The constant humming of Mother's sewing machine filled the next seven days, interrupted only by The Rents shouting at each other and Melaney and Hannah laughing at me. Mother recruited me to help sew the costumes, but after two failed attempts at stitching a straight line, she demoted me to fabric holder. So both Hannah and I "helped" by holding the material when and where she needed.

Melaney stopped by every day after school to check on our progress. She gave me her three-inch-high heels to wear to the ball, but I couldn't walk in a straight line without twisting my ankles. Much to Melaney's and Hannah's amusement, I had two left thumbs and two left feet.

I decided to wear my silver slip-ons. No one would see my shoes anyway. Unlike Cinderella, I had no intention of leaving a shoe behind at midnight. Besides, I had to be home by eleven.

Melaney agreed to do my makeup and hair for the main event. Because the dress was pale blue, I had to use some cosmetics or I'd look like a ghost. Each day she tried different colors and different hair styles until we discovered the ones we liked the best. She put some lipstick on Hannah too, which started the first shouting match between my mother and stepfather when he got home.

When Mother explained that Melaney was doing my makeup for a charity costume ball at the Price mansion to raise funds for the library, Jonathan retorted with the comment, "I don't care if it is a costume ball for charity. No daughter of mine is leaving this house looking like a prostitute."

I had to bite my tongue to keep from shouting, "I'm not your daughter!" But I kept quiet, knowing that anything I said would be used against me. I trusted Mother to fight this battle for me, and the next, and the next.

By the end of the week, my stepfather had grudgingly given his consent for me to attend the ball, but Tyler had to come to the house to pick me up and be interrogated by him. It was the one concession we had to make. Jonathan insisted on talking to Tyler.

On Saturday, Melaney put the finishing touches on my hair, while I stood in front of the full length mirror, not recognizing my reflection. I had been transformed into Cinderella. But instead of meeting my Prince Charming at the ball, I was waiting for the knock on my front door and dreading the conversation Jonathan would have with Tyler. Would he run away screaming and decide not to take me to the ball after all?

I heard the knock and the front door open and close. I wanted to rush downstairs and rescue Tyler, but I had promised Melaney I would wait for at least five minutes before I made my descent down the steps. It was the longest 300 seconds of my life. I watched out the window, expecting Tyler to flee to his shiny black Mercedes and race away, but he stayed in the living room.

Finally, Melaney opened my bedroom door and allowed me to leave. I lifted my dress skirt with one hand and held on the stair rail with the other, praying I wouldn't trip over the ruffles.

Jonathan and Tyler stood up when they saw me. Both had expressions of shock and awe. Tyler's lips formed the word, "Wow," but no sound came out of them. I knew I looked beautiful, but it annoyed me that they were so surprised by my appearance. Was I normally ugly?

When I successfully reached the bottom of the steps without embarrassing myself, I sashayed over to Tyler and said a shy, "Hi."

He wore a long-tailed, white tuxedo, which made quite a contrast to his black hair, bronze skin, and midnight-blue eyes. He looked more handsome than I could ever imagine.

"You look very charming," I admitted.

He smiled, dazzling me with his perfection. "And you will be the most beautiful Cinderella at the ball."

I'd better be the only Cinderella.

"Time for pictures." Mother gestured for us to stand in front of the door.

We obeyed and smiled widely while Mother snapped pictures with her digital camera. Hannah stood beside Jonathan in her Little Red Riding Hood costume. Ever since Mother finished sewing the red coat, Hannah refused to take it off.

After Mother took what seemed like a hundred photos, Hannah tugged at my skirt and pointed to the camera.

"Would you like to have your picture taken, too?" I asked.

Hannah nodded and shimmied in beside Tyler and me. Mother took five more photos while we posed.

Melaney watched us from the top of the stairs. She and Shawn would not be at the ball tonight. They were attending the Tournament of the Bands to see Shawn's younger brother play the tuba. I waved goodbye to her and mouthed, "Thank you!"

"Don't forget the roses," she reminded me.

Mother hurried into the kitchen and brought out a basket of yellow tea roses.

Tyler looked  confused.

"They're for your mother. A thank you gift for inviting me to the ball," I explained.

"Great idea." He nodded in approval. "She'll appreciate the gesture."

It should definitely get her attention. The card read, I WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT YOU DID. Her reaction to the card would determine what action I took next.

"Have her home by eleven," Jonathan dictated.

"I will, sir," Tyler promised.

"Have fun," Mother said as she handed me the basket.

"We will," I promised.

Hannah and Melaney waved goodbye.

I glided down the sidewalk to the passenger side of Tyler's impressive sports car. The black paint was so shiny I could see my reflection in it. He placed the basket on the floor in the back and then opened my door for me. Such a gentleman!

I slid into the seat, carefully stuffing all the ruffles of my skirt inside, so he wouldn't shut the door on my dress. He walked around to his side, sat in the driver's seat, and pulled on his belt.

My breath hitched in my throat, and my hands began to perspire. I completely forgot about the seat belt. I tried not to panic. Now what? There was no way on this earth I was putting that belt on.

It would crush my dress. Maybe, that excuse would work. "Do you mind if I don't put my seat belt on?"

"Not at all. It's only a short drive to my house."

