Emma Swan had never been to shy person only relying on herself for the most part made her a confident young women, her life unfortunately had recently turned upside down nightmares a few psyche evaluations ending with her giving up on her pleading her innocence and having a little stint in juvy landed her standing on the steps of her new high school in storybook Maine Emma was trying her best to leave her past behind however she been down this road before in fact Emma mumbled under her breath fresh start number five as her new foster mom Josie dropped her off. So as she stood at the gates of her new school in a new town she hesitated before entering. Even though she was out of juvy Emma still felt very trapped by it all watching as all the other kids walking in with their friends they all looked so free Emma envied them. However all that she could do was get through the day without anything weird happening maybe even make a friend, she was hoping.

Emma slowly made her way into the halls of Storybrooke high it was another new school she'd been through the routine so many times most schools seemed to be set out the same way so without any guidance Emma easily made her way to the front office. It was small and busy office many students and staff rushing around, there was a girl just in front of Emma in the line in an argument with the office lady.

"Yes I understand, but its special book a one of a kind and I can't find it anywhere" Said the girl a little worked up.

"I understand but you must of left in somewhere else those lockers can't be broken into" the office lady answered using her hand to rudely inform the girl to move aside.

In a bit of a huff and with much hesitation the girl moved to the side and Emma walk to the front her documents ready hoping to get this done quickly she didn't want to be late on her first day this was a new start and it needed to go off without a hitch. As Emma got to the front she smiled at the lady the look that was returned was not pleasant she looked down here from her glasses.

"Yes" the lady said looking down at Emma

"I'm a new student, Emma Swan I was told" Emma started but was interrupted

"Bit late aren't you, supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago, "she said walking off grabbing a few files placing them in front of Emma "here is your schedule list of text books you will need to have and the schools code of conduct which you are expected to follow" with the way she enounced that last part Emma new she must have read here file so much for privacy.

"Thanks I'll be sure to read all this" Emma responded with a snarky grin

"hey Elsa, show the new girl to her locker number eight fifteen" the office lady said looking towards the girl she was bickering with earlier who still hadn't left the office it looks like this was the office lady way of politely telling her to leave.

"Sure" she answered simply but you could hear the frustration in her voice

Emma awkwardly followed her out into the Hall it was busy people everywhere they were all staring at her in a small town like this the new girl stuck out, she quietly followed Elsa but Emma felt bad having to be lead around like a nuisance at burden like she was to everyone. What was she even doing Emma was dreading the idea of having to ask one of these kids for a pen or paper as she had neither when Elsa turned to her.

"Hey ugh, Emma is it I'm sorry I'm being rude I'm Elsa your lockers right by mine, do you know what you have first period" Elsa asked smiling

"English room four B, I have no idea where that is" Emma said looking down at her schedule quickly

"It's alright I can show you, you'll be fine that teachers real nice Miss Glass the office lady isn't really helpful she's a bit of a ughh" Elsa trailed off

"A bitch" Emma finished

They both laughed and Elsa did a little impression of her staring down at you over her glasses routine when Elsa stopped by the locker.

"Ok this is your locker and room 4B is just down the hall on the right, I've got to go or I'll be late but maybe I can meet you after class my lockers right by yours I know it's hard to make friends on the first day I can introduce you to all the cool people if you want" Elsa said

"Yeah thanks so much" Emma said as Elsa already started to walk away to class and suddenly the hall was empty great now Emma had to be the new girl who walks in late.

Emma eventually found her locker combo when she heard the bell ring once more class had started she was late so much for not drawing attention to herself, maybe this would be better than her previous schools no more weird stuff like what happened on her birthday it was going to be different this time.

Making her way down the hall and the room was right were Elsa said the door was open and the teacher had already started a class discussion maybe Emma could just slip by and sit down minimal attention minimises chances of screwing up. Emma slowly peered into the door through the back of the room it seemed like the right place she could see the others students pulling out the copies of Shawshank Redemption so she decided to just slip in.

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies" her English teacher started and everyone was seated all Emma had to do was walk to the back and get a seat but something was pulling at her to stop for just a moment and listen to the pixie haired bright eight women at the front of the room.

