I am trying to create a trailer for my Almost Lover trilogy and it's coming out great so far! Only problem is that my Youtube downloader is failing so it's kind of at a stand still. But I hope to have it released by the time "Try To Remember" is completed! I'll let you know when it's finished.

And, it's a short chapter today but I was really pressed for time! Also, if you haven't looked up my collaboration story "Only Human" yet, please do! We would love to have some more response!

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To be honest, Belinda had know idea why she had been summoned to the Mayor's office, or why she had even come. It wasn't like she enjoyed Regina Mill's company. But a summons from the Mayor came from a higher authority than Belinda, and so she decided that it would be best to follow the woman's orders. That didn't mean that it wasn't any more nerve-wracking being there, on the threshold, willing her hand to raise itself and ring the doorbell. Not many people were invited into the home of Mayor Mills, and most of the time, the stories about the experience were far from pleasant.

She took a deep breath and collected her thoughts. Come on, it's not like she's going to actually bite your head off. Regina was a hard-hearted woman, rather cold and brusque, overly protective of her son Henry, always completed with a smile that seemed to chill the bones of anyone who had to witness it. She did inspire fear. But that gave Belinda no reason to be terrified of entering the woman's home. She was still a woman, a human being, and a mother. Henry hadn't run away, or attempted such a thing. Honestly, the real Regina Mills could be hiding behind the coarse exterior. Underneath all of the prickles, there could be someone who was warm and gentle and kind. As lovely as the thought was, however, Belinda had a hard time believing it.

Finally deciding that there really was nothing else she could do, Belinda sighed and worked up enough courage to ring the doorbell. When there was no answer, she rang again. This time, she heard approaching footsteps and she composed herself, hoping to all that was good and right, that she looked calm, and not like she was about to come face to face to the monsters of lore.

Regina Mills opened the door and gave that smile, the smile that, much in the same way Mr. Gold's smile reminded Belinda of a crocodile, Ms. Mills' smile reminded her of an ice storm, a freezing cold, icy storm. Under her gaze, Belinda nearly shivered.

"Ahh, Ms. French, just on time. Please, would you come in?" As much as it sounded like a question, Belinda knew that the woman wasn't asking. She was ordering and Belinda quickly moved to obey.

She remembered to add just in time, "Thank you, Madam Mayor. I hope you are doing well."

"Fine, thank you." Regina smiled again and led her into a parlor off of the main hallway. Then, through that parlor, passed two french doors, was what appeared to be the woman's office. It was all stark white and ebony black. The room was nearly as cold as the woman who lived in the room. "I'm glad you agreed to meet with me, Ms. French," Regina continued to speak as she sat down behind her desk. Belinda, when directed, sat in a plush armchair directly across from the Mayor.

She tried to give her best smile, despite the fact that she was feeling quite nervous. "Of course, Ma'am. But I do confess I'm feeling a bit worried."

"Worried? Why would you be worried?"

"Well, it's just that I've never been summoned here before to meet with you. I must've assumed the worst."

Regina laughed. It too, like her smile, was frigid as ice and made Belinda's skin crawl. "Well, I'm very sorry if I put you ill at ease," the woman remarked but to Belinda it seemed that she was lying through and through. "I do not wish for you to be uncomfortable, but I do have some news that is not all together pleasant, I'm afraid."

Belinda tried to keep her voice from cracking as she raised a brow. "Oh? What's wrong?"

Regina raised a finger. "Just a minute. Where on earth are my manners? Apple cider, dear?"

"No, I don't think-" Belinda stopped herself short as she remembered her manners. It would be polite to accept. But something about accepting a drink from this woman put her on edge, almost as if she was afraid Regina intended to poison her. Nevertheless, she agreed. "Yes, actually, I would."

"Alright," Regina grinned, "I will be right back." Then, she left and Belinda could breathe a sigh of relief.

This entire situation was stressing her out completely. Not to mention, that she felt strange. Almost...she couldn't quite place it. She barely knew Regina and yet she felt as if she could guess her thoughts and ulterior motives without much effort at all. It must be the nerves, still Belinda felt uncomfortable. And on top of all of this, Regina had said that there was a matter that she wished to discuss with her, one that was not pleasant. Something was wrong and Belinda could feel it. She only hoped it wasn't too terrible.

"Here you are," Regina said as she reentered the office, two tumblers of apple cider in her hands. She kindly passed one to Belinda and then sat down behind her desk again. After taking a sip of her cider, she seemed ready to begin. She licked her lips as she started speaking. "Now, Ms. French, the board and I met together just yesterday to decide on the many factors of what makes this town the town of Storybrooke. As a part of our job, we looked through each and every business within Storybrooke, assessing their use to the town and the good they do for the citizens."

"Buildings such as..." Belinda looked confused. Why was the Mayor talking to her about this?

"Such as Granny's Diner, the school, Town Hall, Gold's Pawn Shop, the library." If Regina hadn't had the woman's full attention before, now she did. "And, quite frankly, Miss French, we simply cannot afford to keep the library running. It makes no profit, and the town budget is very small this year, I'm afraid."

