A/N: Thank you all so much for the alerts, reviews, and favorites :) I really would appreciate it and would like if you would continue to do so. Hope you enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or any other fairytale characters that have been created and have had profit made from them.
Chapter 4
Clara wakes to the sound of her alarm and sighs as she sits up in bed.
She looks at the clock to see it is 7:00AM. The only reason she is up this early, is because she had told Sierra she would work the shop with her. Yeah, she already worked her day, but this way she could hang out with Sierra.
Not wanting to move yet, Clara lies back down and stares at the ceiling.
Yesterday had been absolutely boring. After breakfast, she went to her room and pretty much did exactly what she is doing now. She had come out of her room for lunch and supper, and played a few board games with her sister, but that had been about it. Sierra and her had hung out in Sierra's room for a little bit, and that is when she had said she would work the shop with her.
She continues to stare at the ceiling and her thoughts begin to drift to the boy she had met yesterday morning. She can't seem to get him out of her head.
You are probably never going to see him again, so stop thinking about him! She thinks frustrated.
She sighs and glances at her clock to see it is now 7:30.
Better start getting ready. She thinks as she sits up and throws the covers over her.
She then proceeds to swing her legs over the edge of the bed and stands up.
She stretches, then walks over to her closet, grabs a shirt, and then grabs a pair of jeans from her dresser.
She quickly changes out of her night clothes and into the clothes she picked out, which are a blue V-neck half sleeved shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans.
Once she is dressed ,she exits her room and makes her way to the bathroom.
I wonder if Sierra will be in there. She thinks as she reaches the bathroom.
The door is open and the lights are off, so she enters the bathroom and closes the door behind her.
After she finishes up in the bathroom, she exits and makes her way back to her room.
When she makes it to her room, she opens the door, steps in, and then closes it.
She glances at the clock on her bedside table to see it is now 7:45.
Hmm, might as well go wait in the kitchen for Sierra. She thinks and then exits her room.
Once she makes it to the kitchen, she takes a seat at the table and rests her head on her hand.
I wonder what Sierra is doing? She thinks as she begins to tap her nails on the table. Hopefully she didn't fall back to sleep. I was actually surprised she wasn't in the bathroom getting ready when I had gone. She thinks as she continues to absent mindedly tap her nails against the table.
She looks at the clock on the stove to see that it is now, 7:52.
Sierra better hurry up, we have to be down there by 8:00. Clara thinks as she stares at the wall and continues to tap her nails. Her thoughts once again, begin to drift back to the boy she had met.
Stop thinking about him! She mentally orders herself.
"Alright, I am ready. Let's go!" Sierra says running into the kitchen, breaking Clara out of her thoughts.
Clara quickly gets up from her seat and follows Sierra to the door that leads to the stairs, which lead to the shop.
As soon as Sierra has it open, she runs down the stairs, leaving Clara to close the door.
Once Clara closes the door, she hurries down the stairs to catch up with Sierra, but Sierra is already in the shop by the time Clara reaches the bottom of the stairs.
Clara steps into the shop and then closes the door behind her.
"Yes! Right on time!" She hears Sierra exclaim from the front of the shop.
Clara walks to the counter and looks at the clock, and sure enough it is 8:00AM exactly.
"What took you so long?" Clara asks as Sierra walks over to her.
"Well I had been up at 6:45 and had gotten ready by 7:15," she starts as she moves to stand behind the counter. "And I still had like a half hour to kill, so I decided to read. I was so caught up in the book that I lost track of time," she explains.
"Oh," Clara says and then laughs. "I thought you might have fallen back asleep."
"Nope, but I learned I shouldn't read before work," she says with a smile.
"We should probably start feeding the animals and cleaning their cages," Clara suggests after a few minutes.
"Yeah, you are probably right," Sierra says and then sighs. "You take the fish, turtles, and ferrets. I will take the hermit crabs, hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits. We can both do the snakes, lizards, and birds," she says as they walk back to the closet with all the supplies.
