Cinderella Complex

by Rebekah L. Purdy

  Grandma shook her head. “No. If he were a knight, he’d introduce himself as such. Are you sure he actually saw the creatures?”

  My smile melted away. “Yes. He fought them at the summer house. He told me to leave.”

  “And he was unscathed?” She stood and paced the hardwood floors.

  “As far as I know, but he wasn’t at school today.”

  “Humans don’t survive run-ins with Grimms, Maggie. The Grimms are too strong.”

  “Jack and I have.”

  “You’re not regular teenagers.” She sighed, her hand braced against the back of the couch. “You need to find out what Seth knows.”

  “I plan on it. But will you tell me what’s going on?”

  “I’m just worried. There have been too many Grimms lurking around. You need to be more careful.”

  “Trust me, I’m trying to.”

  “The darkness grows closer,” Grandma said. “I might have given up my power, but I still sense it. Something big is coming. Something bad.” Her gaze focused on the window. “You have to make the happy ending come true or who knows what might happen.”

  A shiver crawled across my spine, sending gooseflesh up and down my arms. Her words soaked in, and I wondered how long I had.

  “There will be a battle for fates, Maggie. People will be destroyed. You must work your magic for the good of all.”

  She’d laid it all on my lap. Everything depended on me, the screw-up. And yet, I got the feeling Grandma spoke of more than just Katrina and Connor.

  “What do you mean, for the good of all?” I got up from my seat and touched her arm.

  She jumped slightly and gave me a blank look. “Nothing, dear.”

  Nothing? What was all that doom and gloom then?

  “Well, thanks for listening to me. I should probably head over to Katrina’s and try to smooth things over again.”

  Grandma hugged me. “Good to see you. Oh and before I forget, if your charge makes a wish, you can grant it. I know you’re trying to do some things on your own by creating spells, but they’re not always needed.”

  “I’ll try to remember that.” I waved as I walked away.

  As soon as I got in the car, I picked up my cell phone and dialed Seth’s number. It went straight to voicemail. I chewed my bottom lip. Next, I tried his home number.

  “Hey, Ms. Charmaigne, it’s Maggie. Is Seth around?”

  “No. I haven’t seen him since this morning. He said he was going to hang out with Jack tonight.”

  She laughed. I heard the sound of the microwave beeping in the background.

  “Can you let him know I called, just in case I don’t get a hold of Jack?”

  “Sure thing.”

  But I already knew he wasn’t with my brother. Because Jack had gone to Riley’s.

  Where had he gone then? With questions plaguing my mind, I pulled out of Grandma’s drive and headed back into town. First things first. Katrina. Then I’d worry about everything else.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  I stood at Kat’s front door, a pizza in one hand, a bouquet of roses in the other. The scent of pepperoni and cheese made my stomach growl. I bumped the doorbell with my elbow. Someone shuffled on the other side of the door.

  “Coming,” Kat called. The bolt slid back and the door opened. She glowered. “What are you doing here?”

  “I come bearing gifts.” I held up the pizza and roses. “And to apologize again for everything that happened.”

  Kat stepped out onto the porch, her eyes wide. She took the flowers from me. “Just because you show up with stuff doesn’t mean anything’s changed.”

  “I know. But you’ve got to believe me when I say I never meant for this to happen.”

  She turned to glance at me. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Nobody has ever done anything like this for me before.”

  “Well, it’s the least I can do. Besides, we’ve got some major planning to do before tomorrow night. And we have to get those posters done for homecoming.”

  Kat nudged the door open with her foot, then waved me in. She walked to the kitchen and grabbed an old water pitcher. She filled it up with water and put the roses into it. I set the pizza on the table and she handed me two plates.

  “You don’t like Connor?” Kat asked in between bites of food.

  “He’s nice, but I know he’s not for me.”

  “Then why did you kiss him back?”

  I sipped my soda. “Because I was mad. Mad at Seth. Mad at you. Mad at my Godmother powers.”

  “What changed?”

