Mia squinted against the sun as she walked outside with Grace, Graham, Ava, and Nick. Lunchtime at Storybrooke High had become her favorite part of the day—not because of the food or even the company, necessarily, but because it was the one time she could just sit back and listen to everyone talk, trying to piece together the mysteries of Storybrooke.

Mia's dark, curly hair fell around her shoulders, wild and untamed as ever, and she brushed a strand out of her hazel eyes, her gaze drifting over to Scarlett, who was laughing with a friend a few benches down. Scarlett, with her long blonde braid and easy smile, had caught Mia's eye from day one. Mia wasn't sure what it was, but there was something magnetic about her. She's cute, Mia thought, immediately pushing that thought aside, annoyed at herself.

"So, Mia," Grace began, drawing Mia back to the conversation. "When are you going to tell us who you are?"

Mia blinked, trying to buy time. "Uh, what do you mean?"

Ava smirked, leaning forward. "Come on. We all have some kind of fairytale story—everyone here does. I'm Hansel's sister. Graham was the Huntsman. So… who are you?"

Mia let out a snort, crossing her arms over her built frame. "Oh, right. You're all really from the Enchanted Forest or whatever. Sure, that makes total sense. And here I thought everyone here was just a little too obsessed with Halloween."

They all laughed, but Mia's sarcasm didn't shake their curiosity. Graham raised an eyebrow. "So, seriously, Mia… what's your story?"

Mia rolled her eyes, trying to keep it casual. "Fine. Apparently, I'm Snow White and Prince Charming's daughter."

There was a beat of silence before Nick let out a low whistle. "Wait… so you're a princess?"

Mia pulled a face, her tone dry. "Yep, that's what they tell me. Princess Mia. Right up there with… uh… I don't know, Sleeping Beauty. Or something."

Ava raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "That's actually pretty epic. You're royalty."

"Right?" Grace leaned in, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Do you have, like, a tiara? Or a horse-drawn carriage? I mean, I'd settle for a glass slipper or two."

Mia snorted. "Trust me, I don't have a tiara or anything remotely royal. You don't get special treatment in foster care. So if anyone's expecting a princess act, I'm not your girl."

Graham gave her a grin. "Don't worry. We'll keep you grounded, Your Highness."

Mia threw a mock glare his way, though she couldn't hide a small smile. "If anyone calls me that, I'm out."

Their laughter filled the air, and for a moment, Mia felt almost normal. She was still adjusting to the idea of magic and curses, but her new friends made it easier, keeping things light and sarcastic, not asking her for some grand explanation.

But as the conversation continued, she caught another glimpse of Scarlett, who was now leaning against a tree, talking with a few classmates. She seemed so at ease, her braid glinting in the sun, and Mia found herself watching her a little longer than she meant to. Scarlett glanced up, and for a split second, their eyes met. Mia quickly looked away, feeling an inexplicable warmth spread through her chest.

"So, Mia," Ava teased, nudging her. "Got your eye on anyone yet?"

Mia rolled her eyes, playing it off. "What? No, of course not." But she didn't dare glance in Scarlett's direction again.

After school, Mia returned to the loft, still mulling over her friends' reactions. It was bizarre hearing them call her a princess, and even more bizarre to think of herself as one. She walked into the kitchen, where Snow and David were busy making dinner, the scent of pasta filling the air.

Snow looked up, a smile breaking across her face. "Hey, Mia! How was school?"

Mia shrugged, dropping her bag on the floor. "It was… school."

David leaned against the counter, a hint of amusement in his gaze. "Come on, it had to be more interesting than that. How'd it go, really?"

Mia hesitated, feeling an awkwardness creep in. She didn't know how to talk to them—parents, these people who were apparently her parents but felt more like strangers. "Well, everyone knows who I am now," she muttered, trying to keep it light. "Or, you know, who I'm supposed to be."

Snow tilted her head, her eyes softening. "They know you're… our daughter?"

Mia nodded, fidgeting slightly. "Yep. Apparently, being royalty is a pretty big deal around here."

David chuckled, though his eyes held a hint of sympathy. "It can be. But it doesn't change who you are, Mia. Just… gives people a new perspective."

Mia gave him a half-hearted smile, her tone dry. "Yeah, I think they're all expecting me to bust out a crown and start waving at people from my imaginary castle."

Snow and David exchanged a glance, and Snow's voice softened. "You don't have to play any role you don't want to. We just want you to feel… comfortable. And that can take time."

Mia shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, thanks… I guess." She felt a pang of guilt, but the words just didn't come naturally. She didn't know how to be a daughter, and every attempt at a "normal" conversation with them felt like she was stumbling over invisible barriers.

"Dinner will be ready soon," David said, giving her a small, encouraging smile. "Take a moment to relax."

"Sure," Mia replied, forcing a small smile before heading to her room. Once she was alone, she flopped onto her bed, sighing as she stared up at the ceiling. Her whole life had been about surviving on her own, figuring things out without anyone's help. Now, here were these people—parents—trying to connect with her, to include her, and it felt… strange. As if she were trying to fit into a role that wasn't hers.

She glanced at her notebook on her desk and picked it up, flipping it open to the page where she'd been writing down everything she'd learned about Storybrooke, about the Enchanted Forest, about her friends and their fairytale identities. She added a line at the bottom:

Princess. Right. Like that's supposed to mean something.

And, almost without thinking, she added a small note next to Scarlett's name:

Scarlett—Rapunzel? Seriously?

Mia closed the notebook, feeling a small smile creep onto her face. Storybrooke was still a world she didn't quite understand, filled with people who lived lives that sounded like they belonged in books. But maybe, just maybe, there was a place for her here—a place where she could be herself, even if that included a little curiosity about a certain blonde with a long braid and an easy smile.

For now, she'd take things one day at a time. Princess or not, she was going to figure out how she fit into this story—even if it meant rewriting parts of it herself.