A/N: So here is the next chapter, I hope you all like it. Thanks for the alerts and reviews! I really appreciate it :) Please continue to review I would like to know what you all think of this so far.
Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or any fairytale characters that have already been created and have had profit made from them.
Chapter 2
Clara wakes to the sound of her alarm clock beeping.
She groans and hits the snooze button, then buries her face back into her pillow.
5 minutes later her alarm goes off again and she sighs. She sits up in her bed, stretches, and then turns her alarm off.
She glances at the clock and sees it is 7:06 and she has to get ready and be at the shop at 8:00.
Clara pulls her covers off and gets out of bed.
She walks over to her closet, grabs a shirt, then goes to her dresser and picks out a pair of jeans.
Once she decides on a pair she wants to wear, she exits her room and makes her way to the bathroom.
Hopefully nobody is in there, and if there is hopefully it is not Clover because she takes forever, and I don't want to be late. Clara thinks as she reaches the bathroom.
She knocks but no one replies, so she opens the door and goes in.
Thank goodness! She thinks with a smile as she sets her clothes on the sink. Clara then takes off her night clothes and hops into the shower.
Once she is done in the shower she turns the water off, steps out, and then wraps her towel around herself.
She glances at the clock on the wall to see it is now 7:30.
That should be just enough time to get ready. She thinks as she looks at herself in the mirror. Now what to do with my hair? She wonders as she looks at the wavy mess.
In the end she decides to blow dry it. Once she is done blow drying it, she smiles. Due to the gel she put it in; it gave the waviness more of a curl which makes it look tamer.
She quickly changes into the outfit she picked, which is a green V-neck shirt and faded jeans with holes in them.
Once she is dressed she hurriedly puts on some eyeliner and mascara.
When she is finished she glances at the clock to see it is 7:55.
"Crap!" she exclaims as she runs out of the bathroom.
Once she reaches the stairs, she runs down them and then runs out of the apartment, down to the pet shop.
When she reaches the pet shop, she glances at the clock and sees it is 7:59.
One minute to spare! She thinks with a smile as she walks over to the front door of the shop.
She flips the closed sign to open and unlocks the door, then makes her way to stand behind the counter.
She lets out a sigh and looks around the shop.
Might as well feed the animals and clean their cages. She thinks as she walks from behind the counter to the storage closet with all of the food.
She reaches the closet and grabs the hamster, ferret, and guinea pig food because all of those animals are by each other.
She walks over to their cages, fills up their bowls, and then checks their water.
Once she is done with them, she then proceeds to feed the spiders, snakes, and lizards. After them she feeds the birds and the bunnies.
Finally, once she is done with them she feeds the fish, turtles, and hermit crabs.
This pet shop doesn't have dogs or cats and that is ok because there would be no room for them anyway.
Clara smiles as she watches the fish swim to the top to feed.
She turns her attention away from the fish and looks at the clock to see it is 9:00.
Wow, that is the fastest I have ever fed and cleaned the animal's cages. She thinks happily.
She is pulled out her thoughts as she hears the familiar ding-dong sound which means that someone had entered the shop. She turns her attention to the front of the shop to see it is Mr. Gold who had entered.
I wonder what he is doing here. She thinks as she makes her way to the front of the shop.
"Good morning, Mr. Gold. Is there something I can help you with?" she questions while trying to muster a smile.
"Good morning to you too, dear," he says with what she thinks is supposed to be a smile but comes off more as a smirk. "Actually, I am looking for your father. Do you know where he is?" he asks.
"He is up in the apartment. I can call up and see if he is awake," she offers.
"I would appreciate it, dear," he says with that smile/smirk of his.
Why can't he just call me Clara, he already creeps me out and the dear just adds to it. She thinks as she walks behind the counter.
She picks up the phone by the cash register and dials the number for their apartment.
The phone rings three times until someone finally picks up.
"Hello," her father says sleepily.
"Daddy, Mr. Gold is down here in the shop and he would like to talk to you," Clara says and then glances toward Mr. Gold to see he is looking around the shop.
"What does he want?" her father asks although he is already thinking of the possibilities.
"He didn't say," she answers and glances back to him again to see that he is now staring at her. She quickly looks away.
"Tell him I will be down in 10 minutes," her dad says and then hangs up.
Clara hangs up as well and then turns her attention back to Mr. Gold.
