Cindy-Ella

Hello again. Last week, I analyzed Cinderella. This week, I'm writing a modern version of the fairy tale.

Not every girl loses her shoe to gain a prince.

Ella hated working mornings at Royal Latte. The tips were better in the morning, but she was always tired when she came in and the customers were usually grumpy before they got their coffee. Or lattes. Or special creations that you had better get right. This morning, she had barely made it through the barrage and now she was cleaning up the little things that got out of order during the rush while Kristen, her coworker, took orders from the last few people.

"Rough night?" Kristen asked her when the last commuter had left with his coffee.

"How did you know?" Ella asked.

"Wrong apron," Kristen said, nodding at Ella.

Ella looked down and sighed. Her name tag proudly read, "Cindy". It wasn't the first time Ella had grabbed the wrong apron and it probably wouldn't be the last. "I was up too late," Ella said.

"Hanging out with the boy?" Kristen asked.

Ella pursed her lips and began to wash the blender.

"Is he done with school yet?" Kristen continued. "Or is he still in college?"

"We broke up, okay?" Ella asked.

"Oh," Kristen replied. "I'm sorry."

Ella sighed and set the blender down to dry. "He was an asshole anyway. I'm probably better off."

"So, how's your art going?" Kristen asked, rapidly changing the subject.

Ella smiled. "Really well. I've got a few pieces going up at a gallery this weekend, actually."

"Your first big break!" Kristen cheered. "When and where? I need to be there."

Ella laughed a little. "It's at the Vernon Gallery this Friday. The show opens at 7."

Kristen pulled out her phone and put that in her calendar. "I'll be there, but I'll be late."

Just then, the door opened and a man walked in holding a few brightly colored papers. He looked more tired than Ella. "Good morning, ladies," he said.

"Good morning," Ella replied professionally.

"Is there a community bulletin board here?"

"Of course." Ella pointed it out.

"Thanks," he said, shuffling over.

"So, the Vernon gallery?" Kristen asked. "That's downtown, right?"

"Sure is," the man replied. "You both should come by this Friday. My band is playing."

"Oh?" Kristen asked, looking quickly at Ella.

"Yeah," he replied. "My band is called Charming. We're a Prince tribute band. I'm the singer."

"I knew there was going to be music there, but I didn't know it would be Prince," Ella replied. "That's cool."

"You know about it already?" the man asked.

"She's one of the featured artists," Kristen bragged.

"Really?" The man looked at her apron. "Then I'll keep an eye out for you, Cindy." He waved and left the shop.

"Why didn't you correct him?" Kristen asked Ella.

Ella shrugged. "He was already leaving and what does it matter? I probably won't even see him at the gallery. He'll be busy singing and I'll be busy schmoozing and telling people what my art means."

"What does it mean?" Kristen asked.

"Well, a lot of the paintings were about Jack and me so... Prince is the perfect music to go with it."

Kristen laughed. "Now I have to see this stuff! Oh, but are you okay to talk about it?"

Ella shrugged sadly. "I guess I'll have to be by Friday."

"Just don't drink too much," Kristen advised.

Ella laughed. "I'll try not to. So, what have you been up to?"

Kristen shrugged. "Pondering existence and why I'm working as a barista with a bachelor's degree."

"Aren't we all?" Ella replied. "Of course, since you're working on your master's full time, it's not like you could have a standard office job."

"I'm slowly killing myself instead," Kirsten replied nonchalantly.

Ella was about to ask her something else when another customer came in with an order for what must have been her whole office and the two baristas were kept busy for awhile.

-

Ella tried to swallow around the lump in her throat. It wasn't obvious that the subject of the paintings was anyone in particular, let alone her and Jack, but they were definitely intimate. She knew people would ask her who the guy was. She really didn't want to have to tell them that they'd broken up. Ella glanced over at the band setting up and saw the singer was looking at her. He smiled and waved. She smiled back and gave him a little wave as well. He started to walk over, but the guitarist grabbed his arm and pulled him back. They started their mic checks. From where Ella was standing, they were definitely loud enough.

The gallery owner bustled over to Ella and smiled. "All ready?" he asked.

"Sure," Ella said. She was about to ask if there were things she was supposed to say to the crowd, but the man replied, "Great!" and bustled away to the next artist.