Clara grabs the fish and turtle food first, since those animals are by each other.
After she is finished with them, she then proceeds to feed the ferrets and clean out their cage.
She glances at Sierra and sees that she is still working on the hamsters, guinea pigs, and rabbits, so she decides to start feeding and cleaning the cages of the other animals left.
Once they are done feeding and cleaning all of the animals' cages they put the supplies back into the closet and then make their way back to the counter.
When they reach the counter they both glance at the clock to see it is 9:10.
"That is my least favorite part of working in the shop," Sierra says while taking a seat behind the counter.
Clara remains in front of it and leans on it. "Yeah, well, that is what you have to do when you work a pet shop," Clara states matter-of-factly.
"Unfortunately," Sierra says with a sigh.
There is a silence after that and both just stare out the window.
"So what book were you reading?" Clara asks after a while breaking the silence.
"Umm… The Phantom of the Opera," she answers.
"I love that book!" Clara exclaims with a smile. "Right now I am reading Lock and Key."
"I have seen that on our bookshelf but have never felt the need to read it," Sierra says.
"You should, it is really good," Clara says enthusiastically.
"Maybe, after I finish reading Phantom and you are done reading it," Sierra says.
"Ok," Clara says, happy that she is considering it because it really is a good book.
"I wonder what Marie is cooking for breakfast?" Sierra says, changing the subject.
"I don't know," Clara says with a shrug.
It is silent again but neither of the girls care or make a move to talk.
Clara's thoughts again, drift back to that boy.
"Ok, class, before you go to lunch, I would like to discuss something with you," Mary Margaret starts.
The kids just look at her waiting for her to continue, while wondering what she could possibly want to talk about.
"I was thinking about getting a class pet, like a fish or a hamster," she explains, "It will teach responsibility because each week someone will be assigned to take care of it during recess," she explains further, "Either for the whole recess or only part depending on what I decide to get, but I am only going to do it if you think it is a good idea and will promise to take care of it," she finishes and looks at the class waiting to see what they will say.
"I think it would be a neat idea," Henry quickly inputs.
If she wants to get a pet, that means she will have to go to Clara's family's shop. I don't know of any other pet shops in town. He thinks. I could ask Ms. Blanchard which pet shop she is planning on going to if she does get a pet just to make sure. Then maybe I could talk her into letting me come with her so I can see if Clara is working again. He ponders.
"I think so, too!" Paige says excitedly after a few minutes.
The rest of the class nods their heads in agreement.
"Ok then, it is settled," Mary Margaret says with a smile. "You are all dismissed for lunch," she says, and then the kids start filing out of the classroom, all but Henry.
"Ms. Blanchard," Henry says as he approaches her desk.
Mary Margaret looks up from the papers she was grading upon hearing his voice.
"Henry, what can I do for you?" She asks.
"Umm, well, I was wondering, are you going to Shore's Pet Shop to get the pet?" he questions.
"Yes, why?" she asks, with a raised eyebrow, curious as to why Henry would possibly want to know.
Henry quickly explains about how he met Clara. "And I want to see if she is working today," he finishes.
"I would love for you to accompany me, but I don't think your mother would like the idea very much," Mary Margaret reasons.
"She won't even have to know. She is not picking me up from school today and as long as I am home before 5:00 it will be ok," Henry counters. Usually it is 4 but she said that she wasn't going to be home until 5:00 so that gives him a little longer than usual.
Mary Margaret thinks for a moment. Even though Regina isn't picking him up from school, I really don't want to chance running into her, especially while I am with Henry, and that would be what would happen. She would manage to pop up and find us.
"Please," Henry says breaking her out of her thoughts.
"Henry, I don't think…." but she stops as she looks at his pleading face, "Fine, you can come with me," she decides.
"Thank you!" Henry says happily.
"You're welcome, now you better get to lunch," she orders, but not harshly.
"Ok," Henry says and with that he exits the room and makes his way to the cafeteria.
