Chapter 1

Hello everyone! So the actual story itself just popped into my mind, and it being told by Regina...idk it just seemed more meaningful that way.

At first I was going to make it a sort of cause for like a development (For example: a cause that tries to eliminate drug use) but instead I liked that it was just a group in which people spoke and others listened. (Think of it as like poetry readings but this consists of much more than poetry.)

I watch Mr. Anderson approach the mic on stage, the nerves bubbling in my stomach as I knew it was nearly time to speak. I used to speak in business meetings all the time, so why was I so nervous now?

"Good evening everyone. Today we have someone new speaking today which I think is fantastic. She has been with us for months now but has finally decided to share her voice with us. Without further ado, Regina Mills." He smiles at me as I rise from my seat and make my way towards the stage.

"Thank you, Mr. Anderson." I turn to the audience while I rub my hands together anxiously. "And thank you all for being here to listen. Like Mr. Anderson stated, I've come here to listen for about seven months now. I enjoy hearing other people's perspectives and stories and I've already been inspired in so many ways. But when I found out this month's theme was about life lessons, I knew I had to share mine." I lick my dry lips, "I guess I'll just dive right in."

"My story, well this one in particular started almost three years ago. I was driving home from work when this familiar feeling popped into my chest. Emptiness. It was always there, I just sometimes would forget about it when I was doing other things. And I always tried doing other things because as soon as I wasn't, as soon as I had time to myself, I would feel it again."

My eyes search the crowd for the blonde's eyes. I find them and she smiles at me which helps me relax a little.

"In my opinion, loneliness is one of the worst feelings in the world. It was something that's been there for years and the longer I lived on, the bigger the hole in my heart grew. But one day, one ordinary day, that all changed..."

(3 years ago)

I sigh as I drive home from yet another boring day at my boring job. I blink my eyes rapidly, trying to focus on the road. Hmm, what should I make for dinner tonight? Lasagna lingers in the back of my mind but I honestly have no motivation to cook. Maybe I'll just make some toast and read for the rest of the evening. Yeah.

I go around a curve on this 25 mph road and see something in the distance off the side of the road. I squint my eyes and as I get closer, I see it's a hitchhiker.

I scoff and roll my eyes, people still do this? I mean come on, how stupid could you be? I'm almost to her now and see the long golden locks covered in a gray beanie, desperate eyes and thumb stretched out towards me.

Sorry lady, but I don't deal with random strangers in general, let alone ones who are so easily willing to trust anyone on the road. I pass by and stupidly turn my head and look at her. She shakes her thumb and her green eyes grow wide. And for some reason, I felt the need to stop. Shit.

I pull over a few feet in front of her with the sudden urge to slam my head repeatedly into the steering wheel. Maybe it's not too late to drive off. I look in the rearview mirror and see her running towards my car, a large smile on her face. Nevermind.

She pulls on the passenger door but it's still locked. I sigh and press the unlock button.

She opens the door and throws her duffel bag in the back seat carelessly, "Thank you!" She breathes. "People really didn't want to stop today."

I frown, "Well what do you expect, you're a hitchhiker. For all I know, you plan to murder me or something." I said it but I actually didn't have a feeling like that about her but what do I know? I've never met this woman in my life. I start the car and just decide to keep driving the way I was already going.

She laughs, "You're silly. You know, not all hitchhikers are bad. Don't believe in the stereotypes."

I frown even more, "I don't-" But I stop as she fiddles with the radio. Well, she certainly has no problem making herself at home, does she?

I shake my head, "Alright so where are you going?" I just wanted to get this nonsense over with.

She smiles at me, "Nowhere and everywhere." And that's it, that's all she says.

"What the hell does that mean?" I question. I'm five seconds away from pulling over again and tossing her and her damn green duffel bag out of here.

I stop my storytelling to speak to the audience, "This woman actually had the nerve to be so mysteriously vague with me! I mean what do I even say to that?" They chuckle at my reaction. I take a sip of water and continue.

She shrugs, "Exactly as it sounds. I have no specific destination because I just want to go." Huh. I bite my lip, intrigued to say the least.

"I'm Emma Swan by the way, and you are…?"

I glance at her like she's crazy, "I'm-I'm not telling you my name. I don't even know you."

"Well. We can fix that, tell me what you want to know." She says as if this is the most normal thing in the world. I can't believe this right now.

