Cinderella turned her head to the palace clock just a few miles away from the forest. Sunset was nearing, and Char STILL hadn't come.
"Do you think he'll come?" she asked the mice.
Jaq swallowed a chunk of watermelon. "Princey was supposed to come TWO HOURS ago!"
Gus nodded. "Jaq-Jaq right. Can we go home?"
Cinderella sighed. "I guess he was too busy." She got up to pack up the food she brought, when she heard a distant voice.
"...I barely get to see her, the picnic was the least I could do..."
"He's here!" Cinderella whispered. She quickly put the food back out.
She was still laying everything out when a shadow stood over her. Charming was looking away, still talking into his phone.
"I know, Ana. Yeah. Love ya. Bye." He sighed and clicked the phone shut.
Cinderella scrambled onto her feet to hug him. "Charming! You're here! I was just about to leave."
Char laughed as they sat down on the picnic blanket. "Sorry for being late, Anastasia was anxious about where I was again."
Cinderella poured fruit punch into two cups. "Fighting again?"
His brown eyes looked sad. "Yeah."
Cinderella patted his knee. "Well, you could always tell me anything. I'm your best friend."
Char smiled. "Girlfriends come and go..."
"But friends are always there for each other." She loved how he still remembered their favorite motto.
They sat there for what seemed like forever, staring at the sunset, just like the best friends they always were.
Suddenly, a loud beeping noise came out of Charming's phone.
"Sorry Cindy, but I promised Ana that I'd see her right now at your house." He got up and offered his hand.
Cinderella reluctantly took it. "But you've only been here an hour!" she complained.
Char decided not to answer and helped her with the cleaning.
Together, they walked to the manor where Cinderella had lived in all her life with her stepfamily. She walked up the steps to the front door and quietly pushed it open.
"CINDERELLA!! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" screamed her stepmother.
Cinderella looked down. "Sorry Stepmother, I was out--"
"You KNOW you're not allowed to go out without my permission. If I ever find you out there again..."
Charming stepped inside. "My apologies, Lady Tremaine. Cindy and I just needed some catching up to do."
Lady Tremaine blushed at his appearance. "Well, then you are forgiven Cinderella."
"CHARMING!" Anastasia ran down the stairs and towards the prince.
Cinderella watched sadly as they shared a kiss right in front of them.
Anastasia pulled away and glared at her stepsister. "Cinderella, I thought I specifically told you to stay away from him!"
"Ana, be easy on her. We haven't seen each other for a while--" Charming pleaded.
"But she's a freaking MAID!! She doesn't deserve to be out with a prince," Anastasia interrupted him.
Cinderella cringed. She was hoping Ana wouldn't play the maid card.
Charming sighed. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow." He smiled at Cinderella and left.
Without a word, Cinderella retreated to her bedroom where she looked out her window. Her face felt hot with her anger, and only cooled when her tears streamed down her face.
Jaq climbed up onto the windowsill and sat next to her hand. "What's wrong, Cinderelly?"
"Did you see how she talked to him?" She didn't even bother saying their names, for Jaq already knew.
"Mean lady yelled at Princey," Jaq said softly.
Cindy sniffled. "He doesn't deserve a person like that. He deserves someone more, someone who could make him happy."
Jaq patted her hand. "Well, look at the bright side! At least Princey will come here tomorrow."
Cinderella wiped her eyes. "I know, Jaq."

And she sat there, wondering what would become of her life.