To say life has been hard on me would be the understatement of the year.

So here I now stood in some nowhere town called Storybrooke, about to steal a two dollar bag of chips, because I was too broke to buy it and too hungry to care. I eyed the store clerk. He was tall, brownish hair, and looked strong enough to kick my ass for stealing a small bag of chips. I made sure to go unseen. I carefully watched as he flirted with a customer by winking and giving a lazy grin.

.

As soon as I saw a costumer walk up and grab his attention. I snatched the chips and made a beeline for it, and unfortunately for me, his eyes diverted to me.

"Hey!"- and that was enough for me to run my skinny ass the hell out this place. I made out the door and threw my head back to see if he was following me. Another unlucky mistake 'cause soon as I did I slammed right into somebody.

"Shit!" I exclaimed. I didn't have a chance to see them before I made a run for it. I ran passed a couple of buildings and shops, before making a sharp left turn towards the woods. I started to slow down and let my breathing catch up with the rest of my body. I finally came to a stop and an open clearing in the woods. I had found the place while walking around on my first day. I chuckled a bit at what one of the social workers said, and I quote "Don't worry you'll fit right in. Your almost eighteen and out of here." You'd think by now I would learn not to get my hopes up, but nope sadly a small part of me had wished it was real.

I stood at a large trees trunk and begin to shimmy my way up. Chips tight between my arm and chest as I reached another branch. I quickly made my way up to nice sturdy branch, and swung myself up onto it hearing the chips crunch a bit from the pressure of my hands holding on. I almost tore open the entire bag trying to get it open and shovel a hand full of chips into my face. I would of moaned if it wouldn't have sounded so sultry. I didn't need a bunch teenage horn dogs thinking I was doing something, and have them try and offer assistance. I shivered at the thought. No matter what gender there was that one person who wouldn't take no for an answer, until you punched them hard enough to have some sense to enter their damn brain. I quickly shook the thought off and let the crunchy goodness go down my throat and into the insufferable growling machine.

I let myself get lost in thought. I even let out a small laugh about my luck. Yeah, if I go to Vegas I might just end up with the biggest debt in history, or if I went on a game show, "Here we go ladies and gentlemen. She spins the wheel and-Oh! Sorry that's negative two million dollars, but don't worry we'll let you spend the rest of your life paying it off.", I finished licking my fingertips to look around to see it was getting dark and I was out of crumbs to lick. I slid down the tree, ignoring the slight friction.

When I finally made it to town, I noticed that everyone apparently went to sleep after nine o'clock. Either that, or go to a run down bar called the Rabbit Hole, I noted as I walked past the joint with its way out of date club music. At least I know this sleepy town of a hell hole had a place to wash a painful memories away or at least get drunk enough that the everyone else looks hot enough to fuck and not memorable enough to haunt your nightmares of regret.

I made my way through the apartment building and up the the stairs to see my foster mother passed out on the couch and my other foster parent next to her with a beer bottle in hand. And, trust me when I say that will always be a bad combination. I shuddered just a bit before I noticed that he started to mumble.

"You were out late again. Ya better not be getting into no trouble. Ya got that Emily?", The words reading them might sound like your typical concerned parent, but hearing them was far as it could ever be from caring. I bit back my tongue from telling him it was Emma, and I've been here for two weeks, so get it right. I simply nodded and headed for the dog mattress, so graciously bestowed upon me. I curled up and glared at him as he angrily mumbled something about the damn tv, and rotten kids messing with everything around here before nodding a sleep.

Shit, my back was iron board stiff when I woke up. I mumbled a few curse words before moving out of the small square mattress and went to go find clean clothes. Until it dawned on me I still only had two tank tops and my other one I had slipped in and fell straight into a puddle. "That's the swan luck." I muttered. My captors were still passed out on the couch, but now with double the bottles. I added the last part sarcastically in my mind. As if I were a salesman. Not that anyone would buy 'm anyways. I bet you couldn't get rid them for free, even if you gave a free car away with a nice flea protection to keep the bugs away from them.

I pulled the jacket that I stole from the last home I was at and grabbed the dirty top. I let it cover my tank top and jeans I slept in last night. Right before leaving, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. A glimpse of my knotty blonde hair, the ratty old pair of blue jeans, the worn out black jacket that reaches my knees, and a white tank top smudged with brown and a pale hand clutching it. I sigh thinking back to all the comments I've ever heard before about my looks. Not, that I could argue they were all very true.

The door handle squeaked loudly. I wince at this. I seriously doubt they were waking up an time soon, but if they do I'm sure as hell screwed. These people definitely don't seem like morning people, and there no way on earth I'd try wake 'm up; especially with the hangover their sure to have. I tipped toed out the door and shut it with a small clank.

If I remember correctly there's a bed and breakfast, so maybe there'll be a washing machine. When I make it down the last set of stairs; I let the cool breeze hit me. If there was one nice thing about living outside the city. It was the quite atmosphere. After taking a deep breath I scan around to remember where the diner was. I continue to walk on the side way, until I arrive at small building with a pale baby blue sign spelling out "Granny's" in big letters, but the bed and breakfast in a much smaller size.

