A/N: The second episode is going to be multiple chapters I decided, or rather that's how it is working out. Hope you guys enjoy!
By second period, the school was buzzing about the fact that the clock was keeping time again, and with the facts came the theories. I had heard multiple by the time first period was done, and entering into second period I was hearing a few more.
"I heard that a big wind gust came and set it into motion," One of the girls said as I took a seat behind her, pulling out my English book as I did. Most of the girls in this class, would be in this class forever as they didn't age. People didn't bother to question why I aged, and why on my birthday I got another year older while they stayed the same. Part of the curse didn't let them question it, just made me odd to them. When I had entered this world, I was five, and until Henry was born, I was aging more slowly. I didn't really start aging like everyone else until Henry came in. When I asked my father about it as a child, he claimed the magic within me allowed me to age, just differently than anyone else. He hadn't been sure if I would age at all once I entered the new world, but he hadn't been surprised that I did, or so he told me. He claimed the magic instilled within me, the magic that allowed me to know I was trapped, allowed me to age, and I aged faster when Henry arrived as the magic he brought, magic of a child outside the curse, magic of a curse coming close to an end, that magic sent me aging at a normal rate come the age of seven. Which was why I had been trapped here 28 years, and only looked seventeen, which really sucked since I honestly should have been out of here about fifteen years ago.
"I heard that an old man was seen wandering holding the missing part and the Mayor finally forced him to put the piece back," The girl said, and I tried to remember if she had been a fairy or one of the stepsisters as her friend shook her head.
"No, you are both wrong. The story is that the Mayor finally lost her precious watch and needed the clock to move again," The girls nodded in unison as I rolled my eyes. Honestly, the girls in my class, actually all the kids I had met, they never got smarter. I don't know how being trapped in one place for so long didn't finally make some people smarter. I could only chalk it up to the power of the curse I suppose.
"Have a problem, Gold?" I looked towards the girl that spoke, I think she was supposed to be a step sister, or maybe a troll.
"Only that you continue to speak," I said as the bell rang and our teacher began class, forcing the girls to turn around and pay attention. I knew within twenty minutes they'd basically forget their conversation, or problem with me. They tended to get distracted by shiny things rather quickly.
Sure enough, by third period they had moved on to talking about some guy, and I was left to just focus on my sixth period class, which this year involved helping Miss Blanchard out. Having all my credits in order, and the fact that this school never seemed to actually end, meant that I had a number of freedoms, including the chance to do some "extracurricular" work, which really translated to, I just could have a free schedule.
As I headed towards Miss Blanchard's class, I was wondering what to talk to Henry about today, what ball to start rolling faster, when I heard the Mayor's voice. I paused outside the door, listening closely as the Mayor talked to Henry about Emma. I was going to go in and try to diffuse the situation when I heard the words that had me turning around, Emma got arrested. That was really not what I wanted to hear. I headed straight to the office, and faked a stomach ache, knowing I wouldn't be able to get anything done if I was stuck here until school got out. The nurse believed my story thankfully, though she wasn't likely to doubt it, not when her only medical training was once being a fairy in the other world. She let me go without a second glance, and didn't even seem to notice how I ran out of school and bolted towards the police station, trying to remember how much money I had in my savings account. I knew way better than to use my father's money, especially when I didn't know where his loyalties lay in this situation. He hadn't even mentioned Emma to me yet, which suggested to me that she wasn't a pawn in his deals, at least not yet, and if she wasn't in his deals yet I wanted to keep it that way.
I pushed the police station door open, not at all surprised to find the place empty. I didn't think I'd ever seen anyone really in the police station before, so seeing the cell full was a new sight to me. "You really know how to make an impression in this town," I said, giving up on finding Graham so I could possibly pay Emma's bail, whatever it was. Hopefully it was under two thousand, since that was about all I had saved.
"Did the Mayor send you to rub this in my face?" Emma asked, leaning against the bars.
"The Mayor doesn't send me to do anything," I retorted, hopping up on one of the desks, wondering why this place even needed more than one desk. I didn't think there had ever been more than one person working here.
"Then why are you here?" It was kind of nice to hear that question. The curse often kept others from even asking me questions, especially ones about why I was anywhere.
"I heard you got arrested, came to bail you out, but I think that requires the sheriff to do," I said.
"Why?" Emma responded, clearly wondering what my motives were.
"Why what?" I asked, feigning innocence.
"You know what I'm asking," Wow, she was good, most couldn't catch my innocence act.
"Fine, I do know why you are asking. I'm interested in helping you," I stated simply.
"Why do you want to help me?" She really had to know everything.
"Because Henry should be happy, and Regina doesn't make him happy, and I can't think of anyone else that could make him happy." I said, glancing towards the door as Graham came in, with Henry and Miss Blanchard in tow.
"Miss Gold, good to see you aren't ill," Miss Blanchard said as Emma's eyebrow shot up.
"Gold, you're Mr. Gold's kid?" I looked at Emma.
"Unfortunately," I said, getting off the desk, about to ask about paying Emma's bond when Graham opened the door to the cell.
"You're free to go. Mary Margaret paid your bond," Graham said as Emma walked out, and then kept walking.
"Where are you going?" I called out.
"To make this right," the door slammed shut at that, and I let out a low whistle.
"Well then," I said, looking to Miss Blanchard and Henry. "I'm sure you don't want to keep him forever, mind if I take him to get some ice cream?" I asked, knowing that Henry had to meet his mother later, but for the time being I could at least keep him distracted.
"Um, sure, I need to go anyway. I'll see you tomorrow Henry, and you as well Sophia," I gave Miss Blanchard a smile before picking up my backpack from where it had fallen on the floor.
"Ready kid?" I asked, leading the way towards the small ice cream shop the town held, my mind wandering to the days when ice cream was just an idea, and life was a lot simpler.