Author: Thank you so much for your support i am very flattered to see people are liking my writing. I am hoping to try and work on more chapters this week but as i work they might not be so quick so bare with me. Please enjoy this chapter :)
SUMMARY: In an alternative reality: - Emma Swan, a struggling young woman moves from the city from a small harbour town to get away from dealers she owes money to after stealing their goods, where she takes on the role of a ship hand on a small ship. Little does she know, her new quest will bring her love with the Ship's Captain, who leads her on a world of adventure and saves her from herself, her past and the dealers who aim to find her.
Chapter 3: Call Me.
Emma walked out of the bar to her car, she turned on her phone and searched for the town of storybooke after speaking with the kind sailor had mentioned it. She opened the car door and sat down.
She found it odd that anyone in that town could ever give her anything of use after the amount of low life she really had found and sold to. But He was right, storybook was a small harbour town, with ships and boats coming in and out regularly. Some were simple fisher boats, but from time to time tourist ships would come in. The kind where you could easily find work and travel all of America.
Emma liked that idea very much. She clinched onto her phone and put it into her glove box, this would be her next adventure and her next chapter of life.
She took to the highway and decided to travel through the night searching for the little town.
It wasn't at all easy to find, and as daylight broke, she was there.
Welcome to Storybooke.
Emma smiled and drove on as she reached the centre. For Emma had no clue what would await her in this town. A lot more than what she would bargain for.
Eleven Years ago…
Emma had finally got used to the shift at the coffee shop by now. She had been promoted from pot cleaner to fill in barrister and waitress. The shop was so busy and she had been summoned to take over barrister as others took their break.
She turned from the coffee machine and handed a customer her coffee and turned to her next one and there he was. He was a dark haired man, with a little stubble, he looked cheeky and a bit of a trouble maker. Both of them for whatever reason, had suddenly became transfixed on one another. Emma smiled as she stared and was nudged by a colleague who noticed her day dreaming.
"Emma…work please…"
"Oh sorry, yes sir, how can i help?"
"Neil, and yes a flat white to go please and your phone number might be nice too."
Emma blushed and began to make his order. Neil laughed and walked to the end of the queue to get his coffee as Emma made it for him. She was still getting used to this whole latte art thing, and as she poured the cream, what was meant to be a leaf in the shape of the coffee, soon turned into a heart.
Neil looked at it and laughed.
"Yes…a…a flat white… thats $3.50 please."
Neil laughed and handed her a $5 bill and a napkin which he had taken the liberty to write his number on.
"Thanks love, keep the change and of course, most importantly call me."
Emma laughed and put the number in her piny pocket and continued to work.
A week later..
Emma was about to put her pinafore in the wash and something fell out of the pocket. Emma fumbled to the floor to pick up the napkin. She had completely forgotten about the number that the guy Neil had written down for her, and really had forgotten to even call him. She hadn't seen this Neil since she had seen him that day, and had probably figured she would have seen him by now if he really was that interested in her.
She looked at the napkin and smiled and put it down on her dressing table and put her pinafore in the wash.
It wasn't long before she was back at work and another shift was over. It was her night to finish and close up, washing the table down and such.
Emma was transfixed on getting the job done as quickly as possible and soon she heard a knock on the window.
Emma jumped up from the sound and out of her skin, she held onto her chest, and there the little pest was. It was the phone number guy, Neil, he was stood outside and waving at her.
Emma laughed as she walked to the door of the coffee shop and unlocked it.
"You didn't call…i had been waiting…"
Emma laughed. "Sorry, i've been really busy…"
"I can tell, Emma, do you need a hand?" he said looking at her badge.
"Ah yes, sorry, i am Emma, and sure, if you grab a shammy, the tables need a polish."
"Got it…they were."
"In the back, but hands off the till, or i might have to kick you out."
Neil held us his hands the whole way there and back to prove he wasn't going to steal anything.
The two of them continued to clean the shop, kept talking and laughing. Emma had never felt so comfortable with anyone, but this Neil guy made her feel so normal and she liked the feeling.
Neil walked out to the shop as Emma closed it up, locking the door and they began the evening walk home.
"So, will you call me this time then?" Neil said as they walked down the road.
"Well, you might just be in with a chance."
"Damn, did i not do enough?"
"Maybe you did, maybe you didn't."
Neil laughed.
"You are a hard one to read Emma."
"You should never judge a book by its cover though."
"True…"
"Well, this is my turn off."
"Ok, i won't stalk you and walk you to the door, just yet."
