I came to with a start the next morning, wincing as the sun light peeps through the drapes. Dragging myself out of the comfortable bed, I go to move the drapes. The town looks completely different in the daylight. No longer was it bleak and life less, but there were people out and about everywhere. There was even a sheriff's car patrolling the little street below me. The time on the clock now reads that it's a little after eight. I had heard the tower go off earlier, but I had refused to leave my bed. After I leave here, I'm not sure when I'll have the luxury of having a bed again, and I intend to soak up as much time in it as I can now.
Deciding to head out and explore 'Storybrooke', I head for the little shower, my arm wincing slightly as I pull the shirt over my head. In the reflection of the bathroom mirror, I stare at bruises that line my upper arm. The three imprints of purple-yellow finger imprints serve as an angry reminder for my journey. Determined not to cry again, I push forward with my shower and continued getting ready for the day. Despite the obvious heat outside, I pull on a long sleeved shirt. It doesn't go all the way to my wrists, only past my elbows. This way, I can hide my bruises.
I head down to the lobby. None of the other people have exited their rooms yet. I have absolutely no idea where to even begin exploring. As I come down the stairs, I end up bumping into the girl with the red highlights. Today, she has on a little white apron, with a pair of mini shorts that are almost offensively bright red. She even has a little red shirt on. She gives a bleary-eyed nod at first, but stops when she sees my lost expression.
"Oh, hi" she says, the make-up unable to hide the puffiness around her eyes. She must've just gotten in a few hours ago. "Was there something you were looking for?"
"Um yeah" I give her one of my favorite tight lipped smiles, "Did you know of any good places to eat, maybe look around?"
"Sure thing hun" she says, giving me large smile, her white teeth showing between her ruby red lips, "I also work at Granny's diner. Were famous for our coffee, so you should come by and see it. It's just up near the town center. You know, near the giant clock"
"Okay, that sounds like a good idea"
"Other than that, there's really nothing cool to see around here"
"Okay. Well, I just, I just like looking around" I really hadn't been expecting that much information. My awkwardness is really beginning to show through and I'm hoping this doesn't go on for to much longer.
"Well, if you need anything else, just find me" she puts a hand on my shoulder, "And my name's Ruby, so just ask for me"
'How appropriate' I think to myself. With a quick wave, Ruby is out the door. Following her outside, I notice she even has a red car.
'This place is really weird' I think to myself.
I walked down the main street, and I couldn't help but think it odd that no matter how many streets I turned, I always seemed to end up by the town square. Stomach growling, I began my search for Granny's diner. One thing was for sure; if I was to get any serious planning done, I needed a coffee, and fast.
"Hey there!" a familiar voice calls out to me.
I turn around and it is the same man who had given me directions the night before. Walking his dog with the same umbrella again. I can't help but smirk a little.
"Hi" I say with a quick wave. I'm hoping this won't take too long. I don't really do well in social interactions, as Ruby probably noticed.
"Did you find everything ok?" he asks, standing a little to close into my personal space. The dog has now begun to sniff my leg, obviously more interested than he was the night before.
"Oh, yeah, thank you Mr.."
"Oh, how rude of me. It's Dr. Hopper" he says, standing a few inches taller "Or, just Archie Hopper"
For some reason, I can't help but get the mental image of a grasshopper in my head.
"I'm Jenna" I say quietly, "And, um, it's nice to meet you, and thanks again for the directions. Speaking of which, do you think you can help me with some more?"
"Oh sure, always a pleasure to help" Archie smiled again as he played with his jacket nervously, "You know, it's my job to help people! I've always had a fascination with helping others. I feel like, you know, I'm being the guiding light in lives" he pauses for a minute, his face crinkling slightly at what he had just said. "Wow, that sounds like something you'd read off a greeting card doesn't it"
"Oh, nice" I give him another tight lipped smile, not so sure where all this was going. One minute I was asking for directions, and before I knew it, he had gone off on some weird tangent. "Yes! You needed directions! Where are you headed?" the good doctor regains a hold of himself with a start.
"Granny's"
"Yes, just right down the street and make a right at the first light Can't miss it!"
"Well, thanks again, Mr. Hopper" I say with a quick shrug.
