Football Stars Don't Date Cinderella: Part Two

Part One

“Do you mind if I sit here?” he asked.

“I…No, I don’t mind.”

He beamed at me. “Thanks.” Before I realised what was happening – or what I’d agreed to – he said down in the seat next to mine. “It’s Mina, right? I’m Ethan Reyes. It’s nice to meet you.”

I felt a strange little flutter inside me. He knew my name? We’d gone to the same schools, and we were both studying art, but I didn’t think he even knew I existed.

“Hi, Mina!” Flora Greenfield was heading towards me, her blonde hair caught in the sunlight through the windows. She stopped, her mouth slightly parted in surprise. “Sorry, Ethan, didn’t see you there. I’ll catch up with you later, Mina.”

She sat down in the closest empty seat, throwing me a mischievous wink just as the bus started again.

“So, um…what did you choose for the assignment?” I asked, hoping desperately that Ethan hadn’t noticed the wink.

Mrs Coombes, our art teacher, asked us to select a specific piece of art – painting or sculpture – that amazed or impressed us, and to think deeply about why we’d been so impressed.

She’d given us the same assignment last year when we first started doing A-Levels, but this time we were supposed to select something different and reflect on what we’d learned over the past year.

“I went for the Sistine Chapel.”

My mouth almost dropped open. “The entire ceiling?” Last time he’d gone for the golden statue at Mont Saint-Michel.

“Yeah. It’s individual scenes combined into one huge piece, and when you see it in person…” Ethan shook his head. “I can’t tell you the impact it has. It just hits you, knowing that one person is capable of painting and creating all of that. Have you ever seen it?”

“Not in person, but I wish I could.”

One day, I would. I promised myself that.

“What did you choose?” Ethan asked me.

“I chose Donatello’s David.”

Ethan frowned slowly. “The marble or the bronze?”

“The bronze. I…” I shook my head. “I can’t explain why I like it so much. When I first saw a picture of it, I just thought it was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen. Mrs Coombes probably won’t think that’s a good enough explanation if she calls on me.”

“That is a good enough explanation. I don’t think anyone would have a problem with it.”

He smiled at me, and I felt something inside me melt.

Of course, that was when my stomach rumbled. I went bright red and looked down at my knees. “Sorry.”

“I’m guessing you forgot to eat breakfast? I do that sometimes. Mum hates that.”

I shook my head. “Overslept. Didn’t have time.”

Ethan unzipped his rucksack and took out a box with a muffin in it. “Do you like blueberry?”

“Oh…oh, I couldn’t…”

“Please. I’d like you to have it.”

I opened the bag. Immediately, the smell of warm blueberry muffin invaded my nose, and my stomach rumbled again. I opened my mouth and took a huge bite. The blueberries must have come from Greenfield’s Farm; there was always a little bit of magic in the taste.

“Is this from Cora’s?” I asked through a mouthful of crumbs.

He chuckled. “No, but Mum would love to hear you say that! She made it yesterday.”

“It’s delicious.”

The bus came to a halt outside the college.

“I’ll see you in Art.” With one final smile at me, Ethan got up from his seat and made his way towards the exit. I sat where I was for a moment, then followed him.

Flora was waiting for me. “Hey! He sat next to you? Mina, how did it go? What did he say?”

I frantically motioned at her to be quiet. I didn’t want anyone else knowing about my crush. Ethan may have been the top footballer in the senior year, but Craig was in the junior team, and he had every intention of taking Ethan’s place next year. If he knew about my feelings for Ethan, he would torment me even more than he already did.

My eye fell on a bracelet of pink enamelled flowers around Flora’s wrist. “Is that new?”

“Yeah, Dad got it for me. Listen, I need to talk to you. I’m in big trouble.”

She glanced around anxiously, then pulled a small envelope out of her pocket – an envelope that had a pattern of red leaves surrounding a number 1.

“They chose you?” I gasped. “You’re hosting the First Night?”

“Yes. Mina, what am I going to do?”

The Three Autumn Nights parties were one of the oldest traditions at Topaz Coast Sixth Form. Before the first half-term of the academic year, three students were given an envelope announcing they had been chosen to host a party on either the Monday, Wednesday or the Friday night of the half-term. Being selected was both an honour and a test. The hosts were always chosen by a secret committee, and according to the rules, the hosts and the locations remained a secret until the mornings before the parties.

If the parties were a success, people would be talking about them for ages. If they weren’t…well, people would still be talking about them, but for very different reasons.

“I don’t know how to begin planning a party! If it all goes wrong…” Flora scrunched up her face. “I guess I could ask Mum to help with food, but if anything goes wrong our farm’s reputation is going to suffer!”

Greenfield Farm was responsible for growing most, if not all, of produce eaten by the town. Flora and her mother, Laurel, ran a farm shop which was not only popular with both townsfolk and tourists, but was the second most successful farm shop in the entire county.

“It won’t,” I said, trying to soothe her.

“No, you’re right, it won’t,” Flora replied miserably as we started to walk towards the main building. “But my reputation will suffer. I won’t be able to show my face at the garden centre again, let alone here!”

I decided to lighten the mood a little. “Why don’t we meet up and brainstorm ideas, and then see if your mum likes any? It’ll have to be at the library at lunchtime; Claudia will want me to come right back home after college is over.”

Flora frowned. “Is she still giving you a hard time?” Her expression darkened even further. “Do I need to call my dad? Because I will, seriously. She can’t get away with treating you like that.”

I shook my head. “It’s fine, Flora, don’t worry. I…I just need to hold out for a bit longer, you know? It’s only two more months!”

“Well, we’ve got a spare lodge for you when you need it. Or a spare room.”

I almost stopped walking in shock. “You’d do that? For me?”

“Of course!” Flora wrapped an arm around my shoulders and squeezed playfully. “That’s what friends are for.”