AN: I'm so glad that several of you liked the first chapter of this story. So here's the next chapter for all of you. Hope you like it. PLEASE R&R!
Disclaimer: I own no one.
Chapter 2
After several days of eating breakfast at the Wellington home hoping that they would eventually show up to have breakfast with her so that she wouldn't have to eat alone, Emma decided to eat elsewhere. So she had the driver drop her off at the diner, telling him that she could find her way to school from there.
Emma walked inside and slowly sat at the counter, waiting for someone to come take her order.
"Can I help you?" a waitress with dark hair and red and blue streaks in her hair came up to her.
"I'd like a bear claw and a hot cocoa with whipped cream and cinnamon,"
"I never thought I'd hear of anyone else wanting their cocoa like that," the waitress smiled at her. "My best friend Mary likes it like that too."
"You mean Mrs. Nolan? She's my English teacher."
"There's no better teacher than her. I'll get that to you shortly. The name is Ruby, by the way."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Emma."
"Everyone knows you by now,"
"Of course they do," Emma mumbled as Ruby walked away.
"Given up on the Wellington's having a meal with you?" Emma looked up as Regina sat down beside her.
"They're never going to be there unless there's a TV camera there to capture it all,"
"You're probably right. Just so you know, if there's ever anything you need my door is always open."
"Why are you being so nice to me?"
"Because in this town you have rights. You may be a foster child, but you have a voice. That's why I've appointed myself your emergency contact in case anything happens to you."
"Some of you guys in this town are really pushy," Emma stated as Ruby arrived with her breakfast.
"Only because we don't want you to be so alone. That's never fun."
"I'm used to it,"
"Letting people in can be a good thing. Especially the ones who would drop everything if you called them up."
"But why would you all do that for me? You don't even know me."
"This town is very protective of you. They don't want you to be stuck with those miserable people for the rest of your life."
"I'm only here until the election. Then I'll be sent back. That's why I don't plan on getting attached."
"Well there are certain people who will not take no for an answer. So I'd be prepared to throw that kind of thinking out the window."
David Nolan walked out of the high school as he saw the school bus drive up to drop the high school kids off. He looked shocked when he spotted Emma slowly following behind the other kids.
"Emma?" he called out to her and she turned.
"Morning Sheriff," she mumbled.
"Why are you riding the bus? Doesn't the Wellington's driver bring you?"
"I had him drop me off at the diner so that I could get breakfast that I actually like," she told him. "And the bus picks up right in front so…"
"Got it,"
"Why are you here?" she looked at him.
"My wife forgot some papers at home that she needed today so I came to drop them off to her."
"Right,"
"Well have a good day, Emma." David started towards his squad car.
"Sheriff?"
"Yes?" he turned back around.
"Is your offer still good? To help me get my soccer gear?"
"Absolutely," he smiled at her. "Is Saturday ok?"
"Sure. I better get inside."
"Alex says that she's noticed you eating lunch outside," David stopped her.
"It's better than getting stared at the whole time,"
"Well my wife is usually in her room catching up on work during that time. I'm sure that she wouldn't mind the company. And Alex usually goes in there as well."
"I'll keep that in mind," Emma turned to go into the school and David sighed deeply as he pulled away.
Emma silently walked into English class and slid into the seat behind Alex. Killian and Neal glanced over at her quickly before turning back to what they were doing. Emma took out the book she was currently reading and opened it up to her saved page. Mrs. Nolan made them all read for the first ten minutes of class while she finished preparing the day's lesson.
"All right, books away." Mrs. Nolan announced and everyone closed their books and put them back in their bags. "Time to discuss your year-long projects."
Emma heard Neal and Killian groan beside her as she took the paper that was handed to her and started to read through the guidelines for their projects.
"You each will be doing a year-long research paper to be handed in on the last day of classes," Mrs. Nolan explained. "You get to choose the subject you want to write about. So I want it to be something you're passionate about. I would like you all to take the rest of the week to think about it and come up with a list of five possible subjects. I will meet with each of you one-on-one and try to narrow down your choices."
"Ugh…." Killian continued to moan. "Just great. I don't know what I want to write about."
"That's why she's giving us a week to think about it." Alex told him.
"But still…."
