Emma had moved in with a new family. This usually meant she had to change schools too. The new parents were abusive and cruel to her, but Emma didn't want to leave them. If she left, she'd be placed in a group home and those are even worse then bad parents.
It was Emma's first day at her new school. She sighed and entered the principal's office. "I assume you are Miss Swan?" The blonde nodded. "Very well. Here is your schedule. If you'll follow me I'll take you to your first class."
Emma followed the older woman to her first class; English. The woman knocked on the door before entering. "Miss Mills, class, this is Emma Swan. She's new at this school. I trust you'll help her around the school." The principle said. Then she turned to Emma. "If you need anything, Miss Mills will be there to help you. She's also our school counselor."
Emma nodded. "Thank you." She looked for an empty seat and was happy to find one in the back. The teacher just went on with her class as if nothing had happened.
As the bell, signaling the end of the period rang; Miss Mills called Emma to her desk. "You wanted to talk to me?" the blonde asked emotionlessly.
"Yes, I've seen you are excused from PE this week, so I thought we could talk during the next two periods." Emma shrugged and followed her brunette teacher into the counseling office.
Emma just looked at her, without saying a word. Miss Mills sighed. "So, Emma… I've seen this is your fifth school in the last year. How come you change so often?"
The blonde shrugged. "I changed families at least twice as often." The counselor's face saddened.
"I'm sorry to here that, Emma. So, I assume you were placed into a new family recently?" Emma nodded. "And how are they treating you?" Emma shrugged.
"Fine," Miss Mills said, "how about you ask me some questions?" Emma rolled her eyes. She had gone to many counselors and she couldn't stand them.
"When can I go home?" Miss Mills sighed.
"I'm sorry, Emma, but you need to stay here for another hour and a half." Emma groaned loudly.
"Fine, if you're going to be my counselor I want to call you by your first name." Emma told the brunette.
The older woman smiled. "That seems fair. My name is Regina. Anything else you want?"
Emma thought about that for a second. This was the first time that anyone, even a counselor, had asked her what she wanted. She smiled slightly. "Can I have a cookie or something?" She asked testing the teacher.
The brunette smiled and pulled open a drawer. She handed Emma a box filled with different kinds of cookies. After Emma had taken one, she put the box away again.
"Can I ask you something now?" the counselor asked tentatively. Emma thought about it and shrugged.
"Why did your parents get you excused from PE?" Emma's eyes widened slightly. She didn't know what to say.
"They… I…" she stuttered. "I have asthma." Emma finally lied. The brunette raised an eyebrow.
"Come on, Emma. You and I both know that's not true." The blonde sighed defeated.
"Because of this," Emma lifted her shirt and showed Regina a huge bruise all over her stomach. The brunette gasped.
"What happened?" Emma was surprised. Did this woman, who she'd just met, actually care about her? No, Emma thought, that wasn't possible. Nobody cared about her.
"That's the reason I was transferred." She said, trying to sound convincing. Regina stood and walked around the desk, kneeling before Emma. She grabbed the younger girl's hands in hers.
"If anything like that happens again, I want you to come straight to me, Emma. Here, I'll give you my phone number."
Emma shrugged. "I don't have a phone," she told the brunette. "Why do you care, anyway?"
Regina sighs. "I care about you, Emma. You need someone to be there when you need them and I'd like to be that person." The brunette had been having feelings for Emma since the moment she walked into her classroom. Even though she knew nothing could ever happen between them, she still felt the need to protect Emma.
The blonde suddenly stood and hugged Regina. When she pulled away, seconds later, she blushed deeply. "I'm sorry." She whispered.
Regina smiled and pulled her into another hug. "Don't apologize." Regina whispered it sweetly into her ear.
For the first time in her life Emma felt safe. She smiled into the embrace and she never wanted to let go.
