One night at Granny's Diner, Evie and Ben decided to meet up, but just friends of course. They grew up together after all and were almost like brother and sister, especially once upon a time ago before Henry came into Storybrooke.
"You guys on a date or something?" Kiara asked as she came to her schoolmates who were sitting at a booth together.
"Oh, no. No, no, no." Ben shook his head with a small smile.
"Just a friendly reunion dinner," Evie replied. "Also, make sure you tell Jordan Glass that in case she decides to be a blood school newspaper hound."
"...Blood school newspaper hound?" Kiara repeated before tilting her head. "Uh... I just... What?"
"You know, like a bloodhound, but for the school newspaper," Evie said before blushing in slight embarrassment. "Okay, not my best joke, but either way. Just make sure she doesn't get in our way too much."
"Ohhhh..." Kiara said before nodding in understanding. "Yes, I totally understand what you mean now."
"Thank you." Evie then said.
"I just hope you don't mind being seen with me even if The Pinkettes might see you like you're worried about them seeing you with Doug." Ben soon said to his childhood best friend.
Evie bit her lip as she did seem to be concerned about that, but she said nothing, thinking maybe it was best.
"So you and Doug might like each other... Who cares?" Ben then said to Evie as she looked nervous about being seen in public with the boy who clearly had feelings for her. "I mean... It can't be worse than anyone else's secret crush."
"I'm sorry, Ben, I'm just not sure if I can risk it," Evie replied. "I'm very sorry though."
"I'm unsure about you sometimes, Evie," Ben sighed. "Just promise me you'll try to be more like yourself very soon. I had a good time when I spent the night after the Valentine's Day Dance and we patched things up or are at least trying to do that."
"One step at a time, Ben," Evie said softly with a nod. "Say... You mentioned a secret crush."
Ben suddenly looked wide-eyed and nervous.
"So what would you guys like to eat tonight?" Kiara then asked her dear friends, taking out her pen and notepad.
"Well, I think I'd like a cheeseburger with some fries please, just no pickles or ketchup like how my dad has them." Ben then said as Kiara jotted that down.
"Oh, but ketchup is magical." Kiara said with a playful smirk.
"Not for me." Ben smirked back with a small chuckle.
"Mm-hmm," Kiara giggled. "And how about you, Evie?"
"This grilled chicken salad, please," Evie requested. "I'm trying to watch my figure."
"I don't think you have to worry about that," Kiara playfully smirked as she wrote that down next and soon walked off. "See you guys later!"
"Thanks, Kiara!" Evie called with a small smile.
Kiara smiled as she came to take the order over to the cook. Granny smiled, proud of Kiara's hard work even though she was a school student who did this as an after school job and sometimes came in during school as part of Storybrooke High's Work/Study Program which would have the student either studying for tests and doing homework assignments or going into work for a brief shift until their next class. She, however, groaned and rolled her eyes as she saw that her other waitress, Ruby, was slacking off slightly and was talking to a certain customer rather than taking his order or giving him appropriate customer/waitress relations.
"You can't be serious. A whole year without a roof over your head?" Ruby asked, speaking with the newest Storybrooke visitor who wasn't Emma and called himself August W. Booth.
"Well, you get used to it," August shrugged with a small, rather flirty smile. "Plus, I had the motorcycle. So, if I didn't like a place after a while-"
"Ruby?" Granny soon called for her granddaughter employee.
"I've never even been out of Storybrooke," Ruby said to August, deciding to ignore Granny's calling. "What was your favorite place?"
"Nepal. Best people," August replied with a small smile. "They have these prayer temples carved into mountains that are overrun with lemurs."
Ruby smiled, entranced by him before she looked cute and innocent. "What's a lemur?" she then asked.
"Ruby!" Granny called again sternly.
"Just give me a sec!" Ruby called back with a firm pout before she smiled at August again.
"They're little animals and they have these eyes that reflect light," August then explained to Ruby, enjoying her company a lot. "So, at night, it looks like they glow."
"Ruby! Stop flirting and get over here!" Granny called sharply again and knocked on the counter to get her granddaughter's attention.
Ruby firmly pouted before she stormed right over to her grandmother, leaving August by himself while Ben and Evie flinched nervously at what was about to happen next. "I can't believe you did that. That was humiliating." she then complained to her boss/grandmother.
"I want you to start working Saturday nights." Granny soon told Ruby about why she wanted to speak with her.
"Come on; we have an agreement about Saturday night," Ruby complained. "Kiara doesn't have to work on Saturday nights."
"Yes, but I need you because I want to start training you to do the books and the reorders," Granny explained. "Business is booming lately, and, with more money, comes more paperwork, and Kiara will probably join you much later when I can have a word with Storybrooke High about her shifts."
"Yeah. None of that sounds good." Ruby then complained.
"It's gotta be done." Granny insisted.
Ruby firmly pouted. "Is this a punishment for talking to that guy?" she then asked.
"If I wanted to punish you, I'd have better reasons," Granny scoffed. "For one thing, you were late. For another thing, Liza, you dress like a drag queen during Fleet Week."
"And you dress like Norman Bates when he dresses like Norman Bates' mother." Ruby then retorted.
"Ruby, you're a grown woman," Granny sighed and reminded her very immature granddaughter. "You can't keep acting like some kid."
"You just want me to act like you until I turn into you," Ruby glared as she soon looked as assertive as she possibly could. "Well, I am not a fossil yet, Granny. I should be out there having adventures with lemurs!"
Evie cupped her mouth and giggled as that last part sounded a bit funny and cute coming from Ruby.
"Well, as long as you work here, you are going to listen to me." Granny glared at Ruby.
"I didn't ask to work here." Ruby glared back as the environment around them grew very intense, worrying Ben and Evie a little bit.
"Well, then what's keeping ya?" Granny huffed and puffed.
"Nothing! I quit!" Ruby snapped before she removed her apron and stormed off suddenly and slammed the door behind her once she came out the door.
Ben and Evie winced again from the door slamming and after the rather nasty argument.
"Mrs. Lucas...?" Ben called softly and gently to help cushion any blows that the older woman must have been feeling.