"Suck it up," Neal told him. "And we have all year to write it."
"Whatever," Killian glanced over at Emma, who was scribbling something down in her notebook. "Do you know what you want to write about already?"
"Maybe," she glanced at him briefly before turning back.
"Now if you would all take out your textbooks and your composition books, we will begin today's lesson..." Mrs. Nolan continued.
The bell rang and Emma quickly copied down the daily writing assignment from the board. Technically, she didn't have to do it. Mrs. Nolan said that it was optional, but she liked to write.
"Ready to go?" Alex turned to look at her.
"Huh?" she looked up at her in confusion.
"Algebra," Alex said. "Your next class. Mine too. I thought we could walk there together."
"Sure," Emma shrugged as she gathered her things and followed Alex out of the room.
"See you at lunch boys!" Alex called back to Neal and Killian and they smiled as Alex winked back at them.
"Breaking through her walls already?" Neal asked.
"That was fast," Killian commented as they walked away.
Emma walked into her last class before lunch: Art. She was looking forward to this. Mainly because it was a pretty easy class, but she also loved art. She liked to sketch in her free time, especially when she was at a particularly awful foster home and just wanted to stay out of their way.
"Hey," she looked and saw Killian at a nearby table. "You can sit here if you want to, Lass."
"Lass?" she looked at him as she sat across from him at the two-person table.
"My family's from Ireland," he told her. "So you'll hear me say that a lot."
"Along with lad, mate and love?"
"You know your Irish phrases,"
"I'm fascinated with other countries and their histories."
"Why?"
"Because as soon as I age out of the system, I'm going to see the world."
"Interesting goal. So not planning on going to college?"
"I can do that too," she said firmly. "Why do you think I'm working so hard? I hear that there's a scholarship for foster kids."
"You have it all planned out, it seems."
"Not at all," she stated. "I have no idea where I want to attend. Plus I have no way to pay for anything. I could always panhandle my way along the coast."
"Ok class," the teacher got their attention and started handing out blank sheets of paper to each table. "I'm sure you noticed the random items placed in the middle of your work stations."
Emma and Killian just now took notice of the items placed before them: a pencil, egg, paperclip, stapler and ruler.
"We are going to be doing some still-life drawing today." the teacher continued. "Take your time with it and turn it in by the end of class."
Killian sighed as he picked up the sketching pencil provided and started making marks on his paper. He glanced at Emma and saw her studying the items intently for several minutes before picking up her pencil and putting it to paper.
The entire class period was quiet with the only sounds being of pencil scratching on paper and the occasional sound of an eraser making the mistakes disappear. The teacher would walk between the desks answering the students' questions or helping them in other ways.
The bell rang and they all gathered up their belongings and went to hand in their drawings. Killian noticed Emma studying his drawing.
"What's the matter?" he asked her.
"Nothing," she shook her head.
"You won't offend me," he told her. "I took this class thinking it was going to be an easy A."
"Well-It's just-you didn't draw the pencil."
"Yes, I did." he pointed it out.
"No, I know you drew a pencil. You just didn't draw this pencil."
"What?"
"The one you drew is all smooth. There's no flaws."
"Ok,"
"But look," Emma picked the pencil up off the table. "This one has grooves in it as if someone had been chewing on it. And it's sharpened, but the wood is rough."
"Huh," Killian looked at her as they handed in their papers. "I thought I was just drawing a pencil."
"Not your fault. I've spent my whole life just observing what's around me. That's how I noticed the details." Emma told him. "I guess I'll see you around."
"Yeah, see you." Killian walked up the stairs and into Mrs. Nolan's classroom, where Alex insisted that they all eat their lunch together.
"You look frazzled," Neal commented as Killian entered. "What happened?"
"N-Nothing," he slid into one of the seats as Alex followed him in. "I just came from Art. Emma's in the class too. We share a table."
"Learn anything?" Alex asked.
"Once she ages out of the system, she wants to go overseas and see the world." Killian revealed. "And she works so hard at school because she heard that there's a scholarship for foster kids."
"You learned all that in one class?" Neal asked.
"Impressive," Alex commented.
"Excuse me," they all looked up and saw Emma standing in the doorway.
"Hey Emma," Mary Margaret smiled from her desk.
