A/N
I have had this story sitting on my computer for awhile now. I have gone through and attempted to fix all holes, and put detail more into the characters expressions and tones. I'm not very good at that and if I change anything else at this point. I will probably erase it all and start new. Please R&R be honest but please don't be brutal. I handle criticism well but not rudeness. Also if anyone would be willing to help beta this story, please send a PM. Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Once Upon A time. I do not know the actors/writers. I am just a fan letting out some creativity. All O/C are mine.
It was around 8am, Norah was hungry, so she snuck out of the door before she was called to breakfast. She wanted some real food. Or at least something that didn't taste like cardboard. About a block away from the diner she could smell maple syrup she had planned pouring over her pancakes. She carried her bag over her shoulders but stopped just outside the diner and pulled her long red hair back into a pony tail then went inside.
"Hey Henry." Norah greeted sliding into the seat next to him. Henry didn't seem like himself. He always greeted Norah, but this time he didn't even look up. "What's wrong?"
"Do you remember when I lost my book? Well its back, but someone added a story to it." Henry and Norah first met at his castle shortly after Emma decided to stay in Story Brooke. Norah was a bit of a trouble maker, and skipped a lot of school. One day some kids were making fun of Henry. When Henry ran away to his castle Norah followed. To be friendly she listened to his fairy tale theory and they became friends. "What story?" She kept it a secret but she believed Henry about the curse. Of course she couldn't tell people that. Henry was glad that Norah believed him, even though she tried to hide it. If he could just get the savior to believe. "It's about Pinocchio. It wasn't here before."
"What about me? Am I anywhere in this book?" Norah didn't know much about her past. Only the story of her being found on the steps of the convent as a baby. Norah just wanted some hope, even if that meant she had to believe the curse was real. It made more sense than being an orphan.
Henry spent a great deal of time trying to figure out who was who in the book. "No, I haven't figured it out yet. I'm sorry." He frowned.
"Oh well." Norah said sadly.
"Maybe I could ask my mom to help?"
"You don't have to. Neither of your mom's like me to well. It wouldn't be a good idea." Of course the Mayor didn't like anyone, and although Emma never really said much to her she thought it would better if she just stayed away.
"Don't worry, I'll talk to Emma." Earlier Henry had paged Emma over the walkie. So he expected her when she walked inside the diner. Which was pretty convenient for him. It would be easier to convince Emma to help Norah if she was in front of her. "Hey Emma" he smiled.
" Hey kid." Emma said walking over. "What's with the distress call?" She said before noticing that Norah was sitting with him.
"Um. I guess I better get to school." Norah stood up. "I'll see you later Henry." Norah quickly moved out of the sheriff's way and left. Emma sat down next to Henry. "What's the emergency?"
"Shh! This is sensitive." He whispered.
Emma leaned in closer. "If it's sensitive, why are we at Granny's, out in the open?" She asked quietly.
"I'm hungry. Who else knows that we hide the book at the Sheriff's station?"
"No one. Why?"
"Someone changed it. There's a new story in it." He said flipping through his book.
"Why would someone add a new story? Is that why Norah was here?"
"Sort of, she just wants to find her happy ending."
"Like everyone else in this town."
"Exactly, and she needs your help."
"Henry..."
"No." He interrupted. "She thinks you hate her, but you have to help her. Like you helped Ava and Nickolas."
"Henry I was able to help Ava and Nickolas, because they had parents. Norah doesn't."
"You helped Ava and Nickolas because you believed in them." He argued finally finding the page he was looking for. "Here, someone added the story about Pinocchio. It's weird because it isn't finished. Everyone knows how Pinocchio's story ends."
"Well, maybe that's why it was left out."
"Or, maybe, there's more to it."
"Henry, you are going to be late for school. Let's go."
"Wait, will you please help Norah, please."
"Fine, I will promise to try. Just so you know she doesn't make it easy on anyone who tries to help her."
"That's why you have to help her." He smiled
Emma took a deep breath before answering. She wanted to say no, but she didn't want to let Henry down. "Alright, I promise I'll do my best. Now let's go before you're late."
School is lame Norah thought to herself. She climbed out from the bathroom window and raced across the school yard and around the back to the woods. She looked over her shoulder in different directions to make sure the coast was clear. Then slipped behind a limb of a pine tree, revealing an open area she and her friend Casey had cleared for a hide-out when they needed a place to chill. She sat down in a stripped bean bag chair, and lit a cigarette. If only I could dig a hole and live here instead. "Stupid girl" she called herself aloud reaching for her blanket that just so happened to be soaked due to the heavy rain from a recent storm.
"Next time take the blanket home." Home. "How stupid." She argued with herself while finishing her cigarette. She quickly stomped it out when she heard someone's sharp voice break the solitude she had.
"What is that smell?"
It had to have been an adult, a teacher or parent kid had a voice that sharp. Norah peered through the limbs to try to get a face of the voice she had heard. She moved her eyes side to side looking for the person, but there was no one there."Maybe I'm just hearing things. I have to get out of here. Just in case." She said in a low voice while climbing out of the hide-away. She brushed herself off and grabbed her bag. As she turned to run she bumped into someone who was standing directly behind her. This person just happened to be the Mayor.
"Good afternoon Ms. Mayor" Norah smiled stepping to the side of her so she could walk away. Regina eyed the girl curiously. "Why are you not in school?"
Norah ignored Regina and continued to walk away. Regina gently pulled her back to her by the arm. "Answer me" Regina took a step closer looking her up and down."I...I am on a special assignment today...uh studying the life in the woods" she lied, although she knew she wasn't a very good liar, especially when she was caught doing something.
"Ah," Regina smirked. "You see I am actually here with my son. His class is actually studying here in the woods today" She said pointing to the group of kids at the top of the hill, listening to their teacher Ms. Blanchard. "I don't expect my son having to climb into a tree to study." She cut off in a bitter tone.
Norah looked down at her feet "No Madam Mayor." She said quietly.
"Very well then, I believe I will have a talk with Mother Superior myself. Hand me over your cigarettes and get back into school." Norah pulled the pack of cigarettes from her pocket then shoved them into Regina's hand. "No way lady, I'm not going back to school" She shook her head.
Regina didn't like the attitude but decided to ignore it for now. "I admire your tenacity but you will go back to school." Norah laughed at Regina's demand then shifted her feet. "Try and make me" she said before taking off into the woods. Regina ran after her but stopped at the hiking trail, not giving up but deciding that chasing Norah was not worth her time; instead she thought it would be best to just talk to Mother Superior as promised.
A/N:
What did you think? Should I continue posting my story? Could someone beta for me? please leave a review.
