AN: What now? Another early update? This chapter got short, so I thought, why not?
What really happened in the office? Well, you're about to find out xD And I hope you all will like Ruby's idea!
Ghost of Days Gone By
The mayor sat rigidly behind her desk, her features hard and unforgiving, and she had yet to start talking. I tried to read her, searched her eyes for any of the cordiality they had been showing the previous night, but found none. Had anything changed between us, at all? Judging by the look on her face it didn't seem that way and I pressed my lips to a thin line, awaiting the apparent issue to be addressed.
"You do have a clear criminal record, isn't that right, Miss Swan?" she said finally.
The question took me by surprise. Surprise, that quickly turned into suspicion.
"Yeah, that's...correct," I replied warily. "You got access to all of that when I began working here."
"But you were arrested?" she insisted.
"Yes," I confirmed, after only a brief moment of hesitance. "Once. But I went through this with Mr Humbert already, he said it wasn't a problem."
"He's quite right, though he really needs to stop leaving information out of his reports," she said disapprovingly. "I was never told about this arrest."
"Then how do you know about it?" I asked with a frown and narrowed my eyes at her. "Did you google me? Is that what you did?"
When had she found time to do that? In the middle of the night after dropping me off? During breakfast? The thought of the mayor sipping morning coffee while typing my name into the Google search field was not exactly laughable, but certainly curious. The person seated in front of me now didn't have much in common with the one in my inner picture, and the only response she gave to my questions was a small, satisfied smirk that was gone a second later.
"Why was your record cleared?"
"Well, maybe because I was innocent?" I said with a hint of irritation in my voice, not enjoying this interrogation. "I was framed by my girlfriend at the time, who I didn't know was into such shady businesses. Figures you didn't find the articles explaining that, it takes a lot more digging than the other crap."
The mayor's stern expression softened notably and I realized she had probably been prepared to find out I was some former criminal. Just like me, she hadn't been sure where we stood with each other. With the tension in the room easing I dared a tentative smile.
"I really don't like my ex," I said in a humorous tone, and was rewarded with a small upturn of her lips and one of her standard eye rolls.
"Well, if that's what you compare your potential partners to I understand why you wouldn't consider Guyliner a such bad choice."
She was joking, she was only joking, but it hit a nerve and wasn't really funny at all. Five years was a long time, but the betrayal... I would never fully get over Cassidy's betrayal.
"You're forgetting the fact that I'm gay," I tried to counter, frustrated when my voice let me down and sounded nowhere near as confident as I would've wanted it to.
I quickly pulled myself together again and forced the past back in the past, where it belonged. The mayor gave me an obscure look, like she had known and hadn't known all at once.
"So you are?" she questioned neutrally, giving nothing away.
"Attracted to women?" I said and raised a quizzical brow. "I thought that was a pretty established fact by now."
She must've known, otherwise I had no idea what the hell she had been teasing me for all week. Why were we even having this conversation? How was my sexuality of any interest to her? Killian's parting words suddenly echoed in my head, 'go solve your little problem.' To deny that I'd like exactly that to happen would've been a lie, but I knew it was a ridiculous thought and scolded myself instead. Get a grip.
"Well, one can be attracted to more than one gender, can't they?"
It wasn't a question as much as it was a statement, just inclusive enough to have me wondering.
"Of course," I agreed, deciding to test her. "How involved are you with LGBTQ rights?"
"Enough to see the legislation of same-sex marriage in our state last winter as long overdue," she replied in a heartbeat. "We're all people and should be treated equally."
I nodded approvingly, pleased with her answer. She might actually be growing in my eyes.
"I must say, I didn't take you for a caring person," I said honestly.
Perhaps a little too honestly, because I could almost swear there was a sudden glint of hurt in her eyes, and I cursed my own tactlessness.
"If I didn't care about people I don't think I would make a very good mayor," she bit back, her defenses returning. "Doesn't mean I have to personally like each and every one of my citizens."
"True," I admitted quietly, discouraged by her words.
So she did care about me, but she didn't like me. She couldn't have been more clear even if she had said it directly to me, and I felt...foolish. Of course nothing had changed! Why did I never learn? I let out a discreet sigh.
"Was there anything else you wanted to talk to me about or can I, um, go have my breakfast now?" I asked, dismayed when I checked the time and realized that my break was, in fact, over.
"Actually, there is one more thing," the brunette declared, straightening in her seat and momentarily directing her hostility elsewhere. "Killian Jones. I want you to know that if he does anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, here at work or privately, don't hesitate to tell me."
My eyes widened and the smile was a hair away when I remembered that this wasn't about me – "If I didn't care about people I don't think I would make a very good mayor" – it was only about her duties as mayor and employer.
"Sure," I said, banishing the disappointment to the back of my mind.
If she thought my answer seemed lame she didn't show it. Instead she looked down at her papers and picked up her office phone, as if I had suddenly ceased to exist.
"You may leave."
So I left, cursing inwardly at the faint tightness in my chest. My body and mind were betraying me. Two weeks ago I couldn't have cared less what she thought of me. Her anger had – if anything – been a turn on for me, a challenge, fun, but now here was this familiar seek for approval. Her approval. I could not let her get to me this easily! I couldn't...have breakfast, because she had wasted my whole break talking nonsense. Kind of.
In an act of defiance I went to the breakroom anyway, even took time to eat slowly, and no one commented on it. Killian wasn't to be seen until noon.
The rest of the week unfolded uneventfully, although not without tension.
Things were strained between me and the mayor in a way it hadn't been before, with neither of us really sure of how to act toward the other. There were some of the old bantering, some of the newer teasing, and then actually a few instances where she appeared almost...friendly? At least neutral, and considering her hostile disposition that was a change for the better. So in a way, something had changed, and I was glad that the discoveries about my past hadn't worsened things.
