"Cinderelly!! CINDERELLY!!" screamed a high-pitched voice.
I groaned. "What?"
Jaq pulled at my braided hair. "Anastasia! She need you!"
I jumped out of bed and hurried to get ready. I was wondering why my stepsister would need me this early in the morning.
"CINDERELLA!!" Anastasia screamed through those godforsaken speakers.
"COMING!!" I yelled back, tying my hair.
I was almost out the door when Gus tugged on my dress.
"But what about breakfast?" his furry face looked hopeful.
I couldn't resist. I dug into my pocket and threw out a pile of corn. "Share, okay, guys? And DON'T BOTHER LUCIFER."
Jaq saluted me. "Don't worry, Cinderelly! I watch Gus-Gus."
I smirked. "Riiight."
I hustled down the wooden stairs, nearly tripping over my own feet. My stepsister's voice rang in my ears, following me as I tried my best to get to her room.
"CINDERELLA!!" she screamed again.
I ran through the hall and burst through the door. "WHAT?!!"
Anastasia was in her pajamas, glowering at her mirror. "Charming's gonna come any second, and I have no idea what to wear!"
I yawned. "At four in the morning?"
She pouted. "No, he'll be here by seven, but I need to have a LOT of stuff done before then." She spun around in her chair and looked me in the eyes. "I'm canceling your duties for the day. I need you to come with me to the village with Char."
I couldn't help but jump in the air. "AWESOME!! I can't wait!"
Anastasia gaped at me. "Excuse me?"
I cleared my throat. "I mean, how boring, I hate the village."
She smiled. "Good. Now what's Char's favorite color?"
"Aren't you his girlfriend? You should know."
"But you're his best friend," she remarked.
I sighed. "Fine..."
The morning went on like that. Anastasia asking me a personal question about Charming, and me reluctantly answering her.
"Do you think Char would like a diamond or pearl necklace?" Ana asked as she twirled around in an emerald green dress.
Jeez, I bet she's so busy talking that Char barely says anything. "Pearl. That was what his mother always wore."
She wrapped a pearl necklace around her neck. "Okay, I'm ready." She took my hand and led me outside.
I glanced at her wristwatch. "Um, Ana? He's not gonna be here for another 30 minutes."
She flicked her hair at me. "It's good to be prepared."
I sat down next to her on the steps. "But you're going to look desperate. Guys would think you have nothing better to do."
She wasn't listening to me. "Oh, don't you just love Char? His brown eyes are so adorable and I love it when he smiles. He has such a beautiful smile..."
I decided to block out the rest of her sentence. I didn't want Char to think I was depressed.
Out of nowhere, Anastasia scoffed. "Cinderella, you look HORRIBLE in those rags. What is Char going to think?"
"He always sees me in these rags, and he doesn't seem to mind," I said, hurt.
Before she could start making fun of me, Charming's carriage came riding along. Char stepped out of the coach to greet us.
"Good morning, Anastasia." He smiled warmly at his lover before looking at me. "You're coming with us, Cindy?"
I nodded. "Yep. I decided I needed to get some bread from the bakery," I recited the line Anastasia told me to say to him when he asked that question.
My face flushed tomato red. What a stupid answer.
Char didn't seem to care. "Great. Shall we?" He took Anastasia by the elbow and led her into the carriage, while I tagged along behind them.
I sat between them, making sure they wouldn't show off right in front of me.
When we started moving, Charming looked at me. "So, was I late? I saw you guys waiting for me."
"Well, Char, it's good to be prepared." I kept my eyes on Anastasia while I said that.
Anastasia rolled her eyes. "No, silly, I was waiting for this." And she leaned over me to kiss him.

So much for showing off.