He drove one block, and the seat belt warning started to ping. "Do you mind if we listen to the radio?" he asked.

"Not at all," I replied, repeating his words.

He hit the button and "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri drifted from the speakers of his expensive stereo system and the heady scent of tea roses drifted from the basket. I listened to the beautiful song, feeling thankful that I didn't have to wait a thousand years to finally dance with my Prince Charming, only nine years and a few more minutes. Before Christina sang another, "One step closer," we arrived at the Price mansion.

The valet opened my car door and held out his hand to help me exit the car. I needed his assistance to avoid stepping on my dress. 

Tyler grabbed the basket of roses from the back seat, threw the valet his keys, held out his elbow, and escorted me around the side of the mansion to the front door. We waited in line for our turn to be announced.

I stared up at the ceiling of the portico unable to believe it had only been nine days since I stood here for the first time. Anything could happen once I entered through those glass doors.

"Are you ready?" Tyler asked.

Was I?

Tyler handed me the basket. I grabbed hold of the handle, took a deep breath, and nodded.

Beauty and the Beast, aka Tyler's parents, greeted us. Mrs. Price wore Belle's yellow ball gown, and Dr. Spencer wore the Beast's blue tuxedo.

"Jasmine, you look lovely!" Dr. Spencer declared. "Thank you for coming."

"Thank you for inviting me. I have a gift for you and Mrs. Price." I gave Mrs. Price the basket. "I will never forget what you did." I paused, watching for her reaction.

All the color drained from her face as if she had seen a ghost. My daddy's ghost.

"This night will be unforgettable," I explained.

She swallowed and then found her voice. "Thank you, my dear. I love yellow roses as you can see." She gestured to the round table in the middle of the foyer which held a huge bouquet of yellow roses in a crystal vase. She placed the basket beside the vase. "I hope you and Tyler have a wonderful evening."

"Thank you, Mother. We will," Tyler replied.

He escorted me through the costumed crowd to the refreshment table which also had crystal vases filled with yellow roses. In fact, every table in the room was decorated with them.

Yellow roses symbolized friendship, but I think they could be effective for justice too. Mrs. Price's expression revealed her guilt. If only she would verbally admit it.

"Would you like some sparkling apple juice?" Tyler asked, pointing to the crystal punch bowl.

"Yes, please."

Tyler ladled the golden liquid into two glasses and then offered me one.

I took a small sip. The bubbles tickled my throat.

I surveyed the people around me in their many different costumes. On the other side of the room, I saw a blue Dean and laughed out loud. His mother, Diane, wore a long black wig and a Princess Jasmine costume, so he must be the genie from Aladdin. He had blue paint on his face and blue plastic gloves on his hands. He wore a blue, skin-tight, diving suit with loose, genie pants and pointy shoes. He held a genie lamp in one hand.

"What's so funny?" Tyler asked.

"My foster brother, Dean!" I waved at Dean to get his attention and then motioned for him to come talk to us.

Dean leaned down to whisper something in his mother's ear and then walked over with the same expression of shock and awe that Tyler had on his face earlier. His silver-blue eyes sparkled with mischief. "Jasmine, you look like an angel from heaven. Where are your wings?" He checked behind me.

"I'm supposed to be Cinderella, silly, and I'm guessing you are a genie. Can I have three wishes?"

"Only if you rub my lamp!" he said, raising his eyebrows up and down.

Tyler snorted at Dean's bad joke. Of course, another guy would think that was funny. I suppose I should re-introduce them.

"Tyler Price, you remember Dean King, my foster brother."

Tyler nodded. "Yeah, our mothers are in book club together."

"Nice to see you again, Prince Charming." Dean shook Tyler's hand. "I'm counting on you to stop Cinderella from running away before midnight."

"I'll have her safely at home by eleven," Tyler promised again.

"Excellent. Well, you two have fun. I'm off to find a dance partner. Jasmine, save a dance for me?"

"Sure. Why not? I've always wanted to dance with a giant Smurf," I teased.

Dean ignored my comment and headed across the room towards a pretty Snow White.

"Did you always want to dance with a charming prince?" Tyler asked.

I stared into his hypnotizing, midnight-blue eyes and forgot Dean or anyone else existed.

"Yes," I said like a sigh.

Tyler led me to the dance floor. "They're playing our song."

The beginning notes of "A Thousand Years" reached my ears. Tyler held me gently in his arms as we slow danced to our song. I rested my cheek against Tyler's hard chest and closed my eyes, savoring the moment every  little girl dreamed of, dancing with Prince Charming at the ball. I listened to his heart beat and inhaled his intoxicating scent of chocolate and roses. Tyler always smelled delicious.

We swayed to the music together. Every nerve in my body tingled with anticipation. "One step closer." I was so close to achieving all my dreams and ending all my nightmares. I didn't want this song, or this night, to end.

A/N: Video above is A Thousand Years by Christina Perri.

"Every breath. 

Every hour has come to this.

One step closer.

I have died every day waiting for you.

Darling, don't be afraid.

I have loved you for a thousand years.

I'll love you for a thousand more."

Do you and your love have a special song? Let me know in the comments. 

Forever Remember to Live, Laugh, and LOVE! - 3L