"I lost her... Just like her mother..." Granny murmured to herself and shook her head with a deep sigh.
"Oh... Mrs. Lucas I'm so sorry," Evie said softly as she decided to walk over to the older woman. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Huh?" Granny blinked before seeing Evie. "Oh, I'll be fine, dear... Ruby just has some issues she needs to work out. She's always been very stubborn and bull-headed."
"Is there anything we can do?" Ben asked as he decided to come beside Evie.
"Thank you, but I'll be fine," Granny reassured them. "It's just a family thing. I wouldn't worry about it too much."
Ben and Evie then looked at each other, still concerned.
"I think I'll go and try to talk to Ruby," Evie then suggested to Ben. "Maybe I can still catch her in case something happens."
"Well, if you're sure," Ben shrugged. "Are we still going to have dinner together?"
"It'll just be a minute, Ben," Evie reassured with a small smile. "It's not like I'm going to leave you stuck with the bill, though... Being the son of Mr. Gold, I'm sure you could afford it."
"Very funny..." Ben smirked playfully. "Mayor's Brat."
"Spoiled rich boy." Evie smirked back before playfully hitting his arm and then went to head out the door to go and try to catch up with Ruby.
"Well... Okay..." Ben nodded before he sighed in relief and wiped his forehead.
"And then when I get back, we can talk about your secret crush." Evie then said with a small smirk.
"D'oh!" Ben groaned and hit his forehead as he wasn't able to escape from his little secret that Evie had a suspicion about. He then decided to go sit back down at his and Evie's booth.
"Having trouble with the girls, kid?" August smirked from his seat. "I know how you feel... Girls can love me and leave me fast if I'm not too careful. Maybe I can help you out? Kinda be like a big brother mentor for ya if ya know what I mean?" he then added with a subtle wink to himself.
"I'll be fine," Ben replied. "Evie and I are just friends. We've known each other since we were in diapers."
"I'd still be careful since that girl happens to be Mayor Mills' daughter," August then said. "I may not know much about this town, but I know that it is far more than it appears to be."
"Believe me, I might not know this town's secret despite being here my whole life, but I know what you mean." Ben reassured as he sipped his cola.
August nodded before he decided to tend to his own meal.
Soon, Evie made it outside and came to catch up with Ruby before it would be too late. When she came outside, Emma and Ms. Blanchard appeared to be talking together as well about David since Kathryn had gone missing when she was appointed to go to Boston even though Henry warned Emma and Evie that no one could leave Storybrooke.
"Ruby?" Evie called as she came to a bus stop as she thought she saw the slightly older girl.
Ruby then looked over once her name was called.
"Ruby... What are you doing?" Evie asked her friend.
"Hi, Evie," Ruby replied. "I need to get out of here."
"Yes, you should," Evie nodded. "It's cold and you have a job to do."
"No, not this stop, this town," Ruby explained. "I've been stuck in Storybrooke all of my life and I need excitement and adventure in the great wide somewhere."
"Ruby, you're just fine where you are," Evie frowned. "Maybe you can talk things over with Granny? I mean... Sometimes my mom drives me crazy too, but that doesn't mean we don't love each other."
"Yeah, well, I'm older than you, Evie, and Granny's older than your mom," Ruby gently retorted. "It's different once you're all grown up and out of school. I've been with Granny my whole life and she keeps acting like she's the boss of me or something."
"Uh, well, since she's been with you your whole life, she kinda technically is," Evie said before she came to sit down next to Ruby. "Storybrooke needs you though."
Ruby firmly pouted and turned away.
"Where are you going to go anyway?" Evie asked. "At a boyfriend's house?"
"I don't really know right now, Evie," Ruby sighed and pouted as she crossed her arms and turned away. "No... I haven't had a steady boyfriend in a very long time..."
"Oh, Ruby..." Evie frowned as she really wished she could help out.
"Listen, you should go back to the diner," Ruby suggested. "Aren't you going out with Ben or something?"
"Ugh, it's not that kind of date," Evie groaned and rolled her eyes. "Ben's like my brother for goodness sake."
"Yeah, well, you should go back to him," Ruby replied. "Otherwise he might end up leaving since you kinda ditched him just to talk to me."
"Well... Okay..." Evie shrugged. "Just promise me that you won't leave Storybrooke."
"Or what? Something bad will happen?" Ruby replied.
Evie then gave Ruby a small look.
"I heard your brother say it," Ruby said. "I'll see you later, Evie."
"Well... Okay... I sure hope so..." Evie then said as she stood up and gave Ruby a big hug, gently patting the older girl on the back. "Guess I better run along now then."
"Okay. See ya later, Evie." Ruby replied.
Evie nodded and she then got up and left, leaving Ruby alone for the rest of the night, though she hoped that the older girl would listen to reason eventually.
Soon, Evie and Ben sat together again.
"You sure took your time," Ben commented. "Is Ruby gonna be okay?"
"I'm not sure, I just hope she doesn't leave town," Evie said. "I wish that I could help her."
"You're very thoughtful, Evie," Ben smiled softly. "You have a big heart."
"And a big brain," Evie smiled back before smirking. "So spill. Who's this secret crush of yours?"
"Ugh... I'm not gonna hear the end of it until I give in, aren't I?" Ben groaned and sunk back in his seat in defeat.
"Nope! I'm a girl, this is what I do best." Evie smirked before she sipped her drink.
"Ugh..." Ben groaned and sighed, shaking his head before he took a deep breath in and then let it out before he looked over at Evie as he put his hands to his face.
"Don't cry, Ben," Evie said softly. "It's going to be okay."
"At first I tried to ignore her because my dad said she would be bad for me, but I couldn't help it!" Ben cried out. "I knew I had to help her, especially since I dreamt about going to have to save a girl and show her a better and whole new world."
"Ooh... Very interesting and mysterious at least~" Evie said with a small smile at how Ben was speaking about this "mystery girl".
"I kinda... No, wait, I do... I do have a crush on a girl..." Ben soon admitted with a nervous smile as he blushed a bit.
"Please... Do go on..." Evie urged him before flinching as his mood quickly changed.
