I don't own the names of the characters. It is AU.
This is my first time writing a fic.
Please keep an open mind.
I always loved the smell of fresh popcorn, candy corn rather. The sweet smell was always enticing. It was the first thing you smelled when walking through the gate. The grass still moist from the humidity of the night, the constant flicker of the lights around you, and the sounds of laughter and chatter mixed with corny music. Every February was the same. Every year, this is my favorite place to come.
The County Fair.
It's not just the foods or the sketchy rides that are alluring, it's the vibe of the fair that makes it enjoyable. Friends just make it even better. Walking through the moist grass in black boots, I am glad I decided to wear jeans and my red leather jacket over a white tank tonight. It was a little cooler than normal. I'm not surprised; Florida's weather is very unpredictable.
"Hey!" yelled Neal, interrupting my thoughts. He came rushing over to me, wearing black jeans and a white v-neck that I am sure will be stained by the end of the night. He can never successfully wear a clean white shirt throughout the day. Neal wasn't a tall man, but he wasn't short either, medium height with tanned skin. Dark hair with brown eyes.
"Hey, I just got here, just enjoying the view ya know?" I said, as I was giving him a welcoming hug.
"I know, you love the fair, even if it's the same shit every year," he said laughing. "Where's Ruby? I thought she was coming with you here tonight too?"
"Yeah, we came separately, I am supposed to be meeting her here." Things haven't been too great between us, but I didn't want to worry him. Neal has been my best friend since middle school.
"You guys okay?" His voice was laced with apprehension.
"Yeah, totally." Giving my best poker face smile. I am sure he didn't believe me but he isn't going to question me now. The night is too early. I started to walk deeper into the fair. Knowing Neal will follow, we are headed towards the dunk tank. I always start and end the night at the dunk tank. Getting the rude clown soaked after throwing a good pitch is exciting. The dunk tank is always at the end of the line next to all the carnival like games opposite of the rides. Walking just a little bit further, pass the ball toss, goldfish ring, and the balloon pop, the dunk tank was in view.
As I am about to reach the white painted dunk tank, something inside me told me to look left. I saw a glimpse of familiar red hair. She was wearing skinny jeans with a red cut off shirt. Her long red and black highlighted hair flowing just barely passed her breasts. I didn't have to take a second look to figure out it was Ruby, what I was more interested in the girl she was talking to. Black hair; barely shoulder length, choppy and wavy, extremely beautiful with her red painted lips that popped against her olive skin.
Ruby and I have been dating for a few months. I care for her, but I don't love her. I know she is the player type, so it isn't a surprise that she is talking to someone else, it just still sucks to see it in your face. The way she was whispering in her ear, it wasn't a way individuals who were just friends would do it. It's the body language, I can read body language well. Just from looking at the two of them I can tell they were close. Leaning against the red tent next to a random vendor at the fair. I think they were selling various things like shirts, key chains, and other meaningless things. Like my relationship apparently.
I told Neal to wait; he followed my line of sight and squeezed my arm.
"You don't have to do this, just leave her. I don't know why you put up with her," Neal said in a low tone.
"I know, but look at the chick she is with, she is gorgeous, I want to know who she is," I said as I began to stride over to where they were.
Having to play human dodge ball navigating my way towards them, I almost felt nervous. Sure, I was pissed at Ruby, but I was more nervous about the black haired woman. Ruby was just someone to fill the void with; I knew it would never be long term.
Almost nearing them, the black haired woman wide eyed me. From her expression on her face, she must be unaware of how promiscuous Ruby is. She squeezed Ruby's arm to alert her I was in proximity.
"Oh shit," I heard Ruby say.
"Who the hell is she?" I heard the black haired woman say. I can see her tense up.
"She is no one, just give us a sec please." I heard Ruby whisper, but loud enough for
me to hear.
"Hi, I am no one." I said, outstretching my hand to the black haired woman ignoring Ruby's shocked expression. "By no one, I mean Ruby's girlfriend. Though, I came to the quick assumption that you are too, right?"
She turned and glared at Ruby.
"Is this true?" She said in a fierce tone.
"Regina, I...I." Ruby was interrupted by a slap. I couldn't help but feel a smile begin on my lips.
"Regina, hi, I am Emma." I said it in a little more sarcastic tone than expected. "It's a shame we had to meet like this, I'd like to believe under different circumstances we'd be friends….or more," I said smiling. Winking at her, being a little more flirtatious than I anticipated. Why not try to get to know this woman; we obviously have to have something in common if we are dating the same chick.
"Ruby, I am sure you're smart enough to figure out as of this moment we are no longer dating?" I said glaring at her. She still had a shocked expression on her face, unaware of what she should do.
"Fuck you, I don't even want to be in your presence!" Regina said harshly.
"Hey Regina, that piece of shit doesn't deserve your attention, but perhaps I do," I said with a wink.
"In your dreams" she huffed, but I can see a small smile at the corner of her lips. She stalked passed us.
I turned to look at her leave. Her green blouse covered by a tight black blazer, it was then I noticed she was wearing a black skirt, showing off her toned legs with ankle boots. Who wears skirts at the fair, I thought to myself?
Turning on my heels, leaving Ruby behind I went in search of Neal. Although I put on a front, it hurt. I don't know why it hurt, I didn't love her, she was just a….companion. But it did, it changed my mood completely. Finding Neal, I could tell by the look on his face he was worried.
I filled him in on Ruby and her cheating self.
"What a bitch, she never deserved you, or that other woman for that matter. What was her name again?"
"Regina, and she was fucking hot, I am not going to lie. Wish I had met her first. How could I have not seen her before? I feel like I know everyone?"
