Young Volcanos

July 12

It had been a week since the dance was supposed to happen. It had gotten post-poned due to Logan's cousins not being able to make it until today.

I had gotten a dress from my mom after I called her and told her about it. She had sent me a package a few days later that had, believe it or not, everything from hair to the dress. It didn't have shoes though.

I had spent the morning with Dylan, I would have spent it with Logan but I was apparently not allowed to see him today.

"You're going to be the one he chooses." Dylan said as he licked his mint ice cream covered spoon.

"I...um...hope so." I said awkwardly. O turned to my chocolate ice cream for help.

"You will. Logan has never dated a girl... technically."

"What about Jules?"

"Oh yeah, she's a train wreck. So that doesn't even count."

"Whatever you say Dylan."

I licked my spoon and narrowed my eyes at him, "So who does Dylan like?"

He returned my stare, "No one."

"I don't believe you."

"You should."

"But I don't."

"No one, no one at all."

"Dylan!" I whined, "Tell me."

He sighed, "It doesn't even matter. She would never date me... she can't."

"Dylan... you mean me, don't you?"

He stared at me and raised his eyebrows, "Umm, heck no. Ew."

"Well excuse me." I laughed.

"It really doesn't matter, I'm not the right kind of guy."

"Nessy."

He dropped his spoon, "How did you figure it out?!"

"I guessed." I shrugged and my phone buzzed,

Taylor: Are you coming? I'm supposed to help you get ready! It's already five!"

I hurriedly thanked Dylan and ran outside to my car where my dress was waiting.

I had gotten to her house, gotten my hair done, had my dress on, when I realized that I had forgotten my mask. I jumped (with my dress still on) into my car and drove home.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I opened the door and walked in, quietly clicking it into place. I looked to the top of the stairs and saw Daphine in a silk pink robe. Her usual look of bleached blonde hair, thickly applied make-up and overall disgusting appearance didn't make my uncomfortable feeling any better.

"Well look who decided to come back home. In a pretty dress nonetheless!" She stated smiling smugly.

I balled my hands into fists and stared at her, "Where's my dad?" It seemed like the appropriate question.

"At work." Oh my gosh. Duh, Riley! I thought to myself

"Well then. I'm getting my stuff and leaving-" I was interrupted by the sound of someone yelling, "Baby, who's that? Come back to bed!" I stared at Daphine,

"You said my dad was at work so how can he be here?" I stopped, the situation dawned on me.

"That's not my dad, is it?" I searched Daphine's face, this was clearly not how she had expected this conversation to go.

We stared at each other and then I continued my line of questions, "You're cheating on him, aren't you?"

She gaped and I smirked but then sighed, "Why?"

She smiled proudly, "It's my job."

I was stunned, "This is how you earn your living?"

"Of course not! Your father is just a means of income. I never loved him! The blundering oaf is gullible! However, I knew that as soon as you came out here, I had no control over what you would do during the day. I send Dylan and Sadie to school or I send them to lacrosse and singing lessons. Your father goes to the job I got him through one of my 'colleagues'. The timing is perfect."

"But you have a job too!"

"I fake it. Back to my story, you were a problem. I couldn't control everything you did. It was bad enough until I heard you were with the mayor's son, one wrong move and I was done for! Then I realized: I needed Logan to like my Sadie. She was reluctant but then began hanging out with him as soon as he claimed to be drunk. I, through means of Sadie, planted the idea that you wouldn't like him in his head."

I gaped. "You've treated me like crap to hide the fact that you're a... you're a... you're a slut!" I stopped, what was I doing? She wanted this to happen.

I was grabbing my phone out of my pocket, to realize that I had left it at Taylor's.

Daphine ran down the stairs and grabbed my wrist, "You won't tell anyone!"

"Oh yes I will!" I tried to pull away but her fake nails dug into my skin. She analyzed my outfit and smiled smugly. "You're going to the ball."

I stayed silent and she laughed, "You think your his-" She gasped sharply and muttered the word 'princess'.

She glared at me. "Well I can't have you do that. You would ruin me."

She grabbed the skirts on my dress and ripped off the top layer. I screamed and she ripped off more until it was just a ragged outfit. She ripped the invitation from my hands and tucked it in her pocket. She grabbed my wrists and dragged me to the attic.

She threw me on the ground, "It wouldn't work, you know. You have to go back to Breckinridge." She winked and slammed the door, locking it from the outside.

I don't know why, but I began to cry. She had taken my invitation and the rest of my hope.

The real situation dawned on me; Logan and I could never be together.

I stood up and ran to the door; locked.

I tried my secret bookshelf; locked. The one time I decided to lock it! While I was up there I decided to take a look around. There was old furniture, boxes, junk, the whole kit and caboodle.

I had moved aside another box when another surge of sadness came over me as my desperate situation dawned on me. I began to cry again.

"Ugh! Cinderella, I totally get you girlfriend!" I said to no one in particular. I had the exact same situation as the poor princess: evil stepmother, an obedient dad, two step siblings, was treated like crap, had feelings for the upper class, and wanted to go to the ball.

But that was the thing, I didn't want to go to the ball anymore. That would only hurt me more. I slammed my fist into the side of an old grandfather clock put of aggravation.

The bottom fell off and out came a box.