Family is Forever
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Chapter 5
My eyes felt heavy as they finally fluttered open from the short slumber of peace that I was granted. The library had been completely empty during the free period that I had been given, while listening to my music I had fallen into a deep sleep. Due to being in such pain after the abuse last night, I had barely been able to get any sleep at all. I hadn't even realized just how tired I really was until my eyes closed as I welcomed the darkness gratefully. I lifted my head off from the table it had been resting on and glanced at the time on my IPod.
"You can't be serious!" I yelled, standing up in shock! I let out a small whimper as I wrapped my arms around my hurt ribs. A wave of pain shot through me for standing up so suddenly and quickly. It was already 3pm! I had slept through the entire day; I can't believe it, I am in for some serious shit when I get home. Why the hell didn't a teacher come and get me? I can't believe that I actually slept through every bell ringing for the classes, hadn't Lilly wondered where I was during lunch?
I sighed as I shoved my IPod into the back of my jean pocket and carefully gathered up my backpack. I rubbed the tired sleep out of my eyes and headed down for the crowded hall that was flooded with kids rushing to get home. I finally made it to my locker and spotted Lilly at her locker, which was right next to mine.
Her eyes widen with glee and surprise when she spotted me. "Emma there you are! I thought you had left and returned home for the day?" she questioned me.
I raised my right eyebrow completely confused. "Why would you think that? I only left for second period, but I ended up falling asleep in the library and somehow slept through the entire day. Why didn't Mr. Bayne or someone come and get me after not showing up for class?" I asked.
"Oh Emma you missed it all completely! After the classes all got to meet the cast they decided to start auditions right away! And every class was free study day due to all the excitement everyone was in. The teachers didn't even bother to take attendance since they were certain that nobody would be trying to skip out of school today" she laughed. "I just figured you went on home since you didn't show up for lunch" she added.
Well at least that means I wouldn't be getting a call to home for missing my classes, thank God! Lilly pulled out her phone and practically shoved it in my face.
"Look, look Emma I got to meet all of them! They were all really nice!" she squealed happily.
I let Lilly have her little fun showing me her pictures and telling me all about her amazing day as I put away my books back into my locker. Since all of my classes were nothing but free time today, that meant I had no homework this weekend.
"Oh by the way Emma, Ginnifer Goodwin was asking about you" she said.
While placing a book inside my locker my body froze, and my heart started pounding loudly. It was never good when a celebrity started asking questions about you, that always meant that they were taking a personal interest in you, not good! Not looking back at Lilly I ask. "What did she want?" my voice was cold, but shaky as well.
"She said that you told her how you hated celebrities and was just curious as to why you hated them. I told that I didn't really know for sure because I have only known you for a few months and don't know much about your personal life. I also told her that you just started going to school here recently after moving in with your new foster family" she explained.
I slammed my locker loudly and turned to face Lilly. "Why would you tell her about them?" I asked angrily.
By now the hall was nearly empty as her eyes looked at me stunned. "What the heck is wrong with you Emma? I was just explaining how you recently moved here. She was interest in knowing about you" she answered annoyed.
"My life is none of her concern. Once she's gone from here she'll probably be living it up in one of the three or four mansions that she and her husband probably own anyway" I replied.
"Actually we only own one mansion back in L.A" said a voice.
Once again my body froze as my heart pounded like beating drums. Lilly squealed like a maniac as she ran over to the actress that I knew was now behind me. What the hell was she still doing here?
"Ginnifer, Josh what are you two still doing here?" Lilly asked.
"Oh Josh and I decided to take a short walk around the school. Being at a high school was kind of bringing back old memories for us" she answered.
"That's right! You guys were high school sweethearts weren't you?" I could tell Lilly was ready to burst even without looking. I didn't want to turn around and face them, they were celebrities, celebrities were cruel! But even if I knew all this, something about her voice was just so warm and inviting, it was getting really hard not to face her.
"Since freshmen year, the moment are eyes met I just knew I had to be with her" Josh explained proudly.
"That's so romantic" Lilly sighed.
My heart pounded even faster, why were these voices calling to my broken heart? Finally I turned to face the celebrities and Lilly as I zipped up my backpack.
"Lilly I'll be heading home now" I announced. Need to escape, now!
"Wait Emma, would you like a ride home? We could drop the both of you home off if you like" Ginnifer asked.
I stared at the celebrity couple and saw something strange in their eyes, hope? Why would they care so much about giving me a ride home, could this be some kind of trap?
I shook my head as I placed the hoodie over my long blonde hair. Although the ride sounded so tempting for my aching ribs, there was just no way that I could let these two have the possibility of meeting someone like my foster mother. "No thanks I like walking home, it isn't far" I explained simply.
"Emma are you crazy!? These people actually want to give you a ride home which is probably in a limo!" Lilly begged.
I rolled my eyes, oh yeah I remember that damn limo that got me soaked with dirty water. "Calm down Lilly, I'm sure they'll still be happy to take you home. You know that I like walking" I explained calmly.
