Happy Monday! Cheers to a new week! :o)
"Dude, what happened to you?" Ray asked, as I slid into the booth across from her at Granny's. "Life." I grumbled.
"That was deep," came an amused voice from the doorway. I looked up to see Derrick walking into the diner. A smile instantly spread across my face, and I scooted over so he could sit next to me. "You look like you got into a fight with a weed-whacker," Derrick continued, as he plopped down next to me.
I gave him an unimpressed, amused, look, but explained my not-so-exciting adventure in the forest. "Wait, and your mom actually let you out of the house with a sprained ankle?" Ray asked in disbelief.
Looking down at my coffee and hash-browns I said, "well, she had to drop Henry off at Dr. Hopper's, so I just avoided her. Besides, it's just a little sore, so I doubt it's actually sprained. My leg and hands bother me way more." I said, as we all inspected the dark scrapes on my hands and wrists. I still had a couple band-aids on in some spots, but the others were starting to scab slightly. They were still bright red, where the skin was missing, as well as tender and raw, but… Shrugging, I decided to change the topic.
"Did you guys feel the rumble from the old mining tunnel?" I asked. That lead to a whole new conversation and away from anything about me. It was nice being with my friends. Being with them made me feel somewhat normal, and the craziness of my life was finally set aside. As we finished up our food, Ray gave some lame excuse about needing to head out, and then she was gone.
"Where are you headed?" Derrick asked, both of us becoming a little awkward without Ray as a buffer. "Uh, I guess home?" I had no where else to be, and I really should do some homework I decided. "Would it be alright if I walked you?" Derrick asked, somewhat shyly.
I rolled my eyes, but grabbed his hand in mine as we started down the sidewalk. I'd had enough awkward, confusing, moments as of late, and this was something I could take control of, somewhat. After a few moments of walking, we both relaxed enough to start discussing the latest gossip at school, sports teams we were rooting for, and our mutual dislike of writing history papers. "I don't know though… I think I'm more worried about our Pre-calc test next week." Derrick admitted, as we reached the path up to my house.
"We could study together if you want?" I suggested, as we reached the front step. "Wait, really? That'd be awesome, cause I'm pretty sure I wont be allowed to play basketball if I fail it."
"Ewww, I didn't realize I was dating a jock." I said teasingly. "Ha, Ha, Ha," Derrick said drily, but he had a smile on his face. We were silent for a moment, and I was about to say goodbye, when he gave me a serious look. "Maddie, I know I asked this before, but, like, are you okay?"
My eyebrows raised slightly, then furrowed together. I shook my head, and then looked at him. "I'm not sure." I said honestly, "my family is a little crazy right now." I shrugged, "I'll be fine though." I said, putting on a smile. I kissed him on the cheek, and turned to walk in the house. Without looking back I said, "come over tomorrow afternoon and we'll start prepping for out test."
I'd been working on my homework, watching Grey's anatomy, when the house phone started to ring. It was my mom's office, according to the caller ID, so I considered not answering, but knew that'd end badly. "Hello?" I reluctantly said into the phone.
"Madelyn, I'm going to have to work late. There's leftovers in the fridge for you and Henry to eat for dinner." I decided to investigate said leftovers, to see if I needed to dibs anything before Henry. As I walked into the kitchen I said, "okay, what time is Henry supposed to be home?" I stopped at the sight in front of me. The snack cupboard was torn apart, and there was a bunch of stuff on the counter. A confused looked spread over my face, as I processed what mom was saying, "What do you mean? He's supposed to be home already."
"Uh… Mom, he's not here, and by the looks of the candy stash, he's not planning to be home for awhile." There was a click on the other end of the phone. "Mom? Hello?… Wow rude. Don't even say bye." I clicked off the handset, and bit my lip, taking in the mess in front of me. "Henry, what are you doing now?" I asked myself. Suddenly, I remembered what he said about the mines. "Son of a… Damnit Henry," I thought, as realization dawned on me.
Even though my body protested, I ran to put on shoes, and took off for the mining tunnels.
