Cowgirl Boots: a Cinderella Story

Chapter 11

Grace was arrived fifteen minutes later, after I gave her directions. I let her in through the back door and she immediately started my 'makeover'. The dress was perfect. It was white with ruffles in the skirt, with tank-top sleeves. Grace had paired it with the most beautiful brown cow girl boots I had ever seen.  She lightly placed a pin with a flower on it in my loose bun, letting the loose strands hang around my face.  

Grace herself was also dressed for the dance.  I assumed she had already been there, but had left to help me. She was the best best friend ever!

"Thank-you so much!" I thanked her giving her a huge hug, "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too, Iris. Now, let's go." Grace replied, hugging me back, before she pulled away and ran for the door.

I ran after her, letting all my worries float away.

"Thank-You, Jesus!" I whispered, closing my eyes, as I stepped outside.

The stars had already come out, sparkling in the black sky. We ran to Grace's white jeep, which she had received for her birthday, and drove to the Johnson's in less than ten minutes.

We pulled up behind all the other vehicles outside of the giant barn.

"Alicia and Selina can't know I'm here." I told Grace.

"You mean that woman who pulled you away from me?" Grace asked, borrowing her eyebrows.

"Yes." I replied, trying not to let myself think about that time.

"Alright, I got your back." Grace assured me, squeezing my hand, before we both jumped out of the jeep.

We hurried into the barn and hid in one of the corners, where there was a cute bench, which matched the rest of the fall decorations and furniture. There were plastic pumpkins and real un-shucked corn displayed along the edges of the floor, with straw underneath of them.

"It's beautiful in here." I remarked, sitting next to Grace on the bench.

"I know, it's amazing! Do you want something to eat?" Grace answered, excitedly.

"Absolutely!" I grinned.

"Great, I'll go get us something. You wait here." Grace instructed me, weaving her way into the crowd.

I let my gaze sweep the crowd and decorations around me. Everything looked perfect! I was almost able to forget that my real life would begin as soon as my alarm rang the next morning.

Gamrace soon returned with pumpkin squares and cups of hot chocolatte. We talked for about an hour, catching up on all that had happened since Father's death. Remembering that day was the only down part about our conversation, and Grace quickly moved on from that topic.

Her date soon found Grace and asked her to dance. I told her to go ahead and she assured me that she would watch for Alicia and Selina.

I made my way to the snack bar and grabbed another pumpkin bar. I hesitated, then grabbed four more and slipped through a side door to the outside.

There were rows of round bales lined up a few yards in front of me. The sky was still clear, showing the millions of stars in the sky.

A shadow moved on the round bales, so I peered closer.  I was able to make out the silhouette of a human, so naturally, I climbed up on the bale next to whoever it was, not thinking about how whoever it was could be someone I didn't want to gaze at the stars with.  

Whoever it was instantly turned to see who I was as I hoisted myself onto the bale.  Jacob.  Oh well, it could be worse, I thought and settled myself on the hay beside him.  Jacob had returned his attention to the stars, so I just laid there and ate my pumpkin squares.  

"Want one?"  I asked lamely.  

Jacob glanced at me with a raised eyebrow, then glanced at the pumpkin square.  He seemed to be having an argument with himself, so I just gave him the square and returned my attention to the stars.  I found the big dipper and was in the process of finding the little dipper when Jacob broke the silence.  

"Why are you here?"  I asked bluntly.  

"Because it's crowded in the barn."  I replied, "do I need a reason?"  

"No, I was just curious."  

"Why are you out here instead of inside?  It's your family's party after all."  

"Because it's a clear night and I'm not really a fan of parties."  

"This one's nice.  Whoever did the decorations did a very good job.  Not to mention these pumpkin squares."  I grinned.  

I felt Jacob turn his head toward me.  

"I did the decorations.  We bought the squares."  

"You bought them?  Why didn't you just make them with your own two hands?"  I teased.  

"Because  my hands hurt to much after you crashed into them."  Jacob replied in a robot voice.  

I glanced at him to see whether or not he was teasing.  He had a huge grin spread out on his face, so I hit him.  

"Hey, I was late for class, and half asleep!"  I laughed.  

"Why would you be half asleep?"  He replied, grabbing my hands and holding them away from himself.

"Because I was tired."  I replied, sitting up and pulling my hands away from his warm hands.  

What was I thinking, teasing a stranger, and Selina's crush of all the people in the world.  Selina will never know, I argued with myself.  

Jacob rolled his eyes before returning his attention to the stars and returning to his thoughts.  I did the same and just sat there.  

The temperature slowly dropped and I began of thinking of going back inside, as my dress wasn't very warm.  Jacob glanced at me.  

"You cold?"  He asked.  

"Nope, I'm just shivering for no reason."  I answered dully.  

"The hay's warm."  

I hesitated before laying down again.  He was right, the bale still held the heat of the day.  Jacob moved one of his hands, which had been behind his head, to his side so his elbow wouldn't be poking my head.  My eyes focused on one star, straight above me, while my other senses knew Jacob's hand was only a few inches from my own.  Calm down, I commanded myself.