"But you walk seven miles to and from school every day Emma!" she whined.
Ginnifer gasped. "You walked to school this morning during that heavy rain storm, couldn't your foster parents have given you a ride?" she asked. She looked shocked, hurt, and even a bit angry?
I glared at Lilly for a moment and she looked at me apologetically for letting her words slip. With a sigh I faced the celebrity. "My foster parents are busy people and don't always have the time to drive me to school, but I really don't mind. Seven miles really isn't that much once you've become use to it" I explained.
"But walking in that rain this morning, you could have gotten sick" she said concerned.
For a moment I was surprised at how much worry I could hear that was coming from the actress. I honestly didn't know what to think at this point anymore. I shrugged. "I don't get sick easily, besides a little rain never killed anyone" I replied.
"Won't you please reconsider to allow us to give you that ride home Emma?" asked Josh.
"Sorry but I don't take rides from strangers" I answered stubbornly.
"Oh Emma there not strangers, they are famous actors that want to give us a ride home, please Emma, please!" Lilly begged.
I rolled my eyes. "Seriously Lilly you act like there gods or something. It doesn't matter if there famous or not, they are still people like us, and are no better than we are" I explained calmly.
Lilly gave me her sad puppy dog face and I was close to cracking. Despite acting cold and tough towards the girl I could never really be as cold as I tried to be. It didn't help with the fact that my ribs were practically begging for that ride home. I looked at the famous couple and could see so many different emotions through their eyes, hope, sadness, concern, pride, love? My mind was racing with questions that I was too afraid and too stubborn to ask.
"I know there not gods Emma, but they are good people that help bring us a magical show to a world where most television shows have gone to the toilets these days. I also know that you enjoy the show just as much I do Emma, but you are just too stubborn to admit it" Lilly argued now annoyed.
"Girls, please you don't need to argue" said Ginnifer concerned.
I glared at Lilly already frustrated from the aching pain and everything that has happened within these last 24 hours. All I wanted to do was hide away in the woods, away from everyone and everything, no more pain, no more hurting please, I'm just so tired.
Despite having that nice long day of sleeping my soul felt exhausted, too exhausted to argue anymore. Honestly I just didn't care anymore. "Fine I'll take that ride home if the offer is still available" I grumbled.
Both actors looked surprised but their eyes were filled with excitement. "Thank you Emma this will be wonderful" Ginnifer spoke honestly.
"Where do you girls live?" asked Josh. It looked like he was trying to control his excitement, and Ginnifer looked like she wanted to jump up and down.
"This is so cool!" squealed Lilly. Too late, Lilly was already jumping up and down for the both of them. "I live just a block away from Emma in Redwood Raven neighborhood" Lilly explained.
"That's not too far from the hotel that we are staying at. I remember us passing by that area on are way when we first arrived" Josh smiled.
I sighed and started heading towards the exit. I could feel that no one was following me and I looked back at the confused couple and the still bouncing Lilly. "Well are we going?" I cocked my head to the side.
Ginnifer smiled brightly and headed over to me. "Of course were coming. So Emma, do you really like Once Upon A Time?" she asked hopefully.
Josh and Lilly trailed behind us as Lilly was bombarding the poor man with a million questions at once.
I grumbled stubbornly at the pleading hope in her eyes, how could I lie to a face like that? It would be like kicking a puppy. "Yes I like it"
"So who's your favorite character then?" she asked grinning playfully. We made it outside and I noticed that the limo was nowhere in sight.
"Where's the limo?" I asked.
Josh headed for brand new looking black Volvo as he pulled out a set of keys to unlock the back seat door. "The rest of the cast left earlier than us and we like to travel with just the two of us when we can. This is just a rental" he explained.
Lilly whistle. "Well it certainly is no limo, but I'm not complaining" she grinned. She ducked her head and took her seat on the far left behind the driver's seat smiling cheerfully.
"Back to the question Emma, who's your favorite?" Gin asked curiously.
I blinked and glanced back and forth from Gin to Josh, not quite sure what to say. "Umm I like them all" I tried.
"My favorite is Snow White!" Lilly shouted from inside the car. I had already placed my backpack on the floor of the car, and was about to get in before I got cornered between the actors that were staring at me like curious kids needing answers.
"Come on Emma you have to have a favorite, Josh and I won't care who it is. Were just really curious" she nearly begged me with her deep green eyes.
"You might not like it" I explained carefully.
"Oh Emma neither of us are going to get mad or anything" Josh chuckled.
"All right, all right it's Regina" I answered. (No this will not be a Swan Queen fic or anything like that. Emma has her reasons to why she favors Regina's character)
Gin, Josh, and Lilly all looked surprised. "But she's evil!" Lilly cried. "Lana is great though!" she quickly added.
"She only became evil because of her wicked mother. Evil is made not born" I stated stubbornly. Honestly, after everything I have been through it's amazing that I haven't become evil myself. I know that I was no angel, far from it actually, but I would never hurt another person intentionally. Not unless I was defending myself.
