November Part 2
Tuesday
The fall's air bite served as a constant reminder that Autumn only had a few weeks left in it before the winter would set in for good. As in most years, the blonde's mood deteriorated the closer the holiday loomed. When the school day ended, students fled from her room as if it were on fire. Dr. Swan slumped behind her desk with her head in her hands. Collecting her thoughts and stifling her irritation. A sniffle startled her into the here and now.
"Were the freshmen being stupid again?"
Across the room, Raven leaned against the door frame, balancing her books across her stomach. She still wore men's jeans, but the lace-up boots and asymmetrical sweater added a feminine flair.
"When are they not? The idea of the break has turned them into a room full of Chihuahua puppies," said the teacher with an air of exasperation.
Raven laughed hollowly; there was no joy behind it.
"Can I help you with something?" Emma asked. The girl's unsure posture, which was entirely out of character, caused Emma to worry.
Hesitantly, the girl stepped into the room. "I need to apologize to you for last week."
Blonde curls shook as her head shook negatively, her blonde eyebrows creased as she tried to make sense of the statement. "Raven, the principal was out of line. You don't owe me an apology. I chose to step in, and if you remember, you did not ask for help."
"I know." Raven brushed her long hair behind an ear. She sighed. "Part of me blames what happened on my half Puerto Rican, half black heritage. But, it isn't the truth. None of it would have happened if I had been more considerate of my friends." Looking like a kicked puppy, she sat across from Emma's desk.
"I don't understand." Emma gave the teen her full attention, trying to make sense of what she said.
"Jacqui, my friend--at one point, she was my only friend. It started last week when she and I fought. I know you don't know this, but my freshman year, she was my girlfriend. She helped me figure out my sexuality. We became good friends through that. But, that was when I identified as a gay male. Then, she disappeared because her parents moved. Later, you know I disappeared. When I came back, I didn't even know she was here. But, that day, I found her in the hallway." She paused, trying to word the idea in her head in a form that a CIS gender would understand. "I hadn't talked to her since I started transitioning. She had no idea. She felt like I had lied to her." She shrugged. "Really, I never meant not to tell her. But, when we were still friends, I didn't know yet. It took me a bit to figure out who I am." She let out a sad snort. "I still am. Is it wrong that I hate losing her over this?"
Emma walked around her desk and pulled Raven up for a hug. "Is that where the split lip and bloody nose came from?" Emma asked. She felt the nod rather than saw it.
"She's got a hell of a right hook."
*****
On the Thursday before Thanksgiving Break, the school traditionally provided a feast for the students in the lunch lines and a catered meal for the staff. The noise flooding out of the teacher's lounge told the woman where to locate her friends. Running in clunky heels, Judith Hopper sprinted into the lounge as fast her limping gait would allow and held up her phone. "Has anyone seen this yet?" She held the screen, but no one paid attention. Instead, they clutched their styrofoam plates and plastic utensils.
"So, what's new?" Emma asked, watching the line inch along toward the catered food. "Did someone get food poisoning from lunch?" The blonde worried perpetually through the holiday season about the school's catered meals. The smell permeated the halls and wafted through the building, teasing them into believing every mouth full would be divine. And, every time, she filled her plate with food that tasted like overcooked green beans, unseasoned meat, and reconstituted potatoes. "I still want to know how something can make my mouth water and then suck all the moisture from my mouth as soon as I manage to close my lips."
Regina whacked her on the arm. "It's not that bad."
Gaston snorted, "I had to get LeFue to cover my afternoon gym classes last year when they served the Christmas meal. I had an all hatches open experience."
"See," Emma said, knowing the man won the round.
Judith huffed, "I wasn't planning on eating anything. I asked if you had seen Thomas's tweet."
Most of the line looked over their shoulder in interest, but only Emma and Regina answered. "No."
"It looks like he and Steve will be bringing home a baby soon. They have a baby available for an emergency status adoption." She scrolled on her phone. "He said he would share more later when he has the details." Putting her hands on her hips, she looked at everyone. "Who knew they were trying to adopt?"
Most of the line raised their hands.
"Really?" Regina asked, "Why are we the last to hear of it?"
Gaston leaned down into their space. "I'd bet that Tommy didn't want to steal Emma's thunder. He's a nice guy that way. He always tries not to steal the spotlight."
