Emma sat on the minimally padded bus seat with her knees pulled in to her chest, staring out the window into the dimly lit September morning. She brought her converse-clad feet in closer to her body and pulled her jumper down over her knees as chills went through her body. August had barely passed, and already her thin leggings weren't nearly enough protection from the cold.
The crowded bus slowed to a stop and Emma quickly threw her old rucksack over her shoulder and pushed her way out of the vehicle. She sighed in defeat and walked up to the all-too-familiar brick building. The black sign above the doorway stared down maliciously, 'Elridge Community Secondary'. "Shit," Emma breathed. She pulled open the doors and walked to her locker, smiling at the people who waved at her along the way.
"Emms? Oh my god Emma baby, it's you!" A voice squealed from the other side of the hall. A genuine smile crept up on Emma's features and she turned around just in time for the small brunette to fling herself into Emma's arms.
"Lord, Ruby, you're going to break my back one of these days." Emma giggled, hugging her friend tightly before adding, "I missed you too, Rubes."
"You're damn right you missed me. I hate that you don't have a phone." She frowned slightly, "So have you found an apartment yet? And a safer job? Oh Emma you know my parents would take you in in a heartbeat don't you?"
"I'm fine, no apartment yet, but don't worry about me one bit. I worked at the diner on fifth during the summer, but the hours don't work for the school year so I've arranged to get my old job back." Emma looked at the ground, hoping to avoid the lecture that she knew was coming. Ruby sighed dramatically.
"Are you sure there's no other option?" She asked, her voice filled with worry.
"Yeah if there was another option I'd have taken it. I have no idea where to take Henry during my shifts though; I've gotten him in daycare from six to five so I can come to school but I don't know any daycare centre that would be open that late." Emma sighed, "This is a heavy conversation for the first day of twelfth grade." She faked a smile.
"I'll take Henry while you work on the condition that you take my cell phone with you. When you told me that creep followed you to the shelter last year I nearly had a heart attack, and I'm fairly certain my mother was close to fainting." Ruby rolled her eyes at the last part and hugged her friend lightly. "If there's anything we can do at all, i'm here for you Emms. Plus, you know I love little Henny like a brother." She grinned. A smile lit up Emma's delicate features and she slammed her locker shut with a loud crash.
"Thank you so much Rubes, I'm going to make it all work this year I swear I'm going to figure it all out."
"I know you will. Now show me your schedule, I have Mr. Jefferson for AP Chem and Calculus 2 and I don't plan on suffering through this year alone." Ruby shot a sly grin at the blonde.
"What are you going to do, bring me down with you? I'd take a bullet over Jefferson." Emma pulled the crumpled schedule out of her pocket and tossed it in her friend's direction.
"You and I both. Fuck how did you manage to get Arnolds for Bio and Tilson for Physics? You bitch." She groaned in mock anger.
Emma pulled a faux innocent face and put on a dramatic valley girl accent, "uhh, blondes do it better!"
Ruby laughed dispite herself and slapped Emma playfully before putting on the same accent, "ummm, gag me with a spoon Emma Swan, Tilson is totally like, mine." She batted her eyelashes, causing the both of them to launch into a fit of giggles.
"No way, Rubes. Just watch this, I have the perfect way to seduce him!" Emma grabbed both of Ruby's hands and sighed, speaking in a seductive voice, "Hello Mr. Tilson, It's me, Emma Swan..." Emma started. Ruby choked on her laughter before feigning a serious expression. "...Your seventeen year old student. One time you gave me a C- and I told you to burn in hell. Anyways, how would you like to provide for me and my infant son and in return we can have some bomb sex." Emma winked in the least attractive way possible and Ruby lost it.
"Emma! Oh my fucking god!" She squealed, "Did you actually tell Tilson to burn in hell?"
"Of course I did, I actually studied for that exam and he had the nerve to give me a C-?" Emma rambled on like it was the most obvious course of action possible and Ruby steadied herself on the lockers as she laughed.
"You really are a little firecracker aren't you?" She looked at Emma's schedule again and smiled deviously, "Looks like I'm not the only one in for a shitty year, Emms." She passed the piece of paper to Emma and pointed at one of the blocks.
"Wait what?" Emma asked, confused. "English 12, Mills, 204? I don't understand, who's Mills? I thought Canterbury taught English 12." She frowned, rereading the line. The morning bell rang, jolting Emma out of her thoughts.
"Not anymore sweet cheeks. Have fun with the she-devil, I'm off to class!" Ruby waved cheerfully, leaving Emma speechless by her locker. First block: English 12, Mills, 204. How hard could English be?