"Man, this really stinks!" Ben complained a little bit. "Especially with what my dad said about certain girls in school."
"Oh, Ben, I'm sorry you think something might happen especially since your dad told you not to go for her," Evie said, frowning a little bit. "Who's the girl?" she soon asked.
Ben sighed before he looked over at Evie then. "Will you promise not to tell anyone?" he then asked, sounding a little shaky.
"Sure." Evie nodded.
"Okay..." Ben said to her before leaning in to whisper suddenly.
Evie then jumped up and did a double-take in shock and fear. "Mal Draconis?!"
The other patrons of the diner then looked over with wide eyes as Ben and Evie had their private talk.
"Oh... I know it seems strange, but the more I see her in school or think about that dream about helping her or trying to get to know her personally, the more I got to know the woman behind the mask," Ben said softly and bashfully as he looked Evie into her eyes. "Mal's just not a troublemaker who bosses people around, she's much more than that and I even think that she might be lonely. The way she huffs and puffs all the time whenever something bugs her..." he then started to list.
"Sounds like stuff bugs Mal all the time, especially me." Evie rolled her eyes.
"The way she picks on me for acting like the prince of the school, I could go on and on." Ben smiled softly as he saw Mal a lot differently than how Evie or anyone else in school saw Mal.
"Well, why don't you just go talk to her?" Evie suggested.
"What if she hates me?" Ben then asked, instantly panicking. "Oh, the agony! Oh, the rejection! I'll die!" he then cried out before slamming his head on the table in slight depression.
"You won't die, Ben..." Evie sighed, trying to comfort her friend.
"No, I will!" Ben retorted. "I will die! Lay down and die like an old dog!" he then told her. "Dad told me specifically most of all to stay away from her."
"Look, it's not right walking around hopelessly in love day after day with no relief." Evie then said as she put her arm around Ben as comfortingly as possible.
"I know... I gotta do something about it, Evie..." Ben said as he looked at her emotionally.
"All right," Evie nodded before she thought about it. "Well, you know what? There's a Teen Night coming up sometime. The nuns and Jane are hosting it and letting us have the church for the night. That boy Carlos is gonna arrange it."
Ben bit his lip.
"...I'll try to talk to her for you," Evie then suggested, sensing his anxiety. "Would you like that?"
"You'd do that for me?" Ben asked in surprise.
"What are friends for?" Evie smiled. "Consider this my gift for you after nearly losing you as a friend forever."
Ben soon sighed before smiling back. "Thanks, Evie," he then said softly. "I think I like the sound of that."
"I think I do too, Ben. I think I do too." Evie beamed and nodded.
Kiara soon came by with their food, smiling at both them, then let them get to their food once they had everything they needed.
"Thanks, Kiara!" Ben and Evie called out.
"No problem, guys!" Kiara replied. "Let me know if you need anything else."
Ben and Evie smiled and soon went back to eating their dinner that night, already feeling better together so far. Granny smiled at both of them, though she sighed, fearing the worst of what might have happened with Ruby that night, but tried not to worry too much about her granddaughter. She may have been impossible 9 times out of 10, but she still loved Ruby no matter what and would always try to protect her as sure as there being a full moon in the sky once a month.
When the next day came, there was a half-day at the schools. The students were able to take their lunch and eat it, but after the final lunch break of the day, the schools were being closed early. No one questioned or complained about it though. Ben took his rose, about to go right for the hospital.
"Going to the hospital for that mysterious patient?" Evie asked him.
"You know it," Ben nodded. "I just wish I could meet her and talk to her. That way she won't feel lonely or forgotten about."
"Well, at least she has your roses." Evie said with a small smile.
"Yeah... It's the thought that counts." Ben replied.
"Speaking of roses, did you hear about what happened to Mr. French?" Evie asked him then.
Ben sighed. "I don't wanna suspect anything or ask him about it, but I'm pretty sure my dad had something to do with that," he then said softly. "You know how he gets sometimes."
"You don't wanna believe he would hurt Mr. French though, do you?" Evie then guessed.
"No, I don't," Ben said as he deeply sighed. "I don't know about Dad sometimes, he's very quiet and mysterious... Not to mention what he told me one night."
"...What is it?" Evie asked curiously about what the big surprise could've been.
"No offense, Evie... But I don't think I can tell you right now," Ben said before he looked her in the eyes. "I know that we've known each other our entire lives, but... It's too soon for me to admit anything private in the family right now."
"Well... Promise that if you choose to tell anyone we know, that you tell me first." Evie gently requested as Mal suddenly stepped into the hallway just as the two finished speaking among each other.
"I promise, Evie," Ben said with a small smile. "I trust you more than anyone else around here anyway."
"Thanks, Ben," Evie smiled back. "Have a good hospital visit. I think I might just hang out with Henry after school today."
"Okay... Have fun then. See ya tomorrow." Ben said as he shook hands with Evie.
"See ya tomorrow," Evie nodded and beamed. "You're the best."
The two soon laughed together before walking away from each other. Mal then narrowed her eyes before she walked off mysteriously again while Ben and Evie had another friendship meeting without too many classmates seeing them. Soon, Storybrooke High began to clean out due to the half-day of school and Evie was just about to go over to the elementary school to meet Henry to bring him home after school and have their typical after school activities shared together. However, just as she was on her way, she suddenly came to a stop before a certain trio stopped in front of her, looking like some sort of army scouts standing together as a hot pink car that looked like it belonged to a pink ballerina fairy tale princess was parked not too close behind them. How could you miss it?
"Come, Mayor Princess. You're hanging out with us." Magda smirked at Evie.
"M-M-Magda?! You're actually talking to me?!" Evie gasped in delight.
"Uh, yeah... I am..." Magda replied and rolled her eyes before giving a rather mischievous smirk.
Magda grinned bashfully.
"Anyway, as I was saying, you're coming with us," Magda soon repeated herself. "We're going shopping."
"Shopping?" Evie blinked. "Where we shop besides The Little Piggy's Market? Storybrooke doesn't have a Mall."
