Chapter 7: The Party (part 1)

"Your mission, if you chose to accept it, is to infiltrate the kids' Halloween Party and crash it." Principal Mills said as she circled around the chair Mr. Gold was sitting in.

"I want you to report everything you see, then send those kids home. Understand?"

"Understood."

"And Gold?" She stopped in front of him and put her hands on his shoulders, looking him dead in the eye. "don't fail me." She gave him a sweet smile and strolled out of his room.

He looked over to the clock. 4:27. The party was at 9 so he had some time to kill. He pulled out the book Miss French had given him and started to read.


"Okay, zip me up."

Snow took the zipper of Ashley's costume and pulled it all the way up. Her friend turned around and she gasped.

"Ashley, You look amazing!"

She was wearing a light blue dress accompanied by see-through plastic heels with her hair up in a bun and a tiara resting on her head.

"Its your majesty." She giggled.

"Whatever."

"What are you wearing?"

Snow went over to her closet and pulled out an all white outfit and a bow.

"I'll be your royal archer."

"I don't think that's a position but okay."

The two laughed and pulled each other in for a hug. They heard a honk from outside as a green dodge challenger pulled up in Snow's driveway.

"Oh crap!"

Snow hurriedly yanked her outfit off the hanger and ran into the bathroom to get changed. Instead of having her hair braided in the back she'd have to settle for having her hair down. She tugged her shirt into place then dashed out.

"Lets go!"

The two ran down the stairs and outside. Regina got out of her seat and lifted it so the girls could get in the back.

"Thanks again for giving us rides." Ashley told Zelena.

Once Regina closed the door, her sister peeled out and got right on the highway. Snow was pretty sure she was speeding but decided not to say anything.

"So what are you guys wearing?"

"We're witches."

"Oh, so are you guys going to compete in the partner costume contest?"

"Of course we are!"

Snow mouthed "oh" and was quiet for the rest of the drive.

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"How do I look?"

"Like you're going to freeze. Ruby, you gotta wear more than that."

"Wear a coat over my outfit? Are you crazy?"

Ruby huffed and put the cookies she had been making into the oven. The doorbell rang and she darted out to answer it.

"Snow!"

"Rub- uh... what are you wearing?"

"My thoughts exactly." Granny said over Ruby's shoulder.

Ruby sighed and rolled her eyes. "I'm Little Red Riding Hood."

"I don't remember her skirt being that short." Regina mumbled.

"Or her shirt being that tight." Zelena added.

"Whatever." Ruby half-whispered and walked back into the kitchen.

"So where's everyone else?"

"Not here yet."

Snow looked over to Regina and Zelena who went over to the couch in the den to start watching A Nightmare on Elm Street. She sighed and went over to sit with them.

"Did we come early?"

"Only by a few minutes." Zelena informed her.

"People like to show up fashionably late." Regina assured her.

"Okay..."

Ashley and Ruby came in with some bags of popcorn and the five watched the movie as Granny prepared the other food. Halfway into the movie, Regina threw a pillow at Snow who screamed every time Freddy appeared.

"I can't help the fact that he's so scary!"

"Well maybe if spoiled brats like you kept your mouth closed, Freddy would never haunt people in the first place!"

"You're taking his side on this?!"

Regina glared at the younger girl and Ashley tugged on Zelena's sleeve.

"What's going on?"

"When Regina was ten she told us she was having a sleepover at Snow's and Snow was going to tell her parents that she was staying at my house. The two ended up sneaking out to the fair that was in town and when they got back, Snow told Eva everything."

"Freddy abused children. He got what he deserved. The teens shouldn't be punished anymore than they were as children."

"Snow, if I die before you, I swear I will haunt your ass."

Snow was about to continue arguing but before any words escaped her mouth, Granny slapped a hand over it and dragged the girl into the kitchen. She thrust a rolling pin into her hands and pointed at the pizza dough on the table. Snow gave her a confused look.

"Trust me, you don't want to get into an argument with that girl. It's not worth it. Plus I couldn't stand your constant screaming."

Snow whimpered and started working on the food.

After some time rolling, she looked up at the clock. 8:47. They had been here for almost an hour. She walked into the den and tapped Zelena on the shoulder.

"I thought you said we were a few minutes early, we've been here for an hour."

The sisters looked up at Snow simultaneously, Regina glaring still.

"Our mother doesn't let us watch horror movies. She thinks they'll give us nightmares which will lead to not getting enough sleep which will lead to staying home from school and ruining our perfect attendance. We come to the party early every year so we can watch some movies first."

