Chasing Cinderella (Book one of the Cinderella Series) (Completed)

Chapter 35 (Edited)

"You do realize that I am at liberty to tell your stepmother that you had disrupted the peace of the cafeteria, right?" Principal Reynolds stated, raising an eyebrow. She leaned against her desk and stared at me, trying to get me to crack as to why I started to act up now and not beforehand.

I huffed and folded my arms across my chest. I really didn't care if she told my step-mother or not. I was still seething and hurt that Dean thought I was lying. All I wanted to do was go home and cry my heart out.

Principal Reynolds sighed and moved a hand through her hair, looking rather worn out. "What are the songs, Isabella?" she asked, calling me by my real name. "I know that you know them."

"Even if I did know them, why would I tell you?" I wasn't talking to her like I would a principal, and I knew that others would be punished if they did. The only reason as to why I talked to her like that was because she was and always will be my father's friend first and principal second. Besides, I think she understood why I didn't go out and say the songs in the first place.

Principal Reynolds sighed and moved her glasses off her face and rubbed the bridge between her nose. "Because," she said. "You need guidance, and i promised your father that I would look out for you." She glanced me up and down. "I know that your stepmother doesn't." Distaste filled her voice, and I couldn't help but snort and roll my eyes.

"That doesn't mean I will tell you," I replied.

"Do you want to get grounded, or worse?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "I know what Delilah does behind closed doors, yet you do not tell me nor try to tell anyone to get help or leave. Why is that?"

I shrugged, not looking at her. i wasn't surprised that she knew that I was abused by my step-mother and remembered all the times that she threatened to pull me out of the house. It took about two months of not talking to her to actually stop and realize as to why I didn't just leave in the first place.

She sighed. "Why are you scared?" she asked. "Better yet, what are you afraid of?"

I chuckled darkly, fiddling with my sleeves. What wasn't I afraid of? I was afraid for my life. I was afraid of losing the house that was so rightfully mine. I was afraid that she would run the business into the ground and then blame me for it. But, I was mainly afraid to love and let a new person close to my heart and have them rip it out when they decided that I wasn't really worth the fight.

"Isabella?" she inquired.

"My "family" I can handle," I said. I wiped my nose, hating how it still felt stuffed up while I was trying not to cry. "I can't leave Derek there to feel what it is like to be unloved. But..." I shrugged my shoulder. "I am scared that if I let him in, he will finally break me." I shook my head, smirking. "I am hanging by a thread, Sir. It doesn't seem like it, but I am."

"Then let me take you and Derek out of the house. I-"

"But the house belongs to me," I interrupted. "It has belong to my family for generations and generations. I was born there, and there I will have my last stand. I just need that stupid paper that states it is mine."

"But what if you go to that college like you are planning on doing?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Then I can prove to myself and her that I know what I am doing," I replied. "If I get in." I shrugged my shoulder, hoping that I would.

Principal Reynolds nodded. "As for Mr.Andrews, I say give him a chance. He talks about you with such love, that I'm surprised that you two are not a couple."

"But he doesn't want a charity case as a girlfriend," I said. "He talks about this girl with such love and hope that it is hard to believe that I was the one that had danced with him. I mean I-" I clamped my mouth shut when I told her that I did dance with him. My cheeks turned a reddish color as I looked down, not wanting to see her 'I told you so' smirk.

"Derrin told me," she soothed. "I gave him the advice to go talk to you."

I nodded and sighed. "Do I have to tell you?" I asked, looking up at her through thick eyelashes. Defeat showed through my features, and I knew that I wouldn't be able to leave if I didn't.

Principal Reynolds nodded. "Yes," she replied.

I looked at my hands and chewed on my lip. "The most five played songs are: The Words by Christina Perri, Piano Man by Billy Joel, A Broken Wing by Martina McBride, Don't Stop Believing by Journey, and Wanted by Hunter Hayes."

Principal Reynolds nodded, again. "Go," she said. "Your step-mother will not know about this."

I nodded my head and left, my face as read as a tomato.

***

"How'd it go?" Anna asked as I made it out of the office and into the hall. Her eyes held worry while she looked me up and down. "You are not hurt, are you?"

I shrugged. "It doesn't matter," I replied, curtly. "Now, what are you doing here?"

"Came to see you and was wondering if you could sing me a song," Anna replied, shrugging her shoulder. "And don't say no. I am feeling a bit down right now, and I could use a song played by you." She pouted, giving me that look she knew that I wouldn't be able to say "no" to.

I groaned. "Fine," I held out my hand and let her pull me to the music room. "Now, what song is it that you were wanting me to sing?"

"Well, the one that you have been working on, duh," Anna said.

I grumbled, because it was the song that I had danced with Dean to. "Why that one?"

"Because, I love watching you play the piano and your emotion in it," Anna replied, shrugging her shoulder.

I huffed and let go of her hand when we reached the music room. I glanced around to see that it was quiet and was glad. "Fine," I grumbled, walking to the piano. I moved my hand across the wood before pushing up the keys. "This stays between us, alright?" I looked at her with a look. I knew that I was going to break down a little, but I didn't care. Anna wanted it, so I was going to give it to her, no matter how bad i felt.

Anna gave me a sympathetic smile and nodded her head. "Ya."

I took a deep breath and sat down before starting to play the song. I sung through the pain and the heartache, letting all of my feelings into it. I could feel tears well up in my eyes as I thought about the look on Dean's face when I had told him.

The door opened, and I looked up to see that Dean was there as well as Carter and Bax. I didn't let their appearance to make me stop singing, but I did sing the next part looking at him.

I know that we're both afraid. We both made the same mistakes. An open heart is an open wound to you. And in the wind of a heavy choice. Love has a quiet voice. Still your mind, now I'm yours to choose.

I took a deep breath. This part of the lyrics hit home with me, and I understood what she meant when she had said them.

And I know. The scariest part is letting go. Let my love be the light that guides you home.

The song finished with me still looking at him. I took a deep breath and stayed where I was, not moving from behind the piano.

Dea broke the silence first and took a step forward. Confusion, hurt, happiness, and an unknown emotion ranged through his eyes. "It was you," he said softly, causing me to shrug. "You were my mystery girl all this time."  

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A/N: So, how did ya'll like it?