Song: Love Is In The Air by Jorge Blanco from the telenovela; Violetta

Chapter Twenty: She didn't drop a glass slipper 

"Fofinha."

Why does she call me that?

Why don't you ask her?

Because the look Zane gave me when she called me that was not exactly something I was sure of.

I grabbed a bottle of water from the table and unscrewed the cap. "Yes, Serena."

She smiled at me and started brushing her fingers through my hair like I was some pet.

I jerked back unconsciously at the surprising touch.

She frowned slightly but then she forced a smile. She didn't even have to, I had already caught the previous action.

I was about to explain to her the misunderstanding, but she spoke up.

"I understand that my first impression to you wasn't the best."

I stopped her from talking. "No it's okay." I started drinking from my bottle of water.

I didn't really need an apology.

"No, no it's not okay. You're Zane's friend and as his namorada I should be nice to you." 

"Namorada? Does that mean family friend?"

Oh so you ask now when she refers to Zane.

Leave me be. I don't see what you're getting at.

"No. Girlfriend."

I literally started choking on my water.

She began patting my back. "Are you okay?"

I ignored her question and coughed out. "G-irl-friend?"

I cleared my throat and stood up straight.

Why do you feel so flustered?

I don't know. And I don't like that I'm feeling like this because of that.

"Yeah. That's what I said."

"You're Zane's girlfriend?" I slowly repeated, incredulity filling my voice.

How come he never mentioned that?

"I know I'm from Portugal, but do I not speak the English correctly?"

I turned to her, and there was genuine confusion on her face.

It's not a snide remark, then.

"Yes. Yes, you do. Sorry. I was just a little unsettled."

"Unsettled? Unsettled about what?"

"Never mind. What did you come to see me for?"

She smiled lightly. "Just that."

"You came to tell me you were Zane's namorada?" I asked snidely.

She laughed, a humorless one. "No. I came to apologize for my first impression. It counts a lot, you know."

"Yeah. I do." I rolled my lips inward.

I took a step back and dropped my quarter-drunk bottle water on the table.

"You've apologized now and I should really get going."

I walked away without a second glance. 

I looked all around for Wren, but I didn't see him anywhere. I saw Zahra and Kai talking at the refreshment table. I walked up to them to ask if they'd seen him.

"Hey guys."

Since Zahra was the one backing me, she spun around so fast she almost knocked over the table.

"Woah!" I steadied her with my arms. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

She just giggled nervously.

When does she giggle? If anything, she hates it.

I know right. I turned to Kai to ask him instead, but he was looking anywhere and everywhere but my face.

"What is up with you guys?"

"Nothing." Was their automatic reply.

"Okay." I stressed. "So have you guys seen Wren?"

"Last I saw, he was on the dance floor with Avery."

"He isn't there now."

"Check the garden if you can't find him inside." Zahra added.

That was good advice. Why didn't I think of that?

Because your brain was clouded with thoughts of...

Don't even go there!

"Thanks." I said before I walked off towards the garden.

***

The garden was moonlit. It looked very beautiful with the groomed flowers and the fountain in the centre. I hadn't yet spotted Wren when I shut the door behind me. I looked around, then walked around the fountain. I saw Wren sitting at the edge of it, his legs to his chest as he stared at the stars.

"The stars are beautiful, aren't they?" I asked as I walked up to him.

He didn't turn, just nodded.

"Can I sit with you?"

He nodded.

I sat down beside him and removed my mask. "Avery said I should tell you she left."

"Of course she did." He mumbled.

"She didn't drop a glass slipper, though." I teased as I nudged his shoulder with mine.

I guess now's not the time for jokes.

You think?

"Is everything okay?"

"No."

I expected him to say yes. People say it so you can leave them alone.

And people want to hear it because they don't want to be pulled into your problems. They only ask to be polite.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"It's not like you can do anything to help."

"I could try. Plus, letting it out is the best medicine. You know what they always say."

The corners of his lip twitched. "No one says that."

At least you brightened his mood.

He continued. "I messed up. I really did."

Although I kind of already knew what he was talking about, I asked anyway because supposedly I'm clueless. "How?"

"Have you ever been in love with someone?"

Holy cow! He's in love with you? 

Avery.

In case you have forgotten, she is you and you are her.

"Yes, I have." I sighed remembering Axel. "I think it was just a stupid crush anyway."

"Well, what I feel is not. And I don't know what to do about it. She doesn't feel the same way."

I genuinely didn't know what to say. So I let him continue talking.

"I tested that this evening, and it just seemed to push her away more."

I didn't know what to say so I just put my hand on his shoulder.

Say something!!

Like what? If you haven't realized, he's talking about me and I can't encourage him. That would be stupid because I don't like him like that.

Just do it!

No. It's wrong.

I shook my head to rid myself of my annoying thoughts. "Wren. I honestly don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. I shouldn't be disturbing you with my problems."

I gave him a small smile. "But we're friends aren't we? It's kind of a package deal."

He looked up and smiled at me.

"Do you want to dance?" I surprised myself by asking.

"Out here?"

I shrugged and stood up. "You can hear the music, can't you?"

He stood up and bowed. "Shall we?"

He extended a hand to me and I took it.

"We shall."  I curtsied wobbly.

You gotta improve that curtsy.

Oh please! It's not like I'll ever use it.

You're using it now, aren't you?

We danced to the slow song that was playing that I couldn't really recognize.

He relaxed in my arms and I realized all he really needed right now was the comfort of a friend.

After a while, an unmistakable voice cut in.

"May I cut in?"

I didn't even hear him come in. I didn't turn around as Wren said. "You may." He smiled at me, and left the room without another word.

I felt his hand on the lower part of my back.

