Harry POV I had finally given up on Cinderella giving me a response when I felt the familiar buzz in pocket. The loss of excitement made me take my phone out frustrated and almost given up on a response. I unlocked the smooth, black touch screen and saw Cinderella’s name flashing. I could instantly feel my heartbeat begin to race and my heart in my throat. I hesitantly touched the view text message button and it read yes. I felt my lips automatically part in a grin and I gave myself an obnoxious fist pump. “Hey Hazzah, you ok,” Louis asked from behind me. “Ya, fine. Why?” “Call me crazy but, last time I checked , people look at their phone and fist pump when something happens,” he said as he came and sat on my lap, “has somebody taken away my Hazzah,” he yelled as he stole my phone and ran away. “Boobear… I need my phone back,” I yelled as he ran and hid behind the couch. “I love you,” I ended up crying as a last attempt. Louis popped up from behind the couch and yelled, “I LOVE YOU TOOOO!!!!!!! But seriously who’s Cinderella, and why are you dating a fairytale character?” “I don’t know who she is. It’s her pen name.” “Whoa, Whoa, Whoa…. Whoa. You are talking to a girl who you don’t even know! WHAT IF SHE IS A CRIMINAL or a… HE?” “I’m pretty sure she’s a girl but thats all.” “So you’re meeting her at the dance? Aww… my little baby is growing up,” he exclaimed as he walked up to me and ruffled my hair. “Aw.. boobear! You’re messing up my curls,” I complained as he walked away and shut his bedroom door behind him. “Oh… Boobear, Tell Eleanor I said Hi,” I yelled just as he shut the door behind him. I smiled to myself and did a victory pump to myself as I made myself more comfortable on the couch. I pulled out my phone and began to type away at the touch screen of my phone. I went up to Cinderella’s contact and decided that I needed to get to know her a little more. I mean, I know nothing about her except that she’s witty, smart, funny and pretty darn cool but I need to know a little more about her. Me: Are you a criminal? Cinderella: Um… No. I am criminal free. I suddenly realized my stupidity as I got her reply back. Wow… that sounded a lot better in my head. Me: Sorry, just checkin. I knw nothing abt u. Cinderella: Ok.. um. Anything else???? :) Me: Are you a gurl.. ?? Cinderella: Last time I checked :P hehe! Me: hehe. Cute. Did u knw that everytime u txt me u make me want to find out who u are more. Cinderella: I blush Alex POV Have you ever felt the feeling when you know you can’t fall in love or you feel like you’re not supposed to fall in love, but you do anyway. Well, I felt like that with Harry. And when he was texting me, I felt like I was losing little bits of my heart to him with every text. Mushy right, but it’s true. After the last text, I didn’t get a reply but tonight was the dance. I hadn’t even gotten permission yet, but I’m pretty sure that Mary is going to make sure I don’t go. I walked into the large living room where Mary was sitting on the bone white couch sitting up with her feet tucked next to her while she was smoking a cigarette. “Oh Alexandra, I have a big list for you tonight. I don’t think you’ll be going anywhere.” “But, I-“ “Nuh uh… no chores, no pay and I know how much you want to go to University.“ I wanted to argue and make a tantrum so bad but the mere thought of University made me want to go up to Mary and tell her I’d do anything just for tuition money. Why did education have to be so expensive? I mean, why have public schools and get the hopes of poor kids everywhere up? Mary handed me a sheet of things to do with her long manicured fingers and smirked, as if she planned all this. Oh wait, she probably did. I gave her a fake smile and waked away with the folded piece of paper still between my fingers. When I got to the hallway, I opened the list. As I quickly skimmed the long list of chores, I realized I had already done them all. So, I guess Mary wasn’t that smart. “What are you smiling at,” Mary snapped as she walked past me up to her room. “Oh, must have slipped my mind. I’m going to Simon Cowell’s to discuss possibly working with one of his groups. I’ll be back at midnight. If you’re chores aren’t done by then, well you can say good bye to university and that cell phone of yours.” As she walked up the stairs with her black pencil skirt hugging her not-so-young waist line, I knew she was smiling in victory, the same smile that she had been enjoying for the past 10 years. I just want my mother back. ~*~ By the time everyone had left the house, Katie had already gotten ready in my room and the time was already 9:00. I had gotten a text from Harry earlier saying that he was going to be the guy with the plaid bow tie and the curly hair, but I already knew who was. I told him I was wearing a plum dress and a black lace mask and that I would promise to find him all while Katie was getting me ready for the dance. It was weird because I almost felt like I was like a model while Katie was getting me ready for a runway show. “How you feelin’ Harry Styles’ Mytery girl,” she sighed as she pulled up her beaten up BMW to the posh valet service. “Excited,” I found blurting. I was excited and I felt like I mattered. “By the way, I have to be home by twelve or I’m screwed.” “Oh, ok. So, you’re actually playing Cinderella then,” she winked and stuck out her home-manicured hands, “phone.” I quickly pulled out my phone and handed it to her. She began to type away at the screen with her nimble fingers. “There’s an alarm at 11:45pm. If we rush, we can be back at you’re place at 12. Now I’m going to go find Liam and you go find you’re man.” She walked away smiling and winked as she walked down the staircase to the dance floor. I followed suit behind her and walked to the top of the stairs when a large spot light fell on me. The light hurt my eyes first but the mask made me feel more comfortable since no one knew who I was. I took a deep breath before descending the staircase having the light follow me down. In the corner of my eye, I could see Harry making his way through the crowd as he stared right at me. Harry POV I was in the middle of a conversation with Liam when the spot light traveled from the center of the dance floor to the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. She had on a dark purple dress and a black lacy mask. I could feel my heart skip a beat as she began to descend. It had to be her.