The Frog Prince // Mr. Gold

005. HENRY MILLS

My thoughts can't escape Gold's stare. It stained my whole weekend, giving me great conflict. Whenever there were moments of settlement, my mind wandered towards his words. He's a disgusting man whose only love appears to be money. He strangled everyone what they had in order to fill his pockets, and I've never seen him actually smile at anyone—not in a genuine way. That day, however, Gold showed me a different side of him. Still distant of course, but a hint of gentleness sat on his shoulders.

"He gave you a job?" Ruby sat next to me, playing with a strand of her brunette hair as she narrowed her plucked eyebrows. She couldn't believe the story. Mr. Gold never gave anyone a chance. Most of his deals always came with a price. So, perhaps there is a reason why my story is correct. "There is no way."

"I say you turn that job down and stay working with me," Widow Lucas spoke with confidence. We all know Regina would never let me work in Granny's Diner again. She made sure of it. And she made sure that no one would hire me from what Ruby told me. Everyone watched me, grimacing at the idea of what I had done.

"You know that I can't," I say, taking the two paper cups filled with coffee away from Widow. "Regina has it out for me—I don't know why but she does.....Gold wants to help me. That's a good thing."

"Crystal....when a man does something for a woman, there's always a reason why," Ruby tells me. The corner of her red-painted lips curled, amused by whatever idea came to her mind. "He might want something from you. Maybe something more than cookies."

Widow gave her granddaughter an unhappy glare. Although she agreed, she disagreed as well. Gold was a calculated man—hiring me could be a way to piss the Mayor off. My reaction is totally different, my mouth tightens and I shake my head at her words.

"No—no," I whispered the last disagreement with a stern voice due to Ruby rolling her eyes with a smug grin on her face. "Maybe he just wants to upset Mayor Mills. They don't have the best relationship. Everyone knows that!"

"Well," Ruby raised her brows, now fully facing me. "Do you—like Mr. Gold?"

My mouth opens, surprised by the question. I'm dumbfounded and incapable of answering truthfully. Even Widow leaned towards me with her brows narrowed, taking her half-moon glasses from her face.

"Do you?"

"You did get him coffee for your first day," Ruby hummed, dancing her red nails against the diner's counter. Placing her chin in the middle of her palm. "That says something."

"I'm being nice...." coming to a pause, I noticed neither believed me. "Listen, he's much older than me and I've never looked at him that way—ever. Trust me, I don't like him." Finally answering, I stand up from the swivel stool chair, diverting my gaze. "Let's just drop it! I have to go..."

Ruby watched me start to leave, calling out good luck playfully. With my cups in my hands, I'm almost out the door, looking over my shoulder to glare at Ruby when I suddenly bump into someone. We both gasp in horror as hot coffee spills all over our tops. The cups land on the floor and my hands frantically hold out the bottom of my pale green sweater.

"I'm so sorry!" I say, feeling my cheeks grow hot once I place my gaze onto a tall woman with long blonde hair. Her sharp features grimace at the stain on her white shirt and she waves her hand slowly at her sides. I've never seen this woman before. You knew just about everyone in town but she is definitely a fresh face. Come to think about it, she's been our only new comer into Storybrooke.

"It's okay! Please, don't worry about it," She says, shaking her head.

"Crystal?"

A small voice spoke from behind the stranger and popped out from behind her is Henry Mills, Regina's adoptive son. I quickly look down at him, surprised to see the boy not in school. Henry Mills—a very vocal child, never shy, and quite intelligent. He's nothing like his mother. I couldn't see a mean bone in his body. His brunette hair sat neatly on his head while his big eyes smiled at me. He is always a joy to be around.