Hi Guys! If you somehow stumbled into my little story I welcome you into the craziness that is my mind. This is my first story EVER (aside from my private journal writings) and I am excited/nervous/about to pass out because I am sharing it with you. Reviews are encouraged. PLEASEEEE. Even if you just tell me what you had for dinner, I would be delighted. Anyways, I hope you take this leap and accompany me, Veronica, and Gold on this unexpected journey.
I do not own Once Upon A Time because if I did they would sing Phantom Of the Opera all episode long.
The leaves are orange here…
She thought excitedly as she drove past the large trees arching over the road as if welcoming her into town.
"Storybrooke…" Veronica murmured as she sped past the wooden sign, paint chipping and ensuring splinters to anyone who dares touch the ancient thing. The trees and birds and the overall quiet was so vastly different than her lifestyle in Southern California. She adopted the LA lifestyle since she stepped off the plane 5 years ago at LAX. She ran from Storybrooke the moment she turned 18 and graduated high school, catching the next flight out of there yearning for something bigger and greater. Yearning for a place to become something. Someone.
There was never anything excruciatingly painful about living in Storybrooke, there was never anything really. She was one of the top students in her class of 30, the same kids she entered kindergarten with. The same kids she had on her soccer team. The same kids that she had done everything with and that was not by choice. The town was so small that there wasn't much variety and whether she liked them or not, she was forced with the same kids year after year, activity after activity. She was lucky enough to establish a solid foundation of friends and together they strayed from the norm and wreaked havoc together. First, there was Ruby, a bubbly snappy girl who was quick with her wit and unfortunately, a little too friendly with men. Coincidentally, that was how Veronica had first become her friend. Freshman year Veronica had her nose buried into a book, walking a fine line between the literary world and real world when she heard shouting. Dropping her novel she stood up from her safe spot under a tree and walked over to a circle of boys verbally slamming a young girl with red too short shorts and a crop top tee.
"Everyone knows you're a huge slut anyways, I don't understand why this time is such a problem." Sneered a boy with short blonde cropped hair and a nose like a swine. He then reached forward while the girl's eyes were filled with anger and tears and he tried to grab her by the waist.
"Hey asshole." The boy and his friends stopped mid laugh to look at Veronica, all 5 foot 2 of fury. She was quite a sight even at 14, dark raven hair almost to the middle of her back, with deep drown almond shaped eyes and thick lashes. Her bottom lip pouted out regardless of the face she was making and she was lean and there was a quiet strength about her that she hadn't yet realized at the young age of 14.
"Don't worry boys, it's just the freak." And the pig boy and his 3 friends exploded in laughter.
"If you're calling me a freak because my vocabulary extends past 10 words like yours then the insult is welcome. Now, leave her alone and let go of her. Now." Her jaw was set and she glared at them while they continued to laugh. Pig Boy, whose real name was Derek, took two steps towards her and she remained rooted to her spot, not allowing herself to be either humiliated or intimidated by a boy whose face looks like it was smashed in by a baseball bat.
"Alright, princess." He grinned, "Since she won't kiss me how about we trade? Now, we all know that you haven't ever been kissed so let me do you a favor and make this memorable." Ugh he was going to be even more of a useless perv when he grows older, she thought, but then she grinned sweetly and merely answered "Deal."
Obviously surprised in her answer, he let go of Ruby and she tore herself away from the center of the group of boys hovering on the outside while screaming insults. Derek approached Veronica and she took a step forward. He licked his lips and motioned for the guys to take a picture. "I just want to make sure you never forget this." He cackled as he leaned into her waiting lips and then
POW
"ARGHHHH" Derek clutched at his nose while Veronica wiped the blood from her punch on the grass. "Peace out, dick!" AS she grabbed Ruby's hand who was snorting with laughter and awe and they took off as fast as their legs could carry them until they reached the fence lining the perimeter of the school. Panting, they had their hands on their knees laughing until they were blue in the face.
"Oh my god, that was the best thing I have ever seen. I knew you wouldn't kiss him!" Ruby exclaimed. High fiving Veronica and clasping their fingers together.