"How thoughtful." Emma poked Regina. "Maybe we ought to get them something." Her brows furrowed. "Did he give any hints as to boy or girl?"
"Nope. We'll have to wait and see."
Finally, Regina made it to the front of the line. Gaston took one side of the chafing dishes while she took to the other. He sniffed and scooped a large helping of turkey and gravy. "Is it me, or does this look better than usual?"
The brunette added mashed potatoes and green beans to her plate. She examined her food. "These don't look as limp." Experimentally, she forked a green bean and placed the vegetable in her mouth. Chewing slowly, her face brightened. "They haven't been overcooked. They're not flavorless." She grinned.
"The new boss has a new caterer, maybe?" The coach offered.
"Maybe."
Regina turned to examine her girlfriend's plate, which began ominously bending in the middle. "I suggest hurrying to your table before you lose control of your feeding trough."
Emma gleefully shot her a glare as she trotted away.
*****
Regina raised an eyebrow but continued down the hall as she witnessed James Shepherd step out of a storage closet. He zipped his pants and continued tucking in his shirt the further down the hall he walked. Finding his behavior odd, she waited at the intersection of 400 and 700 hallways. She nearly went on, but then the closet door opened again. This time, Mary Margaret Blanchard Nolan appeared. Their eyes locked from a distance. Regina chose to walk away rather than deal with the woman. The English teacher hurried to the workroom to pour another cup of coffee before returning to her classroom.
She found her favorite mug hanging precisely where she left it that morning, clean and on the drying rack. She added creamer to the bottom before picking up the coffee pot, sniffed the contents, determined their freshness, and filled her mug to as close to the brim as she could without spilling it.
"That smells good."
Regina looked askance at the woman by her elbow. "It's coffee. It smells like it always does; strong, bitter, and wonderful."
"Mm. True, I guess." The principal stared at her. Her large mahogany pools begged for a challenge or an insinuation.
Cora didn't raise a fool. The brunette suspected her boss wanted an untoward comment about what she'd seen. If Regina chose to, MM could manipulate the information easily. The English teacher didn't see any positive outcome that made it worth her time.
"Dr. Mills, don't you have something to say to me?"
"I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving holiday?" she offered, hoping the woman would drop the subject.
The shorter woman sniffed. "You don't feel the need to gloat about Miss Wolf throwing out your evaluations?"
The teacher shrugged. "I admit that your bias makes me feel that you could be maltreating me. I am certain that most of the people you've evaluated feel that way if I asked around. But, that may come as much from you having a private school background as anything. You will learn how to deal with the differences in public school. A lot of your issues come from having a different experience; you will gain it with time. I didn't think you needed my input."
"I don't," Black eyebrows creased, perplexed at the even tone and reasonable statement. She'd believed that the 'Evil Queen' would put on quite the show for the others here in the lounge. 'But, you hate me." The unsureness in the principal's voice shocked Regina.
"Hate is such a strong word." Regina stirred the cream into her coffee and dropped the swizzle stick in the trash. "I think you have a lot to learn about the public school system and people in general." The brunette turned to her boss. "It would help if you stopped making every single thing a battle of wills. But, it's your choice. If you want to become the principal this school needs and deserves, you will have to do a lot of changing. It's up to you. Be a tyrant, if you wish, but it won't help this school get to where it needs to be."
With those words hanging in the air, Regina headed toward the door.
"Do you think I could become a good principal?"
The brunette turned on her heel and examined the smaller woman. Her frumpy clothes and fake personality annoyed her intensely, but her heart and mind held possibilities. "You could. The best things in life have to be fought for every step of the way. You have it inside you. The question is, will you?"
****
Saturday morning, Regina woke to the smell of coffee and feminine giggles. She huffed and rolled and buried her nose in golden curls.
"He's got company again."
Emma muttered something unintelligible in her sleep.
"If we stay in here, maybe they'll leave," the brunette reasoned. Caught between Emma's torso and the arm the blonde had tossed over her, Regina considered her escape plan. Instead of answering, she squeezed her tightly, but no other response came.
Pans rattled; cabinet doors slammed, but neither woman felt the need to check on the destruction. "He's got the grace of a T-Rex running through a glasshouse. Has he always been this noisy?"