Once he is in the cafeteria and gets his food, he takes a seat at one of the tables in the corner and gets his fairytale book out of his book bag.
He opens it up to the story he had found yesterday and flips through it again. Today, if Clara was working, which he doesn't honestly know if she will be since she was working Monday and today is only Wednesday. She had said that her father and her siblings, which he believes are all sisters, and with how many he thinks she may have, it is very unlikely that she will be working today. If she is working, however, he wants to see if he can find something that will confirm his suspicion.
And if she is not working, I will either stop by this weekend, or again on Monday, or maybe I will just ask whoever is there when she works. He thinks as he takes a bite of his food and continues to flip through the story. If she is there, however, and I confirm who she is, I will have to make a stop by the police station to tell Emma. Speaking of Emma, I will have to introduce her and Clara, but when. He wonders.
"Lunch time!"
Sierra and Clara turn their attention to the back of the shop where they see Melanie walking toward them with food.
"What did Crystal make?" Sierra asks curiously.
"Pulled chicken sandwiches and fries," Melanie answers as she reaches them.
"Mmm, yummy," Sierra says as Melanie sets the food on the counter.
"Mmmhmm," Clara agrees.
"Well, I better get back upstairs before they start eating without me," Melanie says and then walks back to the back of the shop to the stairs.
Once she is out of sight, Sierra and Clara begin to eat.
As Clara takes a bite of her food, she glances at the clock to see it is 1:30.
This day is going so slow. She thinks as she takes another bite.
"This is so good," Sierra says with a mouthful of food, after a few minutes.
"Yeah, it is," Clara agrees with a smile.
"Even so, I still wish we would have decided to go to Granny's," Sierra says and then takes another bite.
"Yeah, but I didn't want to risk getting caught and by the time you had mentioned about lunch it was already 1:00, and I figured Crystal would have lunch ready soon anyway," Clara reasons.
"I guess so," Sierra agrees with a sigh.
"Yep," Clara says and then finishes up her food and so does Sierra.
"Ok, class, you are dismissed, see you tomorrow and don't forget tomorrow you will get to see your class pet," Mary Margaret says as she opens the door so the students can exit the room.
Henry stays at his desk until all of the students are gone and then walks over to the door where Mary Margaret is standing.
"We will leave in a minute, Henry, just let me grab my purse and jacket and then we will go," Mary Margaret says as she makes her way to her desk.
"Ok." Henry says as he stands by the door and watches her.
Within a few minutes she has everything she needs and they exit the classroom and make their way out of the building toward her car.
Once they reach her car, Henry hops in the passenger's seat, closes the door, and buckles up. Mary Margaret is in the car a few seconds after.
"So you met this girl after she dropped all of her grocery items and you helped her pick them up?" Mary Margaret questions trying to start a conversation as she starts up her car and begins to drive.
"Yeah," Henry says, "And then the next day when I was walking by the shop I saw she was in there and decided to say hi and learned that she worked there along with her family."
"What did you say her name was again?" she asks.
"Clara Shore," Henry answers.
"Hmm, I don't think I have ever met her but I have heard that last name before," Mary Margaret says.
"Well, she is really nice, I am sure you will like her," Henry says as they reach her shop and Mary Margaret parks the car.
Once it is parked they exit, and make their way to the shop. As they get closer to the shop Henry sees that Clara is in there as well as someone else.
Hmm, that must be one of her sisters. He thinks. And I wonder if she is working or just hanging out. He wonders as he and Mary Margaret enter the shop.
Clara and Sierra turn their attention to the front of the shop after hearing the ding-dong which means someone had entered.
Clara smiles when she sees it is Henry but looks curiously at the woman with him who is definitely not his mother.
"Hi, Clara!" Henry says as he and the woman make their way over to them.
"Hi, Henry," she says with a smile. "Who do you have with you?" she asks curiously.
"This is my school teacher, Ms. Blanchard," he introduces.
"Hi, my name is Mary Margaret," she says and holds out her hand to shake.
