The Girl and the Nutcracker ~ A Once Upon a Time Story

At the Elementary School, Mary Margaret had planned to have a creative day with her students. She asked Clara to help keep an eye on the children while they were making creations like friendship bracelets, paintings and everything else they wanted to create.

Clara mostly stayed at Henry's table, who was making drawings of the book, obviously. Her creativity wasn't exactly one that she could share with the other kids, cause it was nonexistent. She was already proud of herself that she was able to make a bracelet with one of the girls in class, called Paige.

After school time was over, Clara helped Mary Margaret with cleaning up the classroom, "How is it all of these kids have such a creative mind?"

"Because they run on imagination." Mary Margaret answered, "Like Henry, he believes everything from that book because he believes in the magic and the imagination that comes from the book. And we don't, because we know it was just created by whoever wrote it."

"Right. But you're still more creative than me, and you're certainly not a child." Clara said with a laugh and Mary Margaret smiled, "Sometimes creativity comes and goes. There must be a time where you feel like you want to create things?"

Clara wanted to answer, but Mary Margaret's phone started ringing. Mary Margaret quickly grabbed her phone, "Sorry, just one second."

She walked out of the classroom and Clara stood in the doorway to wait for Mary Margaret to come back. So far as Clara could understand, she was talking with David. He had finally told the truth to Kathryn.

Mary Margaret hung up on her phone and intended to walk back to the classroom, but Kathryn stormed towards her right at that moment. When she stood right in front of Mary Margaret, she slapped her across the face.

Everyone in the hallway, including Clara, was absolutely shocked at the conversation happening between the two. Apparently, David lied to Mary Margaret and hadn't told Kathryn about the affair. 

After Kathryn's rant, she went back outside and Mary Margaret was left dazed in the hallway. Clara walked up to her, "Let's go inside, come on."

She guided Mary Margaret back in, and Clara locked the classroom door in case anyone wanted to come in. She looked back at Mary Margaret who had sat down in her chair, "Miss Blanchard... Does your face hurt? I could get an ice pack if you want?"

"No." Mary Margaret whispered, more to herself than to Clara, "He didn't tell her."

"David is... not the bravest soul in this town." Clara explained, "He didn't want to hurt anyone, neither you or Kathryn. I warned him it wouldn't go smoothly, and I guess we're seeing the aftermath of that now."

She noticed Mary Margaret started getting teary eyed, and Clara approached her, "We can go to your apartment. I don't think it will help much if you stay here, I'll call Emma and..."

"No. No, Emma is probably busy with sheriff stuff." Mary Margaret interrupted, "Let's just go."

Clara and Mary Margaret headed outside towards the apartment. Clara saw some people looking at them in the distance, and whispering to one another. Mary Margaret then bumped into Granny, "Oh, excuse me! I must not have been looking..."

"You." Granny said as she noticed who she bumped into. Mary Margaret was confused, "Excuse me?"

"You should be ashamed of yourself." Granny said as she walked away from them. Clara scoffed at the woman's disappearing figure, "Elderly people really do have an attitude, don't they?"

She looked back at Mary Margaret, who had tears rolling down her face, "Miss Blanchard-"

"I think I should go home, alone." She interrupted, "I don't want you involved in all of this."

"Okay. If that's what you want." Clara said with a sad smile, "I'm sorry this is happening to you, Miss Blanchard."

Mary Margaret gave a small nod, "Me too." She walked away towards the place where she parked her car, and left Clara standing in the street.

In the evening, Clara decided to have dinner in her room instead of Granny's diner because of what happened earlier in the day. After she had finished her meal, she heard a knock on the door.

When Clara opened the door, she saw August leaning against the wall, "Hey. How is your book project going?"

"Emma found it." August answered, "I added my story to the book, placed it near her car on the street and she saw it. She'll give it to Henry, I'm sure."

"So, do you think Henry will figure out who you are now?" Clara asked and August shook his head, "He's a smart kid, but I don't think that he'll figure out that a fully grown adult is Pinocchio."

Clara nodded, "I guess that's true. I'll keep you updated on his new ideas. Hopefully he won't get himself in dangerous places to prove them."