He quickly excuses himself, pulling away the Dalmatian, which apparently hadn't left my side once, and now, doesn't seem to want to. Instead, the dog, Pongo, now has his ears perked up and is staring up intently at me. Well, at least as intently as a dog can stare. With a quick nod, I quickly turn ahead and continue my little journey to find Granny's. Dr. Hopper is finally able to get the dog motivated to continue with the walk.
Looking around while walking, I notice that almost every corner looks exactly same and has almost a depressed air to it. Most of the buildings, like Granny's little motel, haven't been kept in tip top shape. And, from the looks of other pedestrians, almost no one is happy either. Frowning slightly, I can almost see why Ruby said there wasn't anything around to see. Passing by a small mechanic's shop, I catch a small sign out of the corner of my eye. Frown intensifying, I move closer to investigate.
It's a pawnshop. Looking around, I notice that it managed to be off away from the rest of the buildings. The lights are off and the room is dark. I notice that suddenly, no one else is on the sidewalk. There aren't even any cars. A strange feeling starts in my chest and sinks all the way to my lower belly. But I can't turn away. Morbid curiosity is stronger than I am. Getting close, I still can't see anything. The owner actually went through the trouble to put tinted windows up. Licking my lips, I press myself against the glass, hands cupped around my face to get a better view-
-finding two pairs of yellow eyes staring back at me.
"Oh!" I lurch backwards, nearly spilling myself into the street.
Heart pounding frantically, I don't even wait for someone to open the door. Turning on my heels I take off running so fast that I would've put the Road Runner to shame. I run as fast as I can until I get close to the main street again. I hadn't even realized I'd taken a wrong turn. Hands on my knees, I stop to catch my breath for a moment. It's few minutes, before I can walk again, still feeling a little shaky. Walking for a few more minutes, I am standing in front of my original destination. Still feeling paranoid, I take a quick glance behind me to make sure I wasn't followed.
Standing in front of Granny's Diner, I pull out my wallet, only hesitating slightly when my fingers fumble across the credit card and ID. No matter. I have been very careful and will continue to be so. Swallowing, I muster up my courage and enter the diner. Its nearly empty, except for an older man in a dumpy gray jacket and grey pants sitting up at the bar and a couple in one of the booths. Scanning over his jacket, I see the name 'Leroy', and I figure he's in one of his work jackets. Standing the front of the bar, I skim over the menu briefly. From behind the counter, there is the small chime of bell, and I smile slightly as it is Granny who comes out.
"Hi there, I see you're feeling a little better" she smiles back at me, vigorously cleaning a glass in her hand.
I nod slightly. "Yeah, just needed some sleep. Uh, may I just have a coffee, and uh," I breeze over the menu one more time, "An egg sandwich please"
"Just a moment" she chirps and turns back around to give the order to an unseen cook.
There is a strange odor in the area, and I can't quite pin down where it's coming from. I skim over the little diner, and I can't help but notice the man chewing as loudly as he can next to me. Turning slightly towards him, I see him lift a glass, drinking it one big slurp, and slamming it down the counter next to another glass. The unfavorable odor twitches my nose, and I realize it is coming from the man sitting next to me; he reeks of alcohol, a mixture of sweat and alcohol, like its seeping from his pores.
"What are you looking at sister?" A gruff voice cuts through my train of though.
I then notice that I had been staring at him, something I hadn't meant to do. He has on a beanie hat with a scraggly dark brown beard, and the biggest scowl I have ever seen before.
"Nothing" I say quickly. Much too quickly.
"Then I suggest you look at 'nothing' somewhere else" His eyes are a mixture of bloodshot red and yellow.
I turn back in my seat. He snorts and continues with his breakfast. The bell to the diner chimes behind me, but before I can turn around, Granny comes back into view with my order. She sets in down in front of me with my coffee, and then pulls out a Styrofoam cup that's almost spilling over with whipped cream.
"Leroy, how are you?" a soft voice is now next to me.
I turn in my seat to see a woman in a purple dress and pink overcoat standing next to me. She has blue black hair and a very kind face. She gives me a soft smile. Nodding back, I turn my attention back to my food.
Leroy grunts in response before demanding that Granny bring him another drink. Granny gives him a disapproving look before looking back to the woman next to me, and her the cup.
"How are you today Mary Margaret?"