Emma stubbled getting caught up in the moment tripping over her own feet dropping her stuff on the floor. Emma stared at her books spilled across the floor, feeling a hot blush spread across her face. She immediately dropped to the ground to pick everything up and avoid the stares of her new classmates.

"Great going, Emma. So much for sneaking in the back and not making a scene" she scolded herself.

"Here let me help you with that." Said a soft, kind voice.

Suddenly the teacher was kneeling by her side picking up some of her papers for her, dam now she was going to know just by glancing at Emma's stuff she was the foster kid she wanted to last one class without that label. However she just smiled as she handed her papers to Emma looking into her eyes it was strange like she'd known her it was almost like déjà vu she was staring at Emma for a moment like she was shocked to see her. Emma shock it off grabbing got a hold on her stuff standing up now.

"Sorry I'm late, I 'm new" Emma said she heard giggling from the corner of the room.

"Oh no it's ok just take a seat, I'm Miss Blanchard" she responded smiling giving Emma a reassuring nod

"Emma" she simply said sitting down then she realised she was starring a quickly looked away from her English teacher

Miss Blanchard could sense Emma's sudden discomfort as everyone's in the rooms eyes were on her so she tried to move on quickly "Ok I'm going to need everyone to write down a few quotes from the book and tell me why there are significant to the story as Miss Blanchard came around the room she put one of the spare books on Emma's desk s the rest of the class went by quickly after Emma managed to borrow a pen from the boy sitting behind her she actually got some work done so when the bell rung she was shaken back into the reality of her situation. Emma got up to leave slowly unsure of where she was even going to go she remembered her new foster mother Josie had made her lunch this morning which was nice they seemed nice but she didn't want to get her hopes up. Emma looked towards the doorway and saw that Elsa was standing there waiting for her she smiled and made her way over to her.

"Hey have you seen it Miss Blanchard" Elsa asked stepping into the room

"Sorry no one's handed anything in" Miss Blanchard answered sadly

Emma made her way to Elsa noticing the exchange was everyone on the hunt for this book, before Emma and Elsa left however Miss Blanchard interjected.

"Do you mind if I talk to you for a moment Emma" she paused "it won't be long I just wanted to give you some notes on the coursework"

"I'll just be by the lockers" Elsa said walking off

Well at least she didn't do this little introduction during class Emma thought but Emma knew there was not much point in worrying about coursework when she would be lucky to be her for a whole semester.

"ok so here are some notes you can read over to catch up, and you can borrow that copy of the book if you like also there will be and exam in a month so here are some practice essays for you to study" Mrs Blanchard said hand Emma a stack of papers

"Thanks" Emma said sheepishly not sure if shed even be here that long

"Do you have a notebook" Mrs Blanchard asked

"No I, I don't have a notebook where would I have gotten a notebook "Emma answered sheepishly shrugging

"Sorry I figured here you can have this one, I'm just not used to this we've never had a new student before" Mrs Blanchard said handing here one from her draw

Emma just smiled at that she didn't know what to say usually people don't even bother to help her catch up on work let only donate school supplies to the cause I suppose they just knew what Emma had already accepted and Mrs Blanchard failed to see this was a hopeless cause there was no way Emma could get her grades up.

"She really wants to find that book must be important" Emma said trying to end the silence

"I think Elsa is just like the rest of us these stories help us deal with our life haven't you ever gotten lost in a story that gives you hope "Mrs Blanchard explained as they made their way to the door

"Not really, but I understand" However that wasn't entirely true she remembered when she was six she had a illustrated children's book the story of little orphan Annie she had read it about a thousand times however when she got transferred homes one day it was lost but who wants to hear the story of the poor foster kid yearning for a family to find her.

"Well I'll see you tomorrow, don't forget your homework" Mrs Blanchard said as they walked out into the hall Emma waved goodbye walking over to her locker Elsa was right about Mrs Blanchard she actually is a good teacher Emma wasn't sure if that's what she wanted.

