#it hits harder than the people who openly express their distrust for you from the beginning and slowly warm up

[goldensunset]

pla was like hey what if you got sent back in time to a world where a bunch of people hate you for existing and think you must be evil and force you to perform herculean tasks daily just to be tolerated except there’s this one guy who seems to genuinely like you and he thinks it’s really cool that you’re an outsider from another world and he’s there for you in your worst moment when no one else is brave enough to help and then later after it’s all been resolved you find out that this entire mess was his fault in the first place he’s the reason that you’re here he’s the reason that the world was ending and you got blamed for all of that and he turns on you suddenly and reveals he was just using you to achieve his own selfish goal and after you put a stop to him he curses you for being an outsider sent here just to stop him and now suddenly he genuinely hates you more than anyone else because it has dawned on him that you are the epitome of all that he wishes he could be

[im-not-a-what]

The Witch Doctor on Main Street, Ch. 6

Title: The Witch Doctor on Main Street

Summary: Mr. Gold runs Storybrooke’s herbal shop. He sells remedies that some people consider miraculous, although he’s earned suspicion from florist Moe French and distrust from professionals like Dr. Whale. When Moe’s daughter Belle moves into town, she gets caught up in the rivalries and mysteries surrounding Gold’s line of work. Little do any of them know the true power of Gold’s “magic touch.” But a warlock making herbal medicine may not be the only extraordinary secret hiding in Storybrooke.

Rating: G

Genre: Friendship, drama, modern-day with magic AU

Chapter: School Scuffle [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

AO3 link

Neal tried not to think on when he might get the word that Principal Nottingham was, in fact, going to suspend him. He checked in with Lily on the bus to see if her mom had gotten further word. Ms. Vincent hadn’t heard anything, or hadn’t shared anything with her daughter. Lily and Neal agreed to keep their heads down. Apprehension over a run-in with August at school petered off when it became clear he wasn’t in attendance. That still left the fallout of fellow classmates, who watched the pair like they were wild animals. Some sympathy, some unease, mostly perverse curiosity, like the students half-wanted another fight to break out. Neal wouldn’t have been surprised if some were thrilled to know a fight had happened at their school.

There was one person who didn’t look happy about the fight or his part in it. As he got out of fourth period for lunch, a blond girl swerved up to him from the other side of the hall.

“We need to talk.” Her green-blue eyes punched him in some place Neal didn’t know he had.

“And you are?” he asked.

“A friend of August’s.”

Oh, crap. Maybe she was sweet on August. Maybe she was the type of girl who would throw down anyone who hurt the boy she liked. Neal cleared his throat. “Look, I know I shouldn’t have fought him. I’m sorry. That’s what you want me to say, right?”

Her glare didn’t soften. Instead, she grabbed his arm. He wanted to extricate himself, but the moment he hit August flashed in his mind, as did the embarrassment that followed facing Nottingham and his father. His body stiffened, a semi-voluntary paralysis while the blond girl pulled him down the hall to a small alcove, a window facing the courtyard. The light of day only added a burning glint to her gaze.

“Why did you hit him?” Her voice, though rough with anger, stayed level.

“He shoved Lily into a table,” Neal said, not giving thought to the words. They came as a reflex.

“I heard she punched him first.”

“Yeah, but he said something he shouldn’t have.”

Her head tilted, briefly intrigued. “What did he say?”

“I’m not going to repeat it. It’s not . . . appropriate.”

The implication caused her face to scrunch and her cheeks to redden. Then it relaxed into grim if reluctant acceptance. “I know August can be an asshole.”

Neal’s brows popped up. He hadn’t taken her for a cusser. He smiled. “I don’t know him that well. From what I’ve seen, I won’t disagree.”

“Then I’m sorry for that. But you still kicked the crap out of him. He’s not here today. Was he suspended? Hospitalized?”

“Hospitalized, no! Suspended, I’ve no idea. If he were suspended, Lily and I would be suspended, too. Nottingham made it clear we were all to blame.”

The blond shuffled on her feet. “I heard your dad and Lily’s mom are . . . tough customers.”

He frowned and squinted. “Whereas August’s dad is a decent man. So that must mean . . .”

“I’m not trying to judge, but I don’t like people getting away with something when others have to pay for it.”

“So, you’re protecting August.”

“You could say that.”

“I was trying to do the same for Lily.”

“Then you won’t object if I end up punching you in the face?”

Probably not the wisest thing to laugh, and Neal did try to resist out of politeness. A half-stifled chuckle got through. “You would’ve done that already, or you don’t want to get suspended yourself.”

The girl harrumphed. “Don’t tempt me. I wouldn’t mind getting away from here.”

“Why?”

She sharpened her stare. “Why would anyone want to get out of going to school? You a nerd?”

“That’s neither here nor there. You know a suspension goes on your permanent record.”

“Obviously you weren’t worried about that when you punched August.”

“Neither were Lily and August. We all make mistakes when we’re upset. Look, if you want to punch me, go ahead. I wouldn’t blame you.”

