Football Stars Don't Date Cinderella: Part 5
Patrick folded his arms. “You’re the expert on parties, Joss – what are we going to need?”
Jocelyn frowned thoughtfully. “We’ll need clothes, some shoes, some transport…”
“Wait, I’ve got three outfits in the fashion cupboard, and some shoes. They should be suitable!” My insides were dancing with excitement. Was this really happening to me?
Patrick grinned at me. “Wait right there.”
Then he vanished into thin air. I almost shrieked, clapping a hand over my mouth.
Jocelyn touched my shoulder gently. “Sorry. I should have warned you about that. Now, what about transport? Am I correct in thinking that you can’t drive?”
I nodded, biting my lip.
“That’s fine, we can work with that.”
Then something hit me, sinking all my hopes like a stone. “My stepbrother’s going to be at the parties. All the other students don’t know I’m not allowed to go, but he does. If he sees me, I’m going to be in serious trouble. And…and Claudia said she’d be back to collect me at midnight.”
“We can deal with that too,” Jocelyn replied soothingly. “I know a spell that can keep people from recognising you, but it’ll only work so long as you don’t tell them your real name.”
“So I can tell my best friend?” I asked.
“Yes, if they can keep a secret.” Jocelyn frowned again. “But I can’t cast the spell on you. It must be cast on something you wear – like one of your outfits, or…”
A wild idea struck me. I reached into my T-shirt and fumbled about until I found the sapphire necklace. Drawing it out, I asked: “Will this do?”
“That’s beautiful!” Jocelyn breathed. “It’s ideal. Unfortunately, I don’t know how to make the spell last for just one night, so it will have to last until the end of the week. Don’t wear that necklace during that time unless it’s for the parties.”
I nodded. “Got it. Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
“Why are you helping me like this? I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, I’m really not…”
Jocelyn’s smile was warm and kind. “I know what you mean. We’re helping you because it’s the right thing to do, and because you need it. We don’t need any other reason than that.”
My throat tightened, and I looked away. “Thank you.”
Suddenly, Patrick stood in front of us, holding up four hangers in his right hand and a snow-white pumpkin under his left arm. In his right hand were my black pumps with glass beads on them.
“Got the clothes!” he said. “Thought the pumpkin might do for transport.”
Jocelyn grinned widely. “That looks perfect.”
Hadn’t that been part of the harvest display at church? Flora had said her mum had donated some homegrown fruit and vegetables for that.
“Yup. And since Laurel’s magic was used to grow the pumpkin, it’ll take less time to transform it. Don’t worry, he didn’t steal it,” Jocelyn told me. “The pastor gave away the produce used for the display, and we received this. Now, if you want to choose an outfit and go into the toilets to change, we’ll work on the pumpkin.”
“Thank you so much!” I took the outfits and shoes and scampered into the nearest Ladies. Fortunately, the lights were on.
I wasn’t sure what the dress code for the party was, but since Flora was the hostess, it probably wouldn’t be too formal.
This was the first time I’d ever truly worn any of these clothes.
I couldn’t wait. Unable to restrain my smile, I changed as quickly and as carefully as I could, slipped my feet out of my trainers and socks and into the black pumps, then brushed my hair until it lay on my shoulders and down my backs.
Everything fit perfectly.
“That’s a fine choice of outfit,” Jocelyn said approvingly as I stepped outside the Ladies. “Your bag and cleaning clothes will be perfectly safe with us. Now let’s see what my husband has done with that pumpkin.”
Patrick was waiting in the car park. “A carriage would have been too obvious, so this will have to do.”
It was a shiny white Jaguar.
“It’s enchanted to get you to the first party and back safely without you having to drive. It’ll turn back into a pumpkin as soon as it reaches the college car park, but you’ll have to leave the party in plenty of time if you want to make it back before Ms Thorne gets here.”
“I will.”
Jocelyn came to stand in front of me. “Now for your disguise.”
She touched my pendant with one finger. It started to glow brightly, then a long swirl of magic began to move around my neck, where the chain was. After a moment, the magic settled into the necklace.
Jocelyn nodded in satisfaction. “That should do it. Go and enjoy your evening, Mina.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Thank you both so much.”
Not wanting to miss another moment of the evening, I opened the door and got into the driver’s seat. Instantly, the car started and took me away into the night.