Ella's Shoes

Chapter Two

Just Lke a Princess.

It was awkward. All eyes were on me as I slipped and fell. "Woah" the crowd roared and began to clap. Somehow my very shameful fall rhymed with the dance and had managed to win the crowd over.

I quickly took the opportunity to show off my dance steps that I had been practicing in the bathroom for a while now which was absolutely different from our choreography. I smiled to myself. It's pay back time. I swirled and swayed as the crowd cheered me on.

A leg obstructed my movement and I landed on my butt. An uproar of laughter feeled the air. I mentally crawled back into my shell. The tears had already began to form until a hand tried to lift me up.

"Are you okay?" Milan asked. He was by far the most handsome boy in our grade with round bright eyes and perfectly sculpted nose. " Yes I am thanks" I said rejecting his hands and standing up on my own. I wasn't going to let anyone think they can trample on me. I continued my dance with full force and ended with a bow.

The applause was thunderous and everybody stared to echo my name. I smiled, waved and walked down from the stage majestically. "That was incredible!" My dad whispered from behind me. "How was the talk with your wife?" I asked him.

"That's rude" he reprimanded. "My bad." I answered and increased my pace. I didn't need to be reminded how rude I've chosen to be. Will it lead me anywhere? No. Am I happy doing it? Yes. Deep within me I feel hurt whenever I speak to him that way but series of hurt has shapened me to be like this and embracing it is what I will do.

"There you are! Pretty little girl!" The manager echoed smiling sheepishly with his horribly shapened pot belle and a crooked looking cigarette hanging just between his lips. Who calls a 15 year old a little girl? I mentally rolled my eyes. I faked a very beautiful smile and I shaked his fat palm.

"You p-p-performed beautifully!" He remarked. Mr Cole will never give a beautiful remark except there was something in it for him. Apart from his terrible stammers he is also gifted with pride and greed. "Yes she did." My chaperone's voice followed. I sensed danger.

When did this two become so nice to me? The last time I checked,they gave me a different costume and the last time they tried to be nice was when they made me wear the teddy bear costume all the girls refused to wear. I took a deep breath and braced myself up for the most disrespectful question I was about to ask.

"Why are the both of you being so nice?" Although it came out nicely presented,I believed they got the message.

"What do you mean by that dear? Now smile, you're about to meet the president of Young Girls Dance." That was it. I knew this man had something and I was going to ruin it. I gave a devilish smirk and planted a sweet smile on my face as we approached the president.

Unlike the manager,the president was younger and finer. He was wearing a beautiful vintage shirt and jeans trousers. I could've almost mistaken him for just an ordinary person but YGD president. No. I was impressed I had only heard of his name, Felix but have never met personally. I replaced my fake smile with a genuine one. I smiled so hard it hurt my cheeks. It was weird but it was my first and I appreciated it.

"Little girl, what's your name?" Mr Felix asked. "Oh, Her name is Cinderella" my chaperone chimed with the most irritating voice ever. I cringed. Nobody was allowed to call me that. What did she do that for? Eeew! "Let her speak for herself Madame Lisa" He told her plainly with an emotionless face. Wait! How did he pull that off? Totally brushing off my chaperone's statement is a thing nobody dared to try with her but of course he was the president so she smiled. I was shocked.

"I'm Ella. Just Ella" I told him emphasising the later part. "Just Ella. Have you been told that your performance was outstanding today?" He asked. "Yes sir. But I'd rather hear it from you". I answered. The three of them were obviously shocked at my response but I didn't care and I wasn't about to anytime soon.

" I want to speak to her privately please" He told the duo standing next to me. So this man is handsome young and smart too?! In a minute,they were gone. Both of them could pass as soldiers except they didn't have the balls for it. "Thank you Mr Felix" I told him as soon as they left.

"You're a good girl Ella. Although you pulled a beautiful dance up there,I'm still not happy with the fact that you didn't follow the cheograohy you were taught. YGD all over the world make use of the same choreography every year for Nationals and you of all people should know that." He said.

Was that a warning? And he didn't give a stern look? Just wow! "I'm sorry sir. But I can't promise that it won't happen again." I told him sincerely. "Today was the first time I ever broke the dance rules but honestly,I enjoyed it." I continued. "Ah ah" He laughed. Wait! What?! A laugh?! "You know you're a very beautiful girl,disobedience doesn't look good on you" he responded. Gave a small laugh and walked away. "Bye just Ella" he said as he went.

Madame Lisa rushed in after he left demanding that I spilled all he told me. I sensed the desperation and decided to make good use of it. "Miss Chaperone ma'am, I believe you're part of the organising committee?" I asked and she responded affirmatively. Madame Lisa has a very poor sense of humor which works for me.

"Well he said he was going to call a meeting about you making me the head of the dance team." I lied. She believed it instantly and I knew she was going to work on it without waiting for his orders so that she can appear as an effective chaperone.

I went back to the girls with my head high and announced to them that I was going to be the team leader. They all believed "why won't they? Who just spoke to the president all alone?! Yeah I guess so. With that, I walked out with an extra bounce on my walking step. Like a princess!