Diana and Matt ran into the hallway escaping the crowd. This is the moment they had been waiting for. Diana glanced towards Matt. He smiled back, his white teeth glinting in the fluorescent lights. Despite the beads of sweat running down Diana's face from being so unathletic, he still managed to say: "Wow, you look beautiful."

She tensed up. Beautiful? I look like I just came from the gym. I wonder if Patilda put a love spell on Matt, she thought.

"Thanks," Diana blushed coming out of her thoughts.

"I can't believe we finally get to be with each other."

She gave a fake smile. "Finally? We just met a couple hours ago. You barely know anything about me. I could be a freak or something."

"I know," Matt said smoothly. "I just know that I'm going to like you based on how we met. You're not like everyone else. You stand up for yourself-"

"I do?" Diana asked.

"-and you don't let others get in the way of your goals-"

"What about my stepfamily?"

"-and the best of all, you're gorgeous, inside and out."

Diana's heart was racing. She had been waiting for this moment for years. Matt Lerk was acknowledging her and giving her compliments. But something was off. He spoke almost monotonous like reading a script for the first time. He almost sounded like he was just a character in a very cliched book. This got Diana thinking. Does he even know what he's saying? she thought.

"Hey, Matt," she said abruptly, "why do you like me so much?"

He walked over to a window which displayed a starry night sky. Where did that come from? Diana thought.

This got Diana thinking. What if things appear to enhance the scene of whatever fairytale she was following? What if Matt is head-over-heels-in-love with Diana, but it was because of magic and not her?

"I really like you, but I don't know why. I feel like we were meant to be together  like it was written in our destiny. There's this connection between us that I can't describe, but it feels amazing. Just earlier today when we crashed into each other, just talking to you made me feel happy." He paused when he saw Diana's scared face. "I hope I'm not freaking you out or anything."

Diana shook her head. "No, no. I... uh... feel the same way."

What else was she supposed to say? Matt had just described the whole point they were together at that moment. It was written in their destiny, at least her's. She was a little freaked out that he was thinking like that.

Matt stared at her, not gazed, just stared.

"What?" she asked bluntly.

"Don't you feel the same way?"

Diana turned red. "Of course I do."

"Then let's be together. Let's go on an adventure and run away. We can start a new life away from our families and start a new one in a few years. We'll be much happier than we are right now. Isn't that a great idea?" Matt asked. His eyes were twinkling with excitement.

Good grief, what's wrong with him? He's supposed to be my prince charming, not this sensitive weirdo. What am I going to do?

Diana was thinking of a good way to let him down easy. Or perhaps just changing the subject. "So what time is dance done? I have some early morning chores I have to do tomorrow."

Matt didn't even flinch. "Midnight. And it's"-he squinted at his watch, which again appeared out of nowhere- "eleven fifty-five."

That means I'll be out of here soon, but I have to wait until I have a reason to leave.

"Do your sisters or stepmother know you're here?" Matt asked, in perfect continuation of the storyline.

"No. I'm supposed to be moping at home, but instead I'm here with you," she said making an attempt to smile.

Diana's phone started buzzing. Right on cue, I guess.

"Diana! Your stupid little friend lead me and Violet on a wild goose chase! She made us think that Matt was in trouble and he needed our help, but he wasn't in trouble. He was completely safe! Ugh! I can't even with Matilda or whatever her name is. Violet and I's dates are going to Waffle Crowns to get some food and then we're coming home. We'll be there around midnight-ish. Alright! Kiss kiss. Love ya!"

Diana hung up. That was a lot to take from one person. But she had to forget about that. This was her cue to leave.

"Matt," she said desperately. "My sisters are heading home. I have to leave, now. I'm so sorry we couldn't have talked more. I'll try to keep in touch."

Diana started running. Matt grabbed her wrist as she tried to get away.

"No! Stay! Please!"

Diana looked at him and then to her wrist. There was sapphire colored bracelet on her wrist. Wow. Perfect timing Fate, she thought. Diana wiggled out of Matt's grasp and left her bracelet behind.

She was now into the parking lot. Patilda was standing by a car obviously waiting for Diana's escape.

"Come on, Princess. We don't got all night," Patilda said sliding into the car.

"I'm coming!" Diana shouted back.

She jumped into the car and Patilda started to drive. Once they were on an empty road, the tension was relieved.

"So," Patilda said breaking the silence, "did you like my evil little plan?"

Diana laughed. "Yes, you should've heard the phone call I got from Grace. Hey, how are we going to beat my sisters home if they already left the school earlier than we did?"

"You know how they're going to that Waffle Place?"

"Yeah?"

