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chapter nine - putting the fun in funeral
ophelia had attended archie's funeral. not that she wanted to. she hated them. they dragged up memories she would rather keep buried. plus cemetery's gave her the creeps. she felt like she was being watched. although she'd felt that way for days following her arrival back in storybrooke. like someone was watching her every move. she felt it even more when she was on the docks, watching henry sit in his usual spot, staring into the ocean as his eleven-year-old brain came to terms with everything.
she felt that way as she sighed. she felt like someone's eyes where on her when henry sat next to her and let his feet dangle over the edge. they'd made a habit of sitting at the docks, usually with ice cream but not that time.
"you don't believe she did it," he voiced.
she shook her head. "nothing gets past you, does it?"
"you have a very expressive face."
she shrugged. "yeah. i know. it's gotten me into enough fights."
"fights?"
she nodded. "oh yeah. bar fights to be specific. men don't like rejection. i've yelled at a lot of men, henry. punched a couple, too. but don't do that. be better than me or just get me to do it for you. not kids though, i won't hit kids. i shouldn't be telling you this." she sighed, letting her back hit the wooden planks. "no i don't think she killed archie. yes i saw her in the—in pongo's memories but—it felt wrong. i think she was framed but i'm not exactly the most reliable or believable person. people think i'm naive."
"you're believable."
she let a loud 'ha'. "your tone wasn't, though." she sat up. "it's whatever kid. i'm naive and not the brightest. i got kicked out of law school for a reason."
lie. she'd left. but it was easier to tell herself that she'd been kicked out. easier for everyone else to believe. if she told them she left and why they'd try and get her to go back. but she wouldn't. she couldn't.
"i believe you."
she smiled. "thank you. that means a lot."
"but i'm a kid and people don't usually believe me."
"tell me about it. i'm sorry again for not believing you before. trust me, i've learnt my lesson. you say the sky is purple, it's purple," she joked.
"thanks auntie ophelia."
"don't tell your mom i let you skip homework."
"i finished it at lunch anyway."
she scoffed. "you're such a little nerd." she stood up. "good."
he mimicked her, brushing off his trousers. "why'd you like coming here so much?"
"it's quiet. the town is loud. my mind is loud. people are loud. here isn't. can't talk when you fish, scares them away. i'm also waiting for the day i see a shark or a mermaid or the loch ness monster."
