My goodness, this was a pain to edit: For future reference, never label title chapters, 1, 2, 3 etc. Lesson learned. Story is currently caught up, flashbacks and present time finally come together! Once again, tell me if you like it, hate it, if it makes more sense, or if you liked it the way it was previously.
I'm back in the dark place again. This time, I'm not in a white dress anymore. My dress is now a solid gold and the sleeves hang off my shoulder. My hair, black in here as well, hangs down in art full waves. It's still only shoulder length. The black hair makes my blue eyes more electric and they're about to pop out There's some rustling behind me, and I turn around.
"A new dress?" I ask.
"Couldn't have you wandering around in that torn white dress" Rumpelstiltskin is soon by side, a pleased looking grin on his face, "That thing was filthy. And it so happened that I had another dress"
"Was there someone else here before?" I am curious to know. He's never mentioned another person, unless it is a story about one of his deals.
He goes silent for a moment and he seems to be looking right through me. "Yes. There was someone else here" He grow quiet again and I lean in, thinking he's actually going to tell me a real story about himself. With another insane giggle, he throws his arms open and begins walking around wildly. "You were being followed not too long ago and they showed up here"
"By who?" he just grins at me, and I become frustrated with him. "Just tell me already! And speak plainly for once!"
"Alright, alright" he waves me off, "That cop was trying to track you down. But not to worry. He's a…he's a thing of the past. You don't need to run anymore"
I am in shock. Gasping for breath, I just stare at him, my eyes so wide it almost hurts. "He's gone! He's gone forever!" Rumpelstiltskin nods. "You had something to do with it, didn't you?"
"No, the man upped and died on his own accord to do the world a favor!"
"You knew the entire time I was with him didn't you!" I accuse, growing angry.
"He's not going to hurt you again, now is he? He paid for what he did with his life"
I can feel my temper fizzling. Then, another thought comes to mind. "But, that warrant. They're still going to look for me! I have to leave again soon"
Rumpelstiltskin suddenly frowns at me. "You know, little dearie, the older you get, the more dense you become"
"Excuse me!"
"What, are you dense and deaf now?"
I go to say something else, but the words fail me and I'm just left glaring at him. I turn around, not wanting to face him.
"Are you ready for another riddle?" he is behind me again, his body is so close to mine that I can feel the heat from him. I can feel my breath coming quicker in little, short gasps.
"No more riddles, just answer plainly"
"No. Like all my riddles, you need to figure this one out on your own again"
"What's my clue this time?"
He nuzzles my ear, sending tingles up my spine, and I freeze again.
"It's all around you" he whispers.
Paper in hand, I walk into Granny's Diner bright and early, hoping to catch Granny. I pick a table in the back and wait for a few minutes. After this, I will be joining Mary Margaret for lunch. This is my fifth day in this little town and I need to come to a decision quickly. The ad in the paper says she needed a cashier/waitress to help Ruby in the evenings. Running a hand over the ad, I gaze longingly at the job at the Sheriff's office. There is an opening for a Correction's Deputy. I don't qualify for it, so I'm not even going to bother. And Granny had said to come in if I needed a job. Tugging my new silver shirt nervously, one of the waitresses comes over and I order a coffee.
"The life of a waitress" a deep voice says behind me, startling me out of my trance, "How enchanting that sounds"
I roll my eyes as I turn around. I don't even need to ask whose behind me. "Hello Mr. Gold. What can I do for you?"
"The other night, I offered you assistance with a job" he turns around with a smile, not at all looking like the man who had Ruby and Mary Margaret scared of him. He eyes the ad in my hand again. "But, I see you have all the help you need"
I nod, and he gets up with a cup in his hand. I am annoyed, again, because I am very sure I hadn't seen him when I first walked in.
"Walk with me" he asks, a pleasant smile still on his face.
"Uh, I'm waiting for Granny"
"My shop is just up the street. I can assure you, you won't be gone more than ten minutes" He's not going to go away. He is obviously one of those people who is persistent enough to give Mary Margaret a run for her money. "Thank you" he says when I get up.
We are silent as we walk, and as he said, we are actually not far from his shop. I hesitate before walking in, remembering those eyes.
"So, what prompted you to decide on a waitress job?" he asks.
I head directly for the corner in which I first saw the eyes. Brow furrowing, I see nothing but two puppets. My stomach erupts into nervous butterflies; they're faces appear to be frozen in horror. I quickly turn away from them.
"Nothing in particular. I was just looking around more than anything. In any case, I don't think I'll go for it?"
"What a shame. When do you think you'll be leaving us?" Mr. Gold asks as I look around the store.
"In two days. My savings can only keep me in one place for so long"
"Where are you headed" I look up at him, not expecting the question. He sees my hesitation. "If you don't mind my curiosity"
"I, well, I had it in mind to start my trip out to Arizona"
"Ah, I highly doubt you'd like a job as a waitress anyways" he laughs, "Now, which job were you really looking for? If you don't mind me being so bold, I couldn't help but notice you were eying a job listed by the Sheriff's Department"
Sheesh, this man is good at analyzing. "I, uh, I did some work at a police station and well…yeah" He smiles at my awkwardness and I can feel myself blushing.
