Après un travail sur le thème de l'imaginaire (contes traditionnels et versions revisitées), voici la "fractured tale" imaginée et rédigée par:

Emma and Maëlys (1° EDS LLCE Anglais)

Cinderella   

My name is Cindy but my dad always called me Cinderella. Speaking of him, he died a few months ago, leaving me alone with the woman he married after my mom left. His new wife already had two daughters: Anastasia and Drizella. They're the worst! I hate the three of them but I don't have any choice, I don't have any other option but to stay with them. The only good thing about it is that tonight I'm invited to a party. Of course, my step-mom doesn't want me to go. I thought about not going to the party, but I changed my mind and am now decided to go anyway. I'm excited and a bit nervous about it all because I don't want to get in troubles but at the same time I want to live my life and feel free.

The time has come. The adrenalin is running through my blood. I'm not scared, just excited. I open my window, check my room one last time and sneak out. From then, I run for two or three minutes before I finally stop and take my breath. I feel free. I know it's only gonna be for the evening but it feels so good to be away from the woman I have to live with. From then, I walk for approximately twenty minutes before finding the house. I don't know whose house it is, the only thing I know is that it's Henry's party. I really like Henry, even though I never actually spoke with him. He's just that kind of guy that you want to spend time with, not only because he's popular but also because he's very handsome, kind. He's actually flawless!

I enter not quite sure what to do. So I go wherever my feet lead me and this happens to be in a collision with someone. At first, I don't see who it is, but when my eyes meet his, I recognize him immediately. It's Henry!

"Hey there! Are you okay?" he asks, concerned

" Yes" I answer, becoming suddenly timid. «I think I am."

He holds my hand and doesn't let it go.

«Is it the right time for me to ask if you wanna dance?»

I laugh a bit, not knowing why. I can't stop looking at him. It's terrible not to be able to look somewhere else.

«You can."

Then, he takes me somewhere we have enough space to move. And we dance, we do it for a long time. We're laughing out loud, enjoying each other’s presence and just having a good time.

«You look beautiful" he whispers to my ear during a slow.

For the first time in my life, I can't find anything to reply. I suddenly realize that since the first second I've been with Henry, I haven’t replied to anything the way I would normally have done. I choose not to care and continue enjoying my time. All of a sudden, Henry's soft lips are on mine. I think that I wasn't expecting that at all, but still like it. He then kisses me a lot before we go somewhere else where there are lots of drinks.

«Do you have something without alcohol?" I ask, looking at everything on the table

«No, my cousin only bought me those."

«Okay..."

I don't care about having a hangover or anything, I just fear what my stepmom will say (or do) if she finds out. I choose not to mind and take the first thing I see. It's not the first time I drink alcohol so I'm not surprised when it burns my throat. I actually realise I have missed it since the last time.

«God it's so good!" I exclaim

Henry laughs and, from then, I drink a lot.

Later, I'm totally wasted. I'm still with Henry and I'm glad I haven't seen Anastasia and Drizella yet, because I know they were invited to the party as well and I don't wanna face the consequences if they tell their mom.

«Are you enjoying your time?" Henry asks when he sees me lost in my thoughts.

«Yes." I answer

I'm not in the mood to talk so I kiss him. When I pull my lips out of his, the first thing I see is Drizella. That's why I run away from Henry and jump into the pool, leaving my shoes behind me.

«Are you sure everything's alright?" Henry screams from the inside

«Yes! »

Then, I think that I have to be home by midnight.

«Henry!" I call. He pops out the window. «What time is it? »

«Why do you wanna know? »

«I have a curfew."

He looks at his phone.

«Almost midnight."

All of a sudden, I'm out of the pool, looking for my shoes, ready to run like I've never done before. I have to be home by midnight. I don't wanna face the consequences. I know that my stepmom is going to go to my room and check if I sleep, I know she's going to whisper my name five times before using the nickname my dad used to call me, just to be sure I'm asleep. I start freaking out. And, most of all, I can't find my second shoe! I decide I'm gonna have to do without it because I'm running out of time. I start running, not knowing if I'm going to be home in time. I run like never before, ignoring when Henry calls me. I run and run and run. When I finally see my house, I feel relieved. I jump in my room and go in my bed. I haven't been inside of it for a minute that I hear the door opening.