"You ask too many questions," Magda rolled her eyes before smirking. "Amalie has a very big closet with a lot of outfits for all of us to try on. Don't you, Amalie?" she then asked the blonde girl to her right.
"Huh? Oh, yes, I do," Amalie replied with a nod. "My parents often ship me stuff over from their trips all around the world."
"Your parents travel the world?" Evie asked as she began to follow The Pinkettes over to the pink car as the blonde girl hit her car keys to unlock the doors for them.
"Oh, oui, oui~" Amalie beamed and giggled. "In the meantime, I'm staying with my grandaunt Adelaide. She used to be a famous opera singer. One of her most famous roles was in George Bizet's Carmen as the lead... She can still dance to 'Habanera' to this day."
"How exotic..." Evie whispered to herself before she beamed about going for a car ride with The Pinkettes before she stopped herself and turned away with a low hum. "Hmm..."
"Uh, is there a problem, Evie?" Scarlet asked as they came into Amalie's car as she came to take the wheel.
"...I should go meet my little brother," Evie said softly. "He usually counts on me and we normally hang out after school together. Especially since today was a half-day." she then said, a little anxious about leaving Henry alone without her company during their usual time together away from school.
"Doesn't he have little friends to play with or something?" Magda shrugged with a scoff. "You can go with him if you want."
Evie then looked like she was about to go off over to the elementary school like planned.
"That is... Unless you wanna pass up this chance to hang out with us," Magda then continued before smirking rather darkly. "But really, it's up to you: us or your little brother."
"You might never get a chance like this again, Evie." Scarlet added as she also smirked.
"Otherwise you'll then turn pink with envy!" Amalie piped up as she giggled at her own joke.
Scarlet and Magda then glared in annoyance.
"Uh, Am? It's 'green' with envy." Magda corrected.
"No, thanks. Green totally isn't my color, pink is." Amalie replied as Magda and Scarlet rolled their eyes and face-palmed in response.
"Aw, gee..." Evie frowned before she looked over on the way to the elementary school. "Well... I guess I could skip out on seeing Henry after school... Just this once... As long as I'm back home before it gets dark."
"Huh? Oh, yeah, sure, whatever." Magda replied.
"Just hop on in," Scarlet smirked. "There's totes room for one more."
"Especially since this car has four seats," Amalie added with a small, rather ditzy smile. "I'm glad it's my car though, otherwise I'd probably be sitting alone in the back all the time like Scarlet. It seems lonely."
Scarlet just rolled her eyes in response to that.
"Okay. Okay," Evie said with a sigh before she came over to the backseat next to Scarlet. "Let's go then."
The three Pinkettes grinned eagerly before Amalie began to drive them away from school and to go over to the mansion she grew up in, but she wasn't alone and didn't just mean her grandaunt who acted as her acting guardian while her parents were away. Evie sighed to herself, hoping Henry would understand but would explain to him later when she would get the chance since this was her biggest dream come true. Evie also thought maybe she saw Doug on his way to the hospital much like Ben and she thought about giving him a chance, but she wouldn't tell The Pinkettes that as she just knew deep in her gut that they would view that as social suicide.
Meanwhile, as classes were ending in Storybrooke Elementary School, Henry sat alone on the steps of the school while the other kids rushed out and cheered in the excitement of after school plans.
"Henry... Why are you sitting here alone?" Dee Dee asked as she came to see the boy who was her best friend.
"Hey, Dee Dee," Henry said softly. "I was gonna meet up with Evie like we always do after school, but she's late."
"Oh..." Dee Dee said.
"...What about you?" Henry then asked her. "Why are you all alone?"
"The hospital needs Papa Leroy and Mama Astrid has a meeting with her other sisters," Dee Dee said as she looked down at her feet. "And it's too early to dance."
"Guess we're alone together." Henry noted.
"Mm-hmm," Dee Dee nodded. "Though if I have to be alone, I'm glad that you're at least here."
"I'm glad you're here too, Dee Dee," Henry said with a small smile. "I just wish that I could help Ruby."
"Is there a problem with Miss Ruby?" Dee Dee gasped suddenly with her hands on her face in concern.
"You didn't hear? She and Granny got into a fight," Henry explained calmly. "Apparently Ruby decided to quit being a waitress."
"Oh... Poor Mrs. Granny and Miss Ruby..." Dee Dee pouted before she looked at him. "...You wanna help Storybrooke, right?"
"I do." Henry nodded.
"Then maybe we can help Miss Ruby?" Dee Dee suggested with a small smile. "Help her find a new job?"
"Hmm... You might be onto something, Dee Dee," Henry paused thoughtfully before he reached into his bag and took out his book. "Besides, it's really important that she and Granny make up again."
"Because they're family?" Dee Dee asked as she came to stand beside him to look into his book with him.
"More than just that, Dee Dee," Henry replied before he opened the book to a certain page. "Because Ruby is actually Little Red Riding Hood and that would make Granny be...?" he then prompted and paused to see what she would answer to see if she was truly paying attention.
"Red Riding Hood's grandmother," Dee Dee realized and nodded. "Ah, yeah, of course! I thought maybe Ruby was Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz?"
"Good guess, Dee Dee, and I can see why you would think that," Henry replied with a small smile. "It's really nice having someone to talk about this with."
Dee Dee smiled back then.
"Well... Come on." Henry said as he stood up suddenly.
"Oh... Um... Where are we going?" Dee Dee asked him.
"To the Sheriff's station," Henry replied. "Trust me. Ruby will be there and we can help her out, especially if we get Emma to help out too."
"Okay, Henry. I trust you," Dee Dee smiled. "Hopefully Papa Leroy and Mama Astrid understand."
"I'm sure they will." Henry smiled back at her before he took her hand and they soon ran away from school and off to the Sheriff's station suddenly.
Soon, with the teenagers, Evie and the other girls soon made it over to the very luxurious and grand mansion of Storybrooke, probably next to Regina's mansion.
"Your house is really nice." Evie smiled at Amalie.
"I know, right?" Amalie smiled back before walking off.
"Make sure you don't blow this, Mills." Scarlet told Evie firmly before joining Magda and Amalie inside the mansion.
