Chapter 2
Dear Aunty Alex
This thing is so stupid but I don’t have many options so… here I am. I’ve been having…issues or problems or whatever you want to call them. My parents want me to clean up my act and focus on my studies. Sure I can understand that but they want me to become an industrial engineer. They don’t understand, that isn’t what I want to do with my life. I want to act and dance. Why is it so hard for them to support me? They wouldn’t understand my choice.
I don’t want to spend the rest of my life doing something I hate. Sometimes when they go on for too long I break into my dad’s liquor cabinet so I don’t have to deal with their expectations. Is it too early to call myself a drunk?
Sincerely
Grumpy
Emma bit her lower lip in thought. “Leroy…” Emma shook her head. “I’m sorry. I wish there was more I could do rather than just give advice.” After typing out a response Emma sent the documents to the printers and sipped her lukewarm coffee. “Grumpy? Leroy you need to be more creative than that.”
After locking up the school’s media office Emma made her way down the school’s dark corridor. She balanced her books between her arms and cursed her old backpack for tearing yesterday. She had to show up to school with her even older Hello Kitty backpack that could only fit two or three books. Locksley looked smug the whole day because he knew Emma needed to cash and fuck it he was offering a decent amount. But using Regina like that? That made Emma’s skin crawl.
Regina had only been single three weeks and now he wanted to get with her? How impatient can guys be… Emma licked her chapped lips and shook her head. She couldn’t understand his thinking. Just has she passed the school’s main office she heard shuffling and froze. She knew she was the only who was supposed to be at school.
Ducking down against the wall she peeped through the glass windows and spotted a singular small figure with a flashlight going through the administrative desk. Narrowing her eyes Emma rifled through her frayed hoodie pockets and pulled out a tiny can of pepper spray. After one night when a man got a little too friendly when Emma walked home Emma never went anywhere without her faithful can of pepper spray.
And a little more than a few lessons of kick boxing.
Sneaking her way into the office Emma tightened her hand on her pepper spray and jumped at the intruder. “Ah!” The intruder shrieked loudly and they tumbled to the ground, Emma firmly on top.
The intruder’s flashlight fell to the floor in an angle that blinded Emma but she immediately pinned the intruders hands down with one hand above their head and aimed the pepper spray at their face. The intruder fought her while trying to catch their breath with Emma completely on top on them.
“Who are you?” Emma demanded firmly. Immediately the intruder stilled.
“Emma?” The intruder ventured softly and Emma’s eyes widened.
“Regina?” Emma asked bewildered. Suddenly she became aware of the scent that haunted her dreams and the feeling of firm breasts pressing against her own. Realizing she might be suffocating the other girl Emma jumped off of her and flipped on the light.
“Shit.” Emma breathed when she saw Regina rub the back of her head. “I’m so sorry. I thought you were trying to break into the school.” Emma quickly explained while helping the brunette up.
“And your first thought was to jump me?” Regina asked sounding bewildered. Emma rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.
“Technically my first thought was to grab my pepper spray; my second thought was jumping you.” Emma chuckled slightly and shuffled her feet.
“I see.” Regina nodded and if Emma was paying a little more attention to Regina’s face instead of her shoes she would have seen Regina’s eyes flash with awe. “What if I were a large man?”
“That is where the pepper spray would have come in.” Emma explains still feeling slightly embarrassed. Spotting Regina’s fallen flashlight Emma squatted to retrieve it and held it out for the brunette. “As much as I would like to apologize for tackling you… what are you doing here at this time of night?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” Regina raised an eyebrow in challenge. Emma bit her lip, she knew she couldn’t tell Regina that she was Aunty Alex so coming up with a quick and easy lie she said:
“I was finishing up on an assignment. My printer is screwed up at home to Mrs Thomas let me stay late.”
Regina seemed torn in believing Emma’s lie but seemed to let it go. “I see.”
Emma waited.
“And you?” the blonde pushed.
“Does it matter?” Yes. Emma wanted to shout. Everything mattered when it came to Regina Mills.
“If you don’t want to tell me I won’t push the subject.” Emma shrugged. “You just seemed kinda desperate to find something before I… you know…. Tackled you to the ground.”
Regina seemed to be biting back a smile before she sighed and gave Emma a guarded look. “I had a meeting with the Headmaster this afternoon. I was wearing my charm bracelet which he didn’t appear to like. Our meeting went… somewhat badly so he confiscated it. I…”Regina cleared her throat and looked away from the blonde. “My wrist doesn’t quite feel right without it.” Regina looked shy at the admission so Emma merrily nodded. Clearly the bracelet meant a lot to the other woman.
“I’ll help.” Emma said surprising the brunette.
“What?” Regina frowned.
“I’ll help.” Emma repeated with a reassuring smile. Regina merely nodded and turned away from the blonde in an attempt to hide her small relieved sigh.
Regina searched through a few cabinets while Emma scanned the office trying to remember where she had seen the secretary put her phone when it was confiscated. Snapping her figures in victory Emma rushed to the secretary’s desk.
