Eyes Open (Song Fic)
Hey readers! This is my first favourite song fics, and what better song to do it to then one of new favourites. This story is totally A/N by the way, just thought I would try a Mary and David growing up kind of story. Taylor Swift ,Mary Margaret and David rock my world. Also, the ages in this jump around quite a bit, but I tried to help explain if you get lost. Bonus points for anyone who can find the lines in this from OUAT and Something Borrowed. I always try to make it relevant with whatever the story is about, so hope you enjoy!
This one's dedicated to my friend: OncerSwarek… , love ya girl!
Everybody's waiting, everybody's watching, even when you're sleeping, keep you ey-eyes open.
"Daddy just one more story please!" Mary begged her father, Leopold, to read one last story from the worn fairytale book he was holding. 'Once Upon A Time' was scrawled across the cover in gold, and Mary watched as her father flashed her a smile. He sat down by her bedside, in his favorite chair, cracking open the book to her favorite story.
"Once Upon A Time, there was a girl named Snow White," Leopold began, gazing down lovingly at his daughter. Mary looked up at him with wondrous eyes as she began to fall asleep. Leopold finished the story a short time later, putting the book next to Mary. "Daddy, do you think I'll find true love someday?" Mary asked, half opening her eyes to look at her father in the doorway.
"I think if you keep your eyes open, true love will always find a way," Leopold answered, and smiling, shut the door gently behind him. Before Mary fell asleep, she thought fleetingly how she wished she were younger again, to be able to be free and pretend without being wrong.
The tricky thing is yesterday we were just children
Playing soldiers
Just pretending
Dreaming dreams with happy endings
In backyards, winning battles with our wooden swords
Mary Margaret and David had met when they were just 7 years old. Back then, life had seemed to make sense, and everything was different. They had lived across from each other for all their lives, and somehow always found time to be together. "En garde!" David said, swinging his wooden sword at Mary. Mary ducked away and laughed, running away to a large oak tree. "You'll never find me here," Mary called, breathing heavily and clutching her wooden sword to her chest. "I will always find you," David called back, and suddenly jumped behind the tree.
Mary caught him off guard and hit him in the chest, sending him flying backwards. David lay on the ground, grinning up at her. She pulled him up, and suddenly they were just inches away from each other. Mary felt her face flush, and looked away.
"Mary Margaret Blanchard, you get in the house this instant!" her stepmother's shriek pierced the cool autumn air. "Coming Mother," Mary called back turning to face David as she stood in the back doorway. David looked on sadly, motioning for her to leave. She mouthed, Thanks, and closed the door behind her. She wondered how this sword fight had been any different then another, but somehow it was.
Mary fell asleep later that night, tears streaming down her face as her stepmother and father fought as usual. She looked over at a picture of her and David, sitting next to the oak tree. Mary was asleep, her head lazily on David's shoulder. David however, was beaming, and looking right at the camera. Mary let out a small laugh, and taking the picture in her hand, brought it to her chest. She fell asleep while clutching the picture, dreaming of her own happy ending. She was Snow White, and David was her Prince Charming, and she was the happiest she had ever been.
But now we've stepped into a cruel world,
Where everybody stands to keep score.
The bell at Mary's high school rang loudly, and suddenly students began pouring out into the hallway. She was a junior, and felt herself being pushed every way. She finally found her English class, and sat down at a desk in the back of the room. Mr. Michaels wrote on the blackboard messily, his back turned to the class.
Mary scanned the room, and felt her heart nearly break as she saw David sitting beside Kathryn. Their friends crowded around their desks, as they were clearly popular. Their fingers interlocked, David snuck in a kiss on the cheek to Kathryn who laughed and continued talking with her friends. Thankfully for Mary, Mr. Michaels quickly began the lesson. "Class, today we'll be talking about…stories, but even more then that fairytales. You all grew up reading about certain characters in these stories and have grown to love them," Mr. Michaels looked dismayed at the lack of attention he was getting. Mary however, had already taken her precious fairytale book out and was smiling widely. Mr. Michaels, taking note of this asked Mary: "Mary, why do you think fairytales are important?"
