A Cinderella story - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

"AM I CRAZY?" ANITA QUESTIONED ALEXIS AND ADAM WHO WERE ALL SITTING ON HER BED. IT WASNT HARD FOR ANITA to sneak her friends in since she lived in a backyard tiny home that prism had gotten her since 'she didn't like rats running around the house all the time'
"I mean, I've liked him forever, besides people like me don't belong with people like him"
"What-"
"Excuse me-" she interrupted both of her friends and turned up the the tv once she noticed who was on it
"Your tv is so small" Adam muttered
"I don't think my eyes are focusing" alexis added as she squinted at the tv
"Ryder and his record lab are sponsoring a huge singing competition where one lucky student will win the opportunity sing in a label with him. So for all you singers in waiting it's time for you to get your freak on-"
"Anita I need you pronto. You forgot to record my soap!" she scrunched her face up and pressed the comm button
"Sorry prism. I'll be right there"
"Can you feel that?"
"What?"
"I'm chocking you from a distance. CHOKING YOU!" anita turned back to her friends who were rolling their eyes and continued on with their conversation for a second before anita had to get to work
"You have to sign up" Adam stated
"You want me to do a lot, you know that?" She said with a small smile
"But I'll think about it" anita said leaning down and putting her shoes on
"Are you staying here or leaving?"
"We'll stay" Adam replied and she nodded
"Okay, I'll see you in a minute"
RYDER LOOKED AROUND THE HALLS OF THE SCHOOL AS HIM AND REECE WAITED FOR CALEB TO FINISH PUTTING BOOKS IN HIS LOCKER. BUT THE BOYS could both tell that Ryders head wasn't anywhere
"Dude, what's the deal with you and that Anita chick anyways?" Reece questioned. He had noticed his friend looking for and talking to her more often lately
"For real, if you want someone go for her siblings, they're both hot and easy" the three of them knew that caleb wasn't correct. Anita was by far the best looking one out of them, probably even the whole school. But Caleb wanted to keep them apart. He had been making fun of her friendship group since they were 12 and he didn't want to stop because his friend couldn't keep his hormones in check
"You guys don't know her like I do.. she's different"
"We get it man" Reece said patting Ryders shoulder
"Go find her then"
During free period anita usually studied with Alexis and Adam. But this time she decided she wanted some fresh air and then sat and read on a bench outside of the building. She was relishing in the peacefulness, yet she didn't mind when Ryder took a seat beside her
"Hey" he said to her and she smiled up at him acknowledging his presence
"I'm so sorry about yesterday" he apologised sympathetically and Anita shook her head
"No, no. Don't be. It was my fault I was in your way-"
"It wasn't. But.. why was you there?" At the question Anita felt herself become embarrassed and Ryder caught onto what he had said
"Oh my gosh! I didn't mean it like that. I meant how comes you was serving instead of eating with us?" Anita froze at the question, her mind going miles a minute trying to find an answer
"I- I- uh. I do most of the chores in the house, so sometimes my mealtimes are later on" or not at all anita added in her head
"Your house is huge? And you don't have a housekeeper for that?" Her cheeks became red at the intensity of his gaze, how he was studying her. Or maybe it was because his looks were off putting in a way she was sometimes lost for words
"No" anita mumbled turning her eyes away from him
"It's just me"
"Well if there ever is a next time I'll find you" he got up and brushed his pants off sending anita one last smile
"I'll speak to you next period"
"I'll see you" she replied as he walked off and she let off a small breath before turning back to her book
"I've got a proposition for you Anita" Adam smiled as he placed his lunch tray beside alexis and anita. They both turned to him startled as he sat down but still nodded anyways
"What is it?" She questioned
"So the band we hired for the end of the night performance for the masquerade ball can't make it and we need someone to fill in. I put you in" anita and Alexis' eyes widened in shock at the information
"Adam-"
"Before you complain you don't like singing in public, you'll be wearing a mask so your basically not going to be seen" although he had a point anita didn't know if she was fully comfortable with it
"Why me? What about Ryder? He's an actual singer"
Alexis: "You could be an actual singer if you posted your songs online" she sent a small look to Alexis who just laughed it off
"I didn't even know I was going to the prom yet. I might have to change my mind incase Prism wants me to do something"
"Forget Prism. You're coming to this ball, you're gonna speak to Ryder because you're in love with him and then you're gonna blow the house down with your singing" anita really did like the idea of that, being able to confess her feelings to Ryder without the fear of him regecting who she was. And also being able to sing in front of people. She was an amazing singer but there was always a lingering fear
".. I don't have nothing to wear. I think I've cut it too short. The ball is in 2 days" she realised
"Oh that" Alexis laughed
"I've got covered"
"Okay. So you're set. You've got an outfit, me and Alexis will be at your house hours before so we can all get ready together and then we'll go to the ball together. Sound good?"