Clara shakes it. "Hi, I am Clara and this is my sister, Sierra," Clara introduces.
"Hi," Sierra says and she and Mary Margaret shake hands.
"And Sierra this is Henry, Henry this is Sierra," Clara introduces.
"You are the mayor's son right?" Sierra questions as they shake hands.
"Yep," Henry answers. "So are you working today or just hanging out down here with her?" Henry asks Clara.
"I am helping her work, but it is her turn today," Clara explains. "So what can we do for you two?" she questions.
"Well, I was looking to get a pet for the class," Mary Margaret answers.
"That's cool," Sierra says with a smile.
"What were you thinking about getting?" Clara questions.
"Either a fish or a hamster, and I was hoping you could tell me what goes into taking care of them," She answers with a smile. "I have never had an animal before."
"Well, I will start by saying hamsters are harder to take care of than fish. They need more attention and more of everything in general," Clara says and motions for them to follow. Sierra hops out from behind the counter and follows behind.
She doesn't mind that Clara is taking the costumers, and this is because she actually seems to know the boy.
I will have to ask her how she knows him. She thinks as they stop at the hamsters.
"These are the hamsters," Clara says as she points at the cage.
"Aww, they are so cute!" Mary Margaret exclaims as she looks at them.
"What kind of fish were you thinking about getting?" Clara asks Mary Margaret as she continues to look at the hamsters.
"I am not sure, umm, I am not even sure what which animal I want yet," she answers honestly. "What is your personal preference between the two?" she questions curiously, turning her attention away from the hamsters.
"I would have to say I would rather have a fish, a Betta Fish to be exact. Fish are my favorite animals but I would have to say I find Betta Fish the prettiest," Clara answers.
"Can you show me where those are?" she asks politely.
"Sure," Clara says and they all follow her. She listens as Mary Margaret continues to ask questions.
"What do you think, Henry? Which do you think would be better for the class?" Mary Margaret asks him as they walk to the fish.
"I am not sure. Clara is right, though, the Betta Fish are pretty. She had shown them to me the one day I was in here," Henry answers.
"What about you?" she asks Sierra.
"I am with my sister on this one. I would rather have a fish," Sierra replies.
"You said they were easier to take care of then the hamsters?" She asks Clara as they stop at the Betta Fish.
"Yes," Clara responds. "You only have to feed them once a day and make sure you clean their bowls out when they need it," she explains, "They don't need to be played with and cuddled like hamsters."
"Hmmm," Mary Margaret says as she studies the fish. "Since it is their first class pet, maybe I should start with a fish," she muses out loud, "Ok, I will get a fish!" she decides.
"Ok," Clara says with a smile, "Which one do you like? They come with the bowls and after you have one picked out I will get the other items you will need and explain what you have to do," Clara says.
"What do you think, Henry? Which do you like the best?" Mary Margaret asks him.
"How about, this one," Henry answers pointing to one that is teal and aqua.
"That one is very pretty," Mary Margaret comments. "Alright, I will take this one," she decides.
"Ok, great!" Clara says excitedly, she is also really happy that they are making a sale, "Sierra will take it up front and I will show you what you will need and explain to you how to take care of it," Clara says as Sierra takes the fish and walks to the front of the store.
"Sounds great," Mary Margaret says with a smile.
Once Clara is finished explaining to her what all goes into taking care of it and what needs to be done, they walk to the front of the store to the counter so she can pay.
Clara glances at the clock to see it is 3:45.
"Thank you so much for your purchase and enjoy," Sierra says as she hands Mary Margaret her change.
"You're welcome and thank you both for your help," she says sincerely.
"You're welcome," Sierra and Clara chorus.
"Alright, Henry, let's go, I will drive you home," Mary Margaret says as she walks to the door.
"No, that is ok, thank you for letting me come here with you, but I want to talk to Clara and I can walk home," Henry says.
Mary Margaret thinks for a moment. He seems to know the girl well enough and his house it not too far away.
