"Don't even think about it." Mary Margaret said, her tone stern she. She caught sight of the intruder's shadow from the corner of her eye and froze. "Whatever plan you have, forget it."
"What plan?" A voice said behind her.
Mary Margaret turned around, standing face to face with her 'predator'.
"I'm warning you, if you even think of doing it, I will make you sorry." Mary Margaret stood her ground as the tall form got closer.
His laugh filled the air and Mary Margaret took a step back.
"David, don't." Mary Margaret yelped when he picked her up and dumped her in the pile of dead leaves. David's face went red from laughing so hard. Mary Margaret sat up and brushed leaves off.
"You are going to pay big time" Mary Margaret faked angry, but David was too busy laughing his butt off to hear her. "I'm glad you think this is funny" she stood up.
"I'm sorry" he smiled once he had collected himself.
"No you're not." Mary Margaret brushed off the remainder of the leaves then laughed. "I'll get you back though."
"Oh yea?" he scoffed. "How?"
"I don't know how, yet. But I will." Mary Margaret promised.
"We should get headed back soon." David looked at the shadow cast over their heads by the tree as the sun began to set lower and lower.
"Got a curfew?" Mary Margaret teased.
"No, but were screwed if were still out here when it's dark."
"Afraid of the dark then, are you?" Mary Margaret gave him a coy smile.
"Alright wilderness girl, let's see you find yourself into town in the pitch dark, in the middle of the woods…If you need directions maybe you can ask one of the many occupants of the forest- like a wolf." David suggested with a smart ass grin.
"Yea sure, like you would leave a defenseless woman in the woods, like that. We all know you wouldn't dare do such a thing." Mary Margaret chuckled.
"Don't tempt me" he joked and then pointed ahead. "Let's get going, though."
"Ah fine" she said and started walking towards the direction they came from.
"That was fun." Mary Margaret said as they approached town, there was just enough light to make it home. Mary Margaret shivered more as it grew colder.
"Yea it was."
"Thanks for lunch and the walk." Mary Margaret said kindly.
"No problem, it was nice to have someone to talk to." David spoke quietly.
"Yea, it's always nice to have someone to talk to." Mary Margaret agreed.
"What do you have planned for the rest of the day?" David asked.
"Not a lot, just girls night with Emma."
"Oh fun. What are you going to do?"
"Just grab takeout and get a few movies. How about you?"
"Kathryn's probably making dinner now so I'll help here when I get home and then we'll probably just watch TV or something. We don't have anything crazy going on tonight."
Mary Margaret laughed. "Good, tone down on the partying."
Mary Margaret and David continued walking down the street towards her house.
"You don't have to walk me home, David."
"What? David looked and blushed. "Oh I didn't even notice."
"It's alright." Mary Margaret laughed quietly.
"Sorry….I'll just go now- not that I don't want walk you home…it's just Emma is there…and I don't think she doesn't want to see me." he looked ahead.
"You and Emma not getting along?" Mary Margaret smiled but smile disappeared when David avoided her gaze.
"David?" she stopped walking.
"Yea?"
"Answer me? Why wouldn't Emma want to see you?" she asked.
"Well….uh…. I stopped by your house one night to see you."
"When?" Mary Margaret crossed her arms, waiting for an answer and fast.
"The opening night of the gallery's second floor," He answered slowly. "I went to your place later that evening."
"You did?" she frowned. "Why?"
"I saw you with Peter…" his blue eyes pierced her eyes, his face ashamed. "I didn't like it."
"I noticed. And then?"
"And then I needed to see you so I went to your place, but you weren't there. However, Emma was there and she talked to me."
"What did she say?" Mary Margaret swallowed.
"She told me to back off- not in those words though. She told me how I had hurt you and that you were happy. And she told me if I cared about you then I would stay away from you."
"That's why you were avoiding me." Realization hit Mary Margaret like a brick wall.
"I wasn't avoiding you…I was just….staying away." David said. "I don't blame her though, so don't be mad at her."
"I'm not; I just wish she would have told me that's all." Mary Margaret said, remembering why Emma had been so weird when she had asked her if anyone had called for her while she was gone. "She' my best friend, she's just looking out for me. I would do the same for her."
"I know you would do that for her." David gave her a small smile.
"I'll talk to her."
"About what?" David's face paled.
"About her talk with you," Mary Margaret shrugged. "She should know that you and I are talking. As my friend she will understand."
David slowly nodded and they walked, they stopped a few yards from Mary Margaret's home.
"It'll be fine" Mary Margaret assured him.
"I know." David smiled. "I guess this is where will part."
"Yep." Mary Margaret, her teeth began to chatter. "Thanks again, I'll see you around."
"When?" David perked up.
"I don't know. I'm really busy, but eventually. Plus this is a small town; I know we'll bump into each other several times throughout the week." Mary Margaret said. "Bye David."
"Bye Mary Margaret. Hurry up inside, I can hear your teeth chattering from over here "he said and watched her disappear into her house, his heart heavy with sorrow. This was going to be difficult; David thought to himself and turned around to his own home, walking slowly.