March
Dr. Swan watched her students packing their things and looked at her watch. Even after a long conversation curled up with Regina strategizing about this moment, she dreaded speaking to the girl--this was personal business that the girl had not shared with her. Emma warred with herself about respecting the student's privacy for several days before she decided to ask Daphne what she wanted. She didn't trust Fiona for many reasons, but on the other hand, why would she come to Emma if she knew her former lover didn't trust her at all. The blonde had decided to refuse to help until Regina pointed out that Fiona had no reason to think Emma would trust her; only desperation would have driven the woman in her direction. It fueled that conversation in the parking lot.
Sharp emerald eyes tracked the teen's movements in the middle of the room. Daphne Bartlett's shoulders slumped when she dropped back in her seat; she seemed so much less more than they had a few weeks ago. The child had withdrawn socially from her friend group. Rarely was she seen whispering with them at opportune moments.
'This was so much easier when Regina suggested it.' Emma's memory betrayed her. Her cheeks grew pink, and the flesh on her back burned; she remembered the way Regina's breasts pressed into her this morning--Regina loved being the big spoon-- when she husked the idea into her ear.
Weighing her options, Emma decided she couldn't procrastinate further. 'If I don't do this today, I'll be little better than a stalker,' she thought, regretting once again how much of her attention had been aimed in the girl's direction.
The final bell rang; the clanging noise knocked Dr. Swan out of her internal struggle while it sent students scrambling for their backpacks and shoving their bodies through the exit. 'It was now or never.' Emma encouraged herself, steeling her nerves.
"Daphne Bartlett, I need to speak to you before you leave." No sooner had the words left her lips than her ears regretted her word choice and tone. 'Crap. Using my teacher-voice isn't exactly how I wanted to start this-- God, why did Fiona fill the need to put me in this position?.'
The girl appeared terrified as her friends made teasing remarks on the way to the door. The words' doomed' and 'teacher's pet' flew from different directions. Daphne's throat bobbed with a harsh swallow. Her arms clutched her books to her chest, ready to run. "Yes, ma'am. What did I do wrong?"
Dr. Swan stepped around her desk and leaned against its edge. "You didn't do anything wrong. But, I spoke with your mother last week." She sighed, seeing the girl's lip trembling.
"Hold on a second." The blonde closed the door so no one could eavesdrop on their private conversation. Dr. Swan knew all too well that kids, especially Freshmen, tend to be overly cruel when the opportunity appears. She sighed. The whole point of this conversation was to help the girl, not feed her to the school gossip machine; Daphne deserved better than that.
Emma walked over to the nearest table, sat on the top of it, and indicated to the girl to sit next to her. "I need to have a non-teacher student conversation with you for a minute."
The girl's nose wrinkled as her features twisted in confusion. Emma pulled the band out of her hair, freeing her long strands from her 'professional ponytail.' She sighed again and let her teacher mask fall so that the girl would see more of her genuine concern. "Your mother met me in the parking lot a few days ago. She's worried about you."
"Oh," the girl's eyes filled with water that she refused to allow to rain down her cheeks. The teacher watched the student shove her pain away. "Is she okay?" Daphne's voice no longer held its typical timidity.
Fingers encased in chipped fingernail polish danced on the edge of the desk. Emma's nerves bubbled to the surface. "She's as good as you'd expect. More than anything, she's worried about you." The blonde stated honestly. "Do you mind if I ask you a question?"
The girl reluctantly nodded. "Sure?"
"Did your mom tell you that she and I knew each other a long time ago?"
A slight smirk played on the girl's lips. "No, but I guessed that much from the way she asked about your class. When I would tell her about what we were doing, she always seemed to be proud of you. I thought the two of you might be old friends or something."
Emma slid closer to the girl. "Since you know that I'm not a stranger--I do care about your mother even though calling us friends would be inaccurate. We were--never mind. That isn't important." She waved away the words with her hand before asking, "Could you tell me what happened?"
Daphne shrugged. "I'm not 100% sure. I heard them arguing. Dad slapped her at one point, or at least, I think that was what I heard. She stormed out of the house. I know he went into his office and destroyed it. We had to buy him a new coffee table and lamp a few days ago. Then, the police came. Dad made it sound like she'd thrown furniture around and that she was getting dangerous. He claimed she threatened him with a gun. He wanted me to lie for him, but I wouldn't. He didn't count on Bryce's reaction either. Lies upset him. My little brother was rocking himself and singing, "Liar, liar pants on fire over and over while the cops asked us questions."