"Yeah there was no way I was going to let that waste of space try to torment you! You don't deserve that." She smiled empathetically. Ruby froze,
"Yes I do," she murmured, "you hardly know me. I am a slut. I've done stupid things with stupid guys and have the worst reputation. Even the senior guys know I'm an easy target and I fall for it every time, ugh I'm so stupid!" she yelled, tears pooling at the corner of her eyes.
"Hey, I don't care what you have done. Regardless of your past I can see that you are kind and have a pure heart, which is why you are so willing to trust people. You want to believe that everyone has good attentions and believe it or not you will meet a guy who does. And he will be interested in all of you, not just the physical aspects." Veronica preached, pretty proud of what she came up with and seeing Ruby start to smile.
"You're right. Thank you. Veronica, is it?" She looked at her peculiarly.
"Yup." Veronica looked at her hesitantly sensing a little mischief.
"Well, Ronnie, you don't mind if I call you Ronnie right?"
"Nope!" Veronica barked out a laugh.
"I'm a tad exhausted from today's events and this lovely fence is just asking to be climbed over. What do you say? My Granny owns the diner and we can probably get Felipe to make us some burgers on the house." She waggled her eyebrows, Veronica sensing a new light about her.
"Do you think we will get in trouble for missing class?" Her fearless attitude suddenly dropped at the prospect of Mrs. Hamilton finding out her prized student neglected to attend class. "What if we get suspended?" She asked nervously.
Laughing, Ruby looked at her and said "Ronnie where is that fearless chick who punched Derek 5 minutes ago?! It'll be fine!"
"I know, I know! Fourteen year old punks are nothing compared to Mrs. Hamilton but ahhhhh okay lets go before I lose my courage." Ruby whooped and scurried over the fence in seconds and Veronica looked at her dumbfounded. What have I got myself into? She thought and proceeded to follow Ruby, the two teens sprinting down the road spinning and twirling and feeling as alive as fourteen year old girls can feel.
Veronica grinned at the memory, eager to see her best friend after communicating on nothing but Skype and late night phone calls. She also couldn't wait to see her another friends Snow and Emma. Snow was beautiful with creamy white skin and short dark hair in a pixie cut, and she was so tiny that it seemed like the wind could blow her away. Her eyes were the color of emeralds and her heart shaped face had a permanent blush. Veronica and Snow bonded over their insane love and appreciation of all things magical and Harry Potter and she would turn to her for motherly advice even though they were the same age.
She had met Emma sophomore year of high school when they both fought for the title of captain on the school's soccer team. After going head to toe many times and both throwing a few cheap shots, their team mates locked them both in the locker room to either A) become friends or B) murder each other. Luckily, the two stubborn girls became the best of friends as they gossiped about the mean girls of the school and their favorite food and which celeb they would make out with. Triumphantly, they became co-captains of the team leading them to becoming League Champions and bringing home the Golden Goose (the slightly horrible misshapen trophy that was awarded each year).
