The Modern Fairy Tale Town Book 1: Magic is Coming

Chapter 18: Red-Handed

One night at Granny's Diner, Evie and Ben decided to meet up, but just friends of course. They grew up together after all and were almost like brother and sister, especially once upon a time ago before Henry came into Storybrooke.

"You guys on a date or something?" Kiara asked as she came to her schoolmates who were sitting at a booth together.

"Oh, no. No, no, no." Ben shook his head with a small smile.

"Just a friendly reunion dinner," Evie replied. "Also, make sure you tell Jordan Glass that in case she decides to be a blood school newspaper hound."

"...Blood school newspaper hound?" Kiara repeated before tilting her head. "Uh... I just... What?"

"You know, like a bloodhound, but for the school newspaper," Evie said before blushing in slight embarrassment. "Okay, not my best joke, but either way. Just make sure she doesn't get in our way too much."

"Ohhhh..." Kiara said before nodding in understanding. "Yes, I totally understand what you mean now."

"Thank you." Evie then said.

"I just hope you don't mind being seen with me even if The Pinkettes might see you like you're worried about them seeing you with Doug." Ben soon said to his childhood best friend.

Evie bit her lip as she did seem to be concerned about that, but she said nothing, thinking maybe it was best.

"So you and Doug might like each other... Who cares?" Ben then said to Evie as she looked nervous about being seen in public with the boy who clearly had feelings for her. "I mean... It can't be worse than anyone else's secret crush."

"I'm sorry, Ben, I'm just not sure if I can risk it," Evie replied. "I'm very sorry though."

"I'm unsure about you sometimes, Evie," Ben sighed. "Just promise me you'll try to be more like yourself very soon. I had a good time when I spent the night after the Valentine's Day Dance and we patched things up or are at least trying to do that."

"One step at a time, Ben," Evie said softly with a nod. "Say... You mentioned a secret crush."

Ben suddenly looked wide-eyed and nervous.

"So what would you guys like to eat tonight?" Kiara then asked her dear friends, taking out her pen and notepad.

"Well, I think I'd like a cheeseburger with some fries please, just no pickles or ketchup like how my dad has them." Ben then said as Kiara jotted that down.

"Oh, but ketchup is magical." Kiara said with a playful smirk.

"Not for me." Ben smirked back with a small chuckle.

"Mm-hmm," Kiara giggled. "And how about you, Evie?"

"This grilled chicken salad, please," Evie requested. "I'm trying to watch my figure."

"I don't think you have to worry about that," Kiara playfully smirked as she wrote that down next and soon walked off. "See you guys later!"

"Thanks, Kiara!" Evie called with a small smile.

Kiara smiled as she came to take the order over to the cook. Granny smiled, proud of Kiara's hard work even though she was a school student who did this as an after school job and sometimes came in during school as part of Storybrooke High's Work/Study Program which would have the student either studying for tests and doing homework assignments or going into work for a brief shift until their next class. She, however, groaned and rolled her eyes as she saw that her other waitress, Ruby, was slacking off slightly and was talking to a certain customer rather than taking his order or giving him appropriate customer/waitress relations.