A/N: Okay, it's past midnight now, but I just had to finish this. Honestly, I have so many ideas for this story and I just want to sit down and write them all. However, some of them will probably end up down the garbage shoot. I'm really excited for this story, though, so it will be updated quite often.

Five years before the new semester of Storybrooke High School began, eleven year old Emma was adopted. She was adopted by a seemingly lovely couple, Mr and Mrs Duffield. Mr and Mrs Duffield had been married for ten years, and judging by their enthusiasm when entering the adoption agency, those ten years had been great ones. A teacher in her early thirties, Mrs Duffield's choice of bright makeup and curled hair made her look ten years older. Nobody would ever tell her that, of course, because it would be impolite. And nobody would be impolite to Mrs Duffield. Purely because it was impossible. She rarely ever frowned, and always made everyone's day better. Even Mr Duffield's. Mrs Duffield actually made Mr Duffield's life better. Before they met, Mr Duffield was a strong alcoholic, turning to the drink when his mother sadly passed away. He drank 24/7, and it seemed like nothing would stop him. Except Mrs Duffield. She made him better again, and encouraged him to stop drinking. Mr Duffield was now eleven years sober.

As the years went by, Emma Duffield began to treat her adopted parents as if they were her own. Which she had never known. But it felt good to be loved and treated in the way that she should, instead of just being another lousy kid at an orphanage. After finishing elementary school, Emma was home-schooled by Mrs Duffield. It was easier, and it enabled her to be closer to her daughter.

However, a few days after Emma turned sixteen, tragedy struck. Mr Duffield's beloved sister died in car crash. After the funeral, Mr Duffield turned back to the alcohol. Mr Duffield was the same man he was sixteen years before. Drunken, unstable and angered. After staggering home at 4am one night, Mrs Duffield finally exploded. After half an hour of screaming, and shouting, Mrs Duffield threw Mr Duffield out. Emma Duffield heard every word. She was frightened. Even after the five years she had lived with her adoptive parents, they had never argued like this before.

A few nights later, Mr Duffield returned. Even though Mrs Duffield had had the locks changed, Mr Duffield could barely make it to the keyhole. He was shaking violently, screaming his apologies in an unsteady form. He stayed there for 12 hours straight. Two months later, the house was empty.

Two hundred miles away, Mrs Duffield and Emma had moved to a part of America where nobody would ever find them. They had begun a new life, together. Mother and daughter. Mrs Duffield had decided to stop home-schooling Emma. She decided that in order for Emma to have a proper life, she had to attend a public school and have a social life. Emma agreed, and began to prepare for her first day at Storybrooke High School.

Emma sat shotgun, in her mother's old pickup truck. Technically, it was her father's, but her father didn't need it anymore. Nor could he obtain it. Besides, in his state, Emma doubted he would ever be able to drive properly again. Mrs Duffield (or Ms. Swan, as she preferred to go by now) placed a free hand on her daughters knee, and gave her a comforting smile.

"Nervous?" she asked her.

"Just a little," Emma replied.

"Don't be," Ms. Swan replied. "It'll be fine. Everyone will love you."

"Mom, it's a high school. I doubt everyone will love me."

Ms. Swan gave a small laugh. "Honey, don't worry. You'll fit in fine, you'll see."

The journey came to an end, as the car parked, and Emma's heart began to beat faster.

She shook her head rapidly. "Mom, are you sure I can't have just one more year of home-schooling? Please?"

"Emma, I'm only doing what's best for you," replied Ms. Swan. "Honestly."

Emma knew that. She knew that her mother loved her. She knew she was only doing what was best for her. But even still, she didn't want to go.

After attempting her best puppy dog eyes, and pouting her lip, Emma sighed. She'd lost. She had to go to public school.

Groaning in defeat, Emma stepped out of the car.

"Bye honey," said Ms. Swan. "I love you."

Without replying, Emma slammed the car door shut, and Ms. Swan drove away. Turning around, Emma gazed upon the great building that was Storybrooke High School. It wasn't what she expected. For starters, she had expected tons of teenagers to be surrounding the building. Except there were none. Swiftly, she checked her watch. Well, she wasn't late. Where was everybody?

Within that second, the outside bell rang, and Emma hurried into the building. Well, I've found the kids, she thought.