  “Everything,” I whispered. Because Seth cared, and Grandma entrusted me with her most important secret. Being a Fairy Godmother was more than just granting wishes. It meant focusing on people’s well-being, their fate. And I couldn’t let anything screw it up.

  “Well, you’re forgiven.” Kat gave me faint smile. “But don’t let it happen again.”

  “Trust me, I’ve had enough drama to last me a lifetime.”

  We giggled and devoured the pizza. After we ate, we went to her room and finished the rest of the posters. Hanging out with her reminded me of Taylor and all the good times we’d enjoyed. Guilt set in. Okay, so maybe Taylor hadn’t been very nice lately, but neither had I. I needed to make it up to her.

  “So, I’ve got your dress stuff figured out.”

  “Do I get to see it?” Kat stretched her legs out in front of her. I stood up to leave.

  “It’s not made yet, which is why we have to meet in the park tomorrow night before the party.”

  She gave me a quizzical look. “Are you sure? I mean, meeting in the park and all.”

  “Yeah. I read one of the dressmaking spell books. It said we have to do it in the open. Since the park is halfway between our houses, it’ll be perfect.” I swiped hair from my eyes. “I’ll bring everything we need with me.”

  “You think this will really work?”

  My smile faltered. I cleared my throat. “Of course, what could possibly go wrong?”

  ****

  “Come on, Maggie, we’ve got to go!” Mom hollered upstairs the following night.

  “Go ahead. I’ll meet you there.”

  “Don’t you dare be late. You’re supposed to hand out brochures.”

  I rolled my eyes. Good grief, she acted spastic sometimes. With a sigh, I fastened one last bobby-pin in my hair. My heels clicked on the hardwood floor as I hurried to grab the bag of materials I’d need for the dressmaking ceremony.

  My gaze fell on Seth’s picture. I hadn’t seen him since the incident at the summer house. He hadn’t shown up for school. And he’d never returned my calls. I held out hope he might show tonight, but even that looked bleak. My chest tightened. He had to be okay, otherwise his mom would’ve called, right?

  With dark thoughts cluttering my mind, I turned off the light and headed to the park. The night air smelled like burnt leaves, the setting sun doused the sky in orange and pink. The sound of a neighbor’s leaf blower hummed, shattering the silence.

  The evening seemed alive. My skin tingled with excitement.

  Tonight, I’d make everything right. One way or another, Connor and Kat would get their happily-ever-after.

  When I arrived at the park, I spotted Kat sitting on a nearby bench. She leapt up as soon as she saw me.

  “I’m so glad you’re here! I can’t believe how nervous I am.”

  “Just stay calm.” I set the bag down on the seat then pulled out a piece of silky green fabric and a leaf. “I need a strand of your hair.”

  Kat frowned. “What?”

  I reached over and yanked a section out.

  “Ow, what the heck?”

  “I need it for the spell to work.” Okay. Fabric. Check. Hair. Check. Piece of nature. Check. Needle. Crap. I forgot the needle. But there was no way I’d have enough time to go back home now. I glanced around for something else to use. A pine tree caught my eye. Of course, I could use a pine needle! I rushed over and picked one up off the grou
nd. The needle was supposed to represent the “sewing” of the gown. And a pine-needle was still a needle, right? Darn. Well, it had to be close enough.

  Kat quirked an eyebrow as she chewed on her thumbnail. “I’m ready when you are.”

  And yet, I detected her voice cracking.

  Great. She didn’t trust me.

  “Wand.” Magic tickled my fingers as I cleared my throat. “Fabric, nature, human essence, three. Make a dress that shows her beauty. Leave nothing out, spare not a dime. Make this dress for her special time.”

  The wind lifted. Leaves skittered at our feet. A loud humming vibrated around me. Bright light swirled around like a soft-serve ice cream. The earth rumbled beneath my feet as the power rushed forth. Suddenly, I felt cold.

  Kat shrieked.

  I opened my eyes to find our clothes had disappeared. Crap! The pine needle didn’t work.

  “This isn’t working!” Kat shouted. She stood before me, buck naked, covering herself with her arms and hands.

  “Really, tell me something I don’t know.”

  “More like my boobs are freezing off.”