"Well?" he questions.
"He said that he will be down in about 10 minutes," Clara informs him, "If you want I can get you a chair so you can sit down," she offers politely.
"No, that's alright," he says, "I saw you were talking to the Mayor's son, Henry, yesterday. Is that the first time you have met him?" he asks curiously.
"Umm, yeah," Clara answers, "But how would you have seen us? I didn't even know you were around, I didn't see you if you were," Clara says.
"My shop is a little ways up the street from where you two were talking. I had glanced out my window and saw you two," he explains.
"Oh," Clara says forgetting that his shop is indeed on that street, "Well that explains it."
Mr. Gold just gives her a slight smile.
There is silence after that but it is broken by the sound of a door opening and closing.
Clara and Mr. Gold turn their attention to the back of the shop to see Clara's Dad making his way toward them.
"Good Morning, Mr. Gold," her dad says once he reaches them, "What is it that you need?" he asks trying to not come across as rude.
"Could we talk in private?" Mr. Gold asks.
"Uh, yeah," he says and then turns his attention to Clara, "Clara could you please go up to the apartment, I will call you back down once we are done talking," he says.
I don't want to sit in the apartment. She thinks annoyed. Hmm, I wonder if he would let me take a walk.
"Can I take a walk instead? I won't go far," she asks hopefully, "Please?"
"No, Clara, I already let you go to the store yesterday and I am regretting it. Please just go sit in the apartment." he says with finality.
"But…" Clara starts to say.
"No buts, we shouldn't be too long anyway then you can come back." he says.
Clara lets out a frustrated sigh and makes her way to the apartment.
He's still overprotective. Mr. Gold thinks as he watches the girl leave.
They wait until Clara is no longer in the shop before they start talking.
After about 15 minutes, Clara gets the call from her Dad and heads back down to the shop.
Once Clara is in the shop she notices her Dad leaning with his elbows in the counter and his face in his hands.
"Daddy, are you ok?" What did he want?" Clara asks as she approaches him.
"Huh?" he says lifting his face from his hands, "Oh, nothing you need to worry about," he says with a smile, but Clara can tell that he is troubled.
"Daddy, something is wrong." Clara states.
"No, everything is fine. I am going to go back up to the apartment. Were any of your sisters awake?" he asks changing the topic.
Clara looks at him for a few minutes before finally answering. "Umm, I don't think so, but they could be now."
"Alright, sweetie, love you." he says giving her a hug.
"Love you, too." she says and then he lets go of her and heads back up to the apartment.
Clara sighs and makes her way behind the counter and sits on the stool.
I know that something is wrong. She thinks frustrated. I just wish he would tell me. She thinks as she turns her head to look out the window.
She glances at the clock behind her to see it is almost 10:00.
This is so boring! She thinks as she begins to tap her fingers on the counter.
She doesn't mind working at the shop and it is not like she has to every day, either, because her and her sisters take turns. It is just the fact that it gets so lonely and boring sitting here.
She decides to get up from the stool and goes back to where the fish and other sea creatures are. She watches as the fish swim around. Out of all of the animals in the shop, she definitely likes the fish, turtles, and hermit crabs the best.
After watching them for a little while she decides to go to where the bunnies are. She looks at them all snuggled together asleep. Her favorite is the brown and white speckled one. It is the tiniest one and she finds it the most adorable. She named it Thumper because, well he is a bunny, and she loves his character in Bambi.
After observing the animals for a little longer she makes her way back to the counter and sits down on the stool once again.
After sitting for about an hour she hears the door in the back open and then close.
She looks and sees her sister Sierra walking towards her.
"Having fun?" she asks with a smile.
"Not really." Clara mumbles.
"I figured," she says, "That is why we are going to go to Granny's and get some lunch."
"I would love to, but what if Shelly or Clover see us and tells Daddy? He is already mad about letting me go to the store yesterday," Clara says, although she really wants to go.
"Well dad is asleep on the couch and everyone else is still in their rooms like always. Although Clover and Shelly were sitting at the table in the kitchen drinking coffee, oh and I think Melanie might have started lunch," Sierra says.
Clara looks at her for a moment.
"Umm, but you just said Melanie started lunch," Clara say, "Shouldn't we just eat here?"
"Yes, but you know as well as I do that Melanie's cooking isn't the best and half of the time it usually catches on fire," Sierra says.