I walked in unnoticed and saw a dry erase board that read washing machine a quarter a load. Well damn, I needed money. I was about to walk out 'till a small red headed man came up to me.

"Uh..hello, your'e new right? My name's Archie. I'm the therapist here in town." The guy gave a genuine smile and continued to talk. "We don't get a lot of people in a small town like this, so if you have any trouble just let me know and I'll see what I can do." He nodded his head with a nice smile and walked away.

I would've thought that was a complete waste of time, but something caught my eye. The therapist guy had left his money on the table. Thank god for small towns, because everyone trusted each other enough to leave your money, change, and tip. I felt a smile tug at my lips as I reached and grabbed a quarter. The swan luck or aka my luck was always pretty shitty, but there are a few times it pulls through.

I rub the cool metal in between my thumb and index finger as I walk toward the washing machines. I stepped into a small quiet room that had about five washing machine lined up on the wall, a window up above the end of it, and what looks like a hole in the wall with chords coming out of it.

I take the dirt smudged tank top and tossed it into the machine. For the hell of it I peeled of my jacket and other top and threw them in too. I would've taken off my jeans, but just in case someone came in here I wouldn't want to be in my bra and underwear. Not that being just in a bra and jeans are any better.

"You know if you didn't have the money, you could've of just ask granny to borrow some. I mean it's only a quarter." I nearly jumped out of my skin. I quickly turned to see a lanky Burnett with red streaks through her hair standing there with a coy smile.

So of course I do what any reasonable person does when they stole a quarter from the nicest person you met so far, because your dirt poor with only two shirts, and you only had a bra and jeans on. I lied. "I don't know what you're saying, sorry but I'm just washing my clothes." I say and try to smile, but I come off way to cold.

She raises her eyebrows at this, and we thus then hold each other stares for a while, until she speaks again. "So you expect me to believe that the town's therapist, who's been living here for about decade, decided to short change the restaurant he comes to every day." Damn, my eyes dart between her and the door, as my brain tries to think up escape plan. I thought about the window, but I know I'd probably get my ass stuck.

I was 'bout to run before I head a slight giggle, and look up to see the Burnett standing there with a wide grin. "Relax, it was just a quarter. It's not going to kill anyone." The Burnett walks in further and continues. "I'm Ruby by the way." She winks and holds out her hand. I nod, but still a bit hesitant to shake her hand, but I do.

She sits down on one of the machines and starts talking, and I decide a conversation wouldn't hurt. She ask me where I'm from and all the basic conversation shit, but does eventually moves on after I give her a little info. I learn that everyone really does know everyone and how things never really change. It's literally how people stereotype small towns. She tells me about Leroy the town drunk has a crush on one of the nuns, and her best friend Mary Margaret, also known as M&M for short, is dating a married man even though she like the poster child for abstinence, or how the school principal has dirt on everyone, and how she knows this because she works as the one and only waiter here.

When I was finally starting to relax and even forget I'm in my bra and jeans I heard a beep. I jumped off the washing machine that Ruby and I was sitting on and went the washing machine I was using next to it. I open it up only to realise there's no dryers. My eyes went back and forth between my wet clothes and the hole in the wall. Ruby must of seen the puzzled look on my face, because she spoke up.

"Sorry, our dryer broken. It's out now being fixed, so you'll have to let it dry on it's own." She said and gave an apologetic look. I didn't really care. I had fun enough having an actual conversation with someone other than myself. I shrugged and just casually said.

"Yeah, that's okay. I had fun talking to you." She brightened up at this until I continued. "Plus don't you have work." Her eyes widen dramatically.

"Shit, granny going kill me." She uttered as sprang from her the washing machine and quickly ushered me to get one of my wet tank tops on and grab the rest. Ruby stoped me at the door smiled brightly and gave me hug and said. "See you around."

I walked out wearing a wet top with two other wet clothes item in hand, but with a new friend. I chuckled at the swan luck, to have something shitty happens only for something good in return.

I begin down the sideways trying to think of what to do next, but was rudely interrupted by a long rumble. Well, shit. Nice going swan you made friends with a waiter and didn't even ask for free food. I thought bitterly, but felt a little guilty about wanting to take advantage of Ruby.

I noticed the convenient store I stole from yesterday. I ducked in, going unnoticed again. I felt the dryness of my throat and decided to steal a drink too. I grabbed a bag of chips and headed towards the drink isle. The store was almost completely empty except for a short haired Burnett looking at the expiration date on a jug of milk. I open up the cold refrigerated door. I took a lone can of Dr. Pepper out and felt the coolness my hand and thought about the similarities between this and the wet top on me. It was a nice thought until something snapped me out of it by grabbing a hold of my wrist. I drop the can to look up and see two cold dark eyes piercing into mine.