ღ Finding Cinderella- 12 ღ

-Tristan-

I hadn't been able to sleep properly for the past couple of nights.

No, I wouldn't consider it insomnia. It was only because a certain someone had invaded my mind—every detail of her face, every movement she'd made, every second that passed back at the dance was still fresh on my mind.

This might sound strange, but I really felt a connection between that masked girl and me. Something that I hadn't felt with another person in a long time.

They say that if you're thinking about someone, the person in your thoughts may be thinking about you, too. Was that the truth or was I just an exception? Damn. Knowing how often I lay in bed thinking about her, and how she probably didn't think of me at all sucked big time.

Swinging my backpack over my shoulder, I jogged downstairs and saw Mom and Dad talking over breakfast at the dining table.

"Morning," I greeted them and made myself a ham and egg sandwich. "Okay, gotta go. Bye."

"Whoa. Slow down," Mom said, and I stopped in my tracks. "Why don't you sit and eat your breakfast properly? It's still early."

 "Nope. Gotta meet the Harrises outside. I'm driving us to school," I said and took a huge bite of my food.

Mom's olive eyes lit up. "That's unusual. You should do that more often now so those girls won't have trouble catching up with the bus."

I frowned. "Right. And while I'm on that, I might as well wear plate armor in case Kylie throws tantrums on me all the way to school."

"I thought you two made up?"

"Yeah. Maybe in another universe, Mom."

Dad picked up his mug and took a sip of his coffee. "Well, doesn't that remind me someone?" he said, glancing at her.

"Arthur." Mom flashed him a warning look.

I grinned. "See? Dad agrees. Anyway, gotta bounce. Bye." I leaned in to kiss her cheek, had another bite of my sandwich, and took off.

Mom and Kylie had really something in common, which might have been why Mom was so fond of her.

Luckily, as soon as I stepped out of the house, Lacey and Kylie were doing just the same. I called them, waving my hands in the air. Lacey waved back and nudged Kylie, who covered her face and muttered something to herself.

"Hey, beautiful morning, huh?" I said as I walked to my car parked in front of the house.

"Whatever. Let's go, Lacey." Kylie marched ahead of us, still keeping her head low. No extreme comebacks? That was new.

"Why don't you two hop in? Let's go to school together," I called.

Lacey whipped her head to me, a bright smile on her face. "Really? Thanks!" She skipped toward my car parked near the curb and shouted at Kylie, "Sis, what are you doing? Let's go!"

"No, Lacey! That's a death trap."

"Please? It's a hassle to walk to the bus stop every day, you know?" Lace answered. "Come on, sis. Just this once?"

"Nah, it's okay. She can go alone," I told her. "Just come with me because there's something I'd like us to talk about on the way."

At the mention of that, Kylie marched to us. "Fine. I'm going with you," she said, glaring at me. "Oh, I apologize if I sound a bit prying, mister, but I wanna know what that talk is about," she added, faking a smile.

I turned around and, to tease her, I politely opened the front door for her. "Okay, ladies fir—"

Kylie threw her bag on the back seat and leaped over the door. Sighing, I rolled my eyes at her and let Lacey slide into the passenger's seat instead. I took the wheel and started the engine.

"I'm glad you put the top down," Lacey spoke as she pulled on the seatbelt. "I love the feel of the morning breeze."

I twisted around to face Kylie, who had her arms crossed over her chest.

"You okay there, Kyles? I don't hear you complaining," I said.

She only grunted and looked away. I chuckled and turned my eyes back on the road.

After a moment, Lacey asked, "So, what is it that you want to talk about?"

"The girl who replaced you at the ball," I said straight away. "Do you know who she is?"

"What?" Kylie piped.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lacey look at me in surprise. "I-is that it?" she asked, uncertain.

I nodded. "Yeah. So, do you know her? What's her name?"

The ride immediately went silent. Puckering my eyebrows, I turned to Lacey. She seemed to be throwing strange glances at Kylie. I turned more to the back, and Kylie flashed her eyes at me.

"Eyes on the road, T! Do you want us to get killed?" she exclaimed.

I heaved a sigh and did what she'd said. "What's up with you two? You got quiet all of a sudden," I observed and steered the wheel to the right.

"What's with you asking that question to Lacey?" Kylie snapped back.

"None of your business." A smile stretched my lips again. "Unless you're getting jealous right now."

"Huh, what makes you think I'd get jealous?"

"I know you've got a crush on me."

Kylie laughed. And it wasn't even ladylike laughter. It was boisterous, half-laughing and half-hiccupping. She banged the seat with her fist and managed to choke out, "W-what? Me? Having a crush on you?" She cackled even more. "Bless your delusional heart, Tristan. Oh my God, my ribs. Ouch."

I tightened my grip on the wheel as I felt the blood rushing to my face. "Can't you take a joke, Kylie?"

"That's why I'm laughing so hard!" She exhaled noisily. "I practically died! Jesus, I need oxygen."

I decided to ignore her. "So, Lace, can you tell me who she is?" I pressed.

Kylie groaned. "Can't you let it go already?"

"Shut up, Kyles."

"Well, about that girl, um..." Lacey paused as if deliberating. "I actually have no idea about that," she mumbled lastly.

"What?"

"I passed out at that time, Tristan," she answered, "so I really have no memory of that. It was the last minute, and the student council didn't have any choice but to pick a random girl, I guess..."

My hopes began to fizzle out. I had thought this start would be easy for me.

"That's understandable," I muttered. "Did they mention to you the girl's name, though?"

Lacey shook her head. "No, they didn't. I'm sorry I can't give you enough information."

I sighed in defeat. "It's fine, Lacey. I'll just find her at school... if I'm lucky enough."

"Ooh, looks like someone's got a crush," Lacey chanted. "Are you seriously interested in that girl?"

"Interested to know her. She was very beautiful," I said distantly, as the visions of the masked girl's face floated around my head.

"Oh my gosh. You heard that, Kylie?" she squealed, "Tristan said that yo—she is very beautiful, like, he's just so that into her!"

"What? W-why are you telling me that? I have no idea what you two are talking about," Kylie stammered quickly. "T, can you drive a little faster?"

"As you wish." Grinning, I pressed the accelerator hard that the car sped up like a bullet train through the highway, and we reached the school's parking lot in just a few moments.

"And we're finally here." I turned the ignition off.

"Wow. Thanks for the ride," Lacey said, unfastening the seatbelt. "Let's go, Ky—oh, are you okay?"

I turned around and almost burst out laughing. Kylie was pressed on the seat like a flat pancake; her face was all white and her hair stood up in every direction.

"TRISTAN, YOU IDIOT!" she shrieked. "I said you drive a little faster! Not ten-thousand-miles-per-hour faster! You were practically over the speed limit."

"Almost, but not quite, so we're in the clear."

"Whatever. God, that nearly made me throw up." She hopped down over the door and grabbed her bag. "Do that again, and I'll whack you in your freaking esophagus!"

I smiled casually. "Cool. So does that mean you want to ride with me again?"

She made a face and stomped to the school entrance.

Mission screwing up Kylie's morning: complete.