Happy Friday! So, this is an entire episode. I tried breaking parts down, but it just became too dragged out, and I like the content of the next episode better. Cheers to the weekend! :o)
"Noxious… Come on Mads you know this! Noxious… Oh! Harmful, poisonous, lethal." I turned the index-card over in my hand and silently praised myself for getting the definition correct. "Okay, next one. Plaudit. Psh. Easy – a statement giving strong praise."
"What are you studying for?" Looking up, I took in Emma standing before me. "Oh, umm. Just SAT prep. I figure you can't be overly prepared, so I carry around vocab flashcards to study at things like this." I waved my hand, indicating to David Nolan's party. He and his wife had yet to arrive, so everyone was standing around awkwardly.
Emma gave me a disgusted look. "Your brother is right, you're a nerd." Her voice was teasing and there was a smile on her face, so I smiled back her and shrugged. "Speaking of your brother, I see him by the entry way, I'm going to go talk to him. Have fun studying." I watched the blonde walk away and then took in the room.
My mom, Henry, and I had be the first ones here and Henry and I had taken bets on how many people would show. As I looked around the room, it was clear my younger brother had won the bet. The house was pretty full of Storybrooke community members. "Does Mr. Nolan really know all these people?" I wondered to myself. I mean, I didn't even know most of these people and my mom is the mayor. It was just then that David and Kathryn arrived. I quickly realized I was right, Mr. Nolan didn't know anyone, as he was being introduced to those around him.
I looked around again, and caught my mother waving to me from the kitchen. Standing, I placed my flashcards in my back pocket and made my way through the crowd. As I was about to enter the kitchen, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. Pulling it out, I read the message from Ray. "Derrick, Chris, and I are going star gazing tonight. You in?"
I could hear my mother's voice, talking to Kathryn Nolan, and I knew there was no way she'd let me leave this party to hang out with my friends. Sneaking out wasn't an option, but I wanted to go. I huffed a sigh, and slide my phone in back into my pocket. Pretending I hadn't seen the message was easier than making a decision, or letting Ray down.
Kathryn passed me heading out to the party, as I entered the kitchen. It turns out, my mother summoned me simply to have me take more food out to the guests. I had made two laps around the house, when I finally decided to hideout with Emma and Henry. I heard Henry asking Mr. Nolan about swords earlier, when I'd walked past them, and I'd hoped they'd moved onto a new topic.
Luckily, he and Emma were simply sitting on the couch talking about school, as I sat next to my brother. Kathryn was walking away, and both Henry and the blonde grabbed the last of the horderves on my serving tray. "You owe me five bucks." Henry mumbled out, his mouth full of cracker and cheese.
I rolled my eyes, but promised to pay him when we got home. My phone started vibrating again, but I ignored it. "Are you going to get that?" Henry asked, as we both looked down to where my phone was vibrating the seat beneath us. Pulling it out, I saw three more messages from Ray. "Hello?" "Dude, come on! I know you're just at that boring party." "Mads? Maddie? Madelyn? Answer me!"
"Whoa, someone is popular." Emma joked. I read the messages, and went to place my phone back in my pocket, as Henry asked, "Why aren't you talking to Ray?"
I shrugged, "mom asked me to help out here tonight, and Ray knows that. I'm not going to sneak out, and we both know mom won't let me go."
"I won't let you go where?"
The three of us looked up to see my mom approaching us from the kitchen. My eyes widened slightly, as both Henry and Emma made an excuse about needing punch, and left me to answer my mother. "Oh… ummm… Well, Ray, Derrick, and Chris are going star gazing and wanted me to come." I said with a shrug.
"Stargazing where?" My mother asked, eying me slightly. "Down at the docks." I replied hesitantly, confused as to if this was a trap.
She pursed her lips slightly, then said, "Go. Be home by 9:30 and keep your phone on you." I looked at her surprised. "But… Mr. Nolan's party?" I said, and indicated to the people behind us.
"If you want to stay that's your choice, but we both know you'd rather be elsewhere. Yes?" I nodded once, as she continued, "You have brought your grades back up, and have been honest with me as of late. So go. Have fun. Don't miss curfew." She started to turn back to the kitchen, but faced me again, "and grab your jacket out of the car."
She didn't need to tell me a third time I could go. I jumped up and headed out the door, as I shot Ray a reply, "on my way!"
"No. No way. I don't care what you say. Snap is and will always be a douche bag! Harry was an idiot for naming his kid after him." I could very clearly hear my friends arguing over Harry Potter, as I turned to walk down the ramp, to the dock. They were in our usual spot, the furthest dock out. It was the creepy, dark, one that had a broken light, so it was caste in pitch black. I made my way down the metal ramp, grateful that the bottom had slip resistant spikes.
Once I got to the landing, I decided to make my presence known. "It's true. Harry and Ginny could have picked way better names other than Albus and Severus. I mean, Remus, Hagrid, Tonks, Sirius… So many other names had more meaning." I finished my statement, as I sat down, completing the square of people on the dock.
