Updated
Storybooke was not the place that Emma Swan wanted to be but when faced with the choice of either this or prison she choose being shipped off to the middle of nowhere Maine. So Emma drove her little yellow bug in front of the large iron gate that looked like it out of Victorian novel with a 'S' and 'A' woven into the iron design. On the other side all that Emma could see was a narrow dirt road with trees surrounding it on both sides. The guard that was stationed in front of the gate approached the small vehicle and in a gravelly voice said.
"State your business."
Emma fumbled to form a sentence, which was completely out of character for her but she remembered the thick packet she was handed along with her plane ticket. She had to admire the planning that went into making sure she actually went to Maine and not jump the first chance she got. Picking up the crisp white envelope with the school crest on the front she handed it to the guard. The guard pulled out the single sheet of paper and read it over. It took a total of three minutes, apparently the guard needed to read every single word to make sure that she actually needed to be there. Like someone would drive to the middle of nowhere just to break in to a school for snobby rich kids. The guard handed the envelope back to Emma.
"Okay when I open the gate just follow the road until you reach the first building on the left. Show this paper to Mrs. Lucas, she will be the elderly lady sitting at the desk, she will get you settled in." Emma just nodded as the guard left her to open the gate. In her numb state Emma drove down through the gate following the dirt road like she was told. The road opened up to a small lot that she assumed was the parking lot since there were cars in front of signs that read reserved. Emma pulled her bug into the only non-reserved spot she could find and got out of the small vehicle adding a good stretch for measure, driving from the airport to here was a killer on the lower back and legs.
The building that she pulled in front of looked like an ordinary office building but the smooth granite that made up the building screamed wealth. The inside was the same, smooth white granite walls and floors that had no cracks or scuff marks to indicate that this building was part of a school. A single crystal chandelier hanged from the ceiling, small rainbows danced on the walls and area above the chandelier giving the building a light and open feel.
Emma rolled her eyes and looked over the map that was next to a marble stair case which led to the mess hall and from what she could tell where she was standing a book store. The map laid out all of the floors with each room marked by a number and then that number was in the directory which in then tell you who occupies the room. Mrs. Lucas' name was next to the number 400. 400 was the only number in the tier labeled fourth floor which underneath it read administers office. Great not even an hour in and she was already being sent to the principle office. Another eye roll from Emma and she was off, better to let the higher ups start remembering her face.
The elevators, which were just on the other side of the built in map, were just like the rest of the building, in top notch condition. The elevator was an old French style, the ones with rattling brass gates that reminded her of the Tower of Terror. The elevator did not have buttons only key holes next to the arrows, which means taking the elevator was not an option anymore.
As she started to turn away a girl her age with long brown hair, red streaks mixed in with the brown creating a stunning contrast. The girl wore a dark blue and black plaid skirt that just hit her knees with a matching blue blazer, the same crest that was on her envelope was on the left breast pocket. On her head was a red knit cap, it was probably the only thing that the girl wore that didn't have the schools name or logo on it. The girl moved right pass Emma and placed a key in the top key hole, turning it. The girl looked over at Emma who was studying her with rapt attention.
"You're new here." It wasn't a question but a statement. It was against school policy to wear clothing that was not the school uniform during school hour. The new girl was dressed in skinny jeans that were tucked into brown boots and a red leather jacket with a white tank top underneath. "I'm Ruby." She extended her hand out to the blonde.
"Emma." The girls shook hands and then stood there until the elevator gave a faint ding, metal doors rattling. Ruby took the key out of the lock and stepped into the gold box.
"Need a lift?" Emma nodded and stepped into the box, soft red carpet crunched under her feet. "Where to?"
"Fourth floor."
"Me to." Ruby pressed the small round button with a small elegant four inside it. The brass doors started to close but just before they could a hand pushed the gates back open. Another girl, also brunette and dressed in the Storybrooke Academy uniform, stepped in.