"Why didn't you just say that before?"

"Why does it matter?" Regina snapped.

Snow just hurried back into the kitchen.


"Party Rock is in the house tonight! Everybody just have a good time. And we gonna make you lose your mind. We just wanna see you... shake that!"
"Everyday I'm shufflin'!"

The music was blaring over the speakers as all the teens were dancing to the beat. Snow was on her way to the snack bar when she was bumped into by a knight in shining armor.

"David!"

"Sorry! It's a bit hard to move in this!" He yelled so she could hear him over LMFAO.

"Its okay! I'm pretty surprised you showed up, I didn't think this was your kind of party!"

"Same with you!"

"WHY ARE YOU YELLING?!" A voice screamed right next to Snow's ear.

"It's hard to hear over the music!" David replied and Snow nodded in agreement, rubbing her ear.

"OH, OKAY. I'LL LET YOU GUYS GET BACK TO YOUR DATE!"

"We're not together!" Snow informed the girl.

"WELL YOU GUYS SHOULD BE. YOU'RE PRETTY CUTE TOGETHER!"

"Okay..." Snow really didn't know how to respond to that and David just blushed. The song switched and the girl took it as her cue to leave.

"SEE YOU LOVEBIRDS AROUND!" She headed back into the crowd and an embarrassed silence swept over the two. It was broken a few moments later when they heard the girl scream, "AYY SEXY LADY!" and they started laughing.

"Well, that was awkward."

"Yeah. So, did you come here with anyone?"

"Just my friends. I was supposed to go with someone else but he didn't show up."

"Well, do you wanna go dance?"

"With you?"

"I guess?"

"Sure."

He released the breath he had been holding in but his face still felt a little hot. He had planned on getting his mom to pick up Snow so they could go together but then he heard about the no parent rule so he had to bail at the last minute. The two made their way to the center of the dance floor and mumbled to the tune of the Korean song.

"HEY GIRL!"

"Hey Tink!"

The two girls pulled each other into a hug and almost spilled their "Kool-Aid" all over each other.

"What are you doing here?"

"JUST BECAUSE I GRADUATED IT DOESN'T MEAN I CAN'T GO TO PARTIES!"

"First, stop yelling. Second, it's nice to see you in person again."

"I knew you'd miss me!"

"Nice costume."

Tink was dressed up like Cupid which was a nice change from the green fairy outfit she usually wore.

"Thanks. I came to help you and Robin and I wanted to be suited for the job."

"Tink, you make me out as some desperate teenage girl who believes she'll die without her soulmate."

"Isn't that what you are?"

Regina didn't even bother replying. She just walked away to grab another cookie and find her sister.

"Fine! I don't need you!"

The blonde scanned the room for anyone she'd recognize. Although her vision was a bit blurred, she quickly made out an old friend.

"EYEBROWS!"

Malcolm sighed and looked over at the approaching girl. He had been busy talking to one of the freshmen, Wendy, who had been scared by all the excitement and wanted to go home. A few seconds more and he might of convinced her to stay with him.

"Maybe I should just go.."

"No! I mean.. If you don't get used to all this now then you'll never get the courage to go to more parties."

"I don't think I'm the partying type."

"Well you can be..."

"AWW! Mal's got a crush!"

"Tink!"

"What? Its not like it'd work out anyway."

"Excuse me?" Wendy said, a bit intrigued and frightened.

"Trust me kiddo, you two aren't comparable."

"And how would you know?" He knew he shouldn't of asked but he couldn't help it. It was none of her business.

"I have a special ability to find people's soul mates and trust me Mal, you're better off with Felix."

Wendy made an "Oh" and Malcolm glared at Tink. The younger girl quietly slipped away and he didn't even bother trying to stop her. He was too pissed at the cupid in front of him.

"WELL, I have to go find Milah. We all know how desperate she is..." She said with a nervous laugh.

He kept his eyes fixed on her as she awkwardly shuffled away.

"Damn! My beard keeps falling off!"

"Why don't you grow your own?"

"Oh yes, because I can grow a long beard like this in a week."

"Dude, you had plenty of time."

"Well, my mom wouldn't let me..."

Neal spit out his soda all over Killian and started laughing.

"What?"

"Seriously? You're mom wouldn't let you?"

"Well you haven't met my mom."

"Think about all the things I do and who my dad is."

"Good point."

Neal took another sip of his soda and didn't even bother help his friend clean up. Killian wiped up the soda and threw to paper towel at him. Neal simply picked it up and put it on the new kid, Christopher? It didn't really matter.