Emma laughed.
"Might be best, and yes, i will call you."
Neil did a little victory dance.
"Excellent, should we go for coffee or is that a bit cliche since you work at a coffee house."
"As long as it's a different coffee shop Neil, thats fine."
"Great, how about Friday?"
"I'll check my work diary, but i'll call you."
"Ok, goodnight Emma."
"Goodnight Neil."
Neil began to walk on and Emma turned into her road and smiled. She really felt happy, and was looking forward to that coffee date.
Present Day…
Emma parked up in the town centre, she could tell this town was a little old port town. The shops were extremely old school, old hardware shop, an antiques dealer, a butcher and even an old school ice cream parlour.
"Wow…" Emma said as she shrugged. She really struggled to see how anyone under the age of 70 even lived here.
The cars were very much of the old school retro variety, it was clear this town really was never in with the new. Emma found this a little charming, how towns like this even survived the turn of the century was a new mystery. People really had become hooked on technology, but at least this place wasn't Amish, it did seem to have electricity.
Emma locked the car began to take some time to explore, she looked in the shop windows and saw the business men and women busy with customers, despite how small the town was, it appeared to still be thriving, despite how early it was. Emma looked up and noticed a clock of the town, it was only 6:30am.
It wasn't long before Emma came across the local diner, and she couldn't help but yet again feel a little peckish.
Granny's Diner.
Emma couldn't help but think this Diner had an ample name for the Granny Town and luckily for her it was open. Emma decided to humour it and decided to see what it would hold for her.
Emma walked into the diner, the little bell above the door rang. A group of small men, who looked like they worked in a mine were all sat having breakfast, there was an older couple, with a young child and a couple which looked very much like an old Hugh heifer with his younger wife. Emma smirked, this town was going to be a lot more interesting than she thought it would be already it seemed to have character.
It wasn't long before she noticed that everyone was staring at her, she didn't quite understand it, so she took a seat quickly to try and avoid being noticed.
A young woman with brown long hair, wearing a rather revealing waitress outfit, whilst chewing some gum came and took her order.
"Hey there, you are not from round here are you? The names Ruby."
"Emma, you are correct, i am from out of town."
"Cool, welcome to Storybooke Emma, what brings you to Storybrooke?"
Emma wasn't really quite in the mood for being questioned being tried to humour it briefly, she couldn't really tell her real reason for leaving the city.
"I'm looking for Work, i was told that sometimes their are positions on the ships." She tried to be vague.
"Ah of course, you'll find something, there's always something, you should head to the downhill you will find the postings there. You're looking, i wish i could get away."
"Why can't you?" Emma changed the subject
"Well, my grany own's this diner and she was me to take over when she retires, so i guess my whole world is here, i guess it is all i've really ever known so."
"She wouldn't let you at least take a year out, if there is work on ships like this it would be good for you."
"Yeah…yeah you are right…maybe i should suggest that."
Emma smiled.
"Sorry, i need to take your order, what would you like?"
"Granola would be great, and i might come back for the grilled cheese later, it sounds delicious, but what makes it granny's specialist grilled cheese?
"If i told you that, i would have to kill you."
Emma's eyes widened.
"I'm kidding, Coffee too?"
"Please."
Ruby wrote it all down on her little note pad and did a twirl.
"Coming right up."
It wasn't long before the seven men jumped off their stools and began to walk own. Emma didn't realise how tiny they were, and seven of them. They were like Dwarfs, and they all looked different. Emma looked confused. How would seven little men, all who look different, live and work in one town together.
This town really was an interesting place, and wondered if something has happened to cause these poor men to have all grown so small but all look unique. Unless their mother really had slept with half the town.
Ruby soon came over with her breakfast.
"Thanks"
"You are very much welcome." she smiled of off she hopped back to the counter to tidy up after the dwarves.
Emma rolled her eyes a little, after seeing the small family, and decided to settle into eating her breakfast, she wasn't one mouthful in until the. The older couple and the kid had finished their breakfast and were off to their dat. The older couple smiled at Emma as they left.
"Hey there visitor, would you like the morning newspaper?" The man said.
He was tall, he had dirty blonde hair with a tinge of grey, his eyes were a really deep blue and he was wearing a sheriffs badge.
Emma knew she had to be careful, she really didn't like cops, not one bit.
"A…thanks, thank you."