"Yep"
"Got it" Alexis was the one who stopped talking first followed by Adam and once anita looked where they were she knew why
Amanda was sitting beside Ryder on his table flirting with him
She was twirling her hair with her finger and smiling but it was almost as if Ryder knew she was looking. He turned away from Amanda and met Anita's eyes, a smile going over his features once he saw her
Ryder wasn't smiling when Amanda was flirting with him, so at the sudden feature Amanda caught his gaze and followed it to Anita who wasn't looking over there anymore
Questioned surfaced. If he liked the tramp of a girl? How he could even look at her? But even though it seemed to Amanda that anita didn't acknowledge his existence at that second, she still preferred to take out the competition
So she got up out of her seat, picking up a milkshake and made her way across the cafeteria, but once she got past Anita's table she tilted it over her head
The area around them went silent, but those at the other end of the cafeteria didn't even know what was going on
Anita stood up quickly realising that something had been poured on her and gasped at the sudden coldness that erupted from her body
She looked to the ground seeing what looked to be ice cream on her and Anita could hear the faint laughter from her step siblings across the room
"Oh my gosh I'm so sorry" Amanda fake apologised before she walked away and Alexis and Adam quickly stood up ready to lead her away
"Oh my gosh, anita are you okay?" They all looked up to Ryder who had most likely seen what had happened but anita didn't feel like talking right now
She didn't know if he had said something to her to make her do that, or what was going on. All she knew was that one minute Amanda was with Ryder then she was throwing milkshakes all over her
She shook her head and walked off, Alexis and Adam grabbing the rest of their bags but they didn't even notice Ryder chasing after her
"Anita wait!" Ryder shouted through the empty halls as he saw her turn into the girls toilets, he debated it and walked in after her once he looked to see if anyone was watching
"This is the girls bathroom" Anita mumbled out once she saw him enter as she ran her hands through her now milkshake filled hair
"I know" he replied walking forward
"I wanted to check on you" she let out a small sniffle and shook her head
"I'm okay" she muttered and he nodded but still didn't leave
"I think I can get it out" she mumbled to herself as she stared at her reflection in the mirror
Her jeans were fine but he knew her hoodie, and what she was wearing underneath was probably soaking wet
"I have a hoodie in my locker, I can go get it for you?" Biting her lip softly she looked down and nodded. She didn't know whether to be mad at him or not, but she also knew that she couldn't leave the bathroom looking like how she did
Ryder had gone to get his locker and saw Adam and alexis on his way so he told them that he was going to help her and that they should head to class. And Anita, who was still in the toilet ran her hair under a tap and washed out all of the ice cream then just brushed her hair with the brush from her bag
By the time Ryder had gotten back to the toilet she looked almost milkshake free
"Here" he said handing her the shirt. She took it out of his hand and looked up to him, raising her eyebrows until he realised and turned around
She took her hoodie and T-shirt off and put Ryders hoodie on
"I'm done" she muttered as she finished. She looked as if nothing had happened now, like she just got caught in the rain from her hair being wet but even then Ryder thought she looked amazing like that
"I'm sorry about Amanda" Ryder said and she shrugged
"I didn't know she was going to do that"
"It's okay, Amanda's actions aren't yours" he met her eyes and nodded thankful that she believed him
"But thank you for giving me your hoodie" he shrugged with a small smile
"Keep it, it looks better on you anyways"