienna realized she didn't know if Lori could stop anymore. She was lost in a hopeless, endless cycle.

"I thought I was making all the right choices, but everyone keeps treating me like I'm making all the wrong ones."

Frank made a sound that sounded strangely like, "Oooooooooooooh" and sat down beside her. His arm looped around her shoulders. For once, Sienna felt comforted.

"Look," he said, drawing her attention to his face. "When I was eighteen, I took off. I left my mom, pop, and brothers behind. To them, I was some crazy fuckup. To be honest, I thought I was a fuckup, too. All I wanted to do was bake. So I came here. I worked for the previous owner. When he died, his son didn't want his father's business—so he gave it to me. Twenty-four years old, owner of my own business, working with an awesome staff like you and doing what I love—I regret nothing. In the beginning, I had no idea what I wanted. Life is crazy like that. Things fall into place later. For now, just live. Never look back."

He leaned into her face, wiping away her tears.

"You hear me, Sienna Carlton? Don't ever look back and regret what you've done, because one day, you'll be glad you did it."

The tears began to flow faster. Leaning in, she felt Frank cradle her against his chest. They stayed out there long past their lunch time and on. Pretty soon, there was a series of angry knocks at the door.

"That will be your prince, won't it?" Frank muttered into her hair.

Sienna sat up and sighed, "Probably."

"See it through to the end," Frank encouraged. "And I don't mean doing anything that isn't you—I mean, whatever you decide, follow it through your way."

Hugging him, Sienna whispered, "Thank you."

"No," Frank sniffed. "Thank you." Then he pushed her away. His face was more controlled now. "Go on, he's waiting on you."

Sienna checked her white t-shirt and blue jean skirt for dirt, dusted herself off, and combed through her hair with her hands.

"Wish me luck," she said, opening the door.

As it closed behind her, she barely missed him whispering, "Good luck, Sienna…" and then hugging his knees to his chest, wondering why he had been quiet so long. She was gone now, he thought. There was no need to wonder about her anymore…but still, it hurt so bad…