I finally reached the mines, my eyes scanning all the activity. There was already another crowd of people, but I spotted Emma instantly. "Emma!" I called, as I made my way down into the crater, that the entrance of the mine sat in. Emma had been watching the men remove some rocks, but she turned, and came to meet me. "What's happening?" I asked, as I saw my mom approaching with a furious look.
"Henry's in the tunnel. Archie went in after him, when the entrance collapsed." Her voice was laced with worry and concern.
"They're trapped in there?!" I exclaimed, turning to verify that this was true with my mom. Her face softened slightly, but not much. "Yes." She said tightly, while grabbing my upper arm firmly, "and I don't want you down here. It's not safe. Ms. Swan, do your job." My mom barked, starting to drag me back up the side, to the cars.
"Ow, let go." I snapped, yanking my arm from her grasp. She turned ready to scold me, when more rumbling occurred. When it stopped, mom took-off, back down towards the entrance, yelling, "Stop! You're making it worse!" I could hear the argument that ensued between my mom and the blonde. Emma yelled something indicating that Henry went into the mine, simply to get proof against my mom.
My heart dropped. Proof. This was all about proof. The picture. If I'd just talked to him about the picture, none of this would have happened. Guilt instantly settled in my stomach, as well as panic and worry. "Henry… I believe you. Please make it out of this okay." I whispered quietly, while crossing my fingers, and willing the fates to watch over my little brother.
I felt useless. There was nothing I could do, and since trying to blow up the entrance with dynamite, which did nothing, mom prohibited me from being anywhere near the mine. It was clear she was slightly hysterical with worry, so I stayed clear of her and the workers. Part of me wished Henry could see her like this, Fairy Tale drama aside, it was very clear that our mother did love, and care about him.
Her willingness to even let Emma be the one to go down the mine shaft, showed she cared more about Henry's safety, than anything else. Since I was avoiding the emotions within me, and watching the cord drop Emma lower and lower into the mine, was making my head spin, I studied my mom. She looked frantic with worry. All kinds of emotions showed on her face, more than I'd ever seen.
Mom. My mom. The woman who gave birth to me. Who made us dinner and a ridiculous amount of apple fritters, with her stupid red apples. I've known her my whole life, and in this moment, I realized I knew basically nothing about her. Who were her parents? My grandparents? Where'd she grown up?
How had I never noticed, just how much out life didn't add up. I mean, I still don't necessarily think my mom is the "Evil Queen," but I also had no idea who she truly was.
All kinds of questions started running through my head, when I noticed a new commotion had started. Looking at the shaft, I realized everyone was excitedly standing around it. I jumped up from my spot by my mom's car and ran over, just as Sheriff Grant triumphantly said Emma had both, Dr. Hopper and Henry.
I stood there anxiously waiting with everyone else, while the crane and workers, carefully pulled the three people from the hole. Dr. Hopper appeared to have a cut on his head, but from what I could tell, both him and Henry looked otherwise unharmed. Mom immediately grabbed Henry, and pulled him into a hug. I worked my way around the crowed, to meet them by the ambulance. Once there, I gave Henry a relieved smile when he saw me, and as the paramedic started checking over him. After he was cleared, I pulled him into a fierce hug.
"I'm fine." Henry said in a groan, but quickly followed by a laugh. My mom grabbed his shoulders and turned him away from me. "Don't ever do that again. Do you hear me?" She asked him sternly, her eyebrow raising to show she was serious. I smiled slightly, knowing what was going through Henry's mind at that look. The boy nodded his head and said, "I'm sorry, mom" as she pulled him into another brief hug. Then, she straightened and looked to both of us. "I need to go attended to somethings regarding the mine. Stay over here, and I'll be back shortly to take us home."
Once she had walked away, I faced my brother. "Henry, I..." I'd just started, when Emma walked up to us, and pulled Henry into hug. "Kid." Was all she said, as she took in her son. I watched his birth mom look him over, as Henry stood there simply letting her inspect him. He was so different with her.
It was then that I decided tonight I'd show Henry the picture. Talk to him, tell him I really truly believed that something wasn't right about Storybrooke.
Driving home, everything was much calmer. All of us were clearly relieved that the day had ended on a good note and even mom seemed to be more relieved, than angry. There was no yelling upon our arrival to the house. She simply ushered Henry in, and got him in the shower, since he was covered in dirt. Then she went to warm up dinner.
