CHAPTER I
My name is Emma Swan. If you are looking for the typical love story, look somewhere else. And I should warn you, this isn't a happy story. However, to be fair it isn't a sad story either. It's just merely a summary of how events have been playing out in my life. To be more specific, how I met the most wonderful person in my world and how until this very day, I am madly and completely in love with her.
The classes for the semester are over, but I still need to take the final exams and I'll be done with my first year of high school. However, at this present moment I can't study. Something else is occupying my mind. I am sitting at my wood desk, in my room, looking at the forest. I have to make a decision, I think as I see a bird flying near my window.
Do I want to go to summer school? I mean, I am not in any risk of failing any of my assignatures but I think that 3 months of vacation are way too much…
I know, I sound really nerdy right now. Truth is, I kind of are. I have always been in the top 5 of my class and without even trying. I understand hard stuff, from Math to Chemistry to Biology… I always get good grades.
However, I have always been socially awkward, and my elementary and middle school classmates never allowed me to think of myself as someone pretty. Until this day, I don't feel that way. I was always bullied, always the last one to be chosen for every team. I never belonged. Awful times.
Anyway, I have never had much regard for Art. I mean I love to paint and have been taking painting lessons since I was 10 but to listen to the theory, I don't have the slightest interest. That is the main reason I am considering summer school. To take the freakin course of Art History in a month instead of taking it for a whole semester.
Added to the previous, I must say that the only teacher of Art History that teaches in my high school program is a complete bitch, Ms. Tamara Atkinson. She was my World History teacher for a month before she decided my group was not enough for her standards. However, that month was enough for me to loathe her. There's no point in saying that I didn't want to see that woman ever again. Summer school was the option because professor Atkinson never teaches Art History in summers.
I turn my laptop on and immediately log in on MSN to talk to Lilly, my best friend. Luckily for me, she is online as I know she would be. I love that about her, she is always available.
I met Lilly a year before we entered high school in a sort of orientation program. Both our families were late for said event, so we had to share a table. We didn't speak much in that occasion, but I immediately felt a connection with her.
As a part of getting acquainted with our new school we were supposed to go every Thursday afternoon at 4:00pm. The purpose was to get in touch with older students who also were in the program and to know the installations. I remember clearly that I was at the registration desk on the very first day and so was Lilly in a different line. At the same time, the people who were registering us asked our birthday and at the same time we said "May third". We giggled and immediately started talking. We found out that we were very similar and the connection strengthened.
I take a sip of my iced tea and proceed to send Lilly a message
Emma (14:30): Lilly, are you here?
Lilly (14:31): What's up Emma?
Emma (14:31): I don't know what to do… :(
Emma (14:32): I mean… I don't want to see Atkinson ever again, but I don't want to go to summer school
Lilly (14:35): Come on. It is gonna be fun. Plus it is better to take that subject only for a month. Or do you really care about Art History?
Emma (14:37): You know I don't but…
Lilly (14:38): Well.. I already have my summer schedule.
Emma (14:42): WHAT!
Lilly (14:43): Yup, and it isn't so bad. Only 3 hours of class per day
Emma (14:44): THREE HOURS?
Lilly (14:45): For being a honor student, you are pretty lazy xD
Emma (14:46): For being a lazy student, you are too willing to take summer classes :P
Lilly (14:47): Swan is just a class. What is the worst thing that could happen? We both know you are not gonna fail it
Emma (14:50): You don't know that!
Lilly (14:52): I am the one who should be scared. Who is gonna tutor me and laugh with me? Make summer school bearable… PRETTY PEASEEEEE
Emma (14:53): Fine, I'll talk to my parents. Just to be sure, Atkinson is not teaching the group… right?
Lilly (14:55): No, Emma. According to the schedule the class is given by a professor called Regina Mills
Emma (14:56): Haven't heard of her… you?
Lilly (14:57): Nope, but my sister says she is an excellent teacher
Emma (14:58): *sigh* well at least
Lilly (14:59): Talk to you later? Got soccer practice…
Emma (15:00): Right. See ya
I just finished my first year of high school. I am happy with myself, I did a pretty good job with my final exams.
