“Because if I have a wicked stepmother and two evil stepsisters, aren't I supposed to get a prince?”

“Nothing.That's what happens to the stepmother in Cinderella.Nothing.”

“Why is it I can spend a dozen Friday nights staring at the peeling walls of my "room" without anyone in the family so much as poking a head down to see if I'm alive, while the one time I actually have plans (major plans, plans that necessitate extraordinary focus and massive preparation), my stepmother suddenly suggests we sing a duet of "Getting to Know You"?”

“Prince Charming was requesting my presence tonight.”

“After all, what did Prince Charming know about Cinderella besides her shoe size?”

“Even though we'd never met, imagining being dumped by Gene made me want to die. What was the point of going out with someone? What was the point of falling in love? The whole thing was enough to make me wish I'd been born in one of those countries where they still have arranged marriages. I mean, okay, yes, it would certainly suck not being allowed to drive or vote and having to ask a man's permission to leave the house.But at least you wouldn't have to worry about being dumped.”

“You were sleeping?" said Princess One."No," I said. "Sometimes I just like to lie in the dark for hours with my eyes closed.”