"That sounds awful. Have you talked to our counselor?"
Daphne rolled her eyes. "This whole thing is so stupid and embarrassing. I couldn't talk to them about this. I don't know them. If I tell them the whole truth about mom's mood swings and dad's screaming, what if they decide to call DFACS?" She shivered, then shrugged hopelessly. "Besides. Who would believe me? I mean, this is the south. How many families here can say they don't own a gun? I know mom doesn't have one." The girl looked at the clock on the wall and hopped up from where she'd been. "I better get moving, or my ride will leave me." She slipped to her feet. "If I can arrange for my ride to come to get me later, do you think I could call mom from here tomorrow? I would love to talk to her for a few minutes."
Emma smiled at the girl. "I'm sure we can make that happen."
*****
Slamming the front door on his way out, August trudged away, an echo of teenage behaviors in broad daylight. Emma clenched her teeth to prevent a frustrated scream from escaping. "I didn't know that was a family trait," she muttered in an attempt to lighten the mood. Regina lovingly poked her in the side in response.
"You haven't run from me in a little bit." She held up her thumb and forefinger a half an inch apart. "Little bit."
Emma scoffed in response, still hoping he'd come back through the door. The blonde felt relieved and devastated in equal measures. Guilt twisted in her belly; she had done this to him. No, they had. The two women had agonized over how and when to share the news. Eventually, Emma had come to realize they needed to rip the bandaid off no matter how much it hurt; the truth needed to be shared, the sooner, the better.
"Well, that could have gone better, I suppose." Regina's hand slipped into hers effortlessly, giving a soft squeeze; her concern for her favorite blonde evident in the whispery tone of her voice. Feeling her girlfriend's fragility, the English teacher offered the little comfort she could with an audience. A blonde head dropped onto her shoulder even though both still stared at the door August had disappeared through in the past few seconds.
Emma sighed before a throat-clearing popped them out of their bubble.
"You two are mind-numbingly cute. Do you know that?" Christie's voice held a melancholy longing that neither woman anticipated. "It's real love, isn't it?" Her rhetorical question met with quiet stares. "I've never seen Regina so willing to anchor someone--to be there through the worst of it. I wish I had that."
Christie's words cut through the blonde's overwhelming brain fog. The two women turned to where she still sat on the loveseat. Regina studied her old friend. Her eyes held a haunted look she hadn't noticed earlier. With her elbow perched on the arm of the sofa, she nibbled at the tips of her nails in a surprisingly anxious move; it confused the brunette. Christie had always been put together and confident. Either love had changed her or, Regina hated this thought. Maybe she'd never truly known her at all. Her eyes refused to meet either woman's as she struggled to find the words she wanted to say.
"You knew?" the brunette asked, trying not to sound accusing. She failed.
Christie threw up her hands defensively. "Woah. I didn't know anything for sure. But, I had my suspicions. The way the two of you snuck out of town for a few hours that one weekend. And, when you wouldn't talk in front of us about who you went to visit one night, I was fairly certain that you had been with Dani." The older blonde's head tilted to the side affectionately. "Don't worry. I'm not angry. A little hurt, maybe. But, it was certainly not by either one of you," she huffed begrudgingly.
"He'll be back once he cools down," Emma offered.
The decisive shake to the other blonde's head spoke volumes. "The last time he took off like this, I saw him two months later." Her teary-eyed smile shone briefly. "If I didn't have the two of you as inspiration, I might give up on him. But I know your story. I know how you two pushed each other away until one day you finally understood how perfect the other woman was for you."
Regina pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow. "We have our moments, but you know he's changed you a lot too."
Christie shrugged. "But, have I changed enough?" She sighed heavily. "And, I guess the question is can he and I be together without her in our lives. Ever since New Years, her absence has hung over our heads. It's like her ghost is in the room with us. We don't fight, but we don't connect either. We never find our balance." She shook her head, knowing her words made a mess of what she wanted to say. "It's not the same without Dani. I don't know if it can be."
Feeling the doubt weighing heavily on the other woman, Emma stood. "I know you think he's left to be away from you. When I run, I'm not running away from Regina. I'm trying to put distance between me and a conversation I'm not ready for at the time."