  The whir of traffic in the distance made me groan. Why? Seriously, this stuff only happened to me.

  “I’ll make us a car to get out of here. We just need to get back to my house.”

  Kat glared. “Maybe they should’ve assigned me a leprechaun! At least then I’d have a little luck.”

  “Acting snotty is so not helping the situation.” A mosquito buzzed by my ear. Dang it! I slapped my neck. They’d probably attack my butt first, and I’d spend the next week itching it.

  “Come on, magic.” I took a deep breath. “We need to be somewhere quick, get us out of the trees and back home!”

  Glitter fell from my wand. A crack, followed by a thud-thud-thud. I inhaled deeply, afraid to turn around. But as it was, I didn’t need to. A sturdy branch reached down and lifted me up.

  Seriously? The tree hefted Kat up, too. It settled us into its canopy, lifting first one rooted foot, then another, as it started walking. It leveled small bushes as it pushed forward. I gaped behind us to see the giant hole left behind. Someone is bound to notice. Leaves and twigs poked me in the butt and in my back with every movement.

  “What the heck? Am I in a Lord of the Rings movie?” she shrieked.

  “Yeah, you’re the hairy-footed hobbit!”

  A car alarm sounded as the tree stomped down the road. At least we were on a side street. I’d be lucky if no one shot us or called in the military. Please don’t let anyone notice.

  “You are like the worst Godmother, ever.”

  I snorted. “Yeah, well. Beggars can’t be choosers.”

  By some miracle, we made it to my house without being caught. The tree lifted its bark-covered branch up and grabbed me by the waist. I hung, suspended in mid-air, like a naked piñata. It dropped me first, then Kat, to the ground. With a shake of its leafy twigs, it moved next to the house and rooted itself into my yard. I wondered if Mom would notice. I hoped not.

  We raced across the front lawn and into my house.

  “You live here?” Kat stared at me as we headed upstairs.

  “Um—yeah.”

  “Wow you could fit, like, five of my houses in your downstairs.”

  “My parents built it when they were still together.”

  “Oh. It’s nice.”

  When we got to my room, I rummaged through my dresser and tossed her a pair of panties.

  I tugged on a bra and thong then ambled to my closet.

  “See if any of these dresses fit you.” I ripped several outfits from hangers and tossed them onto the bed.

  Kat picked a low-cut black number with a fitted waist and a slit that went to her thigh. I helped her knot her hair atop her head then gave her a silver teardrop necklace to wear. After we got her ready, I slipped into a light-blue halter dress and dabbed on some make-up.

  “C’mon, we’ve gotta go.” I flipped off my bedroom light. It wasn’t until we walked downstairs when I realized there weren’t any cars left. “You’ve got to be kidding!”

  “What?” Kat’s brow wrinkled with worry lines.

  “Okay. Listen. You need to make a wish.”

  “For what?”

  “We kind of need transportation. My grandma said if you made a wish, I have to grant it.”

  “Why didn’t you say this earlier?”

  “I forgot.”

  She looked doubtful. Not that I blamed her after the whole missing-clothes fiasco.

  “This better work.” She closed her eyes and wet her lips. “I wish we could arrive at the exhibit in style, like celebrities.”

  My wand appeared in my hand. The skin on my arms tingled as energy built. My fingers glowed bright blue. We stood silent for long moments. Then I heard a helicopter.

  We raced to the window and watched as a chopper landed in my front yard.

  “Well, we’ll definitely make an appearance,” I said.

  Kat and I rushed outside. The helicopter blades stirred the wind like a high speed fan. The co-pilot hopped out to open the door for us. Once we were seat-belted inside, we lifted into the air.

  I looked down through the window, watching the houses and trees whiz by. This sure beat my usual way of flying. We arrived at the exhibit a few seconds later. The chopper eased down in the parking lot. Photographers rushed us and started snapping photos.

  I rolled my eyes. “Maybe you shouldn’t have added the ‘like celebrities’ bit.”

  Kat grinned and posed for the cameras. “Oh, please! I belong on the cover of every major magazine in the country. Harper’s Bazaar. Elle. Marie Claire. Vogue.”