It wasn't long after that when the doors opened and people started coming in. "We are Charming, a Prince tribute band," the singer announced. "1, 2, 3, 4." The band started playing Raspberry Beret.

"That'll set the tone for the evening," Ella thought wryly. Still, they were good and it was nice to have something to listen to when people were talking to other artists. Soon enough, though, those people moved on to her and Ella introduced herself as the artist of her pieces. She was surprised that she got more questions about her technique than the subjects of the paintings, but maybe she shouldn't have been. It was fairly abstract, after all.

Kristen and her boyfriend, Hank, came by close to the end of the show and it was nice to talk to people she knew for a bit, even if Kristen did make her blush with her comments about the paintings. "Ella, I never knew you were like that," Kristen said of one painting in particular.

Blushing furiously, Ella replied, "It's just a painting, Kristen. It's not me."

"I know. I'm just teasing," Kristen replied with a smile.

Ella shook her head and looked across the crowd, gauging the size. She had to work the morning shift again tomorrow and she couldn't stay up too late so she was hoping people would wander out soon. As she looked across the crowd, she saw Jack. Ella felt her stomach fall to the floor and she took a step backwards.

"Are you okay?" Kristen asked. When Ella didn't respond, she followed her gaze. "Oh shit," Kristen said. "Ella."

Ella slowly looked away from Jack and toward Kristen.

"Do you want me to get rid of him?" Kristen asked.

"I'm not sure you can," Ella replied.

"Oh please. I'm the charm and he's the muscle," Kristen said, jerking her thumb at her boyfriend.

"Sure," Hank replied.

"No," Ella said. "I need to face him eventually."

"But now?" Kristen asked.

Ella took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Then there was no more time to talk because Jack was there.

"Hey," Jack said. "You look great."

"Thanks," Ella said flatly. She waited.

"Is that us?" Jack asked, looking at the paintings.

"No," Ella replied.

"It kind of looks like us," Jack said, looking at them again. "I mean, it's hard to tell what it is, but I think that's us."

"She said it wasn't," Kristen stepped in.

"And who are you?" Jack asked.

"Her friend," Kristen replied. "How about you tell her what you came to tell her, and then leave?"

"No need to get so aggressive," Jack said. "Ella knows I still love her, right Ella?"

Ella's lips were compressed into a line. She shook her head.

"Oh, come on, baby. I came here to take you back."

"No," Ella replied.

"No?" Jack asked. "What do you mean 'no'?"

"No," Ella said, looking at him for the first time. "I don't want to be with you any more. I'm done. If that's all you came to say, please leave."

Jack looked at her, then Kristen, and then Hank who was looming off to the side. "Fine," Jack said. "Geeze." Then he walked away.

"The gallery will be closing in five minutes," the owner said from the microphone. "But first, let's give all of our artists a hand, huh? Including Charming! What a great band!"

The audience clapped and cheered.

"Do you want to go?" Kristen asked Ella.

Ella shook her head. Then she looked up and blinked rapidly a few times. "No," she said, in a voice that was almost normal. "No, I need to stay until everyone else leaves." She looked at Kristen. "I'll be fine."

Kristen looked at her for a moment. "I can stay," Kristen offered.

Ella shook her head. "It's fine. I'll see you at work."

"Okay," Kristen said. "You call me if you need anything."

Ella smiled. "All right. Good night, Kristen."

"Good night," Kristen replied. She hugged Ella. Then she and Hank walked away.

After the gallery closed, the owner came bustling over to all of the artists to tell them what a smashing success this was. "Same time next week?" he asked Ella.

"What?" Ella asked.

"You've got more paintings, right?"

"These were the best ones," Ella said.

The owner waved away her objections. "If you want to add to them, I'll be willing to look at more of your work. If not, we'll just show these again. They were turning people away at the door. Do you want to do this again next week?"

"Yes," Ella said, realizing what was happening. "Yes, that's great."

"Excellent," the owner replied, beaming. "Yes, I think we'll keep the band, too. Perfect for this sort of art." He bustled away before Ella could say anything else. Still, with everything that happened that night, she drove home smiling.