"Ok," she says, "But please be careful on your way home."
"I will," he promises.
"Goodbye," she says to him, "And thanks again and goodbye Clara and Sierra," she says as she opens the door.
"Goodbye, it was nice meeting you," Clara says and Sierra nods her agreement.
"You, as well," she says and then she is out the door.
"So what do you want to talk about Henry?" Clara asks as she walks over to him.
"Actually, can we take a walk and talk?" he suggests.
"Well, umm, you see, I am not really allowed out of the shop," Clara explains.
Henry is about to ask why, but Sierra cuts him off.
"Go ahead, I will cover for you if anyone comes down," Sierra says.
"Thank you," Clara says gratefully.
"It's no problem and you're welcome," She says with a smile. "But don't be gone for too long."
"I won't. Come on, Henry," she says as she opens the door to the shop.
She holds the door open for Henry and once he is out she let's go of the door.
"So what do you want to talk about?" She asks as they begin walking down the sidewalk.
"Actually, I want to ask you some questions," he says.
"Oh?" Clara says with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, one of them being, why are you not allowed out of the shop?"
"Actually, neither my sisters nor I are allowed out of the apartment or the shop unless Daddy says otherwise," she explains, "One of the reasons is because he is overprotective and he has been like that since my mother died and that is understandable because it was tragic and he doesn't want the same thing to happen to us," she answers, "But I almost feel as if there is another reason too," she says going into thought but then adds, "But I still sneak out sometimes."
"Oh, I am sorry to hear that," Henry says referring to the fact that her mother is dead.
"Thank you," Clara says with a sad smile.
He wants to ask how she died, but he can see she is sad so he decides to ask a different question.
"How many sisters do you have?"
"Six, and I am the youngest out of all of them," she answers.
She wonders why he is asking all of these things, but she figures he is just trying to get to know her.
"Wow, you were right, you do have a big family," he comments.
"Yeah, but we keep each other company so it is nice," she says as she looks around.
"Do you like water?" Henry questions.
Ok that is a little random .She thinks. "Actually, yes I love the water. My Mom and Dad use to take my sisters and me swimming in the lake all the time when we were younger," she answers and then glances at her watch to see it is 4:10. They have been walking for 20 minutes. She had checked her watch before they left and saw it was 3:50.
This doesn't go unnoticed by Henry.
"What time is it?" he asks.
"4:10," Clara answers.
"I have got to go, but first I want to know when the next time you work is. I have someone I would like you to meet," he says.
"It depends, the days are different all the time," Clara answers, "Stop by the shop Saturday if you can, I should know by then because we usually plan out the days on Friday," she says.
I will just tell Melanie what is going on. She thinks.
"Ok, I will see if I can. Will you be working?" he questions.
"No, but I will tell my sister Melanie to expect you," she says.
"Alright, it was nice talking to you again," he says with a smile.
"You too," she says.
"Bye," he says and begins to walk away.
"Goodbye," she calls as she watches his retreating back.
After watching him for a few minutes, she quickly heads back to the shop.
I am positive of who she is now! Henry thinks excitedly as he hurries to the police station to inform Emma.
Once he reaches the police station, he hurries inside.
"Emma, are you here?" he calls as he makes his way to her office.
"Yes," he hears her call. "You look excited," she says as she steps out of her office to see him running toward her.
"I found out who Clara is for sure," he says as he stops in front of her.
"Oh?" she says as they walk into her office.
She takes a seat at her desk and he takes a seat at the chair in front of it.
"Who is she?" she asks playing along.
"She is Ariel, the Little Mermaid," he answers. "I am going to have to introduce you the next time she works. I am finding out this weekend." he says standing up. "I would talk more but I have to get home, see you later Emma," he says as he walks out of her office.
"Bye," she calls and once he is out of sight she shakes her head.
Now he thinks someone is the little mermaid too? She thinks as she resumes looking through some files she had been looking at before he had come. He is one interesting kid.