Christie slipped to her feet and nodded. "I can understand that." She looked around at the room. Regina suspected she wanted to memorize this place where she found comfort before it disappeared from her life.
"Why don't you stay?" Emma suggested. "It's late, and he will feel better knowing you didn't leave him because he freaked out about me not telling him anything."
Stormy eyes focused momentarily on the front door. However, Regina couldn't bear to see her old friend struggle. "She means us. We didn't tell either of you," she stated as she wrapped a caring hand around Christie's wrist, momentarily connecting the three women. "Emma's right. You should stay. You shouldn't be alone tonight."
"Out of curiosity, why didn't you?" Christie asked, still trying to decide whether to stay or retreat home where she knew an awkward morning wouldn't follow.
Dropping Emma's hand, the brunette ran fingers through her hair nervously. "She asked me not to tell. She wanted to see me and Emma, no one else. We had to honor that even if her attempt at recovery was short. She did try for a little bit."
Emma's eyes narrowed, then she snorted. "She invited me because apologizing to Regina alone frightened her. She thought that by trying it with me first, it might be easier." The blonde shifted on her feet, trying to find words that would encourage Christie to stay. She feared Augie's condition when he returned to an empty bed. "I think it went well, or as well as it could. But I can't say that she seemed that different. I feel like I am supremely judgy here, but I didn't feel like she was committed to changing. She was committed to appeasing everyone around her."
Regina tugged at her blonde's fingers. "Be glad you didn't see her again. It was more obvious the next visit that she was there to keep her job, not to change. She was trying a dog and pony show for the facility, yet she hinted that I needed to bring her something to take the edge off," she huffed. "I don't think it worked. If it had, would she have checked herself out?"
Christie slowly nodded. "I wish I could say I'm surprised by everything you said. But it all makes sense. I've spent the last few months over-analyzing every interaction I've had with her since she came back here. As much as I hate to say it, I don't think Dani has hit rock bottom yet. We both know how destructive she can be? Her whole life isn't on fire. Just smoldering a little."
All three stood in the dim light of the living room, each waiting for one of the others to make the first move. Emma finally broke the silence. "Look. I can't make you stay, but if August is anything like me, he will be emotionally bankrupt when he gets home. Seeing you curled up and asleep in his bed will mean everything. If you love him, like I think you do, you should stay." Leaving the words hanging in the air, she led Regina by the hand to her bedroom.
*****
"Like I said, it was strange. August finally came in this morning while I was making coffee. And when he saw Christie, a silly smile bloomed. He never said a word to me or her. I'm sorry you missed it." Regina held the office door for the blonde to enter.
Emma shrugged. "I'm glad she stayed because he would have been devastated if she wasn't home." She pecked her girlfriend on the cheek. "But, I'm even happier you chose to stay. I didn't want to face all of that alone."
"What fresh hell is this?" Regina snarked. Her eyes had lighted on a group of male faculty members aggressively whispering back and forth.
"Why did Kendrick shove Johnson?"
The brunette's eyes narrowed. "I thought they were friends. Aren't those the two that were rude to Gaston and Flynn at the Christmas party?"
"No idea." Regina's eyes never left the group when she reached over and entwined their fingers. "Are we still going to lunch with the alphabet friends, or are we going on a mini-date?"
Emma's face glowed. "I wouldn't object to a mini-date. Where do you want to go?"
Teachers, before you begin your teacher workday, there is a mandatory faculty meeting in the media center. I expect everyone in attendance in five minutes.
"Is it just me, or did that sound nothing like our boss?" Emma asked, then took a sip from her travel cup.
Her girlfriend rolled her eyes. "I think you should recognize Eugenia's voice by now."
"Maybe she's decided that we need mandatory training today. You know how administration loves to use our workdays to teach us things we've known for a decade,"
"I wonder what this is about," Mal sounded more eager than either of her friends.
"Maybe we will get lucky, and we have a new principal?" Emma offered. Her smile faded when both of the other women replied with derisive snorts. As they made their way to the library, the blonde froze. "Why are there several dozen nurses here?"
Regina's eyes flew wide.
"Merde. I do not have a good feeling about this one. What do you ladies think?" Mal asked, nervously eyeing the stations being set up across the room.
"Nope," Emma replied.
