Not So Cinderella

Chapter 1

A/N

So I started this story because of a challange from a friend. I write a romance (something my personal life lacks) and I get to pick a genre for her to write. So this is the romance story, I guess, looking forward to her action one

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Chapter 1

At 6:30 sharp the alarm started ringing. As soon as the first chirp started a hand shot out from under a nest of blankets to hit the off button. A figure stirred under the mass of pillows, blanket, and stuffed animals before making its appearance. First to greet the morning light was a mess of dyed blonde hair with black roots. Her hair managed to shield her still tender eyes from the full force of the rising sun. Slender but muscled arms stretched before flopping back onto the bed. She lazily rubbed her eyes before pushing the blanket away to pad across the cool wooden floor to a full body mirror.

Hair in a haphazard mess, slight bags under her deep blue eyes, a bit of drool hanging off the corner of her lip, not the most pleasent thing to see first thing in the morning. She grabbed the brush from her bedside table and ran it through her hair in a vain attempt to tame it. About halfway decent and she decided to pull it up into a messy, lopsided bun instead. She rustled through her drawer and pulled on a fading light blue shirt, that might have been a deep navy at one point in time, and black skinny jeans.

She padded down the hall of the small three bedroom, one bathroom apartment that she shared with her ditzy stepfather and younger twin brothers. She kicked aside the occasional action figure or lego and made it to the kitchen where she was greeted with the sight of an overflowing sink. The dishes were stacked over the rim and she frowned 'I'll do it later.' She pulled out some eggs and bacon, something easy, for breakfast and started up the stove. It felt like a lazy day.

7:30 and the other alarms in the house had gone off at least twice already. She grinned at the loud thuds that resonated through the apartment.

"Ella! Where's my favorite shirt?"

"Ella! My backpack is gone!"

"Ella! I can't find my good shoes!"

Ella slipped the last of the bacon onto a plate and set it on the table with the eggs. She walked back down the hall and helped her brother Nick find his missing backpack then helped Nate find his missing shirt. She then went to her stepfather's room and found his dress shoes. 7:40 and she had 5 minutes before the buses got here.

She picked up a small frame that held a picture of a smiling woman, same deep blue eyes as Ella but with naturally golden hair that fell in little waves unlike the untameable mess that was currently tied up. "Bye mom. Off for another year of school." She smiled at the picture before yelling out, "Laters!" The rest of her family was at the table trying to cram as much food as they could in their mouths before they had to leave.

"Mmmmm!"

That was as close to goodbye as she was gonna get.

The bus arrived at 7:45 and she scowled at it. Peeling blue and white paint covered by graffiti was less than appealing. The rambunctious teens, and adults yelling into their phones made it even less so. Just great.

A ten minute bus ride left her a block from her school. Ashford Academy, pristine white marble floors, clean royal purple lockers, and crisp black uniforms. It was a prestigious school that ranked among the top 3 in the nation. Ella just managed to get in on a full scholarship.

She was pretty used to being different, her attire didn't exactly match the uniforms, close to being a three-piece suit, worn by her peers. She just couldn't afford them. She had already adjusted to the nasty looks, degrading comments, and the occasional prank administered due to her social status or lack thereof.

The incoming freshmen whispered at her, not expecting to see someone of her status at this school and she grit her teeth. These people were pompous and degrading. They used their parent's money to sway their status in school. They were so consumed with thoughts of designer clothes, top of the line cars, and who was going to Paris that weekened it was sickening. If it wasn't for the obvious quality of the education Ella wouldn't have a second thought about leaving.

She walked to her locker and fished out the schedule the admin left. AP Calculus, AP physics, Computer programing, AP British Lit, modern dance, art history, and French. She groaned at the workload but knew her fancy scholarship depended on it. Her head spun at the fact that she had AP calc, Computer programing, modern dance, and french today.

She slammed her locker shut and balanced her calc and computer books in her arms before turning and slamming right into a young man. Not just any young man, he was only the schools richest kid. Logan Ashford, great-grandson of the school's founder Lucas Ashford, son of James Ashford who was one of the richest men in the nation. Of all the people to run into Ella was lucky enough to run into him.

She would admit to him being attractive, tossed dark brown hair that had a slight wave to it, dark hazel green eyes, toned with a six pack she assumes, and captain of the soccer team. Yup he was a looker but that's as far as Ella thought of him. He was simply eye candy. 

The fact that he had a girl hanging off each arm ruined his "prince-like" image. They both had skirts that were to short and their obviously fake breasts popping out of their crop tops. A blatent violation of dress code if Ella ever saw one.

"Watch where you're going Peasant."

He did not just go there. Okay, so her attire didn't match the rich criteria but neither did those girls' clothes or lack thereof.

"Geez. Look at that. You scratched my new Rolex watch."

He's gotta be joking. 'I didn't even touch his stupid watch. His little arm decor was in the way!' Ella fumed at his accusation.

"Excuse me Casanova.  I didn't touch your watch, those whores hanging off your arm did a good job of getting in my way." She scowled at his bewildered expression and gathered her books before standing and storming off.

'I'm stupid. For an honor student I'm an idiot. I just picked a fight with the school's richest teen. There goes my scholarship.' That signaled the end of Ella mediocre life as she knew it.

A/N

Yep. That's it.

Well hope you enjoyed!

Laters!