The Princess Pages: A Girl Like Cinderella

Song Fifty Eight

WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE YOUR WORST HEARTBREAK

"Hey, Dirk," Lucy greeted the dark-haired school security guard as she approached him.

"Hello, Miss Heartwood," he smilingly replied, tipping his work hat to her.

Gingerly, the brunette pulled out a single pink rose from her bouquet and handed it to Dirk.

"What's this?" he assesses the flower in his fingers.

"A Thank You for your hard work and efforts," Lucy told him, then bid goodbye to the grateful employee before she climbed into Carter's 2014 mustang, with her bike stored in the backseat.

One rose down. Eleven to go.

Ten minutes of driving later, the best friends arrived at Oakland Cemetery, where Lucy's parents were buried side by side. She placed one rose each in front of the tombstones and offered a fervent prayer, kissing the tombs before they sped towards Vance's elementary school. He usually took the school bus but today, Lucy and Carter would be fetching him.

Right on time, her younger brother had run out of the building when they parked by the curb.

"Cool," Vance said, sliding in front beside his older sister. The front row had three seats.

Lucy plucked a long stemmed rose from her bouquet and gave it to her sibling. "V, here."

Carter's jaw fell when Vance sniffed the flower before proceeding to eat the petals.

"People eat flowers in France," Lucy informed Carter. "He tried it out before."

Four down. Eight to go.

Next, they drove to the convenience store and bought some of their favorite ice cream; Cookie dough for Lucy. Mint chocolate chip for Carter. Plain chocolate for Vance.

"Ready to go?" Carter asked Lucy, who was carrying two small tubs of strawberry ice cream.

His brows furrowed in puzzlement. "The only people I know who like that flavor are--Oh."

Another ten minutes later, they dropped by Annie Fisher's Dress Shop for two reasons:

1. Give her a pink rose

2. Return the wig and dress

Seven more to go.

Luck. Luck. Luck. On their way to the Heartwood Mansion, they passed by Josh Mantle, who was taking a jog in the afternoon.

Six roses left.

Upon arrival at the mansion, Carter parked the car and carried Lucy's bike to the backyard while she and Vance entered the living room, wherein the 12-year-old hopped into fresh clothes and did his homework, much to Lucy's pride. His graduation day was in a week's time, and the bespectacled brunette had been saving up for her brother's present and celebration on that day.

After depositing the ice cream tubs in the freezer, Lucy heard Carter say he was heading home.

She thanked him profusely and they laughed when she peeled out a long rose from her pile.

Five more to go.

Lucy found her blonde stepsister performing yoga in her bedroom. She was stretching on a mat and obeying the handsome instructor's orders.

"Beverly," she called once it was an appropriate time.

The blue-eyed blonde stretched her arms behind her and twisted her body to glare at the pale brunette.

"What?" Beverly snapped, her face starting to perspire.

"Here. I got you these," Lucy said quietly, showing her the pint of strawberry dessert and the pink rose.

The blonde in a black cropped top and pink yoga pants paused the exercise video, then staggered towards Lucy, obviously tired from the activities.

"Why are you giving me these?" She eyed the tokens dubiously.

Lucy sighed, meeting her stepsister's gaze. "Beverly, whatever happened in the past is past. I'm not cured from it, but I'm coping, and this isn't a peace offering or a bribe or poisoned ice cream. I'm giving these to you because I wanted to. You're family, and you can hate me forever, but I still care about you. So, please."

Beverly only rolled her eyes, accepted the gifts, then slammed the door on Lucy's face.

Could have gone better, could have gone worse.

Four more roses to go.

Her next recipient was lounging by the outdoor pool, clad in an indigo tank top and flowery shawl wrapped around her waist. She was reading a magazine. At least she was present.

Lucy opened her mouth to speak but she heard Gail snoring, and seeing that she was asleep, Lucy placed the rose on the table and replaced the ice cream in the freezer.

Three roses left.

She had five minutes to spare when she reached the nearby Diner. Fortunately, Lucy had already tied her raven hair into a smart ponytail, and she was dressed in her yellow shirt uniform and pants and white apron from the waist down.

"Hi, Lucy!" Dan and Ronda said in unison.

The young waitress smiled at them and she parted with two more tall pink roses.

After many thanks, they asked Lucy why she gave them flowers today. She merely shrugged.

Before she started a busy shift, the brunette studied the last remaining rose in her hands. She curled her fingers around the long stem and snapped it in half before tucking the upper half behind her ear, giving a tinge of pink in her dark hair.

No more roses.

Three hours later, Lucy clocked out, reaching behind her and untying her apron.

"You seem different today," Ronda observed while she wiped the last dirty table.

"I feel different," Lucy agreed, asking Dan if she could do the mopping that evening.

Dan let her take the mop duty. He and Ronda watched from behind the long counter as the bespectacled brunette silently cleaned the Diner floor, her expression melancholic. They knew something was wrong.