"See, at least Mads knows what's up!" Said Chris, as he gave me a fist bump. Although I couldn't see them, I was pretty sure both Ray and Derrick rolled their eyes at this. "Whatever." Said Ray, clearly ready to move onto a new topic. "So, how'd you escape?" She questioned me.
"Oh, my mom actually gave me permission to leave." I replied back, as I pulled my phone out to make sure the volume was on, then shoved it back in my pocket. "Wait, you actually told her what we were doing?" Ray sounded both surprised, and almost irritated.
"Not exactly. She overheard me talking to Henry, and told me I could come. What's the big deal?" I asked, confused by her tone of voice. "We're just glad you made it." Derrick cut in, as he reached out and grabbed my hand, and intertwined his fingers with mine. "By the way, I totally got a B- on the pre-calc exam. I couldn't have managed it without your amazing tutoring skills." He said, as he leaned over to give me a kiss.
"Ewww. Really, guys? I just ate a bunch of Doritos and don't need them coming back up." Chris said, as he made gagging sounds. Laughing, I shot back, "You can't even see us! It too dark, you dork!"
We settled into comfortable chatter, occasionally stopping to point out a shooting star here and there. I had to admit, it was nice being with my friends again. I hadn't spent much time around them due to school, and playing catch up. Plus, my mom had been having me come by her office after school most days to do some filing for her. One of the office ladies was out due to a family issue, so I was filling in temporarily. I didn't really mind, I was getting paid for it.
The next morning, I'd just finished my morning run, and was walking up to the back door. I could see my mom and Henry talking inside, as my mom served what looked to be her apple-cinnamon French toast. Opening the door, they both shot me a quick glance, and then continued their banter. "Henry, I said no." He was about to say something back, but mom cut him off, and turned her attention to me. "Sit, eat." She said, as she placed a plate in front of the stool, next to Henry's.
Henry decided he wasn't done arguing about whatever it was they were discussing, and ignored my presence all together. "It'd be an hour tops." He whined. "What are you talking about?" I asked, as I took a seat on the bar-stool and picked up my fork. "Nothing." My mom snapped, as she shot Henry a warning glance.
"I need to get to work. I want the dishes washed before you both leave for school. Got it?" Mom said, as she turned to wash her hands, and get ready to leave. "Madelyn, there's more filing for you to do after school."
I chewed the bite in my mouth and then replied, "Okay." I could feel Henry squirming next to me, as he gave me a bewildered look, but didn't say anything. Instead he huffed out an irritated sigh, and picked at his breakfast.
"March 2010" Read the tab on the file in my hand. I opened the appropriate file drawer and was skimming through it, to locate the appropriate place, when Henry walked into the room.
"What are you doing?" Henry asked, stopping next to me, and crossed his arms. "Finishing the filing mom gave me." I replied, as I closed the drawer and picked up the next file.
"No. Not that. With mom? Why are you acting all weird again?"
I put the file down and turned to face my brother. "What are you talking about?"
"You've become her servant or something." He said, in a serious, slightly accusing, voice. "You never want to help with Operation Cobra and you're always doing everything to please her. Why?"
"Henry," I sighed, as I turned to move to the opposite set of filling cabinets. "Maddie," He said back in the same tone as mine.
"Look, I need to finish this, and then I have a lot English reading to do tonight. Leave me alone, okay? You want to be annoyed with mom for dragging us here after school, that's your problem." I shot at him, done with his whinny outbursts.
Henry just stared at me, looking slightly hurt, before he turned a stomped out. I didn't bother look at him as he left, instead, I picked up the last of the files to put away. If he wants to keep getting in trouble, time and time again, that's his issue. He can dig his own grave. I'd decided I was done being dragged into it.
There was a soft knock on my door. I set my book down on my lap, as I looked up to see my mom entering. "Henry's asleep and it's time for you to go to bed as well." She said, as she walked in, and sat on the edge of my bed.
"Can I read just one more chapter?" I asked, picking my book back up and looking at the little more I had to finish for the night. "Nope, bed." She said, as she grabbed the book from my hands, and placed it on the end table. Then she grabbed at the blankets and pulled them away from me, so I could scoot down and get comfortable.
Laying down, I looked up at her. "Why are you so happy?" I asked, seeing the glint in her eyes that hadn't been there in a while. "I just had a good day at work, and it sounds like my friend Kathryn and her husband are working things out." She said, reaching up to tuck some of my hair behind my ear. "Now sleep." She commanded.
I rolled my eyes, and turned on my side getting comfortable. I huffed out a goodnight, as my mom bent down and kissed me on the cheek. As soon as she left the room, I felt myself smiling into darkness. Closing my eyes, I quickly drifted off into a dreamless sleep. Finally at ease that everything was back to normal.