My favorite class so far is English but not for what we are taught. We have an amazing teacher, Professor Tinkerbell Smith. Barely 7 years older than me, average height, blonde curly hair, green inquisitive eyes, huge wit and a kind smile. She is the whole reason I am at school today, since the semester is already over. I wanted to give her a little something for her to remember me, since she is leaving to get her MBA in Dubai. So odds are I will never see her again, not in person at least. I'll just have to resign myself to the idea that her FaceBook updates are enough. I sigh as I climb the stairs to the fifth floor toward her office for one last time.
Oh the memories, I had my first high school class with her. I even remember that when she opened the classroom door and I saw her for the first time I thought how funny it was that teachers at this school had assistants, then she introduced herself as my teacher and well I was determined to be more than just another student to her. I succeeded, sort of.
I knock at the glass door, just a formality since the wall is also made of glass. All of the teachers' offices are made that way. She looks at me and a smile appears in her round face. I come in
-Hi Emma- she says, still smiling -What brings you here?- she adds, eyeing the small package I am carrying with me.
-Hello- I answer awkwardly -Well, I actually came here because I wanted to give you a little something before you went away- I give her the small package, blushing a little. Why do I have to blush so easily, I hate that characteristic about myself. I shouldn't get this attached… caring too much has always been a problem for me.
-Oh! What a lovely surprise, you shouldn't have- she says tearing the parcel and looking at the pocket mirror I got her -How did you know?- she asks holding the mirror in her hand.
-How did I know what? - I say, grinning. My heart rate is speeding up, my hands shake a little. Typical me, I long for friendships that are way out of the question.
Ms Tinkerbell looks at me, with a deeper stare -I just break mine and I was searching for another. Thank you so much, Emma. I will keep it safe- She stands up from her working chair and walk towards me with her arms outstretched.
-Please do, 14 years of bad luck would be way too many- I mumble as I inhale her fresh scent. I never thought I was going to miss her so much. I swallow hard to stop the tears from coming up. Damn… I don't want her to go.
I pull away, she invites me to take a sit. We start chatting a bit. She asks questions, mostly. If I liked her classes, what I wanted to do later in life… pretty usual teacher/student stuff. Ms. Tinkerbell finally asks -What are you going to do this summer?-
-I am going to take Art History, because I love art- I say smiling sarcastically.
Ms. Tinkerbell frowns - Did you fail?- she asks clearly confused.
-Nope, I just don't want to take it next semester with professor Atkinson- I confess.
-Clever girl, she is not a favorite round here- she gives me half a smile.
-Can't imagine why- I suppress a giggle.
-Who is going to be your professor then? I can give you some tips- Tinkerbell whispers as if she was scared of some other teacher listening.
-Professor Regina Mills- I say proudly. I really like the sound of that name even though I never saw her around.
Ms. Tinkerbell's smile vanishes immediately. Oh no! That is not a good sign -Are you sure? The spanish one?- I hear the worry in her voice. Goddamn it.
-Yes… why? What's wrong with her?- I ask already thinking of how I am going to kill Lilly for convincing me into taking said class.
-Well… I am going to be blunt with you. She is a cold hearted bitch. Don't get me wrong. She is an incredible professor, but she is very tough. Be careful with her, I mean it. She has a very bad temper- says Tinkerbell with bulging eyes and a tight mouth.
I thank her advice, give her a last hug and I say my goodbyes. She tells me that she is gonna keep in touch. I don't believe her. I never was that important to anyone. Why would she be different?
Either way, I am not thinking about her anymore. My mind is already occupied by an unknown professor Mills. She must be an ugly bitter old woman. Great, I left Atkinson for a bigger pain in the ass.
I descend the stairs at a rapid pace, I hear the echo of my own steps as I go down. Lilly's words start to resonate in my mind "What is the worst thing that could happen?"
If only I had known…