While she was in the kitchen, I headed upstairs, deciding this was my opportunity to grab the picture. I was trying to imagine Henry's reaction over my discovery, when I realized that the picture was missing from its spot on the dresser. I whirled around, searching for it in my mother's room. It had to be here. It was always here.
"Can I help you find something?" Came my mom's inquisitive, sharp voice from her doorway. I looked at her, my eye's slightly wild. "The picture.. the one on your dresser?" I pointed to where the picture always sat. I was confused, suspicious, and furious all at the same time. My mom's eye narrowed slightly, then she simply said, "I accidentally knocked it over getting ready this morning. It broke, so I threw it out. Why do you want it, Madelyn?"
She asked the question plainly, but I could tell there was suspicion behind it. My mind was buzzing, but I took a breath and squared my shoulders. I needed to keep my composure. "Ray… Ray and I were reminiscing about how awkward we looked at 12, and that picture was a perfect example of me at that age. Since I had on Grumpy the dwarf shirt, and still parted my hair down the middle." I shrugged, hoping we could drop this. "Guess I'll have to find a different one." I used the same, plain tone of voice she used on me. "Is dinner ready? I'll go get washed up." I said, as I started out of the room.
My mom stood, with her arms crossed, but as I approached her by the door, she dropped them and grabbed one of my shoulders with a tender hand. She had a searching look on her face and it instantly made me uncomfortable. She was eying me intently, but I kept myself from flinching away. "Glad you and Ray apparently worked out your disagreement." She said, not breaking eye contact.
My face scrunched in confusion. "Huh?" I asked.
"The reason you were so upset yesterday?" The questioning in her voice reminded me of what I had told her in the bathroom. She was clearly testing me, and letting me know she wasn't buying what I was saying. "Oh... yeah, well nothing like a mine clasping to put life into perspective." I said, still holding her gaze. Mom's lips pursed slightly, but she suddenly smiled at me, her fake Mayor smile that indicated she was up to something.
"Good, good. You two have been friends for so long and with everything going on, friends are important." She lifted her hand and touched my face lightly. The gesture normally would have been a loving one, but instead, it made my skin crawl. "I couldn't help but notice, is there a reason you're not wearing this?"
She cocked her head slightly with this question, her eye's clear and quizzical. I looked down to realize she was holding my locket in her hand. My chest tightened, as it was getting harder and harder to keep my face blank. All I wanted to do was squirm out of her grip and go hide away in my bed. "I… I was worried the chain was wearing down. I wear it a lot… so..." I trailed off. I'd lost some of the confidence in my voice and even I could hear how weak the lie was.
She held it up, as if inspecting it, and then gave me a reassuring smile. "It looks okay to me." She said, as she reached out and placed it around my neck. My body froze and all I could do is stand there while she put it on me. "I'll look for a new chain, but I'd hate for you stop wearing it. Your grandfather gave it to me when I was young, and I, in turn, gave it to you, just before he passed away. It fits you so well." She patted my cheek lightly, after she'd fastened the clasp behind my neck, and kissed my forehead. She looked back down at the locket, now around my neck, then said, "Please tell your brother dinner is ready." With that, she turned, heading back down the stairs.
When Henry eventually emerged from the bathroom, pajamas on, I was still standing in the doorway to our mom's room. He stopped in front of me, waving his hand in my face, to get my attention. "What are you doing?" He questioned, once I looked down to him. He looked past me, to peer into our mom's room, then looked back at me trying to figure out what I was doing. I, too, looked back behind and then looked at him. "Uh.. I don't remember…" I looked around again, "What had I been doing?" I thought to myself.
The smell of food suddenly reached my nose. "Oh, mom asked me to get you for dinner. Food is ready."
"Oh good. I'm starving." Henry said, turning so we could walk down the stairs together. "Mining is hard work." Henry said, giving me a cheeky smile. I nudged him, while rolling my eyes, and then grabbed him in a side hug, as we started down to the kitchen. I sure did love this kid, and even though he was a pain in the butt, eating leftovers and being with my little family sounded like a good way to end this crazy day.