A/N: Student teacher fics are my favourite, and since I have so much free time on my hands this summer, I've decided to give fic writing another go. My last fic didn't really get much of a response which was quite discouraging, but I'm writing this one more for myself than anyone else. I really hope you enjoy, and if you do, please leave a review, or at least follow/favourite the story - it would mean the world to me. This chapter is super short, but the next one will be a little longer and much more exciting!

Rated M for future chapters.

Emma Swan stepped out of her apartment building,wrapping her long black pea coat tightly around herself. A cold autumn wind whipped around her, blowing her long blonde hair in all different directions. The sky was just beginning to get dark, the office crowd was getting out of work, and the streets were crowded. Emma was headed to her 6 o'clock history class. Evening classes were not her thing, and neither was history, but Emma would take any opportunity to be around Professor Mills. Emma was a law major, and she didn't require history to graduate, but she'd taken history in her first year at NYU and had quickly become enamored by her professor. There was something about Regina Mills that Emma just couldn't get out of her head, and so here she was, in her fourth year of university, slaving away in a class that was completely unnecessary for her to take. By the time Emma had reached campus, it had begun to rain. She sprinted into the building that her class was taking place in, and walked to the auditorium that Professor Mills gave her classes in. Pushing the door open, she noticed that Professor Mills hadn't arrived yet, although almost the entire class was already there. Taking her seat at the back of the auditorium, Emma pulled out her phone, noting that Mills had two minutes to make it to class before she was officially late. Emma had three messages, all from her best friend Mary-Margaret.

Hey, I'm borrowing some salt from your place, Belle used all of ours doing another one of her stupid science experiments… xoxo

We're all going to that new club that opened near Times Square, The Rabbit Hole. Do u wanna come over and get ready or meet us there? p.s. this isn't optional. ur coming whether you like it or not.

Oh! I forgot! Ruby will be there too ;) She asked about you today ;)

Emma rolled her eyes, before quickly typing her response.

I'm so glad you're putting that spare key I gave you to good use / And you know I'd never miss a chance to go clubbing! I'll meet you guys there at 10, don't start drinking without me ;)

She hit send just as her professor entered the room. Four minutes late. In the three and a half years that Emma had been taking this class with Professor Mills, she had never once been late. In fact, she made a point to arrive at least five minutes before class started.

"I apologize for my tardiness, I had a personal emergency." Professor Mills said stiffly, her deep voice echoing off the auditorium walls. Emma's eyes narrowed, and she couldn't help but wonder about Professor Mills's personal emergency for the rest of the class. By the time 7:30 rolled around, Emma had missed everything that had been said throughout the class. She packed up her notebook and pen – both things she had barely touched in the last hour and a half except to doodle – and began to exit the auditorium with her fellow students when Professor Mills called out to her.

"Miss. Swan, may I have a word?" Regina asked. Emma was surprised, but not worried. Although she disliked history, she was acing the class. She made her way over to the desk situated at the front of the class just as the last student disappeared through the door.

"I couldn't help but notice you didn't take any notes today. May I enquire as to why?" Miss Mills asked in a stern voice. Emma's eyes widened, completely thrown off guard.

"Uh… I… Personal emergency?" she stuttered, mentally kicking herself as soon as the words left her mouth. Regina's mouth twitched.

"Very well Miss. Swan. I will excuse you just this once. I will also send you a copy of the notes via email, as I wouldn't want you falling behind." Professor Mills said with a playful glint in her eyes. It was clear to both of them that Emma was spewing bullshit.

"Thanks Miss. Mills. You're a lifesaver." Emma said grinning, while turning to go.

"Emma…" Emma turned back around, startled by the fact that her professor had addressed her by her first name, "I can't help but wonder… Why do you continue to take my class? You don't require it to graduate, and heaven knows you don't like the subject matter… So, why?" Regina continued in a softer tone. Emma grinned again.

"With a teacher as pretty as you, who wouldn't take this class, even if it is just to stare at you?" Emma said with a wink, walking backwards through the door, not waiting to hear her professor's response. She waited to feel ashamed, embarrassed, or even guilty but she felt none of that. Emma Swan wore a huge smile on her face as she left campus that evening. She'd called her teacher pretty and she felt nothing but happy about it.