"I messed up their GPS system."
*~*~*
"Wait," Patilda said getting out of her car, "I don't understand. You said things are just randomly appearing out of thin air? And repeat the thing you said about Matt again."

Diana got out of the car and slammed the door. "Okay, I know I sound crazy but it's true! We were in the middle of a hallway nowhere near the outside of the school and when I turned my back he was staring outside a window. In the middle of a hallway Patilda!"

Patilda rubbed her head making a very confused face. "But what did he do? You said he was acting odd."

"It was like he was a robot, but at the same time, he was overly emotional. When we first started talking, it sounded like he was reading off of something not just saying the first thing that popped into his head. But halfway through that conversation, his emotion came flooding through. It was like someone had flipped a switch on him or something. Then, he started talking about running away and starting a new life together. And he said something like he had been waiting to talk to me forever when we had just met like five hours ago. He scared the living daylights out of me."

"It's all just strange. Has anything else like this happened before? You know, in the other storylines?"

"How would I know?" Diana asked sarcastically. "I didn't know that I was-"

"Cursed? Yeah I know, save it for later," Patilda rolled her eyes and walked into the living room. "But think for me, Diana. Has anyone else done this to you before? Anyone strange?"

Diana shook her head. Nothing like this has happened before, or at least not that she realized.

"Okay, we'll figure out what happened with Matt later. Now, you have to go up to your room and cry like a little girl."

"Excuse me?" Diana asked stepping in front of Patilda.

"Your step sisters can't find out that you went to the dance, so we have to make it evident that you stayed home all night." Patilda walked over to the fridge and opened it.

"Might I suggest we eat all the ice cream first?"

Diana smiled and grabbed a spoon. It did not take them long to eat the ice cream, so they still had time to spare before the sisters got home.

"Okay," Patilda grumbled, "let's make you a mess."

"Done," Diana said with a straight face.

"No, on the outside. And in your room. We need some tissues, cookies, and a rom-com. Have anything?"

Diana shook her head. "I don't even have a bathroom for myself."

"Okay, we'll just turn on some sad music."

The two went upstairs and headed towards Diana's room. Halfway down the hall, they heard a car door shut.

"Go go go!" Patilda shouted in a hushed voice.

They scurried into the room and Diana quickly changed into her PJs and turned on the t.v. Patilda sat next to her.

"You can't be here," Diana said turning towards Patilda. "I'll get in trouble, again."

The girls could hear footsteps heading towards them.

"Get under the bed!" Diana hushed shoving Patilda down.

Diana turned down the t.v and threw herself under the covers. She tried to fake cry but only made weird whimpering noises. Her bedroom door opened up.

"Diana!" two voices rang.

Her stepsisters walked into the room looking like a mess. Their makeup was smeared, their dresses were torn, and don't even get started on their hair. Grace had huge sweat stains on her back and Violet looked like she had spilled syrup all over herself The two looked like they had gone through a natural disaster, with waffles and syrup flying everywhere.

Diana pulled herself from under the covers to face her two sisters.
"Winter Formal was so much fun. We had a great time with our dates, danced a little bit, and we even hung out with Matt," Violet bragged

"Oh really?" Diana asked fakely.

If you hung out with him all night, why does he have my bracelet?

"That's awesome. I'm so happy for you guys. So, what was he like? I obviously don't know since I've been sitting on my bed crying for hours upon hours. Just a pity, right?" Diana said fakely.

The sisters exchanged glances, shrugged, and ignored the weird remark.
"He's so dreamy!" Violet shouted. "When we danced, I could see my eyes sparkling in his. Oh! It was so magical. The way we danced made me realize I'm in love! Ah, isn't just exciting?"

Diana forced a grin on. "Yes, very exciting indeed. Grace, how about you? Did anything spark between you and Matt tonight?"

Grace went pale. "Well, actually-"
Violet elbowed her in the rib.

"The dance was great," Grace squawked out.

"Her and Matt did dance for a while once we got there, but then Matt said he wanted to dance with me because I was the love of his life," Violet bragged fakely.

Diana laughed. "That seems a little far fetched."

Violet scowled. "It's true, you know. Matt loves me. Why don't you go ask him?"

"Because I can see through your little lies, Violet. I'm not as dumb as you think I am. Now, let Grace speak for herself and stop forcing her to follow the story you created."

A vein had just popped out of Violet's neck. She stormed out, calling for her mother. Grace was still in the room standing next to Diana's bed

"Thanks for standing up for me. I really appreciate it," she said.

Diana nodded and smiled. This was one of the few times that she felt like she had a loving family. Despite all the craziness they had been through, maybe there was some hope for this family.

"Diana! You are so grounded young lady!"

Or maybe not...