"Did I get to tell you how beautiful you looked tonight, Cherry?" He asked as he came to stand in front of me. He had already removed his mask so I had a clear view of his flawless skin as the moon shone its light on us.

He took off my mask and stared at my face which made me very uncomfortable.

I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes. "Oh please. Have you lost your namorada?"

His brows creased in confusion. "I don't think you're using that correctly."

"Don't play games with me, Zane."

He smirked at me. "Fine, we won't play games. We'll dance instead."

"I don't feel like dancing." I huffed and sat down at the edge of the fountain.

You're acting like a child.

Am not.

He sat beside me, a frown tainting his perfect face. "I don't see the problem here."

"Of course you don't."

I don't see the problem here either.

Neither do I.

I'm not even surprised.

"Do you mind explaining it to me?" He half turned me to face him.

I forced myself to meet his eyes. "If I explain it to you, it means I have to know what I'm talking about."

"And you don't." It was more of a statement than a question so I didn't reply.

"Have you tried the donuts? I heard they're really good."

I couldn't fight the smile that landed on my face. "Are you trying to make small talk? Do you want to be in a conversation with me that bad?" I teased.

"Of course not." He scoffed. "I was taking a....survey."

"A survey?"

"Exactly."

"Do you mind giving me more questions on the survey?"

"Of course I don't mind. It's what I'm supposed to do, but you have to answer the first question before I proceed."

"Yes. I've tasted the donuts." I lied.

"Did you prefer it with sprinkles?"

"Yes." I nodded vigorously.

He pretended to write it in his palm. "I see." He looked back up at me when he was done 'writing'. "Does it give you a fuzzy feeling in your belly?"

"Fuzzy feeling?"

"You know, like butterflies."

I chuckled. "You only feel butterflies in your stomach when you're in love. Unless you're a special gastronome, I don't think donuts can make you feel that way."

"Love makes you feel butterflies in your stomach? Really Cherry?" He asked, sounding amused.

"Haven't you ever felt it before?"

He snorted. "Of course not. It's not possible."

"You put it in your survey."

"As an exaggeration."

I nodded slowly and stressed. "Okay."

"You don't sound like you believe me." He poked my side.

I flinched and shifted in my sit. That was ticklish. I hated being tickled.

You love it. It makes you laugh.

Exactly. I'm not even sure whether I hate it, because it makes me laugh. 

It makes you crazy.

Yes.

"Why did you flinch and shift from me?" He pressed.

"No reason." I automatically replied.

I couldn't let him know I was ticklish. People tend to use it against me.

He nudged my side again and I repeated the action as a low laugh came out of me.

He smirked. "You're ticklish, aren't you?"

I scoffed. "Of course I'm not. What makes you think that?"

"This." He commented before he started tickling me like crazy. I started laughing hysterically, kicking and thrashing, but he held me in place.

"Let go of me!" I laughed out trying to push his hands away.

"No." He bit out.

"Please. Please. I'm literally beg- oof!" I fell into the fountain and made a loud splash. My laughter drowned out as I fought with the water. I heard laughter from above as I still fought with the water.

"It's like 3 feet deep." He said as I stood to my feet, completely drained.

"You think this is funny, don't you?" 

He nodded, still laughing as I slipped into the water again. He was literally barking out his laughter, so he obviously didn't notice when I dragged him into the water too. It would have been quite hard if he were concentrating, but lucky for me he was not.

"What the hell?" He exclaimed as he stood to his feet. The look on his face was so priceless I was lost for words as I laughed uncontrollably.

Next thing I knew, I felt his hand wrap around my ankle as he pulled my leg. I landed on my butt, but the big puffy dress that was literally soaking up all the water, cushioned my fall. I looked up to see him clutching his stomach as he laughed his butt off. I lunged at him.

That makes you sound like a vicious animal.

Sometimes I wish I were one.

That's very scary.

I know.

He slipped and landed flat on his back, pushing his head up to prevent from being fully emerged in the water.

"Get off me!"

"No!" I tried my luck as I began tickling him. It seemed luck was on my side today. Thanks a lot, Luck!

His laugh was contagious seeing as I joined him a few seconds later.

"I'm sorry. I promise I won't tickle you again. I forgot how it felt." He said in between laughs.

"Well. Someone needs to remind you then." I remarked as I continued tickling him.

He seemed to have had enough, because he grabbed my hands with one of his. He flipped us over in one swift movement so that now he was on top of me and I was the one trying to prevent my head from being emerged in the water.

Your hair is a mess. 

I know.

Your diadem seems to be floating away.

I kn- Wait, what?

"Get off me!"

"It's not like you complied when I asked you to."

"But you started it."

"Precisely why I'm going to finish it."

"Can you at least grab my diadem before you start acting like a mad man?"

"I prefer your hair like this. It looked like it was literally glued together in that band." He remarked as he began removing the bobby pins and hair bands used to style my hair with his free hand.

"You're messing up my hair." I complained.

"No. I'm improving it." He said as he dropped all the accessories on the fountain edge and ruffled my head. I shook my head away from his hand as much as I could but he wouldn't budge.

He smiled down at me, his eyes twinkling. "Better." 

He released my hands, but I made no move to get off. I just stared at him, staring at me, his hand still in my hair.

I feel butterflies coming.

No. Not possible.

"We should really get going. We don't want to catch a cold."

His voice wasn't enough to snap us out of our staring trance.

"We wouldn't want that." I muttered.

None of us made any sign we were going to move. We should really go.

If you want to go so bad, get up.

I- He needs to get up first. He is on top after all.

"Cherry-" Whatever he wanted to say was cut off by an annoying voice I had gotten accustomed to. 

His namorada.

How could I forget?

"Querido? I've been looking everywhere for you!"

That was enough to snap us out of the trance seeing as he scrambled off me.

Thanks a lot, Luck!

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