She scanned him over. Neal’s stomach clenched in preparation. The stomach would be the ideal target. His mouth and jaw tightened, too. Just nothing below the waist, he prayed.

A sigh blew out of the girl’s mouth. “Relax. I’m not gonna hit you. Not with so many witnesses.”

“That’s a relief,” he said dryly.

“I haven’t decided about Lily yet. She did hit August first.”

“Yeah, but—”

“I know. What I really want is to know he’s okay. You’re not gonna go after him again, right?”

“Not with Nottingham on our backs. And when I said I’m sorry for what happened, I meant it.”

“Okay.” She inhaled, a little shaky and baffled. The crease between her frowning eyebrows turned her intimidating expression into an endearing one. She was kind of cute. Not the best time or circumstances to notice that fact.

“Um, I don’t think I caught your name,” Neal said.

“Because I didn’t throw it,” she said with a quirked eyebrow.

“Right. I’m Neal, in case you didn’t know.”

She chuckled. “I’ve been in this town barely a month and I know who you are. Everybody does.”

He couldn’t help the frown, but he pushed it away along with the comment. “And you? Or does that need to be secret?”

The girl shook her head. “Emma. Emma Nolan.”

“Nice to meet you, Emma. Still planning to go to lunch?”

“Yeah. On my own.”

“Okay. Mind if I walk with you?”

She considered before shrugging. “It’s the same route for us both, right?”

He took that as a speck of hope. With a subdued smile, he strolled down the hall just a step behind Emma. As they got close to the cafeteria, she slowed so he could match her pace. He thought about asking how she knew August, why be friends with a kid most everyone knew had a bad habit of getting drawn into trouble. The questions never came.

Both he and Emma stopped, stiff with shock, at the sight of Cora Mills. She was walking and chatting with Principal Nottingham. He was doing his best to appear charming and confident. At least his hair looked washed today. Her pantsuit was so black you couldn’t see the texture from where the kids stood. The only color was her button-up blouse—blood-red.

“Is that the mayor?” Emma asked.

“Yeah,” said Neal.

“What’s she doing at our school?”

“No idea.” The only thing Neal knew for sure about Mayor Mills was that she shouldn’t be trusted. He didn’t have much confidence in people in authority, but there was something about the way the woman talked, walked, carried herself that was too neat, like a well-made mask. What most bothered him was that she found occasion to drop by Pop’s shop. He’d only seen her twice; both times, she wasn’t there to buy anything. His father had either escorted her to the backroom or asked to take a short walk with him outside. The man wasn’t warm with strangers, but he reserved a wary countenance for certain individuals, and he advised Neal to stay away from them. Ms. DeVille, a fancy-dressed woman who lived only part of the year in Storybrooke, was one. The Millses fell in the same category. Cora’s daughter owned most of the property in town. Neal had seen Regina Mills around enough, often glaring or dicing someone with words, to spot a temper that shouldn’t be tested. Even her smiles made him want to dash out of her path. But Regina didn’t alarm him the way Cora did. Maybe she wore her nature more openly; Cora was harder to read.

“She’s Regina Mills’ mother, right?” Emma asked.

“Yup. The mayor and the landlady. Dad says the Millses think of Storybrooke as their little kingdom.”

Seeing as how the mayor and the principal were crossing the cafeteria straight toward them, Neal gently nudged Emma and wordlessly directed her to a nearby empty table. They slipped out of the way just as the adults passed. Cora’s gaze dropped from Nottingham to Neal—or maybe to Emma—for half a second. It felt double the time, like the world was slowing just to make the kids feel the mayor’s prying yet veiled glance for as long as possible.

Cora and an oblivious Nottingham kept walking. When the two were out of sight, Neal sputtered out air. Neither he nor Emma needed to comment. Judging by her scowl, Emma knew enough about Mayor Mills or Principal Nottingham. Her question about Regina pointed to Cora as the source of unease.

“You know the Millses?” Neal asked.

“Not personally. Just heard about them.”

“Like you’ve heard about me.”

Emma laughed shyly. “Not exactly the same. People have mixed feelings about your dad. No one likes the Millses.”

“That’s quite the compliment.”

She chuckled more confidently, but her smile dropped when she looked up.

Neal followed her eyeline. Oh, Lily was coming over, laden with her backpack and a tray of food. Nothing foreboding about that, unless Emma hadn’t forgiven her part in the fight. As Lily approached, Neal realized why Emma was frowning and darting her eyes up and down. Lily widened her eyes and rapidly examined both Emma and her oldest friend.

Neal waved and made sure to smile. “Hey, Lily!”

“Hey.” Her tray came down with a forceful clap, plastic on laminated particleboard. “What’s going on?”

“Uh, this is Emma. She’s a friend of August.” Hard to say that without it sounding like a criticism or a warning. “She wanted to know how he’s doing.”

