A Cinderella story - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

THEY BOTH WALKED THROUGH THE GARDENS OF THE PLACE THE BALL WAS BEING HELD JUST MAKING SMALL TALK
"You're the most beautiful girl out there tonight- the most beautiful girl I've probably ever seen" anita turned her face away from his as a red coat covered her cheeks but Ryder was quick to turn her head back to face his
He looked down at her, a look of recognition crossing his face. He knew he's seen her before and if this was another circumstance he would say her face she couldn't ever forget. But he wanted more than to know who she was
He hadn't realised how long they stood staring at each other until his hands moved back to his sides and they then both took a seat on a bench
"Tell me about yourself" he spoke yet he didn't know that she tensed up. Anita didn't like to speak about her life at home, it seemed so inferior to everyone else's so she just stopped talking about it
"What about me?"
"What do you do for fun? Who do you surround yourself with? What you want to do with your life. Anything"
"I- I don't really have any hobbies"
"You do" he hummed as he studied her
"You just don't want to tell me"
"I read" she muttered and she glanced at him to check if he had any sort of reaction to it
"A reader? I'm assuming you expected a differed reaction from me by your face" she bit her lip and nodded
"What did you expect?"
"A bad one. I didn't think someone like you would associate yourself with someone like me"
"Gosh no" Ryder laughed and she blushed a deep red
"I don't care that you read, your hobbie could be collecting snails and I wouldn't care. I just want to get to know you. But tell me more" she let out a small huff and thought for a moment
"My parents.. aren't alive anymore" she ignored his remorseful face
"And I don't really get along with my step family, but my friends are like my second family so that's good" she stopped talking but he still had a expectant look on his face
"My last question" she thought for a moment
"Well, my family wants me to-"
"No" he cut her off
"What do you want to do?"
"I want to be a singer" she mumbled and his eyebrows raised in shock
"I know. I want to be a successful one, have an album and publish some songs. Now enough about me" she said waving her hand about so she didn't see his face in case it was a bad one
"I want to know about you too, same questions"
"My hobbie is playing football. But it's not what I want to do when I'm older. I have songs out already, and I want to continue in that path. Just keeping football as a hobby"
"I've heard all of your songs. 'A love so true'. I love that song, it's my favourite" his eyes widened ever so slightly. No one has ever told him that before
"It is? It's never anyones favourite"
"Well it's mine. It's really good, I feel like it's because it seems like you've discovered another genre that suits your sound. It's amazing" he smiled and nodded, rubbing his hands to refrain from taking hers in his
"What about your family?"
"My dad wants me to peruse football. And my mom wants me to do what I think is right for me. It's why she and I get along so much more, she's an amazing woman"
"She sounds like it" anita replied ignoring the fact she's met her before. Because from what she knew Ryders mom did seem like a wonderful woman
"I want to know who you are" he whispered
"I can't help but think I know you" she didn't speak for a moment
"You can guess, but not too vague questions"
"Okay" he hummed smiling
"Are we in any classes together?"
"Yes"
"Okay. That narrows it down. Have we spoken before?" She knew Ryder being popular meant he had spoke with most of the school so she didn't mind giving out that
"Yes" Ryders phone went off and they stopped talking as he read it, and once he did he let out a sigh
"Are you okay?" She questioned
"Yeah, it's just Amanda. She got my number this morning and has been spamming me since" although she didn't want to leave she didn't want him to be unhappy hanging with her instead of who he actually wanted to be with
"Oh. Well I can help you look for her if you want?"
"Oh no. No. I've just blocked her number. Honestly, she can't understand that I just don't like her in that way" he turned around taking in the trees surrounding them
"Have you ever had a similar feeling?"
"Well no one's jumping at the chance to date me if that's what you mean. But no, never happened"
"What about a boyfriend?"
"Nope" she mumbled and this piqued his attention
"First kiss?" She shook her head meekly and he let off a small smile once he realised she was becoming red
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's cute I just don't see why there isn't a whole line of guys waiting to kiss you"
"Thank you" she spoke quietly as he laced his hands with hers
"But you can't talk. If you walk back in there you'll probably be bombarded with girls, Amanda, Cleo and destiny especially" they both let off a laugh
"They're pretty girls, I'll give them that. But there's just something that's not there.."
"They don't share a connection" Anita finished and he nodded
"That. And the way they treat others. The twins have a step sister Anita and she just seems so much more genuine. I don't know" he shrugged and Anita opened her mouth to speak. She was about to say it was her, and that she had felt a connection with him but was interrupted by a call
"Cinderella!" They both turned around to see Alexis and Adam waving at them, but Ryder couldn't tell who it was as they were both also covered with masks
"Come on, you're about to go on!" Anita got up, a small amount of confidence running through hers and she took Ryders hand before leading him back to the building
"Where are we going?" He questioned confused but she didn't answer until they were backstage. He looked around confused as anita spoke to the 2 other people
"Okay, so your know the songs: California king bed and love on the brain. Both Rihanna but they're amazing songs, here's your mic" Adam handed it to Anita who took it whilst Ryder just stood confused. He knew that she wanted to be a singer but he didn't know she was going to sing tonight
"Wait, I might trip on stage in the dress" Anita panicked but they all noticed a smile on alexis' face
"Turn" she instructed and Anita listened and Alexis moved forward and undid the back of the dress
Ryder glanced away as alexis pulled off the first layer of the dress revealing another one underneath
Alexis: "You look.."
"Beautiful" Ryder finished and they all turned to him, forgetting he was there
"Right" Adam muttered
"You need to go into the audience and Cinderella here will come to you after her performance" Ryder nodded and exited backstage, making his way back to his friends.
Reece was over talking to a girl and caleb was standing getting himself a drink so Ryder went of caleb
"Hey man" caleb turned to his friend
"Where's your date?"
"I was talking to some gu-chick. I was talking to some chick but she went somewhere quickly" Ryder nodded not even noticing his friends slip up and got himself water just as everyone went quiet and someone went on stage
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"And you got me like, oh
What you want from me? (What you want from me?)" Ryders eyes drastically widened. He hasn't expected such a voice to be coming from her
"And I tried to buy your pretty heart, but the price too high
Baby you got me like, oh, mm
You love when I fall apart (fall apart)
So you can put me together
And throw me against the wall
Baby you got me like ah, woo, ah
Don't you stop loving me (loving me)
Don't quit loving me (loving me)
Just start loving me (loving me)
Oh, and baby I'm fist fighting with fire
Just to get close to you
Can we burn something, babe?
And I run for miles just to get a taste" everyone let out a loud applause as she continued onto the chorus
Must be love on the brain
That's got me feeling this way (feeling this way)
It beats me black and blue but it fucks me so good
And I can't get enough
Must be love on the brain yeah
And it keeps cursing my name (cursing my name)
No matter what I do, I'm no good without you
And I can't get enough
Must be love on the brain" Ryder stood, his eyes wide, throat scratchy from cheering with everyone else. He knew that his feelings for her were so much more deeper than he knew. But he didn't know why
Once the song had continues on and finished anita stayed on stage as the song changed and continued through the next song, hitting the high notes and the crowd was just entranced by her voice
Once she was done anita couldn't contain the smile that was spreading on her face. She had done it, she had sung in front of others and didn't feel any pressure or anxiety. Her body was filled with an insane amount of adrenaline and happiness