Cinderella: A Classical Twist

Chapter 1:Cinderella

*Cinderella's POV*

My name is Elenor, but you can call me Ella or Cinder or Cinderella, everyone does. It seems like nobody but my best friend, Elle, and the tender of the bar that I go to regularly ever listens when I say "Just call me Nora. Please." Elle is my one and only friend in this dump that is my life. Funnily enough, even though I hate drinking and so does she, we met in a bar in Frell, the town next to our town, Jeweltown.

*Flashback*

I was sitting at the bar, continually refusing all of the offers to buy me a drink from the hulking, drunk, guys when the dirt opened and another girl walked in. She seemed out of touch, like she was experiencing it all for the first time.

She swaggered up the bar stool next to me and started talking, though I was too focused on her to hear what she was saying. She was just so beautiful. She had the most tan skin, though it was clearly pale before, her eyes sparkled like a pool of blood on the floor, a bright red, and her hair was the colour of black satin. She was wearing very old clothes that were almost too small for her and was very clearly poor. And yet, she was just as beautiful as she would be in a ball gown at a ball for the princess.

Suddenly "...And so that is my story, what's your name at least." I could feel my cheeks burning in embarrassment. "Oh...Ummm..." she sighed "You weren't listing were you? That's ok, I'll just go." "No!" I exclaimed a little too loudly. At this point my cheeks were as hot as they could get. Or so I thought.

"I-I wasn't listening, but I am sorry and will make it up to you. How about I buy you a drink?" Near the end my voice starts to skweek. " My eyes are up here, you know." And cue my stupid, stupid cheeks. As my cheeks got even hotter than they were before she started to reply. "I'll just take a cranberry juice." My eyebrow flew up. "You don't drink either?" She giggled. "Nope. I just came here to experience life outside my house." I then called to the bartender. "A refill for my ginger ale and a cranberry juice over here please." The mysterious woman smiled. "You seem to be very polite to the bartender." "Doesn't let my folks know I'm here." I explained. "Ahhh. I see." She looked slightly relived. Just as an awkward silence was taking over Oliver, the bar tender, came over with our drinks. "Thank you" the woman said as Oliver handed her her glass. "This ones definitely a keeper, Nora." Again the blush comes back. Curse my ultra pale skin. "I just met her. I don't even know her name." He grinned "From the way you looked at her I'd say you should go for it." Oliver whispered the last part. "Oliver!" I said while snaking him lightly on his head. "Okay okay. I get when I'm not wanted." As he left he winked at me.

"What was that all about?" The woman jerked me from my thoughts. Which, to be honest, were mostly fantasies of her. "Nothing. He says this about every girl I buy drinks for. Im lesbian." She stares at me for a moment in shock. Like what the heal! It took me forever to come out to Oliver, and he's my closest friend. She's probably homophobic and even if she's not there is no way she is also a lesbian. She is way too perfect.

"Wow, I wish I was that open about stuff." She finally says. "I'm sorry, I'm not usually so outspoken, I'll just be going before you stone me." I stated this all in a, hopefully, calm voice, even while I was freaking out inside. "WHAT? Why would I do that?" "That's what my family did to me when they found out. So I kind of expected the same grime everyone else as well."

She stared at me in horror. "I'm never telling my family I'm lesbian then." I heard her voice but it took a moment to register. "Wow..." was all I could say. "So, now that we've got our darkest secrets out of the way why don't we sack say our names, our age and the town that we live in. I'll start. My name is Elle, I'm 17 turning 18 in three days, on march 7th and I live in Jeweltown." I finally found my voice. "My n-name is E-El-Elenor, b-but please, c-call me N-Nora. I-I'm 18 today, i-if it's M-March 5th a-and I l-live in J-Jeweltown a-as well." I lucked out. My nervousness causing my stutter to come back. "Nora is a lovely name, and so is Elenor."

We sat there in comfortable silence for most of the rest of the night, my confidence slowly increasing as my stutter decreased. Occasionally we made small talk but not often. At the end of the night we said our goodbyes and left, promising to see each other again.

*End Flashback*

The next day she came back. And the next. She didn't come on her birthday but she came every other night. Many More secrets were spilled, the most important one being that Elle is the princess. I was kinda shocked but quickly got over it. Now, 4 years later, we are fast friends and see each other almost every night, unless there's a ball.

I love my life outside of my home but my home life is messed up. My father abuses me, even has gone as far as to rape me, after I came out to him. My mother died and he never remarried. I've never told this to Ella, and she hasn't said much about her home life either, except that it's a drag. One day she will know everything but for now she is my escape. That makes it sound like I don't care about her, but I do. Probably too much. Oh well.

A/N
Hey guys, just to let you know this is also my first story, I'm not sure if I've already said this or not but it is, as well as my first girlxgirl so please, no hate!
Thanks
-@EmilyClaire7