Things were also strained between me and Killian, his thick brain seeming to finally comprehend the reality of my disinterest. I didn't hesitate to tell him about the mayor's request, and after that, when we talked, it wasn't about the – non-existent – potentiality of me and him. It wasn't about the – also non-existent – potentiality of me and the mayor. He drastically toned down the teasing and suggestiveness in general, and I greatly appreciated it. I had a feeling he would soon forget the gravity of the situation, it would fade, and Captain Hooker – or Hook, as he preferred – would be back. But until then, I was enjoying this break from him.
Two people things were less strained with, though, was Ruby and Mei Lan. The three of us met up for another jog on Sunday morning – later than last week but before Granny's opened – and although cloudy, the weather was alright. Ruby was clearly in good shape and appeared to be born to run, which led Mei Lan and I – both preferring a slower pace – to team up as the tall brunette made detours to match her need for speed. It was a relief to be among people I could be myself with again, to be able to let my guard down a bit, and I couldn't even pretend to be mad at Ruby for playing matchmaker last weekend.
"How was your week?" Mei Lan questioned suddenly, not having spoken much until now.
"I dunno, kinda emotionally exhausting, I guess," I answered truthfully between rhythmicbreaths. "But hey, did you know about the mayor's devotion to LGBTQ rights?"
It just slipped out, since I was still positively surprised, but perhaps I would come regret it.
"Regina Mills? No, I had no idea, that was never in her campaign. Where did you hear that?"
"Did someone say Mills?" Ruby interjected, appearing out of nowhere.
Mei Lan gave her a small smile and shared a knowing look with me.
"Your hearing never ceases to amaze me," she teased the brunette, who flashed a wolfish grin and faked incomprehension.
"How else would I be able to pick up on all the rumours in town?"
It felt carefree and easy like this, and maybe they would forget about what I had said and don't ask any more questions about it. Maybe. Just maybe.
"So what about the Mills bitch?" Ruby said dauntlessly, turning toward Mei Lan with an expectant look on her face. "What did she do now?"
For someone who had myself used the same word – several times, actually – to describe the mayor, it bothered me surprisingly much to hear it from the waitress. What also bothered me was the way she had just assumed the mayor had done something bad, when this time it was actually some good news. Then again, she wasn't an easy person to like, so it wasn't surprising that Ruby – or anyone, really – would talk about her like that. It wasn't surprising at all.
"...so I was just asking Emma where she'd heard that."
Ruby focused her attention on me and I chided myself for opening my mouth today. My initial physical clumsiness upon moving to Storybrooke had been mostly temporary, but my verbal one... It wasn't new and I guessed I had to accept that hope was lost for me.
Why had I become a paralegal again? Oh, right. Because of my deceitful ex, the dear Ms Neal, and all the legal drama following our brief little love story. Ironically, it was also my involvement with her that had made getting hired an uphill battle. I had sent my resumeto a number of firms, but why would they choose someone with nearly no experience and a questionable history with the law when they had other – spotless – applicants to pick from? In the majority of the cases I hadn't even gotten as far as to an interview.
The setback had been enough to make me opt for a break and just get away. Away from my hometown, away from my parents. After the trials I had been living with them again for a little more than four years, because they had insisted they loved to have me around and money had really been scarce. All the lawyer fees and study fees and... My parents had supported me both economically and emotionally through it all, and that had been a turning point in our relationship. I had found myself believing, finally, that maybe I was enough, after all. Yeah, the past few years hadn't been all that bad, actually.
Suddenly there was someone bumping my shoulder.
"Hello, Earth to Emma!"
Ruby was grinning and I had no idea if she had just gotten tired of waiting for me to speak or if anyone had asked me a question.
"What?"
"Well, I'm dying of curiosity here! You can't just leave me guessing where you got that treasurable piece of information. It can't be that hard to remember?"
"Oh, I...uh," I began haltingly.
I couldn't tell them the mayor told me herself, because I didn't want them to know I worked for her. That was just one detail they were better off without, for now. Neither could I give them a name, because Ruby would know who it was, or she would soon find out.
"I just heard it somewhere," I said vaguely. "Sorry, I was in a hurry and didn't have time to stop and interrogate them."
Ruby gave me a pout and when I looked over at Mei Lan there was an unmistakeable smirk on her face.
"Not everyone is like you," she pointed out to the brunette.
"I guess not," Ruby muttered in response, but then lit up suddenly. "We should have a Pride parade!"
"In Storybrooke?" Mei Lan questioned skeptically. "We'd be like, what, ten people?"
I couldn't help to chuckle at the scene depicted in my mind, and the brunette joined in on the laughter.
"But Mei, you're forgetting about all the straight allies," she said in mock patronage, smiling toward her friend. "I think this is actually a great idea! Nothing ever happens in this town and if the mayor approves, then this could be truly awesome!"
Ruby was all but bouncing with excitement and I decided I was totally supportive of this idea, the prospect of meeting some local lesbians only being one of the many reasons.
"Even if she doesn't, it could still be good," she added optimistically.
I can ask her personally, I thought to offer, but realized I couldn't without revealing that – and how – I knew the mayor. And maybe it wouldn't have been helpful anyway, maybe she'd say no just because I was the one asking. We would have to find another solution.
"She kind of has to approve, you know," Mei Lan pointed out, slowing down to a walk as we neared the end of our round. "At least if we have enough support for our idea. It wouldn't look good on her to deny her people what they want."
"It would not," the waitress agreed, her smile smug for a moment before brightening. "Then we just have to get everyone to root for this parade! And we can do that. Right, Emma?"
I met Ruby's expectant eyes and smirked.
"Of course!"
