A Cinderella story - Chapter 2: Chapter 2

JUST LIKE RYDER HAD SAID, HE HAD MOVED UP A CLASS AND WAS NOW IN ANITAS. BUT SHE DIDNT EXPECT HIM TO SIT BESIDE HER IN THAT LESSON EITHER, yet he did. they didn't speak much except a few things about the lesson but both of them wished for just that bit more
It had gone around the school, that Ryder was going out to his way to talk to someone else. And although that was far from true it's hard going against a rumour
The day continued on, with stares and looks on Anita's part but once the day ended, thankfully they did too. Except she had to stay behind for detention
But when she got to work later on in the day she was met with a surprise
Cleo, destiny and prism stood outside of the counter with their arms crossed against their chests and possessive looks on their faces. She wondered how long they had been there for, just standing there in that position, waiting for her to get back from school so they could give her an intervention
Anita, who had walked in only a few minutes ago and put her apron on was confused to see them there waiting or wanting to speak to her. Yes, they sometimes visited the bakery, but they never spoke to her or even acknowledged her presence. They found it disgusting to even be in a few feet of their stepsister, thinking it would bring their popularity down to nothing
"I heard you had a run in with Ryder Caddel today" prism stated first
"Uh yeah- I dropped my worksheet and he brought them to me"
"Well keep it that way" Cleo snapped and her daughters nodded in agreement
"Stay away from him cinderella. Not only would he not like you because you're ugly and trashy. But mother has something planned" Cinderella was a name that her family nicknamed her since she was basically living in the fairytale and that's what they call her most of the time
"Okay" Anita nodded. She knew it wouldn't be hard to not speak to him since it's what she's been doing for the last years but now it's different because he sits beside her in biology
And although she wanted to speak to him, she couldn't go against her family's orders
"Good" destiny said before her and Cleo walked out. Prism stayed behind and glared at Anita for a few minutes before she followed after her daughters and out of the shop
Anita let out a sigh of relief once they were gone and just turned around and started to get back to work
"Ryder caddel huh?" Donna, the bakery manager questioned with a smile and a raised eyebrow
"The guy you said you liked a few months ago" Anita stood open mouthed in front of the woman
"You remember that?"
"I do. I also remeber you saying you was crushing on him for years. You spoke to him?"
"Yeah. I spoke to him today" Anita admitted after a few seconds. She felt almost giddy about it
"He's really nice, and funny"
"Ooh, we like funny"
"We do" Anita replied with a smile and they both burst into laughter
"I'm gonna get to it" she said after a moment as she continued to get back to work
THE NEXT DAY ANITA, ADAM AND ALEXIS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE HALLWAYS OF THE SCHOOL DURING LUNCH AS THEY MADE THEIR WAY TO the cafeteria. But they got stopped by destiny and Cleo who was accompanied by their friend Amanda. This was the second time she had spoken to her extended family in 2 days and it was probably the most.. ever
"Oh my gosh Cinderella we were looking for you" destiny snickered which made her, Cleo and Amanda smile. Anita felt antsy her nickname had been said in school, since made her anxious but she tried to shake away the feeling
"Give it a rest" Adam said rolling his eyes
"What do you want?"
"Mother just texted me, she said that you have to have the whole house cleaned by 5pm tomorrow. We have special guests"
"5pm?" Anita stuttered out
"I can't get the whole house done in that time, it's huge"
"It's Saturday. You have time, maybe not enough time, but I'm looking forward to your punishment for when you don't clean it in time"
"Oh look it's the loser trio" they heard a series of voices and they all turned to see Ryder and one of his friends caleb. Caleb was the one that spoke and Anita saw Ryder nudge him at the rude comment
Usually Caleb and Ryder hung out as a trio with someone else called Reece but he was no where to be found at that second
"Who asked you?" Alexis said with a glare
"Hey Ryder" Amanda greeted the boy as she twirled her hair between her fingers. Ryder looked over at his name being called and nodded but once he looked to Anita and caught her eye he smiled and she returned it
"Hey Ryder" both destiny and Cleo sighed dreamily and he nodded turning away. Him and caleb continued walking away and once they did Amanda and the twins turned back to Anita
Amanda: "You heard him loser, scram"
"Wait- Cleo how does prism expect me to get all of this done by tomorrow?" The girls both shrugged but the smiles on their faces didn't falter. They really enjoyed it when she got into trouble
"Toodles" the girls said together before they flipped around and strutted off. The others let off small laughs at the stupid action but then the reality set in
"Shit" Anita mumbled as she saw Alexis flip off the girls with both hands
"Your family is terrible" Adam said as he put one of his arms over Anita's who let off a small laugh
"Thanks for the information"
