Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or any of it's characters.

Chapter 1

Emma strolled into her first AP chemistry class of the year with all the beauty and grace of a swan. "Sorry I'm late…car problems" she says giving the professor the best puppy dog eyes she could muster.

"Just take a seat and let's not make this a habit" the professor mumbles.

Emma looks around and notices that her friends are already paired up. Ruby and Mulan share a lab table towards the back and she can see that Killian has paired up with one of his many minions, Smee. She glares at Killian for not saving her a seat since their morning back seat escapade is the reason she's late. He simply shrugs his shoulders and throws her an apologetic look. Looking around, the only seat available is with a vaguely familiar brunette sitting directly front and center of the classroom. Emma rolls her eyes and trudges over to the empty seat tossing her stuff down with an annoyed sigh.

The brunette turns and glares at the blond for the disruption and then continues to scrawl notes from the lecture. Emma stares at the brown haired girl; immediately awe struck by her beauty. She can't pull her eyes away from the thick brown locks flowing down the girls back and has to resist the urge to run her fingers through them.

She leans over and whispers to the girl, "I'm Emma. Hope you don't mind if I sit here."

The girl turns from her notes and glares at Emma once again, "I know who you are and it would seem I don't have a choice in the matter considering all the other seats are taken." Emma simply rolls her eyes at the girl, leans back in her chair and throws her boots up on the table to wait out the rest of the period.

The rest of the class goes off without issue, both girls successfully ignoring each other. Right before the bell rings the professor turns from the board to address the class, "I hope you all have chosen your seats wisely because your current seat mates will be your lab partners for the remainder of the school year. As you know, in order to get AP credit in this course you we will be required to submit a project with your partner at the end of the year. I recommend you start working on it now as it counts for 25% of your grade." With that, the bell rings and all of the students hustles towards the exit.

Emma grabs her leather jacket and turns towards the brunette with a smirk on her face, "I guess you're stuck with me."

"So it would seem" says the feisty brunette as she rushes past her lab partner.

Emma rushes out of the class after the brunette throwing her hand up towards her friends; indicating she'd just be a minute.

Finally catching up to the girl she says, "You know you're going to have to tell me your name at some point… we are partners after all"

The girl turns and gives Emma her now familiar glare, "I'm Regina Mills and I'm perfectly capable of completing this project without you Miss Swan."

Emma's eyebrows shoot up, "Regina Mills as in Zelena Mills' little sister? You're just a kid! What the hell are you doing in AP chem?"

Regina rolls her eyes at the blond and places her hands on her petite hips, "I may have skipped a grade but I'm hardly a kid! Besides plenty of sophomores take AP courses!" Emma snorted at the girl, "Actually kid they don't, especially sophomores fresh out of junior high. You're literally the only one." Stepping in to Emma's personal space Regina snarled, "I think the better question is what are you doing in AP Chemistry? This course is for college credit and we all know you Swans don't make it out of high school!" Several emotions cross Emma's face at this comment starting at hurt and shame and ending in anger.

Emma's face turns red with rage but before she can say anything Killian drapes his arm around her shoulder placing a quick peck on her cheek. "Everything alright over here love?" he says throwing a warning glance towards the brunette.

Emma takes a deep calming breath and leans into Killian, "yeah everything's fine". She grabs Killian's hand and turns away throwing a "see you around kid" over her shoulder as she stalks away.

Emma's bright green eyes were drawn to Regina's honey golden ones the moment she stepped into the crowded cafeteria. Again Emma couldn't help but notice the girl's beauty. Her olive skin was flawless and her mouth was inviting with full pouty lips. Emma couldn't understand why she was so drawn to the infuriating girl especially considering who she was. The only locked eyes for moment before Regina returned to her conversation but in that moment Emma thought she saw a flicker of regret. Granting one last look over her shoulder at the beauty, Emma headed into the senior lounge. Immediately she spots her crew in the far corner. She approached and plopped down in Killian's lap as the group listened to Ruby outline her plans for the weekend.

"It's all set. Granny won't be back until late Sunday so I've got the place to myself. You guys bring the booze and some snacks and I'll take care of everything else. Let's keep it small this time though…just us! Last time things got way out of hand and granny grounded me for a month!" Everyone nodded in agreement eyes glistening over at the memory of Ruby's last party.

