She's Not Cinderella

Claire sees Red

We stepped out of the limo, arriving at a smart, modern looking building made out of glass. At the reception we were met by Greta, Blake, and Claire, the make up girl from before. As soon as Claire saw William, she threw her arms around him and planted a kiss straight on his lips.

I suddenly felt sick. I didn't have the right to. After all, I still was his employee, but my blood froze. I saw William looking at me, his eyes full of concern, but I looked away, forced a smile on my face, and greeted Bleta.

"Hi." I said awkwardly, as Greta stared anxiously behind me. Were they still at it?

"Hey Adeline." said Blake, completely at ease. "Shall we go up? I trust you've met Claire, she will be doing your hair and makeup for the shooting."

I felt like I had been shot, but I gratefully followed him into the lift, and we were joined by Greta, Claire and Will, who's lips were no longer locked, thankfully,

William needn't be worried about me. He paid me, after all.

When we reached the top Claire and I left the group to get my hair and makeup done.

As soon as we were alone she scowled at me.

"When I first saw you I thought you would never get very far, but I am warning you now. Get away from Will, we're together, you slut. Just because he talks to you a bit doesn't mean he likes you."

I smiled widely at her.

"So what time of makeup are you planning this time, Claire the makeup girl?" I asked innocently, though my heart pained to know Will had a girlfriend.

"Bitch." she spat, and slapped me across the face.

I felt tears welling up as I saw my reddened cheek in the mirror. I had had worse, physically. But I had never like anyone as much as Will.

There, I said it.

I like Will.

But he has a girlfriend.

"You'll need plenty of foundation to cover that up. Or you could just pretend it was blush." I said sweetly, but I shot her a look saying I wasn't taking any of her crap.

"Pull anything else like that and you're fired." I growled, though I felt mean inside. After all, she was just being protective of her boyfriend. I was not a slut. I repeated that in my head again and again till I believed it.

Claire was right.

It was my fault.

But I was not a slut.

In silence she put my makeup on and curled my hair, with the occasional

"Turn your head"

and "Close your eyes".

She then left and I put on the blue dress, the lacy blue fabric tight against my skin in a perfect fit.

Smiling widely to let endorphins into my brain, hoping science would make me feel better, I left the room, thinking I was ready to face Will.

I wasn't. I didn't even meet his eyes.

The photographer gestured to me.

"Hi, I'm Nick, just, stand on the X. Yes, there." I shuffled onto the black X on the green background.

"Now just look up. Look at that, um, clock. Yeah.. " I looked at the clock. It was 6 already. I tried not to blink at the flash of the camera.

"That's great. Can you change now to the white dress..."