A/N: Hello again! I'd just like to thank you for reviewing/favouriting because it really means the world to me :)
On the Saturday following her second meeting with August 'Wayne' Booth, Emma sat in her room, studying for her upcoming nuclear physics exam. A practice test, but Emma wanted her grades to be as high as possible. Sure, it may have sounded 'geeky', although her mother, Ms. Swan, was stern that Emma should achieve the best grades. Her mother had been the one who loaned her a couple of books that helped her to review. Ms. Swan had always wanted the best for her adoptive daughter.
After an hour or so, Emma's phone beeped. Being engrossed in her work, Emma tried her best to ignore it. When it beeped again and then once more within the same five minutes, she couldn't resist the temptation to check her texts. Her mother always had a strict 'no phones' rule when studying, but Emma rarely followed it. Besides, she had been studying for over an hour. She deserved a break.
Scrolling through her new text messages, she saw that they were all from Ruby.
"saterday is mall dayyy!"
"were r uuu?"
"hury up, the sails r calling me!"
Emma snorted as she pictured the sails of a boat calling Ruby's name. "Ruby! Ruby!" Giggling to herself, she typed a reply.
"Say hello to the 'sails' for me. :)"
She hit send. Oh, how she relished the grammar errors of others.
Emma was unsure whether their friendship was at the stage where it was acceptable to insult each other, without getting offended. But when Emma pressed send, it felt right.
The mall was huge. A whole three floors of nothing but shops, diners, coffee shops, shops, salons, shops, and more shops. In Emma's eyes, a brand new world. In Ruby's eyes, a shopping paradise.
"So, where's Snowy?" Emma asked, as she and Ruby stood in line for coffee.
"Couldn't make it," said Ruby, as they moved up one place in line. "Family business, apparently. Ha, like I actually believe that crap."
"What do you think she's doing?"
"She's obviously hooking up with David Nolan," Ruby tossed her hair back, a wave of red extension flicking over her shoulder. "This is the third Saturday she's stood me up. Pathetic, right?"
Emma just nodded. She didn't want to seem one sided. She didn't really want to have an opinion on the matter.
"I mean, at least if I was hooking up with someone, I'd tell you guys first," said Ruby. "But, no. It seems like she doesn't trust us." They progressed to the counter. "Two lattes, please."
There was a brief silence while they waited for their order.
"Uh… Emma?" Ruby spoke up. She glanced down at her feet, then back to Emma. "I never actually properly thanked you for what happened in the diner. The whole cookie business… You have no idea how good that cookie tasted. It was the first non-low-fat delicacy I'd eaten in weeks. And I just…" Her voice was breaking up, and she wiped her eyes with her thumb. Emma gave her an understanding smile, and stroked her arm, comfortingly. She wasn't the best comforter in the world, but she tried her best.
"I'm sorry, it's just that…" continued Ruby. "I… I broke up with him."
"Killian?"
"Yeah."
"Oh.
"That's where I was on Wednesday lunchtime," nodded Ruby. "The line wasn't really too long. On the way, I saw him. And I told him about how I wasn't happy about my diet. And that I could eat whatever I wanted to."
"Good on you," praised Emma. The order came, and the girls walked over to a table. "What did he say?"
"Nothing," replied Ruby. "He just… walked away."
The girls drank their coffees in silence.
"Leopard skin," said Ruby "has always been my thing."
Emma faked a smile. She had been watching Ruby try on shoes for the last forty minutes. Now, she was modeling a 5 inch heel, leopard skin pair, which were covered in sequins and bows. They were incredibly over the top. Over-the-top was definitely Ruby's style. And definitely not Emma's.
Emma was more of a t-shirt, blue jeans girl. She never wore heels. Sneakers and boots were her thing. Not open toed, leopard print, bright, studded heels.
After what must have been the eighty-ninth pair, Emma was surprised to see Snowy poke her nose through the door. She walked over to the girls, a neutral expression upon her face. Emma was always an expert at reading expressions, but it was impossible to read hers.
Even though she had a smile upon her face, Ruby didn't look too enthusiastic. "Hey, Snowy," she smiled. "Where've you been?"
"Oh, you know…" began Snowy, approaching the girls. "Just… busy."
