"Emma! Wake up time for school!" I fall out of my bed with a start. My heart racing and I curse under my breath. I start to untangle myself from my covers and crawl back on my bed. I look At the clock on my wall noting that its six AM and that just makes me want to crawl under a rock. "Emma come on we gotta go dads gonna kill us if were late again." Groaning I sit up in bed and swing my legs over the bed and curl my feet in my soft rug that I begged dad for last month. It's been hard adjusting to a family that truly cares for me but its a great feeling and I wouldn't change it. I've been here for almost three years now and there are still times that I find myself waiting to be sent back into the foster system. But I'm eighteen now and I don't have to worry about that anymore. I shake my head trying to get rid of my thoughts and some of my grogginess as I stand up and stretch. "I'm up calm your tits woman!" I yell as I walk over to my closet and grab a pair of blue jeans and a tight plain black v neck shirt And tiredly walk to get a shower.
After a very hot shower I head downstairs to the kitchen. "It's about time" the brunette says with a smirk. "Not now Mary Margaret" I say as I poor myself a bowl of captain crunch " well little sis I see you are in a good mood this morning." She says amused at my irritation. I love my sister but damn she's always too happy all the time. "You wish m. Where is dad?" I ask taking a seat next to her at the island." He's at work he left a half an hour ago. He said to tell you to take it easy." She says and I nod . I finish up my cereal and toss my bowl in the sink. " I'm going to take my car I have to do something before school. See you there." I say grabbing my keys and head out the door not waiting for a reply.
As I'm driving down the road in my beat up yellow bug I can't help but feel nervous. I try to hold back my tears but I can't and wipe furiously at them. Finally arriving after five minutes I pull the bug into an empty parking lot across the graveyard. I grab the flowers I stopped to pick up yesterday. As I get out I feel my heart sink looking at the graveyard. I walk up to the gates and hesitantly walk through " you can do this swan" I say to myself and I start walking passing all the tombstones and abruptly stop in front of one. I kneel down in front of it and slide my hand across the name. Neal Cassidy. Neal was one of my best friends and as close to a brother then anyone and I loved him. I place the flowers in front of the tombstone" I wish you were here it's been a year today and it's still hard but I will never forget. Good bye brother." I say and slowly stand up brushing off the dirt on my knees.
I pull into the school parking lot and I spot a skinny brunette wearing a red jacket, black skinny jeans and thigh high boots standing in front of my spot. Of corse as soon as I saw her i new it was my best friend Ruby. We've been friends since I first arrived. Since I've been here the only friends besides M and Neal is Ruby,Belle, and Regina. Neal and I were friends before I ever came to storybrooke he was always there when I needed him. When I came here I was surprised to find out he had found his real father here and after that it was like no time had past. I park my car and put my keys in my pocket. Before I can open the door Ruby opens it and dragged me up pulling me into a tight hug. "Can't. Breath." I struggle to say and she releases me putting her hands in her pockets giving me an apologetic smile. "Sorry i just wish I could have gone with you." She say as her eyes start to water up. I give her a small smile. "It's fine I wanted to go alone before everyone els you know." I say as I grab my backpack from the passenger seat. I put it on one shoulder and turn to face her again."I know I'm going to go after school I hope I get there before everyone els." She says and we both stand there. After a few seconds we both sober up and Ruby starts to bounce excitedly. " oh! I almost forgot em you have to spill. You promised me all weekend that on Monday you would tell me about your crush. Who by the way you have hidden for two years. So spill " she says pushing me playfully. I was just about to tell her when I looked up to spot her.
She's wearing dark blue skinny jeans, a black button up, with black high heals. Her short black hair framing her face and her red lipstick making her lips..."owwwww" I say clutching my arm that Ruby just punched. "What was that for?" I whine and she pushes me slightly" um. For spacing out when you are supposed to..." " hey guys" we both look at a smiling Regina. Ruby smiles and says hey ."what's up looks like I just spared Emma here from a beat down." Regina says in amusement. Ruby looks at me and smiles her wolffish smile." Oh. Em here was just about to tell me who her crush is." She says with a smirk. Regina's eyes go wide ." Really?man after two year now your ready." She says and smiles at me." No I was just going." I say practically running away brushing past belle who was walking up to them. I walk through the entrance leaving them confused. I walk to my locker mentally kicking myself. How was I supposed to tell Ruby I like Regina? She doesn't even know I'm gay. No one does the only person who knew was Neal. He's the only reason I was going to tell them.
"Come on Em grow a pair and tell her already." He says as we walk through the wood carrying fishing poles. "No Neal I don't want to ruin things. I would rather have her as a friend then not have her at all. I tell you this every time." He stops walking I sigh and do the same. "Em I need you to promise me something." He says looking me in the eye." Ok. What is it?" He keeps eye contact for a minute not saying anything." I need you to promise me you will tell them your gay." He says and I sigh." I can't Neal i don't think they will take it well and I don't know if I can handle that." He looks at me."Emma they love you just as much as I do. And I need you to tell Regina after you tell them. Now promise me." He states and he gives me that look that I cannot say no to." I promise Neal."
I open my locker and grab my books when someone slams it shut. I sigh and look to my right seeing Ruby,Regina, and Belle standing there with stern looks all directed at me. "Ok what was that about and don't lie what's going on." Ruby says sternly and I look at them and shake my head."come on." I say walking past them and headed to the bathroom. They follow behind me once I get in I make sure no one is in there. Once I know no one is there I walk back to the door and lock it." Ok now that we are alone care to enlighten us." Belle says gesturing to them. I look at them and I know it's now or never." Ok look I'm going to tell you but you might not like it. I just hope you won't hate me because I love you guys." I say as my eyes tear up and my throat goes dry. "We love you Emma and nothing you say will change that."Regina says and i feel my tears start to fall so I turn around and sigh. Ok ok I can do this just say it it's not that bad. I think to myself "I...I'm... I'm gay." I say and I shut my eyes bracing myself for what ever comes next. When nothing is said I turn around and look at them. They are all smiling at me with tears of their own and before I can say anything they rush towards me and hug me. I physically relax into it and when they back up I wipe at the tears on my face." Oh Emma it's ok we still love you." Ruby says and Regina and Bella agree. "I'm glad you told us I can see it was really hard but we love you for you. that will never change." Regina says and I couldn't help but laugh sadly. If only she knew. After we all clean our selfs up we head to class and I know that soon I will have keep the last promise I ever made to Neal. I'm going to have to tell Regina.