"Well, I think that..Um," Mary started, feeling nervous as every person's eyes were on her. "I think that believing in even the possibility of a happy ending is a very powerful thing," she finished, feeling proud that Mr. Michaels seemed impressed. Kathryn however, was not and she stifled the word: "Loser," under her breath. Her friends around her laughed, but David did not even try to defend Mary, instead he remained stone faced, staring straight ahead.
Mary swallowed her tears, although she could feel them brimming. She tuned out the teacher for the rest of class, slipping her book angrily into her backpack. When the bell finally rang, Mary walked by the popular crowd, trying to hold her head high. Kathryn saw this and spoke: "Guys, it's the book worm." Her friends laughed heartily including some of the boys. "Thanks a lot David," Mary said, pushing past him as he stood. David looking confused, tried to grab her hand," Mary wait."
"Just save it David, okay?" Mary could feel the tears almost coming and she again swallowed hard and left class, going to her locker fast. She turned however to see Kathryn and her friends coming, and she leaned her head against the door with sadness. Kathryn suddenly rushed up to Mary, and knocked her books from her hands. "Stay away from David," Kathryn said, and then Mary felt her hand on her face. Kathryn turned away triumphantly as Mary slid down her locker door, tears streaming down her face. She looked up to the ceiling, remembering her father's words: "Keep your eyes open." Mary buried her face in her hands, as she thought back to the last real conversation her and David had.
Everybody's waiting for you to breakdown,
Everybody's watching to see the fallout.
Even when you're sleeping,
Keep your ey-eyes open.
Mary was only 12, when she watched her father's casket lower into the ground. The large crowd gathered solemnly around the grave, weeping silently and comforting one another. Mary tried to stay strong, but she could feel her wall slowly falling down. Every important person in her father's life laid a single rose on the coffin, and Mary was last. Her stepmother looked at her harshly as Mary stepped forward. Mary lay her rose on the coffin and whispered: "Keep your eyes open." Mary looked around at the various people surrounding the casket, and it seemed like they were expecting her to cry and breakdown.
Mary burst into tears under the pressure and loss of her last real parent. Turning away from the crowd, she picked up her shoes and ran for her favorite tree in front of the old church. Her white dress billowed out from behind her, and she heard a distant voice calling to her. When she finally reached the tree, she turned around to find David, looking at his feet. He looked up at Mary, and Mary took note of his handsome attire. He brought her into a fierce hug, and in that moment, it was all Mary needed.
David made small circles against her back as his other hand stroked her short hair, whispering to her that everything would be alright. She looked up into his eyes, tears still falling. David smiled at her: "It's gonna be ok Mary. I'll always be here for you. I'm really glad we're best friends." Mary opened her mouth to say what she had not said for so long, that she knew that this was much more then friendship.
"Since we're such great friends, I was wondering if you think I should ask Kathryn to go to the movies sometime? She seems really nice and I think she likes me," David continued to smile at her. Mary felt her heart practically shatter but tried to keep her voice steady: "Oh yeah. You never know where it will lead right?"
"Yeah, thanks for being so understanding Mary, you're the best," David leaned in to give Mary a kiss on the cheek. He left a short while later, but Mary stayed near the tree, holding her cheek as a single tear slid down it. She had missed David again, and she had a feeling that had been her last chance.
So here you are, two steps ahead and staying on guard,
Every lesson forms a new scar.
Every class Mary had to go to during senior year felt like a new wound had opened. She would constantly be beaten down by the popular teenagers, and her teachers blamed her. Mary came home crying each night, and wishing for Senior year to be over. She felt like each day was a new scar opening inside of her, and lately she had gotten closer and closer to the edge of falling into the deep sadness, that seemed to surround her. After the death of her father, her stepmother had grown even more angry, often almost hitting Mary but yelling all the while.
