The Ugly Stepsister by Avril Sabine

to sleep rather than rush to get to class on time. “Frankie?” She shook her head thoughtfully. “No. I don’t know a Frankie.”
    “Give it up, Beth.” Tom stressed her name.
    Lauren came running around the corner, waving a textbook. “Ellie you forgot… oh.” She came to a sudden halt when she saw Tom.
    “Ellie?” Tom stepped back from her, his lips thinning.
    Ellie stared at him defiantly. “Elizabeth.”
    Lauren came forward, pushed the book at Ellie and fled back the way she’d come.
    “And that explains the name you use online.” Tom bent to pick up the books.
    Ellie joined him. “You should be happy you figured out who I am. What was it?”
    “Your eyes.” He handed the books to her as they stood up.
    “I should have used coloured contacts.”
    “Demon eyes?”
    “I was thinking skull and crossbones would have looked good.”
    Tom reluctantly smiled. “Why did you stay the weekend?”
    Ellie rolled her eyes. “Get over it already. You’re annoying the hell out of me.”
    “I guess if I ask around I’ll figure it out eventually.”
    Ellie took a deep breath, trying not to let the panic show on her face. That was the last thing she wanted. “Fine. But not now. I don’t have time for this discussion. After school.”
    “What’s wrong with lunchtime?”
    “I have other plans.” Like getting Lauren to help her come up with an excuse.
    “You disappear and I will ask around.”
    “All right. You said that already.” Ellie stepped past him without another word. She was going to be extremely late for her first class. She sighed. Great start to the day. Not!
    By the time the bell rang for lunch, Ellie was desperate to talk to Lauren. She didn’t have a clue what she could tell Tom. Her home life might be a little different, but it was no one’s business except hers. It looked like she was going to have to go to her father’s place every weekend. She hated to even think about it and wasn’t sure which was worse. Spending the night at the train station or putting up with Pamela. Staying at Brodie’s house certainly wasn’t an option. Once had been one time too many and neither her nor Lauren had spoken to him since. Even when he’d tried to apologise.
    Ellie reached the tree her and Lauren always sat under and dropped to the ground. Her stomach grumbled and she ignored it. Until she went shopping that afternoon there was no food in the house. Her mum’s party friends always cleaned the fridge and cupboards out. She normally stashed some food in her room, but she’d been too worried about where she was going to stay to remember. Finding bread in the fridge last night had almost been a miracle.
    Lauren dropped down beside Ellie. “You have to tell me everything about your weekend.” She bit into her sandwich.
    “Seriously, it wasn’t that interesting.” She tried not to stare at Lauren’s food.
    Lauren shook her head. “You’re not getting out of it that easily. What did Sam say when he found out he went home with Cinderella and woke up with the ugly stepsister?”
    Ellie laughed. “I’m not sure he remembered. You had already got a few drinks into him before I continued. He didn’t remember me at all. But Tom kept hassling me about why I was there. Seriously, it wasn’t as easy as I’d thought it’d be.”
    “Why’s that?”
    “Tom’s determined to find out why I stayed the weekend. Help me think up a good excuse.” Ellie tried to ignore the sandwich Lauren was eating. She knew Lauren would willingly hand it over, but it wouldn’t be fair to let her friend go hungry. There hadn’t even been anything in the house for breakfast.
    “How about it was an elaborate set up so you could attend the party without parental permission, but part of the planning fell through and you had nowhere to stay for the weekend because your best friend was grounded.”
    Ellie looked thoughtful. “Pretty good. Better not say best friend since you were at the party too.”
    Lauren grinned.