He nodded. He was about to ask a question but his wife stopped him in his tracks. She was a small lady with deep dyed black hair. She called out to him and what looked like her grandson, who clearly looked a little like her, waved him on to come quickly. Emma could tell the grandson and grandmother were clearly related as they they had the same hazel eyes and dark hair.
"Come on, Henry will be late for school."
"Ok…sorry…see you around Ma'dam, enjoy."
"See you…"
Emma shrugged and opened up the paper. The town even had it's own paper, and Emma got the impression that for some reason, everyone here knew everyone and outsiders seemed to be over welcomed.
"Here you go, Granola and a coffee, i've left enough milk in the jug here for both if thats ok?"
"That's great, thanks Ruby."
Emma sat and read the paper and eat her breakfast.
The town was inheritable interesting, the stories of stowaways coming of the ships and trying to steal from the town. Emma began to read the enthralling story, how such a thing could happen in this small town she really had no idea.
The old man and his young wife walked past, well she did, he more hobbled across. The young woman, smiled as she noticed what Emma was reading.
"Bad day was that, but the Sheriff and his team really saved the day."
Emma was sipping her coffee, and felt a slight annoyance rush through her, she really couldn't stand people reading over her shoulder.
"Yeah…sad to hear…glad everything was ok."
"Come on Belle, don't hassle the poor young woman, Sorry dearie…"
"It's fine…" it really wasn't but she had to be polite.
"Sorry…we see a lot of people come, but they always go, but there always men, who want to work hard on the ships, your the first woman i've seen in town for a while…"
"Oh…no work?"
"Yes there is…just well…ummm"
"Belle, please, leave the poor woman alone, we have work to do."
Her husband rolled her eyes and Belle soon followed him.
"Sorry…i'll…See you around…"
Emma couldn't help feel a little uneasy about this umm that the woman Belle spoke off, but Emma was a tough girl and could handle anything. She began to read the story, ever more intrigued as she eat her Granola.
Elsewhere…
A group of men, all dressed in suits stepped out of an old Mercedes car. The town they had arrived in was a little run down, they didn't quite expect that anything at all would have been sold in such a dump like this and especially not their stuff.
They were tipped off, tipped off buy someone who has purchased their goods, you see, this group of men, really kept a tight lid on their wares. For their stuff really was the best stuff in New York and no matter what stuff, you bought it to use it and definitely not sell it.
The man, who was rather round and looked like he had sweat out a sweat shop pulled on his jacket and walked over to one of the clubs. It was clear he was the dealers main man.
"Right boys…lets find the source…"
The men began to look, but no one really could give them the information they required. The head dealer was getting frustrated and decided to save the best place that he knew he would most likely find something was the old beat down club.
The club wasn't open to the public yet, but he decided to burst in.
"Sorry were closed…"
"Not to us you aren't soney…"
The man's gang lifted back their jackets to reveal guns in holsters, these guys were not fooling around.
"Oh…oh…you can take my money…please…don't hurt me…or ruin my business…it's all i have."
"Don't worry sir, today is your lucky day, we're not after the money, we're after some information which we hope you can kindly provide."
"Information…?"
"Yes…on some transactions that happened in your club here last night…"
"Last night?"
"Yes…i'm sure you can guess what…"
"No…no sir….drugs"
"Correct and can you guess which drugs…"
"N…no…umm…"
"Come on man, use your brain…i mean it might be a wreck from all the booze, and smoking, and maybe even the drugs once upon a time, but come on, what was this towns favourite."
"C…coke…"
"Welly you are correct their, a good friend of mine, well we shall say he is, came forward with a sample, he knew the stuff very well, as you know it has somewhat of a unique flavour to it now doesn't it, so one of us get's a call, says someone is dealing is that isn't us, and as you know like many a time, we come where to find it."
"I'm sorry Sir, i really didn't see anything, we haven't sold anything…not since Mr Black…"
"Ah Mr Black, oh we do miss him now don't we…"
The old man came up the bar guy and grabbed his shirt.
"Now then what information can you share with me?"
"I..i really know nothing…"
"You sure…girls selling our goods, no idea where they would have got that from…"
"Maybe they came up state?"
"Probably accurate but there isn't anyone we know that fits this group, so there must be someone else…"
"I'm sorry…i don't know…but please…stay tonight…you can find out…i want you to find out…"
"Of course you do and well, thank you for the invite, but of course we intend to. Boy's, get the decent whiskey out of the van and find someone to clean the entire hotel room, oh and get us a few rooms, cause tonight we will be settling in."
The old man cackled as the others did as they were told to. The bar man knew he would be in for a very long night.