"Yeah, you're popular and all at the school, but doesn't mean you know everyone Emma." He teased.
"Yeah, well, I am going to try and find more about her. Fuck Ruby for what she did, but everything happens for a reason, right?"
"Right…" Neal said trying to appease me.
"You know what.. I think I am going to get outta here. She kinda messed up my mood, you gonna be okay here?" I asked, hoping he'd be fine.
"Yeah, I saw Will by the turkey leg stand earlier I can find him. Are you sure though, I mean you just got here a little bit ago?"
"Yeah, I need to get away from here. Just.. have a lot on my mind." I can't tell him I want to be alone, or go to the bar, because he'll follow me, not wanting me to wallow. "I am just going to go home, no worries." Offering a smile.
"Alright fine, I'll go find Will. Ignore Ruby, she's a bitch. I told you I never trusted her. Try and have a good night, I'll catch up with you tomorrow?"
"Okay, thank you." With that I left, turning around not looking back. I felt bad for leaving him but knowing Will is there, means Killian and Arthur are somewhere near by. They will continue the night getting into all sorts of shenanigans.
Walking towards the exit, quickly letting all the flashy lights swirl behind me. I needed to get into my car. Searching through the sea of cars, my yellow bug stood out. Unlocking the car, getting in. I rested my head on the steering wheel. Be strong, I told myself. She isn't worth it. I can feel my eyes beginning to sting but I blinked them back. I will not allow a tear to form because of her.
Turning on the ignition, I began the drive. Letting the night pass me by. I arrived at the main light on the highway. If I turn left, I will end up at the bar, if I turn right I end up going to my house. I want a drink, I want to erase this feeling of unworthiness but I have class in the morning. I turn right and head home.
The drive wasn't a long one. I pulled up into my dark driveway. Getting out of the car after switching the engine off, I know my way around the front entryway. Plenty of nights getting home late and forgetting to turn on the outside lights before I leave. Arriving at the front door, white with purple trim, and glass oval like shape, I can see I forgot to turn on the lights on the inside as well. Turning the key, I enter, turning on the first lamp I can. Feeling fatigued, I go straight to the bathroom, take a shower and climb in bed. I am done for today, I don't want to think about anything else. I climb in bed and dream about a woman, with red stained lips.
I woke up late. I had to haul ass to make it to class. The parking at the college always sucked, took an extra ten minutes just to find decent parking. Finding my way to the classroom on the third floor, I finally make it to class.
I am in my last semester of college before I graduate with my bachelors. I am pursuing a career in education, my mother is a teacher and I love kids. Sure, I wanted to be an actress but facing reality I decided to go with educating, plus it's almost like acting everyday anyway.
The professor went on to talk about how we are in our last leg, and with that we have to do internship. We have each been assigned to a teacher at one of local schools near by. We are to spend the next twelve weeks within a classroom all day Monday through Friday. Upon completing of our internship, we will have two reviews. One review by our intern teacher, and the other by our professor both combined will be a deciding factor on whether or not we pass the class.
"Be sure to leave your house early on your first day, which is this Friday as in two days from now. Everything that can go wrong in the morning will, so allow yourself time to get there early. You don't want to make a bad first impression," said Mrs. Warren. She was my favorite professor, perhaps the only elderly professor I actually had a good connection with. She was the type of professor that cared for each individual student; she took to the time to get to know you. She is the type of professor that always had a smile no matter what was going on.
She passed out a list with our names and the teacher we will be interning for. We were to double check to make sure we didn't know the assigned teacher nor related to them. It was in order to ensure we didn't get a biased review. I watched as the other students checked the list, so far only two had to switch teachers. Three more students checked it before it got to me. When I received it, I scanned it closely. I recognized one of the names, my mother's but I wasn't assigned to her. The blond who sits two seats down from me was. I think her name is Shelby. I checked my name and next to it, it said Mrs. Mills. I thought hard, had a funny feeling about it, but concluded that I didn't know her and passed the list back around.
Though Mrs. Warren said to arrive early, I am sure I was too early. There were only 3 cars in the lot, four including mine. A red Thunderbird, a black Mustang, and a black Mercedes, not wanting to park next to the gorgeous cars I parked my little bug under a tree two rows back.
I checked in the office, she said I was early but Mrs. Mills is always early so I was lucky to be paired with her. She gave me a map to her classroom, and wished me good luck. Leaving the office, I noticed there are two vertical halls one on each side of the office with eight horizontal halls, four on each side of the office. Looking at the map, I noticed the halls were color coded, thank God. Mrs. Mills' room is room 223 in the Green Hall. I walked passed the first hall which was red, then the Yellow Hall, which is next to the library. It was easy to tell since there are giant murals of book covers all over the wall, my favorite one being the rainbow fish. Walking just a bit more, I reached the Green Hall. Turning left into it, I was looking for room numbers. First in the hall was room 222, with 220 across from it. The next sets of doors were 223 on the left and 221 on the right. Flattening down my white collared button up, unbuttoned at the neck, I double-checked my hair by running my hands through my blonde mane. Once I felt my appearance on par, I knocked on the door.
"Come in, it's unlocked," said a husky voice. It sounded vaguely familiar.
I turned the knob, and walked in.
A/N So, it's a bit longer than expected, should I continue? This is the very first chapter of my very first fic. Lol. Constructive criticism is welcomed, but please do not be rude. I am writing this based on true events in my life. I was inspired to write a fic after reading various wonderfully written ones by my favorite SQ Author. Check her out when you get a chance under Eurythmatix.