-

The following Tuesday morning, Kirsten and Ella were working the morning shift at Royal Latte. Ella had taken a drunk phone call from Jack that past Saturday night and she was telling Kristen about it.

"He said he wanted you back?" Kristen asked.

Ella nodded. "He was sobbing. I know he was drunk, but it was hard not to believe him."

"You know he's a snake."

"That's the worst part. I do know, but we spent two and a half years together. Why did it take me so long to figure that out?"

"And you want to justify that time by making him seem like a better person," Kristen replied.

Ella sighed. "A little."

"It's okay to be wrong about people," Kristen told her. Just then, the door opened.

"Hey, I didn't get a chance to say it on Friday, but you've got some real talent." It was the lead singer from Charming. He smiled and looked at Ella's apron. "Ella?"

Ella laughed. "I had the wrong apron on before."

"I bet you've just got two names," the man said. "Cindy-Ella."

"And what is your name?" Kristen asked.

"Oh. I'm sorry. My name is Jason." He held out his hand for Ella to shake.

"Nice to meet you," Ella replied, shaking his hand.

"So, are you back in the gallery next week?" he asked Ella.

"Yup," Ella replied with a smile. "The owner likes my work."

"As he should. The passion on the canvas is incredible. Where did you get your inspiration?"

Ella's mind went blank. She certainly wasn't going to tell this man that her inspiration, the focus of all of her passion, was a snake of a man who she wanted nothing to do with. "Oh. Um."

"Prince songs, of course," Kirsten joked.

Jason laughed. "Of course. Well, I hope we inspired you to paint some more. Is it all right if I put up another flyer on the bulletin board?"

"Sure," Ella said.

"Thanks," Jason replied. "You're a gem, Cindy-Ella."

"Are you going to call me that?" Ella asked.

"Probably," Jason said, looking back at her. "Is that all right?"

Ella considered. "I suppose so. Should I call you Prince, then?"

"Nah, too confusing," Jason replied.

"It would have to be Prince Charming, then," Kristen replied with a smirk.

"Now that I am not," Jason replied. "Let's just stick with Jason for now."

"Okay, Jason," Ella replied.

Jason smiled and finished putting up his flyer. "See you Friday, Cindy-Ella."

As soon as he left, Kristen turned to Ella. "So? Is he your new muse?"

"What do you mean?" Ella asked.

"That was a lot of flirting," Kristen pointed out.

Ella smiled and shrugged. "I'm single now. I can flirt all I want."

"Damn right," Kirsten replied. "Good for you! Maybe you'll have to stick around after the show Friday."

"I work Saturday morning again," Ella replied.

"Switch with someone," Kirsten said.

"No," Ella told her, suddenly fearful. "No. I don't want to go out with him."

"Because Jack started out charming too?" Kristen asked.

"Why do you know me so well?" Ella asked.

"Because I've known you forever and I'm a genius," Kristen replied, sticking out her tongue. "But, to get back to Jason, don't worry about it. Just because you like to flirt with him doesn't mean it needs to go further if you don't want it to."

"I guess," Ella replied.

-

That Friday, the gallery wasn't as full as it had been. On his break, Jason came over to find Ella.

"Hey, Cindy-Ella," he greeted her. "How's the crowd for you tonight?"

"Not too bad," Ella replied with a smile, sliding her foot back into her shoe. She had been about to kick off her heels, but she wasn't going to do that now. "There's not as many as there were last week, though."

"I know. Last week's crowd was ready to party. This week, well, they need a bit more encouragement."

"Good thing we've got a great band," Ella replied.

"To go with the great art," Jason shot back.

Ella laughed and pulled her hair away from her face.

"Hey," Jason said, grabbing her hand. "You've been painting. Anything that made it here?"

"Oh no," Ella replied, taking her hand back a little reluctantly. "No, I can't make anything that quickly."

"That's fair," Jason replied. "I can't imagine how long this takes."

"Awhile," Ella replied, shrugging. "How long does it take to learn a new song?"

"You mean for me or for the guitarist?" Jason joked. "We're actually starting to expand a bit. We've written some songs and a few of them sound enough like Prince that we can sort of sneak them in and no one really notices."

"That's awesome," Ella said. "Are you playing any of them here?"