"Family issues, huh? Been there, done that."
Snowy said nothing. She just sat down next to Emma, and fished her cell phone out of her pocket.
Ruby finally chose a pair of shoes. A bright, magenta pair of heels, with a giant bow at the tips. Emma wasn't sure how much they cost, but at the checkout, she saw Ruby pull out a fifty dollar bill. With that money, Emma could have bought enough food to last her and her mother a week or two. Or something more valuable than just a lame pair of heels. They weren't even that appealing, to be honest, but Ruby seemed to like them.
Even after leaving the shop, Snowy didn't look up from her cell phone. She tapped rapidly at her keyboard, not even blinking. Every now and then, she would ask Emma a question, like what time it was or where they were going next, and Emma always answered with a simple 'I don't know.' Ruby seemed to guide the girls on their way around the Mall. Perhaps if Snowy wasn't frantically typing and bashing her phone keyboard, then she would help guide them too. But now Ruby was in full control, taking the girls to almost every shop in sight.
At the accessories store, Ruby was hunting for a brand new purse. Even though the one she had already was only a week old. "It was a gift from Killy," she claimed. "A part of my heart I need to replace." The act of replacing, in Ruby's mind, was replacing her old purse with a sparkling new one. Literally sparkling, as she eventually chose a black, glittering shoulder bag with a silver chain and golden lining. It cost $45. Emma wondered where Ruby got all of her money from.
When leaving the accessories store, Ruby announced that it was time to grab some frozen yogurt. She guided them to a small café, which was only around the corner. When Emma opened the door, her heart skipped a beat.
There he was. The very boy whom had practically spoiled her first day of high school.
James Charmer was also known as The Charmer. Simply because of his 'charming good looks' and his 'ability to charm a lady in less than five seconds.' James Charmer was the most popular boy in Storybrooke High. Or so he believed.
Thankfully, James hadn't seen them come in. Emma and Snow sat at a table, far far away from The Charmer and his associates. Emma had only recognized one of them- Kathryn, whom was holding a low-fat raspberry fro-yo, laughing her head off at something that James had said. It can't have been that funny. The remainder of those who surrounded James were male.
Unfortunately, Ruby had to walk past the disruptive idiots as she made her way to the counter. She did not go unnoticed.
"Nice hair, Ruby, where'd you get it?" said James. "Your Granny's?"
Laughter from table nine erupted like a volcano.
"Shut up, James," snapped Ruby. "Or I'll tell everyone about what really happened last summer between you and Ashley Boyd."
James' face lost its color. He rose from the table, looking like he was a volcano, ready to erupt, ready to explode… "Who the hell you do you think you are, you little piece of shit?"
As The Charmer's posse began to surround her, her expression didn't seem as confident as it did before.
"Listen here, kid," said James. "I don't know who you think you are, but I don't think that you've forgotten that this is my town, all right?"
Ruby said nothing.
"All right?"
Ruby kept quiet.
"Why, you little…" Within a millisecond, James had raised his fist and Ruby had closed her eyes, preparing for an utter and total knockout. But, another fist had clasped James' just in the nick of time.
"Stop," snapped Kathryn. It took some strength, but she managed to lower James' fist to his side. "Don't do something you'll regret."
Ruby opened her eyes. James' breathing was still heavy and rapid, nevertheless he had obeyed her. Kathryn and Ruby exchanged glances. One half of Ruby was thanking Kathryn, but the other half- the main half- was confused about what had just happened. Without allowing it, a sob escaped her mouth. She could feel the whole room staring directly at her. Judging her. Glancing back at Snowy and Emma, she could see that they were both at their feet, intense, predicting James' next move. Risking a brief glance at James' friends- she couldn't even look at James- she felt victimized and alone. That's what she was. Even though her friends had her back, she was still alone.
With that, Ruby left the diner. Holding nothing more than a new pair of shoes, a new purse and an old, empty feeling.
A/N: RUBY CENTRAL ALERT Oops. Sorry, guys, but I just had to write this chapter. Don't worry, for the next chapter will be Snow-central and in the following chapter we shall meet the character that you have all been waiting for. ;) Anyways, thanks for reading guys!