"You know, Ms. Black, it sounds like you need some roots. And some confidence. Are you sure you can't be tempted to stay?" He grins a very sly grin at me, "To be honest, I think a job at the diner would be such a waste. Stay in town. Go for the job you want"
"To do that, I would need to find an apartment first and in all honesty, I am not qualified for a job in a Sheriff's Department"
"I have heard in passing that they are looking for a Correction's Deputy"
"Yes. I, uh, well, I've done patrolling and worked at a police department before. But I don't have any references to get the job"
"Is that so?" Mr. Gold leaves the counter and walks toward me. "Well, this is your lucky day. You see, I know of a way to be able to get that job and get you your apartment. All of this can be arranged and finalized by the end of this week, actually. All it will take is some cooperation on your part"
"Really!" I stare at him, mouth hanging open, "What do I have to do?"
"It's no trouble at all, really" he smiles warmly at me, "How much do you want that job?"
"Are-are you saying you can get it for me!" I am nearly breathless, "You're-you're sure! I-I don't yet have anyway to pay you!"
"How badly do you want this?"
I can't go back home. I am desperate to get away. And this is my golden opportunity. "I can't go back home. I just have to get away. I'll do whatever it takes"
Some dark flickers in his brown eyes. I am momentarily taken aback and the butterflies form in the bottom of my gut again. Before I can get too worried, the moment passes as quickly as it came.
"As for payment, ma dear" he then circled me for a moment, his eyes deep in thought. Suddenly, with a flick of his wrist he suddenly turned to face me "Tell you what; you'll owe me a favor"
"Uh, what kind of favor?" I watch him walk back behind the counter as he starts moving paper work.
"In a few weeks, I have to go collect some merchandise" he says as he reaches into drawer behind the counter top. His hand reappears with a yellow envelope and he pushes it towards me. "Due to some, unforeseen circumstances, I am unable to pick it up. You get this for me, and I'll get you your job"
"What's the merchandise?" I am curious to know. Looking around at the antiques in the shop, I am half expecting it to be an ancient cuckoo clock, or maybe even a valuable artifact.
"Well, there are two parts to it; One, you'll need to get the merchandise. Two: you'll have to deliver it promptly. You'll find out what it is when you arrive. No need to fret about it now. When the time comes to fetch my merchandise, I shall call on you"
"That's all I have to do?" this sounds almost too good to be true.
"That's all you have to do" The envelope is again pushed towards me, this time with a pen. "Just sign on the dotted line. And that job is yours"
In a dizzy fit of happiness, I quickly lurch for the pen and sign my name. I don't have to go back home! He stands there, calm as ever and waits for me to finish. I am beaming from ear to ear. He takes to envelope and places it into a purple folder while fishing for a clipped article for a newspaper.
"While I was collecting information about your soon to be new job, I also took the liberty of finding some cheap apartments that have just become available" with a quirk of his head he pushes this at me now.
Gingerly, I picked up the newspaper clip and sure enough, there were several listings highlighted. All of which will fall under my price range. "Why are you going out of your way to help me?"
"You're young, all by yourself" he says, his Scottish accent sounding almost lyrical, "We've all been between a rock and a hard place before"
"Am I that obvious?"
"Oh yes" he says, his tone dropping as he leans back against the counter top, "Especially when you get to be my age, it becomes easy to recognize a desperate soul"
"Well…uh, thank you!" I'm not all to sure how to respond to that last statement.
"Tomorrow, talk to the manager at the apartment all the way at the top. Mr. Jean, I believe. Nice old chap. He'll help you get situated"
I'm speechless, and he gives me a half smile. "I can now officially say, welcome to Storybrooke"
"Thank you" I say breathlessly as I turn to leave the little pawnshop. I can feel his eyes on me the entire time.
"Jenna?" Mary Margaret says as she slides into the booth next to me, "You look like you've just seen a ghost"
"I'm staying" the words just fly out of my mouth. She is the one person I have connected the most with here. I have even told her about my stay at the orphanage. The events that happened after I left, I keep to myself still.
"Good! I knew you would" reaching out, she grabs my hand. "What are you going to do for work?"
"I found a job with the Sheriff's Department. It's for a Corrections Deputy"
Mary Margaret frowns. "Are you sure? I know people have been trying to get that job for a while now"
"Well…I am going to try. If not, Granny's told me to stop by here"
"I'm glad you're staying" Mary Margaret says again, "And tomorrow, if you'd like, I can help you find an apartment. In fact, I have the morning paper here with me-" she pulls it out and something catches my eye, "-and I know there's quite a few apartments that…Jenna? Jenna, what are you staring at?"
"The newspaper? It's made by the Daily Mirror?" I stare at her incredulously.
"Yes" Mary Margaret waves at it with a laugh, "It was kind of a joke-"
"No!" I shout, startling several other people in the restaurant, "I have a newspaper that was given to me by a friend when I lived at the orphanage! The name on it was also the Daily Mirror! It dates back to when I was born"
Mary Margarete's eyes grow wide. I continue on rambling, not caring if anyone hears me. "Do you know what this means? I think I found my home! Or, at least my parents' home. it's a stretch in the dark, but who knows"
Right as I say this, a woman I hadn't yet seen walked into the diner. She is one of the most elegant ladies I have seen in this town so far. With jet black, shoulder length hair, dark eyes, flawless complexion and a crisp blue business suit, she is without a doubt, beautiful. Looking back at Mary Margaret and then at me, her lips press together in the most irritated scowl I have seen since the orphanage.