"Regina." Ruby addressed the girl with a sneer. Regina matched Ruby's tone with a hard smile.
"Ms. Lucas." Emma felt awkward standing between the two brunettes as they had a staring contest. The elevators usual soft ding rang loudly and the creak of the gates opening nearly gave Emma a headache. Regina stepped out of the elevator and before stepping out of sight she tuned to Ruby and in the same sneer tone said. "Have a nice day Ms. Lucas." Ruby's nostrils flare and her cheeks became flushed red with anger.
"I hate her so much." Ruby stomped out of the elevator and Emma not knowing what to do in a situation like this decided to follow the fuming brunette.
"Who's Regina?" Emma fallowed the other girl down a white marble hallway with even whiter carpet.
"Regina's the headmistress' daughter, instant popularity and untouchable status. She will talk to you all sweetly one minute and in the same breath threaten you. Stay away from her if you know what's good for you." For the sake of argument Emma nodded to appease the girl in front of her.
The hallway that they have been walking opened up to an office that looked more suited for a grand ballroom. In the center was a large oak desk where an elderly lady sat. On either side of her where large curved staircases, in between the opening where the stairs met was a large double white oak door. There were doors on either side of the stair cases, they were smaller but each door had a gold metal plate on the front of it. Ruby all but skipped to the elderly lady and engulfed her into a hug.
"Hi Granny." The elderly lady smiled and patted the arm that was wrapped around her slightly plump neck. The elderly lady wore a dress that did nothing for her but that was how most women her age dressed, at least that was Emma's experience, her grey hair was in a loose bun and she had the standard wire framed glasses and chain.
"Hello dear I hope your morning was good. Be a dear and run these upstairs, you know how Granny's knees are." Ruby rolled her eyes but her smile held no hatred as she picked up the files that sat on the corner of her grandmother's desk and started up stairs. With Ruby out of sight the older woman noticed Emma standing there in the middle of the hallway. "Hi you must be new here. How can I help you?" Doing as the guard told her to do Emma gave the elder women the same paper she did the guard. Again the letter was analyzed to the T and when she was done she took out a pad of pink paper. Writing something on the pad and stamping it she handed it and the letter to Emma. "Take this to the double doors at the top of the stair case and hand it to the woman at the desk. Good luck Emma." They shared a small smile and she freed Emma to brave her fate.
Emma climbed one of the stair cases that led to the upper level. The double doors at the top was designed elegantly, the pattern carved into the wood not just painted on. The large gold plaque edges patterns matched the ones on the door that read Head Mistress Cora Mills. Meting the headmistress and her daughter, the most popular girl in school, in the same day must be some sort of record.
The headmistress' office was designed just like the outside but with decretive gold trimming on the edges. Emma handed the pink slip of paper to the lady just like she was told to and the lady waved her off. Emma rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to call the woman a bitch under her breath. There was a sofa, which was the only thing to sit on in the whole damn room besides the chair where the woman sat. One side of the couch was already taken up by none other than Regina Mills herself. Emma took the other end and finally riffled through the envelope that she has been caring with her since it entered her possession.
Besides the letter there was a course book with a corresponding course sheet, a pocket map of the entire campus with the hours in which buildings like the library and the mess hall was open, and the mess hall menu for the rest of the month; all of it boring stuff that didn't hold Emma's attention. Without even being aware of it her attention focused on the only possibly interesting thing, Regina.
The brunette's hair was darker than Emma thought it was, it was closer to a black than it was a brown but the light natural highlights prevented that. Regina's skin was an olive tone that most girls risked skin cancer for and will still never have the natural softness as Regina's skin. The brunette's posture screamed born grace and elegance, back straight legs perfectly crossed at the knee and clothing completely wrinkle free. Compared to Emma's scuffed appearance and slouched posture Regina was the poster child for wealth.
The door on the other side of the office opened and a woman dressed in a simple light blue dress and white cardigan stepped out along with a woman dressed in a sharp business suit with even sharper stilettos.
