Cinderella's Ghost

Chapter 7: Their To-Do List

A voice
A magic flower
And Cinderella who has now her glass slipper

Chapter 7

The weekends passed quickly. Just within that two days, it dawned on me how much things had changed. Just last week, I was calling Jarell a toad, and now, things were quite different. It didn't feel like we were acquaintances anymore – but somewhere between acquaintances and friends. I couldn't quite point out what that barrier was, but one thing's for sure: although we'd come to a peaceful conclusion Friday night, not all times were peaceful. Truthfully, our bickering took up the most time and effort.

Just the other day on the trip to the grocery store, I had to deal with his reluctance to be brought along. I should have figured out sooner that not all of that arrogance was a lie, or maybe he was merely used to being arrogant that such an attitude appeared out of him naturally. Whatever the reason was, he nearly drove me crazy with his complaints. We quarrelled a little over it and after, when he was too honest about my lack of taste in cereals. I went ahead to slap his arm on impulse (no one insults Honey Stars and gets away with it!) – and, to both of our surprise, I succeeded. While I walked home with a skip in my steps, Jarell dragged his feet, muttering about how unfair it all was even though in my head, I was telling myself never to do it again for fear of the rush of cold running through my veins. But he didn't need to know that, did he?

However much I seemed to get used to Jarell's presence, I could never bring myself to embrace this change entirely. Without meaning to, he'd evoked so many memories in me. Like back in the fight about the trip to the grocery store? I remembered how much I had hated the task initially when I was younger, but I had to do it, to be more independent. Being too much of a child would not help my dad get through things as a single father, and I knew he needed that support. Rather than to reminisce in peace, I'd always find myself pushing those memories away. They always brought pain to my heart, no matter how nostalgic they might be.

And so the weekends gave way to Monday. Back in school, I had expected my peaceful days to continue. Jarell had only been in the accident a few days ago, so I was quite sure the effect of it would not wear off so soon.

How wrong I was.

The first thing that happened to me when I set foot in the classroom – and early – I had sprite thrown at my face. The few of my classmates who had decided to arrive early that day stayed silent and gawked, distracted from their revision, but none stood up and confronted Lilla. Well, of course Lilla, the older, more egotistical twin. Lina just stared, wide-eyed, a look of mock innocence on her face. Simon was doubled over, trying hard not to laugh, and I'd never wanted so much as to punch that Cheshire grin off his face then.

"Oh, God, you should see the look on your face!" Simon roared.

Jarell moved in front of me and surveyed my face, seemingly curious. Then, I saw the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. That bastard. What was it with me and my face whenever they succeeded in tricking me?

"I. Am. So sorry, Ellyn. It just slipped," Lilla said wickedly, a familiar fire in her eyes, a look that challenged me, dared me to tell everyone that she did it on purpose.

And like always, I gave a sigh, used to her tactics and constant reminder that even if I were to tell on them, the teachers would not believe me for there was no proper evidence, and Carrie would oh-so-lovingly reward me by giving me more chores. Everything would have worked if my classmates were brave enough to step forward. Just one. But us being in junior college right now? Too little time for drama. If only Lilla and Lina would think that way too. I could not, for the life of me, even know how they had acquired a spot in a college in the first place with their dismal grades from secondary school.