Authors Note: Hope you enjoy
I was at my locker gathering the books I needed for my morning classes, and putting away my homework assignments for my later classes away for now. First class was history, I prayed that we didn't have a fairytale character in history class at least. That was one of my favorite subjects. I was really good at memorizing dates, events, names and such, numbers was another specialty of mine. Although I have all As, I do struggle with science at times, and creative writing. I hate creative writing, most of the time we have to think up our own stories and I wasn't very good in that department. I didn't have a huge imagination, because I preferred facts. I guess it was crazy not to have an imaginative mind in during these times, ever since it had become known that fairytale characters were real about 100 years ago.
I close my locker once I had everything I needed, and let out a tired yawn. What I wouldn't give for a night without nightmares. But until whatever is supposed to happen, I'll keep having them. I hate how they're nothing but a bad warning sign, warning me that something is going to change in my life. Although I hated this foster home, it would have been nice to finish one year in the same school for once. I shake my head trying to get my mind off of something I had no control of. It was going to be a long day and I needed to be focused.
The hallway was starting to fill up with students, and I wanted to escape, I hated crowds. I had a good 15 minutes before 1st period so I decided to get some reading done in the library. The library was almost always empty before 1st period. Not even the old librarian would be in yet.
I was happy to see the empty library once I had finally made my way inside. It was an average size library, and the collection was pretty good. I made my way to the end of the room where there was a circle of four comfy cushion chairs, in the center of the chairs was a round wooden table. People liked to try and get this spot during the day in order to study and get school work done with friends. It was either this spot, or you'd have to sit at one of the three long tables to the right of the room. The chairs were wooden and pretty uncomfortable for most students, it didn't help that they were old and some needed to be replaced. In front of the tables and throughout the rest of the room were the bookshelves, and books. Beside the tables to the right of them were the restrooms.
I sat myself down onto the chair and got myself comfy. Sitting my backpack onto the floor I pulled out my Diary of Anne Frank book. I was reading it for my history class, we we're learning about the holocaust and Mr. Freeman gave us a book report to do on Anne Frank. We got the book yesterday and the book report is due next Monday. Thankfully it's only Tuesday.
Mr. Freeman was a great teacher, he was one of those teachers that actually loved to teach and got you excited to learn. I loved being able to talk with him about different history topics during my free study period. He was one of the few adults in my life that I didn't feel like I had to keep my guard up. He was a man in his late 50s, he already had grey hair showing on his once dark black hair, and he needed to wear glasses because the vision in his light blue eyes was slowly going. He wouldn't become completely blind, but his eye sight is not as strong as it used to be. Mr. Freeman was like a grandfather figure I imagine a grandfather would be like, he was kind, he doesn't ask me questions about my past, and he keeps my mind busy with my studies. I think he knows that school work helps me keep my mind off of my rotten home life.
Within five minutes I had really gotten absorbed into the book. I didn't want to put it down, but my peaceful moment was ruined by a familiar voice.
"I knew you'd be here Emma"
I looked up to see 12 year old Neal. Despite his crappy background he was able to skip the fifth grade. He was pretty smart, and loved to read just as much as I did. But unlike me he loved to read about fairytales and magic. Well the moment hadn't been completely ruined, I did enjoy spending time with Neal. He was a foster kid like me, he was small for his size though, about an inch or two smaller than myself. He said he's been in homes where he would be forced without meals for days, I knew what that was like. Thankfully I was good at stealing food, I knew how to stay in shape so my height is pretty average for my age. Neal has only just recently started to become a decent thief thanks to my teachings.
"Hey Neal" I frowned when I noticed he was wearing a long sleeve dark blue sweater. "Are you hiding marks again?" I asked him.
He shrugs as he takes a seat next to me. "You know how he gets when he drinks" Neal was talking about his foster dad.
"Want me to put him in his place?" I asked with a smirk, closing my book and placing it on my lap.
He rolls his eyes. "Always trying to be the savior huh Emma? It's best to leave this alone though, I don't want to be sent away. If I do then I won't get to be spend time with you anymore, we'll probably never see each other again" He says with sadness.
