Cinderella Isn't Her Name

Chapter Two

Ari's POV

Lucy stares the movie, probably avoiding my eye. I glance at her clothes again and bite my lip to hide a smile. Her neon bra does show through the green tinted shirt. Despite that, she doesn't look half as ugly as she thinks. I've known Lucy since she was six and this isn't the worst outfit she could wear. Ella and Kody don't know how Lucy's clothes look on her. The skirt might be somewhat outdated, but it suits Lucy in an odd sort of way.

Snow White is cleaning the dwarves' home when Lucy leans into me, her head resting on my shoulder which causes her messy bun to become messier. She's cute when she's asleep, I think. Then I scold myself. She's your best friend. You can't think about her like that. Seriously, you've got a girlfriend already.

Lucy shifts, her legs stretching out along the couch. I let her lay on me as I half-watch the movie, desperately hoping Ella and Kody don't walk in on this. I don't like them, not since I met them. They were as cunning and horrible then as they are now. Ella always has this wicked glint in her blue eyes and Kody, she's just looks at everything like she's trying to find someone or something to prank. Besides all their tricks, they never clean up after themselves. They're the laziest people I know. I guess it's because their mom is never home, but they make Lucy do all the work. I've helped her on occasion.

Lucy stirs as the evil queen dies and looks up at me. "Hey," she murmurs sleepily. "What'd I miss?"

"The entire movie," I reply.

Lucy glances at the screen and sighs, "Oh well."

"So do you want me to rewind it?" I ask.

Lucy raises her eyebrows and says, "No. Let's watch something else."

"Alright. I have all day. I don't need to be anywhere," I say, getting up from the couch and going to the movie rack.

Lucy goes and takes out Snow White, trading it for Pirates of the Caribbean. She inserts it into the machine and retreats to the couch, where she rests her head on my shoulder again. As the movie plays, we watch, not saying a word to each other. We watch several more movies before I get a text from my girlfriend, Nina. Where the hell r u? i thot we were havin din 2gether :( u gunna com?

I immediately free my left arm, wrapping it awkwardly around Lucy, and begin to text Nina back. Yeah, b there soon. had 2 take shower. srry.

Nina replies a second later. oh ok. ;) luv u

luv u 2, I reply.

"What'cha doing?" Lucy asks, glancing at me.

My face flushes as I say, "Just texting Nina."

"Oh," Lucy mumbles.

"So, I have to go," I continue, feeling terrible as I say it.

I can picture the disappointment on Lucy's face. "Can I have you do one favor before you go?" she asks, sitting up to let me leave.

"Sure," I say, getting to my feet. "What?"

"Can you break down my door?"

I blink at her, then I slowly nod. "Uh, yeah."

Lucy smiles and stands up. "Thanks," she says, walking to the hallway.

I follow her to her room and she gestures to the door. She steps away as I kick the door, budging it a little in its frame. After a few more kicks, the door succumbs and Lucy is able to walk inside. The door is definitely broken, I think to myself.

Lucy turns to me, her face slightly pink. I begin to wonder why, but then I see her usually neat room isn't so neat. She hurries to me and says, "You have somewhere to be."

"Yeah. They did this?" I ask.

Lucy glances over her shoulder and tucks a stray hair behind her ear. "Uh, yeah," she replies, looking back at me. "Seriously, Nina will kill you. Go."

She puts her hands on my chest, pushing me gently out the door. I grab her hands and say, "When I'm done with Nina, I'm coming back here. Ella and Kody are not getting away with this."

"Ari," Lucy pleads. "Come on, Nina will kill me if you don't show up."

I finally allow her to push me out of the room. She attempts to close the door, then blushes a deep red and rushes to pick up her clothes. I hesitate, then I head down the hallway and toward the front door. I pause again at the door, glancing back at the hallway. Then I turn the knob and walk out of the house, hopping into my old, beat-up car and driving off to Nina's.

"Where have you been?" she squeaks, her green eyes blazing.

"I was helping a friend out," I reply defensively. Does she really have to know every detail of my life? Sometimes I question myself on why I even date her.

She frowns and tosses her auburn hair, perfectly curled, over her shoulder. "Well, you should save your caring personality for me. Don't you care about me?" she whines.

"Yes, I do," I say, kissing her cheek.

She beams and grabs my hand. "Come on, Ari. I've got something special for us."

She drags me away from the front door of her house, which is only a bit bigger than Lucy's, and into the kitchen. A bottle of wine sits on the counter alongside a salad and other dishes. Nina turns to me, eyes wide. "So do you like it?" she asks, biting her lip.

Okay, so that's why, I think. She's so dang cute. I smile. "Of course, babe."

Nina giggles and kisses me full on the mouth, kind of sloppily, but she's hot. She hands me the wine bottle and lets me uncork it. I gulp down some of it, handing it over to Nina who immediately drinks half of it. I laugh and take it back. She laughs along with me and kisses me again.

I don't have the hottest girlfriend ever, but Nina's better than Tyler's or his best friend, Scott's. Their girlfriends are cheaters and get drugged too often.

"Ari," Nina coos. "Can you help me? My zipper's slipped down."

I nod and she turns around. The zipper is just fine, but I get the hint. I slowly unzip her green dress, kissing her bare shoulders as it slips off her smooth skin. Nina sighs happily and whirls around, her dress clinging to her hips. We kiss on the couch for hours, Nina eventually falls asleep on top of me and I check my phone.

E & K r home. makin me clean everything :( hows it goin? miss u, from Lucy.

I text her back, fine. N's asleep, as always. u done yet?

I wait a few minutes with no reply. Well, what did you expect? I ask myself. I sigh and set my phone back down. I shouldn't worry so much about her. Nina sniffs and moves. My arm is now being crushed into an uncomfortable position. Oh how I wish Lucy would come save me.