As Veronica saw the town drawing nearer she started getting butterflies. She could already hear the gossip "The Girl Who Left only to come crawling back". She knew that they would never understand, they wouldn't understand that she felt like she was suffocating and they wouldn't see the turmoil that boiled up inside of her. The walls were closing in on her and she couldn't breathe and she wished to fly away and envied the birds and the animals that roamed the forest, answering to no one but themselves. She wanted to be free. It only took her about 30 minutes to walk all the way across town and she was sick of seeing the same people and hearing the same stories and just being average and feeling small. She ached for somewhere with opportunities and vast lands, a place where no matter how long she stayed she would never see everything. That is what excited her about LA, the prospect of never knowing what's next and as terrifying as that seems, it was what she needed. After graduation she flew off to attend UCLA and became a psych major and had recently acquired a paid internship at an elite practice and she knew that finally she was going to make a difference. Little Veronica was about to make waves and change the world and LA gave her that power. She would drive alone to the beach and soak up the rays, climb the rocks and pretend she was full of magic. She would pack up her backpack and go hiking in Arcadia and jump off cliffs into the water amidst the cheering from her LA friends. She had met someone. His name was Marcus and he was tall and strong with gleaming white teeth and a sheepish grin. She sighed thinking about him, he was incredibly good looking and smart and a business major and had a bright future. His mother didn't like her at all because this little Hispanic girl didn't quite belong up in their society but she didn't care. She loved him. But lately, there was something missing. She didn't feel sad nor happy. She felt nothing. As excited as she should be living it up in the glitz and glamour of LA she was not satisfied. She was so disappointed because she moved here to feel something. She wanted to make a name for herself in a city that didn't know her name or past and she was so close to accomplishing just that. Why was she still feeling so unfulfilled? Everyone she encountered in LA either wanted her boyfriend or her life or were jealous of the ease at which things became handed to her. She wouldn't argue that her life seemed amazing. Inside her mind was a different story. She woke with panic attacks in the middle of the night. A classmate would call her name and she would shoot up like a frightened deer. Her hands would shake while the barista handed her coffee. The once passion filled kisses she shared with Marcus were lackluster and dull. Everything she built, everything she thought she wanted started to make her ill. One night she lay awake at 3am pacing her apartment and decided she needed to return to Storybrooke. She had unfinished business there and loose ends to tie. Her past was like a fog, thick and dark, seeping across the country to sunny California to fetch her. The following morning with her eyes downcast she went to her mentor at the practice, Dr. Sweeten.
"I-I'm so sorry. I can't do this. I just can't. I need to go. I can understand if you're furious because you wasted time on me." She sadly exclaimed. Turning to go, she heard a cough and her name being called.
"Miss Veronica. You are outstanding and bright and you can do anything. My only regret is that you didn't tell me how you were feeling earlier, I am a psychiatrist you know." He chuckled, his eyes wrinkling up with wisdom and warmth and she was so lucky that this man was her mentor and understood. He was old enough to be her grandfather and he was comforting and kooky and downright hilarious when he wanted to be. He grasped her hand, "When you find what you are looking for, you are welcome back here. Don't even call, just show up, it will be a wonderful surprise! And we can go out to that Sushi place you are so fond of." She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. "Thank you Dr. Sweeten. For everything." With that she left the office and called Marcus.
"Hey babe, what's up? Just getting back from the gym and about to take a shower. You are more than welcome to join me." She could sense his charming smile and managed a small laugh.
"I wouldn't want to waste so much water" She jested, "after your shower can you meet me at Roman? I have something I want to talk to you about."
"Is it about Alison? Babe, I told you she came on to me and I made sure she understood that I love you. I also suspect it was my mother who gave her the go ahead, so don't you worry I'll deal with that when she gets home." He assured her.
Sighing, she bid her goodbye and headed on over to the small Italian restaurant that served authentic pizza. They went there on their first official date and the food was fantastic. She sat at a table twirling around the parmesan cheese shaker staring at the couples and families around her, wishing to find their happiness. Her cheeks became heated when she knew she was feeling envious and felt bad but at the same time didn't. When was it her turn, dammit?
Marcus walked in wearing dark jeans and a white V-neck t shirt. A table of high school girls giggled as he past their table staring at his ass as he walked by. This should bug me, she thought. Why doesn't this bug me?
He sat down and leaned over to kiss her squarely on the lips but she turned her cheek at the last minute. Furrowing his eyebrows in confusion, he leaned back.
"What aren't you telling me?" He asked
"I've been feeling a lot of things lately, Marcus. Things I shouldn't be feeling if I was truly happy and I have decided I need a fresh start. I need to go and leave everything behind. This city, this place, these people…and you, Marcus." She noticed his hands clenching the table and his muscular arms with their veins nearly popping out of his skin. "When I first came here I thought it was what I wanted. It WAS what I wanted and it worked for 4 years, but now I just feel empty. What I once craved about the city is starting to eat me alive. I'm over the club scene, I'm over all of the loud noise. I need someplace else. And maybe one day I'll come back but right now I'm dying to get out of here. I'm sorry. We can't be together anymore and something has been missing for such a long time and I should have let you know sooner." She reached over to touch his hand and he wretched it away.
"Bitch." He sneered. Her deep brown eyes widened and then narrowed.
