It was costume day at school, and the dressing room buzzed with excitement. Jess turned to Tessy as she admired the gown she wore for the ball scene.
"That looks really good on you for the ball," Jess said with a smile.
"Thanks! You look amazing too," Tessy replied, grinning. Both girls giggled, their reflections glowing in the mirror under the stage lights.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel turned to Brian with a warning tone.
"Brian, you know you can't see the princess's gown. We want you to be really surprised that day."
Brian nodded casually. "Sure."
After everyone changed out of their costumes, the actors began to scatter.
---
Brian and Vicky went their separate ways, an awkward silence lingering between them. They hadn't been speaking much lately—not like before. Vicky sighed as she walked home, her thoughts tangled in a mess of unspoken feelings.
She had one plan today: ask Tim to the prom.
As she neared Tim's place, she bumped into Jaxon outside. He was lounging near the steps, chewing on a toothpick with that usual bored expression.
"Uhh… so Tim," Vicky said, raising a brow. "You're no longer with women? You on men now?" She chuckled.
Jaxon rolled his eyes, clearly irritated. "Ew. Gross. Even if I were gay, your brother would be the worst option for me."
"You sure, bro?" Tim asked as he appeared from behind the door, causing Jaxon to giggle sarcastically.
"So, why are you here, Vicky?" Tim asked, clearly surprised to see her. "Also, shocking—there's no girl in your room today," she added, her eyes scanning the space behind him.
"He's dumped ninety-eight girls. No one's coming anymore," Jaxon said with a smirk.
"Wow. Brother, you're really a player," Vicky said, crossing her arms.
Tim squinted. "So why'd you come here?"
"Uhm… I wanted to ask… I mean, Alva said I should… no—Cody said you should come to my prom."
"Cody said that?" Tim blinked.
"Yes! Don't doubt me. I don't even want to invite you. But he said I should."
"Okay," Tim said simply.
"Are you going to be there?"
"Maybe…"
"Ugh! You're invited too," she snapped at Jaxon before turning and storming out.
"Stupid brother. Stupid Tim. Stupid—ugh."
She made her way to Alice's room. The baby was fast asleep, her tiny face soft and peaceful. Vicky leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. Alice let out a soft pout in her sleep, her perfect features calm.
"Good night, Alice," Vicky whispered, and then quietly stepped out of the room.
---
Vicky slept like a rock, sprawled across her bed, completely unaware of the time. The soft patter of little hands slapping her cheek stirred her slightly.
"Vivi…" came a tiny voice.
"Owww…" she mumbled, lips barely moving.
Just then, Alva burst into the room, panic in her voice. "Vicky! It's prom! And you're late!"
Vicky's eyes flew open. "Prom? Today? Late?!"
She bolted upright, glancing at her alarm clock. It read 12:00.
Oh no.
Nathaniel had told them to arrive at ten. If she didn't act as Ella, another girl might step in—and kiss Brian. And worse, she'd ruin the entire production.
She rushed to the bathroom without even stopping for food. Thank goodness she'd prepared her outfit the night before. Her hands trembled as she zipped up her dress.
Was she really in love with Brian? Was that why she was panicking over prom? Maybe… maybe not. But one thing was certain: Brian wasn't going to ask her anymore. Prom was today—and she was late.
She grabbed her things and ran to the school, her heels clicking on the hallway tiles. Bursting through the door of the actor's room, she barely caught her breath before Nathaniel glared at her.
"You're freaking late!" he barked.
Vicky just nodded, guilt washing over her. "I set my alarm wrong… the time was—"
"Enough talk. Just change." His voice was cold but focused. This show had to go on.
And so did she.
++++
Vicky sat quietly in the actor's room, still catching her breath from the mad rush. Her hair was only half-pinned, and she hadn't even touched the tiny sandwich.The school auditorium buzzed with light and chatter. Rows of students and parents filled the seats, some already shifting impatiently, others checking their phones. Behind the heavy velvet curtain, chaos reigned—but it was the kind of chaos that came with excitement.
The stage lights dimmed, casting a hush over the crowd.
Then came Mimi.
Draped in a silver gown, she stepped onto the stage with the confidence of someone who had waited their whole life for this moment. She smiled brightly at the crowd and lifted the microphone.
"Hello ladies and gentlemen," she began, her voice carrying across the room, "I'm Mimi, your narrator for tonight's show. Now, the title of our play? It's one of the most famous stories in the world. I'd say almost 90% of people have seen it. The other 10%? Probably boys." The crowd burst into laughter, and even the tense actors backstage cracked smiles.
She continued, her voice softening now. "Tonight, we tell the story of Ella. A young girl from a small town in the city of Mystical. She was kind. She was beautiful. She was alone."
The curtains opened slowly.
On stage, Vicky—now Ella—sat among a garden of fake flowers and painted animals. The warm lighting painted her face in golden tones as she fed the animals with gentle hands. She didn't have to act much—this quiet moment of pretending to be somewhere far from real life felt almost comforting.
The narration floated over the scene.
"Ella's mother died the day she was born, leaving her in the care of her father. A good man. Kind. But work took him far away. Months would pass before he returned."
From the side of the stage, Mikael entered, playing the role of Ella's father. He looked tall, reliable—everything a fairytale father should be. Vicky looked up at him and smiled, the gesture pure and bright, like a girl who believed her world was still safe.
"When he finally came home," Mimi's voice continued, "he brought with him someone new. A woman he loved. And she brought her daughters."
The stepmother—played by Julia—walked onto the stage, flanked by Jess and Tessy, their dresses sparkling under the lights. Ella ran to them, laughing, welcoming them with open arms.
"She was happy. Ella believed in family. In love. And she believed, deep down, that kindness would always be returned."
A wedding scene followed, short and sweet, with music playing softly as Mikael and Julia exchanged vows.
But then the tone shifted.
"But happiness," Mimi said, her voice darkening, "was not meant to last. Her father left again… and this time, he never came back."
The stage dimmed. Mikael walked off, his shadow swallowed by the black.
Left behind, Ella stood frozen in the now-empty garden. Her animal friends were all she had. Her new family—those she'd loved so quickly—grew cold. Days turned into weeks. Weeks into months.
"She was no longer the daughter," Mimi whispered. "She was the servant."
Vicky's eyes flickered beneath the stage lights as she knelt once more among the animals, her hands now moving slower, her posture a little lower. Ella's story was only just beginning.
And somewhere in the room, Brian watched—silent.