Going Mad || OUAT - Once Upon a Time || Jefferson

Chapter III - A Double-Sized Arnold Palmer

Chapter III

In the morning I awaken to a small red robin chirping outside my window.  I shuffle out of the warm bed and open the curtains, unveiling a bright ray of sunshine which pierces through the room.  I check and see no messages on my phone, so I assume that Simon is still asleep.   I'm restless and hungry though, so I don't want to wait for him to wake up since for all I know he could still be out for a few more hours.  I find some clean clothes and change, planning to explore a little of the town I'm now stranded in.

"How was your night?" Granny asks when she hears me plopping down the stairs.

"It was great!" I tell her truthfully, "Probably the best night's sleep I've had in a while."

"Well that's good!" she smiles.  "Are you heading out?"

"Yep, just to explore the town a little, my friend Simon is still asleep and I need something to do," I tell her.

"Alright, do you need any help finding your way around?  I'm sure Ruby wouldn't mind..."

"Oh, no thanks," I interrupt, with all the things that Granny has her do, Ruby's day is probably already packed full, "I'll just wander around a little I think."

"Okay, well, just don't get lost in the forest now, Emma is good at finding people, but she isn't a bloodhound," she warns.

"Emma?" I ask.

"Sheriff Emma Swan, the woman who helped you last night," she explains.

"Oh yes, sorry," I laugh.

"Well have fun exploring," she smiles, making her way back into the back room.  I nod and head out onto the street, which was surprisingly not very busy despite the massive clock tower showing that it's noon.  I don't know what Ruby was talking about yesterday, Granny seems like a really sweet lady.  I walk a few blocks down the road when I notice a little drugstore called the Dark Star Pharmacy sitting across the street.  I jaywalk across the near-carless road and hope the store has some good food in it.  I haven't eaten since last night.  Getting a closer look, my stomach starts to grumble when I see aisles of snacks inside.

 I rush in and b-line it to the food.  I try to stuff a mix of crackers, wrapped sandwiches, and other treats into my arms before I see the long line of refrigerators along the back side of the store.  I pray that the store has at least one can of my favorite iced tea and lemonade beverage as I rush down the aisle to find out.  I skim the brand names of the different sodas and energy drinks and finally find the familiar golfer's name above a fridge at the end of the row.  I smile and sprint blindly over when I notice much too late that somebody has come from behind a row ahead and already crouched down to take some for himself.  In my excitement, I crash right into him.

"What!..." the man gasps when I knock him to the floor.  I quickly scramble myself into an upright position, picking up the groceries, his and mine, which are now spread out across the floor.

"I am so sorry!" I apologize, wide-eyed and completely embarrassed as he sits back up.  "I didn't even see you there and I just got a little too excited when I saw the Arnold Palmer's from back there and  I... really wanted some," I trail off, not sure how else to express my apology.  

"It's fine," he finally says, "the only thing I would have to disagree with is the being a little excited part," he laughs.

"Haha, yeah," I manage.  I can feel my face heating up now as I pick up the last bag of pretzels off his shiny black dress shoes.

When I stand up, my eyes meet his ocean blues, which stare shocked at me as if I were a ghost.  My heart is beating rapidly under the intensity of his gaze, and I can feel my cheeks getting warm.  When my face gets heated, it's to level-TOMATO.  I regret being too hungry to slap on a layer of makeup, which would have hid the redness well.  How could I have predicted this though?  I've never felt like this before, and I don't know why I'm feeling like this now.  He must notice my confusion because he quickly snaps out of it, tilting his head a little at me when we're both finally standing.  "Have we met before?" he asks cooly, but despite his steady voice, he's still looking at me with so much intensity that I'm feeling a bit lost in translation.