Evie blinked in response before she soon followed The Pinkettes right into the mansion.
"I'm home!" Amalie called out before looking into one room that seemed to be the living room. "Hi, guys."
Evie walked by and did a double-take as she looked into the living room that seemed to be crawling with cats. There seemed to be a black one with a red ribbon around his neck playing the piano with his paws, an orange cat with a blue ribbon around his neck that seemed to be getting into some paint with all colors of the rainbow, and there even seemed a white cat who was noticeably female with a pink bow on the top of her head with a pink ribbon around her neck next to a couple of kittens: one with grayish-white fur with darker ears that seemed to be black and even a black spot under her left eye like a beauty mark with a lavender ribbon and a mostly orange/brown kitten with a blue ribbon that looked like a bow-tie and they all seemed to be singing together, though in a cat-like fashion.
"Oh, hello there, dears," An elderly woman smiled as she stepped out to meet the girls. "How are we doing today?"
"Hey, Ms. Bonfamille," Magda said as she stepped in. "This is Evie."
"Hello there, dear." Madame Bonfamille smiled warmly at the new teenage girl in the bunch.
"Hi." Evie said with a small nod.
"Welcome to my home along with my absolute favorite little darling, Amalie," Madame Bonfamille smiled as she stepped over and hugged Evie instantly. "Just want you to know, if you need anything, don't be shy, okay? You can trust dear 'Auntie Addie' for anything."
"Oh... Um... Thanks, erm... Auntie Addie?" Evie smiled bashfully.
"Make yourselves at home," Madame Bonfamille smiled back warmly as she patted Evie on the head before letting go of her in the hug. "We also have help from the Balthazar family for additional help."
"Well, uh, thank you." Evie said with a nod.
And at that, they soon came into a very large bedroom that was mostly pink with plenty of posters and a map of the world with a very big closet too and a mirror there of course. There also seemed to be several stuffed animals and there even seemed to be a fireplace in her room.
"You have a fireplace in your room?" Evie asked in shock.
"Oh, yes, of course," Amalie smiled as she lay down on her bed with her feet up in the air. "Lots of rich people have fireplaces in their bedrooms. Don't you?"
"Uh... Well... No... Not really..." Evie said sheepishly.
"Hm... How very interesting..." Amalie remarked with a shrug. "Guess not everybody's as rich as my family."
Scarlet and Magda laughed a little at that.
"Um... Perhaps..." Evie muttered softly then.
"God, my hips are huge!" Magda complained as she stepped over to the mirror that Amalie had in her room which resembled Snow White's wicked step-mother's mirror, at least that was how Evie saw it.
"Oh, please. I hate my calves." Scarlet replied.
"At least you guys can wear halters." Magda rolled her eyes then. "I've got man shoulders."
"My hairline is so weird." Scarlet then said as she patted on her ponytail a little.
"My pores are huge." Amalie pouted as she put her hands over her nose a little on the sides.
"My nail beds suck." Magda added.
Amalie, Scarlet, and Magda soon looked over at Evie as she seemed to stand by herself in the corner.
"...I have really bad breath in the morning?" Evie spoke up with a nervous smile.
The other girls seemed to just look at her blankly.
"Come on, let's get some outfits on," Amalie soon suggested. "Whatya think?"
"Good idea for once, Amalie." Scarlet smirked.
"I think I like the sound of that too." Magda added.
"I know you, Amalie. You'll look stunning in just about anything." A third voice added as Amalie beamed at the attention before Evie quickly flinched at the sound of the other voice.
"Oh... You always know just what to say~" Amalie squealed and beamed at the new voice in the room.
"Who... Who said that?" Evie asked, a bit startled.
"Oh, don't be scared, Evie," Amalie smiled. "It was just my mirror."
"You have a talking mirror?" Evie asked in surprise. "Like... Like Snow White's wicked step-mother?"
"Ooh... Yeah, I guess that's a pretty good point." Amalie smiled.
Scarlet and Magda laughed a little bit, however.
"Snow White?" Magda smirked. "Honestly Evie, aren't you a little too old for fairy tales?"
"Heh... Oops..." Evie chuckled nervously. "Guess that was bonding with my little brother talking. That's what I mean of course."
"Of course that's what you meant~" Scarlet giggled with the other girls before they decided to get some clothes from Amalie's closet to try on.
Evie smiled nervously.
"Mirror, what do you think I should wear?" Amalie asked her mirror with a small smile.
"Whatever you want," The mirror spoke to Amalie. "Two words about you, girly: gor-geous~"
"Ah, you stop now~" Amalie sighed and put her hand down with a small bashful smile.
"That's pretty cool," Evie smiled as she stepped over, wearing her regular uniform like them as she stepped into the mirror. "What does it say about me?"
"Ugh... Is the sad schoolgirl look ever really in?" The mirror then scoffed at Evie making her pout a little. "Might as well take yourself out to the trash."
"Hmph..." Evie firmly pouted.
"Huh, that's funny... It never says mean things about me..." Amalie pouted before smiling. "Don't worry though, Evie. I think you'll look fine in anything you wear and borrow from my closet. Pick out whatever you like."
"Thanks, Amalie." Evie smiled back a little as Amalie at least seemed to be the nicest between her, Magda, and Scarlet.
Soon, the four girls collected some pink clothes and decided to wear them and even doll each other up a little bit outside of their uniforms. Evie was now starting to see why they would call themselves The Pinkettes and they even began to wear lipstick, blush, and eye shadow that matched.
"Hm... I dunno... Blue seems to suit me more..." Evie shrugged.
"Don't ruin this if you know what's good for you." Scarlet growled under her breath.
"...What?" Evie asked as she looked over. "Hey, what're you-"
"Oh, look... Don't we all just look #fabulous?" Magda grinned at the other girls.
"#fabulous!" Scarlet and Amalie agreed eagerly.
"...Yeah. Fabulous..." Evie muttered.
"#fabulous!" Magda corrected. "You sound old just saying fabulous like that."
"Sorry..." Evie muttered and shrugged as this started to get boring. "I suppose we look a little #awesome?" she then suggested with a nervous smile.
