A/N – Right so, I started this as a one-shot in my other series, but I really liked the idea and started playing with it and so became this. Let me know what you think. Enjoy.
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There were many things you could say about Regina Mills. She was sassy. And smart. She was greatly loved. But you certainly couldn't call her lazy. Regina Mills worked her tail off in everything she did. She was only 24 years old, but she had already done so much with her life. And she had been through so much more. Regina was a very popular person. She got along with near enough everyone she met. But no one ever really knew who she was. Regina liked to keep herself to herself. It wasn't that she never got close enough to someone to tell them about her. It was that she simply never felt that she trusted anyone enough to be open with them. People have made plenty of efforts with her and they all ended up being real jerks. She did have a slight trust issue. Regina had been through enough to warrant it.
Regardless of Regina's intelligence she had to repeat a few years of education. Regina had lost both parents in a car accident when she was but a few days old. And from the start she was getting bounced around the system. She had always done her best to be a good child, but the parents never made the same effort. And Regina was not one to stick around when things started going wrong. When the parents became abusive, or harsh, she would make sure to inform the correct people. And because of that she barely had parents for more than a few months at a time. She spent her fair share of time in group homes. But even then, she got moved from home to home. Some from over-crowding. Some from the parents not wanting to deal with her. But due to all the moving around, Regina never really got to stay at any school for long. She repeated more than one year. When it came to exam times were the worst. Regina knew she was ready to take the exams, but the school boards thought it would be fair to keep her back another year to make up for the lost time.
It frustrated Regina to no end. When she turned 16 she had finally had enough of being told what she had to do with her life. Over the years Regina had met many people. This meant she was able to leave the group homes. She stayed with friends for a while. She managed to find a job at a bar. There was a restaurant section to the bar. She started as a waitress. Busting tables, serving food. When she turned 18, she asked to get moved onto the bar. She had been watching people come and go off the bar and she thought she knew how to do it pretty well. Within a week, the manager had told her she would be staying on the bar. And nothing made Regina happier.
After a few months working on the bar, Regina was able to start renting out a small apartment. She finally had her own life. She had her own place. Somewhere she herself could call home. Regina loved it. She had never really settled down anywhere, but still in high school and she was finally starting to feel like she was belonging somewhere. The people at work were awesome with her. The manager, Graham, was like the papa bear for everyone. He would let everyone get on with their work as they chose, but if a customer crossed anyone, he would come down on them like a tonne of bricks. But it was a bar after all. So rowdy customers sort of came with the territory. But Graham wasn't the only one to defend the employees. Considering the amount of people Regina had met in her life, most of them were not the most pleasant. She made sure that no matter where she lived, she would take some form of self defence or boxing. She wasn't exactly small for a woman, but she always hid her strength. It was always so much easier to take down an opponent when they underestimated you.
Regina was now 24 years old. She was still working at the bar. But she liked it there. They pay was good. The tips were better. And the people there were the best. She was in her second year of college. She was studying creative writing. She loved every moment of it. She had always loved writing and she was very good at it. Her imagination knew no limits. Of all her modules though, her favourite was English Literature. It wasn't the most popular module on the course. But the lecturer was a beauty.
Her name was Emma Swan. She didn't look anything special at first glance. But Regina had never taken her eyes off her from the day she first walked into the room. Emma had golden long blonde hair. With soft waves that covered her face most of the time. Emma always had her hair down. And whilst it did look gorgeous, it never looked tamed. But that didn't stop Regina from seeing those emerald green eyes. The thin pink lips. The pale skin that gleamed with beauty. Regina could never stop looking at her. But one thing Regina had never managed to get a good look at was Emma's body. Emma would always wear baggy jumpers. Or loose shirts. Normally something that was long enough that even managed to cover her backside.
Emma, although authoritative, was generally a very quiet and timid person. It was always endearing to Regina; how childlike Emma almost was. It was cute.
Emma loved teaching. It was all she had ever wanted to do. But she hated Fridays. It was almost never ending for her. She had lectures 9 to 2. Followed by an hour of one-to-ones. And finished off with a 2-hour lecture for the day. There was nothing wrong with the day itself. It just took a long time to get through the day. And all she wanted to do was to get to her last lecture. It was just another English Literature lecture. But she had one of the best views of anyone. Regina Mills.