"I ran into the sheriff this morning outside school. He said that you all ate lunch here and that you wouldn't mind if I joined you."
"Come on in," Mary Margaret urged. "I just let these guys hang out in here. They mostly just talk about random things."
"Thanks," Emma sat in a nearby seat and opened up her lunch bag. "I'd rather not have to deal with everyone gawking at me again today."
"What is that?" Neal saw her lunch.
"Lunchmeat pinwheels," Emma told him. "The chef is all about French fusion. Most of the time I can't identify what I'm eating. So I just decided to make this myself."
"You made it?" Alex asked.
"With a little help from the internet. The maid saw what I was packing and made me put in the veggies. Which I will throw out anyway."
"Not a big fan of vegetables?" Mary asked.
"Nope," Emma shook her head. "I'm all about junk food. I especially like Granny's grilled cheese."
"Want to meet up there this weekend?" Alex saw her opening.
"I told the sheriff this morning that I was taking him up on his offer," Emma looked at Mary. "To help me get my soccer gear."
"Yes, I just got his text about it." she smiled at her. "Would you like Alex to come along? I'm sure you wouldn't want to hang out with the adults the whole time."
"Sure," Emma shrugged as they all continued to eat their lunches.
The warning bell for the next period rang and the group discarded their trash and started to pack up their things.
"What class do you have next?" Neal looked at Emma.
"Technically, it's a free period." she told them. "But I wanted to talk to the band director."
"You play an instrument?" Alex asked.
"I played the clarinet for a few months in one of my former homes," Emma told her. "The teacher I had said that I was a natural. Hopefully they weren't BSing me. I figured I could at least try out."
"Anything to stay away from the Wellington's right?" Killian asked.
"Exactly," Emma smiled. "I'll see you guys later."
"Should we try to get her to hang out with us outside of school?" Neal asked as they filed out of Mary's classroom.
"The mall trip this weekend is a good start," Alex told them. "I'll keep working on her."
Emma found the band room with no problems. She walked in and saw the class getting ready to start. She got the teacher's attention and he approached her.
"I'm Mr. Mahoney. Can I help you?"
"Is it too late to join the class?" Emma asked him. "I mean, I haven't played in several years, but-"
"Everyone is free to join as long as they can play," he assured her. "What instrument are you interested in?"
"The clarinet,"
"We need more woodwinds," he smiled at her as he led her to the back room where all the extra instruments were while the TA handled the class.
He had Emma try out the instruments to make sure that she was definite on the clarinet. Once Emma started to play, she knew that she wanted that instrument.
"I can loan this out to you," Mr. Mahoney told her. "But you'll need to purchase the books and all the equipment."
"Not a problem,"
"I won't have you play with the rest of the class today," he led her back out to the classroom. "But you can observe to see what a class entails."
"Thank you," Emma sat in one of the folding chairs in the back row and watched as the teacher talked the class through the current sheet music.
Emma made it to Spanish class just in time. Mr. Mahoney had her stay behind so she could get a carrying case for her instrument.
"So the meeting with the band director went well?" Alex asked her as Emma slid into the seat across from her.
"Excelente," Emma responded; their teacher only wanted them to speak Spanish in the classroom.
"Show off," Alex mumbled as the teacher started the class.
Emma walked out of the locker room after soccer practice ready to walk to the Wellington's again. She bypassed all her teammates who didn't even try to pretend that they weren't talking about her. She rolled her eyes as she started walking down the street.
She could go back to the Wellington's, but chances are that they were in some meeting that would last all night long. Meaning that she would be all alone in the big house with just the hired help to keep her company.
She came to the diner and peered inside to see several kids from school hanging out inside. She slowly opened the door and tried to find a seat to sit by herself. She started to sit at the counter as the waitress Ruby waved her over.
"So what would you like?" Ruby smiled at her.
"Grilled cheese, onion rings, and a mountain dew."
"Coming right up," Ruby smiled at her.
"You can sit with us if you would like," Emma turned to see one of the popular girls-Jennifer, she thinks her name is-smiling sickeningly polite at her.
"That won't be necessary," Alex appeared in front of Emma, crossing her arms and glaring at Jennifer. "She's meeting me here."
"Really," Jennifer glared back at Alex.