Belinda tried to understand. "But, I don't—what do you mean?"

"I mean, dear," Regina tried to look sympathetic, "That we are closing the library."

"But you can't!" Belinda protested and then remembered who she was speaking to. She spoke more softly, "I mean, that library is so much to this town. It provides culture, beauty, history. You can't just close it down."

"How many people, on average, Miss French, do you think enter that library per day?"

Belinda shrugged before taking a swig of apple cider. It was tart, which was exactly what she needed. No. Scratch that. She needed something stronger. The shock was beginning to get to her. She hadn't thought Regina would be capable of closing down the library. But...now she was. "I-I don't know. Maybe four or five."

"You see?" Regina pointed out. "Nobody uses that old building anymore. The most appeal it has ever had has been that clock tower, which doesn't even work. And quite frankly, we just aren't generating enough money to pay the electric and heating bills."

"So, it's money you need?" When the woman nodded, Belinda suggested, "Then, we could just have a fundraiser."

Regina sighed. "We could. But that would only be enough money for a little while. Besides, it takes time to plan such things as fundraisers. We don't have that time. The bills must be paid. And what happens next year? Another benefit? I'm sorry, Miss French, but we have all decided that the library will be closed."

"But what am I to do?"

"I'm very sorry, but we will have to let you go."

Belinda stood up and the tumbler fell from her hands, shattering across the floor, but all of that was lost in the flurry of emotions she was feeling. "You can't!" She exclaimed, not caring anymore about manners. "That library is my life and my work! Without it, I'll lose the apartment, I'll lose everything. I can't do that. Not when I have a baby. We'll end up on the street!"

"Ahh, yes. Rose, wasn't it?" Regina asked and the woman almost appeared to be sneering. But that too must have been Belinda's imagination, though the woman certainly didn't look sympathetic. "Well, I'm sorry, dear. But perhaps you can find other work."

"There is no other work around here. This place doesn't grow. I won't be able to find another job."

Regina stood up and circled around the desk. She was still smiling. "Dear, this isn't my fault. I'm truly sorry, but I didn't tell you to have a baby when you weren't ready. I didn't do this to you. You did. How old are you anyway?"
Belinda sniffled. Yes, she was crying at this point. "Almost 22."

"Precisely." Regina nodded. "And yet you still chose to sleep around without protection. These things happen if you're not careful."

"I didn't sleep around!" Belinda retorted hotly. "I'm not trash."
"Alright, but your boyfriend still left you. Didn't even want to help you, even when that baby was his. You weren't ready and now you have to pay the consequences. But you'll figure it out. Wanna know why?" Regina leaned forward, so close that the other woman could smell the apple cider on her breath. "Because we all had to. We all had to learn how to survive on our own. If anything, this will teach you life experience. It will teach you to survive and to not give up."

Belinda sniffled again and wiped her eyes. "I won't give up, I never will. I'll always fight for Rose." Not caring to talk anymore, Belinda whispered, "Goodbye, Madam Mayor," and then she turned around without so much as another look in the woman's direction.

"Glad to hear it, Miss French," Regina called after her, "Survival is the way of the brave. Death is too easy."

This made Belinda stop, as if she had been shocked, and turn around. "What did you just say?"

"Why?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. I just feel like I've heard that before." She banished the thought from her mind. "Anyway, good day."

Regina heard the front door close seconds later and she grinned cruelly. "Good day to you too, Miss French."

When finally outside, Belinda took off down the street towards Granny's Diner, and by the time she had burst through the front door, she was sobbing relentlessly. Several curious customers looked up at her before returning their attention to the food on their plates. Belinda didn't care about any of them. She just ran behind the counter and into the kitchen where Granny was hard at work and Ruby was busy flirting with the head cook. But the moment Ruby looked up and saw Belinda crying, she ran over to her.

Before she could say anything, Belinda asked, "Where's Rose?"
"Upstairs sleeping. What's wrong?" Ruby scrunched her eyebrows in concern.

Rather than answering, Belinda threw her arms around Ruby's neck and sobbed long and hard.

"Lind," Ruby finally said, "What is it?"

Belinda hiccuped. "Regina's closing down the library. I don't have a job. I have nothing. How will I be able to pay Mr. Gold now? And with Rose—how will I ever-?"
"Manage?" Ruby finished. "You know just how you'll manage. We got a small room for you upstairs, and as for work, I think we can spare having one more waitress. At least until you get back on your feet."

The woman was in awe and hugged her friend hard. "Thank you," she said from the bottom of her heart. "Thank you."

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Thanks for all f your support! I am absolutely astounded by the response from all of you! My readers, you are so wonderful.

Also, if you haven't noticed, I love foreshadowing, and I'm finding that that is one of my favorite things about writing this story so far. I'm going to try to make a point to make one reference of foreshadowing in each chapter. I have done so, thus far! I hope you all notice them, some might be subtle and some might be very recognizable. Hope you have fun finding all of them! :)

And just to let you all know, I have created a poll to see what show/movie you would like for me to write about next. I already have a storyline in mind. But please check out that poll so I can see what you guys want! I would really appreciate it!