What About Now

Chapter 40 - Cinderella

Taylor's P.O.V.
Reluctantly, I gave in to Kaya's words, and dragged myself to the bathroom. I showered, letting the water refresh my body, before hopping out and throwing on some jeans and a shirt. Glimpsing into the mirror, I examined my reflection before taking my hands to my hair and carelessly putting it up in a very messy bun. I applied some basic makeup and looked myself up and down in the mirror. I instantly felt brand new, and I left the bathroom with a smile upon my face. As I fumbled made my way to the living room, I could see Kaya up ahead and hurriedly scooping numerous blankets and pillows up in her arms.

"Ohhhh somebody looks refreshed!" Kaya grinned when she saw me, "How do you feel?"

"Like I'm Cinderella and my fairy godmother has just gone 'Bibbidi bobbidi boo!'! I laughed. Okay, sure I wasn't wearing a beautiful ball gown; and no I didn't have a coach and four white horses. But I still felt transformed.

"So I'm guessing then that makes me the fairy godmother?" Kaya huffed, stumbling over another blanket as she walked towards me, "The old, grey-haired, fat fairy with the double chin." Sighing, Kaya suddenly dumped the entire bundle of bedding on top of me, almost making me double over from the weight.

"There you go Cinderella," Kaya smiled sweetly, curtsying before me, "Behold your bedding. I expect it to be hand washed before the stroke of midnight. Otherwise, somebody won't be going partying tonight with her fat and old fairy godmother." Kaya nodded at my bewildered expression and walked off into the kitchen. But being Kaya, who couldn't act mad with me to save her life, she couldn't help the smirk that tugged at her lips. So I figured that I should play along for a bit. You know, make her think I believe her to be mad with me.

"Oh Kaya, I'm sorry," I sighed, a smirk playing on my lips, "You're a fantastic fairy godmother!"

"Uh huh," Kaya mumbled, fumbling around in one of my cupboards, "Tell that to your two mice!"

"Ohhhhh, I'm sorry," I whined, coming up behind her and hugging her, "You are a lovely fairy godmother!"

"But you called me fat!" She pouted, trying to push me off of her.

"Nooo! You're not fat! Or old!" Kaya still ignored me, so I gave up and collected my bedding off of the table.

"But I didn't say anything about that double chin of yours!" I mumbled to myself as I left the kitchen. But of course, Kaya heard me.

"Hey!" She laughed, throwing a tea bag at me. It missed me by a mile, and I couldn't help but chuckle to myself as I dumped my bedding in my room.

"Soooo, what's the plan then?" I asked on my return to the kitchen, "Are you going to wave your magic wand and produce us both with exquisite dresses and send us to a ball?"

"Well, you could do with finding your Prince Charming," Kaya sighed, raising her eyebrows as she did.

"Yeah, well," I pressed my hands against the edge of the cool kitchen unit and drummed my fingers, "Ben's just working I guess. I can't help that." Kaya didn't look convinced, and instead shrugged and went back to searching the cupboards.

"Hold on a second, what about you and Dylan?" I laughed, catching her by surprise. She instantly dropped the packet of biscuits she had found, on the floor and looked round at me with a shocked expression.

"What? What are you talking about?" She said shakily, clearly trying to hide something as she bent down and picked the biscuits up.

"Oh come off it, Kaya! It's clear that you like him; and if it's not clear to you that he's bloody head over heels for you, then you must be blind!" A blush crept up the sides of Kaya's face and she gave me a dismayed look.

"Is it really that obvious?" She whined.

"Haha, good try in hiding it Kaya, but yes it is obvious!" I smirked, "So why don't you ask him out?"

"Taylor, in what Disney film do you know where the girl asks the guy out?" She said with raised eyebrows, "And anyway, what about you and Thomas?" I stopped mid-laugh, and stared blankly at her.

"What do you mean?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"Look Taylor, I know how you two have history together, and that you should have had me there with you when he cheated on you so that I could have wrung his neck, but it's clear that there is still some chemistry between the two of you." Kaya took a seat opposite me and looked me over intently, "Listen, I know that you are in love with Ben, and that Thomas has Bella and all, blah blah blah. But I've noticed how you two act when you're around each other. You just seem, comfortable together."

"Thomas and I are just friends," I stated, "There's nothing more. Sure, I loved him when we were together, but that all ended the moment Molly knocked on the front door. It did tear me to pieces inside when I left for New York, and I did want more than anything just to get off that plane and run back into his arms. But then I met Ben and I fell for him. Plus, we're engaged, I might point out to you!" I held my hand up to her face and wiggled my fingers. My engagement ring flashed in the light.

"Yeah yeah, I know!" She laughed, surrendering, "I'm just letting you know what I see. I want you to be happy."

"I am happy, Kaya," I smiled softly, "Don't worry about it. I'm fine." A silence followed between us, and Kaya continued to watch me carefully. It was almost as if she were looking for some hidden detail. Anything, that she could see as a chink in my armour. I couldn't help but think over what she had said. Was I happier with Thomas? Yes, I always had a great time with him, but I had a great time with Ben also. Okay, Thomas was around for more of the time than Ben was, but Ben loved me. Sue, I maybe felt more comfortable around Thomas, but I was still mostly myself around Ben. Right? Thomas loved Bella anyway, so there was no possibility there that he could like me.

"Right then," I cleared my throat in an effort to break the silence, "So what's this plan of yours then? Are we going to that ball after all?"

"Well, Cinderella," Kaya smirked, jumping down from her chair, "You tell me!"