Another Cinderella Story

Happily Never After

The nutcracker video was everywhere, even E! I'd become a celebrity for the wrong reasons. Archer's band, Eagle Wings, became very popular because of me; I guess tragedy sells after all.

The lawsuit never came, what came was far worse, mono, two weeks of hell later! Dad was so mad, he grounded me again, this time, searching for every hidden device in my room. He even took away the walkman Anton gave me for my last birthday even though I never use it.

Worse, I was allowed thirty minutes only for visitors. The only visitor I'd have had is Tiffany and with the games in full season, she was scarce! I was shut out of the world with no access to information. Even Lois was being surprisingly adamant about helping me.

"Daddy, I'm responding to treatment rather well, don't you think?" I beseech during during dinner.
"Don't bother Ella" he said. He only called me Ella when he was angry.
"It's been three weeks!" I cry.

"Until the doctor assures me you've been completely cured from glandular fever, you're not leaving this house."
"But daddy!" I whine in a baby voice. It came out sounding like I was choking because of the sore throat.

"No buts. Let's hope you don't get into any more trouble. Do you know that we received a lawsuit from one Mr Reedy? I paid for his nose surgery and while I had no problem with the money, it reflected bad on me, on my company! The board of directors are mumbling, saying I am not fit to run a company if I cannot control my own daughter!"

Yikes! Daddy dearest has never been this pissed with me, never! I reflect on my actions and wonder if I could have done something better, but I fail to see how any of this is my fault.

Excusing myself from the table, I hobble to my room and bawl on my thousand thread count sheets, cursing Archer Michaels and all that he stood for. I'm still bawling when I receive the unlikeliest of visitors.

"Come to gloat?" I ask
"I came to apologize." Peyton says and I huff
"About which part? Kissing the guy I called dibs on or treating me like crap all through the years?" I ask

"All of it." She whispers.
I see she's keeping her distance because I'm sorta contagious but I don't care. My whole diva empire had crumbled anyway. I face the ceiling and ignore her, wishing it all never happened.

"Are you still there? I croak
"Of course. You sound horrible so I'll do the talking. Rowan is out of the hospital." This snags my attention. "Archer is doing hundred days community service for the whole underage drinking thing and assaulting Rowan."

"I wish they'd tossed his ass in juvie." I say.
"School is not the same without you. I know you think I ruined your school year..."
"Naa, Archer did that. I was so stupid."
"So was I! I can't believe I fell for a guy who's in love with himself. You should see him preening before a mirror! I bet Mr America doesn't preen as much."

"Why are you here?"
"Well, I've been thinking about what happened between us, about Matt. I think I should explain. It was a bet."
"We were kids!"

"Duh, I know that. It was a bet and wasn't supposed to mean anything. Before then, your mother bought you this cute pink number and you hated it but wore it anyway. When I told you I liked it, you just laughed and told me I'd look ridiculous in it. A red head may never wear pink you said. So I wore pink and you laughed at me, in presence of people."

"You took the dare to hurt me?"
"I figured you'd get over it. But you started hanging with Tiffany so I felt betrayed. I thought if we couldn't be friends..."
"We'll make good frenemies."

She nods and I marvel at this. Such a simple matter resulted in years long malice. I smile at her and she smiles back. We'd totally hug right now but I had mono! Stupid Archer and his stupid mouth.

Daddy came to usher Peyton out, citing that her thirty minutes were up. I groaned and close my eyes, imagining going back to school. I might not have gotten a happily ever after like Cinderella, but I knew things would be different from here on.

On lesson I'd learnt from all these is that my actions affect others more than I think. So I'm taking the grown up approach and turning a new leaf. I mentally cringe at the word.