"Really," Alex turned to look at Emma. "We're sitting in the corner booth. That's why you couldn't see us."
"Ok," Emma grabbed her things and followed Alex to the corner booth, where Killian and Neal were sitting. "Thanks."
"Not a problem," Alex told her. "Jennifer Blake is not someone you want to associate with. She doesn't want to be your friend."
"I already know this," Emma told them. "I have a certain sense about people."
"I actually have to go right now," Neal gathered his things. "I promised Belle that I would help her at the library."
"I might stop by there later," Emma told him. "I want to do some research."
"Maybe I'll see you later then," Neal smiled at her.
"So is Belle his step-mom?" Emma asked after Neal had left the diner.
"Technically," Alex said slowly.
"She's trying to adopt him," Killian told her.
"Jones!" Alex turned to him. "Maybe he doesn't want her to know!"
"I can keep a secret," Emma told them.
"Well his dad is Ralph Gold," Alex started. "He owns the pawn shop. He and Belle used to be married. Until his true colors came out not that long after they were married. She ended it and told him that she was taking Neal with her."
"Seriously?"
"Neal's mom died when he was young, so Belle was the only mother figure he had. They became close pretty fast."
"He's never given us any details about how his father actually is," Killian interjected. "But if Belle is trying to take custody away from his father, it has to be bad."
"His dad only has supervised visits with him now." Alex said. "The court let her take temporary custody of Neal. The judge is giving her six months to prove that she can be a stable environment for him."
"I don't really know Mr. Gold, but Belle seems nice enough." Emma stated.
"She's the best," Killian stated. "She lets us hang out at the library for hours at at time. Most of the time we just go there to talk."
"Sounds like a great mom to me," Emma said softly.
"Here we are," Ruby appeared with not only Emma's order, but also Alex's and Killian's as well. "And of course the platter of fries will be here shortly."
"I know why I'm eating here," Emma looked at the other two. "Why are you two? I assume that you have homes where you eat around a table."
"My parents have double date night with the Nolan's once a week," Alex told her.
"My brother isn't a great cook," Killian said, then realized what he had revealed.
"None of my business," Emma looked at him.
"So…" Alex looked at Emma. "How well can you play that thing?"
"I'm a little rusty," Emma opened the case that held her clarinet.
"How long since you played last?" Killian asked
"Probably about five years at least,"
"Let's hear it," Alex insisted. "It doesn't have to be good."
"All right," Emma put the instrument together and made sure the reed was in position before starting to play.
The entire diner stopped what they were doing to listen to Emma play. When she stopped, the crowd started to clap enthusiastically making her flush.
As Emma was putting the instrument away again, Alex noticed a secret look that Killian only had whenever he was around Emma or talked about her. A look that in her opinion could only lead to trouble.
After the trio finished eating and Alex and Killian reluctantly went home, Emma packed up her things and walked down the street to the library. She slowly opened the door and walked in to see Belle working behind the circulation desk on the computer.
"Hello again Emma," Belle smiled up at her.
"Hi," Emma greeted her.
"What can I do for you today?"
"Mrs. Nolan-Mary Margaret-assigned us year-long research papers today and I was just wondering if you would have any books on the subject that I chose."
"I'm actually in the middle of something," Belle told her. "But Neal is in the back shelving books. He should be able to help you find what you're looking for. All reference materials are in the back."
"Thank you," Emma started to walk to the back of the library.
"Hey Emma," she saw Neal coming from one of the aisles pushing a cart of books. "You're starting on the research paper already? You remember Mrs. Nolan saying that it's a year-long project."
"It's a personal subject for me," Emma told him.
"Reference books are right down here then," Neal pointed them out to her.
"Thanks," Emma smiled as she started down the aisle.
When Neal looked up again, he found Emma situated at one of the tables with a pile of books all around her. He shook his head in disbelief as he went back to shelving the books.
Belle watched the silent exchange and smiled. She knew there would be trouble ahead for the two teenagers, but she knew at the moment that Neal was happy. That was all that mattered to her.
AN: So what do you all think of this latest chapter? I hope you liked it. A couple of guest reviewers wanted to know about David and Mary having more kids. I assure you that issue will be addressed. I'm just not sure how far in future chapters that will be. PLEASE R&R!