The hallway was full of teenagers. Talking. Yelling. Texting. Screaming. Laughing. Shouting. Yawning. Breathing. So much cramped space, and barely room to walk. Completely different to what Emma was used to.

"Haven't seen you 'round here before," a voice said. Emma turned to her left and saw a dark haired boy staring at her, standing at the entrance of another hallway. He was around sixteen, and had blue eyes.

"Uh, no," replied Emma. "I just moved here from Boston."

"Oh," replied the boy. "Then I suggest you stay out of trouble around here."

"Um, okay. Sorry, what's your name?"

"What's yours?"

"Emma."

"Nice you meet you, Emma." The tone in his voice didn't seem too ecstatic. "Does anything follow that?"

"Uh, Swan."

"Emma Swan." He paused, testing the words on his tongue. "Interesting."

"Thanks." It was the first time she'd ever used the surname, and strangely, it fitted.

"You're welcome. I don't suppose you'd want a tour of the school, do you?"

"No thanks, I think I'm okay."

"Good," The boy looked her up and down, and gave something like a smile. "You're a brave girl."

"Oh, thanks."

"You really need to widen your vocabulary. Is 'thanks' the only word you know?"

"No."

"Good. See you around."

And with that, he turned around and walked away.

"Hey!" Emma yelled. "I didn't catch your name."

"That's because I didn't throw it!" the boy replied, without turning back.

Emma sighed. She's lost any hope of even an acquaintance. Even if it was a creepy person, who wouldn't reveal his identity. Luckily, Emma was saved by the bell, and she hurried off to her first lesson.

She fished out her timetable out of her purse. First lesson was English. Great. A topic she sucked at. She found the room quicker than she had expected, and sat at the first empty desk that she saw, which just so happened was at the front. Taking out her pen and workbook, she tried her best to stay calm. It was only an English lesson, for crying out loud. How hard could it be?

"Hey, slut!"

Oh, shit.

"Hey, slut, I'm talking to you!"

A fist slammed down onto Emma's desk, making her jump out of her skin. She gazed up, and her eyes met with a fair haired boy. He was pale, sweating, eyes full of anger.

"Are you deaf? Are you seriously deaf? Can you hear me? You're in my seat, you stupid hoe."

A mixture of fear, panic and horror ran through Emma's brain. What was happening? What had she done? Why was this dude yelling at her?

"Look, slut, I'm getting angry now." You don't say, Emma thought. "And when I'm angry, I'm not the nicest person in the world."

"Alright, James, that's enough…" A blonde girl placed a hand on his shoulder.

"No, Kathryn, it's not!" roared James. "This little slut is…"

"Actually, I think that it is quite enough now, James." James, Kathryn and the rest of the little crowd that had formed all turned to the front of the classroom, where a fifty-something man stood. He stood firm, but his expression seemed relaxed. He was holding a cane in his left hand, and kept it firm in front of him with his right.

"But, sir…" James began.

"No excuses, James. Or would you like to retake another sophomore year?"

"No, sir."

"Good. Sit down. All of you."

The students sat down, and James shot Emma an unpleasant glare, before taking a seat two rows behind her.

"Alright, students," the teacher began. "My name is Mr. Gold. I am to be your English teacher for the remainder of the year. Problem?" A pause. "No? Good. I am generally a nice man, as long as you don't get on my bad side. Do you want to get onto my bad side?" Another pause. "No? Good. Because that wouldn't be very good, would it? Now. I understand we have a new student." Mr Gold glanced at Emma.

"Uh, yeah," nodded Emma. "Should I…?" She lifted herself partly off her chair, and Mr Gold nodded. Emma stood, and turned around to the class. "Uh, hi, I'm Emma Swan. I just moved here from Boston, and…" The sight of James' glaring distracted her for a moment. "And… yeah. Thanks." Emma sat back down, embarrassed and red in the face.

"Thank you, Emma," Mr Gold nodded. "And welcome to Storybrooke High."

A/N: You can probably guess who that guy in the hallway was. If not, you may want to look at the last quote that he said, then rewatch Season 1 *winkwink* Anyways, this is the first proper chapter of the story. I started it at 9pm, and just finished it ten minutes ago. Okay, maybe I was distracted somewhere in the middle (maybe James was glaring at me ooh) but still! Next chapter will either be tomorrow, or Thursday. Depends if I'm up to it. Thanks guys!