The Princess Pages: A Girl Like Cinderella

Song Forty

TRENT MEETS LUCY (FINALLY!)

Three weeks until graduation day.

It was Wednesday noon and Lucy Heartwood didn't waste any time--the second she heard the lunch bell ring, she practically zoomed out of her classroom, escaping her bullies' wrath, and her feet brought her to the school library, her second most favorite place in school, apart from The Grove.

She'd unceremoniously stuffed her face with some cinnamon rolls before she stepped foot in the quiet, air-conditioned room full of high shelves, glossy tables, and acres of books in different heights and widths.

Not surprisingly, as she purposefully roamed the library, Lucy observed the lack of students, slightly pleased that the whole place was hers, and a little miffed, because final exams were in two weeks, and her classmates should really be hitting the books, what with heavy mountains of quizzes and projects and requirements looming in the horizon, not to mention that college entrance exams were drawing nearer and nearer.

Not that she cared. No. She was just stating facts.

Less than five minutes later, the blue-eyed brunette in the blue hoodie and thick glasses had expertly maneuvered through the bookshelves and tables, stacking up book after book in her pale but long and strong arms as she passed by the appropriate aisles.

She silently dumped the tower of about ten reading materials on the librarian's desk.

Sitting on a swivel chair behind the long counter was a woman in her late thirties. She had her strawberry blonde hair drawn up into a smart bun, and her lanky figure was clad in a plain white blouse teamed with black slacks. Her name tag said Emery, and her striking teal blue eyes gazed fondly at the 17-year-old bookworm.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite grade-grind," Mrs. Emery Hansen greeted,her voice full of warmth.

"Hi, Emery," Lucy said with a tiny smile. They've been on a first-name basis since she was a freshman. They shared a common ground: which was their severe love of books and solitary.

The blonde woman flashed another kind smile at the brunette before she encoded Lucy Heartwood into the white computer in front of her, professionally tapping away on the keyboard for a few minutes, then arranged all ten books neatly in front of her, thrusting the stack towards Lucy.

"There you go," Emery chirped, patting the very top tome. "Busy month, huh, Lucy?"

"That's an understatement," the bespectacled girl quipped, adjusting her glasses, before she scooped up her borrowed books into her arms, placing half inside her black backpack, while she carried the other five in her arms on her way to her next classroom.

Okay, Lucy thought, as she walked along the gloomy corridor. She made a mental list of her schoolwork to tackle once she got home. She hated cramming:

Five-page essay on her Asian and American heritage

Online Physics Quiz (Should take about thirty minutes)

Three-page reflection on her favorite book (She would have enjoyed writing more pages)

Sheet Activity about classic and modern art

Then she had to fetch her brother Vance, before preparing dinner because Gail just got home from her her trip from Seattle--

CRASH!

"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING, LOSER!" A guy called out harshly as he sprinted along the corridor, leaving Lucy sprawled on the floor, surrounded by opened books.

The blue-eyed teen groaned, pushing her thick glasses up her nose, then she began to gather her library books when suddenly, another group of jerks appeared in the hallway.