I'm No Cinderella

3. I Won't Go All Electra on Her Ass

Ms. Minerva squeezed my hand gently. "Come on, let's go clean you up."

About ten minutes later, I was sitting in the librarian's office. I was in some of Ms. Minerva's extra clothes. An okay looking polo shirt and skinny jeans. She was a bit bigger than me, only because of her age and extra curves, but it fit snugly either way. I used the shower in the teachers' lounge, why there is a shower in there? Who knows? I was now sitting on the floor, hugging my knees as Ms. Minerva brushed my hair in her desk chair. The hair brush made my scalp tingle. My crying had reduced to sniffles as I explained more in depth what had happened.

"Then, she blamed it on me and now the principal's on my ass." I didn't even apologize for my profanity. She didn't care, for she was young once herself. I liked how she was now the motherly librarian instead of her usual professional self.

"That's awful. Would you like me to speak with him?" She suggested. "He shouldn't punish you for something out of your hands."

I turned around as she put the brush down and laid my head against her thigh. She ran her hands through the ends of my curly hair. "I'm not so sure anything could change the old farts mind."

I felt numb. I wanted to waste away in the library reading historical fiction and almanacs. I'm not so sure what. Ms. Minerva's chuckle made me smile sadly.

"I wouldn't be so pessimistic if I were you," she warned. I smiled sheepishly. "Are you going to the Masquerade tonight?" She asked. I frowned at her choice of a subject change.

"I don't think so." I shook my head facing forward again to avoid another look of pity.

"Why not?" Why not? How about the fact that I have no one to go with because I'm an out casted freak? I sticked to the second reason.

"My step-mother," I spat. "She's making me babysit tonight. But I wouldn't have gone either way."

Ms. Minerva pursed her lips. "Really? You don't want to have fun with your friends?" She asked. My mood darkened even more.

"Friends? The only friends I have will be drooling over their crushes and leave me in the dusty corner." I scoffed bitterly. Ms. Minerva walked over to her desk and started rummaging through paper and junk.

"Isn't that a bit harsh to assume those actions of them?" I shrugged. Thalia and Piper know that I love them, but I wish they knew how I truly felt. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I like to avoid confrontation.

"Maybe. Maybe not." I answered. "Either way, I'm not prepared. I have no dress, no date..."

"I can't." I confirmed. Ms. Minerva sat back in the chair in front of me. I sat on my knees. She held something out for me. It was a beautiful grayish white mask. It was meant to cover the upper half of a face. Its feathers fanned out so it looked like the head of an owl, and there were two holes made for eyes. It was stunning.

She pushed my hair behind my ears and placed the mask on my face. "Well, if it's any consolation, I think you would have looked beautiful."

I smiled at the compliment and took the mask of my face gazing at it. It was beautiful.

"I can't take this," I said, holding it out to her for her to take. It wasn't meant for me. It was delicate, unlike me. It was meant for someone like Drew or Piper. Owls were my favorite, but it still didn't belong to me. I wasn't worthy of it.

Ms. Minerva pushed it back in my hands. "No, I want you to keep it. Hopefully, it will remind you of what you are." Which is? I bit the bottom of my lip.

"And what you're missing out on," she said, patting my shoulder. I took the mask into consideration. But I can't go. Not unless Helen leaves her "meeting" early and lets me leave. Which there isn't a chance of. She'd laugh in my face if I mentioned this dance.