ANITA HAD BEEN UP ALL NIGHT. HER FEET ACHED, HER BODY WAS RUNNING ON BARELY ANY ENERGY AND SHE FELT LIKE SHE COULD BURST INFO TEARS IN any second. She had scrubbed every surface, every ornament. Did laundry. Washed walls, cleaned, washed and dried dishes. Took the trash out, Mopped every floor, bleached every area of the bathroom. All just before 4pm and then she got to the food and drinks before the guests came
Anita picked her head up as she stirred the food, blinking rapidly to make sure she doesn't accidentally fall asleep
Most of the foods and drinks were set up so when she got a shout she knew she had to start to serve it to her guests, after all the cleaning she still didn't even know who they were. But that wasn't unusual
"ANITA!" Anita walked into dining room and immediately her eyes widened at what she saw. The guests were Ryder and his parents as well as his friends Reece and Caleb
Ryder, as well as everyone else in the school knew that anita was related to Cleo and destiny. But none of them knew about her being their slave so anita quickly lifted her tray of drinks to covered her face
"Sorry, thank you" Ryder continued the conversation but as prism spoke he looked over to anita who was passing out drinks, slightly recognising her, but not fully since he coukd barely see her through the glasses
"Anita?" Ryder questioned with a small, confused smile
"Oh yeah. Anita is my step daughter" prism sais to the table and the young girl turned her head away uncomfortably
"Oh, are you joining us darling?" Ryders mom, eveline spoke and anita shook her head
Destiny: "She's serving tonight" she set a drink in front of ryders mom and sent the woman a small smile as she continued on
"So have you asked anyone to the masquerade ball yet?" Cleo leaned forward to Ryder as she smiled up to him but he just leaned away
Destiny: "You have crab puff in your teeth Cleo. You should really take me to the ball, I speak French. How about you?" Ryder uncomfortably put his cup down and turned back to the twins mother
"Look prism. I'm not looking to do a duet with one of your daughters. No offence. But I'm on a break right now-"
Prism: "Well you all must be famished. First course Anita, now!" She jumped up and nodded at the instructions before she rushed out of the room, ryders eyes following her as she left
She gathered up more food and then came back in, plating the dishes on everyone's plate. Most of them seemed to be fine, the only people with a problem was Caleb who seemed to be giving her a few looks and Ryder who was confused on why she wasn't joining them to eat
Ryder: "No no no. Actually I am focussing on school and hanging with friends"
"And football" his dad kai chimes in
"You definitely have to continue playing football"
Reece: "Yes. But mainly hanging with friends"
"Who are you?" Prism pointed across the table to Reece but the movement almost made anita knock the stuff out of her hands. She quickly caught herself and continued making her way to ryders dad
Reece: "I'm Ryder Caddels manager"
"Oh please! Ignore him! I'm basically ryders manager except he should be focussing more on football" Ryders dad shouted and anita gasped as she lost control of the plate again, just about catching the contents. It seemed no one at the table noticed how she was barely struggling to keep everything in the air
"You have 2 managers?" Cleo questioned seeming awe struck at the idea
Ryder: "Apparently"
"You must be a real handful. Wanna make out?" Wide eyed Ryder turned away from Cleo
"This is why I did not want to come today!" Ryders father said almost angrily
Ryder: "You're all nuts"
Prism: "You can either do the duet with one of my daughters and become a superstar with are you can fade away into teeny dopper obscurity"
"Okay!" Reece said standing up, knocking Anita back slightly. She sighed and moved around the table as Reece looked to her momentarily with an apologetic expression
"Ryder Caddle is a guy who needs to do things his way. He needs to keep it real so from now on I'm Ryder caddels only manager. I think we're done here" as Anita got over to Ryder he abruptly stood up, knocking the food over everyone and her to the floor
Ryder fell with her, landing on top of her, his arms going on either side of her so he could just about hold himself up
As everyone else screamed she wiped the few pieces of food off her face and looked up to him
"I'm sorry" she whispered and he shook his head with a shrug
"It was my bad, are you okay?"
"I'm good" she muttered and he nodded moving a piece of food out of her hair. He got up and held his hand out to her which she took and he pulled her up off the ground whilst everyone continued on arguing
Ryders dad was arguing with prism and his mom was trying to calm them down. Both Cleo and destiny was arguing with Reece and Caleb which meant no one saw their encounter
"Anita!" Prism said marching over as everyone made their way out. Ryder turned to Anita with a confused expression but didn't say anything
"You will clean this room spotless! In 30 minutes! your phone privaliges are confiscated for a month and you'll be working extra shifts at the diner for that stunt" Anita nodded looking up and ryder wondered what was happening. It seemed like anita was taking the blame for something that was his fault
"Prism- it was actually me. I made anita knock over the food"
"Oh don't try and take the blame for this nuisance. You're getting punished. Do you hear me?!" Anita nodded keeping her eyes trained off ryder and into the floor
"I hear you"