Mulan broke Emma out of her reverie asking, "Who's your new lab partner? I haven't seen her in any of our other classes."

Emma rolled her eyes at the mention of the girl. "Her name's Regina. She's a freshman or technically I sophomore I guess but get this… she's Zelena's little sister!"

Ruby and Mulan's eyes widened while Killian's grip around her waist tightened. "Maybe Mr. Hopper will let you switch partners. Smee will partner with the girl if I tell him to." Killian suggested.

"Nah it's fine I can handle it…she's just a kid and she doesn't seem to be anything like her witch of a sister."

Just then the witch in question wandered into the senior lounge followed by her brainless primate buddies. Never one to miss out on causing drama, upon spotting Emma the girl immediately sauntered over in her too short skirt and too high heels.

"Well if isn't Emma Swan and her band of social misfits. How's that loser brother of yours?" Zelena spit out with venom.

"Who the hell you calling a misfit you psychotic bitch?" Ruby growled ready to pounce on the red head. Zelena merely smiled at the girl knowing her bark was worse than her bite.

Emma jumped from Killian's lap and into Zelena's personal space "Cool it Ruby let's try not to get expelled on the first day of school." Emma said while glaring at the witch. "August is just fine no thanks to you. He's moved on with his life and I suggest you do the same!". Killian tried to pull Emma away before things got too heated knowing nothing good would come of this situation.

Just as Emma began to back away Zelena growled, "Well I hope the drunk has learned his lesson. He got everything he deserved!" With that Emma swirled around and delivered a crushing right hook directly to the wicked witch's face.

Both Emma and Zelena sat in Principal Ghorm's office in silence awaiting their fate. The pixie like woman frowned at both girls, her face a mix of anger and disappointment.

"As you both know this school has a zero tolerance policy on violence. However, considering your sensitive history I'm not going to expel either of you but this needs to end now."

Zelena's mouth opened in astonishment, "But she attacked me and she should she be punished!".

Principal Ghorm raised an eyebrow at the girl, "And if I understand the situation correctly you instigated the entire ordeal by seeking out and harassing Miss Swan." At that, Zelena crossed hers arms and leaned back into her chair defeated.

"As I was saying, I expect both of you to be on your best behavior for the remainder of the schoolyear. You will leave the past behind you and move forward amicably or you will both be expelled. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes" both girls said in unison.

"Great!" Principle Ghorm exclaimed plastering on her insincere smile. "You're dismissed and I don't want to see either of you in my office again."

Still in a rage heading towards her battered yellow bug Emma heard someone call her name timidly. She turned to see Regine staring up at her with her books clutched tightly to her chest.

"What do you want?" Emma spat at the girl. "You come to finish what your sister started?"

Regina looked at her apologetically before a smile spread across her face, "No of course not. I saw what you did to Zelena's face and I have no doubt she deserved it. I actually wanted to apologize for what I said earlier. I was just really nervous about taking courses with seniors and I wasn't exactly thrilled about getting stuck with you." Emma scoffed at her and Regina grimaced, "I didn't mean it like that! Like I said, I know who you are and I know what went down with our siblings and I figured you'd hate me by association." Regina searched Emma's face for any sign of forgiveness finding none. "Look I really need to pass this class so I'd like to start fresh." Regina held out her hand and Emma grabbed it in a firm shake admiring the girl's soft skin and perfectly manicured nails.

Emma reluctantly let go of Regina's hand as a yellow Corvette pulled up next to them. "You ready to go babe?" Robin Locksley shouted over the loud music.

Regina headed towards the vehicle stopping to rip a slip of paper from one of her notebooks. "This is my cell number. Call or text me sometime this weekend. Perhaps we can get together and work on ideas for our project?" Regina smiled hopefully.

"Whatever kid" Emma replied snatching the paper from the girl. Regina rolled her eyes and hopped into the passenger side of the vehicle leaning over to greet her boyfriend with a kiss. Emma stared after them as they sped out of the parking lot immediately entering the girl's number in her cell once they were out of sight. "This should be interesting" she thought to herself as she climbed into her bug and headed home.