Emma had barely had a conversation lasting longer than 2 words with the girl. Emma had always been trying to catch Regina after the lecture. But she left the lecture hall like a rocket. Emma had always wanted the chance to simply speak to Regina. She always seemed different from the rest of the students. But she could never work out why. Emma knew next to nothing about Regina, other than what her file had told her. And all that said was she was held back for multiple years. But there was no reason for it. From what Emma had seen, Regina was a highly intelligent girl. Well not so much a girl as a woman. She was 24 after all. Emma was determined to get her chance to speak to Regina at some point.
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Emma walked into the last lecture of the day on Friday. Other than a few students making their way in, most people were already seated and ready. Including Regina. Laptop out, glasses on, and ready for the lecture. Emma got herself set-up. Trying desperately to not keep glancing up at Reinga. As much as she loved looking at her, she had been caught staring one too many times.
"Alright then guys. I know it's Friday. I know everyone wants to get out of here as quickly as possible. I know I do." Everyone let out a quiet laugh at that. Emma might be shy, but she could still connect with the students. "If everyone is quiet then I promise I will get you all out of here early. Sound like a deal?" Emma looked as most people nodded their heads. "Awesome." Getting on with the slides, Regina taking notes at a million miles an hour. Emma kept looking round to make sure people were still paying attention.
Normally, they would finish just before 5. Today Emma managed to have the lecture finished by 4:15. Looking slightly proud of herself, she turned back to the hall and saw as people started packing away their stuff.
"Alright guys, make sure you get the reading done for next week. I will be handing out a quiz for you guys to answer so please do the work and you will see the results. That's all. Thank you everyone." Emma immediately started looking towards Regina. Today would be the day she would finally get a moment alone with the girl. Before she even got the chance, one of the other students grabbed her to ask a question about the reading for the week. Whilst Emma was listening to the student talk, she kept glancing up to watch as Regina walked out the door. But before she left, Regina glanced back and caught those emerald eyes that made her weak in the knees.
Pulling herself out the room, Regina took a deep breath to regain her senses. Looking at her watch, Regina decided she should just go straight to work. Graham was aware of Regina's timetable. Most of the time it wasn't an issue. Her shifts at the bar were able to coincide with her college schedule. But on a Friday, Graham wants Regina at the bar as early as possible. Which isn't very realistic when she has lectures for most of the day. So, they had agreed that as soon as her last lecture had finished she would go to work. Normally she wouldn't get her until about 5:30 thanks to the rush hour traffic. Today though, Regina could be there before 4:30 at this rate.
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Emma had been pacing her apartment for the last half an hour. Her friend Ruby had set her up on a blind date. Tonight. And she was in no way ready for it. Emma had never had any luck when it came to dating. And she was sure tonight would be no different.
"Ruby I really don't want to go on this date." Emma had called Ruby the minute she had walked through the door. She really was not in the mood for it tonight.
"Well tough. It's already been set up. She is meeting you at The Red Apple. 8:30. Don't be late or I will be pissed."
"We are going to a bar for a date?"
"They have a restaurant there too. It's small but it's cute. Just go and give the poor girl a chance would you. We had a deal remember." Emma both hated and loved Ruby. They had been best friends since either of them could remember. And they would do anything for each other. Even put them through awkward dates to try and help them find Mr or Mrs right. Both the girls were bisexual. It was how they became friends. They were both attracted to the same girl. They started talking and realised they had a lot in common.
"So just because you managed to find someone at the right time, means I have to suffer? Why did we even make that deal?" Emma started looking through her closet deciding what she would wear for the night.
"Because neither of us wanted to be single when we reached 30. So, setting each other up when we turned 28 seemed like the best idea at the time. Now, tell me what you're planning on wearing?" Emma could hear the happiness in Ruby's voice.
"You are enjoying this way too much. Maybe you should go on this date." Emma smiled as she heard the scoff from the other end of the line.
"Not a chance. I have found the woman of my dreams, and I refuse to do anything to put our relationship at risk. I love her too much." Now that was new.
"Did you really just say you love her? I have never heard those words come out of your mouth. Never. What has happened to you Ruby Lucas?"
"I'm in love. Even if she doesn't know it yet."
"You mean you haven't actually told Belle that you love her?" Emma was getting more and more astonished by Ruby.
"Well I didn't want to say it and make her feel like things are being rushed. For now, we are just happy with where we are. Now, stop distracting me and tell me what you are wearing tonight!" Ruby was getting impatient now. And Emma was loving winding her up.