Regina chose not to dignify it with a response of any kind. Instead, she studied the other teacher's faces; she searched for the guilty. More than one of the coaches kept looking up from their phones, alarmed. Then, it dawned on her that Shepherd and Blanchard-Nolan appeared to be missing from the room.
Eugenia Wolf entered the room at a furious pace. She barrelled past to the front of the room. Without a microphone, she should stood glaring at the assembled adults. "People, silence!"
Her hands went up in a silent demand to hold their questions. "If you will notice that we have deputies, not our school resource officers, standing at the doors, I will now tell you that no one will be leaving this room without permission." Her eyes roved across the room. "Dr. Spangler, our department of health liaison, has demanded a blood STD screening of all faculty and staff." She paused dramatically, watching as the teachers' heads turned, looking at each other. Questioning. Judging. Guessing.
Ms. Wolf cleared her throat. "Over the last few days, multiple students have gone to the walk-in clinic down the road for possible STDs. But, then last night, two girls went to the ER together, bringing the total to 8 in 3 days. We have an outbreak, but on top of that, the two ladies that went to ER gave statements to the police because both ladies had compared their partner lists, and it appears they both slept with the same staff member." She waited for a moment as many people shifted uncomfortably. "I will not be identifying the accused, but I will tell you that once we prove the charges, which I am certain we will, they will be brought to justice."
Dr. Spangler stepped forward and spoke into a microphone Belle offered. "Ladies and Gentlemen, safety protocols require us to test all of you—even those who have not been active with more than one person. You have been here using these sinks, toilets, etc. I don't think I have to explain to you how dire this situation could become if we don't get ahead of it before the news gets wind of it. Ms. Wolf has recommended we do this in an orderly fashion. So, I believe alphabetical makes as much sense as any. Please listen for your names, and they will be with you shortly."
Emma sucked her teeth and looked around the room. "Is it just me, or does Jeffries, the athletic trainer, look nervous?"
"Mm. He looks like he knows he's going into a police lineup," Mal quipped. "I wonder how many inappropriate massage treatments he's been giving rather than sending the girls to a doctor."
"I heard it wasn't the girls," Hopper said, leaning into their space. "You know how Judith loves listening to the police radio. Well, last night, she heard the command go out to arrest SRO Levi at his house. The return call gave it a 10-56, whatever that is."
Emma's eyebrows went into her hairline. "That's a suicide attempt, Archie. I guess some of us can't face the consequences."
"Allen, Barber and Cousins." Dr. Spangler announced the first few names.
"No. I refuse!" The panicky male coach power-walked toward the door only to be chased down by an officer.
Emma's head whipped around to see the blonde-haired man being outrun, then tackled by a police officer.
"Anyone else find it odd that our track coach got pwned by an officer?"
In sync, Regina, Emma, and Mallory openly gawked at Archie's use of slang.
"What? I know things," he huffed and straightened his tie.
Regina shook her head. "I guess all of us have picked up something from the kids."
"Bad pun, Mills." Emma elbowed her girlfriend while a furious discussion continued at the back of the room.
"What too soon?" She asked innocently and batting her eyes at Emma.
The blonde crossed her arms while Mal laughed at their fake argument. "You two are ridiculous." Her thought died as Eugenia Wolfe stormed to the front of the room. "Let's all try this again. All of you need to be tested. It's for our safety. It's for your safety. I shouldn't have to say this, but when you signed your contract, you agreed to any form of testing necessary 'for the greater good.' I expect everyone to behave with decorum. Like professionals. Like adults." She cleared her throat and glared menacingly at the back of the room. "Now, shall we try this again?"
Mallory's hand shot up. "Ms. Wolfe, what if some of us volunteered to go first? I know it's a teacher workday. The sooner I'm tested is, the sooner I can do what I need to do."
"I agree." Regina added, looking meaningfully at Emma, who also nodded.
The older woman beamed at them. "Why, thank you, ladies. That is most appreciated. If you could go over to where the nurses are stationed, you can get started."
"Not fair." Leroy's voice boomed out. "Why should the alphabet soup people get to go first?"
"Oh, my God. Really?" Emma stormed after the other two women trying to ignore the irritating little man. "First, they don't want to be first. Now, they don't want anyone else to do it. Can anyone make them happy?"
"No."
Emma didn't have to look to know that Mallory and Regina had both answered. She tried to drop it. She did. "Does the drunken asshole always have to be such a whiner-baby?"