"Excuse me? You are going to call me a bitch? You know what I could have broken up with you a long time ago when you FUCKED another girl at my party. MY OWN PARTY." Her voice was gradually getting higher and higher as so much anger and frustration that she never let out bubbled to the top. Even when she found him stark naked with another girl in the restroom of her party she merely closed the door and told him to get dressed. She looked him in the eye and said "Never. Again." And with a toss of her hair she walked out, tears stinging her face like acid and got drunk off her ass and woke up the next morning in his arms. She hated herself for that. Maybe that's when it all started. When her perfect LA life started to seem more and less perfect. She snapped back to reality to see his mouth gaping open.
"You said you were okay with that!" He countered.
"I said no such thing you idiot. I just let it go and tried to move on for US to make US better but you know what no matter how hard I tried that never happened. You are scum. How could you have done that to me after everything I did for you? Everything was always about you and I'm tired of it." She stood up and saw the whole restaurant focused on them. Fuck it she thought, they won't ever see me again anyways.
"Ronnie, baby, I'm sorry. Please. You're so beautiful and perfect and I need you." He put a hand around her waist and pulled her closer. "Let's go back to my face and figure this out" He smiled suggestively. She tore away from him and leaned over, her cleavage in his view and she fought the urge to spit at him as he ogled her.
"By the way, Marcus, the sex was terrible. Faked it every time." She grinned wickedly as the whole restaurant howled in laughter.
"LIAR!" He spat
"Have fun with your micro-penis!" She shouted while her audience clapped and whooped as she strutted out. What was supposed to be a civil conversation (and hey, she never said she didn't have quite the temper) turned out to be a shitstorm. Part of her was sad that it ended this way after they did have two really good years, but the other part of her was on fire. She felt like her old self again. She felt alive and felt power surging through her veins. The next day she had her few belongings packed and said farewell to a few of the real friends she managed to acquire at UCLA and hopped on the next plane to Maine.
Her rental car sputtered, jolting her from her memories as she rolled into town.
Deep breaths…deep breaths she reminded herself as she took the turn into Granny's Bed and Breakfast. She peered around hesitantly and the town seemed like its usual self. Archie, the town psychiatrist, was out walking his dog Pongo who she remembered was just a puppy when she had left. The children were all lined up at the school bus and parents were bidding their goodbyes. So far so good, no one had noticed the outsider yet.
Parking the car, she secured her sunglasses in place and propped up her hood, grabbing her brown leather messenger back and duffel bag from the backseat and making her way into the B&B.
"How can I help you, hun?" Granny was scrutinizing her books and asked without looking up.
"Is there a room available? One person, please." Veronica swallowed the lump in her throat as Granny stopped in recognition. Mouth agape she looked up at Veronica sheepishly smiling. Dropping her pen, Granny rushed around the counter and Veronica spread her arms to receive a hug only to be slapped up the side of her head by a newspaper.
"OWW!" She laughed as Granny continued to swat her.
"Veronica! How dare you leave us!" she said in between whacks.
Veronica laughed and dodged them half-heartedly knowing she deserved a few of them for not saying goodbye to Granny when she left. Ruby was the sole person who knew of her plans to go to Los Angeles and Veronica was impressed her lips remained sealed. At that moment the door chimed open and before Veronica even had a chance to look over her shoulder, wishing for a savior to wrestle Granny off of her, she was tackled to the floor. She sputtered as the wind was knocked out of her only to find Ruby laying on top of her screaming.
"You're back you're back you're back!" She cried out pressing kisses all over Veronica's face.
"Get off you mad woman!" Veronica couldn't help the smile breaking out as she hugged Ruby with all of her might.
"I missed you so much, Rubes, and I couldn't have been happier to have bee mauled to death by my favorite Lucas's." She grinned up at Granny who rolled her eyes and offered her a hand.
"Okay, so you're back! What are we doing tonight?" Ruby continued to bounce around in glee, wearing red leather pants, a tight black undershirt and a grey faux fur vest.
"Um, not sure really!" Veronica dusted the dirt off her knees and slung her hair into a high ponytail. "I was kind of tired and was going to knock out but why don't you come over and fill me in on the gossip of the town for old times' sake?"