"I am up for going to Granny's, but what about once Melanie is done and she wakes up Dad and they come down looking for us?" Clara asks trying to make her sister see reason.
"I didn't think about that," Sierra says with a frown.
"I am usually always up for sneaking out, but you have to plan it better," Clara says as she looks at her sister who seems to be in thought.
"I got it!" Sierra exclaims after a few minutes.
"How about we go over, get the food to go, and come back here and eat it. We can dispose of the evidence later, plus we will still be getting out of the apartment and shop for a little bit."
Clara thinks about it for a few minutes. This way they definitely had less of a chance of getting caught.
"Sure, why not, but we have to hurry." Clara says walking out from behind the counter.
"Yay!" Sierra exclaims.
Sierra and Clara leave the shop, but Clara makes sure to put up the sign that says 'went to lunch, be back soon', and locks the door.
Granny's restaurant is only like five minutes away so it doesn't take long for the girls to walk there.
Once they reach the restaurant, they open the door and walk in.
"Hey you two," they hear a familiar voice say.
They turn their attention to behind the bar where the person had spoken and smile.
"Hey, Ruby," Clara says as her and Sierra walk over to the bar.
"So your Dad actually let you out of the apartment, or you snuck out," she says with a knowing smile.
"The second," Sierra confirms.
"New it!" Ruby says triumphantly.
"Yes, but like always please don't tell anyone you saw us here," Clara says although she knows Ruby won't rat them out. The only person they really have to worry about is Granny and the other costumers, although they never usually bother to acknowledge them and there aren't that many people here right now anyway.
"My lips are sealed," Ruby says and then runs her fingers over her lips like she is zipping them shut for emphasis.
Clara and Sierra let out a little laugh at this while Ruby smiles.
Ruby doesn't usually act like this around other people but she has become friends with them, and she is all for helping them be rebels and disobedient.
"So, what can I get you guys to eat, and is it for here or to go?" she asks.
"To go," Clara answers, "And I will have a Caesar Salad with fries and a small Coke."
"Alright," Ruby says jotting it down, "What about you Sierra?"
"Umm, a cheeseburger, fries, and small Pepsi," Sierra answers.
"Alright, I will be right out with those," Ruby says before disappearing into the kitchen.
Clara looks around the restaurant to see if she recognizes anyone who knew their father and would tell on them, she doesn't. Sierra and her had looked through the windows before they went in just to be safe.
"How are you girls doing?" Clara hears someone say and she turns her attention back to behind the bar.
Uh oh, we could be in trouble now. Clara thinks as she looks at the elderly woman.
"Sneaking out again?" she questions.
"Umm…" Clara starts to say, but stops.
"Of course not!" Sierra says acting like she is offended that she would even think that.
"No need to lie to me. I know how your father is and if I was cooped up all the time, I would want to get out too," she says with an understanding smile, "Don't worry, I won't rat you out."
Clara and Sierra both let out a breath they didn't realize they were holding.
"Thank you," Clara says relieved.
"Yes, thank you," Sierra says as well.
The elderly woman nods, "I am going to go check on how your food is coming," she says and then walks away.
Soon after she goes into the kitchen, Ruby walks out.
"How long has she known that we sneak out?" Clara asks.
Ruby shrugs. "I don't know, I guess she just figured it out one day."
There is an awkward silence after that.
"Here you go, girls.," Ruby's grandmother says walking out of the kitchen with two bags. Once she reaches the girls she hands them their food.
"How much do we owe you?" Clara asks reaching into her pocket to get her money.
After they pay for their food they exit the restaurant and make their way back to their shop.
Clara unlocks the shop door once they reach it and takes down the sign.
They make their way to the counter and Sierra grabs a chair from the back and they begin to eat their food.
"This is really good." Sierra says.
"Mmmhmm," Clara agrees.
They have their food finished in about half an hour and Clara takes the evidence and throws it in the trash can on the sidewalk in front of their shop. Once she goes back in the shop, she walks behind the counter, grabs the air freshener she keeps in the shelves under the counter, and sprays it around to get rid of the smell of food.
Just as she gets done, they turn their attention to the back of the store where they hear the door that leads to their apartment open and close. They see their sister Crystal walking over to them.
"Melanie sent me down to tell you that lunch is ready," She informs them once she reaches them.