It would be hell being separated, I'd never really been friends with other foster kids. Sure I'd stick up for the younger foster siblings in the bad homes, but we were never really friends. Just kids trying to survive. Neal was my first real friend. I meant him about 6 months ago when first came to this school and started living with Mr. and Mrs. Summerfield.
"So did you hear about the fairytale characters?" I asked, wanting to change the subject that we both knew we had no control over.
"Duh, the whole school knows about them coming today! I would love to meet red riding hood" He grins.
"Red riding hood, why her?" I asked curiously.
"Because she can turn into a wolf! I mean what's cooler than that?" he asks. Neal absolutely loved wolves, he was really good at drawing them. He really wanted to make graphic novels about them someday.
I rolled my eyes, I should have guessed. "Well I don't want to meet any of them" I said with an irritated huff.
"Awe come on Emma, I have a feeling you'd actually get along with some of them. Especially the evil queen, you and her sort have some things in common" He points out.
I blink surprised by the statement, I honestly wasn't familiar with the real stories of these immortals, just some of the old classical versions I read years ago. "Isn't the evil queen from Snow White, the one who poisoned her step daughter because she was jealous of her beauty" I frowned at being compared to such a vain character.
He shakes his head. "This is why you really need to read the newer versions of their stories Emma. The evil queen didn't poison Snow White out of jealously…." He told me the story about Regina, and though I hate to admit it, it was pretty interesting. I guess these stories weren't as black and white as I remembered. Still, it didn't matter. In the long run the evil queen changed her ways for her son, and got her happy ending as well. The story may have been different, but these immortal characters always got what they wanted in the end. Someone like me would never be truly happy, honestly I'd be lucky if I survived the system till I could finally age out of it.
"It doesn't matter, she still got her happy ending right? Happy endings don't happened to people like you and me Neal. We don't get to live with people who really want us, or see us as family. We have to do what we can just to survive. If that foster father of yours hits you one more time, you need to run Neal. I don't care where you run to, but you can't stay with a man like that. Trust me the violence is only going to get worse" I warned him. I didn't want anything to happen to Neal. He was a good kid, he didn't deserve this kind of life.
He frowns. "But I can't leave you behind Emma" The boy argues.
I give him a sad smile. "I'm sure our paths will cross again someday, but if you get killed by that bastard then we'll never get to meet each other again"
"I don't think he would ever kill me, maybe break a few bones if things got really bad. But I don't think he would kill me"
"You don't know that!" I yelled as I stood up in anger. "Adults who become alcoholics are idiots, they don't know how to control their anger" My body was shaking with rage, but I couldn't help it. Neal didn't understand how dangerous his foster father could become.
"Ok, ok. I promise if things get really bad I'll run. But not without saying goodbye" He says as he also stood himself up.
I allow myself to calm down and give him another sad smile. "You really are an idiot for a genius sometimes you know" I sit back down now that I am no longer shaking. And pick up my book that had fallen to the floor. How is it that he always knew how to calm me down so damn easily?
He gives me a big smile as he also sits back down in his seat next to me. "Well at least I'm a smart idiot. Oh yeah I was able to steal some goods this morning when my foster dad was still passed out from a night of drinking" He pulls out two chocolate candy bars and hands one over to me. "I don't think he'll even remember that he bought these yesterday" He laughed.
"Thanks, I'll save it for later" I grinned and placed it into my backpack.
I randomly glanced at a clock to the left side of me hanging on the wall. Damn only 5 minutes before the bell would ring. "I guess we should get going, the bell will be ringing soon" I said.
He nods and we both stand back up with our backpacks over our shoulder, after I had placed my book back into my backpack. "So Emma, you have to have a favorite character" Neal teases as we walk out of the library.
I rolled my eyes. "Do you need to read the shirt?" I pointed to my shirt with my cocky grin. He laughed and just shook his head.
When we made it to history the bell had ringed and Mr. Freeman was organizing some paper work, then placed them inside his desk. He looked up and smiled at Neal and I. "Good morning you two, I trust my best students have already started reading the Diary of Anne Frank?"
Neal nods. "I'm already passed 40 pages" he announced proudly.
He laughs. "Well that's great to hear. I'm sure you both already know about the fairytale characters coming in today" he adds.