"OR we can go throw rocks at the old shipyard and wait for the new Sheriff to arrest us." She waggled her eyebrows as she suggested this.
"New sheriff?" Veronica inquired.
At that moment the door burst open for the second time in five minutes and a female's voice came through.
"Ruby, did something happen, why did I need to get here so…" The voice faltered and before Veronica could turn completely around she was met with a hard punch in the shoulder.
"FOR THE LOVE OF GOD YOU PEOPLE NEED TO STOP HITTING ME." She thundered and got a look at the new Sheriff.
"Holy shit, Emma?! Look who pummeled her way to the top!" Veronica joked as she threw her arms around her toughest old friend in a hug. They released each other and grinned.
"You know I'm still mad at you for leaving." Emma Swan, the lean and blond new Sheriff reminded her.
"I'm sorry, Ems. I really am. How about I buy you a Stella one night and we kiss and make up?" Veronica dodged yet another punch as she made kissy faces at Emma and Ruby waved her hands around in a circle chanting nonsensical words.
"Ahh yes. Thanks for reminding me about the peace and quiet I'll be missing." Granny rolled her eyes but the girls knew that she was glad the gang was back together, save for Snow who was still at the elementary school teaching.
"Actually, Emma I'm glad you're here because Ruby and I were going to announce my presence by vandalizing the town and spending the night in jail having a sleepover. This has saved a TREMENDOUS amount of time." Veronica snickered throwing her hands up in the air in relief.
"Well thank God, I know you sickos would have loved to be in handcuffs!" Emma retorted flicking Ruby in the forehead.
"Um, ow!" Ruby swiped at her like a kitten and the girls fell back into their easy routine of laughter and hurling insults.
"Okay, how about you girls give me some time to wash up and get situated and then come back later tonight and bring ice cream, and alcohol, and low budget horror movies, pretty, pretty please?" Veronica batted her eyelashes at her friends feigning being cross eyed.
"Got it. Come on Ems, go catch petty criminals and drag Leroy out of the gutter again."
"Ay, ay captain."
Ruby and Emma vacated the B&B and Veronica was left with Granny.
"So, hun. Do they know you're only staying for a month?"
"How did you..."
"You hardly brought anything except for your essentials. I was hoping you had at least the sense to acquire more things down in LA than what you have here. You know, a beach cruiser, a lamp, a dog, a sexy and chiseled celebrity. What every young adult needs." Veronica sighed and bit her lip, something she did when she was contemplating.
"If you don't mind saying anything until I let them know it would be much appreciated, Granny. They don't even know why I left yet, let alone they hardly understand why I left Storybrooke in the first place." She stared solemnly at her feet and shook her head to get rid of her current funky mood. "I'm going to go upstairs and get settled in if that's alright. See you in a bit, Gran." She leaned forward to peck the elder woman on the cheek before hauling her stuff to her assigned room. She opened door 13, a taboo number, yes, but something that made her room even cooler to her, and was met with slight sunlight. The sun was peeking out from behind the clouds and shining onto her bed, where her pillow lay. She paused as she scanned the room, then walked to the drawers and closets and began opening and closing everything, assessing her new space.
Opening her duffle bag she began taking out her clothes and placing them into the drawers. She was easily distracted and knew that this ordeal would take a while, especially if she was routinely switching from getting herself situated to being on Pinterest. She let Lana Del Rey's "Gods and Monsters" blast from her phone and hummed along, sometimes getting up to twirl her hips and dream of the dark and twisted lyrics, haunting and giving her goosebumps.
"If I get a little prettier can I be your baby? You tell me 'life isn't that hard'" She crooned along as the song kept playing and she folded her nicer "non-period" underwear and she sat up as the door knocked thinking it was just Ruby who couldn't wait and decided to come earlier.
"Whaaaaaaaaaaat Rubes?" she moaned as she opened the door with a pair of navy lace panties in her hand. "Since you're early you get the pleasure of helping me store my delicates." Her smirk fell as it was not Ruby at the door as she had expected.