Elsa smiled as Emma got to her locker as promised she was waiting for her as Emma shoved her books in she couldn't help feel a bit happy about the fact she actually had lunch today her new foster mother made her a sandwich and packed it all in to a container with some fruit and a bag of chips she grabbed the apple and her and Elsa made their way over to the courtyard to meet her friends.

As the approached Emma saw a couple holding hands they looked so happy starring into each other's eyes, Emma couldn't see much though as the girl had a red hoodie over her head as they got closer they didn't seem to notice they where there until Elsa spoke "hey Ruby, Peter this is my new friend Emma" they turned and look at them smiling Ruby stood up grabbing peters hand to join her.

"Hey, I'm ruby but everyone calls me red" Ruby said

"Yeah hi, I just moved here" Emma was telling Elsa's friends

"Cool, you know I don't think anyone ever moved here before" Ruby said thinking hard

"Any advice for the new girl" Emma asked

"Yeah never buy the hot dogs from the cafeteria you don't wanna know why, smoking area is around the corner there behind the dumpster and whatever you do stay out of the Principles crosshairs" Ruby answered

"Is she particularly mean" Emma asked

"Just last week she made six kids cry" Peter said smiling

"That's a new record" Elsa said

"I'll try to remember that then" Emma answered eyebrows raised

"So why did you move here, your parents wanted to move the coldest most boring town in Maine for a reason" Ruby asked

"Well I'm a foster kid so I get moved around a lot" Emma answered looking down at her feet

"Oh sorry you must be living with Tillman's so sad that whole thing" Peter already knew more than Emma did about her new family

"What is" Emma asked confused

"Oh sorry don't you know they had two kids they went missing years ago I don't exactly know when a while ago I guess they went walking into the woods, past the edge of the school they never found them I guess there parents are lonely" Ruby explained there was a moment of silence after that Emma was thinking about her new foster family and how sad they must be, and then ruby stood up quickly grabbing peters hand.

"Hey were going to go get some food, you guys want anything" ruby asked

"I'm alright" Elsa answered

"There probably just going to make out or something they always end up leaving me alone" Elsa said smiling but really Emma could see it bothered her.

"So that's it you three are the only cool people in the whole a school" Emma asked jokingly

"Yeah that's Storybrooke not much to see all the people here are as annoying as the kids in any other high school you've probably been too, but now it's four people at least" Elsa said

"Four ha I wonder who else makes this exclusive list of people" Emma answered with a smile.

"I'm glad you're here Emma usually end up alone at lunch ruby and peter go off somewhere not that I blame them or anything just you feeling like a third wheel" Elsa said

"No problem happy to keep you company but I got to warn I'm not much fun "Elsa raised her eyebrows at Emma smiling "seriously nothing exciting ever happens to me" Emma said smiling

"Well it's not gonna get more exciting here, not much happens in this town" Elsa replied

"None of the guys here interest you" Emma asked

"No none of the guys" Elsa replied laughing "what about that guy, do you know him Emma" Elsa asked pointing over by the wall.

"Who" Emma looked up but the boy had disappeared around the corner "looks like he wasn't that interested"

"Figures" Elsa laughed

The rest of the day went buy quickly after that just more class and more time hanging out with Elsa ruby and peter she even started to make friends in her other classes the kids here where kind of weird though it's like nobody had ever moved her before but it was nice have attention that wasn't negative for once Emma actually felt pretty good as she made her way home from school and her new foster parents were nice they seemed really sad Emma looked around the house more she took notice of the pictures of the missing kids and their stuff still around the house Emma was going to ask about it but figured it wasn't her place.

A few weeks went by and Emma had gotten down a routine running down the stairs almost late for class, making lunch stuffing a sandwich into her what used to be a green now more brown shoulder bag, grabbing something to eat as she ran out the door then it was just around the corner two streets down to school. Emma new every Wednesday Elsa would try again at the front office to see if anyone had found her book. Emma was running late this particular morning though and Elsa was already in the front office asking or more arguing with Miss Glass if anyone has handed in a lost book or at least try to convince her it was in her locker and there was no way she just lost it but with no luck. When she saw Anastasia and drizella who where always "helping out" in the office giggling in the corner by the filing cabinet. Elsa walked passed on her way out and saw Emma's name on the file the where reading.

