Page 72 of Becoming Cinderella

“Yay!” she squeals and claps her hands in excitement. “That’s a good sign! It’s not a no!”

It’s also not a yes. But I’ll let Penn have her little victory.

The next afternoon when I get home from school there’s a soft knock on my bedroom door before my mom comes in holding a large white box.

“Your dad and I talked and we think it will be fine if you go to the dance.”

“Really?”

Now that I’m allowed to go I start thinking of the logistics. The dance is only a couple days away. I have no idea what I’m supposed to wear.

“Yes, really. And I’m sure you could have just worn one of your old dance dresses or one of Harper’s, but…” she holds out the box to me. “I couldn’t resist.”

My jaw slightly drops in surprise. “You got me a dress?”

Mom gives me a one shoulder shrug. “I saw it weeks ago and knew you’d be beautiful in it.”

I set the box on my bed and slowly take off the lid. I pull out a long light blue dress with off the shoulder sleeves.

“Mom,” I hold the dress up to me as I look in a full-length mirror that hangs on my wall. “This dress is stunning!”

I notice under a sheet of tissue paper in the box is a pair of silver strapped heels.

“I…” I’m speechless as I pull out the shoes. This is too much. I’m grounded. I don’t deserve this.

“Your dad and I want you to enjoy your high school experience, Carter. I know you’ve had your heart broken and it’s hard to feel like yourself again after that. We hope a night out with your friends and classmates will help you find some of your spark again.”

I set the dress carefully down on my bed and give her a hug. I think she might be right, and forcing myself to spend some time not wallowing in my own despair could be good for me.

On Saturday I stare at myself in the reflection. Penn insisted I go over to her house to get ready for the dance. I’ve done my hair in loose curls with a loose braided crown and Penn’s applied my makeup.

“You look beautiful.” Penn stands behind me as we look in the mirror.

I turn to face her. “So do you.” Penn’s in a maroon knee length dress, her hair pulled into an updo that twists around to below her right ear.

“Girls, your date is here.” Mrs. Reyes calls up the stairs.

Penn’s shoulders rise in excitement. “He’s here!” She squeals as she leans into the mirror to double check her reflection before shoving her phone into her black clutch and racing down the stairs.

I finish strapping my silver heels before I follow Penn out of her room. Even though I had told them I didn’t want to be their third wheel, Jared and Penn insisted I arrive at the dance with them because they don’t want me to show up alone. Talk about being the ultimate third wheel.

Jared looks good in a white shirt and a maroon tie that matches Penn’s dress, but it’s not until he sees Penn in her dress that he comes alive in a way that he never did with me. I realize Liam looked at me like that though, and I suck in a shaky breath before forcing a smile on my face as I join them. Penn and Jared exchange boutonnieres and corsages as Penn’s parents stand nearby, taking pictures of them to send to my parents.

My parents wanted to come over to snap pictures of us, but I assured them that Penn’s parents would take enough to send to them. I am after all third-wheeling my best friends, this is hardly something that needs to be captured for posterity. But yet, my parents still want pictures.

Jared glances at me once I reach the bottom of the stairs, a smile on his face. “Carter, you look great.” He opens up another box and reveals a corsage for me as well.

The corsage is made up of white roses with light blue and silver sparkly ribbon. It matches my dress perfectly, so Penn must have told him what I was going to wear. Tears prick my eyes at the sweet gesture and at how much I wish it was someone else offering it.

Penn’s dad’s phone has its volume on, so I can hear the shutters as he takes pictures. Hundreds by the sound of it.

I force a smile on my face as the three of us pose for a few more photos for Mr. Reyes before we head towards the school for the dance.

When we arrive, the dance is already in full swing. I shoo Penn to go dance with Jared as I find a spot in the back corner. I’m perfectly fine being a wallflower. However, it doesn’t take long for Penn to keep shooting worried looks my way while she dances. I put on a smile and act like I’m fine, I know she isn’t able to fully enjoy herself otherwise.

At one point she sends Jared over to dance with me, which ultimately makes me sadder. I had wanted this, to dance with Jared during Homecoming, but there’s no electric shocks when our hands touch. No heat on my skin from where his hand is placed against my back.

My body doesn’t respond to Jared the way it did to Liam.

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