One night, Mary knew she had almost come to the point of depression, and she silently cried near her bed. Suddenly, she heard a small sound at the window. She quickly opened her windows to the balcony, and there stood David holding a bouquet of roses. Mary quickly wiped her tears, smiled and hugged David. He pulled away, smiling at her. "Hey Mary, how have you been lately?" he asked with sincerity.
"Fine," she managed to mutter, but smiled widely at the fact that David was on her balcony just like old times. Mary thought fleetingly of Senior Prom, which was only a week away, and how David was now at her balcony with flowers. "So, I was wondering if.." David started, looking slightly lost for the words.
"Yes!" Mary exclaimed before he could finish, taking the flowers and hugging him again. David pulled away with a look of confusion: "Oh no Mary, sorry. I was wondering if you wanted to go with Sean. Ashley totally bailed, and since we're such good friends I told Sean you'd be cool with going with him." Mary felt her heart break into what felt like a million pieces, and she thought of the first time David had broken her heart. No matter how hard Mary tried, she could not get David out of her head, and she had this feeling like they were always meant to be together.
"Of course, thanks David," Mary barely managed a whisper as she stepped away from David. "Thanks Mary, see you tomorrow," David smiled and climbed down the tree from her balcony, waiting at the bottom to smile up at her one last time before running back across the street. Mary closed the windows to her balcony, feeling a swell of emotions. The first that came to her was anger, and she threw the first thing she saw across the room. She gasped and broke down as she saw she had broken the picture frame that housed the picture of her and David from so many years before. She tried to repair the pieces, but could see nothing through her tears. She eventually fell asleep, clutching her book of fairytales and wishing for her own happy ending.
They never thought you'd make it this far,
But turn around, they've surrounded you.
It's a showdown, and nobody comes to save you now.
But you've got something they don't.
Yeah, you've got something they don't,
You've just got to keep your eyes open.
"Mary are you doing okay?" Sean asked, looking over at her. The soft pink lights illuminated the dancers at the Prom, and Mary could just make out David and Kathryn spinning slowly. She felt her eyes begin to rim with tears, and felt the sudden need to tell her whole story. She turned around to face Sean at the table and said: "No Sean, I'm not. I just..I miss David. I miss how we were, and we never get to spend time together anymore. I just wish I could tell him how..how I feel," Mary admitted then turned back around, slightly embarrassed at having just told David's best friend her true feelings.
"Mary," Sean came to sit beside her, also keeping his eyes on the dancing couple, "You should just go at least ask him to dance, for old times sake. I mean, I happen to know he really cares about you, maybe not in the way you might want, but the worst that could happen is he could say no." Mary smiled at Sean, and gave him a quick hug before standing up. She slowly walked over to David and Kathryn, who were lost in their own little world.
"Umm David, I was wondering if maybe I could dance with you for a bit?" Mary tried to ask strongly, but her voice faltered a bit at the end. Kathryn shot her a death glare, but David smiled and said: "Of course we can Mary. Kathryn do you mind?" Kathryn shook her head No, but continued to glare at the newly dancing couple as she backed away towards her friends. Mary could see Kathryn was using wild hand gestures and talking loudly, but all thoughts were erased from her mind when she looked into David's eyes. They were the deepest blue Mary had ever seen, and she felt like she was swimming in an ocean whenever she gazed into them. David smiled down at her, and spun her in a circle before saying: "You look beautiful tonight." Mary felt a blush coat her cheeks, as she looked down at her dress. It was a simple white color with lace trim, and Mary was reminded of Snow White.
"David I need to tell you something," Mary began, looking back up at him. He nodded for her to continue, and she gathered up all her strength. "The truth is…I think I love you David Nolan. The first time we met when we were kids with the sword fights, I just grew to like you more and more. You're the only thing that feels right anymore," Mary looked up for his response, but David looked down at her with somewhat worried eyes.
He offered her a slight smile and brushed her bangs from her eyes. "Mary, I've known you were different from the day I met you. You're not like other girls, and you're one of the strongest people I've ever met. But I've grown to like Kathryn, and I feel like I should honor that." Mary felt her eyes brim with tears, she had known when she walked into this what the outcome would be, but she couldn't help herself, and she just kept punishing herself.