"What are you doing that's private" Elsa barked

"Hey where just helping Miss Glass put away some files, besides don't you wanna know the truth about your new friend" Anastasia said smirking

"No put that away" Elsa said rolling her eyes but what where they talking about she came in closer to them.

"Seriously look right her, looks like your new friend tried to kill someone, guess you can't rust people" as Drizella said that Emma walked into the office shed seen Elsa in there through the window.

"No I guess you can't" Emma had heard to bad end of that exchange and stormed back out of the office.

"Elsa followed her out into the hall but couldn't keep up Emma ran back out of the school tears running down her checks I can't believe she'd thought she found a friend.

Emma heard the bell ring but ignored it as she sat just around the corner in the grass looking into the woods, all the memories flashing through her head waking up her room trashed broken glass fire spreading around the house and yelling lots of people yelling at her telling her she was either crazy or just another kid angry at the world braking everything in it she went with the later because a few months in juvy for burning someone's home to the ground was better then talking to another theorist explaining to her what happened how she feels how to cope. However the time for memory lane was over Emma looked at the time and realised she was really late for class now no need to make this any worse so she got up brushed of the dirt making her way back to school hopefully she could slip by unnoticed. Emma didn't even get to her locker when she heard someone walking up to her a tall women in heels plaid skirt and short black hair coming down the hall stopping when she saw Emma.

"Shouldn't you be in class" She asked frowning at Emma

"Yeah I'm on my way" Emma replied sheepishly

"You're the new girl, Emma swan you know whe've never had a new student here" She said it like she was confused that Emma was actually there

"So they tell me" Emma replied

"We also don't tolerate people coming half way through their first class; I'll see you in detention Miss Swan" The women bitterly said handed Emma a detention slip walking off Emma look down at it signed by Principle Mills, Offcourse Emma said why wouldn't I run into the Principle the one time I'm late could this day get any worse.

It could apparently as Emma finally made it to class she realised everyone acting very differently it seems word spread quickly and when the boy in the back row through a paper ball that simply had written on it it's ok id still date a freak it seems word had spread about what had happened at her last foster home. Emma didn't know what to do she just had to make it through the day without crying or punching someone in the face she didn't want to go back to juvy never let them see you cry Emma thought. To avoid any further unpleasant comments from people Emma decided to hide out in the library at recess she sat down on the floor in one of the isles reading her copy of Shawshank if she was going to be miserable she might as well do some homework, however she couldn't help but feel she was being watched she looked up and thought she saw someone take off but all she could make out was his black skinny leg jeans as he took off and it was time to go back to class and the end of the day grew closer Emma got hopeful until she remembered her detention.

Somehow she thought detention would be the better part of the day no one could talk about her, detention was in silence and she actually was thinking it will be good to have a break however with Principle Mills running detention it might just get worse Elsa and the others were right she's got something stuck up there and, Emma thought was interrupted though as a tall boy in black leather pushed past her into the room the two meet in the doorway which obviously didn't quite work Emma's arm got caught in his and she dropped her bag onto the floor her stuff falling out with it she'd had the bag for over a decade it didn't hold up very well but now it was defiantly a lost cause the strap had broken as it fell to the floor.

"Seriously watch where you're going" Emma barked frowning this day just keep getting worse

Emma went to bend down and pick it up but he had bet her to it stuffing her stuff back inside and he looked up and her, Emma's moment of announce fading as she looked into the boys bright blue eyes his hair just long enough to be a bit scruffy.

"Sorry love let me fix that" the boy said standing up holding the bag Emma noticed the boy had only one hand and a little hook on the other as he tied a little knot connecting the now two straps hanging of her bag together again pulling knot tight with his teeth, Emma raised her eyebrows as he handed her back the bag grinning.

Emma was too caught up in the weirdness of the moment that when the he asked her name she simply responded Emma thanks without asking for his as he walked off she made her way over to an empty desk she realised her bag was much heavier than it had been she looked inside to see a large book was in there and pulled it out turning around to ask the boy what this was about but he was gone. Emma turned to go after him but before she made it out to the hall Principle Mills came through the door.

