Page 4 of Becoming Cinderella

The wall is covered in family dance photos. There are black and white photos of my grandma as a teenage ballerina. Sepia toned photos of my mom and aunt from toddlers to teenagers in a variety of different dance costumes. Then there are photos of my big sister Harper on the high school dance team and one of me when I was four dressed in a feathery pink costume. There’s dance pictures of Harper and I during our middle school days and one of a dance competition I participated in, and won, last year.

Liam’s eyes flick to me before back to the photos. My little sister Rylee even appears in one photo, but only one at the age of five, because she decided she hated dancing and was more into kicking a ball around.

Liam looks from me to the photos again. “Is that you?” His British accent makes such a simple question seem almost elegant.

I look at the photo like I’m unsure if my face appears on this wall. It’s a photo from when I was thirteen, dressed in a bright red costume with a half tulle tutu for a jazz number I did. A big red bow sticking out of my dark brown hair. “Yeah.”

He tilts his head at me. “You dance?”

“Since I was four.” I point to a framed photo of when I was that age, in a sparkly purple costume. “This was my first recital.” I smile at the framed photo, four-year-old me standing next to Harper in the same costume but light pink.

There’s a loud crash outside and Liam and I both jump at the noise.

I hurry to the front door and peer out of the glass. I see four girls walking in the direction of Threads, shouting towards someone I can’t see across the street. One girl points behind them and shakes her head before she shrugs at something the other person says. If I was a betting person, I would bet the Dr. Pepper sitting back at the store that these girls aren’t giving up on their Liam hunt any time soon.

I quickly turn off the lights. The studio darkens, but enough light is filtering through the glass panel in the door.

“Sorry,” I walk towards Liam who has positioned himself in the corner furthest from the door. “I think some people are still actively searching for you.”

Liam lets out a sigh and slides down to the floor, extending his legs in front of him. I stand awkwardly, unsure what to do. I’m already trying to figure out how to explain this to Penn without it sounding completely fabricated. Liam pats the spot next to him on the floor and I take it, bringing my knees to my chest.

“Sorry about pulling you from your job.” He leans his head back against the wall as he looks at me. He actually does sound regretful, though he has no reason to be.

I shake my head. “Actually, you kind of did me a favor. I needed to get away. I wasn’t really expecting that to involve running from screaming girls, but I guess beggars can’t be choosers.”

“You needed to get away? That’s not because of that conversation with that lad back there, is it?”

“It might be.” I try to hide my surprise, and maybe some embarrassment, that he overheard it. “So,” I rack my brain for some sort of way to change the subject. “Why are you here in Utah?” And why did the fan accounts I follow not post anything about your arrival here? I don’t say the last part, but really, how did I miss such an important detail? This has to be the most important Liam update of all time!

“I’m here on set filming a movie. It’s a new adaptation of Cinderella.”

“Cinderella? Really? Another one?” My eyes grow wide as soon as it leaves my mouth. It’s not only a diss on his profession, but on his role. What a nice first impression I’m making. I slap a hand over my mouth and feel heat tingle my cheeks in embarrassment. “I’m so sorry! That was so rude of me.”

Liam laughs and it helps to slightly ease my horror. “You don’t think I can pull off Prince Charming?”

“Hmm,” I narrow my eyes at him like I’m studying him and his princely characteristics. He sits up straighter, knowing he’s being scrutinized. His blue eyes are bright even with the lights turned off and I’m imagining what that light brown hair looks like messed up under his hat. He tilts his head slowly and I realize I’ve probably been staring too long. “I guess you’ll be okay.” Which is a total lie. He won’t just be okay, he’s perfect for the role. Consider those movie tickets for opening day already bought.

Liam chuckles. “Looks like I don’t have to worry that you’re going to turn into some superfan on me and start chasing me around this studio.”

Liam says it teasingly, but just the regret alone I had from dropping his hand out on the street would probably make him reconsider that statement.

I let out an awkward laugh as I force a smile. I might not be a Liam Taylor superfan, but if there’s a tier of fans, I would most likely be considered the tier right under superfan. I mean just last week a photo from his latest photoshoot was my phone wallpaper. I silently thank past Carter for changing the wallpaper on my phone to one of Penn and I we took over the weekend.

“Anyway, I’m real glad we’re filming here. It’s so beautiful. Our director has filmed other projects here in Utah, and though this version of Cinderella is a modernized adaptation, he felt the mountains would still add a nice fairytale touch.” He gives me a small smile, one that doesn’t reach his eyes, and looks back out at the studio. “How long did you say you have been dancing?”

I follow his line of sight out into the empty studio. “Since I was four. I used to just take classes, but about three years ago when my mom bought this studio, I started helping her teach some as well.”

“Four? And how old are you now? Sixteen?”

“Seventeen.” I don’t ask him how old he is. I know he turns eighteen in February. Penn and I even watch our favorite Liam movies every year on his birthday to celebrate.

“What type of dancing do you do…” he trails off.

“It’s Carter, and mainly Hip-Hop.”

“Do you do ballroom dancing at all, Carter?”

I look at him, my heart giving a small flutter at the way he pronounces my name. “Depends. I’m very comfortable with traditional ballroom dances than I am with the Latin styles. I’ve never been able to really nail the samba.” I didn’t know Liam Taylor was so interested in dancing.

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