"I also believe in that statement" said Ginnifer. I looked up at her and she gave me a warm smile with pride. Josh opened the door for his wife and we both finally climbed in as he went over to the driver's seat. Ginnifer was sitting in the front passenger's seat.
"Well I think Regina is planning something wicked and cruel, didn't you see that evil smile at the end of the season!?" asked Lilly.
Josh was smiling as he started up the car and pulled out of the parking lot. I gave him the direction to our homes and he thanked me.
"I think she is just trying to cover up the pain she is feeling inside. I also think that deep down she really could be good, if given the chance" I said.
"Do you guys know how they plan on doing the second season yet? Surely you all have gotten your scripts by now?" Lilly asked curiously with excitement.
Ginnifer turned around slightly so that she could look at us. "Sorry but where not allow to give away anything. We only know a little bit about the second season ourselves" she explained. "So Emma, Lilly told me that you just moved here a few months ago. Where are you from original, if I may ask?" she asked curiously.
My eyes became empty as I thought about my birth place; I honestly had no clue where I was born. I was told that I had been found in Boston, New York and left to die on the side of the road. Apparently I had been so small that people said I should have died within hours after my birth anyhow. "I'm not exactly sure where I was born, but I am from Boston, New York as far as I know" I explained. I could feel frustrated tears that wanted to fall but I refused to let them. I hated not being able to answer such a simple question.
Everyone became quiet and uncertain of what to say. I looked into Ginnifer's eyes and could see such sadness, but why? Why would a celebrity like her feel so much sadness for someone like me? What did I matter to her anyway?
"Emma…I" It was obvious she wanted to say something, but couldn't figure out what to say.
I blinked back the unwanted tears, this is why I hated talking about my past. It made me feel week, helpless, vulnerable, I couldn't let people see me broken, I just couldn't. "Look it's no big deal really, lots of people don't know where there from or who their real parents are" I said as if it really was no big deal.
"Emma" Lilly said softly.
"If it helps Emma I think that whoever your real parents are, I'm sure that they are missing you like crazy" Ginnifer said carefully.
Josh made a right turn into our neighborhood and I could see that he was heading to Lilly's house first. "How can you be so sure they didn't just throw me away?" I asked stubbornly. My arms were folded and I glared at the actress annoyed. It was because of her that I was feeling so weak, so lost, I hated it!
She shook her head and gave me beautiful smile that seemed to glow, but I could also see tears just barely forming in her green eyes. "Because only foolish parents would try and give away such a bright and beautiful girl like you"
At that moment the car stopped and we were finally at Lilly's but my mind was at complete lost. No one has ever given me such a warm and kind compliment like this before, her voice was so sincere that her words just couldn't be a lie. Lilly softly said goodbye and thanked Ginnifer and Josh as she headed for her home, leaving the three of us completely alone. I didn't know what to say as Josh now drove to my place.
"Believe me I'm no angel" I replied sarcastically, finally regaining my composure.
Josh chuckled. "And believe it or not, but Ginnifer here isn't as sweet as she may look. If you mess with anyone she cares about she won't be as passive as Snow White tends can be at times" he explained almost proudly.
"Oh Josh stop saying such lies" She hit his shoulder lightly with a laugh.
"Is that true? I can't see her really threatening anyone, no offense?" I smiled. The strange part was it was a real genuine smile, how long has it been since I truly smiled like this?
Ginnifer huffed like she was upset but she wore a playful grin to let me know that she wasn't really offended. "It really is true. This one time when we were dating in high school this cheerleader had been trying to flirt with me all day, even though I told her repeatedly that I was already with Gin, the girl just wouldn't give up. Ginnifer had become so irritated with her that she just had to get back at her. So she and Meghan (Red Riding Hood) decided to plot against the cheerleader. Since the cheerleaders usually used the school showers after practice Meghan bought some blue hair dye and emptied out the girl's conditioner so that Ginnifer could pour in the blue hair dye into the condition's bottle. Needless to say that the girl freaked out completely, she was screaming throughout the entire school when she came out of the shower with blue hair" he laughed.
"Hey that girl deserved it! She was known for breaking couples apart by getting the boyfriend to fall for her, and then dumping them once the girl ran home crying" Ginnifer explained.
I laughed, I couldn't help it. For some reason even though I hadn't met the actress Meghan I could easily see her and Ginnifer plotting wickedly against the pathetic cheerleader. The car was filled with laughter as I got to hear some more stories, and despite the pain in my ribs I didn't want to stop enjoying myself. It was so strange, I never allowed myself to feel so carefree before, especially not around celebrities. I still didn't trust these two completely, and I know I shouldn't let myself grow close to them. After all they weren't going to be here forever, every time I allowed myself to grow close to anyone they would suddenly leave me. I don't know if I would be able to handle it if I grew close to these two, just to watch them leave. All too soon we finally arrived to my place and I found myself not wanting to leave the safety of this car. Once I left this car I knew that I would be back in my dark world with people that hated me. I almost found myself begging to stay, but I knew I couldn't, nobody could save me from my world.
TBC!