"Nah," Jason said. "We asked and the owner said no. We're working on getting more shows in bars, though. They're not so picky there."

"I could imagine that," Ella replied.

Jason looked over to his band. "Oh, I've got to go, but it was nice to talk to you again."

"You too," Ella said, smiling. She watched Jason walk away. Then someone grabbed her arm. Ella whipped around.

"Who was that?" Jack asked.

"What does it matter?" Ella asked, jerking her arm out of his grip.

"Of course it matters. I love you."

"You don't own me," Ella snapped. She took a breath. "Jack. Go home. Stop trying to talk to me. I'm done."

"What do you mean done?" Jack asked.

"Exactly that." Ella looked around. Too many people were looking at them. "Now go home."

Jack looked around and Ella followed his gaze to the band. Jason was staring at Ella and Jack.

"Fine," Jack snapped. He turned on his heel and walked out. After a flurry of conversation in the band, Charming started playing Purple Rain, but Ella wasn't sure if Jason meant it for Jack or her.

-

The days slid by sluggishly. Kristen was getting to the end of her master's program and Ella was already dreading the last day they'd work together. Ella let her emotions out in her art. She finally got Jack to leave her alone, but she hadn't heard from Jason since the night at the gallery.

Ella started painting shoes. Shoes jumbled together with reds and bright, passionate colors. Shoes walking away with sad blues. She painted the heels that she hated in disarray and the strappy sandals she loved walking or dancing. She painted Jack's shoes torn to shreds. She painted Jason's shoes, although she didn't fully remember them. She put them on a pedestal and that seemed about right. She sent her paintings to the gallery, but the shows weren't as great. They now hired a different band for their gallery openings. Still, the money was good.

Eventually, Ella let Kristen talk her into going out one night. Ella didn't have to work the next morning, for a change. Kirsten was very excited about a bar she'd discovered and the bands that played there. Ella got herself ready to go out, but her heart wasn't really in it. Kristen came and picked her up. "We've got to get you out more," she said.

"I guess," Ella replied.

"No, we do," Kristen replied. "Hank needs someone else to talk to when we go to bars anyway."

"Really," Ella stated, looking at Hank.

Hank shrugged and laughed.

The bar Kristen took them to was crowded and the band was loud, with lights from the stage moving all over the bar. "I'll go get us drinks," Kristen yelled, walking to the bar.

Ella looked at Hank. They both shrugged and headed toward one of the tall tables near the dance floor.

"What song is this?" Ella asked Hank.

Hank listened for a moment. "I don't know," he replied. "It sounds familiar."

"It sounds like Prince," Ella replied. Then she put it together. Her eyes shot to the stage and, sure enough, Jason was up there singing his heart out. Ella just stood there staring until the song ended. Then she snapped out of it and started clapping and cheering. The light panned over her and Ella swore her eyes met Jason's. He looked as shocked as she did. Then, he looked away and started talking to his band.

Ella tried to shake it off. Kirsten came over to their table with drinks. "How's the band?" she asked innocently.

"You brat," Ella replied.

"You're welcome." Kristen stuck her tongue out.

"We'd like to do another original song for you before our break," Jason said. The crowd cheered. "It's called Cindy-Ella."

Ella was floored. He wrote a song about her? It was hard to hear all of the lyrics, but it sounded like their story. A guy and a girl met and liked each other, but there was an old boyfriend so the guy backed off. It was better not to tempt them both, even if he didn't want to leave her to him. After that song, the band went for a break and Ella walked to the stage, absentmindedly pushing her way through the other fans.

"You couldn't just come ask me?" she asked Jason.

"I was a little worried about the other guy."

"Why? We broke up." Ella arched her eyebrow.

"Oh. It's just I saw something like this happen to my friend and I didn't want to get mixed up in anything if you were taken."

Ella shook her head. "If we're going to have anything, which I'm still not sure about, let's start by talking about these things."

Jason smiled. "Good call. Although, this does make a better song."

"And better art, I guess," Ella allowed. "Still. If you do that again, I might not kiss you again."

"Oh?" Jason asked. "We've never kissed."

"Not yet," Ella allowed. She smiled and leaned in. Jason leaned in to meet her and they kissed on the side of the stage while the fans cheered.