"Please tell me there not coming into this class to!?" I groaned.
The old man chuckles. "You will be seeing at least one or two fairytale characters in all of your classes today" He explained.
"Will Red riding hood be one of them!?" Neal questions with hopeful eyes.
He shrugs. "You'll just have to wait and see" Pretending to act like he didn't know anything.
"So we have to take an exam in every class today?" I huffed irritated.
"The exams are for fun, you won't be graded on them" Mr. Freeman tried to make things sound better for me. He knew my distaste for fairytales.
"This whole thing sounds like a waste of time. Why should we have to sacrifice a whole day of learning important material, over listening to some old fairytales?"
"It's meant to be a day of fun. You told me once that you only knew some of the old classic stories right? Well think of this as a history lesson. A whole day of history lessons" The old teachers smiles.
I give him a confused look. "What do you mean?" I titled my head curiously.
"Well, these fairytale characters are going to be telling their stories about their time in the enchanted forest right, and possibly other realms as well? They'll be talking about their past, and stuff that aren't even in books yet. Only someone who is either a hug dedicated fan, or someone who's really good at remembering facts about someone or something would be able to pass these exams with a 100. Some of these questions are going to be hard, even for the most dedicated fans. In order to pass exams like these, one has to have excellent memory. And we all know how good your memory skills are Emma" He smiles.
"Yea Mr. Freeman is right. You get As on every exam you take, and you hardly even ever have to study. I may be a genius, but I have to work hard for my grades. I bet you could skip a few grades easy if you wanted to" Neal praised.
I shook my head. "I don't want to skip grades and be with older kids. But I do like the idea of seeing these stories as a history lesson. All right, maybe I'll try and pass these exams just to tick off some fans who really want to be with these fairytale characters. Plus a week vacation on an island does sound awesome, even if I have to be surrounded by immortals" I grinned.
"Oh there's Emma evil wicked mind showing" Neal laughs.
"Well Megan would definitely be pissed if I won and she didn't"
"It's always good to have goals" Mr. Freeman chuckles as he shakes his head.
At this point in time other students were starting to show up. "I would love to see the look on Megan's face if you really won" Neal continued to laugh as we took our usual front row seats, side by side. "Just promise to get me an autograph from Red riding hood if you win"
"You might win to, you're just as smart as I am" I reminded the boy.
He shook his head. "Sure I do great on exams if I have time to study, but my short term memory skills aren't nearly as great as yours, combined with your long term memory skills as well" He explained.
It was true, my memory skills have always been pretty good since I was a kid. In some foster homes I wasn't allowed to have books with me, so I would always try to remember every detail of books that I'd read at the library. That way when the younger foster kids wanted a bed time story, I would be the one to tell them a story. I only ever read some of those old fairytale characters for other foster kids. Although I didn't believe in magic or hope much anymore, I didn't think it was fair that the younger kids didn't have something good to dream about when the days got hard. Having photographic memory has helped me keep a high GPA up despite constantly switching schools and moving around.
"All right everyone it's good to see you, and I hope everyone is having a good morning" Mr. Freeman stands up from his desk once the last student came running in and the seats were finally full. "As I'm sure you all are aware, we have some special guest that will be joining us today. They'll will be telling us about their history, some of it maybe about magic and spells, some about other realms and so much more. You'll need to pay close attention if you hope to get that 100%. Remember in order to win that week vacation on Storybrooke Island, you'll have to get a 100% on all the exams you'll be taking today. I wish you all good luck, and whether or not you win I do hope you enjoy the wonderful tales you get to hear about today, and hopefully you will all get to learn something from the immortal fairytale characters"
Everyone watched with hawk eyes as Mr. Freeman walked over to class room door and he slightly opens it. "Snow White, Regina, the class is ready for you"
Everyone started to cheer and scream before the two ladies even stepped into the classroom. I sighed, this was going to be a long day. But I couldn't help but think about how pissed my foster sister would be if I actually did win this contest. I've never had a vacation before. I think I really will try to get those 100s. Whenever I decided I really want 100 on a test, 95% of the time it was pretty much a guarantee that I would get that 100. Vacation here I come!