A/N: This chapter's quite short, compared to the other two. And yes, I am writing in the middle of the night again.

It took Emma fifteen minutes to reach the diner. She had expected Snowy and Ruby to be waiting outside the school for her, but after five minutes of waiting, Ruby had texted her, giving general directions. The directions weren't exactly straightforward.

'Left from da skool, up up up, rit at durey lain, up mor, granny's diner x x x'

Emma didn't ask how she had gotten her number.

Soon enough, she arrived at the diner. Funnily enough, the place was actually called 'Granny's Diner.' Snowy and Ruby were sitting across from each other, on a four seated table, near the window. Snowy was the one to spot her first, giving her a bright smile, and gesturing her to come over. Giving a small wave, Emma smiled back, and entered the diner.

Both girls stood when she walked over to the table, and from each one, she received a short hug. Even though Emma wasn't much of a huger, she felt obliged to hug back. Emma pulled up a chair, and sat down.

"So, how are you?" asked Snowy.

"I'm good," replied Emma. "Just a little run down."

"Nothing a little caffeine can't fix!" exclaimed Snowy, standing up.

"Oh, no, just a hot chocolate for me, thanks," said Emma. "I'm not really a coffee person."

"Oh, okay. Rubes?"

"Nah, I'll pass," replied Ruby. "I heard coffee's fattening. And I really wanna watch my weight."

Snowy nodded, and approached the counter. As Ruby sighed under her breath, Emma couldn't help but ask. "Why do you want to watch your weight? Your body's beautiful."

Ruby smiled. "Thanks, Em. It's just my boyfriend…"

"What?"

Biting her lip, Ruby lost eye contact with Emma. "He thinks I'm fat."

"What? Are you kidding me? You're starving yourself just because some ol' British guy wants you to be a size 0?"

"I'm not starving myself, Emma." Her tone was firm, and solid. "I'm only on a diet."

"What have you eaten today?"

Ruby didn't answer.

"Ruby?"

No response.

"Are you saying that you haven't eaten anything all day?"

Silence.

"Oh, my God, Ruby. That's it," Emma stood up in a flash. "I'm buying you a cookie."

"No, Emma, it's really okay," said Ruby.

"What's going on here?" said Snowy, holding a hot chocolate mug and a coffee cup.

"I'm buying Ruby a cookie."

"Oh."

"I'm not hungry!" exclaimed Ruby. "Snow, please tell her."

"Snow, she hasn't eaten anything all day."

Snowy turned to Ruby. "Is that true?"

"Ruby, can I have a word with you in the kitchen?" Emma turned around, and saw an elderly woman with curly hair and an apron. Her arms were folded, and her eyes were trained on Ruby.

Smiling weakly, Ruby nodded. "Yes, Granny."

Practically shoving the table away from her, Ruby stood, and followed her grandmother into the kitchen. Emma was left with a terrible amount of guilt, and a hot chocolate.

Emma and Snowy sipped their drinks in silence. Emma sat where Ruby once was, tapping her fingers against the hot chocolate mug between breaks of sipping. The two pairs of eyes were locked on each others, but no syllable ever left their mouths. One thought that never left Emma's brain was: They're both gonna hate me.

No shouting came from the kitchen. Only quiet, soft words.

"Ruby, you know what I've told you."

"Yes, Granny."

"Never listen to boys-"

"Never listen to boys who only use you for your body."

"Exactly. Because one day, you'll find a boy who will love you for who you are. Not how you look."

"Yes, Granny."

"And, Ruby, you are a beautiful girl. With a beautiful body."

"Thanks, Granny."

"Now, you know I'm only saying these things to protect you."

"Yes, Granny."

"Because I love you."

"Yes, Granny."

"And I don't want you to get hurt."

"Yes, Granny."

"Because one day, Ruby, you're going to wake up, and you'll be a woman. A woman who had to make her own choices."

"Yes, Granny."

"And I'm not going to be around forever."

"Don't talk like that, Granny."

"It's true, though. One day, I'm not going to be around to look over you. So all I'm saying is, try and look after yourself. And think of yourself rather than stupid boys from school. Alright?"

"Alright."

Five minutes later, Ruby exited the kitchen. With a cookie.

She approached the girls' table, with a smile. "Thank you, Emma," she said.

Three cookies later, Ruby's stomach finally set. She gave her final cookie to Emma, who split it with Snowy. Granny always did make the best cookies, but they were so filling. So many chocolate chips. Once Emma had had a bite, she decided that she could probably live off the stuff forever. And Ruby did not once complain about the amount of calories in them.

"So, Emma," Snowy began, mouth full of cookie crumbs. She swallowed, and then wiped her mouth clean. "What do you wanna do when you leave Storybrooke?"

"Uh," Emma considered the question. She hadn't really thought of her future life before. "I don't know. What about you?"

"Snowy's gonna find her Prince Charming, and live happily ever after," interrupted Ruby.

"I know who you're talking about, Ruby," said Snowy. "Charmer and I are just friends."

"Sure," scoffed Ruby. "Just friends."

"Who's Charmer?" asked Emma.

"David Charmer is Snow's true love," said Ruby.

"Shut up!" said Snowy, playfully giving Ruby's arm a shove. "No, David Charmer is my lab partner," said Snowy.

"And he's totally hot," nodded Ruby, while Snow shook her head. "Your words, not mine," she added.

Snowy sighed. "That was sarcasm. Look it up."

"Sure didn't sound like sarcasm when you said it."

Ruby received a light slap on the arm from Snowy. Emma smiled as she watched, giggling to herself.

Ruby turned to Emma. "Last year, he broke his arm, and Snowy signed her name with a heart on the cast."

"Everyone did it!" claimed Snowy.

"With three kisses."

"Oh, for God's-"

"Not one. Not two. Three."

"Ruby-"

"And I recall his Get Well Soon Card. 'Dear Davey, Get Well Soon Baby, You Smell Like Gravy, Call Me Maybe, Snowy xoxo'"

"Right, I'm getting another coffee. Anyone want anything?"

Emma shook her head, still smiling at Ruby's statements.

As soon as Snowy walked up to the counter, Ruby began cackling in fits of laughter. Once she started, she couldn't stop. Emma began to join in; catching the contagious hysterics that Ruby had caught. The two girls just continued laughing, for what seemed like hours, until they both calmed themselves down. They both just looked at each other, sniggering momentarily every once in a while. During those moments in between, a part of Emma just smiled. Proud of how Ruby was still laughing after all the business before. Relieved that she was still her friend, even though she had gotten her in trouble before. Thankful that Ruby was no longer starving herself, and just accepting herself for who she was. And more than anything, happy that she had friends she could trust and care for.

Within an hour, Emma had arrived home. Ms. Swan looked relieved to see her, and asked her how her day was. "Not bad," Emma had replied.

By 9pm, Emma Swan was fast asleep. Sweet dreams, unlike the night before, when nightmares about her new school had haunted her every moment. Now she had completed her first day of her new life, she could relax and have a good night sleep.

However, she didn't. At 3am, Emma was awoken by receiving a text message from her cell phone.

'Keep away from those two,

- Unknown.'