Lily aimed a hard but still uncertain stare at Emma. “No idea. Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

“He’s not answering my calls.” Emma spoke with a steely edge that could’ve fallen in a reprimand, too. Maybe she wanted to blame someone other than August for his silence. Or she wanted to be sure Neal and Lily hadn’t bullied him into it. That thought made Neal’s nerves bristle. They weren’t like that!

“Maybe he’s embarrassed about yesterday,” Lily said. She took a seat, unapologetic.

“Are you?” Emma asked.

Lily turned her head to show her bruises, brown-purple blotches with yellow coronas on the cheek and chin. “Does this look like the face of embarrassment?”

Emma rolled her head, acknowledging yet unfazed. “August looked worse last time I saw him.”

Lily nearly tore open her soda can. Its pop sent a shudder through Neal like a tiny gunshot. “I’m not gonna waste my breath defending myself or apologizing for what I did to him. He had to learn some manners.”

“Yeah, I’m sure punching him taught him a lesson.”

The wry, withering tone warmed Neal’s face, but he also felt a weird tickle of repressed laughter in his throat.

“He knows not to cross me again,” said Lily. She smirked before taking a sip, then popped a fry in her mouth.

Emma leaned in. “If you punched me, I’d hit back harder.”

The remark that reasonably caught Lily was obliterated by laughter. Genuine, unfiltered laughter. Neal almost giggled, too. Emma didn’t appreciate it. Her face flushed. Her shoulders locked. She looked ready for a fight this time.

“Hey, I believe you,” Lily finally explained. “You might make it a worthwhile scrap. Believe it or not, I don’t go looking for fights.”

“You just start them when the mood takes you.”

“So I lost my temper.” Lily threw up a hand, then put it to better use by delivering more fries to her gnashing mouth.

“That’s all you have to say?” Emma scoffed. “You’re unbelievable! You learn to control your temper!”

“What is this, a Disney life lesson? When people talk shit, they get hit.” Lily emphatically brushed crumbs and salt off her hands before picking up a bleeding meatball sandwich.

Emma shook her head. “Forget it. I’m getting lunch.” She pushed herself up like she was trying to rocket herself into space, as far from these two kids as possible. Off she jogged to the cafeteria hot-lunch line. Neal sighed, zipped open his backpack and pulled out a simple, black, thermo-sealed lunch bag.

“No Round 2 in the lunch room, after all,” Lily said between marinara-filled bites. “Okay, Neal, you’ve got to convince your dad to give you money for lunch.”

“Nah. Dad’s lunches are better.” They were relatively simple, too—today, a bagel with cream cheese, a cup of soup, a thermos filled with herbal tea, baby carrots. And a sprig of sage. Not for eating, just to make the inside of his bag aromatic. Neal was careful to not let anyone except Lily get a decent look at his bagel as he unwrapped it from the wax paper. It look freshly toasted, despite sitting in the bag for the last four and a half hours.

Lily smiled, bittersweet. “My mom can keep things warm, but even she can’t make a toasted bagel hold up. She usually burns it.”

Neal nodded. “Just as well Emma didn’t stick around.”

She frowned at him. “Don’t sound so disappointed. She’s not our friend.”

“I know that. She grabbed me in the hallway. I thought she’d deck me.”

“Yeah? Why didn’t she? Too chicken?”

“She realized it wasn’t worth it. But I don’t think this is over.”

“Ooh, I’m shaking.” Lily giggled while wiping her mouth.

“Lily, please, just be smart about this.”

Her levity evaporated. “Whose side are you on?”

“Yours! Which includes keeping you from getting into more trouble.”

“I’m not getting myself into trouble on purpose! And I’m not some poor girl you need to rescue.” With a squaring of the shoulders that said, ‘We’re done talking,’ she set herself on ingesting the rest of her lunch.

Neal had little choice but to do the same. When she got like this, it was best to let Lily boil off. He used the silence to reflect further: was he treating her as a damsel in distress, or a problematic pet that needed leashing? Being a friend didn’t mean condoning fights. It didn’t mean snarling off anyone who had a legitimate issue with Lily’s actions. He sure hoped it didn’t mean those things. Lily was his best friend, but sometimes she boxed him in, made him feel he had to be on board when she wanted to skip class or start an argument with her classmates or teachers. Lily didn’t have a sparkling record. Even so, the fistfight crossed a line, and a part of him wished he hadn’t followed her. But maybe he had to break some of his own rules to understand how much her friendship meant to him. It still mattered. He still cared about her. He just hoped sticking by her wouldn’t take him down a path of no return.

When the bell for the end of lunch period rang, Lily all but bolted from her seat with her tray. Neal closed his lunch bag and gathered his own trash to toss out in the same can.

“See you later,” Neal said as Lily walked off.

She said nothing. She didn’t even make eye contact.

“Lily!” Neal called.

She spun around. “What?”

He waved to her—a simple motion. A retreat and an olive branch.

Lily held his eye as she resumed walking. She broke it off when she reached the hall and took a sharp turn.

Neal’s hand dropped like an anchor. With a headshake, he turned around. Off to his next class. Are they all like this?  he wondered. Maybe his pop could give him tips.