Chapter 4

One would think that the streets of Storybrooke were safe from predators and burglars. One would also be mistaken for thinking that. Now, I know that it wasn't the best idea to venture out and catch the burglar by myself, but I had to do it, for the amulet.

My mother had died a while back, when I was younger. It was a hard time for my Dad and me. Ever since her death, my Dad had buried himself in work, and made millions, turning a small company into a huge corporation. The amulet was my mother's and was my favourite piece of jewellery that she owned. I treasured it with my heart and soul. I thought it would be safer if I left it at my Dad's mansion in the Heights, but clearly I was mistaken.

Henry was asleep, and promised me that he wouldn't leave his room and go on some strange adventure. So I decided now would be a good time to try to figure out this Height's mystery. I snuck out of my room, and was heading to the door, when suddenly, someone walked inside. Of course Aunt G had to pick now to come home.

"Nicole, what are you doing?" She looked at me confused. People only called me Nicole when they were mad, or thought I was getting myself into trouble, which I did often.

I smiled sheepishly, "I was just, um, uh, going to check to see if you were outside. I saw your lights."

She believed me, "Well I'm home now, you can head back up to bed, your must be tired."

She was right, I was tired. Days in Storybrooke were long. I turned to head back upstairs, then saw a car leaving the driveway, "Who was that?"

"Oh, just the Sheriff. We were going over tonight's events." She smiled a little. I yawned. I was tired. It was time for bed.

And so, I headed upstairs and into my room, and got in my bed. I saw the skeleton key on my dresser and then I remembered.

I forgot to get that book.

The next morning was similar to the morning before. I drove Henry to school, and then headed over to the high school. Today, I matched more in with the crowd. I didn't wear my "business" attire, unless you consider jeans, a sweater, and black pumps business-like.

I got out of the car that morning and stumbled a little on my pumps. The parking lot wasn't paved as nicely as the one at NSS. Then again, no one here wore pumps or stilettos.

Oliver was there again this morning, hanging out with his group of friends. They were laughing about something, and I didn't think he noticed me, so I turned my attention away from him and pulled out my cell phone. I had a text from Carmen.

"Think you can avoid me Legs?" Oliver snuck up behind me. I'll admit, I was a little startled and I jumped the slightest bit. He looked down at my phone, "Ooh, a party. Sounds fun."

I put my phone back in my purse, "I try to avoid you, but everywhere I go, there you are."

He laughed, "Admit it Legs, you like me."

I laughed sarcastically and then turned my head to face him, "Maybe in your next life Ollie."

He smiled, "I can wait." He kissed my cheek then sped off back with his friends. I turned away from him and I blushed. And not a little pink on the top of cheek, I had a huge red flush blush. I pulled back out my cell phone to hide my face. I read my text from Carmen. "Welcome Back Dance Saturday! Know U don't go here anymores but you toats gotta come! Plz Nikki!"

I laughed at her text. I didn't think I had to babysit Henry tomorrow. It was Saturday night, I'm sure he had his own things to do. I texted her back. "For sures! See U Then!"

My blush had calmed down a bit. I looked back at Oliver and his friends. He winked at me. I blushed a little more.

I stopped dead.

What was I doing? Why was I blushing and getting all gooey over some guy? This was not the Nicole McCauley that I knew, that was for sure. Plus, I didn't even like this guy.

I shook my head, and raised my foot to continue walking into the school. Something stopped me. I turned around, holding my books against my chest, then waited for Oliver to give his attention to me.

When he did I yelled at him, "Hey Sherwood. You free this weekend?"

He nodded.

"Wanna party it up in the Heights?"

He looked at me, a little shocked. Then left his friends and quickly walked toward me. "Watch your tongue there, Legs. People around here don't like the Heights."

"How can they not like the Heights? It's fantastic there."

"Wait, wait, wait," His lips grew into a smile, "You're a Heights girl?" He looked like her was going to burst out in laughter, "What are you doing here?"

I looked at him confused, then after figuring out what he meant, I started talking in a high pitched whiny voice, "TBH, I'm exploring my alternate options. Oh and FYI, not all us girls in the Heights flip our hair, talk like this and giggles obsessively." I flipped my hair and turned walking into the school, "Typical."

"Nikki," He didn't follow me. His feet stayed planted where he was. I rolled my eyes. It was so typical that I would find a guy here, and then after he found out I was from the Heights, he wouldn't treat me the same. I wasn't like the other stereotypical Heights girls. Actually, everyone I knew in the Heights wasn't the stereotype that people in Storybrooke thought we were.

I stormed angrily into the school and crashed right into some girl, dropping all my stuff onto the ground. I groaned, and then bent down to pick it all up. To my surprise she knelt down and helped me. I looked at her and smiled. She wasn't the most conservative teenager, that's for certain, well not by the looks of her clothing and her obsession with red. She was probably promoting those teenage vampires.

I picked up the last notebook on the ground and she handed the rest of my stuff to me, "Thanks." I smiled at her.

She smiled, "Your welcome."

I gave her one last thankful smile then headed on my way. Turns out she was going the same way as I was. She walked down the hallway beside me. I looked over at her, "I'm Nicole Mc-," Something stopped me. What if everyone knew who my Dad was? I stopped myself.

"I'm Ruby," She smiled then kept smiling, "What class do you have next?"

"Trig."

"Bummer," She laughed, "I have Literature."

I had arrived at my classroom, "Well have fun."

She gave me one last smile before heading to her literature class. I turned into my Trigonometry Class, sat down in my desk, opened my small notebook that I usually kept in my purse and designated the last page in it for what I was about to do. I wrote down Ruby's name, with some descriptive characteristics beside her on it.

Then, I thought of what those characteristics could compare to a fairytale character. Ruby liked the color red but her choices of clothing and hair extensions and she had that really cool wolf necklace.

Oh my God, I had figured my first character out. Ruby was Red Ridinghood.

In red pen I wrote beside her name, Red Ridinghood and circled it for emphasis. This was fun.