"#awesome!" Scarlet, Amalie, and Magda soon cheered together.
"Now you're getting the hang of it." Magda smirked as she put her arm around Evie.
'Man, Henry was right for the most part,' Evie thought to herself in slight annoyance. 'These girls are as at least high-pitched as Sirens.'
"Girlfriend, you look so awesome in pink." Scarlet smirked.
"Thanks, you too." Evie said with a small nod.
Soon, the girls sat in the living room together as the cats took a break and began to watch a teen drama, "MacKenzie Falls", that Evie personally found to be very boring. There wasn't much to say other than the two male leads were talking about the main boy Mackenzie's dilemma about being in love with both the alpha mean girl of their school named Penelope and the new girl in school named Chloe.
"Who do you guys think is cuter?" Magda soon asked her friends. "Mackenzie or Devon?"
"Definitely Mackenzie," Amalie smiled softly. "Devon's got that doofy hair."
Evie just looked like she was being bored to death of this show and was just hoping it would be over very soon.
"So, whatya think, Evie?" Magda asked.
"I think I should get going," Evie said. "Thank you for inviting me over, but I think I should really check on my brother."
"Ah, don't worry about him, you're in the right company." Magda replied.
"Yeah! No lame brains or dorks," Scarlet added. "Speaking of which, where is your brother?"
"Uh... Not here!" Evie answered with a small shrug and sheepish smile.
Magda and Scarlet soon laughed together after hearing that like it was a joke.
"He really is a bore, isn't he?" Magda smirked at Scarlet and Amalie.
"My vote is for 'Most Immature of the Year'." Scarlet agreed.
"Are you talking about Henry?" Amalie asked them.
"Well, duh! He is Evie's brother..." Magda rolled her eyes like that should've been obvious.
"Aw, I dunno... I actually think he's kinda cute..." Amalie shrugged with a small smile.
"Eww!" Magda and Scarlet complained.
"What? Ya know... For a little brother sorta way." Amalie then said softly.
"Thanks, Amalie," Evie said with a small smile, appreciating her brother being called such. "Besides, Henry's not immature all the time."
"Don't forget annoying and needs to grow up!" Scarlet remarked. "Telling us all that we're under some sort of fairy tale curse? Seriously, grow up, kid in the real world!"
"This is fun!" Magda beamed. "Plus, he's really goofy looking!"
"It's not like I'm standing up for him, but sometimes it's fun to look back at fairy tales," Evie then spoke up softly. "And you know? Henry might be adopted, but if you think he's goofy looking, then I guess you think I am too." she then added, looking a little unhappy now.
"No!" Magda defended.
"No way!" Scarlet added.
"I don't think they were saying that, Evie." Amalie spoke up.
"It's not like you don't know all of this, right?" Magda then said to Evie. "Henry IS kind of an annoying little jerk!"
"Hey!" Evie glared as that made her stand up and suddenly look very upset with what they were saying. "I can say he's a jerk or immature or annoying, but you guys can't! You don't really know him!" she then smiled a little bit. "He can actually be really cool sometimes and really fun and funny! And loyal..." she then added softly.
The other three girls were then silent to that.
"A good bond with a good brother and sister is a kind thing and almost magnetic, like I can feel it right now," Evie then concluded as she put her hand to her heart before she looked like she had to do something now. "Thank you for inviting me to your house, Amalie, but I've gotta go." she then said, getting up and decided to change out of the pink clothes and go back into her sort of ugly uniform.
The three girls then just looked at each other as that seemed to be the end of that. Evie then held her head as she left the mansion and decided that being with her little brother was a lot more important than being friends with those shallow witchy Sirens any old day as she soon began to look around for Henry, hoping he wouldn't be mad at her once they would meet up together.
Soon, Henry and Dee Dee were hanging out at the Sheriff's station, helping out Ruby as promised as the young adult woman sat close to them. Henry was on the computer while Dee Dee sat close next to him while tending to her nutcracker doll, smiling down at him as she waved his wooden hand with the sword while Ruby giggled as Dee Dee made up a story about him saving the town's cookie supply in time for Christmas against the evil Mouse King.
"Wanna be a bike messenger?" Henry suggested to Ruby as he looked online for any job offers.
"Bike messenger?" Ruby asked.
"That's about taking things to people in a little basket." Henry explained.
"Ya know, like Little Red Riding Hood?" Dee Dee added, trying to hint about Ruby's fairy tale life.
Ruby turned down the offer however. "Nope. Yeah, see, I'm not so great at bike riding." she then said.
"How about taking things on foot, to people?" Henry then suggested.
"In a little basket?" Dee Dee added.
"I'm not so sure that's a real job," Ruby told them before looking over as the phone continued to ring endlessly. "Why do the phones keep doing that?" she then asked.
"Oh, the non-emergency calls go to a machine when Emma's busy." Henry informed.
Ruby nodded before the phone rang yet again and she decided to answer it to make herself useful. "Sheriff's station. How can I help you? Mm-hmm. I'll get her to return. Thank you, too," she then said before hanging up and then answered another call just as Emma came over. "Sheriff's station. Hey, Miss Ginger. Uh, no, that's not a prowler. That's Archie's dog, Pongo. Throw him a vanilla wafer. He'll quiet down. Did you still want to talk to Emma? Great. Glad I could help." she then spoke before hanging up again.
"How's it going, you guys?" Emma asked softly.
"My nutcracker is almost ready to go up against The Mouse King." Dee Dee piped up.
"...How nice," Emma said, giving her a smile to humor her. "...Uh, anything else?"
"Great. Except I can't do anything." Ruby replied with a pout.
"I'm sure that's not true," Emma shook her head. "I just saw you on the phone. That was good."
"That? That's nothing." Ruby replied.
"No. No, it isn't," Emma disagreed. "I actually have some money in the budget if you want to help out around here." she then suggested.
"Yes! Thank you! Yes," Ruby beamed in excitement before she suggested jobs for herself. "Um, I could answer phones and help out. Um, is there anything else that you need done? Organize files, cleaning up? Please; I wanna be useful." she then urged.
