He's Cinder-freaking-rella

DEVON

          "Devon?!" I heard my mum yell from downstairs.

"Yes, mum?!" I replied.

"What the hell are you still doing upstairs? Karla has arrived!" She said and my eyes widened.

Shit, shit, shit.

I pulled my dyed blonde hair up, debating on whether a bun or a ponytail would suit me. The door of my room opened. Karla, my bestfriend walked in, all dolled up in a red and white dress with her blond hair in a chignon.

"Woah, you're not even done yet?" She commented, smiling.

I let out a groan, letting my long hair down my back.

"I think you should leave it down" Karla suggested.

"I love your outfit, it's classy" she added, admiring my dress. The back of the long, red dress exposed a bit of skin and the front of the dress was embedded with shiny stones. The upper part of the gown clung to my skin while it flowed to the floor, starting from my hips.

"Thanks," I said to her.

"Help me with these, please" I said, handing her my make up kit. She grinned and made me sit on a chair.

It was February 14th, you should have guessed. Every year at Springfalls high, the high school students partake in a Love Festival as we call it. The festival takes place on every Valentine's day. Trust me, it's always fun. 

Karla finished with the make up. I slipped on my red heels and grabbed my purse.

"I'm excited," Karla said, slipping on her mask.

Yeah, you heard me right.

We were also going to have a masquerade ball. The girls on this occasion, would ask the guy she crushes on, to dance with her. Mind you, the guy is in no position to refuse! That's the fun of it.

"Alright, girls have a great time," My mum said, kissing our cheeks. 

Karla and I got into my flashy red Ferrari which my dad had bought me for my seventeenth birthday. By the time we got to school, we were anxious. 

Several girls and boys were moving around, smartly dressed with their masks on. Karla looked stunning as usual with her dress accentuating her beautiful curves. She is just as tall as I am, and we both have the same lovely, model-like figure. Though we have the same figure, Karla has bigger boobs. We are more like twins, except she has green eyes, while my eyes are bright blue. Karla had dyed her black hair to the exact shade of my dyed blond hair. 

"Devon! Karla!" 

We both turned to look at Melanie and Nichole, our other friends. I was very popular in highschool owing to the fact that I was the cheerleader. I had many followers. Don't get me wrong. I don't act like a bitch like most cheerleaders, I'm just me. 

"I love your dress, Dev. You look stunning," Mel said.

"Thanks."

"I'm nervous," Nichole said.

"Don't be, sweetie," I said.

"I have a crush on Ryan.... he's the school's prince charming and he has a girlfriend. I can't ask him to dance with me," Nichole lamented.

"Do you want to dance with him or not?" I asked.

"I do," she sighed.

"Then, go for it. He doesn't have a choice. Besides, you're stunning," I said and she grinned.

"Oh my goodness, look at Chris. He's absolutely gorgeous," Karla groaned from beside me.

Chris was her boyfriend. I must admit, he looked pretty hot in his tuxedo and mask.

He approached us with a smile on his face.

"You look stunning," he said to Karla and leaned closer to kiss her.

"Excuse me, I need to get something from my locker," I said to her, leaving the both of them together.

I went to my locker and opened it. I took out my golden arrow pendant, the one my mystery friend had given to me on my tenth birthday. Just as I placed it around my neck, My gaze rested on the folded letter in my locker. I frowned, reaching out to grab it. I was very sure that the letter hadn't been in my locker the previous day. Beneath the letter was a beautiful, feathery red mask with glitters on it.

The letter was written in neat writing.

'I'm sure you'll look stunning today. To be honest, you're the prettiest girl I've ever seen. Keep that smile on your face, it's breathtaking....Wear the mask tonight... I'm sure it'll suit you.

                       [Black]

I gasped.

My secret friend had a crush on me! He was stalking me!

I slammed my locker shut, trying to wrap my head around the fact that someone could be stalking me.

Why would anyone be stalking me? It just didn't make sense.

Unless-

Unless my stalker was a serial killer.

Blood drained from my face when I thought about it.

But, what sort of serial killer remembers my birthday and sends me birthday presents annually?

"Wow, that mask looks nice," Karla said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah..." I mumbled.

"Put it on" she urged and I hesitated.

"Come on, I know you're not the shy type" she teased and I cringed.

I took a deep breath and put it on. Karla gasped, her eyes widening.