"So everything you said to me now..and before?" Mary could feel the tears threatening, and her voice breaking slightly. "Is true, I do have feelings for you. Feelings, feelings I don't quite understand," David spoke with intention, not knowing what to do. Mary let go of David's hand, and quickly began to move away from him. Just as David was about to yell for Mary to come back, a fast song came on, and he was swallowed by the crowd. Mary came out from the crowd, tears softly falling down her cheeks.
Mary turned away from the wall to find Kathryn and her friends, grinning evilly and holding the punch bowl. "You just can't stay away can you Mary? He's mine, you need to back off. You're never going to get him anyway, who do you think you are?" Kathryn ended her angered speech, and nodded to her friends who dumped the punch bowl on Mary. Some students took note, and tried to suppress laughter. Mary stood; sopping wet with punch, her white dress now stained a dark red color. She looked around for David, but he was nowhere to be found. He would not be showing up on some white horse like she wanted. Nobody was coming to save her now.
Everybody's waiting for you to breakdown,
Everybody's watching to see the fallout,
Even when you're sleeping, sleeping,
Keep your ey-eyes open.
Mary could feel the tears brimming, but somehow, she got the strength to carry on from deep inside. She would not take crap from these girls anymore, and she mustered up all her strength to say: "You know what Kathryn, I won't stop fighting for him or for me. I am much stronger then you think, and I've got something you don't. I am my own person, and I stay true to myself always. And by the way," Mary was beginning to make her way towards the door, but turned around. "Fruit Punch is my favorite." With these words, Mary walked back over to Kathryn, not minding the staring faces. She delivered one punch right to Kathryn's face, and Kathryn doubled over. Her friends quickly caught her, and the small crowd began cheering. Mary ran out of the gym to Sean's awaiting car, where she finally burst into tears. Whether it was from David's revelation or finally sticking up for herself, she was not sure. She was sure, however, that she would always stay true to herself.
Keep your feet ready, heartbeat steady,
Keep your eyes open.
Keep your aim locked, the night goes dark,
Keep your eyes open.
Mary sat on her balcony a few hours later, watching as the stars twinkled and danced. She was now in her pajamas, her dress hanging from her bed, the reminiscent of red still visible. She smiled to herself as she thought of standing up to Kathryn, it had been worth all those months of glares and taunts. Suddenly, Mary heard a sound from the tree that hung over her balcony. She reached for her garden gnome as a weapon, and slowly began crawling towards the tree. David jumped down from the branch, smiling to her. Mary dropped the gnome in shock and almost fell, but David caught her hand, pulling her up to stand. She turned away from him angrily, "David, just go back to Kathryn. I'm nobody's second choice; I want to be someone's first choice. " She felt tears rim her eyes for the third time that night, and was about to walk away, when David gently took hold of her face.
"Mary, you were always my first choice. I just let my memories with Kathryn cloud my judgment. I'm never going to meet another girl like you ever. You're my one Mary, I found it," David continued to smile down at her, lightly brushing his thumb across her cheek. Mary blushed slightly at the words, almost laughing at his late revelation. "David, I can't just come running back to you though. After all this time why now?" Mary looked back up at him with confusion.
"I'll always be here for you, always," David emphasized his final word before leaning down. Mary closed her eyes welcoming the soft kiss. It was the sweetest one she had ever had, and she linked her arms around David's neck. He picked her up around the middle and spun her in a slow circle. A rush of memories came through her, from their sword fights to English class to that picture under the tree. She opened her eyes slightly and smiled at David, and they turned to watch the stars. Suddenly, a single star shot across the sky, and Mary felt herself shut her eyes tightly. "Keep your eyes open" she whispered, and felt David kiss her again. Although he was not always charming, he was her Prince Charming. Mary now believed more then ever that David and her were meant to be, and that she had found her happy ending.