"I'm swamped with the Kathryn Nolan thing," Emma groaned before suggesting something else. "If you maybe wanna grab us lunch, I would never say no to a grilled cheese."
"Done," Ruby nodded before facing the kids. "You puppies want anything?"
"Puppies?~" Dee Dee repeated with a giggle.
"Um, two chocolate chip cookies, an apple pie, and a hot dog," Henry soon listed with a small smile. "And something pretty for the lady and her nutcracker."
Dee Dee giggled again then.
"They ate at school." Emma said with a small smirk.
Ruby then got ready to leave before running into Ms. Blanchard. suddenly. "Hey! Lunch, Mary Margaret?" she then offered. "I'm getting for everyone."
"Uh, no. I'm not hungry." Ms. Blanchard replied with a small smile.
Ruby nodded and then decided to leave for the lunch run while Henry decided to let Dee Dee look through his storybook to show that Red Riding Hood and Snow White were friends.
"I once heard about Snow White having a twin sister named Rose Red?" Dee Dee spoke up to Henry. "Is that the same story?"
Henry looked ready to answer her before he scratched his head. "...That's a very good question." he then had to admit.
Dee Dee then beamed as they continued to look at Henry's book while the adults were talking.
"David's in the woods," Ms. Blanchard soon told Emma quietly. "There's something wrong with him. He looked right through me. It's like... It's like he was a different person."
The kids continued to look through the book before quickly hiding it as Emma approached them.
"Okay, guys. Don't mean to kick you out, but I gotta go see if David's in some kind of trouble out there." Emma soon said to them.
"It's okay. I'm supposed to meet my mom," Henry replied before locking his book in one of the desk drawers so that Regina would never see it. "There." he then said.
"Nice." Emma nodded.
"Don't forget that it's here, okay?" Dee Dee said to Henry.
"I won't." Henry reassured.
Dee Dee nodded before looking over and put her nutcracker doll there.
"You don't have to hide your nutcracker from Sister Astrid," Henry said to Dee Dee. "She seems too nice to keep it away from you."
"He's going to guard your book for you until you come back for it," Dee Dee explained to Henry with a small smile. "He can be your brave little soldier."
"That's nice of you, Dee Dee, but won't you miss him?" Henry then asked.
"Maybe a little bit," Dee Dee said bashfully with her hands behind her back as she rocked back and forth a little on her feet. "I want you to be happy though."
"I want you to be happy too, Dee Dee, but I think you should keep your nutcracker," Henry said with a small smile. "He seems happier with you anyway. Thank you though."
"Hmm... Oki..." Dee Dee said before she took her nutcracker back and hugged it. "He probably dreams about The Boogeyman comin' after me at night anyway that he keeps me safe from."
"Then you definitely should take hi home with you," Henry nodded at Dee Dee before looking at Emma. "And you... You know, you can let Ruby do more. She's Little Red Riding Hood." he then suggested.
"With the little basket?" Emma smirked in response. "Yeah, she seems like a badass."
"She is. She just doesn't remember how cool she is or what she's capable of, but it's true." Henry insisted.
"And she might also be Rose Red." Dee Dee added.
Emma glanced at Dee Dee then.
"Snow White's twin sister," Dee Dee replied. "Look it up, Miss Emma!"
"Okay. Okay. Sorry." Emma smiled bashfully.
Ruby soon came back into the station with the food as the kids began to leave.
"Hey, Ruby./Hi, Miss Ruby." Henry and Dee Dee greeted.
"Hey, guys." Ruby smiled as she passed them before going to give Emma her lunch, but then it came with something more important and crucial than just fetching lunch: a wilderness search.
As Henry and Dee Dee left the station, they soon saw a familiar face.
"Evie? What're you doing here?" Henry asked his sister in surprise. "And where have you been?"
"I just had to go and find myself." Evie replied.
"Well, you don't need to look very far because here you are right in front of us." Dee Dee stated simply as she pointed at Evie.
"Oh, you're funny," Evie chuckled as Dee Dee misunderstood so she found it to be cute. "What I mean is, I just realized I don't need to date boys like Chad Herman or have friends like The Pinkettes to be happy." she then explained.
"I told you those guys are Sirens, especially Magda," Henry piped up. "Though she probably can't be as bad as Mom. Trust me, Evie. There is more to Magda than being The Queen Bee of the School."
"I'll take your word for it, Henry," Evie said before shrugging. "Why don't you see if you can find her in your storybook?"
"Maybe I will..." Henry said as he shifted his eyes slightly. "Dee Dee, would you care to help me?"
"I'm always glad to help you, Henry," Dee Dee smiled warmly. "True friends stick together."
"That they do," Evie smiled as she appreciated the lesson. "Just like Ben Gold is my true friend no matter what, even if his father scares the living daylights out of a lot of other kids, but not me."
"Oh, yeah?" Henry asked. "You wanna tell him that?"
"Don't think I won't." Evie smirked.
"Oh, really?" Henry smirked back. "Hello, Mr. Gold!"
"Right..." Evie smirked as she crossed her arms. "You have to get up pretty early to fool your responsible, intelligent, pretty sis-"
"Hello, Henry." A familiar voice replied from right behind Evie, making the girl flinch with wide eyes and goosebumps that dotted her previously clear pale skin.
Evie then slowly turned around as Mr. Gold was standing there with a small smirk.
"Evelyn. Delia." Mr. Gold then continued to greet.
"Heh... H-H-Hello there, Mr. Gold..." Evie smiled bashfully.
"Shouldn't you young people be in school?" Mr. Gold asked with a small smirk as his knuckles rested on his cane's handle that shared his namesake.
"Erm... Uh... We'd like to, but... Uh..." Henry smiled nervously even if he wasn't as scared as Evie was a few moments ago.
"Today was a half day, Mr. Gold." Dee Dee piped up innocently.
"Oh... I see..." Mr. Gold then said with a nod. "Well, you all enjoy the rest of your day away from school then. Me? I have work to do and so does Benjamin. I can give you all a lift back home if you would prefer?" he then offered.
"Erm... That's okay, Mr. Gold..." Evie grinned nervously. "We love to get outside and have some exercise anyway."
