সিন্ড্রেলা turned her head to the palace clock just a few miles away from the forest. Sunset was nearing, and Char STILL hadn't come.
"Do আপনি think he'll come?" she asked the mice.
Jaq swallowed a chunk of watermelon. "Princey was supposed to come TWO HOURS ago!"
Gus nodded. "Jaq-Jaq right. Can we go home?"
সিন্ড্রেলা sighed. "I guess he was too busy." She got up to pack up the খাবার she brought, when she heard a distant voice.
"...I barely get to see her, the picnic was the least I could do..."
"He's here!" সিন্ড্রেলা whispered. She quickly put the খাবার back out.
She was still laying everything out when a shadow stood over her. Charming was looking away, still talking into his phone.
"I know, Ana. Yeah. প্রণয় ya. Bye." He sighed and clicked the phone shut.
সিন্ড্রেলা scrambled onto her feet to hug him. "Charming! You're here! I was just about to leave."
Char laughed as they sat down on the picnic blanket. "Sorry for being late, আনাস্তেসিয়াa was anxious about where I was again."
সিন্ড্রেলা poured ফলমূল মুষ্ট্যাঘাত into two cups. "Fighting again?"
His brown eyes looked sad. "Yeah."
সিন্ড্রেলা patted his knee. "Well, আপনি could always tell me anything. I'm your best friend."
Char smiled. "Girlfriends come and go..."
"But বন্ধু are always there for each other." She loved how he still remembered their পছন্দ motto.
They sat there for what seemed like forever, staring at the sunset, just like the best বন্ধু they always were.
Suddenly, a loud beeping noise came out of Charming's phone.
"Sorry Cindy, but I promised Ana that I'd see her right now at your house." He got up and offered his hand.
সিন্ড্রেলা reluctantly took it. "But you've only been here an hour!" she complained.
Char decided not to answer and helped her with the cleaning.
Together, they walked to the manor where সিন্ড্রেলা had lived in all her life with her stepfamily. She walked up the steps to the front door and quietly pushed it open.
"CINDERELLA!! WHERE HAVE আপনি BEEN?!" screamed her stepmother.
সিন্ড্রেলা looked down. "Sorry Stepmother, I was out--"
"You KNOW you're not allowed to go out without my permission. If I ever find আপনি out there again..."
Charming stepped inside. "My apologies, Lady Tremaine. Cindy and I just needed some catching up to do."
Lady Tremaine blushed at his appearance. "Well, then আপনি are forgiven Cinderella."
"CHARMING!" আনাস্তেসিয়াa ran down the stairs and towards the prince.
সিন্ড্রেলা watched sadly as they shared a চুম্বন right in front of them.
আনাস্তেসিয়াa pulled away and glared at her stepsister. "Cinderella, I thought I specifically told আপনি to stay away from him!"
"Ana, be easy on her. We haven't seen each other for a while--" Charming pleaded.
"But she's a freaking MAID!! She doesn't deserve to be out with a prince," আনাস্তেসিয়াa interrupted him.
সিন্ড্রেলা cringed. She was hoping Ana wouldn't play the maid card.
Charming sighed. "Well, I'll see আপনি tomorrow." He smiled at সিন্ড্রেলা and left.
Without a word, সিন্ড্রেলা retreated to her bedroom where she looked out her window. Her face felt hot with her anger, and only cooled when her tears streamed down her face.
Jaq climbed up onto the windowsill and sat পরবর্তি to her hand. "What's wrong, Cinderelly?"
"Did আপনি see how she talked to him?" She didn't even bother saying their names, for Jaq already knew.
"Mean lady yelled at Princey," Jaq ব্যক্ত softly.
Cindy sniffled. "He doesn't deserve a person like that. He deserves someone more, someone who could make him happy."
Jaq patted her hand. "Well, look at the bright side! At least Princey will come here tomorrow."
সিন্ড্রেলা wiped her eyes. "I know, Jaq."

And she sat there, wondering what would become of her life.