After Forever (23 page)

“I know it’s been just us for so long son,
but give it a chance. This is new to them too.” Cynder only nodded
at his father. He gave it a chance, he stuck out his hand,
plastered a welcoming smile on his face and introduced himself.

“Hi, I’m Cynder, my dad says we’re gonna be
brothers.”

He had met their mother, he thought he
didn’t like her because she was so different from the few things he
could remember about his own mother. She didn’t smile, or hug, she
didn’t cook breakfast or sing silly songs at bedtime. She didn’t
dance and hold him up by the arms on Sunday mornings, she didn’t
love him, and she didn’t even like him.

“Cynder? That’s your name?” Andy howled.

“More like CINDY!” Drew laughed. With that
Andy pushed him down and they continued through the house pushing
their way into his life and ruining it with every minute they were
there.

“I said give it back Cindy!” Andy growled
lurching at him. Cynder dodged him easily and tossed the paper to
Drew, not because he wanted to help Drew or even because he cared
if Drew read it, but because it’s what would piss Andy off the
most. Drew snatched the silver kissed invite and skimmed it quickly
howling as he ran around the kitchen island.

“Hot damn a masquerade ball!” He did an
awkward jump, clicking his heels together as he slammed the invite
down on the table. He jerked his head to the side catching Andy’s
eyes and without a word they shot up the stairs shoving and vying
to be the first to the top.

Cynder shook his head and picked up the
paper again as his step mother came through the door from the
garage.

She looked him over as always her eyes
filled with disgust and disapproval.

“What is that?” She asked snatching the
paper from him, leaving only a sprinkling of glitter on his
fingers.

“The Academy is having a ball. The whole
town is invited.” He spoke to her respectfully because that’s how
he was raised, but in his head he was calling her every name he
could think of.

“Hmmm says this Friday night,” she slid the
invitation onto the counter top ignoring Cynder, “I better take the
boys shopping.”

He knew better than to hope, to dream that
he was included in her idea of “the boys”, but no matter how many
times she let him down, no matter how much he hated her and knew
she hated him back, there’s was always a moment when he hoped,
wished, dreamed that she meant him too.

Friday came quickly. Andy and Drew were
dressed in the finest tuxedos, their hair gelled in place. Andy
wore a black phantom of the opera-esque mask lined with silver
glitter. Drew wore an impish green mask that made Cynder think of a
forest troll. Cynder himself took a suit from his father’s closet,
dad was out of town again on business, Denmark this time for a
whole month, but he wouldn’t mind. What he didn’t have was a mask.
He came down the stairs as Andy, Drew and their mother were walking
out the door.

“I just need a mask guys, gimme a sec.” His
step mother looked back over her shoulder and smirked at him as she
closed the door behind her. Anger bubbled up in his chest, it was
one thing that she excluded him from the shopping trip, that she
ignored him most of the time, but to completely leave him behind
tonight was just the last straw. Andy’s tires peeled out of the
drive, the headlights splashing through the window, illuminating
Cynder as he stood there, alone as always.

He stood in the empty house, fuming, wishing
his real mother was here, wishing his father was home and could see
how he was treated. He pulled his cell phone from his coat pocket,
stepping outside in an attempt to breathe and calm down. His
fingers flew across his phone screen, machine gunning a message to
his father.

When r u coming home

He waited for a response. He didn’t know
what time it was in Denmark but his dad always answered his
texts.

IDK what’s up?

Cynder thought for a moment before he
answered.

Nothing just miss u

Why tell him? He wouldn’t believe it, he was
under her evil spell.

“Cynder?”

He jumped at the sound of his name in the
dark. Looking around he caught sight of Mrs. Walt’s grey head
poking over the fence.

“Hey Mrs. Walt, you okay?” He walked towards
her smiling as she stood on her tip toes just to see over the
fence.

“What on Earth are you doing outside dressed
so nice?” She opened the gate and stepped into his yard.

“Oh, I was going to go to the Tremaine
Masquerade Ball but I changed my mind.” He smoothed the coat with
is hands disappointment washing away his smile.

“Bitch left you behind didn’t she?”