"No," Emma popped one eye open and grinned at her girlfriend. "When we were younger, the boy was quiet as a mouse. I swear there were times I wasn't 100% whether or not he was at home or not. But, adult Augie is more like a large panda bear in a tea shop. He makes a lot of noise, a lot of messes, and he seems confused when it makes me unhappy."
A light rapping on her bedroom door interrupted their conversation. "Em, we made breakfast. Why don't you and Regina join us at the table?"
"Be there in a sec," she yelled back. "Thanks."
Regina shot her a death glare.
"Hey, he's trying to be civil. He wants to make this work." She kissed the brunette's tanned shoulder. "We've been at your place all week. Can you please try and enjoy our morning? I don't know how much longer he'll be in town, and you know holidays are coming up and--"
The brunette cut her off with a kiss. Forceful and probing, the English teacher's mouth reminded her of Regina's more possessive nature. "I know, but it's also our first real holiday together."
Emma beamed at her. "If I get to spend it with you, it'll be perfect."
Regina rolled her eyes. "You say that now. You haven't lived until Gold's burned the turkey and tried to cover it up by adding a sauce that I can never quite identify." Her eyes glistened with fondness. "Even when mother was alive, whatever Robert touched had issues. One year he made an apple pie and forgot to add sugar. I'm glad Belle's helping him in the kitchen this year; otherwise, it might be another Chinese takeout for Thanksgiving meal."
Emma erupted in laughter. "Should we call and ask if he would like us to show up early and help cook, or will the two of them be cooking all of it alone?"
The brunette brushed her lips against her lovers again. "I'll call him later. Should we get dressed and so see what Augie and Dani are up to?"
The blonde's face scrunched. "As much as I want to see him, her I could live without seeing again."
Emerald orbs followed her lover's body as Regina slipped from between the sheets. She could feel Emma's appreciative stare. "Real clothes or pajamas?"
"Pjs. I'm not done with having you in my bed yet."
The blonde gently swatted Regina's bottom as she sifted through the woman's dresser for something to cover her nakedness. She settled on a pair of flannel shorts and a baggy t-shirt. Emma chose joggers and a tank.
Deeming themselves suitable, they ventured out of the room and down the hall. "Good morning, August and Da--" She cut herself off and blinked at the blonde woman at the table. She cleared her throat. "Good morning, Christie."
The sharp explosion of ceramic shards raining down on the tile floor knocked the blonde out of a short, shocked stupor. "It sounds like Regina's had an accident." Emma's voice cracked. She imagined hearing the wrong name falling from her lips caused Regina's mishap. She held up one finger. "I'll be right back."
The blonde hurried into the kitchen. "Oh. My. God. Now, he has Christie here." She whisper-yelled her distress at Regina. "What are we supposed to do? Do we pretend Dani wasn't here a week ago? Do we pretend they're dating and exclusive? What's the protocol for this? I have no idea." Emma began to hyperventilate. Regina remained nonplussed.
She grabbed the broom and dustpan. She worked at removing the evidence from the floor but chose to call out to everyone. "Please be careful walking on this floor. I think I got it all, but you know it's hard to see the tiny pieces." Emma followed her lead and made a second cup for her using a travel mug.
When the brunette looked up from where she swept, she saw the metal travel mug gleaming in the blonde's hand. "Really?"
"We wouldn't want any more mishaps, would we?"
Regina dumped the pan into the trash bin and pouted. "I don't make fun of you when you break things."
"No, because you are usually the reason I break things."
Regina started to argue when Emma raised her hand. "The evidence speaks for itself: my coffee mug last year--"
The brunette shrugged.
"The mirror by your front door. "
Regina narrowed her eyes at Emma's smirk. She stepped into the other woman's space, challenging her. "Woah! Uh, huh. You don't get to blame that one on me. You slammed me against it!" A dark eyebrow arched. "If I remember correctly, I was trying to get you to simmer down so we could shower."
Emma flushed pink remembering the tantalizing skin from that morning. She licked her lips before speaking. "Your white top had become see-through from the rain. How was I supposed to keep my hands to myself?" She stretched her fingers out to trace the little patch of skin above Regina's collar bone.
Peels of laughter swept in from the doorway, causing both women to turn. August and Christie stood there grinning at them.
"Dani said you two still had unbelievable sexual chemistry but damn! It's like you still have unresolved feelings, but you fucked like bunnies for half the night." Christie looked equally intrigued and offended.