  “Let’s worry about the paparazzi after you get your man.”

  Kat flashed me a nervous glance. “I might need to find a bathroom.”

  “You’ll be fine.” Or at least, I hoped she would, because it was time to go.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Classical music played over the speakers as Kat and I walked into the Exhibition Hall. Adults sauntered around, admiring the art while carrying glasses of wine.

  “You’re late.” Mom thrust a stack of brochures into my hands. “Jack and Seth were handing these out for you.”

  “Seth’s here?”

  “Yes, why wouldn’t he be?”

  I sighed in relief. The worry slipped away. At least I knew he was safe. “Uh—I don’t know. Did you see Taylor?”

  “She’s over there.” Mom pointed toward the back of the room where Taylor stood, flirting with some blond guy. As if sensing my glance, she looked up and gave me a small wave. But when she saw Kat, her eyes narrowed. This so wasn’t my night.

  Mom stood in front of me. “Do you mind explaining why you’re so late?”

  “Sorry. We had an incident.”

  Her eyebrow rose. “What kind of incident?”

  “Let’s just say, it’s kinda cold to be out at night in my birthday suit.”

  Her mouth dropped open.

  “By the way, this is Katrina.”

  Kat gave her a wobbly smile and held out her hand.

  “Nice to meet you, Ms. Winters.”

  “You too.” Mom shook her hand. “Oh, I better grab that wine cup from Mr. Pelton before he dumps it on someone.”

  I glanced at the drunk man. His dark suit was wrinkled, his thinning hair stuck up like antlers. Mr. Pelton, the town lush, came to all the events mostly for the free alcohol. And since he had money and spent it liberally, they never turned him away. Everyone could be such hypocrites.

  Kat gripped my arm, her hand sweaty. “I’m so nervous.”

  “Just take a deep breath. This is your moment.”

  She cast me a sideways glance. “I’m not so sure.”

  From across the room, I saw Mr. and Mrs. Prince standing with Connor, admiring a painting of a medieval castle. Mrs. Prince stood lithe and statuesque, her golden hair coiled atop her head. A diamond necklace glittered at her throat.

  “Look, now’s
your chance.” I pointed at Connor and his parents. “Go over to them and start a casual conversation.”

  She nervously rolled a brochure in her hands. “I don’t know anything about art.”

  “You don’t have to. Comment on the colors or compliment Mrs. Prince on her dress.”

  More people filtered into the room, the heavy scent of perfume made me want to vomit. Seriously, it smelled like someone had bathed in a vat of cheap knock-off scents.

  “Welcome to the exhibit.” I handed out brochures.

  When I turned back around, Kat still stood next to me. Okay, we so needed a plan. “Maybe I should head back home.” Her face drained of color.

  “No.” I spotted Jack across the room. He glanced up and I waved him over.

  “What’s up?”

  “I need a favor.” I gave him a desperate look. “I need you to escort Kat to the Prince family. Pretend you’re admiring a picture, and casually bump into them.”

  “How much will you give me?”

  He was being such a pain in the butt. “How about I promise not to kick you in the balls?”

  He held up his hands. “Touché. You must be on your period.”

  “You’re such a pig.” For a moment, I considered punching him in the nose, but figured Mom would ground me for the rest of my life if I caused a scene.

  “Shall we?” Jack offered his arm to Kat, who flashed me one last pleading look.

  My gaze shifted to Connor. He’d spotted me. He waved. Dang. I needed to hide and quick. I set the brochures on a table by the main entrance, then pushed into the crowd. Now I just needed to get close enough without being too close.

  Jack led her to a sculpture of a broken ship. The ship was displayed right next to the Prince family. For once in his life, he did what I asked. He bumped into Mr. Prince and apologized. I listened as he made a round of introductions.

  Connor glanced in my direction. I ducked behind a tall man wearing a toupee. Come on. Just pay attention to Kat.

  “Do you need something?” the tall man asked. I was practically crawling up his back.

  “No, sorry. I thought someone was following me, so I tried to pretend like I was with you.”