"Smart thinking, young Miss Mills," Mr. Gold approved with a small smirk. "You always had smart ideas and especially not being like all of the other kids or taking advantage of being Mayor Mills' daughter."
"Y-Yes, sir..." Evie nodded before she dashed off suddenly with Henry and Dee Dee. "Come on, guys. We better go!" she then suggested.
Henry and Dee Dee yelped as they were suddenly taken for a ride by Evie.
"Talk to you later, Mr. Gold!" Evie called out as she ran for her life.
Mr. Gold chuckled and shook his head before he walked off rather mysteriously.
Later on, Evie sighed as she sat outside by herself with a lot on her mind. She looked up at the night sky and crossed her arms as she stepped outside from the mansion after dinner. She wanted to hang out with Ruby, though some things seemed to be looking up for the older girl because she was going to a certain place right about now. At least that was what she heard from Kiara who was also coming to the diner.
"Kiara, what are you doing up so late and coming back over here?" Granny asked her younger waitress.
"Sorry Granny, but I had to bring you something." Kiara replied.
"Whatever could it be?" Granny then asked.
"Actually... It's not too much of a what, it's... More of a who..." Kiara said with a small, sheepish smile.
"Okay then... Who?" Granny asked.
Soon, out came Ruby as Kiara stepped aside.
Granny then nodded her head once she saw what Kiara had in mind. "You look good." she then told her granddaughter.
"Thanks." Ruby nodded at her grandmother.
"Want something for the Sheriff?"
"No."
Granny nodded before she cried out and grabbed her other arm in sudden pain.
"Your arm okay?" Ruby asked softly.
"Same as it is every full moon," Granny replied, having some scars on her arm that almost looked like they could come from a wolf attack. "What are you doing here, Ruby?" she then demanded. "You here to tell me more about your fine new job?"
"I wanna come back." Ruby soon confessed.
"Why? You were pretty mad." Granny frowned.
"I wasn't mad." Ruby defended.
"Looked like mad from here." Granny scoffed.
"Mm-hmm, yeah. Here's the thing, um... You were talking about having me do all this stuff, and I... Wasn't sure," Ruby nodded before she explained herself. "I-I said that, you wanted me to turn into you, but... What I meant was, I don't know how to be you. You're a tough act to follow."
"Oh." Granny said softly to that.
"And then you wanted me to take on all this extra responsibility, and I... Guess I just got scared." Ruby then added.
"Don't be. You shouldn't be."
"Well, I am, but, it's okay. I can do it anyway. I sort of found someone in myself that was more than I expected."
"What about adventure? What about lemurs?"
"Emma was my lemur," Ruby said with a small smile. "Did that, found out I could do that, and also that I don't want to. I don't want a job where a good day means ruining someone's life. I want to do something that makes me happy. Somewhere I love." she then added.
Granny gave her granddaughter a long look before she sighed and began to tell her something, but also warning her. "Look; just so you know, I wanted you to do the books and everything, so you could take over when I retire," she then explained. "Own the whole place."
Ruby's eyes widened a little. "Own it?" she then asked in surprise.
"Sure. I mean, who else would I give it to but someone who loves me back?" Granny replied with a small smile.
The two soon came over to each other and then shared a happy family reunion hug.
"Proud of you." Granny whispered in the hug.
Ruby hid a small smirk. "What was that?" she then asked.
"You heard me." Granny smirked back once they got out of the hug.
Kiara hid a small giggle as she overheard that before she decided to head back home herself.
Evie sighed as she continued to sit alone in her backyard underneath her mother's favorite apple tree. She soon got bored and decided to take a walk to clear her mind and saw that Jane was leaving the cemetery again. "Jane?" she then asked.
Jane's eyes widened as she let out a small yelp.
"...What're you doing outside so late at night?" Evie asked the other girl.
"...I could ask you the same question." Jane said with a small innocent smile.
"...Well, I just have a lot on my mind right now," Evie shrugged with her hands behind her back. "I wanna talk to someone, but I don't know who I could talk to... Henry's too young to understand, Mom's complicated, Ben and I are slowly making up as friends... I just... I don't know who else to turn to."
Jane frowned as she looked a little thoughtful. "...Well, maybe you could do what I do?" she then suggested.
"I'm not sure if I could talk to Mother Superior about what I'm feeling right now, Jane," Evie replied. "No offense of course."
"No, not that, I mean... You know why I go to the cemetery almost every night?" Jane then explained before rhetorically asking a question.
Evie opened her mouth as though to answer, though she stopped herself as she couldn't have a proper response to that question.
"I'm actually talking with my mother." Jane replied.
"Your mom?" Evie blinked. "Didn't your mother... Uh... Kinda... Well, you know?" she then asked, feeling awkward about asking, but it was true (as far as they knew).
"Die? Well... Yes, she did, but I talk to her grave and act like she's right there with me if I could imagine what it would be like to talk to her," Jane explained softly. "Mother Superior says my mother died after I was born after leaving me into her care and the other sisters in the church and I never knew my father, so... Sometimes I pretend what she would look like, what she would say to me, how she would help me... Sometimes I see her in my dreams and feel her in my heart whenever I run away and feel like crying."
"Oh..." Evie blinked. "Jane, that sounds so sad and sweet at the same time."
"Dr. Hopper told me to just tell her what's on my mind as she's there with me in my heart and soul," Jane then said as she put her hand over her heart with a very small smile. "It can be hard, but it can be nice to let those feelings out to someone even if they're no longer with you."
"I guess I never thought about it like that," Evie said before she had a small smile back at the feeble, meek, and plain girl. "And I think I'll do the same and follow your example and talk to a certain someone."
"Who do you think you'll talk to?" Jane wondered.
"Sorry, but that's between me and my spirit guide," Evie replied. "Thank you so much for the advice though, Jane."
"Oh. You're welcome, Evie. I'm glad that I could help." Jane smiled.
"You did in more ways than you even know." Evie smiled back with a nod.
And so, the two girls split up for the night as things seemed to wrap up nicely in the end. At least for the teenagers, for the adults, something probably about 10 times a lot worse was happening right now as we speak.