Both women looked at her dumbstruck. Then, their eyes turned to Augie, where he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. The man looked incredibly pleased, maybe satisfied.
"Oh, please. Dani and I have been sharing our playthings for years. I thought you knew."
"What?" Regina's mouth finally worked.
Augie scratched at his beard. "I'm seeing both of them, but none of us are serious. It's fun. Some nights I'm with one, some it's the other."
"And, sometimes we're all three together. You aren't going to get judgemental on me now, are you?" Christie's accusing tone caused both women to gulp.
"Nope," Emma responded first. "But, I uh--" She lost her train of thought.
"What my dear little cavewoman was trying to say is that we thought you didn't know about Dani. We were more concerned that she was stabbing you in the back. Since you are the last of her old friends that still gives her the time of day, we didn't know what to say."
August shook his head warily at all three women. "Great. Now, can we sit down and eat breakfast like normal people?"
*****
The two women lay curled together on top of Emma's sheets, panting. Regina played with her long blonde tendrils stretched across a pale, muscular back. Her fingers continued to draw incomprehensible shapes as she explored her lover's reaction to her touch. The brunette enjoyed the way the morning light flickered across Emma's sweaty skin. Regina pressed her lips to one of the dimples in the blonde's lower back. The blonde shivered and exhaled harshly.
Emma whined, "Do you really want to spend Thanksgiving Day with Robert and Belle?" She rolled over and kissed Regina's neck, tasting of salt and sex. "We could skip it and continue having a naked week." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
"Just because August left doesn't mean that we stay home and have sex all day." Regina huffed, then blushed as she realized that the two of them had done exactly that since the man left on Sunday. "If it makes you feel any better, we will only be spending time with him for a few hours." She shrugged, and there is a fifty-fifty chance we'll be going out for Chinese instead.
Emma raised her eyebrows. "Why is it always Chinese?"
"Other than fast food, IHOP and Waffle House, Chin's Dynasty is the only restaurant open on Thanksgiving." Smiling at her lover, Regina leaned in and kissed the blonde again. "It's time for us to get out of bed. We have a dessert to make. And, knowing Robert, he will wind up taking the whole thing for himself. We might make two, so he can sulk over it in the late afternoon."
"You can't be serious." Emma's look spoke volumes.
"Don't worry. I'm making a pumpkin pie to take to him and chocolate to keep here." Regina slipped from the bed and grabbed for clothes.
"I don't think so. If we have to get up to do this, you're cooking naked."
Regina whacked her across the head with her t-shirt before she pulled in over her head. "Be happy I'm going braless. I don't work near an open flame or a hot oven without clothing. If you want to sit and watch naked, I could live with that."
*****
A few hours later, the two parked in Gold's drive. "Wow! I had no idea Robert had such a nice place." Emma gaped at the white-faced Colonial Mansion.
"It was my mother's. When the two started dating, he lived in the carriage house on one of her friend's estates. After she died, he offered it to me, but this place never felt like home. It was her money and her house. Even as a teen, I couldn't decorate my room because it may ruin the feel the interior designer created." Regina's face held a sour expression as she gazed at the structure. "Honestly, I kind of hate the place."
Emma worried her bottom lip with her teeth, then tugged at Regina's elbow. "Let's go in before it starts to rain again." She lifted the pie and sniffed it dramatically. "Are you sure we need to give this away?"
"Stop being such a child. Of course, we needed to bring something," Regina growled, leading them toward the front door. When they made it halfway up the steps, the front door sprang open.
Belle laughed hysterically. "Don't bother. Robert will be right out." She slipped a coat onto her shoulders and then wiped a little soot from her chin that neither woman had noticed until that moment. "He tried to deep fry the turkey. Apparently, he didn't thaw it enough."
Regina and Emma exchanged concerned looks before Emma spoke. "Is he okay?"
"Yes, but his jacket is ruined. He may have singed his eyebrows a little too." Belle began to giggle again. "I was terrified at first, but then he started reminding me of Wiley Coyote, and I can't get that thought out of my head."
Gold opened the door wearing a sweater and jeans. Both women blinked at him.
"Sorry, I ruined my suit. I didn't feel like pressing another one."
Everyone erupted in laughter. "So, Chinese?" he asked.