"Where you headed Mrs Swan detention doesn't finish until four trying to slip out early are we" Mrs Mills said composed as she made her way to the front of the room the check of today's list of offenders.

"Umm no I just thought I saw, never mind" In a huff Emma sat back down

After that detention was mostly boring time was crawling by as Emma looked around the room the others were staring up at the ceiling or sleeping at their desk Emma decided to take a look at the book the hot boy left behind it was a big brown book with gold edging and the words once upon a time in big letters along the front Emma flicked through its was a book of fairy tales but they didn't seem like the stories she knew judging by the illustrations this must be the book Elsa was talking about but why did the boy have it and why did he leave it, slipping it in her bag and disappearing so many questions. However as Emma turned to one of the last pages in the book she saw and image of a baby swaddled in a knitted blanket with the name Emma engraved on it this caught her eye as it was extremely similar to a blanket that she has the one she was found at the side of the road so she starting reading the paragraph on the other side it was an extraordinary story of courage daring sword fight with a baby an evil queen just a silly story Emma thought but as she read it was like she could see the images in her head like a memory Emma had grown up though and fairytales just didn't captivate her like they did when she was younger she slammed the book shut and shoved it back in her bag, detention and this bad day where almost over and no fairytale was going to make it better.

After the longest hour of the day finally ended and Principle Mills dismissed everyone Emma made her way slowly to the door with the principles glare following her out. As Emma her way home she was reliving the moment she bumped into the boy with the blue eyes, the book heavy in her bag as Emma walked she looked down at the knot he tied on her bag trying not to smile for the first time since this morning. Emma was lost in thought though and when she finally looked around she'd realised she was lost taken a wrong turn about three turns back and didn't know her way around very well crap she thought just as the sky cracked and rain started to fall she'd have to find the main street and fast before she got soaked through then she could find her way to her new home. After walking down back streets for a nothing ten minutes or in the bitter cold Emma finally found the main street she walked down past a pawn shop Relieved for a bit of shelter, it was short moment though as Emma saw a group of girls from school she recognized two immediately they where in the office this morning reading her file.

"Hey look it's the new town freak" one of them said

"Didn't your mother ever teach you about privacy" Emma shot back but keep walking trying to speed up and get past them a confrontation wouldn't end well.

"What would you know about having a mother" the girl retorted

"Nothing" Emma mumbled" but I know a lot about my fist being in your face" Emma shot back here hand clenching.

"I thought you only did stuff like that in your dreams" one of the girls shot back giggling it was dealing starting to poor down now Emma could barely see the girls as they came closer.

Emma had had enough of this she was about to swing when the group took off and Emma noticed a person standing behind her the must be the reason for the retreat. Emma turned around to see Miss Blanchard standing there she could see the anger in Emma's face but also the distress.

"Are you ok sweetie" Mary Margret asked

"Ill be ok I just got to find my home, house I mean" she answered a little embarrassed she didn't like people seeing her almost cry.

Miss Blanchard looked ahead at the girls walking away she heard a bit about what's been going on Mary Margret thought she recognised the girls were banned from office duty much to their mothers protests. Suddenly feeling very protective of Emma Mary Margret reached for her Emma's hand looking down at her but Emma flinched her usual reaction to comfort not used to the it.

"Hey follow me come on, get you out of the rain" Mary Margret said taking of down a side street Emma following behind happy to get out of the cold, some part of her trusted Mary Margret so she followed down the street to an apartment building Mary Margret lead the way up the stairs. Emma was shaking from the cold now as the door to the apartment opened up it was a cute little place just enough space for one Emma dreamed of having a place like this one day. Mary Margret quickly came over with a blanket as she promoted Emma to take of her wet jacket and wrapped it around her "here that will warm you up" she said.

"Thanks" Emma replied slightly smiling

"If you sit over by the heater you'll warm up quick, I'll just be in the kitchen for a moment" Mary Margret said walking off she came back after a few minutes Emma was starting to feel a bit of warmth from the heater.