"Alright. Alright. I was thinking about wearing that red dress. You know, the skin-tight dress that comes down to about mid-thigh." There was silence from the other end of the line, and couldn't help but laugh to herself. "Ruby are drooling right now? Surely Belle won't be very happy if she catches you drooling over another woman. Even if it is your best friend."
"Belle is already at work. Friday remember? It's the one day a week the head bar person can't make it in from the start of the day. So, Belle gets the bar from the start and waits for what's her name to show up." Emma pulled the dress off the hanger and threw it on the bed.
"How do you still not know the people Belle works with? I mean, you don't need to know everything about her life. But the least you could do is be a bit interested in her life outside of you, you know?"
"I am. But I also want her to feel like she can have her own life separate to me. I don't want her thinking I'm everywhere in her life ya know?" Even Emma had to give Ruby credit. The girl was respectful.
"Yeah I get what you mean." Emma put the phone down for a second to zip up the back of her dress. Picking the phone back up, Emma took a quick glance at herself in the mirror. Emma loved getting all dressed up like this. She knew she had a banging body. But school wasn't exactly the type of place to go showing it off. But she made sure that when she had the chance to look good, she made herself look damn good. "Hey Ruby do you think my red dress is suitable for tonight?" Emma was still checking herself out in the mirror.
"The one that shows off every little detail of your body? Yes, that one is perfect for tonight. I always struggle to control myself when I see that dress." Emma huffed and rolled her eyes at her friend.
"Are you forgetting about Belle?"
"Of course not. But she knows I still look. But she is the only girl I want to look at for the rest of my life." Ruby was starting to go off into dream land.
"Okay, Ruby I'm losing you now. I need to finish getting ready, so I will talk to you later. I'll let you know how the date goes."
"You best do, or I will be knocking down your door looking for you." Emma loved Ruby. She really was a nutter.
"Love ya Rubes. Bye."
"See ya beautiful." Emma dropped the phone on the bed, before taking one last look in the mirror.
"What am I getting myself into?"
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"Regina? You're her early." Graham looked down at his watch as he saw Regina waltzing over to the bar.
"My lecture finished early. Figured I would come by and get started early for the night. See what you guys do when I'm not here." Regina was smirking wider than the Cheshire cat.
"Well you aren't missing out on a lot. Just getting set up for the night. And by the looks of it we are packed tonight. The restaurant is fully booked 3 times through out the night. And there is a gig of some kind going on just down the road. But no entry until midnight so everyone will find somewhere else to drink before going in. It's all hands-on deck tonight. And you know what that means." Graham was looking at Regina as if to say sorry.
"It means we are going to be getting a lot of rowdy customers and I'm going to be making a lot of men lose their masculinity. Sound about right?"
"Couldn't have said it better myself. But you know the rules."
"I know. I know. No excessive force unless they start it. Only use it for self-defence. You make it sound as though I haven't been doing this for the last how many years?" She was laughing as she walked on down the bar to find Belle. "Hey girly. How's everything been today?" Regina gave Belle a small hug before carrying on down the bar.
"Good. It's not been too busy so far. But I have gone through a lot of bottled stock. And I think a few of the draughts are gonna go soon." Regina grabbed her little book and pen. Having a quick glance around at what they would need to bring up to prepare themselves for the evening shift. Luckily though because she had come in early she didn't have to rush doing anything. She had the time to do it all. Making quick notes, she clicked her pen back down and tucked it into her apron.
"Awesome. I'll be back in a few just gonna grab a few things from the cellar and make sure everything is okay for tonight." Giving Belle a gentle hand on the arm, Regina headed down to the cellar. Regina ran that bar like a Naval War Ship. She knew exactly what she had and where she had it. And it always made her so proud. Grabbing the basket, and filling it up with all the stuff she needed on the bar, she set it aside to have a quick look at the barrels. Belle was right, a few were nearing the end, but there was no point in changing it now. She might as well just wait until they empty to change them.
Heading back to the bar, heavy basket in hand, Regina restocked all the fridges. Making sure all the fruit was ready. Checking the shelves were in order. This was her ritual every time she came in. She made sure that she had everything she needed for the night. When Regina was on the bar, she was in control. She was the one who needed to be ready for anything. 5:30 rolled around and it started getting busy. People had finished work now. Which meant everywhere else would start getting busy. Graham looked over at Regina and smiled.
"Ready?" He asked. And she just smiled back at him.
"Always."
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A/N – So, what do you think? Let me know in the reviews.