His head jerked up as he caught the watery
twinkle in Mrs. Walt’s blue eyes. Hearing her curse was the
funniest thing Cynder ever heard.

“Yeah, yeah she did. But it’s ok. I didn’t
have a mask or anything anyway.” Cynder offered Mrs. Walt his elbow
and she took it. He escorted her back to her porch, helping her
slowly up the stairs.

“Come in here a minute son.” She said with a
smile. He followed her into the house curious about her mischievous
grin. She led him through the tiny house which seemed to have more
hallways and corners than imaginable for such a small square place.
She came to a door with a gold star and her husband’s name beneath
it. It looked like a Hollywood dressing room door. She placed her
wrinkled hand against the door and breathed deeply. When she swung
it open Cynder couldn’t believe his eyes. The room was full of
rolling wardrobe racks. The back wall held a huge mirror surrounded
by large bulb lights.

“What is this?” Cynder whispered.

“Mickey was a silent movie star. These are
his things.” She swept her arm out as Cynder tried to look
everywhere at once.

“How old are you?” Cynder laughed, blushing
at his own rudeness.

“Younger than you think, older than I feel.”
She laughed.

She reached into one of the racks and pulled
out a tuxedo. Its coat was long, the vest was backless with a deep
curved V-cut, white with a silver paisley pattern running through
it.

“Try it on.” She urged, pushing it at
him.

“Oh, I couldn’t. These were Mr. Walt’s
things.” He shook his head but she kept pushing it into his
hands.

“He would want you too, for all you’ve done
for me.”

Cynder took the clothes from her hand and
watched as she stepped out closing the door behind her.

It was a perfect fit. He had no clue how old
the outfit was but it shined like new. The wall with the mirror was
decorated with masks of all kinds, even a monkey mask. Cynder
laughed as his poked the furry nostrils. Then he saw it, a full
face mask, it looked ancient almost. Silver and white, with ornate,
antiqued scrolling. It covered his whole face and fit like it was
made for him.

Mrs. Walt appeared behind him in the mirror,
her hands clasped over her mouth.

“What do you think?” He asked turning slowly
so she could see.

“Oh honey, you look like someone’s dream
come true!” She whispered as she ran her hands down the front of
the vest, smoothing the lapels.

“I don’t know how to thank you.”

“You don’t have to, every young man like you
deserves a fairy godmother.” She turned, walking to the far corner
of the room. She mumbled as she dug through a deep chest.

Cynder looked over her shoulder as she
shifted things from one side to the other.

“What are you looking for?” He asked. She
turned her eyes bright with triumph.

“Every gentleman needs a pocket watch.” She
smiled as she held out a beautiful silver pocket watch, its chain
gleaming and delicate. The case was decorated with a compass rose
and the phases of the moon, a tiny key hung from the chain.

“What’s the key for?” He asked touching it
gently.

“That opens it.” She took the small key and
placed it in a notch on the bottom of the watch. The face popped
open showing the clock face. Inside the front was etched, ‘For my
one true love, let there be nothing but time between us.’

She clicked it closed before placing it in
Cynder’s hand.

“Never let anything come between you and
your dreams Cynder. Not that wretched woman or her useless sons.
Now let’s get you to the ball.”

He kissed her cheek, tears brimming in his
eyes. He would never be able to thank her enough, but he would
spend eternity trying.

She led him back to the front of the house,
before turning toward the garage.

“One last thing dear.” She said patting him
on the hand. The overhead light flickered to life, illuminating a
spotless garage. Sitting as if it was new on the lot was a classic
car, white wall tires and all.

“That, Cynder, is a fully refurbished 1929
Studebaker Commander.”

He stared in awe.

“Mrs. Walt, this is too much. I can’t drive
that car. Look at it, it’s pristine.” He shook his head.

“Tut- tut boy. You’re taking it. Needs to be
out on the road again anyway. Now let me grab the keys.”

As she shuffled back into the kitchen Cynder
raised the garage door and walked around the car. All the times
he’d been here he never knew she had this car, never even been in
the garage. They always took her old ’86 gold Cadillac to town. He
eased the driver door open, amazed that it didn’t creak.