"Wow, dazzling. Dev, we've got to go. The masquerade ball is about to begin" she said. I shut the door and followed her to the main hall. The guys were standing on the left while the girls stood on the right.

"Happy Valentine's day, ladies and gentlemen!" the MC'S voice boomed through the speakers.

"We are all familiar with this yearly event known as the Love festival, I presume. The rules are simple. Girls, you are to ask your crush to dance with you! If you don't have a crush, you can come up here to dance with me"

Everyone laughed.

"All right, here's your chance. Here's your chance to tell your crush that you have a crush on them. Come on, don't be shy," the MC said from the podium.

Soft music began to play and the girls began to walk towards the boys. I stood where I was. To be honest, I no longer had a crush. I had basically dated most of the hot guys in Springfield High.

"Dev, what are you doing?" Mel asked me.

"Swimming," I replied.

"Come on, drop the sarcasm. You're just standing right there." 

"Stop stating the obvious, why don't you run along?" I retorted, frowning.

"Oh, sorry" she muttered and walked away. I cringed.

Why the hell was I acting like a bitch now?

I had to get away.

As soon as I turned to walk away, I found myself staring at depthless pools of green. I gasped, drawn to the dazzling pair of eyes. I moved forward. That was when I saw him. He was beautiful. So beautiful, it hurt. I couldn't imagine why I'd never seen him before.

He was dressed in a flawless white tuxedo and a white shirt. His shirt was half-way unbuttoned, exposing a toned chest with a red handkerchief in his breast pocket. His curly hair was pushed backwards but that did not stop the strand of hair that had fallen forward, over his face. His mask was similar to mine. Only it was less feathery. I moved faster, not wanting any other girl to get to him first. "Hi," I breathlessly said to him when I finally caught up with him.

He smiled, a pair of adorable dimples popping out on both cheeks. 'Dang it, why is he so cute?' I thought, trying not to swoon.

"Hi," he breathed.

"May I have this dance?" I asked and he nodded curtly.

"Of course," he replied, placing his warm hand in mine. He placed his other hand around my waist, his movements slow and graceful, as we danced.

"I haven't seen you around here before," I whispered in his ear.

He smiled. 

I couldn't help but stare.

"Are you sure?" He asked, his voice silky and smooth.

"Or maybe you didn't look hard enough," he said.

"I don't know how I've possibly missed you. It's hard for anyone to miss a face like yours," I told him.

He grinned.

"I'll take that as a compliment, then"

We remained silent. I wanted it to go on and on. I felt so peaceful and tranquil in his arms. I felt like I'd known him my whole life.

"The mask does suit you" he whispered. I felt myself stiffen.

'I'm sure it'll suit you' the note had said. Was he my mystery guy? Maybe I was just over thinking. Maybe it was just a coincidence, right?

"Are you okay? You look disturbed," He pointed out.

"No, I'm fine," I replied.

"Okay."

It was getting darker outside and I noticed that my partner was starting to tense up. He kept staring outside anytime he thought I wasn't watching him.

"What's your name, then?" I asked. He gazed at me with eyes that held me captive.

"You know it," he replied, his gaze unwavering.

"Wait, what? Don't tell me your name is 'You know it'....Oh- ," I said.

"I don't know you, why would I know your name?" I asked, confused.

"You have the answer already, love" he breathed, brushing a stray strand of hair, away from my face. 

I gazed into his eyes, mesmerized by the way they were glowing. He started to lean closer, and I found myself leaning closer. My brain had totally stopped functioning. I could feel his warm, minty breath on my face as he leaned closer still.

Suddenly, the color of his eyes started to transform to a bright golden color. He pulled away. It was then I noticed his pendant, it was the same as mine. I gasped, stunned to silence. All I could do was stare.

His hair was cascading down his back at this point. He moved away from me.

"I've got to go," he said and began to run out of the hall. I ran after him as quickly as my long dress and heels could allow.

"Wait!" I yelled. 

He ignored me, and in a twinkle of an eye, he'd vanished into thin air. I ran forward and stopped at the exact spot he'd been standing, right before he'd disappeared. There on the floor lay his mask. I picked it up, stroking the feathers absentmindedly. I felt like I was in some sort of fairy tale. In this case, I was prince charming and he was cinder-freaking-rella!