"Uhhhh…" She stared at the man at the door. He wore his hair longer than most men of his age and it was brown with a slight gray. It brushed the top of his shoulders and grazed the stubble on his strong jaw. He had deep haunted brown eyes, amusement dancing on the surface and the smirk he wore looked permanently ingrained onto his lips. He was at least 20 years her senior, but as her eyes raked over him hesitantly she deemed him very attractive. And then he spoke.
"Mr. Gold. At your service." He mocked a bow and smirked at her panties as she dropped them onto the floor. "I would be honored to help you with your ahh, delicates." He poked at them with his cane and she snatched them up.
"Yeah, hi, what do you want? I'm not really taking visitors at the moment so leave your message at the beep. Beep." She started to shut the door but he struck out with his hand and stopped it, her previous thoughts of attraction vanished.
"I was just looking to see for myself the new tenant that the town is up in arms about. The mysterious woman with the dark hair, hoodie so expertly cast around your face, and sunglasses. Seeing if she did indeed live up to the…hype." He talked with a slight Scottish accent and as if he hardly used any air to speak. Even though his voice was soft she knew it could pack a punch when need be. This was not a man to be messed with and now he was at her door poking at her underwear with that gold tipped cane of his. The sarcasm inside Veronica bubbled up as she tried to behave.
"Glad to see you are impressed." She curtsied and faked a smile.
"Who said I was impressed, dearie?"
"Well I'm sure you are a man of much importance and if you weren't impressed you wouldn't have wasted so much time speaking to me. You would've looked and then gone. But, ahh, here you are. Quite impressed. I take no offence, I've been told how breathtaking I really am." She grinned mockingly at him and daintily flipped her hair over her shoulders all the while trying to inch the door shut, still being blocked by his arms.
"Oh, yes, dearie. The Girl Who Left. How marvelous she is up close. Surprised you lasted this long without running."
Her smile dropped as she leaned closer and sneered, "I owe you nothing."
"On the contrary, you do." He held his palm out, "Rent?"
She took a step back and rolled her shoulders, turning to her wallet and handing him a wad of cash.
"Here. Enough for you not to bother me again."
"Did you really think I would let you live here for free? You might be a favorite of Granny's but I can assure you that you are far from at the top of my list." His voice was menacing but she wasn't scared. She wasn't the same girl who ran away and she sure as hell wasn't threated by him. More annoyed.
"Good day, Mr. Grant." She shut the door.
"It's Gold." She heard him growl.
"Ahh, yes, my apologies. Good day, Mr. Goop." A laugh escaped her throat as she heard his cane smack against the door. "A tad touchy, are we?" she asked swinging the door open once more.
"Say my name, correctly." H glared, eyes boring into her.
"My, my, my, what would the town think if they heard that the infamous Mr. Gate cared of the opinion and words of "The Girl Who Left"? I personally think you're losing your touch." She drawled lazily.
"Say it."
"No."
"Listen to me, peasant." He grabbed her wrist hard and pulled it close to him.
"What the?! Peasant? Really?" At that she took her other arm and brought it down across his forearm. He let go wincing in pain and the tension was so thick she was sure it was seeping into the walls. Granny ran up the stairs to see the two, locked in a stare down, neither willing to drop.
"What in the name of Jesus Christ is going on up here? Veronica, you've only been up here for two hours you can't already be murdering Mr. Gold." Her lips were pressed in a line, too scared of the threat that Gold would raise the rent once again if she chuckled.
"He started it."
"I'll be leaving." His voice icily cut through the distraction, but before he left he looked at her once more and whispered. "You will say it. Willingly or unwillingly." She covered her mouth in mock horror as he descended the stairs, avoiding contact with Granny like the plague.
"Veronica."
"Grans."
"You've got balls, kid. I knew you were sassy before you left but at least you had some restraint. Can't tell if all that sun was good or bad for your mental health." Granny shook her head and Veronica was alone once more. Going into her room she peered out the window.
"Storybrooke doesn't know what hit them." She laughed, feeling a bit like a Disney villain. She always loved the villains. There was something about them that even her good heart understood. They always had the best lines, anyways.