"So when is the lady coming?"

"She should be here now." He said looking down at his watch.

"And she is."

Both boys whipped their heads around to find Emma standing next to them linking arms with Milah.

"Wow." Both boys said at once.

Emma was wearing a Wonder Woman costume with her contacts in and her hair down. It was probably the most feminine outfit they had ever seen her in. Milah was wearing a pirate costume that seemed pretty tight. Killian immediately grabbed her by the waist and pulled her in for a kiss. She wasn't quick enough to stop him and by the time she recovered enough to push him away, she ended up pulling him closer. Emma and Neal just stood there staring.

"Uh... Neal?"

"Yeah?"

"Is this actually happening?"

"Yup."

"Wow."

A few more seconds past and right when Emma was about to ask when they were going to run out of oxygen, the two parted to catch their breaths.

"Uhm-"

Before Neal had the chance to say anything they quickly went back to kissing.

"Well then."

"So... You wanna dance or something?"

"Sure thing Wonder Woman."

"Okay, uh, what are you?"

"Ezio Auditore from Assassin's Creed 2"

Emma gave him a blank look and he just sighed.

"Are we dancing or what?"

"I dunno, are you going to assassinate me while we do so?"

"Well the hidden blade works but its not actually sharp."

"Okay then!"

She quickly yanked him out to the dance floor to try and escape the awkwardness.

"There ain't no point in challenging me lad. I'll kick your butt to high heaven."

"Then prove it."

Granny sighed and yanked to crossbow out of Robin's hands. She aimed at the little target John had set up and pulled the trigger. Bull's Eye.

"Let's see you do it, tights."

"These aren't tights."

"Well they look like tights."

"Well tell that to the archers that lived centuries ago."

He held up the crossbow and lined it up with the target. Right before he pulled the trigger, Granny blew in his face, causing the arrow to land slightly left of the center.

"No fair!"

"Oh please. If you were half the archer you say you are then that shouldn't of phased you one bit."

"Well I didn't blow in your face."

"That's because I'm already at a disadvantage." She lifted her glasses to show him.

He looked solemnly at the floor and Granny laughed and patted him on the shoulder.

"Better luck next time lad."

She left the group of men just as Regina was walking over.

"Hey Robin!"

"Hey Regina." He said giving her a warm smile.

"Have you seen my sister anywhere?"

He thought about it for a moment then shook his head. "Nice costume by the way."

"Thanks. So, what are you guys up to?" She looked around at all the guys standing next to Robin, silently staring at the two.

"Well, I just lost a shooting contest with Granny."

Regina sucked in a breath and gave him an apologetic smile.

"Yeah, she kicks butt at shooting."

She saw his shocked face and quickly added, "but she's older than you, y'know? You just need a bit more experience and then you'll beat her, no sweat."

He nodded slowly while staring at her. She smiled and looked away. Awkward.

"I'm going to go find my sister." She quickly darted away from the men and straight to the dance floor where she found her sister doing the Harlem Shake.

"Hey Milah!"

"SHHH!"

Emma, Neal, and Killian silenced Tink as they stood around Milah with serious looks on their faces. Their friend was holding up her phone to one ear with a hand covering the other so she could hear better. Tink slowly walked up to them and gave a questioning look.

"What's up?"

"Milah got an important call from the hospital." Neal explained. Tink's eyes grew wide as she realized what it might mean.

"Is it about-"

"SHHH!" Emma gave her a glare.

She just remained quiet as Milah finished up the call.

"Thank you Mrs. Nokota."

Milah silently closed the phone and put it back in her pocket with a blank expression.

"Milah, I'm sorry." Neal said and put a hand on his cousin's shoulder.

She gave him a confused look.

"Well, I thought they called to tell you that... y'know."

"That he's dead?"

"Yeah..."

Suddenly, she broke out into a smile and started laughing.

"No! She just called to tell me he woke up!"

"WHAT?!" They all yelled in unison.

"He's awake!"

They all started laughing and hugging her. Well, all except Killian who just lost the girl he JUST started dating.

"I'm sorry guys but I gotta go."

"Nah, its okay."

"Yeah, we totally understand."

"Go to your love."

Milah gave Tink a look then hurried out to get into her car. The group stood in silence as they realized what her absence meant.

"Guys." Emma said after a moment. "How the hell are we getting home now?"

Just as Neal started to answer, the barn doors flew open and in stepped Mr. Gold. The music stopped and the kids all turned to face the teacher with terrified looks.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I was in the neighborhood and couldn't help but stop by."