"All I want to know is where to drop you off, I mean that's a bit rude don't you think? I could have things to do right now." I huff, frustrated as hell.

"You don't though." She says as she puts her feet on the dash.

I ignore her dirty converse on my dash before asking, "And how would you know any of this?"

"If you had something truly important to do, you would not have picked me up in the first place." Damn. She's got a point.

"Could you please just tell me where to take you? I would like to get home."

"Home." Emma echoes. I raise an eyebrow, this woman is stranger by the minute.

"Well?" I say, growing impatient.

"I won't say. Not until you tell me your name." I clench the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white. This woman is insane, I am nice enough to drive her ass around and she is basically forcing me to tell her my name. This is why I don't bother with people.

Luckily I won't have to see this woman ever again so I suppose telling her my name won't do any harm. Especially if it gets her out of my car sooner.

I sigh, "Mills. Regina Mills."

"Regina. That's a beautiful name." She says, although I can't catch her expression since she's facing the window.

"Uhh...thanks." I say awkwardly, tucking hair behind my ear. "So my part is done, now please, where do you want to go?"

"I'll tell you when to stop, just keep driving wherever." I look at her with confusion. Is she serious right now?

She sighs, "I have to feel that it's right, that I belong."

"Okay. And is this...your life?" I didn't mean to sound rude but it sounds as if she's been doing this a while and I can't imagine doing this all the time.

She nods slowly, "It is. It was scary at first sure but haven't you ever done something crazy? This is crazy I know but it's exhilarating and fulfilling." I glance to the left, watching my road go by in the mirror. Damn, if it wasn't for her, I'd almost be home by now.

"I've never been one to take risks." Which was true, I like knowing what to expect. I like being in control of things and doing what she does would give me none of those.

She pats my arm, "And that's okay because that's who you are, and I'm sure you're happy with your life as am I." I swallow hard because honestly, I'm not happy with my life. It's been a long time since I was genuinely happy. But this is not up for discussion with her, like always I will push aside my feelings. I turn up the radio and flip through the stations until some sort of soothing classical music comes on.

"Classical huh?"

"Yes, what you don't like classical music?" Figures.

"No I do, it's just most people don't. So is this all you like?"

"I also enjoy rock and some pop. And how about you?" I'm not sure why I asked, it just sort of happened.

"I like basically everything. I like anything with emotion in it." She informs me. Why is almost everything that comes out of those pale lips so intriguing?

"Go on." I say quietly.

Out of the corner of my eye I see her smile, "I think that no matter what the genre is, if you can feel the emotion throughout it, it's powerful and wonderful."

"I see, I've never looked at it that way. I mean sure I love soulful music but I never applied that to all genres of music, just to the ones I like. Your views...are fascinating." I instantly regret telling her this, I mean at first I was so reluctant to even give her my name and now I'm borderline complimenting her? I need a drink.

"Thank you, Regina."

We sit in silence aside from the radio and Emma telling me when to turn every so often for almost an hour after that, when finally Emma's loud voice makes me jump, "Oh! Stop there." She says, pointing to a little diner called Susie's Kitchen. I rarely venture out this way but I do recognize this diner. I've never been inside but I've passed it a few times.

"You want me to drop you off here?"

"Mmhmm. I can grab something to eat and then the semi-private seating area outside will be a perfect place to rest."

My head shoots her way, "Wait you're sleeping outside? That's not very safe...what if someone comes and robs you or worse tries to-"

"Regina." She stops me. "Trust me, I know the risks and I'm okay with it. I've actually been robbed before but that doesn't stop me or scare me off. Don't worry about a thing." She says with a small smile before turning towards the back seat and grabbing her duffel bag. She also grabs a violin case which I didn't even notice before.

Before I can ask about it, she says, "Thanks for the ride, it was great meeting you." She grabs my wrist and pulls it towards her, her fingers softer than I expected for someone living on the streets. She then places a ten dollar bill in my hand, "For your troubles."

"Emma, no it's alright. You probably need it more anyways." She stares at me for what seems like forever, then her eyes look down at my lips for a split second before she retrieves the bill again and opens the car door.

"Thanks again." She smiles and shuts the door. I watch her walk all the way to the front door of the diner, thinking or maybe even hoping she would turn back around but she doesn't. And just like that, it ended. I shake my head at this weird experience and back out of the parking lot to go home.

Without Emma in the car, it was too quiet again and I felt even more lonely than before.

Alright guys, please tell me what you think so far :)