«Cindy?" I hear one first time. «Cindy?" second time. »Cindy?" third time. «Cindy?" fourth time. » Cindy?" fifth time. «Cinderella? »

I try not to cry when I hear it, but I'm strong and I know I can do it. She then leaves and I fall asleep.

The next day, I'm in troubles because of last night. I can't stop thinking about Henry. He was so gentle with me. I still think about the kisses we exchanged together. I was so euphoric, he was so kind to me! I really want to see him again, and live a beautiful love story with him, as in the movies. I'm sure, I found my prince charming. But I lost my second shoe. So, a shoe for one love story. I accepted. 

Just as I was thinking about it, something takes me back to reality. It's my phone which lights up on a notification from Instagram. I look at the messages from the chat that we had for the party. I see a message from Henry who asks the girls about a mysterious lost shoe that he just found next to the pool. I immediately understand it's mine. I don't respond to him but one of my friends starts canvassing to find the shoe's owner. Panicked, I drop my phone in my bed, run in front of a mirror. Now, I know I am absolutely not ready to receive his visit. I wear a track suit with an old sweatshirt, my hair is a mess and I have a huge hangover. Without forgetting my mask made with green clay for acne. To resume: I don't look like much of anything. But I don't have time to think more because I hear the doorbell. 

One of my stepsisters opens the door and start talking with Henry. I'm too shy to go see him. I hear him ask for me but Anastasia, I recognize her stupid voice now, says I’m not here.

«Oh, she's not here. But this isn't important; we're here, Drizella and I."

 Angered, I go down the stairs and come in front of Henry. Why did she say I'm not here, just because she's jealous of me? It's not my fault if I'm prettier than her and her stupid sister.  He frowns his eyebrows when he sees my outfit and my face. I suddenly feel so awkward. What an idea to do that! I'm back on track and ask him:

«Oh, Henry. You're here for the shoe? »

«Yes, but I don't think you're the girl I am looking for" He says after few seconds. 

The anger rises, he's an idiot. How can't he recognize me? After the evening we spent together? Okay, I'm not as pretty as the night before, but I have the same face! This guy is so dumb. And I have the feeling of being mistaken. Yes, he's handsome, kind, popular...but he is so stupid and perhaps he only sees appearances. Last night I was pretty enough for him, but today I'm not made up and prepared so he doesn't want me? Or he's just stupid? Anyway, I feel disappointed by his behavior and I want to make him understand. So I take the shoe he has on his hand to put it on my foot. The shoe fits me perfectly. I smile slyly when I raise my head and I see his disconcerted face. That has the taste of victory. 

«So... it was you? The beautiful girl with whom I spent the party?" He says slowly. 

«Yes. You're disappointed? I ask him. 

«I just..." he start.

«No, I don't care. I'm disappointed. You're an idiot. And I don't want to see you anymore. Thanks for giving me my shoe back, I was sad to have lost it. So now you can leave.

«Wait, can we talk?" He asks. 

«No. I don't want to talk or anything with a guy who can't even recognize me without makeup. Bye."

And I close the door on his face. The head high, I return in my bedroom ignoring the shocked faces of my stepsisters. I just hear the door slamming and my stepsisters scream Henry's name before I lock myself up in my bedroom. 

Few months later, I'm totally moved on. The "Henry's case" has been over for a long time. I don't know what he became, I haven’t had any information about him since the last time I saw him and, to be honest, I don't really care. Now, I'm the happiest I have ever been. I don't spend my time running after stupid boys who don't care about anything, anymore. My friends have advised me to give up boys for a while. 

So I found a girlfriend.

 And her, she recognizes me without makeup. We spend a lot of time together and we're happier than ever. 

 Added to that, Henry is a Pisces and I'm a Sagittarius so how could I ever have even been with him. Me with a Pisces? Huh, please never! Just imagining gives me shivers of disgust. I consider I have done well. No Pisces in my life, no man who can't recognize me without makeup.

 Morale of the story; don't run after boys who can't recognize you without makeup.

The end