Monday morning came pretty fast for Emma, but she was ready to start school. Over the weekend Mary took Emma to meet some new people, and Emma got to meet Mary's boyfriend David. It had been a good weekend for her in a long time, and she was more than happy here with her sister and new family.

Emma came downstairs to join everyone for breakfast once dressed for school, which took her a while. She decided to wear dark jeans, a white long sleeve shirt, red leather jacket, and brown boots. She grabbed her backpack and went down stairs for breakfast. Mary was happy to see Emma looking so happy today, and they ate rather quickly so they would have time to get Emma registered.

At Storybrooke High Mary went to meet David while Emma went with Leo and Ava to get things settled. Emma was a bit nervous but she was not letting it show at all as she went to the office with her new parents. She got everything settled and got her locker number and combination, and her class list. Once Emma was ready to start she said goodbye to Ava and Leo saying that she will see them later.

Emma walked off looking for her locker, and finally found it after a few minutes. She went in and opened it putting the books she got for her classes from the office inside. She was looking over her class list seeing that she had English class first, and then she had science, history, lunch, math, and then P.E. She was quite excited about it and she was smiling hugely lost in her own world, and she didn't notice the guy standing next to her at his own locker.

He had longer hair than she usually see's on boys, dressed in dark jeans, and a blue dress shirt tucked in. Emma smiled at him, and he gave her a small grin. Emma thought he was kind of cute, but she didn't know if she should say anything, so she just kept doing what she was doing. The guy looked at Emma once his locker was opened and decided to find out just who this girl was.

"Hello, I don't believe I've seen you around before." The boy said

"I just moved here Friday morning, my name is Emma. I got adopted by Ava and Leo, my sister is Mary Margaret." Emma said

"Oh yes the Blanchard's, I know of them but I don't hang around as much so I don't know them that well. I'm Richard Gold" He introduced

"Oh, um hi." Emma said

"So I take it you've heard about me then luv?" Richard asked

"Uh just a bit." Emma said

"Well then I am sure you already have your opinion of me then?" Richard asked again

"I don't judge a person on what I hear around town. I prefer to judge on my own terms thank you very much." Emma said

"Well based on what you heard, I can't imagine you would want to spend time with me. I am not a good guy." Richard said

"We will just have to see about that." Emma said closing her locker and walking off.

Richard stared after her just impressed with this girl, and he felt like for just a moment that someone didn't think the worst of him.

Emma was getting on great in school so far, and she had made a couple of friends in her classes. She was really liking the small town life honestly, and she never thought she would. At lunch she rand into Richard again when she was getting her lunch out of her locker.

"Hello again Emma. How are you liking your first day at Storybrooke High?" He asked

"It is going great actually. I've made some new friends, and now I am going to eat a homemade lunch with my sister." Emma said happily

"Well that is great to hear, it sounds like you are enjoying it here." He pointed out

"Yeah I haven't enjoyed myself in a while. So how is your day going so far?" Emma asked

"Alright I suppose. Everyday for me feels like the same." Richard replied

"Oh well that sounds bleak." Emma said

"Well my life is not a fairytale, and I just live life the best way I know how." Richard said

"Living the way I did the past couple years it taught me that no matter what things could get worse, and when they do get worse just focus on the positive to get you out. There is always at least one positive in your life." Emma said

"I suppose there is, but that is a very philosophical answer for a sixteen year old girl whose biggest concern would be boys." Richard quipped

"Yes, well boys aren't really a good mix when I am concerned. They always seem to just ruin my life some how." Emma said sadly

Before Richard could ask about that further, Mary called over for Emma. Emma smiled at Richard and said she would see him at the end of the day back at the lockers. Mary was giving Emma a strange look for talking to Richard, but didn't say anything on the matter.

The day went on pretty well for Emma and she even got a sweet goodbye from Richard at the end of the day. Emma went back home and started right away on her homework, and then after a couple of hours she heard a knock at the door. Mary came in carrying a bottle of water for her and Emma, and took a seat on Emma's bed. Emma turned around in her chair and looked at her sister.

"What's on your mind sis?" Emma asked

"Just wondering how you liked Storybrooke High, and all the people there?" Mary asked

"I really liked it, and the people were great." Emma said

"Everyone was nice to you? Nobody offended you?" Mary asked again

"What? Why would anyone... Oh this is because you saw me talking to Richard isn't it?" Emma asked

"It's just he doesn't talk much to people and nobody really likes him." Mary said

"How can people know if they like him or not if they don't talk to him?" Emma said

"I am just looking out for you Emma." Mary said

"I appreciate that, I really do. The pass two years I've taken care of myself and that has made me a pretty good judge of character. Richard is lonely that is all, his father runs his life by what you told me. So I think people are afraid of his father, and that results in Richard not having any friends." Emma said

"Wow. My little sister got wise didn't she?" Mary laughed

"Yes, she did. Next time you want to know something, all you have to do is directly ask me about it." Emma said

"Fine. I am glad you like school though, all your classes are good?" Mary asked

"Yeah they are pretty good, English and history are my favorites though. I got to say you have much cuter boys here in Storybrooke than in Boston." Emma joked

"Well that is our towns slogan 'come for the food, stay for the boys'" Marry laughed

Emma and Mary sat and talked for a while longer until Ava called them down for dinner. Emma really enjoyed living here, and she was glad that she was starting to make friends in this town. The one who had her intrigued was Richard Gold, because he seemed like such a sweet guy, but the town seemed to look down on him. Emma swore that she would get to the center of the real Richard Gold if it was the last thing she did.


AN/ Thanks for the reviews on this story! Please R&R this chapter, and I hope you enjoy it.