“Here you are. Have a wonderful night
Cynder.” As she reached to hand him the keys they fumbled from her
fingers.

“Oh bibbty-boppity-boo!” She grumbled as she
stooped down the retrieve the keys. Cynder hid his smile as she
passed the keys to him.

“Now be back by midnight. I heard the
step-monster telling her minions they’d be home by 12:30. You be
back before them, you hear me?”

“Yes mam, I will.”

He hugged her again and promised to get the
car home in one piece. He pulled out into the night and turned
towards the Academy. A shooting star chased him down the road. It
was going to be a magical night.

The Academy was lit up with what looked like
millions of tiny white lights. Men in tuxedo’s and gold masks stood
in the horseshoe drive bowing to guests as they arrived and taking
their cars. Everything seemed to halt as Cynder pulled to a stop.
All eyes were on the car and then on him as he exited nervously,
handing the keys to a still slack jawed valet.

As he took the wide marble steps up to the
main doors he could hear the swell of the music from inside.
Laughter floated in the air around him. He checked his mask for the
tenth time before stepping thru the threshold. The lobby was filled
with costumed guests all milling around laughing as they moved
toward the main hall. Through two massive wooden doors lay the
ballroom. Cynder took a deep breath and started down the steps.
Women in full gowns twirled in the arms of dashing masked men. It
was like stepping back in time. Cynder looked around for the
step-twits and their mother. The room was so thick with people he
wasn’t sure he’d notice them if they were stepping on his toes.

The waltz ended and the room applauded.
Cynder clapped as well as he moved toward the far end of the room.
Past the refreshment table loomed a spiral staircase, at the foot
of it he nearly tripped over a hunched over figure.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.” He bent
down to make sure she was okay. When she lifted her face he could
see the sadness through her mask. Her emerald green eyes were
swimming in tears. He sat down on the step next to her.

“Hey, are you okay? I didn’t hurt you did
I?”

She looked over at him, the tears still
threatening to fall.

“No, it’s not you. I’m fine.” Her voice was
soft and sweet. Her lips a faint shade of pink, her skin, warm
porcelain. She took his breath away.

“Would you like to step outside? Or maybe I
could bring you a drink.” He asked.

“No, thank you. You really don’t have to sit
here. You can go back to the party.”

He looked around the room again then back to
her.

“Nope, this is where it’s at, as far as I’m
concerned. Life of the party right here. I mean nothing says fun
like a weeping damsel in distress.” He leaned back on his elbows,
crossing his feet in front of him.

She smiled shaking her head at him. Cynder
was sure he could die happy now, knowing her made her smile was all
he ever needed from this miserable life.

“Come on, I’ll get you a drink.” He rose
extending his hand to her. As he gently lifted her to her feet a
voice boomed behind him, a familiar voice.

“Hey babe, dance with me.”

Cynder turned away. He wasn’t sure if Andy
would recognize him with the mask on, but he really didn’t want to
take any chances.

“I was going to get punch.” He heard her
reply.

“What? With that guy? I’m sure he won’t mind
if I take you away.”

Cynder’s blood boiled. He did mind, he
minded very much, but he was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
He just shook his head as it hung down. With that Andy swept his
mystery girl away. Twirling her onto the dance floor then pulling
her against him. Halfway through the song Drew cut in, nearly
ripping her from Andy’s grip. Cynder watched from the shadow of the
stairs, his teeth clenched as he watched them fight over her. Andy
grabbed her tiny wrist pulling her back to him as Drew snagged her
by the waist. She pleaded with both of them to just let her go, but
they weren’t listening to her, they were too busy arguing and
trying to “win” her.

Cynder couldn’t take it anymore, he stormed
towards them, and consequences be damned.

“Let her go.” He growled at his idiot step
brothers. They both turned to look at him but held tight to their
prize.

“Who’s gonna make us?” Drew asked.

“I will if I have to.” Cynder answered as he
stepped closer to them. She reached towards him, desperate to get
away from Andy and Drew. The boys considered fighting him, he could
see it in their eyes. Before they could decide the dean approached
them.