"Ms. Blanchard let me be the first to tell you welcome to Storybrooke Academy please come to me with any problems you may encounter." The two women shook hands, the younger one looking as if she was going to faint.
"Thank you Mrs. Mills."
"Please call me Cora." The older woman patted the younger woman's hand and gave her a smile that was hard to read as either genuine or professional.
"Cora." The younger woman practically whispered the name before her hand was released and she exited the personal office of her new boss. When Ms. Blanchard left Regina shot up from her spot and walked over to the woman clearly in distress about something.
"Mother-" Regina started but she was cut off by Cora as she looked over the single slip of paper her secretary handed her.
"Not now Regina I'm busy." Cora's eyes never left the paper.
"You're always busy mother." Regina crossed her arms and started to tap one foot. Cora sighed and looked at her daughter for the first time and crossed her arms across her stomach at the wrist, a much more elegant than the style her daughter was currently choosing.
"All right Regina what is so important that it cannot wait?"
"I wanted to know if you signed the permission slip for me to take the Benz out after school."
"No." Regina looked at her mother in disbelief and slowly placed her arms to her side.
"Why not?"
"I saw the grade you got on the last test Mr. Gold gave you and you can be using the time to study not visiting what's-his-name."
"Daniel his name is Daniel."
"Right. So if that is all I have work to do Regina." Regina let out a huff and stomped over to where her bag and coat was and left, completely ignoring or not even noticing Emma. "Ms. Swan." Emma jumped when Cora called her name, almost dropping the envelope in the process. "Glad to see you made it. This way." Cora indicated to her office and Emma walked in with Cora behind her closing the door with a soft click.
Unlike the rest of the office, or the entire building for that matter, Cora's office actually had some color to it beside white and gold. The walls were painted in a dark almost maroon red and the dark wood floors matched the large wood desk and bureau and wood edge on the chairs in front of the desk. In between the desk and chairs was a large window overlooking the courtyard, heavy red drapes hung from each side.
"Can I get you anything Ms. Swan?" Emma shook her head. "How was your flight?" Emma replied with a shrug. "Not much to say but I guess you're wondering why a prestigious school is interested in someone like you."
"Kind of."
"It's because Ms. Swan though I do not condone your actions, they provide me with a glimpse at a person that cannot thrive in prison. The few states in which you stayed in long enough to attend school said you did exceptionally well and were very bright but your disruptive behavior over shadowed your intelligence."
"Yeah that sounds like me." Emma chuckle died half way in the throat when she saw the disapproving look that her new head mistress gave her.
"I am giving you a second chance as you might call it, to earn a degree that you can then use to actually take control of your own life Ms. Swan. However, if I get one wind of any misbehavior or any conduct violations you will find yourself on the next plane back to Arizona to finish the sentence that you were given. Are we clear?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Emma Swan was not an easy person to scare for she has dealt with a whole panel of threatening looks from adults but the look that Cora was giving her can make a vicious dog whimper with its tail between his legs. With another hard to read smile Cora shifted through some files before pulling one out and handing it to her.
"Good, now that that's settled here are the necessary forms for you to collect a uniform, handbook, and whatever other materials you may need for the semester. Each student is given a monthly budget which you can use in any way you please and will be on the card in folder, paper money is prohibited on campus and you won't need it unless you are traveling out of Storybrooke. Students are allowed to leave campus with the signed approval of a legal guardian, since you do not have a legal guardian on campus you need to get permission from your house supervisor. The course sheet that you have needs to be filled and approved by me before Monday and a list of recommended classes are in the folder. Do you have any questions Ms. Swan?"
"No Ma'am."
"Good." Cora stood up from her chair and Emma took it as a sign to do the same. "Now, I hope I do not have to see you in this office again understood?"
"Yes Ma'am."
"Welcome to Storybrooke Academy Ms. Swan."