The Power of the Truth

Chapter 1

Emma's POV

Tonight, I'm going to Granny's to hang out with Hook and August.

When I got there, I sat in the booth where I had my first real conversation with August. Thinking about that odd conversation with his then mysterious box put a smile on my face. 

Hook came in and sat next to me.

He saw the smile on my face and questioned it with an eyebrow raise and his typical sly smile, "That happy to see me, Swan?"

"Yes, but that's not why I was smiling at first."

"Oh?"

"I was thinking about one of the first times I met August in this booth."

His smile slightly faltered and I felt a little guilty. I know he likes me. My feelings have for him have been confusing ever since we spent that time in the Enchanted Forest together and finding out he traded his ship for me. They've been so confusing that I can't decide if I want to be with him or not. It changes almost daily and I have no idea why or what to do about it.

Before I had a chance to respond, August came in and sat across from us.

"Hey, guys! How are you?"

"Great! How are you," I responded.

"I'm very happy to be here," he said, but his face told differently.

 Before I could ask him about it, Ruby came up to our table and said, "Hey guys! What can I get you?"

"I would like a grilled cheese sandwich with fries," I said.

"I would like a cheeseburger with onion rings," Hook said.

"And I would like a cheeseburger with fries," August said.

Ruby walked away to fill our order.

"Your face was saying something different when I asked you how you were. What's wrong, August," I asked.

August's face sunk. He shrugged it off and said, "Nothing."

"No, really, what's wrong?" Hook asked.

"I'm... I'm turning back... into wood." He said quietly.

"What?! Really?!" Hook and I said, almost at the same time.

Then Ruby came with our food. Love you Ruby, but you have terrible timing!

"Thanks, Ruby."

"You're welcome! Enjoy!" 

I took a bite of my grilled cheese and sighed a little.

"Is it good, Emma?" August asked with a little chuckle.

"Shut up! I haven't eaten since lunch!" And "lunch" was half of a sandwich. "So, you're actually turning back into wood?"

"Yeah, I'll show you." He lifted up his left pant leg, and sure enough, up to his calf was wood.

"Wait a second. I thought that you would only turn into wood if you weren't being selfless, brave, and true?" I asked.

"I haven't been entirely truthful with some people."

"What? Who? And, why?" Hook asked.

"I'd rather not say."

"Isn't that why you're turning into wood in the first place, because you're not admitting it to those people and not telling them what you're not being truthful about?" I asked.

"I'm just not ready to tell yet!" August said. "It's hard to admit something like this."

"Well, for as fast as the wood spread last time, it doesn't look like you have much time left!" I said, angry.

"Emma, I know, okay?! I'm gonna tell EVENTUALLY! I just don't want to yet." He said, defensively.

"Okay, I don't know what else to do. He's obviously not gonna tell us, Hook." A wave of exhaustion washed over me from the sudden frustration of this situation. "Well, anyway, I just got really tired and I've got another long and, hopefully, uneventful day tomorrow at the station. So, I'm going to go home and get some rest. I'll see you guys later. Hey, Ruby, will you please box this up for me?"

"Of course." She grabbed my food and took it to the counter. She came back with it boxed up.

"Thanks, Ruby."

"You're welcome."

I got up, hugged Hook first, then August more hesitantly, I'm a little angry at him, and then left.

I just wish August would talk to us! We're his best friends. There's no reason why he shouldn't trust us with this. I mean, it's not like we're going to tell the people what he said to us... Unless, it's not other people he's lying to. What if it's Hook and I that he's withholding from? What could he be hiding from us? And why does he feel that he can't come to us with it?