Cinderella in the Cameras

Chapter 13- Terrifying Pumpkins

I smile at all the memories I had that looked like this. Me on one side of the table, and Nennet on the other giving me a gracious serving of her mashed potatoes. Nennet was the one person there for me on nights my mom couldn't be. Nennet was the one person I could always count on. 

"Dinner is served!" She sang with a southern twang. I smiled even bigger if that was possible. Nennet placed a hot plate of some cheesy lasagna in front of me and my mouth started to water. "And Ella I don't care if you are some celeb wit ha super strict diet I slaved over that stove your gonna eat my food." She said playfully.

"No! Don't worry, tabloid opinions won't stop me from enjoying a good meal." I answered her then laughed it off. 

"So, Nennet, how did you meet Ella?" River asks, shock runs through my veins and my eyes widen. I usually never tell people my past.

"Well, I think you should ask Ella that." Nennet ordered him and gave me a encouraging gaze. I let out a long sigh; she meant business and no one says no to Nennet Weller. 

"Well, it's sort of a long story." I sighed.

"Well, we have time." He responded patiently.

I gave him a sad look from under my lashes and begun my story:

"Once upon a time there was a girl named Ella. Her parents thought it would be hilarious to make her middle name Cinder, but turns out she didn't think so. People made fun of her at school and she got really sad and had no friends. Then her dad left. That left her mom with a job that didn't pay well and a teen who likes to read alot. They moved into a trailer park where she made two friends, Brook and Nennet, and then the mom started teaching Cinderella how to act. She made it into show business and now all the old bullies love her. Sadly, now there are even worse bullies who watch your every move and point out all your flaws." I started to tell too much but I couldn't stop now, I didn't dare glance up at River, " Then her parents got back together and her mom was mean again. Ella's mom almost got her raped twice by some crazy famous douche, now Ella is stuck in here with a boy who tried to kiss her but she like too much to date because the new bullies will hurt him. And the boy keeps slowly breaking down her walls and Ella doesn't know what to do." I wiped the tears from my eyes and left the room without looking at anyone. Why did I do that? Well no one says no to Nennet, and well he was going to find out somehow. 

I was a few feet from my room when suddenly I was knocked to the ground. On top of me was River, he looked like he had cried. I looked away from his affectionate gaze.

"Ella, please, just look at me." He said softly and turned my chin so I could look into his beautiful dark green orbs. He was so close I could feel his worm breath on my cheeks. "I don't care about your past, I don't like it but it made you who you are today. And the person you are today is amazing. There isn't a way in our language to describe my feelings for you. I don't care what the others say, ok?"

"No, River, that's just it. I have feelings for you too, ok? But I can't, it will only and up hurting you in the end. I'd rather be completely alone then have to watch you ripped to shreads by the paps. I can't let you get hurt, you deserve a normal girl. Some one you can take on dates where you won't get mobbed or spend the night with without it being huge news for the next two weeks. But every time you give me those eyes, it breaks my walls just a bit more."

"No, Ella, don't talk like that," He furrowed his eyebrows together, "I said I dont-"

"No, please just get off me River." I patted his chest and he obliged. I walked back to the kitchen and grabbed my lasagna only to find a sight that makes me smile in my darkest of moods.

"Oh, I just love your costume dear! So glam!" She complimented a sparkly cowgirl on our doorstep and handed her some candy from my stash. All the little kids had flushed faces and huge smiles. I had almost forgot today was Halloween. 

"Nennet! What are you doing!" River roared when he walked into the room. Nennet smiled sheepishly and shrugged her shoulders.

River started to stomp in her direct but I interrupted, "No, River. Let the kids have some fun." The smile was still on my face as he stopped and glanced back at me. 

"Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice, I nodded to him and walked back to the closet to look for a quick costume. I grabbed a fancy dress and a mask from one of my school dances. I quickly changed and when I walked back out even more kids were at the door.

"Wow, your dress is so pretty!" One blonde fairy told me. 

"Aw, thank you! Your tutu is so beautiful!" I laughed and complimented her back. Nennet was smiling really big and enjoying the time with kids. She had never had her own since her husband died in Iraq so I was pretty much her only daughter. I helped her pass out handfuls of candy to kids with great costumes.

"Ew! Cooties!" A passing by princess screamed. We all laughed as she ran towards her house.

I stepped onto the porch with our candy and kept serving large amounts to any kid who came by now. Mostly now it was just some older kids so I prepared to go inside when I saw it.

I screamed with all my might but stayed frozen. The demon had reappeared. 

"What? Are you hurt? What happened? Ella?!" River anxiously questioned. I stayed quiet but pointed to the eight-legged devil sitting on a pumpkin nearby.

"Spider." I whispered weakly.

"Ella, really? It's harmless." He rolled his eyes at me but still cracked a smile.

"You say that now but you'll change your mind when it makes a next of your ear canal." 

River snuck behind the pumpkin and slayed the demon before responding, "Well, now it's gone. What's my reward, dear?" He smirked and pointed to his lips.

I just shook my head at him, "Your reward is no baby spiders in your ear. Or mysterious deadly bites!" With that I turned dramatically in my dress and stomped inside.