ღ Finding Cinderella- 3 ღ

-Kylie-

Valentine's Day. What a big, pink sugarcoated mess.

It was really weird how fleeting Earth time was when you spent most days staring into space. But how could whole days have passed me by and not Valentine's Day?

Well, it's not like I hated it; I was sure Hallmark really needed that extra boost. It was just that, it always reminded me of that experience back in ninth grade, which I couldn't forget no matter what I did. I also hated the way people mistook my bitterness as a by-product of being single or not having a date for Valentine's.

I could practically feel the love in the air. It made me nauseous. That insipid stench of conveniently applied colognes and perfumes wafting together with scents of breath spray and anti-dandruff shampoo truly made my stomach turn.

I was pretty sure Julianne and I were the only people who didn't get gifts from anybody that day, much to her disappointment. So we just exchanged chocolates with each other, and I pretended to be mildly interested in our "tragic" situation.

I couldn't complain. Sometimes, it was hilarious to have your best friend as your valentine.

If I hadn't met Tristan, I'd probably be living a little differently. I tried to imagine myself as infatuated as the people around me.

Even though I acted like a boy at times, what with my baggy clothes and brazen personality, deep down inside I'm still a girl. I just started being like this because my sister had been terrorized by her schoolmates in grade school, and I had stood as her protector. I had sworn to my dad that I would take care of her, and I stuck to that promise as if my life depended on it. But Tristan couldn't understand any of it. He was an idiot. He was the one who made up the "tomboy" nickname just to piss me the hell off, and the word spread like the plague throughout our campus.

Now people actually saw me like I was some kind of freak of nature, so most guys steered well clear of me, perhaps out of fear.

Bah! Whatever. Forget about boys. They're just a bunch of jerks, anyway.

"Wow. Two days have passed, and still your encounter with Tristan is the top post in our campus group page," Julianne remarked as her thumb swiped down on her phone screen. The Facebook page was exclusive for Broadway Heights students. No teacher was monitoring it, only some kids in the student council, so anyone could post pretty much anything on it—from social events and study guides to memes, gossips, and angry feminist rants. While it was great to get valuable information from that page—cough homework answers cough—it was a tragic landfill that I often refused to visit.

"Who gives a shit?" I said, munching on my burger.

"Apparently, 124 people who liked and commented do," she replied and put her phone away.

"They need to learn how to mind their own business."

"And you guys need to grow out of it. You've been fighting with him since freshman year. Arguing in the hallways. Throwing insults at each other across the room—"

"He's the one that loves to make a scene," I interjected, but Julianne went on.

"—and it happens so often that it has become an entertainment show for everyone. I've been playing along with your I-hate-Tristan campaign for all these years, but now I have to ask you." She paused, picking a fry off her plate. "Don't you get tired of it? I mean, we're seniors now and about to graduate. Why can't you guys just get along?"

"It's not that easy, Jules," I said frankly. "You know what kind of hell he's put me through."

My eyes darted to his table across the cafeteria where he was laughing with his minions, probably constructing another evil plan.

Seeing my expression, Julianne teased, "You really have a special connection with him, don't you? Who knows, maybe someday you'll end up marrying each other."

I almost barfed when she said that.

"What kind of 'special connection' are you talking about?" I snarled. Marry each other? I'd rather spend the remainder of my life being alone than being stuck with that jerk, thank you very much. "Please stop saying things you know will get me mad, Jules."

She laughed. I ignored her, looking away. Really, what was the fun in this whole situation? I couldn't stand conversations that included him.

"Hey, people!" a saccharine voice called. I looked up and saw Lacey struggling with her received Valentine's gifts and roses.

Upon arrival, she put them down on the table and exhaled. Julianne stacked the items on top of each other, counting them.

"Eleven chocolate boxes and fifteen roses," she said. "Well done."

Lacey made a humble smile. She was neither a cheerleader nor a celebrity—she was just an ordinary eleventh grader, actually—but she was popular with the boys. She was beautiful and nice to everyone, which basically made her a magnet for creeps.

I eyed a white card attached to a box, which I assumed contained chocolates. The label said it was from Clark Young. Maybe I should throw that chocolate away before Lacey could eat it because who knows? It might have been poisoned or spiked with a love potion for all I knew. Tristan and his friends could be very dangerous if they wanted to be.

"Anyway, listen, I have major news for you." Lacey paused for suspense, her smile broadening. "I have been chosen... as Queen for the Ball."

Julianne gasped and congratulated her for the opportunity, but me? I just frowned. No, I wasn't jealous of the popularity that my sister had gained growing up—in fact, I was happy for how well she was doing in her high school life—but I was a little uncertain all the same. After all, they might have chosen Tristan as King. The Ball was his holy occasion, you know?

I would never allow that guy to lay his filthy claws on my sister, even if it was just for a dance.

"So... who's your partner?" I asked, failing to add a nonchalant tone to my voice. "Is it Tristan?"

"No," Lacey said. "They pick a new king every year. And for this one, they say he's in your grade."

Good. That set my mind at rest.

"But don't tell others, okay? It's supposed to be a secret."

I munched away at the rest of my burger while the two talked about outfits and makeup for the Valentine Ball. I couldn't join since I had no taste in that kind of stuff. Plus, I didn't have plans to attend the Ball in the first place. I would rather do a movie marathon at home than waste my time at an event like that. And if I did happen to attend the Ball, Tristan would definitely make fun of me. He would say I looked hideous in a cocktail dress or something.

