I'm No Cinderella

6. Being a Nerd Doesn't Count

"What crisis?"

"Mid-life." I said. "Why aren't you getting ready?" I asked Thalia. The entire time Piper and I have been dressing up for a pretty party and the only thing she changed into were sweats and a crop top that showed off her bellybutton piercing. There was nothing about her clothes that represented a ball.

"Oh, I'm not going."

"What? You wanted me to go so bad and you're not even going?" I said suddenly pissed. That's not fair! I have to go to prove to them I can have fun and Thalia won't even go? I stepped into the gown and pulled it up. Thalia zipped it up for me and it felt comfortable.

"Balls aren't my thing as you can see. And I've been to plenty of school parties. I have more of a life than you do." Double ouch. That hurt. That wounded me.

"So what are you going to do?" I asked.

"I'll be babysitting."

"You can't babysit the twins by yourself." I said. The twins will kill Thalia. Or she'll kill them.

"She's not. I'm having someone help her. He'll be here soon with Jason." Thalia and I guffawed at Piper.

"He'll?" We both asked simultaneously. Piper smiled innocently. Her phone buzzed with a text message. She looked at it and grinned.

"And they are here." She said still smiling innocently. Thalia and I looked at each other worried. I slipped on a pair of silver heels, reluctantly. I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked good. I had no idea how I was going to walk in these heels but I was ready to try and have fun.

Thalia stood behind me as Piper went downstairs to open the door. She had her hands on my shoulders and was hugging me. "Have fun. For me, please. Go find your secret admirer." I grinned at Thalia in the mirror. I was ready to break free of all ties.

"But let's not forget the final touch." Thalia put earrings in my ears. They were my mother's grey owl earrings. It perfected the look.

"So, you have a piece of the real you when your there." I smiled when she walked away. I'll have a piece of my mom when I'm there. And maybe I'll have just as much fun as she had when she was younger.

I took a step and cursed as I tripped in my heels. I took off my heels and quickly put on socks and a pair of grey converse. I sighed in relief.

I made my way downstairs quickly and stood by my brothers. All eyes were on me. "Wow, Annie you look pretty." Bobby complimented. I chuckled and kneeled down to their size.

"Okay guys, can you do me a favor?" They nodded frantically as if helping me sneak out was a good thing.

"I need you two to be on a stake out. Do you know what that is?" I asked them. Matthew raised his hand. "Hit me, Matt."

"It's when the good cops watch the bad guys." Not really the answer I was looking for, but I went with it anyway. I didn't realize I had pairs of eyes peering at me curiously. Jason glanced away from me and started talking to Piper. He called her stunning and handed her a gold mask to match his gold mask and red tie. Cute. I wondered if that was a coincidence.

Nico's eyes flickered between Thalia and his phone. I'm guessing Nico was the co-babysitter since he wasn't dressed up. Thalia had a light blush on her face as if she realized how much Nico noticed her belly button piercing.

"Uh, yeah. You two are going to watch out for Mommy." I said. Bobby pouted.

"Mommy's a bad guy?" Yes!

"No, no not at all." Lies. "You're helping Annie not get in trouble. Or else, Annie can't get you two chocolate anymore."

"So, you're sneaking out and want us to cover for you." Well damn. Matt got it straight to the point. My little boys are growing up. My brothers are the only reason that I never tried to run away. I stay for them. If I didn't, may the gods bless their teacher for doing a swell job because Helen would corrupt them.

"Smart boys." Nico muttered as he stared into his phone. I sighed.

"Just, be good for Thalia and Nico and keep this our little secret." I suggested to them. "And please, don't tell mom. Can you do that for me?"

"Well, its not a secret if the rest of us know." Jason mentioned. I heard an 'oof!' and I knew Piper elbowed him.

Bobby and Matthew nodded and I smiled. I put a finger to my lips. "Shh." I said.

"Shh." They did the same. The three of us made a three fingered claw over our heart and pushed outward. I taught them that a couple of years ago. I stood up and turned to Piper and Jason.

"Okay, I'm ready."