“I’ve already searched there.” Regina said over her shoulder. Emma ignored her and pulled out the third drawer. Feeling the wood creak Emma grinned as she pulled off the top layer to reveal the hidden box. Placing the drawer on the table Emma snatched the box and opened it. Inside were a few phones, a couple ‘interesting’ magazines, and one golden and silver bracelet.
“Regina.” Emma called and watched the brunette turn and break out into a beautiful relieved smile when she spotted the bracelet hanging in Emma’s hand.
Regina rushed over to the other girl and snatched the bracelet out of Emma’s open palm.
“You found it!” Regina exclaimed and immediately tried to put it on. Struggling with the clasp she sighed and eyed Emma with a silent question.
Chuckling quietly Emma nodded and stood. Making her way to Regina Emma realised it was the longest the two had actually spoken and interacted with each other. Picking up the delicate metal Emma’s nose was invaded by Regina’s perfume and subtly took a deep breath in, inhaling the sweet scent. “There you go.” Emma said her voice deeper than she intended. Regina nodded her thanks and fingered the charms on her bracelet.
Eyeing the movement Emma asked: “What do the charms symbolise?”
“Pardon?” Regina seemed confused at the question.
“The charms.” Emma said pointing at the bracelet. “You seemed kinda desperate to find that. I figured it must be important to you.”
Regina uncharacteristically shrugged and sighed. “It was a gift for my sixteenth birthday from my father before he…” Emma reached out and gingerly touched the charms.
“It’s beautiful.” Emma whispered when Regina trailed off, lost in her own thoughts. “Will you tell me about them?” Regina’s head snapped up as if she had never been asked such a thing.
“Okay.” Regina nodded and sat down on the floor. Emma sat next to her but kept a respectable distance.
Hours went by. Each charm held a special meaning to Regina from her father. A golden apple for the apple tree they had planted together in their back garden. A book for Regina’s love of literature. A key for her father’s heart. A horse shoe for her horse Rocinante. Stable girl. Emma smiled at the link. As Regina went on talking Emma noticed how her posture shifted. Her once stiff and straight shoulders had softened and slouched. Her hard mouth and curled into a constant tiny smile. Emma was so happy to see Regina finally at ease. She had been so unhappy ever since the breakup.
Neither girl realized the time until a flicker of light seeped into the office from the rising sun. Both girls turned to each other with wide eyes and rushed out the office before the early morning staff arrived. Once the girls were safely out of the school and in the parking lot they burst into laughter, Regina slightly more reserved than Emma.
“I can’t believe we didn’t notice the time!” Emma chuckled and wiped her eyes.
“That really was uncanny.” Regina shook her head but couldn’t stop the bashful grin on her lips. The pair of girls laughed a little longer before both quieted down and watched the other. “Thank you Emma.” Regina said quietly.
Emma shrugged and looked shyly to the ground. “It’s no big deal.”
Regina eyed the shy girl and bit back a remark, instead she said. “Still, you helped me. I am grateful for that.” The way Regina said it seemed as if she was thanking Emma for a lot more than finding a bracelet.
“It’s okay Regina.” Emma said softly. “We’re friends. It’s what friends do.”
“We’re friends?” Regina ventured quietly.
“I like to think that we are.” Emma shrugged internally cringing. Maybe Regina doesn’t want to be friends with her.
“I’d like that.” Regina nodded. Emma broke out into a happy grin.
“Awesome!” She grimaced at her over happy tone. “Uh… well… school doesn’t start for another couple hours. Guess I’ll head home and take a shower. See you later?”
“Of course.” Regina replied. As Emma turned Regina called after her. “Would you like a ride to your home?” Regina asked quickly. “As a thank you.”
Emma was torn. She wanted to say yes. She hadn’t slept the entire night and her house was quite a walk from school. But she couldn’t let Regina see where she lived. Ruby hasn’t even seen her house.
“No.” Emma shook her head and smiled. “It’s okay. I don’t live far. Get home safe okay?” Regina seemed disappointed but nodded nonetheless her mask shifting into place to hide her brief show of disappointment. Turning Emma quickly walked away and rushed to her foster home.
Upon entry the house stank of weed and booze. Bottles littered the floor and the TV illuminated the living room. Keeping as quiet as possible Emma sneaked upstairs and entered the bathroom. Peeling off her clothes she gratefully stepped into the steaming shower. Exhausted as she may be, she enjoyed the way her evening went.
Regina Mills is more than anyone has thought.
“And?” Demanded the irritating boy.
“Well this seems familiar.” Emma rolled her eyes as, once again, Robin Locksley had cornered her by her locker.
“What have you found out?” Robin pushed impatiently. Emma gritted her teeth, angry that she had been reduced to do such a thing.
Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly Emma side eyed the boy. “She likes horses.” Was all Emma said.
“What?” Robin seemed irritated. “Is that all you have for me?”
“You want information. That was information.” Emma said simply and opened her hand. “Pay up.” Robin glared angrily at her but still placed a twenty in her hand.
“The next piece of ‘information’ better be of use.” He spat and walked off. Emma rolled her eyes and shoved the money in her pocket.
Robin couldn’t see that any piece of information was useful. Everything about Regina was special. Emma felt angry that Robin couldn’t see that. Catching herself Emma took a deep breath in. Friends. She had to remind herself. We’re just friends.