"I am not hungry right now, just ask her to put some in the refrigerator and I will come up and eat it later," Clara says trying to not sound suspicious.
"I'll come up, but I can't guarantee I am going to eat it, I mean, Melanie was the cook," Sierra jokes.
Crystal looks at them for a moment, and then lets out a little laugh.
"Ok," she says and makes her way back up to the apartment and Sierra follows close behind.
They totally snuck out! Crystal thinks as her and Sierra reach the apartment.
Once they are gone Clara looks at the clock to see it is almost 2:30.
She goes around to all of the cages again and checks to see if any of the animals need more water.
After she refills the bowls that need refilled, she goes back to the counter and sits back down.
Her thoughts drift to why Mr. Gold was here this morning. She knows that whatever the reason, it probably wasn't good news.
She is pulled out of her thoughts as she hears the ding-dong again meaning that someone had entered.
I hope it isn't Mr. Gold again. She thinks as she turns her attention to the door.
She lets out a sigh of relief when she sees it isn't him.
"Henry, what are you doing here?" she asks curiously, hoping she is not sounding rude. It is just that she is surprised to see him here.
"Well, my 'mom' sometimes picks me up from school, but today is one of the days I usually walk home," he explains, "And I saw you sitting in here and thought I would say hi," he says with a smile, "Is this your shop," he asks as he looks around.
"Yep, this is my family's shop," she confirms, "My sisters, Dad, and I all take turns working it," she explains.
"You know I have walked by this I don't know how many times but have never really looked at it," he says turning his attention back to her, "But when I saw you in here I had to confirm if it was your shop as well as saying hi."
Clara lets out a little laugh. "Want to see my favorite animals?" she asks the boy.
"Sure," he answers as he walks over to her.
"Then follow me," she says walking out from behind the counter.
Clara leads Henry back to where the fish and other creatures are.
"So the fish are your favorite?" he asks as he looks at the different fish in the tanks.
"Yep," Clara answers, "Although I like the turtles and hermit crabs too," she says as she watches Henry look at the different fish.
"Over here," she says, getting Henry's attention and pointing to a shelf full of fish in different bowls, "Are our Betta Fish, we have to keep them in separate bowls or else they would fight each other to the death," she explains, "They are Japanese Fighting Fish."
"Neat," Henry says looking at them, "They are very pretty."
"Yes, they are, the ones with the longer tales are the males and the shorter tails are the females," she explains as she looks at them too.
"You sure know a lot about them," Henry says looking up at her.
"Well, when you work in a pet shop you have to know a little about every animal in order to take care of them," she says, "Want to see the turtles?" she asks him.
He nods his head yes and follows her. They look at the turtles for a little bit and then Clara takes him to the Hermit Crabs.
"What time is it?" Henry asks as they look at the crabs.
"Almost 3:30," Clara answers looking at the clock.
"I have to go," Henry says making his way toward the front of the shop, "I need to get home before she does," Henry explains meaning he needed to be back at the house before Regina is, "Goodbye!" he says as he opens the door.
"Goodbye," Clara says and then watches as he leaves the shop.
Clara goes back to sit behind the counter.
Soon enough it is 7:00 which means it is closing time.
Clara walks to the front of the shop, locks the door, and then shuts all of the lights off and heads up to the apartment.
"Did you sell anything today?" her Dad asks her as she walks into the apartment.
"No," Clara answers.
Her Dad lets out a sigh.
Clara looks at him to see he is rubbing his face with his hand.
"Daddy, are you ok?" she asks him concerned.
"Yeah, I am fine," he says with a forced smile although he really isn't. He has been a mess since Mr. Gold talked to him in the shop this morning.
"Come on into the kitchen, Crystal and Shelly made supper," he says grabbing her shoulder and leading her to the kitchen.
Clara doesn't say anything and lets him lead her to the kitchen. She knows something is wrong and it is killing her that he won't tell her.
After supper they all decide to watch a movie, although Clara didn't really pay attention because she kept on thinking what could possibly be bothering her Dad.
It has to have something to do with Mr. Gold's visit. She thinks as she stares at the TV attempting to watch the movie.
Once the movie is over, they all head to their rooms.
Clara doesn't have to work the shop tomorrow so she decides to read a little bit before she goes to sleep.
After about an hour of reading, Clara sets the book on her night stand and turns off the lamp, then lies down and closes her eyes. Soon enough sleep finds her.