Julianne and Lacey both pouted after I told them my plan. Lacey begged me to come, telling me I would lose half my life if I didn't. I still shook my head, though, confident in my decision.

I was not going to the Ball, and that was final.

"Really, guys. Stop it with the faces," I said, laughing. "I'm not going to change my mind, I swear."

"Fine, sister." Lacy sighed. "But you should come with us after school. We're going shopping."

I widened my eyes at Julianne, who grinned widely. "Shopping?" I asked.

One of the things I hated most: shopping. It's seriously tiring, not to mention annoying spending your entire day roaming around the mall, looking at things you couldn't even buy.

However, the girls kept chanting "please" over and over for closely a minute until I sighed and nodded.

"Fine," I grumbled resignedly.

"Great!" Lacey cheered.

I sighed again. I bet this day would be way longer than expected.

ღ

"Green gown? Yuck! That will make me look like a giant broccoli with boobs," Lacey said.

Then Julianne answered, "How about blue, then? It matches your eye color."

"Hmm, yeah, but I don't really think it suits me too well."

"Oh, so would black be better on you?"

"It would look very sexy at the Ball, but..."

"Oh, you'd look totally sexy in that."

"I know, right? But the color doesn't seem fitting for a Valentine event, does it?"

It just went on and on and on. Did I mention I hated shopping? Oh yeah, I did that already. Well, you get the picture.

I resisted the urge to block my practically bleeding ears with my hands. Why wouldn't this end? They had been talking ceaselessly about their favorite dresses—complimenting and reassuring each other ever since lunch break and on until after school—and they still hadn't decided on a final outfit yet.

"Sis," said Lacey, demanding my immediate attention as she curled her arms up on mine. "What color do you think would flatter me?"

"Gee, I don't know, a rainbow?" I said, brushing my nose. "Sorry. Can't help you with that."

"Typical Kylie," Julianne said with a chuckle.

As we left the building, Julianne ran ahead to a car that was parked a couple of feet away from us. Lacey ran for the back seat while I lazily made my way to the front. I was reaching for the handle on the door when suddenly, someone's arm encircled my waist to pull me away.

I screamed. Who the hell—

"Kylie."

That annoying voice.

I spun around, my fist was balled up, but before it could land squarely on his cheek, he quickly evaded and blocked it with his hand.

"Hey, hey, easy there, tiger." Tristan smiled cheekily. "Did you miss me?"

I pulled my hand away. "Yeah, really missed your annoying face, babe."

"That's cute."

Ugh, son of a building block. Couldn't the guy detect sarcasm?

Lacey poked her head out of the car and rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on now, guys. Don't fight!"

"Where the hell did you come from?" I asked him. "Appearing out of nowhere like that, don't you know better than to sneak up on people?"

"Calm down, Kyles. Jeez. No need to make a scene. I just wanna talk to you."

"Oh, get lost, Hartford."

I thought that would piss him off, but his lips formed an arrogant smirk. "Aw, come on," he said. "I came all the way here just to see you."

"Oh God. Just date already, you two," Julianne yelled from inside the car.

I twisted my face in disgust. "Ew! No thanks."

Tristan snorted. "Nah, it could never be like that, could it?"

At least he could admit it.

Then he continued, "Actually, I just want to know where you girls are off to."

I could sense something fishy going on. Crossing my arms, I tilted my head to the side and tried to look superior. "We're going to the amusement park, why?" I lied. I knew just how much Tristan hated amusement parks. Hearing one word about them was enough to make him shudder or at least get him a little irritated.

He made a face and grabbed my left arm. "Oh, really? Well, I was wondering if you could spare me an hour or two."

"What? No way. Why should I come with you?" I tried to pull my arm out of his grip, though he just tightened it more. "Lacey, Julianne! Get this idiot's paws off of me."

"Girls, please excuse us. We're just going somewhere... special." He grinned, and that sent shivers down my back.

I spun around and saw the two with amused expressions on their faces. How could they look at me like that while I was in the middle of a crisis? I guess Tristan's evil charm had worked on them, as usual.

"Wait, are you deaf?" I cried out. "I never said I was going anywhere with you!"

I looked helplessly at Lacey, but she shrugged and made one of those "I-can't-do-anything-about-it" smiles. Argh, this was so frustrating! Even my sister was trying to hook me up with this kind of guy.

Tristan started dragging me across the parking lot, and I began to pull harder in the opposite direction. I badly needed to escape this situation before he could do God-knows-what to me. Once again I ordered him to let go, but he sighed and picked me up in one swift motion, effortlessly carrying me over his shoulder.

"What the—Tristan, put me down!" I screamed, pounding him on the back several times. "Put me down, you jerk, before I kill you!"

But all he did was ignore my yells, laughing his heart out like the evil person he was. And yes, I was definitely putting him down as "evil" after this little stunt.

He continued to carry me until he reached his car, where my head smacked hard on the seat after he'd thrown me inside. I cursed. Was this the right way to treat a woman? Oh wait, that's right, he didn't even see me as a girl, how could I have forgotten?

"Wow, Kylie, you could do with losing a few pounds. I could hurt my back," he complained as he started the engine.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "So? What is it this time?" I snapped. "Where exactly are we going?"

"Relax, Kylie. I promise I'll get you back in one piece," he said. "Just stay with me, don't ask too many questions, and everything will be fine."