Prompted by anonsnowing on Tumblr: #64 (are you human)
Mary Margaret knows it was dangerous to take a walk with a guy she didn't know. Well, she knows David sort of. He works at the coffee shop she went to every day. He couldn't have been hired if he was a known serial killer.
Not all serial killers were known.
She shakes the thought from her head. David is a sweet guy. A little awkward, but sweet. She supposes she can't judge awkward. She spent 6 hours in a coffee shop, trying to ignore the crowd at her house. Speaking of which, Regina has been blowing up her phone. She sighs and quickly sends a text, letting her know she's okay. She tells her she can go home, she'll clean up later. Ever stubborn, Regina refuses to leave and says she'll see her soon.
"Ready to go?"
Mary Margaret turns to find David standing there. His apron is gone and he's got a leather jacket on over his flannel shirt. She sticks her hands into her sweater pocket and nods.
"How far is this lake?"
David locks the door to the cafe. "Not very. Just follow me."
They walk at a slow pace around the block. The only sounds are the few cars going by on the street and the light buzzing from the street lamp. It's early spring, so the weather isn't too cold but isn't that warm either. Mary Margaret can remember the funeral director saying they were lucky they didn't need the ground to thaw.
So lucky my mom died at a convenient time for all of you.
They turn a corner and are suddenly far from Main Street. They're surrounded by trees and dirt. Storybrooke is like that, half big city and half woodland. The pamphlets describe it as the best of both worlds, thus the name. It seems like something out of a storybook. No matter where you go for always end up back there.
David comes to a stop when they reach the lake. Mary Margaret hasn't seen this one before. The moon and stars shine down on it. A frog ribbits off a lilly pad. It's calm, peaceful.
"How'd you find out about this place?" she asks.
"When my dad died, my brother and I would escape the house to forget. James found the lake. We'd catch frogs for hours."
Mary Margaret lightly smiles. "You have a brother?"
"Identical twin. He lives in New York, Manhattan. He goes to school there." David kicks the grass. "Doesn't visit often."
"You go see him?"
"Don't exactly have the time or the money. I'm in school and anything from the cafe goes to my mom's medical bills."
"Your mom…"
"Cancer."
Mary Margaret's eyes widen. "David, you….and here I am…" She had unloaded on him and he clearly had enough going on.
David puts a hand on her forearm. "Don't. It's fine. I like a distraction from my shit." He smiles and it warms her stomach. "I couldn't even visit her tonight, I got off after visiting hours."
Mary Margaret nods. "So, you do it all alone? Since James is in New York?"
"I didn't tell you this to make it about me…"
"I want a distraction," Mary Margaret interrupts. "So tell me about it."
David sighs. "Yeah. James offered to come back but Mom wouldn't head of it. She hates I help enough as it is. My uncle, her brother, is around, but he sucks. All he does is remind me I should be studying law or something useful."
"What's your major?"
"Criminal justice. I wanna be a cop."
"I like that."
"And you?"
"Elementary education. Not sure about a grade yet. My student teaching is going to be 5th."
David nods. "I can see you as a teacher."
"Really?" She tilts her head. "Why?"
"The unicorn sticker, on the binder. You just have that bubbly, teachery vibe."
Mary Margaret can feel her cheeks heat. She dips her head before meeting his blue eyes again.
"Are you human? Is this real?" she asks.
David's eyebrows furrow. "Huh?"
"My mom died today, I was miserable. And now...I'm here by this beautiful lake with a guy that before this week all I said was "iced mocha please"." She shrugs. "It just seems so surreal."
David bites his lip. "I just know what it's like. No one should be alone at a time like this."
Mary Margaret thinks of Regina, who's still waiting for her at the house. She thinks of Ruby, her best friend from childhood, who bakes muffins to help her through this. Her mind even goes to Aurora, who offered to take her drinking to get her mind off things.
She loves her friends. But she doesn't want to be with them right now.
She feels safest with the man who pours her coffee. Who's staring at her with this smile. She finds herself reaching for his hand and not letting go.