"You know its ok I can go" Emma said as she came back in feeling a bit awkward not used to being taken care off like this.

"It's pouring outside, it's ok you can stay until it stops" Mary Margret said sitting by Emma's side

"You sure, what if I steal your stuff trash your place didn't you hear I'm crazy" Emma said bitterly it wasn't really aimed at her teacher she didn't know why she said it regretting it immediately.

"I don't know what happened in your past, but I know the person in front of me doesn't want to hurt anyone" Mary Margret said smiling

"But you barely I know me" Emma said confused

"I know it's just a feeling" Mary Margret replied a little confused there was silence for a moment before Emma remembered how cold she was shacking.

"Cant believe I got caught in the rain, what a day" Emma said pulling the blanket tighter trying to warm up.

"I got an idea I'll be right back" Mary Margret walking back into the kitchen returning a few minutes later with to hot mugs

"This will warm us up" Mary Margret handing Emma a mug of hot chocolate

"Thanks" Emma said smiling taking a sip it was so good warm her insides already warming "is there cinnamon in this"

"Oh sorry, I should have asked" Miss Blanchard said

"It's ok I like it" Emma replied smiling

The both smiled drinking in silence for a while the steam from the mug warming Emma's hands and face it felt so good sitting her safe it been a while since Emma had felt that and it never lasted long.

"Emma, I don't mean to pry" she paused" it's just Elsa was looking for you today she seemed worried is everything ok" mm asked

"Everything's fine" Emma answered not wanting to share "I found her book today she won't tell me why it means so much to her" Emma said pulling it out of her bag it someone did have a drop of water on it. Mary Margret's eyes widened when she saw the book recognizing immediately as Elsa's.

"You found it" Mary Margret said excited her face lighting up she picked it up her hands gently turning the pages as she looked at a picture of snow white and the seven dwarfs her eyes lost in the fairytale for moment,

"I remember reading this to Elsa when she was a just eight" Mary Margret paused her tone changed now remembering something sad

"You knew her back then" Emma asked intrigued imagining it

"I knew her parents" Mary Margret replied sadly "When they passed away I found this book gave it to Elsa she needed it" they were silent for a moment thinking about it before Mary Margret spoke again.

"It's just for some reason you two seem to get along which is good Elsa parents past and her sister was sent to boarding school I don't think they've spoken in years I think she lonely" Mary Margret said

"is that why she lives with her aunt" Emma said Mary Margret simply nodded her head she felt guilty Emma knew deep down Elsa and nothing to do with everything that happened today and she cut her out so fast. There was silence for a bit as Emma thought about it and the boy she bumped into that left Elsa's book in her bag who was he?

"Being alone like that I wouldn't wish that on anyone" Mary Margret said looking up from the book to Emma. Emma knew exactly what she meant she'd been alone for the most part and felt a little pretty guilty now for fighting with Elsa she knew she'd hadn't done anything to hurt her and yet she just pushed her away.

"Miss Blanchard do you know of a student with black hair he only has one hand" Emma asked

"You mean Killian, I don't know much about him low attendance" she answered eyes wide

"Why do you ask" Miss Blanchard questioned smirking

"Oh it's not like that really I just bumped into him today, I just wanted to know who he was" Emma answered awkwardly

"Oh I see" Mary Margret replied grinning "maybe you'll see him in class tomorrow"

"It's not like that I was just curious" Emma replied blushing a little remembering him she stared out the window and noticed it had stopped raining she placed her cup down and stood up.

"Hey its clearing up, I should get home before Michael and Josie start wondering where I am" Emma said as she placed the blanket down

"Oh ok, wait I'll get you an umbrella" Mary Margret picked up her umbrella from her coat rack handing it to Emma's she opened the door the stairs, Mary Margret couldn't help herself Emma's long blonde curly hair was drenched and covering her eyes so she brush it away from her face trying hard to smile as she watched Emma made her way down the stairs out into the cold alone. Mary Margret saw her from her window making her way back to her foster home it felt weird like she belonged here she had to resist the urge to run out to the street an hug her.